He looked down at his mangled hand as he said the last, and Alex's gaze followed his. They both knew, as did every one else in the compartment, that, unfortunately, the circumstances that had Kaufman's department and the rest of theirs at full manning would not last for long once the war caught up with them again.
Alex looked around the table and nodded, satisfied with the individual department reports she had just received. All that was left now was to hear the overall ship status, and for that she turned her gaze on the man seated at the far end of the table.
"Commander Ruggs, how are things proceeding for today's launch?"
"Everything seems to be going fine, ma'am." Commander Ruggs held up his pad and began to scroll through the information there, reading off the important highlights to his captain.
"We have about fifty personnel on-station for various reasons. Otherwise we are fully manned, and all sections report full operational status. Our supplies are almost finished loading and should be complete within the next hour. As Commander Fain indicated, all weapon magazines are fully stocked, and the armory is fully equipped as well. With the exception of the marine battalion, the Valhalla could be ready to launch within the next sixty minutes." Tony set his pad down as he finished his recital.
"Very good." Alex smiled across at him. "Status of the battalion?"
"As you know, both the CO and the XO are dirtside for a briefing. However, as to the rest of the battalion, Colonel Hendrix issued a seventy-two-hour liberty, so a vast majority of the battalion is not on-ship at the moment. Most are on the station, but approximately twenty percent of the unit is dirtside. They should be returning on today's shuttle, and I know that the colonel has an afternoon formation scheduled, so we should have his manning reports within minutes of formation's end." Tony chuckled now. "And I wouldn't worry too much as to the contents of that report. Colonel Hendrix runs a tight ship, and if even one of his marines is missing, well, he will wish that he had dropped on the Sally home world rather than face the colonel's wrath."
"That bad, huh?" Alex asked. She had never served with, or even met, her marine counterpart.
"From the talk I have heard from his junior officers in the club, even worse. He takes his job very, very seriously, and he expects the same from his people. If he doesn't get it, they find themselves transferred to another unit before they know what's happening. Hell, I've had to vet two transfer orders in the last month, as he found some weak links while training."
"Well, sounds like he's got things under control down in Marine Country. As long as he's there when we need him, he can run his unit any way he pleases." Alex leaned back in her chair and extinguished her cigarette. "I know for a fact that the Corps does not hand out battalion commands capriciously, especially detached commands aboard ship, so if Hendrix has command, he knows what he's doing."
Alex sipped the last of her coffee and watched her staff over the rim of the cup. She could see them begin to shift in their seats, obviously ready for the meeting to be concluded and to head back to work. She had the makings of an outstanding command crew, and she knew that it would not take much for her and Tony to mold them into such. Her only concern lay with her new XO. She didn't know him well enough yet to know if the two of them would gel and be able to function as efficiently as she hoped. She didn't think that there would be any issues, not with an officer with his reputation, but one could never tell. Alex decided it was time to get started, and to find out.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen." She set her cup down and sat up straight in her chair, eyes intent and face set in a serious mien. "That was a very complete and thorough status update. You've all done a great job. Now I would like to invite you all down to the galley for lunch, and to see if we can all get to know one another a bit better in less official surroundings. Unless anyone has any objections?"
Alex added the last as a polite courtesy, not expecting any. Woe be it to any officer who could not attend to a captain's request for their company at a meal. Especially when it was this specific captain. Her reputation had preceded her as well.
"Very well, then." She pushed her chair back and began to rise. The rest of the officers in the room, the doctor included, shot to rigid attention before she had completed her motion. Alex felt a flush of pleasure at that. The speed with which her crew had moved showed her that she already had their respect, and that they were already beginning to merge into one entity. The majority of the battle for a cohesive, confident command staff won, all that remained was to smooth down the rough edges, and her lunch invitation seemed a good way in which to begin.
"Dismissed."
All of her officers broke into movement at her words and began to move toward the hatch, conversations beginning almost immediately. All but one. Commander Tony Ruggs stood next to his chair, looking at her. Lieutenant Green was the last officer to leave the compartment, and when the hatch cycled shut, the Valhalla's executive officer spoke.
"Captain, request permission to speak freely."
* * *
Tony watched as a shocked expression passed over his captain's bruised face, and an uncomfortable feeling began to develop in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't looking forward to this discussion, but he knew it had to be done. His duty demanded it of him.
"Of course, Commander. Always." Alex recovered from her surprise and moved toward him.
Tony saw that she stopped at the chair next to his and indicated his own seat as she took hers. Now it was his turn to be shocked; he had not expected the captain to come and sit next to him, as if this were going to be just any other conversation. He didn't doubt that even though she might not suspect the topic, she had to know that it was likely to be unpleasant.
"Thank you, ma'am," Tony said as he resumed his seat and watched as she settled more comfortably into her own, an open, inviting look on her face despite the quizzical glance she directed toward him.
"So, what's on your mind, Tony?" Her tone was not demanding, and Tony could see that she was going to wait for him to get his thoughts in order before beginning.
"Well, to be frank, ma'am, I'm concerned about the . . . I'm not quite sure how to say it." He paused, searching for the right word to use in this delicate situation.
"Go ahead, Commander. Just tell me what you have on your mind. I promise not to bite your head off."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm concerned about the effectiveness of some of the crew."
"And by some of the crew, you mean the members that transferred aboard from the Fenris." It was not a question.
"Yes."
"I see. Why?" Her tone held no venom or rancor, and Tony was grateful for that. This was difficult enough as it stood.
"Well, let me first say that I have no doubt, no doubt whatsoever, as to the competency, dedication, or bravery of any man or woman from the Fenris. As far as I am concerned, they have all proven themselves in the most difficult situation I can possibly imagine, and I am honored to serve with any of you."
He watched as Alex took that in, and she seemed to give the feeling that she had picked up on something, though she gave no physical signs of it.
"I am sure they would be flattered to hear that, Commander. They have indeed passed through the fire and proven their worth. We both agree on that, so tell me what exactly is the source of your concern." Though still not hostile, Alex was clearly not fully open and inviting anymore, either.
"Please, ma'am, understand that I mean no disrespect." How to say what needed to be said, but in such a way as not to alienate his captain had Tony in a bind. "It's hard to explain."
"Try."
Alex's voice was flatly neutral now. Tony could see that he was dangerously close to setting her off, and he did not doubt that rumors of his new captain's temper were not greatly exaggerated. But then again, his reputation had been earned as well.
"Okay. I've spent time with several of the Fenris' crew since they have come on board—Commander Denton, Commander Grant, and Lieutenant Green in particular."
"I had gathered as much." Alex's voice was slightly warmer. "I see that everyone on board is wearing their sidearm. I figured that someone had told you about my standing order."
"Yes, ma'am. Commander Denton."
"Good." Tony watched as her expression closed again. "I'm sorry, Commander. You were saying?"
"After talking with them, and others from the Fenris, I observed that while every single one of you is performing outstandingly, there seems to be a heavy aura of sorrow surrounding you." He sought Alex's eyes with his own and held her gaze. "I know there hasn't been time to recover from that kind of experience, let alone mourn your friends. And I know how that can haunt a crew."
Tony cocked an eyebrow at the way Alex reacted when he said the word "haunt." She jerked in her seat as if she had been punched.
"Commander Ruggs," Alex started, then stopped for a moment before beginning again. "Tony, I noticed that twice you switched from referring to the Fenris' crew as 'them' to 'you.' I take it you are including me in your concerns? I would appreciate an honest answer, Commander. You have my word that it won't go beyond this compartment."
"Yes, ma'am, I am," Tony answered directly, without hesitation.
"You do realize that I have been cleared by the shrinks dirtside as fit for command?" she asked, obviously playing devil's advocate.
His only response was to drop his gaze to the black skull and wings pinned to the left breast of her jacket. He looked back up into her eyes and saw a small smirk, just the upturn of the right corner of her mouth, appear for a fleeting moment. He found that he was not surprised when she did not try to defend herself. Here sat a woman who was honest enough in her self-assessment to realize that she was not perfect, that she had flaws, and worked to correct them. Her right hand stroked her chin in what he was sure was an unconscious action while she thought for a moment.
"Let me reassure you, Commander"—her voice held no anger, Tony noted with interest, only the unmistakable inflection of command—"that I am confident in the abilities of every member of this crew, and I will give each of them the benefit of the doubt. However, if anyone aboard this ship performs to less than the best of their abilities, I will relieve them immediately. Am I understood?"
Tony caught all the nuances of that statement, and he understood them quite clearly. Captain McLaughlin would not play favorites among her crew, but, on the other hand, neither would she tolerate any prejudices. He would be expected to extend the same benefit of the doubt to the crew of the Fenris as she was to the crew of the Valhalla. He also understood that if he didn't, he could very well find himself relieved of duty.
"Perfectly, ma'am. Please understand it was never my intention to insult you or any member of the Fenris." Tony watched her relax now, and felt better for it. "I am sure you will do what you have done in the past."
"And what's that, Commander?" The light tremor was evident in her voice once more.
"Perform your duty to your crew, just like you have always done." Tony had meant for that to be a reassurance of his confidence in her abilities. It clearly was not taken as such. He watched as the blood drained from her face, leaving her paper white, and her breath came in shallow rasps as her eyes lost focus, as if seeing something only she could see.
"Captain?" he said worriedly and watched her shake herself back to lucidity. "Are you alright?"
"What? Oh, fine, just fine. Still get a twinge from the ribs now and then. They're not quite fully healed yet." She gave him a reassuring look.
"Of course, I understand. Been there myself a few times." Tony decided to play along with her explanation. It was plain that there was something else going on, but if she didn't want to talk about it, then there was nothing he could do about it, as long as it did not interfere with her performance. If it did, then he bloody well would do something about it.
"I'm glad you brought this up now, Commander, and not later. I would have hated for us to have been working at cross-purposes, especially in light of the current situation. We can ill afford anything other than a unified front." She began to rise as she spoke, clearly indicating this conversation was over. "I hope that your concerns about the crew have been addressed?"
"Yes, ma'am, they have. Thank you."
"Good. Now let's get down to the galley. I am sure everyone is wondering where we got off to."
"After you, Captain." Tony stepped aside and indicated that she should precede him out of the compartment.
"Thank you, Commander." Alex dipped her head in his direction and started off. Tony followed her through the hatch, where she could not see the doubt crossing his face.
Yes, my doubts about the crew have been taken care of, Captain McLaughlin. But I am starting to have some doubts about you.
Chapter Twenty-four
USS Valhalla
October 13, 2197
1100 z
Sol
Corporal Clark and Lance Corporal Lewis continued to trek through the Valhalla's passageways, Clark pointing out different areas and what took place in some of the more interesting parts of the ship.
"Tracy, just how long have you been on this ship?" Lewis asked after a particularly involved explanation of the contents of several compartments they had just passed on their way toward the hangar deck.
"Oh, I'd say about three or four weeks. Why?" Clark said, still pointing out items of interest. Or things she found interesting, anyway. Lewis thought that he could have gone a lifetime without knowing the intimate details of a waste-reclamation unit.
"Well, it's just that you seem to know where everything is, and how it all works. Just kind of surprising is all."
"Well, Alan"—she turned one of her fabulous smiles on him, making his heart beat just a bit faster as she explained—"first off, I'm Recon, just like you are. Now, remember one of our jobs is to be pathfinders. So, keeping that in mind, I decided to find out where everything on the ship was. I figured I might as well get the lay of the land. You never know when it can come in handy."
"Like, say, if we were ever boarded?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, I can understand that, but how did you do it in only a few weeks? This place is huge." Lewis waved his hands around, indicating the ship as a whole.
"We're on-ship, Alan." The way she said it made it clear that this should be answer enough. It wasn't.
"Yeah, I kind of noticed that." After spending several long hours together with the corporal, he felt comfortable enough to let his somewhat sarcastic sense of humor out.
Alan took several more steps before he realized that Tracy had stopped in the middle of the passageway. He stood to one side as a pair of ratings walked by, then made his way back to her side.
"Remember what I said about staring at the same bulkheads day in and day out?" Tracy asked him as she took his arm and led him to one side of the passageway. Alan felt an almost electrical tingle where she had touched him.
"Yeah . . . ," Alan said, knowing that what Tracy had said should mean something to him, but all he could think about was her hand on his arm. Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts of Tracy from his mind and concentrated on Corporal Clark and what she had said.
Opening his eyes, he could see she was watching him intently, clearly waiting to see if he could deduce what she was implying. With his mind functioning on something other than hormones, the answer came to him almost immediately.
"Got it." Alan smiled triumphantly. "You're saying that there's not much else to do on ship other than wander around and poke your nose into everything."
"Right in one. I knew there was a reason I liked you." Her smile was dangerously close to causing Alan another hormone imbalance. Taking a deep breath, he forced it away.
Alan tried to concentrate only on what Tracy was saying.
"Now, as to why I know what all the stuff in those compartments does, well, I figured what's the point in knowing what's where, if I didn't know how it worked, so I just asked someone that was there."
"H
mm, and of course they just told you."
"Of course." She turned a winsome smile on him and batted her eyes. "I can be very persuasive when I need to be."
Alan tried to think of something, anything, to say, but all he could manage was to gape open-mouthed at her and feel his face flush. Thankfully, that appeared to be an appropriate answer, as Tracy just laughed and winked at him before starting to move down the passageway again.
He'd just caught up to her at an intersection and began to fall in step with her when five people came around the corner and forced each of them to opposite sides of the passageway.
The three men and two women, oblivious to their presence, continued their conversation, marching past them. All five were dressed in identical black flight suits, though the suits looked different from those of the other pilots he'd seen. They seemed bulkier and perhaps a bit more rigid, but Alan wasn't sure, not having spent much time around Valkyrie riders or assault-boat pilots.
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