by P. R. Adams
“You’ll be the testing grounds here. We’ve got a platoon of Aussies and two platoons of Brits en route already. A platoon each from the Chinese, Germans, and Russians to follow. That’s the starting point. But once it’s all said and done, a battalion. International, and ultimately fully integrated—gear, training, command structure. And if you make it work, it’s going to be a brigade. Are you up for it?”
Rimes thought back to the weeks of silence and the strain it had put on Molly and on his soldiers. Even considering the uncertainty gripping Earth, it was hard to forgive. “How long ago did you reach this decision, Sir?”
“That’s not a yes, Captain.” General Durban frowned. His brow wrinkled, channeling sweat down his hawk nose. “We’re offering you the chance of a lifetime.”
“So is someone else, Sir.” Rimes was surprised by the sudden burst of frankness. It wasn’t like him. It’s Kwon.
General Durban’s frown deepened. “I see.” He thrust his jaw forward and sighed. “I’ve been authorized a good deal of leeway in making this happen. A lot of the old rules are no longer applicable as we transition to this new structure. We have options—titles, bonuses, even brevet rank, if needed.”
“I’m not sure those matter. I have people out here who’ve been living without a clue about their future for two months. I want to know how long you’ve known this was going to happen and didn’t bother to tell us, General.”
“You’re out of line, Captain.” General Durban seemed to bite back a full-on shout, but there was not stopping the color from reaching his face. He looked away for a moment, then he looked back, calmer. “You don’t realize how close this all came to falling apart. All of it. Did you notice the Indians aren’t sending anything? They resent the hell out of you. They wanted their man put in charge, and they damn near got it. And our grand history was thrown out the window with that goddamned coup attempt. Every pacifist in the world is screaming for an end to standing militaries, as if we’ll just wish away our enemies in the future. You turn me down, we’re either going to be stuck with some Gurkha major who’s never conducted an operation outside the subcontinent, or even worse, the pacifists are going to win out and we’re all out of a job. Might as well just hand the planet over to the genies.”
Rimes stared calmly. “How long, Sir?”
General Durban blinked. “Two, maybe three days before I stepped onto the Butler. And even then, I’m not sure I believed it would stay. It’s all so volatile right now.” He looked ready to say more but stopped.
“One last question, Sir.” Calm now. “What did we know about COROT-7 before we were sent in?”
General Durban’s jaw worked as he tried to reconcile being grilled by a subordinate. “You’re talking about the Commandos we lost?”
“Staff Sergeant Pasqual's team.” Rimes needed to say the name.
General Durban sighed, and his shoulders slumped. “That’s the Bureau. We knew they wanted Sergeant Pasqual’s squad for something. They tasked the Carolina without giving us the slightest bit of information. We had our suspicions. The Bureau’s been running its own operations for a while now, but they’d always preferred Delta until the budget cuts whittled them down to nothing. None of us knew what they had in mind. I still don’t think we have a good idea. The Bureau’s in tight with the Cartel and the UN I don’t see that changing. Damn it, Rimes, why are you making this into some sort of trial? I’m not the enemy! I’m a victim, just like you. Hell, you’re the one with the bright future. You’ve got people seriously talking about ending hostilities with the genies. If things get worse with the metacorporations, we won’t have any choice but to abandon the war. We don’t have the wherewithal to fight two enemies.”
Rimes considered General Durban’s words and body language; he seemed sincere enough. “I believe you, Sir.”
“I still need an answer, Captain. Yes or no?”
“You want a battalion, maybe a brigade, I’ll need the appropriate rank. I’ll also need ships tasked specifically to the ERF—and it needs to be designated that way. Unambiguously. I’ll also want a say in crew. I’ll need a direct line in to the Bureau, a liaison here on Plymouth.”
“We can get a tasked ship of the appropriate size.”
“Task force, General, not ship.”
General Durban caught his breath, colored slightly, then cleared his throat. “Task force. Crew shouldn’t be a problem either. I think the Bureau will want a liaison here. On the rank, we can get you up to major, nothing more.”
“Colonel.”
“Lieutenant Colonel.” General Durban's face was a brilliant red.
“Colonel. Not brevet. You’re in the middle of reorganization. Make this part of it. I’ll submit names from my unit for promotion as well.”
General Durban’s face darkened even more for a moment, then he relaxed, and the coloring left his face. “Don't get greedy, Captain. That’s what’s got us to where we are today: unbridled, short-sighted greed and no shortage of incompetence. You’ve been quite upfront about your dislike of venality and politicking. I can appreciate that. Don’t become what you hate.”
“I sincerely hope not to, Sir.”
“Good. Colonel it is.”
Rimes extended his right hand. General Durban hesitated a moment, then shook. “I can’t guarantee you I’ll take this offer, General. I can guarantee you I’m satisfied with the terms.”
General Durban released Rimes’s hand angrily. “I’ll need a final answer, Captain.”
“I’ll talk it over with my wife. We should know before you leave Plymouth.”
General Durban’s jaw trembled for a moment, then he seemed to regain control of himself. “Everyone I’ve talked to says you’re an honorable man. We live in an imperfect world, but don’t fool yourself that the choices are simple. It’s not one extreme or another. The choice isn’t between completely abandoning all pretense of dignity and becoming a whore. There is a middle path. There’s no shame in conscientious compromise. You need to seek out opportunities like this. Make the most of them. Do that while caring for those you love, and you’ll find the ability to sleep and dream of a better life for everyone, all while being just who you are. That’s what I do, Captain, and I’m content.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Sir.” Rimes offered a crisp salute and turned, heading for the housing unit and Molly. Colonel Rimes, just like Perditori said.
They had tough choices to make, but he knew whatever they chose, they would be all right.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTES
Thank you for reading Transition of Order. I hope you enjoyed it. Jack Rimes's story concludes in Awakening to Judgment and is followed by the Elite Response Force series, which begins with Turning Point.
If you enjoyed Transition of Order, I hope you'll consider posting a review and letting friends know about the book. Reviews can be one of those things that help people decide whether or not to give something a try.
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For updates on new releases and news on other series, please visit my website and sign up for my mailing list at:
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http://www.p-r-adams.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I joined the Air Force, and my career took me from coast to coast before depositing me in the St. Louis, Missouri area for several years. After a tour in Korea and a short return to the St. Louis area, I retired and moved to the greater Denver, Colorado metropolitan area.
I write speculative fiction, mostly science fiction and fantasy. My favorite writers over the years have been Robert E. Howard, Philip K. Dick, Roger Zelazny, and Michael Crichton.
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