by Chris Hechtl
Zek stiffened and used his implants to lock down his expression.
“You as an admiral shouldn't be teaching hands-on at all,” the bug buzzed, addressing the admiral before he turned to the lieutenant. “And I don't remember hyperspace math or navigation on the course syllabus, Lieutenant!”
“Sir, I am not teaching a formal class; it just comes up during tutoring sessions …”
“Silence!” the bug barked. “If I want an excuse, I'll give you one! I'm up to my antenna in ONI looking over me for resistance cells in my command and now this!” the Veraxin's mandibles flicked. “You two are now under orders to mind your own business and follow my orders and the syllabus to the letter. No more tutoring sessions. You are to teach only what you are told to teach and nothing more. Is that understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Zek said formally.
“Sir …”
“I said, is that understood, Lieutenant?” the Veraxin demanded.
“Yes, sir,” Lieutenant V'l'r said, but he couldn't help but let a little of his exasperation and anger show.
The Veraxin admiral studied him. “I could have you up on charges now for insubordination, Lieutenant. Just your body language and tone tell me that.”
“It is your choice, sir,” the Veraxin replied.
“Don't think I wouldn't love to do so, but the justice system is overwhelmed at the moment. No thanks to your friend Commodore Logan,” he buzzed nastily. The lieutenant didn't rise to the bait.
“So, finals will be over next week. If you have a problem following orders, I suggest you resign after them.”
“Sir?” Zek asked in dismay. He had been waiting for someone to point that out to him, but he hadn't expected it to be delivered like that.
“You heard me. You can resign; it is your option. I don't want to catch you two disobeying my orders again, or I'll have you in the cells right next to your pal the commodore. Is that understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Both officers said in unison.
“As it happens, we've got a break coming up right after finals. You've got that time to consider your options before the next semester begins,” the commandant buzzed. “Dismissed,” he said, turning away from them.
@
Zek shook his head as they passed through the outer layers of the administration section. He could tell the commander was not a happy bug. He wasn't at all surprised when they got out into the hallway and the Veraxin began to vibrate with barely suppressed rage.
Not only had he been ordered to not teach origami, but he'd also been ordered to not tutor anything outside his assigned classes. That meant he was down to basic math classes, stuff that the students should have learned in elementary school.
“Sir, why are they doing this?” the lieutenant buzzed angrily, his truehands moving in hand signs too fast for the human to follow. “Why do they care what we teach? We're keeping our heads down …” He was smart enough not to mention their little trick with Ilmarinen's computers.
Zek scowled, acutely aware that they were most likely being watched. “I suggest you keep such questions to yourself, Commander, and leave me out of it,” Zek replied. He realized he was retreating back into his shell. He couldn't help it.
“Sir, I'm sorry … it's just, I'm frustrated,” Lieutenant V'l'r said, suddenly deflated. “Sometimes I just want to give up. I know that's what they want though.”
Zek snorted. “Welcome to the club. We all are. I don't know why they are doing it. Just do your job or resign. Your call.”
The Veraxin stilled his entire body. After a long moment, his antenna bobbed slowly. “Aye aye, sir.”
“Personally, I think it would be a shame for the navy to lose your talent. Try to hang in there if you can.”
“Do you know something I don't, sir?” the Veraxin asked carefully.
Admiral Zekowitz cocked his head. The temptation to answer was strong, but he knew that was the lemming path. “I am a great believer in honor and commitment to duty. I know you are too.”
“Aye aye, sir. I guess I have a lot to think about.”
“I guess we all do.”
@
Tucker finished his sandwich and then sat back and dusted the crumbs off his shirt. “Good.”
“How do you know? You inhaled it,” his partner accused, obviously amused but used to his antics. “You know you are supposed to chew, right?” she asked.
“Yeah, but I'm so used to eating on the run it's hard to stop.”
“Well try. We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves here,” Lee replied. “Did you even taste it?”
He cocked his head and pretended to think about it. She snorted when he shrugged and shook his head. His smirk told her he was joking though.
She was less amused by the baleful looking ONI operative watching them as he pretended to read his tablet in the corner of the restaurant. “They must be scraping the bottom of the barrel to send someone so obvious.”
Tucker glanced over his shoulder and stared at the guy long enough to make the idiot uncomfortable. The guy swore under his breath at being made. “You wish,” he said as he turned back to her. “He could be the bait. Send him out since he's so obvious while someone else better isn't seen. We get all focused on him and pat ourselves on the back.”
“We've got nothing to hide though. Why bother us?”
“Because they think they can find something,” Tucker said. “Which isn't going to happen,” he said as he waved to the guy and then had the waiter send over a drink just to twist the knife a little.
The agent tried to beg off on the drink but finally picked it up with a sigh and saluted them with it. Tucker snorted. “At least he knows when he's beat.”
“Something like that. So, been busy?” Lee asked.
“The usual. We've been swamped. I'm honestly surprised they let me off for an entire three-day weekend. I bet you've got tons of vets coming into your clinic too.”
“A lot. Some aren't happy when they find out that because they resigned under a cloud they aren't eligible for veteran benefits.”
“Yeah, I've heard a few shouting matches,” Tucker replied with a shrug. “It sucks. Any problems with reporters?”
“A few incidents have raised their awareness of things. I saw the story where they practically demanded benefits for those who resigned or were given a bad chicken dinner,” she shook her head as she picked at her chicken salad. Long fingers reached out and snapped at a piece of chicken that had strayed too far from the nest.
“Hey!” she protested, looking at him aggrieved as the miscreant popped the piece of poultry in his mouth, completely unrepentant. “That was mine!”
“Not anymore,” he teased, making a show of masticating it. She shook her head. “Juvenile delinquent. I don't honestly know why I put up with you.”
“Your evil and sadistic nature will find a way to get me back later,” he teased wickedly.
She blushed. “You're on, bub,” she mock growled. He pretended to groan in despair, eliciting a chuckle from her and a kick in the general direction of his shin under the table.
@
Lieutenant V'l'r had difficulty explaining the cessation of his tutoring sessions to his students. It wasn't that the concept was difficult to get across; it was the questions about why and how to handle them.
“It comes down to a simple thing,” he said as he put up a sign saying all tutoring sessions were over by his door. “An order is an order. I've been given an order, and I have to obey it.”
“That … sir, it stinks!” A young high elf said. She shook her head as he swiveled an eyestalk to her. She was one of his most promising navigational students. “Honestly, what's the point of staying in if this is how things are going to go?” she demanded.
“I asked myself that very question,” the Veraxin replied.
“Sir?”
“Do you have an answer?”
“Not really. Admiral Zekowitz convinced me to hang in there for your sake,
for the sake of the navy and the Federation. I guess that's my reason. Each of you will have to find your own. You will need to remind yourselves why you joined and decide if it is worth continuing on this path.”
“Is it going to be like this? Is it going to get worse?”
“I don't know,” the lieutenant replied testily as he finished with the last pin. He turned on the group of students. “I …,” he paused and collected himself as a familiar memory of the same question being asked came to him. “Do you remember your history?”
“Yes, sir.”
“After the fall of the Federation, the rest of the Federation fell into the dark ages. Many asked that question. The answer to many was to just hunker down and get through it. That was what we did. We tried to survive.”
“But it's not like that now,” a student said.
“It is indeed like that. Not everywhere, it is getting better. But that takes people to step up and try. To keep trying, to learn, and pass on what they learned. To do what has to be done even when things are stacked against you. There is still hope out there; it is spreading. We can't rely on others however to give us that hope. Eventually, we have to make it for ourselves and pass it on to those around us by our example.”
His students nodded or signaled assent.
“And remember, I can't tutor you but that doesn't stop you from doing research on your own time. And you can work with each other,” he said as a parting shot as he left them.
@
Admiral Childress read the report on the trial and grimaced in distaste. He wanted to relieve Colonel Talia but he couldn't without causing a mistrial or further delaying the trial. It would also look bad since he had no cause to do so. Admiral Shren had already slapped him down more than once too.
Instead, after a bit of thought, he doubled down. He had additional charges drawn up and leveled against Horatio. Captain Rising Tide protested but came up with a list. They hit him with lewd conduct as well as misappropriation of materials and funds.
The proof of Logan's midnight requisitions to outfit Ilmarinen were there in Command One's databases. He did a little tweaking to change the records to suit his needs. He didn't want Logan's requisitions to look sympathetic, so he changed them to comfort items for Logan himself.
He was quite satisfied with himself when he finished and went on to other things. But when an alert popped up, he stopped and scanned it and his fury returned with a vengeance. Apparently, the new charges had given the defense the opening they needed to delay the trial still further in order to review the new charges and evidence.
He grimaced and flicked the tablet away from him in disgust. It felt like everything he touched lately was coming apart. Was Murphy pissed at him or just laughing?
He wasn't certain he wanted to find out.
@
Chief Justice Admiral Thurgrad groaned when he saw the new charges. “Gods of space, he's building him up like he's a pedophile!”
“Not bad. Didn't Irons get charged with that in Pyrax?” Colonel Talia asked.
Admiral Silvestri shot him a sour look. The colonel just looked back at him. Clearly there was no help there, nor much of a way to get the colonel to contain himself.
“Does he realize these fresh charges means a possible change? That both sides will need time to prepare for them? He wants us to end this quickly and quietly, but then this?” Admiral Silvestri grumbled, waving a hand.
“One wondered which side he's on. He's his own worst enemy,” Admiral Thurgrad said softly. The Neorottweiler's ears flicked. Harry couldn't help but grimace as he realized he'd said that last statement out loud and in the dog's presence.
“I noticed that TJAG didn't sign off on any of these,” Admiral Silvestri stated, scanning the charges. “And he's reapplied the same charges that were about to be dismissed due to his refusal to testify.”
“How are we going to handle that? His affidavit …,” Admiral Thurgrad stated.
“You know that won't wash. No. Those charges have to go,” Admiral Silvestri stated. Colonel Talia nodded. Admiral Thugrad grimaced but then nodded with them. “I think most of these will have to be thrown out too.”
“We can't do that.”
“We can run it past TJAG. Given the trial is already nearly concluded, opening the prosecution's case back up will cause all sorts of headaches.”
“Agreed,” Admiral Thurgrad signed. “I'll call him.”
@
Doctor Bullettine rubbed his hands together as he rallied the troops. “All right, people, listen up. These new charges are proof that the opposition is getting desperate. So, we're first, going to dive into them and pick them apart. Obviously, they can't be in this trial; the prosecution has already closed the case. Theresa, I want you to play that up to the media as well as our insistence of a kangaroo court. That'll piss Childress off. Make sure you get them all the little bits that we've saved up.”
“On it,” Theresa replied with a nod.
“Good. Danny, we're going to need more witness testimony once we go through these charges. Most are bogus; I think the prosecution knows that.”
“Understood. Benny?” she turned to the attorney.
“I'm going to work with the commander to get you the time and people you need to look up. Some we already know. The prosecution hasn't given us much though. The discovery motion will buy us at least a week or so.”
“Understood.”
“If Childress wants this over with, why double down?” Chuck asked.
“Because he's desperate,” Geneva replied tartly as she looked at her tablet.
“You, my lovely lady, will be having fun with the social media. Make sure you keep tabs on them while giving them the morsels they need to get them thrashing. You've been keeping tabs on the military social media sites?”
“Of course. Those I can gain access to. ONI is watching us like a hawk so I have to be on my best behavior. No hacking, remember?”
“I know. Do your best.”
“Well, I can't do my best but I'll do what I can,” she replied.
“Understood. Now …”
@
“More and more people are pointing to a rigged trial. What will become of it, we don't know. There is a great fear of riots once the verdict comes out. I can tell you the government is concerned and taking steps in order to minimize damage and to try to control the situation,” the reporter said gravely. “Back to you in the studio, Dave.”
Sven Sema listened to the news report and then looked at his wife beside him on the couch. She wrinkled her nose in clear disgust. “Yeah, the trial is rigged. I think it's obvious to everyone except Childress. But he won't do anything.”
“Nope. He's the one who rigged it in the first place.”
“Bastard,” his wife muttered as she crossed her arms. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her biceps in agreement and sympathy.
@
Reba Childress shook her head as she saw the reporters. They didn't know it, but she had actually planned their ambush of her, right down to the timing so she could look her best.
That still didn't stop her from looking disgusted when she was accosted while “shopping.”
“Ma'am, just a moment of your time ….”
“Fine,” she said, nodding politely to the Veraxin reporter.
“Ma'am, about what is going on with the navy and your son's role at the center of it all. What are your thoughts?”
“Unfortunately, my son isn't on speaking terms with me these days. He's shut me out and isn't interested in any opinion other than his own.” She shook her head. “It's a pity; I raised him to be better than this.”
“Ah, yes, ma'am. About the problems with the industry …”
“We need to get back on track. The only way to do that is to get back into regular contact with the outer Federation. Childress Shipyards is looking forward to retooling our industry and putting our people back to work.”
“You don't
mind using replicator technology, ma'am?”
“I admit I've been hesitant about it, but my engineers assure me they can find work-arounds. Not all parts necessarily need to be produced by a replicator after all. So, it won't affect our bottom line or that of our subcontractors as many have feared.”
“So, you are saying you want the new contracts now?”
“Hell, yes! Bring them on!” she said, waving a hand. “We built the current fleet; we can build a new one, a better one! And so what if they go out to fight the pirates? That's a good thing in my estimation! Pirates are lice, scoundrels, thieves, and murderers! They should all be routed out of any place they hide in and be destroyed!” She shook her head and decided to tone the theatrics down a hair. “I think we're more than capable of stepping up to the job as soon as this unpleasant mess my son has kicked up is resolved.”
“What do you think will happen, ma'am? Your son insists it is a misunderstanding, but he's also attacked the ansible as a lie …”
“I've seen those reports and even his interviews. I'm deeply disappointed in him,” she said, addressing the camera directly, “and for those who follow him. I've tried to get through to him, but he refuses to listen. He's …,” she shook her head, eyes downcast and then sniffed. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Sorry, please forgive an old woman. No mother should have to see her son fall from grace.” She shook her head.
“Take your time, ma'am,” the reporter said quietly.
“Thank you,” Reba said as she pocketed the tissue. “I've gone so far as to write him out of my will. I didn't have a choice; I owe it to the family company. He has clearly shown he is not a good leader!” she scowled and then fought for control. She inhaled and then exhaled noisily and then shook her head. “He should take a breath, reassess the situation with fresh eyes, realize his mistakes, and own up to them as I taught him. If that means stepping down, then he needs to be the bigger man and do so for the good of the Republic and the Federation.”
