“This one has a talent for leaving live enemies behind her,” Mynatt said as the three of them dined in Dansby’s cabin one evening, “and being set afire is the sort of thing that sticks in a man’s mind.”
“Assuming he didn’t die of the fire or the suppression chemicals in that corridor,” Dansby said, “he’ll still have more on his mind with a missing fleet than us.”
“He’s a navy to send after them. This would be personal.” She turned her gaze to Alexis. “You should have followed him into the service corridor and finished him.”
“I had no weapon and Commodore Balestra’s was almost out of flechettes.”
Mynatt grunted. “You’ll regret leaving that one alive.”
If Mynatt was correct, or even if Reinacher was alive, it didn’t show in the remainder of Röslein’s flight from Hanover. They made New London space without incident, though also with no sign of Balestra’s fleet.
“Balestra knows where she’s to go as well as we do, Carew. Röslein’s faster than they’re likely to be, regardless,” Dansby said after Alexis again expressed concern. “And I’d just as soon not run across them. They’re likely to have a Hanoverese fleet on their tail right to the border.”
That last did nothing to alleviate Alexis’ concerns.
Alchiba was a small system, newly settled, and quite near the border. They had no station in orbit around the single habitable planet, and the navigation summary in Marilyn’s plot — all her records changed back to her original name upon entry into New London space — told them not to even expect a pilot boat hovering around the system’s Lagrangian points.
Alexis was somewhat surprised, then, when Marilyn was challenged by a pair of New London frigates still two days out from the system, and more surprised by the pair of 74s and the 92 that were patrolling darkspace around the planet’s transition points. She was sad to see that neither of the 74s was Shrewsbury, as she was longing to see her ship again. Perhaps Shrewsbury was in normal space at the system proper.
Dansby frowned at the navigation plot once they’d transitioned to normal space and were able to see all of the ships in-system. Mynatt joined him and frowned as well.
Alexis had filled them both in on the full purpose of their mission during the sail back to New London space, and now they turned to her with worried looks.
“That’s all there is?” Mynatt asked.
Alexis scanned the plot. Marilyn’s computer had quickly identified and counted the different ships in-system. There were a little more than a hundred transports and over forty warships, including a massive 104, HMS Impregnable, in orbit around Alchiba. With Shrewsbury close aboard, she noted with pleasure. Mynatt’s words struck her.
“What do you mean?”
“She means,” Dansby said, “that you led us to believe the entire invasion force was to be here waiting for that Commodore Balestra’s arrival.” He tapped the plot. “This would appear to be … not nearly enough.”
“Glad our bit’s done,” Mynatt said.
Alexis frowned. “It’s the number of ships Mister Eades —”
“Oh, yes, Eades,” Dansby said. He sighed. “War on the cheap and always a plan.” The signal console pinged and he brought the message up on the plot. “Speak of the devil …” He glanced at Alexis. “Much as I’m sure you’re as sad to see it come as I am, it’s time we say farewell. A boat’s being sent for you and our business is done.”
“Good riddance,” Mynatt said. She left the quarterdeck without a backward glance.
“You’ve about an hour before that boat reaches us,” Dansby said. “Just time enough to pack your things.”
Alexis felt oddly uncomfortable at the thought of parting. Marilyn was in no way the sort of ship she’d like to sail aboard, the crew was still standoffish, perhaps even more so than ever, and she certainly hadn’t come to care for Dansby. She eyed him, looking just as uncomfortable as she felt.
“I suppose this is farewell, then,” she said.
“It appears so.” Dansby shifted his eyes to the plot and cleared his throat. “You’ll be back aboard your ship and part of this?”
“Yes. Aboard Shrewsbury, just there behind Impregnable in orbit.” She cleared her throat as well. No, she’d certainly not come to care for him any more than she had at the start, pirate, smuggler, and snake that he was. Still, she thought of the moment when they’d been under fire by Coalson’s men aboard the Baikonur station and how the excited grin on his face had exactly matched her own feeling of being fully alive in that moment of danger. “Mister Dansby —”
“I’m sure there’s none of us could say it’s been a pleasure, Carew,” Dansby interrupted her. “Certainly not Anya, what with you shooting her and all.” He gave her a small smile.
“Twice, come to that,” Alexis said with an answering smile. “I’ll speak to Mister Eades about that bounty on Coalson. I’m … I’m sorry if you receive nothing … due to my actions with him, I mean.”
Dansby shook his head. “No, I think it’s best if you mention nothing at all about the matter.” He shrugged. “The money would be nice, but I expect they’d find some way to keep it from me. And that was … it’s not a thing you’d be wise to bandy about.”
Alexis met his eyes and he looked away. It surprised her that he’d give up even the chance of a bounty. Perhaps he was worried what might happen to him, given her actions. If Eades and the Navy disapproved of what she’d done enough, they might take it out on Dansby as well.
“I suppose you’ll be leaving then?”
Dansby shrugged. “I may hang about and see just what comes of this.” He cleared his throat. “This next bit of business you’re about will be neither easy nor clean.” He nodded to the plot. “I hope you know that.”
“What do you mean? The Berry worlds are rightfully French and we’re to help them rejoin the Republic. If ever there was a proper thing to fight for —”
Dansby shook his head. “Those worlds have been part of Hanover for generations, no matter what language the people speak. There’re Hanoverese who’ve settled there …” He shrugged. “It’s civil war and revolution all rolled into one. There’s no good comes of that.”
“Mister Eades —”
Dansby cut her off again. “Eades is Foreign Office. He has his own agenda and likely a few more beneath the one he shows you. Don’t ever think he has anyone’s best interests to heart. Not yours and not those of the Berry worlds.”
“No, I’m certainly not so foolish as to think that.”
“Good.” Dansby looked as though he might say more, but then shrugged. “You should be about that packing.”
Alexis nodded and started for her cabin.
“Rikki,” Dansby called when she was at the hatch. She turned and raised an eyebrow. “Watch yourself.”
“Concern for a mongoose, Mister Serpent?”
Dansby cleared his throat again. “Just be cautious, Carew.” He paused. “And for God’s sake, stop leaving live enemies behind you.”
Thirty-Nine
Alexis returned to her cabin to pack and then boarded the boat from Shrewsbury to find Isom aboard with two others of the crew to handle her baggage.
“Civilian clothes,” she said in answer to his questioning look at the extra chest she had to be moved. “I doubt I’ll have need of them, but find a place to store the chest in the hold if it won’t fit under my bunk, will you?”
She carried a bundle with her new weapons. Those she’d transfer to her cabin herself.
Her things were loaded aboard the boat and the boat on its way back to Shrewsbury without another word from any of Marilyn’s crew.
I don’t suppose I can blame them for being glad to see the back of me.
Her welcome aboard Shrewsbury, though, was quite different. Every hand seemed to have a nod and a smile for her as she made her way from the boarding lock aft to Captain Euell’s cabin. He’d sent word that he wished to see her instanter, and Alexis was regretting not having a proper uniform abo
ard Marilyn as she now had no opportunity to change.
The marine sentry at the hatchway announced her arrival and she entered. She saw that she’d have to adjust herself to Shrewsbury’s time, as Captain Euell was just finishing his breakfast while it had been nearing suppertime aboard Marilyn.
“Welcome back, Carew,” Euell said, gesturing for her to sit. “Did you have a pleasant cruise? Something to drink?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to call it pleasant, no, sir,” she answered, then turned to the captain’s steward who was hovering nearby. “Tea, perhaps, Littler? Thank you.” She settled herself in her chair. “I believe it was productive though.”
Euell grunted. “That Eades fellow’s taken himself aboard Impregnable and good riddance. Likely still abed, else he’d have had you sent directly aboard there the instant you transitioned.” He paused as Littler returned with Alexis’ tea. “They’ve finally filled us captains in on the whole of this plan. Hard to keep it a secret now we’ve seen so many transports gathered in one place. Were you successful in reaching that Hanoverese fleet?”
Alexis nodded. “Commodore Balestra’s fleet left Dietraching at the same time Marilyn did, sir. They should arrive here soon.”
Euell nodded. “Good work then. We’ll be thankful for the extra hulls if this comes to a fight with a Hannie fleet. Finish your tea and then get yourself into a proper uniform. I imagine you’ll be called aboard Impregnable as soon as Eades is awake and knows you’ve returned.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Alexis finished her tea quickly and made her way to her cabin. Isom had already laid out one of her dress uniforms in anticipation of her being called aboard the flagship. She changed into it, the heavy jacket and beret feeling more than a bit odd after so much time spent in civilian dress, but still somehow comforting, then went out into the wardroom.
Nesbit and Hollingshed were sharing a bottle at the wardroom table.
“Is that someone just come out of our spare cabin, Hollingshed?” Nesbit asked.
Hollingshed cocked his head and raised his eyebrows at Alexis. “I do believe you’re correct, Nesbit,” he said. “Did Captain Euell take aboard a passenger when we weren’t looking?”
“Must have. We’d recognize every proper lieutenant who’s been aboard with us all these weeks.”
“Certainly would,” Hollingshed agreed. “Weeks stuck aboard ship together makes a face familiar to you after all.”
Alexis sat, looking from one to the other with amusement.
“Indeed,” Nesbit went on. “Stuck aboard ship in orbit around this Alchiba place, not allowed down to the planet for fear we’ll let loose some secret.”
Hollingshed scowled. “With, all the while, thousands of troops being landed on the planet and left at loose ends. As though they could keep a secret, themselves.”
“While the Fleet’s up here with no liberty at all. Waiting.”
Isom appeared at Alexis’ elbow with a glass and two bottles of wine from her stores. She cast him a grateful glance, even as Nesbit and Hollingshed went on with their whinging.
“Yet waiting for what?” Nesbit narrowed his eyes at Alexis. “Or whom?”
“Yes, whom,” Hollingshed murmured, rubbing his chin. “Could it possibly be that lieutenant we once had? You remember the one?”
“What? You mean the one who was always here again, off again? That one?”
“Yes!” Hollingshed pointed excitedly at Nesbit. “The one who broke your foot with her dancing.”
“I never broke a foot!” Alexis exclaimed.
“Shush, you!” Nesbit said, waving a finger at her. “Ship’s officers talking here — passengers aren’t in it.” He turned back to Hollingshed. “Could be that one. Had a sly look about her — just the thing for secret doings.”
“Look, you two,” Alexis said, opening one of her bottles and pouring herself a cup of wine. “Keep it up and I’ll drink these myself without sharing a drop.”
“Carew!” Hollingshed cried, spreading his arms wide, but not before sliding his own glass across the table to her. “Welcome back! Didn’t recognize you there for a moment.”
Nesbit slid his chair around the table and draped an arm over her shoulders, cup at the ready.
“Missed you terribly,” he said. “Foot’s all healed, no worries. Now, tell us, will we finally be leaving this bloody system?”
Forty
Alexis stayed near the back of the group as they entered the room, uncertain whether she’d been included as a courtesy or an oversight, but certain she knew nothing about planetary invasions. Once inside, she spotted Delaine amongst the French officers and moved to be near him where he stood against the room’s wall. The more senior officers crowded around the circular navigation plot at the room’s center.
“You’ve a new uniform,” she whispered. Delaine, Balestra, and the rest of the officers she recognized from the Berry March fleet were now all in light blue and white of the Republic’s navy and not the black and grey of Hanover.
“Oui.” He straightened the front of his jacket. “We are now of the Republic’s fleet. It is a little thing, but means much to us.”
Alexis laid a hand on his arm. She started to speak, but the group around the navigation plot had begun their introductions.
“Admiral Leneave,” Eades said, “may I present General Malicoat who will lead the New London ground forces and Admiral Chipley, commander of our fleet here at Alchiba. Gentlemen, Admiral Leneave of the Republic fleet, Field Marshal Bonnin, and, of course, Commodore Balestra, late of the Hanoverese Berry March fleet and now, happily, reunited with La Grande République de France Parmi les Étoiles.” He gestured and servants began circulating with glasses of champagne. “Before your efforts begin, may I propose a toast?” He waited until everyone had a glass then raised his. “To the liberation of the Berry March worlds, their long overdue reunion with the Republic, and confusion to Hanover!”
“Confusion to Hanover!” the group chorused.
Alexis stifled a yawn and put just a bit more pressure on her arm where it touched Delaine’s. The talks had been dragging on for hours and the initial toast had been the most exciting bit of it. She’d never imagined that planning an invasion could be so utterly boring. Everything from the least little item of supply to the order of embarkation and debarkation from the troop ships had to be endlessly debated. Of particular contention were the supplies for those forces they hoped would flock to their cause from within the worlds of the Berry March, for those men would be commanded by the Republic and every ton of supplies, from uniforms to weapons, brought for them meant one less ton of shipping available to the New London forces. The French transports which had brought the supplies to Alchiba had offloaded and returned to the Republic weeks before.
She felt Delaine lean into her arm where they touched in response to her increasing the pressure. It was a sort of game they’d come to silently play while they waited for whatever purpose they’d been included in the talks. Leaning into each other, a bit more pressure than necessary where they touched, a subtle brush of a finger — all unnoticed by those around them. Alexis caught one of the other French officers cast a glance their way with a raised eyebrow and a grin. She straightened, flushing. Perhaps it wasn’t entirely unnoticed by those around them. She dragged her attention back to the talks at the central table.
“Those men will be untrained, Marshal Bonnin,” General Malicoat was saying, “and it will take some time for them to be useful in any sort of battle.” He raised a hand to forestall the other man’s objection. “Training takes time, you must admit, sir. Should Hanover counter-attack before yours are prepared to face it, my troops will bear the brunt of the fighting and I’ll see them well-supplied for that.”
Bonnin nodded. “As you say, général, but these men, they are proud and will fight for their homes. We must see that it is their victory, not a conquest by your New London, oui? This means uniforms so that they see themselves as one, weapons so that they may fa
ce their foe.”
“I agree, sir, but I see no reason for them to be so fully equipped at the start. It will take time for them to come to us, time to organize them, and during that time the transports may return here for your material.”
“All the while the men of that land will march in what boots, monsieur? With weapons they bring from their homes? They will do this while your army stands by with shiny rifles and new boots?”
“Marshal Bonnin, I have a scant twelve regiments of foot here, four of heavy cavalry, another six of light, and only three of air. With transport for barely half of that, I’m told.” He gestured to Admiral Chipley, who nodded confirmation. “The Hanoverese are closer, more numerous, and have more shipping available. Should they come before our transports may return with the rest of my men, will your new recruits in fresh boots and with weapons they’ve never held before be at the forefront?”
Bonnin’s face flushed. “If they are true French, they shall —”
“No one is questioning their courage,” Chipley interrupted. “I’m certain they’d acquit themselves well. The point at issue is whether its best to equip them first or have a larger force of already trained men.”
“Perhaps we should first consider which system from which to base our endeavors,” Eades suggested. “That might shed some light on the best course of action. Commodore Balestra? Do you have some thoughts on that?”
“Here at Giron,” Balestra said immediately, pointing to the system on the plot.
“Are you certain?” Malicoat asked. “It’s rather farther from the border than I’d prefer.”
“The border worlds have less peoples,” Balestra said. “Those here —” She ran a finger along the systems on the far side of the Berry March where it bordered traditional Hanoverese space. “— have had … the word, the immigration from le Hanovre. Giron is still most Français.”
Alexis Carew: Books 1, 2, and 3 Page 81
