by Mike Moscoe
Trouble listened. For himself, he was glad to be off the hook and find Steve off it, too. What Steve and Tom did was out of line. But what had been done to them was way across the line. Best leave lines to other people.
And it didn’t sound like Tom was headed back for an easy life. The spy would drain Tom of every scrap of truth and rumor in him. The bomb they’d set off under the bunker was nothing compared to the bomb the spy would set off under some very deserving higher-ups. Izzy’s good news set Trouble’s blood to racing, but it couldn’t outrun Ruth’s marriage proposal.
“Captain, I’ve got an announcement to make.” Trouble eyed Ruth; she gave him a lovely smile and a nod.
“Announce it, Lieutenant.”
“I am going to marry this young woman, and we are going to raise whatever she wants on a farm wherever she wants.” Trouble had expected the skipper to take it one of several different ways—all bad. Instead, she beamed.
“I’ll be leaving the Corps,” he added.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“I’m not leaving my wife and kids behind in base housing while I’m gone half the year.”
“Wouldn’t ask you to. That’s why I’ve been looking for you. Both of you, not just you, Lieutenant. Navy department has come up with some new wild-assed ideas. Most of them would be a laugh if they didn’t come with an execute date. I just got one that says our ships are spending too much time deployed.”
“God, whatever gave them that idea?”
“That’s their studied opinion,” the skipper assured him. “And it’s costing the Navy a small fortune buying fresh vegetables on the open market. We pay a premium to have them certified disease- and bug-free. Did you know that?”
Trouble didn’t.
“So, they’re requiring each ship set up hydroponic gardens in the voids between armor and hull, just like the merchies do. There’s plenty of room. Then there’s the second departmental instruction. They want us to reduce crews by twenty percent. It’s peacetime, don’t you know? Nobody’s shooting at us. Don’t need all those damage repair teams. They did a study. It’s cheaper to abandon an old ship every year or so than keep all the fleet in a full crew. God, I got to get a few more promotions under my belt so I can get assigned back there. They must be drinking some powerful stuff to come up with this shit.”
“So you won’t mind if I ask for an early out bonus and leave?” Trouble summed up what he’d heard.
“Who’s talking to you, marine? I’m asking her if she’ll contract to run the hydroponic farm I’m setting up on the Patton. I know some great hands that would be glad to work with you. Experienced. Won’t get sick on you first time gravity goes out.”
“And when they aren’t farming, you wouldn’t happen to have a part-time job for them?” Ruth had liked Izzy at first sight. It would be fun working with this woman.
“Well, it wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of them were in the Navy Reserve.”
“And if the Patton gets into a hot spot?”
“I imagine they could be recalled to active duty real fast,” Izzy said with a grin, “unless it’s harvest time. I understand that’s a real do-or-die time for farmers.”
“On planets, ma’am. I don’t think they have the same problems with hydroponics.”
“Good. There’s one more thing.”
Trouble looked around for a ten-ton truck. That was about all they and Izzy hadn’t run across this table.
“Your dad wants to head back to Hurtford Corner. He figures he’s done all he can, and wants to go home.”
“Ma will like that.” Ruth nodded.
“I need an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agent, maybe a Drug Enforcement Agent, too. Know anyone willing to take a When Actually Employed appointment with those outfits? Means associating with hard cases like Trouble here. Not much pay, but all kinds of excitement.”
“I’d get to close down two or three joints like this one?” Ruth asked, glancing around. She didn’t mean the restaurant.
“God, there can’t be more than one of these,” Trouble sighed.
“We can hope so. Won’t know until we turn over a few rocks,” Izzy assured them.
Ruth reached for Trouble’s hand and clasped it firmly. “If it means I won’t get left cooling my heels at some backwater base six months out of the year, you got a deal.”
Guns entered the restaurant and plowed straight for them. “I thought I left you minding the store,” Izzy tossed his way.
“As if somebody could swipe a cruiser in orbit,” Guns shot back. Trouble raised an eyebrow. After the last three months, he wouldn’t put it past some people. “I got a message for you, Captain.” There was an inflection in the way he said the skipper’s rank that caught Trouble’s attention.
While Izzy read the orders, Guns rummaged in his pockets and came up with two shoulder tabs with four stripes on them.
“You’re out of uniform, skipper.” Guns grinned.
“So are you,” Izzy shot back. “We’re all promoted!”
“Yeah, I double-checked with BuPers. They swear they’re just correcting an oversight from when you took command.”
“When gravity grows soft,” Izzy snarled. Then she broke into a wide smile. “Then again, maybe somebody up there does like what we’ve done.”
“Be glad to do more of it,” Guns chortled.
“Lots more of it,” Ruth added.
“Somebody has to.” Trouble nodded.
“Then let’s do it,” said Izzy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Moscoe grew up Navy. It taught him early about change and the chain of command. He’s worked as a bartender and cabdriver, personnel advisor and labor negotiator. Now retired from building databases about the endangered critters of the Northwest, he’s looking forward to some fun reading and writing.
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife, Ellen, and close to his daughter and grandchildren. He enjoys reading, writing, dreaming, watching grandchildren for story ideas, and upgrading his computer—all are never-ending pursuits.
You can learn more about Mike and all his books at his website www.mikemoscoe.com, e-mail him at [email protected], or follow Kris Longknife on Facebook.
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Ace Books by Mike Moscoe
The First Casualty
The Price of Peace
They Also Serve
(September 2013)
Writing as Mike Shepherd
Kris Longknife: Mutineer
Kris Longknife: Deserter
Kris Longknife: Defiant
Kris Longknife: Resolute
Kris Longknife: Audacious
Kris Longknife: Intrepid
Kris Longknife: Undaunted
Kris Longknife: Redoubtable
Kris Longknife: Daring
Kris Longknife: Furious
Specials
Kris Longknife: Training Daze
Kris Longknife: Welcome Home / Go Away