Excerpt: From Here to Eternity

There was a long silence up on deck and nobody moved as Ryan took deep breath after deep breath.
“Oh, Aviha damn it all, that girl had better be all right,” Ada said crossly. “Make sure her mike is on. Kastoria, Kastoria? Report, Lieutenant.”
There was static, and Nic made a whimpering noise.
“Oh, oh. Thanks guys, thanks so much,” the girl’s voice came through finally, sounding irritated as hell. “I mean, WHAT WAS THAT? Erin’s taking too long; let’s just nuke the fucker? I mean, seriously? What is that all about?”
Nic breathed a sigh of relief, and Ryan smiled a knowing smile. Ada smacked the microphone button with the palm of her hand. “Don’t question my decisions!” she snapped, skilfully covering for what Ryan had actually chosen to do. “Now, where are you? And…I’m glad you’re all right.”
“I’d be more all right if you hadn’t dropped a freaking bomb! I mean, solar shit, guys!”
“Where are you or we’re leaving,” the Commander repeated dryly.
“Over the chain link, which, by the way, was an absolute bitch to jump over!”
Kristian looked at them. “Anyone else think we should mute her again?”
But Ryan had already hit the button.