Never In Vain (Lincoln's War Book 2)

by Richard Tongue

   “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll see that everything goes as smoothly as possible.” Looking at the door, she added, “He would have been the last person on my list of suspects, ma’am. If that’s any consolation.”

   “Thank you, Chief.” Turning to Romano, she said, “Come with me.”

   “Of course, ma’am,” he replied, as she led the way into the vacant office of the Security Officer, another position going unfilled at present. She sat behind the desk, gesturing him to take the other seat. “I...”

   “Your performance during the investigation, Lieutenant, has been unorthodox but exemplary. Under other circumstances, I would have no hesitation in awarding a decoration, but I think it essential to push this business into the background. I will not forget, however, and my intention is to provide you with greater responsibilities in the future. We’re at war, and promotions can be rapid at the best of times.”

   “Thank you, Captain, I appreciate that.”

   “In addition, if there’s anything I can do for you...”

   “That’s what I was trying to say, ma’am.” He pulled out a datapad, slid it across the desk, and said, “I formally resign my commission in the United States Space Force.”

   She looked across at him in disbelief, and replied, “I wasn’t expecting that. May I ask what brought this on? I understand that your assignment was distasteful, but...”

   “No, ma’am, it isn’t that. Not at all. I won’t say that I enjoyed it, but orders are orders, and they must be obeyed. I have been and remain personally loyal to you, this ship and the uniform I wear, but I have personal matters that I have to attend to, and they are likely to mean a prolonged absence from my post. In addition, I suspect that I will be forced to take measures that contradict Fleet Regulations, and I’d rather not be put in a position when I have to make that sort of a choice.”

   “And these personal matters?”

   Pausing, Romano said, “I meant what I said on the bridge, just after the battle. Captain Sinaga gave his life to save mine, and that of everyone else on this ship. He did so willingly, and without hesitation. As he died, he made a request of me, and it is my intention to honor it or to die myself in the attempt.”

   “You’re going after his crew, aren’t you.”

   Nodding, he said, “Yes, ma’am. I gave him my word, and that means something to me. I think we’ve all had a good, close look about what happens when such words become meaningless, and I don’t intend to fall victim to that myself. I promised Captain Sinaga that I would find some way to rescue his crew, and I intend to do just that. We gathered sufficient information during our data mining of the Guilder vessels during the battle to at least give me a start, and I’ve obtained passage on the Honest Horris to take me to Sinbad Station tomorrow. It’s a neutral port, and from there I should be able to begin my search.”

   Taking a deep breath, Forrest said, “We’re at war, Lieutenant. I’m not sure that I can honor this request. I’m short-handed enough as it is, and I honestly can’t spare a single officer.”

   “Ma’am, this ship is going to be in dock for longer this time. We rushed her out to help the Lemurians, but she could really have done with another two weeks, and that’s without the battle damage that she’s suffered. Realistically, it will be a couple of months before you ship out again. All those diplomats won’t negotiate with themselves. You have time to raise some people from the ranks, and to ensure that they are trained and ready to go. Ensign Roberts is qualified to replace me as Communications Officer, and I suspect Chief Wong is better equipped to run Damage Control, even if he decides not to accept the actual commission.”

   “I did have thoughts along those lines,” Forrest replied. “The bigger question is who to name as Executive Officer.” At Romano’s panicked expression, she added, “No, son, not you. At least, not yet, though I think you’re walking down a road that will take you to command of a ship of your own at some point in the near future, and we both know it.”

   “The distant future, I hope, ma’am.”

   “Perhaps. Nevertheless, I’d like to hear your recommendations.”

   “It’s hardly my place...”

   “That’s an order, Lieutenant.”

   He glanced at the door, then said, “Commander Kirkland is a fine officer, ma’am, and I think you will find her an excellent second-in-command. Her skills are more administrative than tactical, but if you are commanding a task force, I suspect you will find that valuable. Lieutenant Fox should be promoted, and assigned as Operations Officer, with the expectation that she will serve many of the functions of a Flag Captain.”

   Cracking a smile, she replied, “You really aren’t ambitious at all, Lieutenant, are you. You realize that you’d be a logical choice to succeed Lieutenant Fox at Astrogation?”

   “I am aware of that, ma’am, but I have made my reasons clear, and...”

   Raising a hand, she said, “I’ll honor your request, Lieutenant, at least half-way. Let’s not call it resignation, but an extended leave of absence. If you manage to pull this off, then I want you back on the bridge where you belong. Is that understood?”

   “Quite clearly, Captain, and thank you.”

   Nodding, she replied, “Thank you, Lieutenant. And good luck. Dismissed.” He rose from his chair, snapped a salute, and left the room. She watched him leave, shaking her head again. Quietly, she said, “You’ll be back, kid. And one of these days, you’re going to be sitting in my chair. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse.”

  Epilogue

   Romano swung the holdall over his shoulder, feeling uncomfortable in the strange civilian clothes, standard Zemlyan spacer’s garb. He walked towards the passenger airlock, the last in a stream of people making their way onto the transport to take them to Sinbad Station, the first leg of a journey with, as yet, no clear destination. On the datapad hidden in his bag was the information he needed to get a start, and he’d found a cashcard with five thousand kopeks loaded on it in his cabin before he’d left. Presumably the Captain offering him a farewell gift.

   “Hey, wait up,” a familiar voice said, and Romano turned to see Tanaka chasing after him, wearing similar attire to his own. “I almost missed you.”

   “Lieutenant?” Romano asked. “What are you doing here?”

   Raising an eyebrow, Tanaka said, “Would this be a good time to remind you that I’ve undertaken more covert operations than anyone else in the Fleet? I’ve forgotten more about infiltration techniques than you ever learned in the Academy, kid, and I’ve been getting a little rusty. Time to put those skills into practice.”

   “You know what my mission is?”

   “Commander Flynn told me. I think the Captain told him.” He paused, looked around, and said, “Where you’re going, you’ll need a partner, and I’m the best man for the job. You’re about to give me a lot of crap about not risking anyone else, but as I understand it, there are six hundred stranded people who are counting on you to pull this off, so I’ll ask you to stuff your ego down to the bottom of that holdall.”

   “Do I have a choice?”

   “Not if you want access to the information I got from Lemurian Intelligence this morning. They’re getting a little more trusting, now that we’re on the verge of a formal alliance.” Looking up at the airlock, he said, “Sixty seconds to boarding. Are we going?”

   “I guess we are,” Romano said, cracking a smile, a chuckle escaping his lips.

   “What the hell’s so funny?” Tanaka asked.

   “Raul, I think this is going to be beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

   Shaking his head, Tanaka replied, “We’d better get one thing straight, partner. You do the heroics. I do the jokes. Got that?”

   “Sure.”

   “Then let’s get on with it. We’ve got a lot of space to cover, and not much time to do it. And somehow, I think the Captain’s expecting us to get back before Old Abe sa
ils.”

   “She might be disappointed on that.”

   “If we let her down, I’d be more worried about what she might do to us than the Guild.”

  Thank you for reading the latest book in the ‘Lincoln’s War’ series, ‘Never in Vain’. The series will continue in ‘Only The Brave’, coming soon...

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