The Reign: Mara - a Passion Uncontested

by Lance Berry

  Agreed?”

  Mara and Ben shared a look of understanding, then Mara nodded to McKay. “Absolutely, General. Sounds fair to us.”

  She then input commands to the dsp, which affirmed that Doctor Williams’ resignation order had been terminated.

  Ben and Mara walked back to the barracks in silence, for fear of anyone overhearing them talking about the discussion they’d had with McKay. He followed her to her room, and as soon as the doors closed behind him, Mara spun around and punched him in the left arm.

  “OW! Wha—what the heck…?”

  “You didn’t say you were actually going to put in your resignation,” Mara exploded, fists clenched as she took a menacing step toward Ben.

  The doctor backed up reflexively. “Well, what would be the point of just talking about it with McKay, if we didn’t go through with it?” He snapped back as he rubbed his arm.

  Mara grunted angrily. “I’m not going to throw my career away for Travis Rand!”

  “I would.”

  Two words. Spoken by Ben with such ease and earnestness, it completely caught Mara off guard. Her fists dropped to her side and unclenched. Her anger dispelled almost instantly, replaced by a type of wonder. “What is the deal with you two?

  Does he have compromising photos of you, or what? I mean, you haven’t even known each other all that long…how could you have such unwavering conviction in someone like that?”

  Ben smiled. He went over to the desk and sat down in its chair. He exhaled lightly, then said, “You forget, he was once my patient also. His injuries were more physical than psychological, but there was some angst in him that needed clearing as well. We talked a long time during his recuperation, and came to know a lot about each other. Believe me when I tell you, that there is no one more qualified to take command of David’s ship than Travis Rand…even if young Mr. Rand isn’t aware of it yet. He’s going to surprise you and everyone else, Mara. Six months from now, we’ll be sitting back toasting over this decision.”

  Mara’s lips curled together, as she was not fully convinced.

  She plopped down on the side of the bed. “I hope so. I’ve never learned any other skills, so all I might be qualified for is dancing on tables for Unicreds.”

  Ben chuckled and gave her an appraising once-over. “I’ll be your manager. With your body and my brains, we’ll be millionaires in no time.”

  The two shared a nice, long laugh, then joked for quite a while about what to name their gentleman’s club and how much to charge for admission, among other things.

  Chapter 41

  (The Reign)

  Early the next day, the door chime to Mara’s quarters rang.

  She affirmed that the person on the other side could enter, thinking it was Ben. The door slid aside to instead reveal Mark Elliot standing in the corridor.

  “Dad?”

  He stepped into the room, arms opened, and Mara ran to him. It felt so good to be held by him, to be comforted, that her mental defenses broke instantly and she burst into heavy sobs.

  “I know, honey…I know,” Mark said gently. “When your mother died, I thought the grief would never end. I know this moment, this pain, seems like all that you’ll ever know for the rest of your life, but trust me…good times will come again.”

  “Oh, Daddy…I loved him s-s-so…much…”

  “I know, my love. I could tell from the moment you brought him home. That day we had dinner together, the way you looked at him as he sat beside you…I’ve never seen you so happy in all your life. He was a damn good man. Everyone is saddened by his loss. Everyone.”

  She looked up at him, so glad that he was here now. He kissed her on the forehead, then held her in his arms a bit longer. Finally, she pulled away and asked him to have a seat while she went to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, at her tear-streaked mascara, and couldn’t help but chuckle just a bit. “I look like a sad raccoon,” she said, and began to soak a washcloth to clean her face. After a moment, she asked, “How’s Sara and Peter?”

  “Sara’s still at Omega Base, doing very well in her security posting. Peter’s excelling at his classes at the Citadel. They’ve both asked me to express their condolences, Peter especially.

  He was really taken with David, you know.”

  Mara had wiped her face clean of makeup and stepped out of the bathroom. “I know. He was always bugging me for David’s autograph. I told him it wasn’t necessary, since David was family. David always meant to give it to him, for a laugh… he just never got around to it.” She bowed her head slightly, a deep frown bending her lips as she fought not to give in to the desire to bawl once more.

  Mark, seated at the desk, held out his hand. She went to him and accepted it, pleased by the warmth of human contact.

  They looked into each others’ eyes a moment, and finally Mara realized that he had something on his mind, but seemed to be considering how to phrase it.

  “What is it, Dad?” she finally blurted, eager to hear whatever it was and be done with it. She had already drawn the conclusion that more than likely it would be something she didn’t really want to hear.

  Mark blew out air. “Honey…I’ve known General McKay a long time. He tells me that you’re actually turning over command of the Horizon to a lieutenant-commander?”

  Mara released her hand from her father’s. “It’s my choice,

  Dad. No one has the right to question it.”

  “Hold on, now,” Mark replied. “I think a few people have the right to question it, not the least of whom is myself.

  Captaincy of a Heavy Cruiser is something you’ve worked toward all your life. And not meaning any disrespect to David, but with his death, there’s not one better ship in the entire fleet that you could ever be better placed to take command!”

  Mara grimaced in disgust, even as she sat down on the edge of the bed. “Oh my lord, that is so…ghoulish of you!”

  “It is not. This is the Horizon we’re talking about. The flagship of the fleet! You could have worked your entire career toward this moment, on any of a hundred other ships, and never gotten this close to the brass ring. This would be a crowning achievement for any officer, and you want to throw it away!”

  “I’m not throwing it away,” Mara said sharply. “I’m simply passing on my turn to command—this time! The next time, I—”

  “Do you really think there’s going to be a next time, Mara?”

  Mark said angrily. He was on his feet now, pacing back and forth, gesturing with his arms as he said in disbelief, “Have you really managed to delude yourself into believing the brass will ever take you seriously if you post for a command of your own?

  Do you really believe they’ll take ten seconds out of their schedule to even consider you for any higher rank from here on out? With one simple, stupid decision like this, you’ve just turned your entire career into a joke! You’ll be nothing more than a punchline at the Joint Chiefs’ dinner parties! I can’t believe—”

  “You’d better believe it,” Mara snapped back, rising to her feet. “My decision is made, it is final, and Travis Rand is taking command of the fucking ship because I don’t fucking WANT IT!”

  Mark stared at her a moment in shock. “This is not the woman I raised. The woman I raised, I thought, was made of stronger material. You’re giving the best ship in the fleet—just handing it over—to an untested officer who—”

  “He’s been tested. Or haven’t you looked at his record? It’s exemplary.”

  Mark shook his head. “I wouldn’t say exemplary. I’ve read it, yes. I do admit, he’s got several unique moments listed, which I had to read twice because I couldn’t believe it. He is a good soldier, Mara. But from experience, you and I both know that it takes far more to be a leader than just being able to shoot a Zuk-Lar in the right direction. McKay told me about this insipid deal you and the ship’s doctor made. How are you going to feel six months from now, when Rand has failed you and you’re turning in your tags?” />
  Mara’s throat was tight. This was a matter of internal contention for her, as she did have some worries about whether Rand was up to the job. But she gave Ben her word that she would trust in the young man, and she wasn’t about to back down now. Especially from her father. “He won’t let me down.

  You don’t know what you’re talking about. You never did.”

  Mark pointed a finger at her. “Now that, I don’t take kindly to. I raised you on my own when your mother died, and I will have the respect due me for that, if nothing else.”

  “I lead my life the way I choose, and I don’t answer to you for that. You raised me with that much integrity and belief in myself. So pardon my French, but get the hell out of my room.

  That’s all the respect you’re earning today.”

  Mark shook his head slowly, sadly. “Your mother would be ashamed of your every action today.”

  Mara’s eyes widened in amazement, and her fury boiled over. “GET OUT OF HERE!” she yelled at the top of her lungs as she lunged at her father, pushing him back with both hands.

  He stumbled, tripped, and fell over the chair. He fell hard onto his side, but recovered quickly, rolling over to stare up at his daughter in shock. Mara stood rooted in place, fists balled at her side, and a look of darkest anger covered her face. She felt no remorse at the moment for what she had done, Mark could see it in her eyes.

  He got to his feet and dusted off his uniform jacket.

  “Unreal,” was all he said, then turned on his heel and left the room.

  General McKay was in the large meeting room with General

  Alicia Carstairs, the new Secretary of Defense, going over a detailed map on the large projection wall behind the oak desk.

  The tall, thin blonde woman was pointing to a particular point in a star system on the map when the double doors leading to the room blew inward, slapping the sides of the walls behind them. Both turned in shock as Mara Christenson stormed into the room, pointing an accusing finger at McKay. “How dare you bring my father here to attempt to manipulate me into rethinking our arrangement! How dare you—”

  “Commander Christenson,” McKay boomed. “What you should be rethinking right now is your tone of voice—”

  “I don’t care! And right now, I am doing the talking—”

  “Is there a problem?”

  Mara froze in place, as did the two generals. All knew who it was that had asked the question; the voice was unmistakable, having been heard dozens of times via the pressnet channels.

  Mara turned slowly on her heel to look into the face of United Earth Force President William Ralston, who stood in the doorway, a dsp in hand. The elder man, with prematurely white hair even though he was only in his fifties, looked at the gathered officers curiously, wondering who would be the first to answer his question.

  “There’s no problem, sir,” General McKay finally spoke up.

  “The Commander was just—”

  “There is a problem, sir,” Mara broke in. “And with your permission, I would like to address it once and for all.”

  “Hmm,” Ralston said simply, then pointed to the chair behind the oak desk. “You don’t mind if I take that seat, do you, General McKay?”

  “Not at all, sir,” McKay replied quickly, even moving to pull the chair out from the desk a bit.

  Ralston nodded and gestured to one of the visitor chairs on the other side of the desk. “Have a seat, Commander Christenson. This sounds like it should be quite interesting to hear.”

  Mara laid everything out for Ralston: the reasoning behind why Rand was chosen to replace David as captain (protégé), the deal she had struck with McKay and the appearance of her father at the base, which was the breaking point for her.

  Ralston listened carefully, then asked for McKay’s side of the argument. Carstairs simply stood nearby, her eyebrows rising slightly at certain points within each officers’ telling of the tale.

  Finally, Ralston leaned forward in his chair and exhaled heavily. “General McKay. Are you aware that Commander Christenson and I already know each other?”

  Oh, shit, McKay thought, but instead answered, “No, sir. I certainly did not.”

  Ralston nodded. “We’re not exactly drinking buddies.

  We’ve only met what—two times, Commander?”

  “Yes, sir,” Mara affirmed. “Once during a briefing on Titan, when my husband introduced us. Then again at Sanctuary Blue a year ago.”

  “Yes,” Ralston agreed. “I have to say, those two times, I saw nothing to indicate such fervor of belief or spark of defiance was within you. It’s not an unattractive trait, but…there is a time and place for everything. And today wasn’t exactly the time or place for it.”

  Mara nodded lightly. “No, sir. I suppose not.”

  Ralston pointed his bearded chin toward McKay. “I would appreciate an apology to the General for your outburst.”

  Mara swallowed tightly, then looked at McKay. “I’m sorry,

  General. My anger was misguided, and shouldn’t have been directed at you. I have no excuse. I’m sorry.”

  McKay nodded in satisfaction, a slim smile bisecting his features.

  “And now, General McKay, I think Commander Christenson is due an apology,” Ralston said.

  McKay looked at him in utter shock. “I—I’m sorry, sir, but… what?”

  Ralston’s features darkened slightly. “This is the United Earth Force, General…not the fifth grade. One of our officers— a highly respected one who happens to be a widow grieving for a loss none of us can ever hope to understand—has come to you with a request which, while unusual and certainly without precedent, should not have been bartered over. If you had such a difficult time understanding or accepting her request, you should have either turned the matter over to another officer of equal rank to yourself, or left it to the JAG.”

  He now moved his gaze equally over Mara, Carstairs and McKay as he continued, “To be frank, I’ve been keeping an eye on this Travis Rand fellow ever since the pressnets first reported on his rescue of the Acrea 3 hostages back in ‘88. I’ve had others look into his background as well. In my opinion, he would have been promoted to captain within the next couple of years at the latest. He still needs some maturing perhaps, but there can be no better learning center than aboard the bridge of the flagship of the fleet. Do you agree, Commander?”

  Mara had to fight back a smile. “Yes, sir. I certainly do.”

  Ralston held Mara in a steady gaze. “All of Earth Force grieves for your loss, Commander Christenson. I liked David a lot. I honestly do wish you would reconsider your stance and take over his captaincy, but I can see that you’re implacable about this. And so your request to have Lieutenant-Commander Rand jumped in rank and be assigned as the Horizon’s captain will be honored…contingent upon his own acceptance of the posting. Do you understand?”

  Mara nodded firmly. “Yes, sir. I do.”

  Ralston swept his gaze over the trio once more as he said, “Fate, luck, destiny, what-have-you, has seen fit to place Travis Rand at the right place at the right time. Were it not for his actions, we would not be here discussing all of this right now.