by Britt Ringel
“I think it’s beautiful, Garrett,” Vernay stated as she walked to the edge of the water. “It almost makes me want to take off my shoes.”
The parcel of land, a mere forty kilometers from the fourth largest city on Seshafi Major, promised quick access to urban amenities yet offered the quiet seclusion Heskan believed he wanted. “I think I’m doing it,” he judged with a nod. “I want this land.”
“What kind of house are you going to build?” Vernay asked. “Some of the building codes on this continent are pretty restrictive.”
“I’m fine with colonial,” Heskan said. “I like the nostalgia of it and besides, I don’t need, or want, a mansion.”
“You should consider Spanish colonial,” Vernay suggested.
Heskan tore his eyes away from the ocean’s horizon and looked at his friend. “Is that what you’re building?”
Vernay shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet. I’m not even sure where I want to buy.”
“Plenty of plots near here,” Heskan said.
Vernay blushed. “Don’t you get enough of me inside your ship?”
Heskan turned to face the shuttle near the top of the hill. “We need to get going.” He checked his datapad’s chronometer. “I’ve got to tour that new second-rate the Navy is rushing through the finishing yards. I’m due in an hour.”
“You’re a busy man these days,” Vernay remarked.
Heskan nodded. “Frankly, I think Covington wants me off the surface as much as possible. It’s easier to keep the media from me that way.”
“You’re going to have to face them eventually. I can’t look at a wall screen without seeing that damned battle broadcast over and over again.”
“I know,” Heskan acknowledged as he started up the hill. “But not while I have obligations that need my attention.”
Vernay marched through the beach grass to catch up to him. “Don’t let them rush the line ship too much. We don’t want another Kite on our hands.”
The shipyard’s scramble to complete what would be Seshafi’s flagship eerily mirrored Heskan’s last Brevic command. Although built in Helwan like many ships of the Seshafian Navy, the navy finished and customized the results in a yard repair facility orbiting Seshafi Minor. Heskan was determined not to commit the mistakes of the past and with his new position perched high in the navy, he was cautiously optimistic. Over the last week, his discussions with Seshafian political officials had been promising. Every one of them believed it would be only a matter of weeks before IaCom lodged a second casus bellum and, this time, they believed Sade would come at their system in full force. The devastation of the Seshafian naval command chain left the political officials desperate for military leadership and more than content with Heskan filling the void.
The coastal wind playfully tugged at Vernay’s blonde hair. She swept stray strands behind her ear and asked, “How are the other repair efforts going?”
“Good. Ajax is already in the repair dock and Unadex has opened their repair yards to our brigs.”
Vernay’s eyebrows arched slightly. “Which one is that again?”
Heskan smiled sympathetically as he explained, “Unadex is the mega-corp that controls Lagrin and three smaller systems.”
Vernay tilted her head. “Is that common? A rival corporation offering to assist like that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Covington told me that Unadex covets IaCom’s sales territory. He thinks they are helping us because we’re sapping IaCom’s strength.”
“One big mess,” Vernay restated and shook her head. “I’m glad I just have to follow your orders. I’m a simple girl at heart.”
Heskan snorted. “Yeah, right.” He stopped short of the shuttle door and looked at Vernay. “Besides, I think the days of having you on my bridge are coming to an end, Stacy. I can’t justify not giving you a command of your own. The navy needs combat-experienced ship captains too much for me to keep you, selfishly, on my bridge.”
Vernay’s eyes widened. “Are you telling me I’m getting my own command?”
“Seshafi will be better for it and you’ve more than earned it,” Heskan complimented.
Vernay shook her head slightly. “I’m not sure…”
“Stacy, you captained Elathra during the last battle. I was too busy handling the fleet. You’re more than ready.”
She shrugged furtively. “You’re right. I just hate the idea of not being on the ship with the Brevic crew. Formerly Brevic crew.”
“I’m splitting them up,” Heskan declared. “I need combat-experienced ship captains and the best we have right now are the Seshafians that survived, like Covington and Baldwin, and our crew. I’m seriously considering giving Selvaggio and Truesworth commands of their own.” He ignored Vernay’s stunned expression. “I also want to commission Pruette to ensign and get him behind a WEPS station.”
“He’s mine,” Vernay stated quickly. “I also want Gables on my ship.”
“How’s she doing?” Heskan asked as he looked back toward the brilliant, blue ocean.
“She’ll survive. She’s scheduled to take her first cybernetic steps in a week. She needs to go through rehab but the doctors say she’ll be ready for duty in record time. Gabes won’t have it any other way.” Vernay reflected on what the Operations officer had suffered through and sighed heavily.
“Well,” Heskan said, “I’m not sure I can give you Lieutenant Gables.” He spoke over Vernay’s objections. “I need her for a special program I’ve been thinking about. In fact, I have a concept in mind for all of the ‘Kite Sixteen.’”
“Fifteen,” Vernay corrected. “Leonard Daily was killed in the last battle pass.”
The fact he had forgotten made Heskan shudder. He nodded grimly and thought about the future. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“But it is going to get better,” Vernay promised.
Thank you for your readership and
be sure to watch for the series finale,
Last Measure of Devotion
Coming in early Summer 2015.
For updates on future books, visit http://www.thiscorneroftheuniverse.com. If you liked Loyalty to the Cause, consider leaving a review where you bought the book.
Elathra Organizational Chart
Lesser Magellanic Corporate System Zone
Officer Ranks of the Terran Navies