"Ringo,.John.-.Honorverse.SS.-.Mitchell,.Victor.-.A.SHIP.NAMED.FRANCIS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ringo John)

was one of the most powerful ships in that planet's fleet. Now,
though, between the large number of converted Peep SDs,
captured at First and Second Yeltsin, and the new Grayson SDs
and cruisers that were starting to flow out of the yards, it was again
in the position of being an outmoded and under-armed relic.

Furthermore, it looked it. No matter how many times a ship was
sent into the yards for overhaul, no matter how thoroughly that
overhaul was done, the ship always showed its age. It was
apparent in the little patches of mold that crept out from bulkhead
corners, in the worn spots on corners, even in the design of bunks,
tables and other fittings, which had changed subtly over the years
of war.

So there was a reason Tyler had a sour expression when the
warrant finally tossed the pad on his desk.

"You don't look happy, SBA," the warrant said, pulling open a
bottom drawer on his desk and extracting a half-filled, flaccid
bladder of unidentified liquid. He squirted a generous measure into
a mug of tea on the desk then waved it at Tyler. "Medicinal belt?"

"No, Sir, thank you, Sir," Sean replied, wondering if the clear liquid
was anything other than water. Then the smell hit him.

"Chief Warrant Officer Robert Kearns," the warrant continued,
putting the bladder away. "I'm the physician's assistant on this tub.
You may call me Doc."

"Yes, Sir," Sean said.

"Did you get stowed away? Got a locker, bunk, all that stuff?"

"Yes, Sir. The Bosun met us and assigned us quarters."

"Good, good," the warrant replied. "Where'd they ship you in from?
You're Manticoran, right?"

"Yes, Sir," Tyler said.

"Wanted to come slum with the religious nuts?"

"No, Sir," the SBA replied. "I had applied for a transfer to the
Grayson service nearly a year ago. It's considered a good move
promotion-wise, working with other Alliance forces."

"Uh, huh," the warrant said. "So, you're telling me you volunteered
for the Francis Mueller?"

"Well, I volunteered for Grayson service and there was a priority