Chapter 5: The Surgeon
She was sitting in her clinic. Looking about the photos of all the children whose parents she had treated, or had brought into the world. Many of those children were now Marines, or Starmen. Many of their parents were dead or had injuries that required them to leave the service of the empire. Some of the children had been brought into her clinic one step from deaths door. Some had not made it off her exam table. She was wondering if she was making a difference any longer. She was getting old. Lately she was feeling every bit of her 90 odd years. She was wondering if it wasn’t time to move on. She had come aboard the Majestic to make a decision. She was wondering if she was getting too old to be a combat medic. The hours were hideous. She was wondering what it would be like to be just a plain old country doctor. She was looking on the manning report’s medical personnel list. She was surprised to see that that very few of Trena Doctors and surgeons had agreed to be part of the colonization effort.
She had read a report that many of Trena high price docs were offered positions on various worlds around the quadrant. Some of it made sense. Some of the specialists wouldn’t have a place to work. No hospital that they could work out of. About half the ER docs had signed up to go. That made up Admiral Klond’s decision. She made an appointment with the princess.
“Admiral,” the princess greeted the older woman as she walked into her office at Fletcher. “I was surprised when you wanted to see me. What can I do for you?’
“Princess,” the elderly doctor began, “I don’t know how to say this. But I guess I should just get it over with. I would like to retire. Retire in time to make the first lift to Home.”
“I see,” the princess replied, the woman before her was if not the longest serving officer in the Imperial Armed Forces, very close to it. But if anyone had any reason to retire it was the Admiral. She had been through four wars, and countless deployments. She had seen countless marines and imperial citizen’s pass through her clinic.
After a few minutes the princess finally spoke, “admiral if you wish to retire the Emperor will accept it. I know dad will want to do something special for one of his favorite people. I know the IRS…”
“Princess I want to be assigned to Home, on the first lift. I know Mike’s my boss; but I want to announce my retirement on Home. I need you to be okay with it. In about a month I’ll have seventy years of service with the IRS. That’s plenty of time to serve one’s country.”
“Admiral I hope that I am still going as hard when I get to be your age.” The general said, “Computer, connect me with Marshal Wilson.”
“This is Wilson!” Mike’s voice came from the communicator.
“Mike this is Carroll,” The general said, “I got some news. I am re assigning your MO.”
“Oh has something come up?” Mike asked. He had been hoping that Michelle would be around to deliver Lisa’s baby.
“Well yes,” the general said, “I am sending her to Home, where she’ll be the MO for the empire personnel I am sending there. I am also going to make her permanent party. Is that okay?”
“I quests so,” Mike said, “At least she’ll be on Home to catch Lisa’s baby.”
“Michael,” Admiral Klond said, “There is nothing that will keep me from delivering yours and Lisa children. I can’t do much here anymore Mike. The system I set up will work. I think I need to help set up the system, on Home. Or at least help get it set it up.”
“Okay Michelle,” Mike said, “transfer approved.”
Every Last Mother's Child Page 88
