“The trouble with you, Pavel, is that you are a natural-born pessimist,” Harper said. “I intend to savor any moments of peace and relaxation I can get, especially now that I have cast off my cares and worries. Something I intend to demonstrate when I break open the Titanian Vodka I've been saving.”
“You planning on drinking alone?” Salazar asked.
“Always glad to have a friend along for the ride,” she replied, as the transfer shuttle slid into the docking bay. As the shuttle began to climb, she took a last look out of the view-port, Daedalus in the distance, running lights seeming to wink at her. Salazar looked at her, and shook his head.
The shuttle rose to the deck, and he pulled himself to his feet, stepping to the airlock as it opened to the sound of applause. An Espatier honor guard was lined up on either side of the hatch, standing at attention, and what looked like half the crew was waiting, as well as a couple of dozen Neander from Redemption, Aussketi, Ghewon, Kelot and others he didn't recognize. There were several Neander he didn't recognize in Espatier uniform, almost a majority of the platoon.
“I'm sorry,” he said. “The President's on the next one. This is the transfer shuttle from Daedalus.”
“Lieutenant Salazar,” Nelyubov said, “Front and center.”
“What?” he asked, looking around, before walking forward. Harper, who had obviously been in on it, followed him down the steps to the deck, moving to his side while Cooper took the other. Ghewon, wearing an intricately-decorated robe, took a box from Orlova and held it forward, opening it to reveal two shining chromium pips, the insignia of a Lieutenant in the Triplanetary Fleet.
“Captain Orlova kindly permitted me to award these to you, as a small measure of our esteem for your actions on the surface of Cyndar. By remaining behind to operate flight control, you were responsible for the survival of four hundred and fifty-seven refugees.”
“Not to mention fifteen Espatiers,” Cooper added.
“Indeed. It is therefore my great pleasure and privilege to promote you to the rank of Lieutenant, and to award you honorary Guildsman status in the Interstellar Collective.” Salazar looked for Rhodes, now with the single stripes of Lance-Corporal insignia on his arm, who flashed him a grin.
“I only did my duty, sir,” Salazar protested.
“Willingly, and without a second thought, only caring to save as many lives as you could. This small honor is the least we can do.”
At a nod from Orlova, Cooper and Harper removed the small insignia from his shoulders, pinning the larger replacements in position. He looked from one to the other, then back up at Ghewon.
“I don't know what to say, sir, but thank you.” Looking around, he said, “All of you.” Glancing back at the shuttle, where Maqua was standing he asked, “I wasn't the only one down there, sir.”
“Maqua has been promoted, and Lance-Corporal Rhodes shares your status, Lieutenant,” Ghewon replied. “We do not forget. We will never forget.”
Stepping forward, Nelyubov said, “That's all people. We've had our little fun, and now we've got to get back to work.” With a loud murmur, the crowd dispersed, several of them taking the opportunity to clap him on the back and shake his hand, Corporal Stewart even kissing him on the cheek, Harper giving the trooper a sharp look in response. His blush had barely faded as Orlova guided him and Harper into the hangar deck office, closing the door behind her.
“Captain,” Salazar began, but she raised her hand.
“Recent circumstances have caused me to re-evaluate the command structure, Lieutenant, and the more I looked at your contribution, the more I realized that you had merited the promotion. You're at minimum eligible time...”
“By thirty-seven minutes, to be precise,” Harper said.
“And while this isn't exactly usual, these aren't normal circumstances.” Shaking her head, she added, “Frankly, I think Cooper and his gang would have mutinied if I hadn't promoted you. As for Rhodes, well, God only knows how long he'll keep that stripe, but I'd say he's earned a crack at a promotion.”
“I'll do my best, ma'am,” Salazar said.
“You always do.” She looked down at a datapad, and said, “I've got to replace Lieutenant Kibaki. Losing him is a hell of a blow. Do you want to take Operations?”
“Operations?” he asked. “That's...”
“Fifth in the chain, yes. Which should give you some idea of how highly I value you.” Taking a deep breath, she said, “Pavel, we're deep behind enemy lines, and we're going to be operating in a wartime environment for the next few months. The idea of a quick run in and out has died, I'm afraid. Three months to get the Neander home and return to our current location, and that's being optimistic. We're going to be under attack again, and there are going to be more casualties. That's a fact.” Turning to Harper, she said, “How's your ship?”
Nodding, she replied, “Well, we suffered a lot of damage, and I could do with another damage control team. Lombardo has a list of...” She paused, then said, “What do you mean, my ship?”
Passing her a datapad, she said, “Lieutenant Harper, you will assume the bridge of the Daedalus on my order. I'll try and get some more repair teams over to help you prepare for the next transition. Now don't expect that this will last. When we get home, either the ship will end up in a museum, or someone else will be placed in command, but that could be months away. For the moment, you've got a job to do, and you've managed to prove that you are the best choice for the job.”
“Give it to Pavel,” she replied.
“No, I'm giving it to you.” With a smile, she added, “Maybe it's the hair.”
“I'm not ready,” she replied. “I never thought...”
Nodding, Orlova replied, “Kris, I'll be honest with you. Giving you that assignment was a way for me to show you what responsibility meant, how it was on the other side of the command structure. I thought you might learn something from it, but it was never meant to be a combat assignment. I'd always planned to move Joe Kibaki across to take over before we left.” Sighing, she added, “And that decision cost both him and Spaceman Parker their lives.”
“Captain, I...”
“Let me finish. I'd hoped that you might learn something, but I think you taught me something instead. You performed superbly, better than I could have dared hope. True, under normal circumstances you would never even be considered for such a role, and you'll be moved somewhere else when it's over, but for the present, I can't think of a better choice for the job. Daedalus is yours, for the duration.”
“Congratulations, Captain,” Salazar said, holding out his hand.
“Congratulations, Lieutenant,” she replied, taking it. “I guess we'll have to split that bottle in my quarters on Daedalus.”
“You've got to go over there anyway, Pavel,” Orlova said. “One of your responsibilities is to supervise the midshipmen, and...”
“About that, Captain.”
“Way ahead of you. I don't think Spaceman Armstrong needs to wait until we get home. I'm minded to get her started on her training right now. I'd like you to sit down with Frank and work out a curriculum for her, starting with guidance control.”
“I have someone else in mind, ma'am.”
Raising an eyebrow, she replied, “Go on.”
“There was someone else on Daedalus I've been working with very closely, and I think he should be considered for such an assignment. We had all of the testing materials on board, and as you can see, he performed very well on the preliminaries.” He pulled out a datapad, tapped a couple of controls, and passed it to her.
She nodded, replying, “Better than Armstrong in some areas, though a bit weak on the theory. I suppose we can build on that, though. Practical experience is what we need right now, anyway. I guess Garland did the medical?”
“Page Five. I know that Doctor Duquesne will have to do the formal check...”
&
nbsp; “No, you were quite right,” she replied. “I know she trusts his judgment, and I'm willing...” She paused, looked up at him with surprise on her face, and said, “This is a Neander, Pavel.”
“Maqua. He's a born pilot, ma'am, but there's more than that. His instincts are good, his judgment is excellent, and I think he has potential that simply won't be exploited if he stays with his own people.” Looking out at the hangar deck, where the man in question was eagerly looking at the shuttles, he added, “You heard Ghewon. They'll lock him in a maintenance hangar for the rest of his life. He's worth more than that, and if they don't want to use him, we should.”
“You feel strongly about this, don't you, Pavel.”
Nodding, he said, “Maybe it's just my instincts, but I see something in him that I recognize. Something I like.”
“I agree with him, Captain,” Harper said.
“Shall I call him in?” Salazar pressed.
“Wait a moment,” she replied, skimming down through the file, taking a deep breath. “We're making history today, Pavel, and I feel like savoring the moment. Have you told him about this?”
“Not in detail, though I did hint that we might hire him as a shuttle pilot. He doesn't know what the tests were for.”
“Right. Go get him.”
Opening the door, he yelled, “Maqua, come in, will you? The Captain wants a word with you.”
Ghewon looked at him in surprise as the young Neander walked over to the office, Aussketi glancing at Salazar with a smile on her face, and a barely perceptible nod. As Maqua stepped in, Harper closed the door, moving beside him.
“You wanted to see me, ma'am?”
“Stand to attention when you are addressing a senior officer.”
Panic in his eyes, he snapped to attention, and replied, “Sorry, ma'am.”
“That's more like it. I understand that Lieutenant Salazar has put you through some rather extensive testing over the transition through hendecaspace.”
“Yes, ma'am, but I found it challenging.” Turning to him, he said, “Sir, I'm grateful for everything you've done over the last two weeks.”
“Look to your front,” Orlova said, and Maqua turned back, standing ramrod-straight. She held up a datapad, and said, “He has suggested that you might be interested in a position in the Triplanetary Fleet. Is that the case?”
Maqua's face lit up, and he said, “Yes, ma'am. I'd like that very much.”
She shook her head, and said, “They'll call you a traitor. Strip you of your citizenship. You'll never be able to go home, ever again, most likely. There are some Neander in the Confederation these days, but only a small minority. You understand that?”
“I do, ma'am. I know the risks I'm taking, and I'm willing to accept them.” He glanced across at Salazar again, and said, “Lieutenant Salazar has given me more chances than any member of my own race ever did. If I have a home, ma'am, I'd like it to be here. At least, I'd like to chance to try.”
“Very well. In that case, there are two possibilities open to you, and I want you to consider them both very carefully. Based on your test scores, and everything Lieutenant Salazar has told me, I'm happy to enlist you into the Fleet as a Spaceman Second Class. Certainly the experience you have means that you have no need for the probationary training period. You would be assigned to the hangar deck as a shuttle pilot.”
“Thank you, ma'am!” he said, all smiles.
“Please don't interrupt,” she said. “There is another option, and one that I know Lieutenant Salazar is hoping that you will accept.” Leaning forward, she continued, “Never mind flying a shuttle. How would you like to fly Alamo?”
“What?”
“Before we left, I was asked to find potential candidates for officer training. There's a substantial shortfall in the training pipeline, and I have the authority to name midshipmen. Lieutenant Salazar has put your name forward, and you have already passed the preliminary examination.”
“Midshipman?”
“Officer cadet.”
“An officer? On a starship?” he asked, wide-eyed.
“It'll be months of hard work,” Salazar warned, “harder than anything you have ever done in your life. It'll push you to your limits, and beyond, and even if you receive a commission, it never gets any easier. Trust me, I know.”
“Nevertheless,” Orlova said, “We both think...”
“All three of us,” Harper interrupted.
“...That you are at least potentially suitable for the role,” she finished.
“It's up to you,” Salazar said. “You'd be a fine shuttle pilot. But after what you did back at Cyndar, I think you might make a great officer. Someday.”
After a long pause, Maqua nodded, and said, “If you think I have a chance, I'd like to try, ma'am. I'll work as hard as I possibly can, I promise.”
“I hope so, Midshipman,” Orlova said. “I damn well hope so.” Salazar handed her a datapad, the paperwork already prepared, and she placed her thumbprint to authenticate it, before passing it over to Alamo's newest recruit. “Take that to Chief Kowalski. He'll assign you quarters and issue you with the correct uniform. Lieutenant Salazar and Senior Lieutenant Nelyubov will be organizing your training, and I assure you that no matter how hard you think it will be, the reality will be a hundred times worse.” Gesturing at the door, she said, “Dismissed.”
“Thank you, ma'am,” he said. “I'll not let you down, I promise.”
“Haven't you forgotten something, Captain?” Salazar prompted.
“Oh, of course,” she said. “Feel like making history, Maqua?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Then raise your right hand, and repeat after me. I solemnly swear...”
As Maqua became the first Neander to take the officer's oath of the Triplanetary Confederation, Salazar looked on with a smile, shaking his head as he ran over the current situation in his mind. They were stranded in enemy territory, facing an unknown reception with an interstellar power, with the Xandari set to harry them all the way, and a ship that was hanging together by the sheer force of Engineer Quinn's will.
Just another day on the Battlecruiser Alamo.
Thank you for reading 'Forbidden Seas'. For information on future releases, please join the Battlecruiser Alamo Mailing List at http://eepurl.com/A9MdX for updates. If you enjoyed this book, please review it on the site where you purchased it.
The writer's blog is available at http://tinyurl.com/pjl96dj
Look out for Battlecruiser Alamo: Final Testament, coming in June 2016…
Battlecruiser Alamo: Forbidden Seas Page 23
