There were no more complaints. Either that or no one was willing to voice them.
“Good,” John said between gritted teeth. He tucked Ersog’s weapon inside his jacket and stormed off down the corridor, straightening his uniform as he moved.
It was with sheer relief that he reached the bridge and dropped into his chair. He propped an elbow on the arm and rested his head in his hand. “Report.”
“Nothing unusual, sir,” Giacomo answered. “We’re on our way to pick up the Manadosians.”
John lifted his head. “Take it carefully. Mister Gillespie, I want all systems on full alert.
“Inside or outside the ship?” Gillespie ventured to ask.
“Both.” The answer was accompanied by a glare. “Don’t push it.”
McReidy turned to John a little hesitantly. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Go ahead.” He was settled and didn’t want to move.
“It’s kind of private.”
John grumbled to himself as he got up and headed to his office. If he had to move, he was at least going to get a coffee. He offered McReidy a mug. She accepted and sat down to face him across the desk.
“I didn’t want Giacomo to hear,” she began.
John was intrigued, but remained silent.
“I read the examination results when they came in.”
“You’re not allowed to do that.” His voice was soft, his eyes warm.
“I know. You were busy. There’s a problem with Lorraine’s exam.”
John frowned. “She passed, didn’t she?”
“Well… yes… and no. Her answers were of such a high standard that…” She took a breath. “They accused her of cheating.”
“They what!”
“Read the report yourself. It’s right in front of you.” She leaned across the desk and looked for the relevant part. “From here,” she pointed. “‘It is extremely difficult to imagine…’”
“I can read it myself.” He pulled the report away and leaned back in his chair, continuing to read from where she left off. “‘To imagine that an officer, based on previous examination results, could possibly have achieved such a high standard without –’” He continued reading in silence.
His mood change reflected in his eyes. He slammed the report down on the desk with such force that the noise made her jump. His eyes burned through her.
“Of course she’s at that standard! Giacomo’s been teaching her!”
“They don’t know that.”
“It doesn’t matter what I do! It’s never good enough…! If they weren’t all at that standard, do you think we could have made this ship what she is now?” He was on his feet now, venting his anger.
“Back off a minute. I’m on your side.” She wasn’t prepared to take the brunt of his anger.
“Well, I can’t very well scream at the examination board, can I?” he snarled.
“Screaming at me won’t do any good either!” She met his fury.
He dropped his head and closed his eyes for a few seconds. When they opened, the anger was gone.
“I’m sorry,” he apologised softly. “It’s not your fault.”
He sat down, his elbows propped on the desk and his face in his hands. He sighed heavily.
“What are they going to do about it?”
“You didn’t read that far?”
“No.” He shook his head, almost managing a tiny smile.
“They want her to resit under personal supervision of the board.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Then I better make the arrangements.” He caught her worried look. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t yell at them.”
This time he did smile.
*
It was soon organised. Lorraine would resit her examination the next morning. John’s office was approved of as the location since it could be sealed off from the rest of the ship. It was to be an oral exam where she would be completely on her own without computer access. All possible precautions were being taken to ensure that there could be no outside help.
John resented the implication. He resented even more having to tell Lorraine. She was off duty and he caught up with her in McReidy’s quarters.
She didn’t take the news easily. He didn’t tell her the full story; he didn’t want to upset her more than necessary. Even so, he had to duck as she picked up a book and flung it head high across the room at him.
Her anger was at the book and, as she watched it rebound to the floor, she calmed a little. John watched her cautiously, quickly scanning what else was in reach that she might throw.
She turned away from him, one hand on her hip, the other raised to her mouth. She bit down across her forefinger, hiding the hurt.
He moved across behind her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. She turned around into him. He had never seen tears in those dark eyes before, though she managed to hold them back.
“I believe in you. You know that.” His voice was reassuring and genuine.
She nodded, not doubting him for a minute.
“And I’ll be there for you tomorrow. Don’t tell Giacomo. Not until afterwards.”
She nodded again.
“I’ll see you on the bridge in the morning,” he smiled.
A couple more objects hit the door once it had closed behind him.
He was accosted by Finook on the way back to the bridge. He brushed away the complaint, which was about as important as yesterday’s. If the ambassador wished to continue the discussion it would have to be at another time.
It was a relief to get back to the peace and quiet of the bridge. Most of the day had passed and John felt he had achieved nothing. By the end of the day, each of the new ambassadors had a reason to speak to him ‘at his earliest convenience’. He decided to put in a few extra hours on the bridge to avoid them.
Bela was waiting for him the moment he was off duty. She had made a point of studying his routine and knowing where he would be at any given time. He had made a point of avoiding her at all costs. As attractive as she was to him, that was all it was. He had no intention of getting into anything he couldn’t get out of.
He was a great challenge to her because he had not fallen for her – and he was convinced that was the only reason she was after him. What would have happened if McReidy hadn’t burst in on them was something he didn’t want to think about. He had to give credit where it was due and Bela’s women were behaving themselves.
It took him almost an hour to get away from her. He didn’t wish to appear intimidated by her attentions and it was possible to hold a purely platonic conversation. He was saved by a call from the bridge.
“Madison here, what’s your problem?” he answered.
“We need you on the bridge right away, sir.”
“I’m on my way.” He apologised to Bela and excused himself. Once alone in the corridor, he flicked his communicator. “Thank you, Mister Humphries.”
“No problem, sir. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
It was a pretty mean thing to do, John thought, but all’s fair in love and war. And this was war.
* * *
Lorraine reported to the bridge on time in the morning. She ignored Giacomo’s questioning look as John took her straight into his office. McReidy claimed ignorance and changed the subject, which only caused the pilot to brood more.
Lorraine sat down nervously.
“Are you all right?” John asked, concern showing through in his quiet voice.
“Yes, just a little nervous.”
“Don’t let them get to you.” John sat at his desk. He opened the transmission and switched the image to a the screen on the wall.
Lorraine turned her chair around and faced the three examiners. Formalities were brief.
“Lieutenant, do you know why you are here?” asked Chief Commissioner Colden.
“Something about my exam results, sir,” she answered.
John moved from
behind his desk and sat on the corner of it, drifting into her peripherals. He felt her mood ease although she kept her attention on the examiners.
“There are just a few matters we would like to clear up,” Colden continued. “Commander, your presence is not required.”
“As the lieutenant’s commanding officer, I request –”
“Request denied.”
“I have the right to be present,” John insisted.
“This is not a trial. You are not required. The lieutenant will contact you when we are finished.”
Officially, it might not have been a trial, but it felt that way to John. He stood up and crossed in front of Lorraine, his back blocking the examiners’ view. He held his arms out helplessly.
“I’m sorry,” he mouthed silently.
She nodded in acknowledgement and he turned and left the room.
As the door closed behind him, the office was sealed off from the rest of the ship. He turned and thumped a fist on it in anger. It was like throwing a lamb to the wolves.
Giacomo jumped and turned to the office, turning back to his console just as quickly.
It was almost two hours later when Lorraine called John back into his office. During that time, he was restless. He constantly fidgeted, his fingers absently flicking the controls on his chair. He kept turning his attention back to the office door as though sheer willpower would enable him to see through it.
He didn’t expect an apology from the examiners. He thought Lorraine deserved one anyway.
“We are satisfied that the lieutenant’s knowledge is of the standard indicated by the exam results,” was the only answer he was getting.
The transmission ended, the screen went blank. John turned it off and the office was silent.
“You don’t seem very pleased about passing,” he spoke quietly.
Lorraine glared. “How dare they even imply that I cheated!”
“At least there’s nothing in here you can throw at me.”
“I didn’t mean to – Well, yes I did, actually,” she corrected herself. “But I wasn’t angry at you”
“Need to let off steam? Take it out on me if you like.”
“No, I’m past that… I want…” She ducked her head shyly before looking hopefully up into his eyes.
“Giacomo?” he guessed. “He’s all yours. Send him back when you’ve finished with him.” At that moment she could have asked him for almost anything and gotten it.
Lorraine smiled for the first time that day.
Giacomo’s attention turned to the office door as soon as it opened. Lorraine inclined her head slightly towards the bridge door. Duty tempered his desires, so clear on his face as he flicked a glance at John.
“Go,” John mouthed.
The pilot was out of his seat and at the bridge door before Lorraine was. When John gave the helm to McReidy, it was perfectly clear that he was not expected back in the immediate future.
* * *
Having failed in their attempts to catch John yesterday, the ambassadors were becoming more insistent. He made time for them, although he really wasn’t interested in their petty bickering. He found it hard to imagine them ever sitting down together to discuss anything important.
Off duty, he left strict instructions not to be disturbed. The ship wasn’t large enough that he could avoid every one of them. The few hours that he managed to steal on his own early in the morning became more precious.
McReidy often found him working peacefully in the bar in the silence. He needed the time on his own and she took it on her own authority to allow him his solitude. Any problems during this time were to be directed to her.
John reached the end of his tether one day when the ambassadors stepped too far. When the bridge door opened, he turned to see Kerrod striding towards him.
“Commander, it is most important that I speak with you,” Kerrod insisted.
“What are you doing here?” John demanded, rising to his feet.
“I just told you I –”
“I don’t care what you told me.” John advanced and met the Heedran halfway across the floor. “This is my bridge and it is restricted to authorised personnel only.”
“But surely, under the circumstances –”
“No. You have no rights to be here and I strongly suggest you leave now.”
There was no time for Kerrod to answer. Delma and Ersog had followed his lead and were fighting for John’s attention. It was difficult to figure out who was saying what. A mixture of jumbled English and alien dialects filled with demands and insults.
John snapped. “All right! That’s it!” he roared. “Enough!”
He stunned them into silence. His eyes as black as his mood, his temper barely restrained. Tension rippled off him.
“Lieutenant Commander,” he called in a barely even tone.
McReidy was at his side immediately. “Yes, sir.”
“This is Lieutenant Commander McReidy, my first officer,” he introduced, “whom you will treat with the respect she deserves.”
His focus zeroed in on Kerrod, who went to open his mouth but then backed down. “From now on, if you have any complaints you will take them to her.”
John felt McReidy bristle beside him.
“You will do everything she says. You will not annoy any of my crew and you will not, under any circumstances, invite yourselves onto my bridge. If there are any more disputes, you will find yourselves confined to the cargo bay. Do we understand each other?”
It was a one way conversation in which John was laying down the law. The only answer he expected was silence. A verbal answer would only have contained an objection.
“Good. Lieutenant Commander.” He turned slightly to McReidy. His eyes met hers for a second. It wasn’t her fault. His voice lowered, softened a fraction. “They’re all yours. I don’t care what you do with them. Just keep them out of my way.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered formally as though his comment was an order.
Kerrod couldn’t keep his mouth shut any longer, giving McReidy no more than a cursory glimpse. “On my world, a woman knows her place, and it is not telling men what they can and cannot do.”
Punching out the ambassador was a very real possibility, but McReidy answered before John could react. “Thankfully, Ambassador, we are not on your world. Now that we all understand each other, I will be happy to escort you from the bridge.”
Her tone was civil and polite; the smile plastered to her face through sheer habit and indignation. Delma and Ersog were agreeable, as she stepped past them and indicated the door, but that was mainly due to John’s lecture. Kerrod hesitated. John wasn’t budging and the ambassador faced a brick wall of intent.
“Of course, Commander,” Kerrod ceded to John’s authority, discretion being the better part of tact. “Apologies, Commander.”
He turned and strode to the door, all but ignoring McReidy.
John sighed with relief as the bridge door closed behind the four of them. He returned to his chair, sinking heavily in it.
“You know that wasn’t fair, don’t you?” Gillespie’s question came with a strong mug of coffee, which John accepted gratefully.
“I know.” John gulped at the hot liquid. “I’ll make it up to her.”
The rest of the day was pure peace. The other ambassadors were informed of John’s decision. Most were unaffected and took it in their stride. Bela was put out of place. She now had no legitimate reason to seek out John.
Back to top
Chapter twenty three
It was late afternoon the following day when Bismarck reached Manadosian space. Tan had been eavesdropping since his shift began and the previous shift had also done so. Nothing had been picked up. Command’s latest reports had nothing in the area. Drago’s focus was elsewhere and the only information he had was well over a month old – well before Manados was attacked and the Earth ship had gone missing.
Both Command and John reasoned that the enemy wouldn’t still be ha
nging around. If they’d known there were survivors from Manados, they would have found them and eliminated them. Bismarck was small enough and cunning enough to slip in. While they could have sent a fleet or at least an escort, anything large enough to defend itself was going to make itself a target – and tell the Andromedans there was something worth protecting.
The morning report from Command deemed the area safe and the pickup to go ahead.
John had McReidy on the bridge for the simple fact that he needed her there. She was the one Cush had contacted and he didn’t need her or her mind occupied with anything else if the Manadosian chose to do so again.
Gillespie pulled his earphone out, dropped it to his console and rubbed his eyes.
“Steve?” John queried.
“Just need a minute before we head in there.”
John let out his breath. “Everyone take a minute to relax. Mister Tan, you too. Run it through mains for a minute.”
Tan nodded, switched his console through the main screen. The softest fuzz of background noise underlay the quiet. He pulled his earphone out, sank back in his seat and rubbed his forehead.
Scanners ran the frequencies and degrees, and found nothing.
“McReidy. Anything?” John asked.
She shook her head.
“All right, let’s move in.”
The ship moved forward. Everyone straightened in their seats, the main screen cleared, earphones went in, and tensions rose. While they wanted clear space, they were also wary of it.
The moon came up on scanners.
“Giacomo, scenic route.”
“Yes, sir.”
Giacomo eased away from the moon and headed to the planet beyond. It was incapable of supporting life with a sulphuric atmosphere. Anything watching them would assume they would keep going. And if anything came up on scanners, they would keep going.
“Mister Tan, make contact.”
McReidy reached a hand to her forehead.
“Problem?” John asked.
She lowered her hand and shook her head. “No, sir.”
When the Dust Settled Page 39