The Iron Admiral: Deception
Page 28
“Don’t worry about Todd,” Anna whispered. “We tried to tell him but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Allysha?” Saahren held out his hand to her.
“I’ll catch up with you when I can,” Allysha murmured to Anna as the three of them stepped back into the parade.
They reached the podium at last, to a round of congratulations, kisses and handshakes. Saahren took the general salute then had the parade stand easy.
“I have already thanked you, all of you, for your efforts over the past few days, mourned with you the colleagues we have lost, celebrated a victory. Today, down there in the Carnessan capital, we paved the way for an alliance between the Confederacy and the Qerran Suldanate, an alliance which will help to restore peace and prosperity to this part of our Galaxy.
“The battle of Carnessa will go down in history as a great triumph. But I confess that for me, it is eclipsed by my personal triumph, where my lovely lady has finally agreed to be my life’s partner.” He took Allysha’s hand and pulled her to stand beside him. “I thought for a time that I’d lost her forever. All of you and all the officers on this podium, me included, we all owe this lady our lives. She was prepared to die that we might live. I am fortunate indeed that now was not her time.”
He smiled down at her.
“Now then, Grand Admirals do, eventually, hear all the gossip. To those of you who cannot understand what I see in her—ask your male, heterosexual friends. If you are male and heterosexual and you still can’t see it, you have my everlasting sympathy and I urge you to visit the medical center for an eye test.”
A susurrus of chuckles.
“For those of you who participated in the betting on when I would… ah… succeed, twenty three hundred hours yesterday should be close enough to establish a winner.”
Laughter bubbled through the audience and from the senior officers gathered around her while Allysha blushed. She was sure someone behind her muttered, “I’ll bet that wasn’t the first time.”
The parade ended.
Allysha, Saahren and the senior officers repaired to the senior officers’ mess. Toasts were proposed and drunk.
“And now, Chaka, would you please tell us what’s going on? Where was Allysha thatSpartan could deliver her toArcturus ? And what about this death ray affair the GPR developed?” Valperez said.
Allysha leaned into Saahren’s shoulder. She didn’t want to talk about it. He seemed to understand.
When he finished explaining, a hush filled the room. They all seemed to be looking at her.
“So the message you received in the command room before the battle—that was Allysha?” Valperez asked.
“Yes.” A tremor crossed Saahren’s face, instantly repressed. “By that time, Allysha was outside.”
“But he didn’t know that.” She spoke softly, dreamily. For a moment she was back there in space, orbiting Isabella, contemplating the end of her life. “I thought of getting away later, an impossible last resort. He thought I’d be there when the ship destroyed the base.”
“Oh, Lord,” somebody muttered.
“I told him to destroy the place. I’ll never forget the way they killed those people, with something I had created. Like laboratory rats.” She saw again the contorted bodies tossed all uncaring onto a trolley, the baby’s head flopping over the side. “I knew the odds. My father always used to tell me if I broke it, then I’d better fix it.”
“You did more than that; much more.” Captain Pedder stood and raised his glass. “A toast, gentlemen, to a lady who is brave as well as smart and beautiful.”
They all rose to their feet. “Salute.”
When they had resumed their seats, Saahren said, “I can also tell you, as a result of my conversation with Suldan Bentrax, that Anxhou is dead. As soon as news of the rout at Carnessa reached the Khophir, he sent out his executioners.”
“So we await the caliber of the next governor,” Larsen said.
“I have some other pressing questions, Grand Admiral,” Valperez said, eyes twinkling. “You say you’ve heard all the rumors; whatreally happened after the Fleet Ball?”
The End
About the Author
Greta van der Rol wishes she was born a thousand years or so in the future, where space ships zip around the Galaxy and people have adventures on exotic worlds. Well, if you can’t be there, why not write about it? And slap in a healthy dollop of romance, too?
After many years in the computer industry, Greta now writes full time. Her first published book, ‘Die a Dry Death’, is historical fiction based on the true story of the wreck of the Dutch merchant shipBatavia off the desolate coast of Western Australia in 1629. There may some more historical fiction in the future but for now, Greta is working on more fast and furious space romps, because they’re fun.
She lives in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia, near the beach. When she isn’t writing she enjoys cooking and photography.
Visit her website athttp://www.gretavanderrol.com/
Also from This Author
Science Fiction With A Dollop Of Romance
THE IRON ADMIRAL: CONSPIRACY
MORGAN’S CHOICE
SUPERTECH
Historical Fiction
TO DIE A DRY DEATH
Available from Amazon and other fine retailers.
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