by Kal Spriggs
Admiral Balventia moved up to the bar as the bartender placed their drinks. “I've always favored the better things in life, you know? It is vital, I think, for people of our position and stature to enjoy those things, to offset the hard labor we perform in our duties, of course.”
“Of course,” Alberto said. He felt his cheeks flush as he realized that the Duke had included him in his stature and position. Alberto Tascon's father was a minor noble, barely worth the title. The rogue Admiral Mannetti held the true title, Baroness Kail, or Lady Kail as she went by. Granted, that title should have fallen to his family, but the disgrace of her treason had put that on hold. The Imperial Senate had hesitated to strip her of her title until she could be properly captured and put on trial for her crimes.
“It must be difficult for you, Alberto,” Admiral Balventia said. “Laboring under common-born officers who have been promoted above you by Baron Giovanni.” Alberto ground his jaw. Apparently, even the recently reinstated Admiral had heard of his plight. “I just today heard of your request to rejoin a proper fleet, rather than Giovanni's ragtag assemblage.” He saw the Admiral drain his drink.
“You did, my lord?” Alberto asked as he finished his own drink. He was of mixed feelings on that. On the one hand, it would be good to get out from under the United Colonies Fleet. On the other, he had the opportunity for a very lucrative business arrangement, which had already born some fruit.
“I did,” Admiral Balventia shook his head. “I'm afraid, however, that my protestations went unheard by Admiral Mund. He has little appreciation for your good breeding and capabilities.” He cocked his head and leaned in, even as he waved for another round of drinks. “However, I'm certain that if we could somehow prove your capabilities to the Emperor, he would override the old man.”
“Oh?” Alberto sat back. He felt a cool wave wash over him as he suddenly understood the Admiral's intent. He comes to me for the same reason as my new network friend, Alberto realized, he needs what only I can provide. He felt a flush creep up his cheeks as he realized the sense of power that gave him. Lord Admiral Valens Balventia needed him, Ensign Alberto Tascon.
“Well, a man in your position might come across certain messages, perhaps even messages of importance or confidentiality...” Admiral Balventia said softly. “And we both know that Lucius Giovanni is the son of a traitor and a wretched and cowardly traitor himself.” There was a note of pure, unthinking hatred in the other man's voice, Alberto noted. He hid a smile. He had thought that surely the reporters and columnists had vastly exaggerated the vitriol between the two heroic figures, yet it was apparent that, if anything, they had understated it.
Admiral Balventia wants me to spy on his rival, Alberto thought and again he felt a surge of pleasure at the sense of power that gave him. “That kind of thing could be frowned upon by my notional superiors, Admiral,” Alberto said. “And the important messages you speak of, if indeed contained treasonous information, then my efforts on your behalf could be a risk to not just my career... but perhaps my very life. While I would not hesitate to give my life for Nova Roma... it would be nice to have some appreciation for my efforts.”
The other man's eyes narrowed, “Well, I see.” He pursed his lips, “I had thought that reinstating you within the Nova Roma Imperial Fleet, perhaps with a promotion equivalent to your time in service and efforts would be appropriate.”
Alberto shrugged, “As you say. However, you cannot guarantee that the Emperor will acknowledge my efforts. For that matter, should 'Baron' Giovanni become aware of my efforts, I may be forced to flee before the Emperor could offer me sanctuary.”
Admiral Balventia picked up his vodka and sipped at it. Alberto could almost sense the other man's thoughts, the driving hate that sought any way to bring down his rival. And I hope I can give him that, Alberto thought, though I doubt the Baron has so much as a treasonous or cowardly bone in his body, that isn't to say that I can't selectively edit information I provide the Admiral. The thought of setting the Emperor against Giovanni gave him an additional rush. And who knew, perhaps, in the end, Balventia would rise to the top and reward him? Alberto toyed with the idea of sticking around, after his other transactions, just to see how it would turn out, but a luxury apartment on Tannis or Port Klast sounded far better to him.
“Very well,” Admiral Balventia said. “I have some discretionary funds that I can access. Mostly precious metals that the Emperor and some of my fellow nobles slipped out during their evacuation. Enough, I think, that I can compensate you for the risks you would take.”
Alberto knocked back the rest of his drink. “Well, then, my lord. I would be glad to provide you and the Emperor with my service.” He smiled warmly, “Perhaps we could settle the details of how I would get you the information you want?”
***
Lucius looked up at the knock on the door to his apartment. He toggled the intercom, “Yes?”
“It's Alanis,” his sister said.
Lucius got up and went to open the door, “Alanis, good to see you.” He frowned to see her looking exhausted. “Are you alright?”
She nodded and stepped past him to slump in a chair in the living room. “Rough week.” She met his eyes, “Have you had a chance to talk with Reese?”
Lucius looked away, “Alanis, I've tried. He's too damned stubborn. He's taken a leave of absence, either as some sort of protest or... well, I don't know what.” In truth, Lucius was close to signing paperwork discharging the other man from the service.
“I know,” Alanis said. Her eyes were hollow as she stared at the wall, “It's almost as if he thinks that by not being directly at risk, now, he thinks he can justify me not putting myself at risk at all.” She shook her head, “I can't even talk to him anymore. I've been spending almost all my time with Captain Doko and his simulations.”
Lucius sat down, uncomfortably. While he and Alanis were close, in many ways, there were things that they had never discussed before. The emotional aspects, particularly in regards to relationships, was something that neither of them had broached before. It tied too closely back to their past and what had happened to their parents.
“I'm doing well enough that Captain Doko finds it entertaining, at least,” Alanis said softly. She offered the change of subject as an escape, Lucius knew. Still, as uncertain as he felt about relationship advice to his sister, he took the escape.
“I'm certain he wouldn't bother if you weren't doing well,” Lucius said with a smile. Anthony Doko loved to test people against his strategy simulation collection. Lucius knew the other man had a downright devious streak when it came to simulation design, so if Alanis had managed to keep him interested, that meant she was doing well.
“Yeah, you should have seen his face after I blasted through his default scenarios,” Alanis said. Her face came to life as she spoke. “Can you believe he used the canned ones that you brought back from the Academy?” She leaned back and propped her feet up on his coffee table, “Then he tried using the Tiple Scenarios, you know, the ones you could download for free?” She threw up her hands in disgust. Lucius nodded, though he felt slightly bemused. He and Doko had considered the Tiple Scenarios good entry level training for their initial recruits. “Please! I've modded the Tiple Scenarios,” Alanis shook her head. “Then he finally cracked open his box and started tailoring scenarios. I think I gave him conniptions when I beat his version of Garvan III. But, I mean, that's juvenile stuff, I was simulating Tarvax and Rathan before you took over the War Shrike as Captain.”
Lucius shook his head, “Okay, so you're giving him a run for his money. Those simulations are just initial training, though.” He didn't want her to get overconfident before she went into the Academy. Otherwise she would be in for a rude awakening.
“Yeah,” Alanis said. “So he said. Even as he tried to run me through more complex scenarios. I know that. That's what the Academy is supposed to teach me, the human element and all that... but Lucius, I can calculate vectors, defense screen ali
gnments, and weapons envelopes in my sleep. Over the past three weeks he's only managed to get me in a draw once and that was the Battle of Danar....”
Lucius sat back as she talked. He didn't bother to hide the smile on his face. His sister had always been something of a nerd who overcompensated for her social anxiety by being loud and brash. It was good to see that her interests would finally be applied. Yet even as she talked, Lucius's thoughts went to the issue of his brother-in-law.
He and Reese had been close friends since their first assignment together. Yet while part of Lucius had been happy when Reese and Alanis had married, part of him had always wondered if they were right for one another. He remembered how they had initially struck up a friendship, exchanging bits of code that they designed.
Lucius had wondered at his friend's intentions then. But Reese had never shown any signs of ambitions... often quite the opposite. He had pursued a career as a communications officer, despite his proven expertise in other areas. That field had slower promotions than most and his association with Lucius had further slowed his promotions, just as it had with Anthony Doko.
If anything, it seemed to Lucius that Reese had found comfort and a kindred spirit with his sister. Which made Lucius wonder if Reese had really seen his sister after all. She was brash, wild, and driven. Only their social stigma and the customs of Nova Roma had prevented her from a military or law enforcement career. Now that those barriers were gone, she was already focused on her goals... and Reese was left confused and angry.
Lucius smiled again at a joke from Alanis, even as he wondered if the reversal of their relationship was what had upset Reese more than anything.
***
Colonel William Proscia smiled as he straightened his dress uniform in his office mirror. While he appreciated the professional combat fatigues that the United Colonies used, there was just something sharp about the Marine dress uniform.
He frowned and flicked a microscopic speck of dust off his shoulder. The green and white dress uniforms didn't see much use in the current war-time conditions. However, he had made a point of insisting that all Academy personnel would conduct daily duties in their dress uniform. That encouraged attention to detail, both on the parts of his training cadre and staff as well as his cadets while here at the school. Not that he discouraged field time. Far from it. Their first rotations of cadets had spent almost six months in the field, thus far, accompanied by their training cadre. William Proscia had accompanied them for much of it.
That kind of training bred confidence and assurance, he knew, but also gave the cadre the opportunities to instill proper modicums of respect for the unknown. Some officer training programs produced officers who were certain of their own abilities to a fault: men and women who assumed they had all the answers. In his mind, the Nova Roma Military had gone that route, to the point that their cadets and graduates had a stigma of arrogance and entitlement. Colonel Proscia wasn't about to allow that pernicious root to take hold at his school, not while he was the commandant. Especially not while he was in the service of Baron Lucius Giovanni. A damned fine officer, William thought fondly, better, even than his father was. Granted, William's time under Admiral Marius Giovanni had been limited, he'd been only a lowly sergeant at the time.
“Send them in,” William said, after one final glance at his green and white uniform for any sign of imperfections. He turned and moved to stand behind his desk where he faced the room and it's other occupant.
Chief Winslow, who stood near the door gave him a single raised eyebrow, “You sure about this, sir?”
“Yes,” William said. “Trust me.”
The Senior Chief gave an exaggerated sigh, but he nodded and pulled open the door. “Sergeant Timorsky, Lance Corporal Namori, report!”
The two junior non-commissioned officers trotted in, their own dress uniforms impeccable and their bearing absolutely serious. Lance Corporal Namori's back was braced tight, almost as if he expected blows. Then again, William thought, they came from the Centauri Confederation, corporal punishment is not only regular, it is practically the standard, there.
Both men came to a stop and saluted, sharply, “Sergeant Timorsky and Lance Corporal Namori, reporting as ordered, sir!” There was no note of irony or sullenness to either of them, William saw, which was good. He had hand selected all of the cadre and staff, men and women whose service he trusted implicitly, both for their dedication to defending humanity and for their loyalty to Baron Lucius Giovanni. Of course, he thought, some of them are a bit more... colorful in the ways they serve than others.
“Sergeant Timorsky, I understand that you and Lance Namori have asked for administrative punishment rather than a full court martial for the events that occurred on the twenty second of August. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Sergeant Timorsky said.
“Yes, sir,” Lance Corporal Namori said.
“Very well. According to the Michaelston police, you two became involved in an altercation with a civilian at a bar. During this altercation, Lance Corporal Namori reportedly struck the civilian without provocation while Sergeant Timorsky held him for said strike. The civilian is reportedly in the hospital with a broken jaw.” He saw them both shift, slightly at that. They didn't plan to put him in the hospital, then, he thought, that's something at least. He waited a long moment, “Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”
“Sir,” Sergeant Timorsky said, “There is no excuse for what we did. However...” he straightened a bit, “The bast– that is, the civilian had just made disparaging comments about the Baron and the United Colonies, sir.”
William had to hide a slight smile of pleasure at that. From the police report, the man had done considerably more than make a 'disparaging statement.' He'd outright called the Baron a traitor and called the United Colonies an upstart group of savages who had stolen the rightful dues of their betters. There was a quite interesting video of the man's rant, accompanied by evidence that he'd been hired by the Centauri Confederation Envoy to say all that an more.
The problem was, he was a Centauri citizen,and Alicia Nix, head of the Federal Investigation Bureau, had already passed along a copy of the official complaint of 'assault' and 'intent to murder' from the Centauri Envoy. For that matter, the local police had a few complaints of their own, in particular how three of their officers were sporting a number of contusions from attempting to restrain the two Marines. He had to do something to salve both parties. William let both Marines stew in silence for a moment longer, before he spoke. “Very well, I'll make note of that. Step outside and send in your platoon sergeant.”
A moment later, Staff Sergeant Oson stepped in. “Sir.” Like his two NCO's, Oson was from the Centauri Confederation Fleet Infantry, originally. He had led their platoon since they refused orders to massacre a civilian convoy. He and his platoon had faced charges of desertion and mutiny as a result, which had led them to Faraday as little more than refugees. That was where Lucius Giovanni had recruited them. Since then, they had been split up over the new United Colonies Fleet, but William Proscia had gathered most of them back together to serve in his training cadre for the Academy. Until now, they had performed flawlessly.
“We have two problems, right now,” William Proscia said softly, “And I think we can solve one with the other. I want your opinion on the mission I forwarded you.”
“Concerning the Baron's security, sir?” Staff Sergeant Oson asked. At Colonel Proscia's nod, he frowned in thought, “Sir, I don't think you'll find two men more loyal. I kept the men fed and alive, but he gave them a reason to live again.”
“Good,” William said. “Senior Chief Winslow, call them back in.”
Colonel William Proscia waited as the two Marines came back. Despite their military bearing, there was no hiding the tension in their faces. Still, that impressed William even more. They hadn't clammed up, they hadn't gone for lawyers or trial. They certainly had owned up to their actions... which were brought on by loyalty and high emot
ions, to be certain. Faced with punishment, they were worried, not because of what they might receive, he understood, but because they might lose the chance to follow their calling.
“Sergeant Timorsky, Lance Corporal Namori,” William said, his voice taking on an official lilt. “After due investigation, I find your actions out of accordance with the standards we impart upon our Marines. As a result, I'm putting both of you on administrative leave pending a review.” He saw both of them blanch at that. “However, given the mitigating circumstances, I'm retaining you both at your current rank and not taking pay.” He saw their eyes widen a bit at that, they both had expected to be broken down to privates, he knew. “You are, however, restricted to your quarters pending the final results of the review, save for any duties which require other actions.” They restrained their groans at that, but William still heard them. Restriction to barracks was almost a prison sentence, particularly since both of them had girlfriends in Michaelston.
“Normally your duties would coincide with barracks maintenance, however, I have a special mission for you both,” Colonel William Proscia saw both of them wince at that. So called 'special missions' often were seen as worse punishments than cleaning or maintenance details... for good reason. They were often the brainchilds of bored officers with too much time to set and think. This one, however, was a little different.
“Baron Giovanni has limited personal security at the moment,” Colonel Proscia said. “While aboard ship he is protected by Marines. This is acceptable, though not optimal. While here on Faraday, he has no personal escort and no private security, other than when he is in his apartment building or one of the government buildings... whose security is oriented on the building, rather than the person.”
Neither of the two men spoke. Still, William saw their eyes light up as they realized where this was going. In many ways, this wasn't a punishment... it was a reward.