Last Measure of Devotion (TCOTU, Book 5) (This Corner of the Universe)

by Britt Ringel

  Vernay returned the salute quickly and fought the urge to make the environment less formal. Garrett cautioned me not to be too casual with the officers below me but, damn, this is hard. Her blue eyes glanced at the feet of the sub-lieutenant standing before her. The Seshafian naval uniform and dark boots covered any hint of Gables’ cybernetics although her gait into the office had seemed a bit off.

  “At ease, Lieutenant,” Vernay instructed. I’ve known Denise almost my entire career and she nearly died because of the order I gave. How am I supposed to remain detached when she’s become such a loyal and trusted friend? And what about Diane and Jack? They know I’m not some great and almighty “Commander.” They’re all going to see right through me.

  Gables’ hands shifted from the sides of her legs to behind her back as she moved to the slightly more relaxed position of parade rest. “What’s up, ma’am?” she asked informally.

  “How are you recovering, Denise?” Vernay could not help but ask.

  Gables smiled. “Ahead of schedule,” she said easily. “The stumps have completely healed and I’ve taken to the implants well.”

  Vernay flinched at the brusqueness of Gables’ reference to her amputated feet and a wave of guilt washed through her. “Do you want to sit?”

  “I’ve been off my feet long enough, ma’am,” Gables replied without a trace of irony.

  “The Captain has a special assignment for the Kite Fifteen. He wants me to run it by you first since you’re the ranking pilot.”

  Gables tilted her head slightly and said, “Ma’am, that might be technically true because my position in the VF was higher than the rest of the other survivors but there are a lot of other junior grade lieutenants who share my date of rank. I’m their spokeswoman only because I’m not afraid to approach Captain Heskan.” Her lips twisted into a sardonic smile as she added, “Or you.”

  What’s that supposed to mean, Vernay wondered. “At any rate, by virtue of your standing among the pilots… in fact, among the entire Brevic crew, the Captain considers you the leader of the pilots.”

  “Well, I guess that makes it true then,” Gables accepted but added, “if we were still pilots.”

  Vernay seized upon the initiative. “That’s exactly what I want to talk to you about.”

  * * *

  A short distance down the hall from Vernay’s meeting, Heskan studied the ten men and women seated around the conference table in his new office. It was the same, extravagant office in which he had first encountered the late Admiral Cooke. Heskan did not have the time to redecorate and, instead, simply switched the wall screen default images to strategic system maps of Sade and Seshafi from their former settings of ancient, Terran wet navy ships.

  To his right, Captain Nguyen sat patiently. The gold braid signifying his status as a ship captain twisted its way from the front of his right shoulder epaulette, underneath his arm and reconnected to his epaulette at the back. Commander Joseph Tannault sat immediately opposite of Nguyen. The pair were in an amiable discussion about Tannault’s brother, Peter, a former Seshafian naval officer who had transferred to the Saden navy before the recent skirmish. Both brothers had survived the last battle unscathed.

  Lieutenant Jaynee Baldwin sat next to Lieutenant Covington. Heskan eagerly agreed with Nguyen to maintain both of the young lieutenants as ship captains. Baldwin’s corvette, Honor, sustained surprisingly little damage considering her ship had sailed inside Heskan’s rear-turned-vanguard section. Covington’s snow, Ravana, on the other hand had been thoroughly smashed. Only the cannibalization of Heskan’s own shattered ship, Elathra, provided the necessary parts to attempt to bring Ravana back from the dead. Heskan desperately wanted Ravana spaceworthy, not because of Covington’s desire to have his first command back—that was never going to happen—but because Seshafi needed every possible ship in the field. Covington’s longing to command Ravana again would go unfulfilled not only due to Ravana’s crippled status but also because the daring ship captain was slated to take command of Captain Nguyen’s old brig, Hawk.

  Farther down the table, Lieutenant Chadsworth was in conversation with Lieutenants Williams, Thomas and Harris. While his companions had acquitted themselves well under Heskan’s command, Chadsworth was something of an enigma. Fame’s captain had showed obstinance during the battle, even borderline insubordination, but fought his ship well and refused to strike his snow’s lights when many other Seshafian captains had capitulated much earlier. Although there was temptation to replace the bellicose man, Heskan relented to Nguyen’s counsel that removing a senior lieutenant who performed well in battle would create impressions of favoritism.

  Heskan turned his attention to the opposite side of the table and thought, There’s plenty of those rumors going around because of these two. Lieutenants Selvaggio and Truesworth sat next to each other, excitedly discussing the status of their first commands. Although initially shocked, both lieutenants had accepted their ships with surprising professionalism. No quips or sarcasm escaped Truesworth’s mouth. Likewise, Selvaggio accepted with muted resolve rather than the self-deprecation Heskan would have expected six months ago. Both lieutenants assumed their new roles with a quiet confidence mixed with the expected exuberance of youth.

  The ten men and women seated at the conference table, in addition to Vernay, comprised AmyraCorp’s space defense force and shield of liberty. The eleven ship captains were all that stood between the homes and families living inside the Seshafi star system and foreign aggression. Augmented by various privateers, this seemingly trivial safeguard had been enough to ensure that AmyraCorp survived the last round with Sade. However, with the rules of corporate warfare rewritten by Admiral Wallace, this tender wisp of security appeared to be little more than a speed bump on IaCom’s bent for conquest.

  At least the Iron Brigade is sending us ships, Heskan thought as he reflected on the looming battle. Maybe, after the outcome in Sade, other privateers will see that I can play by the rules and they’ll be more willing to contract with us. Heskan cleared his throat and the subtle request for silence was received. Conversations withered away and all eyes turned toward the head of the table.

  “It appears that Commander Vernay is running late,” Heskan recited. “I will brief her separately.”

  Heskan fiddled with the table controls and the inlaid screen flashed to life. The Sade star system was centered on a single M4II star. The star was a common one and the system itself, mundane. Sade’s only remarkable features were her inhabitants, industrious folk led by executives focused more on profit margins than the well-being of the humans working for them. The IaCom corporatocracy was not particularly harsh or unfair, as was the case with some of the corporate worlds closer to the Brevic Republic. IaCom board members simply insisted upon an unwavering commitment to the company above all else. Heskan could empathize as the Republic also relied upon nationalism to keep the point of its spear well-honed.

  “IaCom has answered our casus bellum and the preliminary orders of battle have been produced,” Heskan announced as he zoomed the Sade system map to the tunnel point leading to Seshafi. “As the defenders, they choose the battlespace and, as is customary I’m told, they placed it seven light-minutes from this tunnel point.” As the map focused upon the chosen locale, it became rapidly obvious that the area of space was empty. Nods around the table confirmed what had been expected.

  The system map vanished with the press of a button. In its place, the Seshafian and Saden orders of battle appeared. “We’re taking every fully repaired ship we have available to the fight.” He glanced at Lieutenants Williams, Harris and Selvaggio and saw disgruntled looks. “I’m not risking our Colossus-class snows; they’re still too vulnerable to participate.”

  Despite the best efforts of the accommodating Unadex repair docks in the Lagrin system, Rindr, Anakim and Ravana were still far too damaged to withstand the rigors of additional action. Maybe, Heskan thought, if the stakes were higher, I would risk them but not under the current
circumstances. Besides, I’m going to need those ships when Sade returns to our system. Heskan had also withheld his least combat-capable ships to push back against the growing meme of his supposed bloodthirsty nature and willingness to sacrifice anything for victory.

  “They aren’t in the order of battle yet but the Catalina privateers will be sending a brig and three snows in support. With the addition of our new second-rate ship of the line, we can muster ten ships in the effort.”

  “Not even two full-strength sections,” Commander Tannault summarized unhappily. He leaned forward to inspect the Saden order of battle. There were twenty-eight ships. Sade’s trio of line ships proudly topped the lists followed by three Saden brigs augmented with an additional five brigs from the Fleet Works and Secure Solutions privateer firms. A combination of seventeen snows and corvettes rounded out their defense. Tannault groaned. “Almost thirty ships in defense.”

  “Is this correct?” Covington asked in disbelief. “Is Secure Solutions really sending three brigs and three snows? That’s half their entire stable.” He cast a questioning look to Heskan.

  Heskan stared blankly at him until he realized Covington was expecting an answer. That’s right, I’d know such things since I’m supposed to have come from that company. He was frozen in thought until finally uttering, “Umm, close to that.”

  “Why aren’t they supporting us, sir?” Tannault asked.

  Heskan felt every pair of eyes look expectantly at him. After what felt like an eternity, Heskan weakly replied, “You see, one of the ranking officers in the firm has a personal grudge against me. Because of my tactics…” Lame excuse, Garrett.

  “That’s a lot of ships to fight, Captain,” Baldwin said dubiously.

  “It is,” Heskan agreed, grateful for the change in subject. “But, we don’t know how the order of battle will change over the next week. How many of those ships we damaged last month are truly operational? Our latest intelligence suggests that some might even be out of Sade, in the repair yards of other corporate systems.” He tapped on the inlaid conference table screen. “I expect this number to go down as we get closer to the battle.”

  “At least we know it won’t be more than twenty-eight ships,” Nguyen added optimistically. By the rules of warfare, once sent, a corporation’s order of battle could be revised to reflect the realities of logistics but only downward.

  Heskan nodded in affirmation. “We’re actually pretty fortunate. McMillon Group is sitting this casus bellum out because of the casualties we inflicted on them last time. I also understand that a conflict farther east is soaking up most of the remaining privateer firms in the Federation. We’re outnumbered, but then we expected that going in.” He offered the group a conspiratorial smile as he added, “Besides, the primary objective of this venture has already been accomplished. We’ve delayed Sade’s next casus bellum and gained valuable time to repair our damaged fleet.”

  “Will there be a secondary objective, sir?” Lieutenant Covington prompted Heskan as a slight smile began to spread across his face.

  “Absolutely,” Heskan acknowledged as he rearranged the order of battle. “I’m breaking our ships into these two sections. We’re going to try to knock a Saden ship or two out of the next fight before we retire.”

  The door to the conference room opened and Commander Vernay stomped in with a grim expression on her face. “Sorry I’m late, Captain.” She shook her head in a frustrated manner as she proclaimed, “They won’t do it. In fact, they’re all leaving us.”

  Heskan gritted his teeth and shook his head with disgust. “After everything we’ve been through…” He trailed off, staring at the tabletop. Finally, he asked, “Why?”

  Vernay circled the table and took the single, vacant seat. “Lieutenant Gables says that her crew has better things to do than commit suicide.”

  Nguyen spoke for the remaining officers at the table. “What are you talking about, Commander?”

  Vernay looked to Heskan who was slowly shaking his head. “An initiative that might have better balanced the odds,” he answered. “I had hoped to employ Lieutenant Gables and her shipmates’ unique abilities in this fight.”

  “Captain,” Truesworth interrupted, “let me talk to her. Gabes wouldn’t abandon us. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

  “Are Pruette and Thomas going with her?” Selvaggio asked.

  Heskan flashed an angry, quieting look at the twin lieutenants.

  “Those two are staying,” Vernay answered.

  Truesworth’s expression screwed itself into confusion. “That doesn’t make any sense. Lee Thomas would follow Gables to Hollara itself—”

  “That’s enough, Jack,” Heskan admonished as daggers flew from his eyes. “They’ve made their choices and that’s the end of it.” He looked around the table. “This changes nothing. Sade’s banquet is three days from today. Per tradition, we will travel together in one of AmyraCorp’s yachts. We’ll then tunnel back to Seshafi for final exercises before we make the dive to Sade for the real thing.” He looked darkly around the room with a sour expression that made his final query a formality. “Any questions? Good. Stacy, I want you to stick around so I can catch you up on what you missed. The rest of you are dismissed.”

  As the meeting broke, Truesworth and Selvaggio shot up from their chairs and ran for the door. After the rest of the officers had exited, Heskan turned to Vernay and said, “You know they’re headed directly for Denise.”

  Vernay smiled and shrugged. “They won’t get to her,” she told him confidently while glancing at her datapad. “The Kite Fifteen are already aboard the transport.”

  “Maybe we should have told them,” Heskan hedged.

  “No,” Vernay insisted, “you were right. AmyraCorp and IaCom are so in bed with each other that we could never keep it quiet. The fewer people who know, the better. This can’t get out.”

  Heskan nodded reluctantly. “I just hate keeping secrets.”

  Vernay’s smile blossomed into a full grin. “That’s my captain; always honest, always open.” She chewed her lower lip slightly in an attempt to stifle her smile. “And speaking of open… I really think you should leave part of the swimming pool unsheltered.”

  “You want me to add a pool?” Heskan exclaimed. “Stacy, I’m going to live right next to an ocean!”

  “Yeah, but nobody actually swims in oceans these days,” she replied, dismissing his point.

  * * *

  Lieutenant Clayton Covington walked from the briefing room and quickly scanned the main hallway for his target. After a moment, he called out, “Commander!”

  Joseph Tannault offered the lieutenant a questioning look as the son of AmyraCorp’s CEO approached him. Covington gave a perfunctory nod to Lieutenant Mark Hall standing next to Tannault before saying, “Now that we’ve got a copy of the order of battle, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. I had heard rumors that Secure Solutions was going all in on behalf of Sade. That’s obviously true and the personal grudge against Captain Heskan must run wide and deep for them to commit so many ships to a single battle.” He looked up conspiratorially at his fellow officer. “Any scuttlebutt from your brother on why they hate Captain Heskan so much?”

  Tannault shot cautious glances around the hall before leaning in closer to Covington. “All Peter has told me is that Secure Solutions owes Sade big-time, something about not fulfilling a past contract.” He shrugged his shoulders before adding, “He hasn’t heard of any grudge against Captain Heskan. In fact, it seems like our fleet commander has appeared out of a vacuum.” He looked sternly between his two companions. “Not a word of this to anyone but Viscount Wallace has been trying to uncover the man’s past… know your opponent and all that, and well, Peter says that Heskan is an utter mystery. Nobody in the Commonwealth is giving him up.”

  Covington furrowed an eyebrow. “That’s strange. Aren’t Hollaran service files a matter of public record after retirement?”

  “Not all of them and not in
this case,” Tannault explained. “There’s absolutely nothing. No file at all and Wallace called in all sorts of favors seeking the information. He urgently wants this man’s background.”

  Hall snorted softly. “No surprise there. You should have heard some of the things Captain Heskan said to the Viscount during the battle. We’ve all heard the rumors of Wallace’s legendary temper but from his communications with Elathra, I can vouch for it. He was spitting fire by the end of the battle.”

  “Yeah, well, Heskan’s manner and tactics are a bit unorthodox to say the least,” Covington noted with thick admiration woven into his words.

  “And incredibly effective,” Hall agreed but kept his eyes on Tannault. “I’m telling you, Joseph. The way these outlanders managed point defense was unreal.” He tapped his chest with a finger. “I attended I-MADS on Helwan and the professors that teach the point defense courses there are mostly retired Hollaran weapons officers.” He shook his head in amazement as he added, “I’ve never seen anything like what Commander Vernay set up.”

  “Well,” Tannault theorized, “maybe she’s adjusted their point defense tactics since leaving the Commonwealth?”

  Covington rolled his eyes skeptically at Tannault. “Yeah, because privateer snows are so often matched against rated ships with missiles.”

  “Fair point.”

  Hall brought a hand up to his chin and rubbed absent-mindedly. “So, if they aren’t using standard Hollaran point defense tactics… then whose are they using?”

  Covington looked upward briefly. “From what you told me, Mark, it’s not Federation.” He smiled sheepishly before continuing, “I attended—”

  “Sekhmet Academy on Kett!” Hall and Tannault exclaimed in unison. All three men shared a good-natured laugh.

  Covington dipped his head as his cheeks turned crimson. “I, uh, mentioned that once or twice before, have I?”

  Tannault teased, “Maybe a couple times, Clayton. Rank may have its privileges but it also never hurts to be the CEO’s son.”