Double Spiral War Trilogy

by Warren Norwood

  “Not only do I believe Admiral Charltos is correct in his assessment of the situation, but I will recommit my forces to this historic effort.”

  Under Admiral Charltos’s command, of course,” Meister Hadasaki said.

  Judoff gave him a tight smile. “Of course. How could it be otherwise?”

  Hadasaki stared at her. “I guess your use of the term ‘historical’ made me remember unpleasant events of the past – events I would not like to see repeated in the future.”

  “You have no cause to concern yourself, Meister Hadasaki. I have given my word.”

  “Excellent, Marshall. I am sure all of Bridgeforce appreciates the value of that.” When she scowled, he smiled. “However, there are several other considerations to be dealt with. Would we not be better served if our first two bombships were completed before we undertook such far-flung operations?”

  “We cannot wait that long,” Frye said grimly. “Already the bombships project has cost us valuable time and materials needed elsewhere. It will proceed on schedule, but we cannot wait for the bombships – regardless of how valuable they may prove to be in the future. If we delay this action, we risk losing the initiative in this war.”

  “Again I agree with Admiral Charltos,” Judoff said, “both about the value of the bombships, and the necessity to avoid delay. Shall I call for a vote approving the plan, Meister Hadasaki, or will you?”

  “I do not believe we have given this sufficient discussion for a vote yet, Marshall Judoff.” It was beyond Frye’s comprehension why Judoff was supporting him like this, but he suspected only the most self-serving motives from her. “Are there any additional comments?”

  There were.

  Bridgeforce haggled late into the night before Marshall Judoff again demanded that they vote. With reluctant unanimity the members of Bridgeforce voted to begin immediate preparation for attacking Satterfield, and for follow-up attacks using hunks and auxiliary launchships against Bakke, Yaffee, and Wallbank. As soon as the vote was settled, Frye called for a fifteen hour adjournment, then began putting his papers back in their folders. Almost at once he was aware of Judoff staring at him.

  “I surprised you, didn’t I, Charltos?”

  “Yes, Marshall Judoff, I must admit that you did. But it was a very pleasant surprise.”

  “Of course,” she said, turning her back on him and heading for the door. “All my surprises are pleasant – for someone.”

  “Beware, Admiral, or she’ll bite you again,” Hadasaki said before following her out the door.

  “Judoff’s gotten even worse,” Melliman said when only the two of them were left in the meeting room, “and Hadasaki is a mystery to me.”

  “Hadasaki has his own concerns, but he is at least consistent in his position.” He paused and gave Melliman a warm smile. “You’re only too right about Judoff, though, my dear Clarest, but without her ships, we would have to take most of Yozel’s away from Sutton to use against Satterfield. Given your report on Admiral Yozel, he can barely handle what’s happening on Sutton with what he has.”

  “But you are going to take some of his launchships?”

  “Yes. Yozel obviously isn’t using them, and we will certainly need everything we can muster over Satterfield.”

  “Don’t sound so negative, sir. This is an excellent plan you’ve given Bridgeforce, and I know it will lead to a resounding victory.”

  Frye smiled at her again and marveled again at how swiftly things could change in one’s life. First Vinita, then Marsha, then Tuuneo, and now Melliman. With Marsha on her way to Yakusan, there was no reason – “Clarest, let’s go to my house and talk about it,” he said quietly. “We’ll toast Bridgeforce’s acceptance, and ponder Judoff’s latest enigma.”

  “Anything you say, sir,” she said, returning his smile.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  Admiral Pajandcan took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and massaged her temples. The medics wanted to run another series of tests on her to determine if there was some physical cause for these severe headaches, or if she was merely suffering from the strain and tension of overwork.

  Pajandcan didn’t have time for more tests. The attack group was scheduled to leave in ten days to hit the Ukes at Sutton. She was still trying to make sure that the striking force was strong enough while leaving sufficient personnel and ships behind to protect the rest of the polar systems – and all that with a limited methane supply. Dealing with those problems gave her headaches enough. Her physical headaches would have to wait.

  At least Schopper was cooperating now. After receiving his instructions from Mari, Schopper’s whole attitude had changed, and he was providing more help to her than anyone else. Given the dangers Schopper’s troops would be facing. Pajandcan knew that his was also the most difficult part of the task.

  Hours later when Schopper and Dimitri entered her office, she was pleased that Mica Gilbert was with them.

  Dimitri smiled at her as he sat in one of the hard chairs and made himself comfortable. “I asked Captain Gilbert to attend this meeting because I want her on my staff for the attack,” Dimitri said.

  “That’s totally up to Captain Gilbert. She is not under my direct authority.” Pajandcan gave Mica a look of approval and hoped that by publicly acknowledging her status, the tension might ease between them. Pajandcan rather liked Josiah’s daughter.

  “Wouldn’t mind having her on my staff, either,” Schopper said easily.

  “Admiral, General,” Mica said with a slight blush. “I am pleased by your offers, but perhaps I can serve you both and POLFLEET at the same time.” She looked directly at Pajandcan when she spoke, wanting this woman who had loved her father to approve of her.

  “In what way?” Pajandcan asked.

  “I could serve as your liaison to the attack force,” Mica answered. “With my access to Cryptography’s communications network, I could keep you updated on the mission without having to burden the normal channels.”

  Dimitri laughed. “Cryptography handling battle reports? Rocky would have a fit if he knew about that.”

  “On the contrary, sir. I’ve already cleared this with Commander Rochmon. He heartily approves.”

  “What? You told Rochmon our plans?” Pajandcan was suddenly angry and her headache pushed itself forward. “This was supposed to be a secret operation.”

  “He already knew, Admiral. My father told him. Father also told him to render whatever assistance he could.”

  It was Pajandcan’s turn to laugh, but she couldn’t. the pounding in her head was too strong. No matter where she turned in her career Josiah Gilbert was always there – in the shadows, but always there. Why couldn’t he…She dropped that thought. He was doing what he thought best for the Service and Sondak, not for her.

  “Very well,” she said slowly, “I think that is an excellent idea, but I suspect there is more to it than what you told us.”

  “Just what we talked about before,” Mica said, unsure of what she could say in front of Dimitri and Schopper.

  “Reports directly to your father?” Pajandcan wasn’t about to keep that a secret from her top leaders.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “what kind of reports?” Schopper asked.

  “Confidential ones, General.”

  Admiral Dimitri frowned. “Spying for the old man, huh? Doesn’t surprise me. Doesn’t change my mind, either. What about you, Chop? You mind her spying on you?”

  “It isn’t spying. Father only wants –“

  “Spy all you want, Captain,” Schopper said with a wave of his hand. “But once the operation starts, you’ll do as you’re told, stay out of the way, and when it comes time to send your secret reports, tell your father the truth. I respect him, so I’ll trust you.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Good,” Pajandcan said quickly. “Now that we’ve settled that, I want to review this attack schedule staff has worked up for us. It seems to me…”

  Mica stood, assuming that her part i
n this meeting was over.

  “Don’t leave, br – Captain,” Pajandcan said, allowing herself a faint smile. She had almost called Mica ‘brat’ in front of the others. “You’d better know what’s going to happen when, so you can inform me of changes as the attack takes place.”

  “Then may I ask a question, Admiral?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Is there any way we can attack sooner? The reports from Cryptography you received yesterday indicate that the Ukes are building up another attack fleet and –“

  “What?” Pajandcan realized that she hadn’t read yesterday’s Cryptography reports. She had been so busy –

  “Another attack fleet, Admiral.” The look on Pajandcan’s face told Mica this was new information. “Their target still isn’t clear, but we do know they have pulled in the militia fleet under Marshall Judoff and are consolidating their positions. The sooner we can strike them at Sutton, the better.”

  Pajandcan rubbed her temples in a futile attempt to ease the pain. “What about that, you two? Can we begin any sooner?”

  “If we have to, we have to.” Dimitri said. “But the best we can probably do is cut it to eight days.”

  “And that will be tighter than a prowhore,” Schopper added.

  After thinking for a moment, Pajandcan said, “I have another duty for you Captain. From this moment forward, you are responsible for briefing me orally on any and all Cryptography reports you consider significant to this mission.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Then here we go.” Pajandcan looked at each of them in turn. “One way or another we are going to launch the attack force in eight days. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” Dimitri and Schopper answered simultaneously.

  Mica only nodded, and hoped they wouldn’t have to pay a severe penalty for rushing their plans.

  Pajandcan took another of the pain killers from her desk and downed it quickly. It was going to be a long eight days.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “And what did he say?” Janette asked.

  “He repeated what he said before,” Lucky answered slowly, trying to calm his reaction to her anger, “that help was on the way, and that we would have to be patient.”

  “So how long do we have to wait?”

  “Until help arrives. Now if you don’t mind, Inspector, I’m going to fix something to eat and get some sleep.”

  “Aren’t you going to keep working on the Gouldrive?”

  “Inspector,” Lucky said with impatience vibrating his voice, “I told you before and I’ll tell you again. I’ve done everything I know how to do. The Gouldrive is running well enough to keep us in communication with Oina, and that’s all it can do for us until someone gets here who knows more than I do. Why can’t you accept that? You think that just because you are pretty and a Sci-Sec Inspector that you can always get what you want?”

  “You have no cause to speak to me –“

  “Lady, I’ve got all the cause I need. You’re on my ship as a passenger, yet you refuse to accept my authority or my evaluation of our situation. If you want something to eat, you can follow me to the galley.”

  Much to his surprise she did just that. She even helped him fix their rations and tried to carry on a normal conversation with him as they ate. For some reason Lucky found that almost as annoying as her continuous questions.

  Later as he lay in his bunk staring at the overhead, he wondered what made Janette’s electrons jump. Power? Prestige? He had no idea. For all that he knew about her she might be motivated by the thrill of the chase, or by pure altruism, or any one of a set of other things. She was as foreign to him as she was beautiful.

  In fact, her beauty was her only trait that he could admire, and obviously she hadn’t had much to do with that. But living with her for a month in close proximity aboard Graycloud had led him to the opinion that her beauty was almost flawless. It was with thoughts of that beauty that he fell asleep.

  Lucky dreamed of Marsha, a dream that swept him through a complex of emotions into a scene of misty eroticism, a dream so real and exciting that he awoke in the middle of his orgasm to find himself lying under Janette.

  Even as he fought the gasping spasms, anger tore at his brain. As he caught his breath and tried to speak, she place a small finger on his lips.

  “Shhh,” she said, “I just wanted to apologize. I thought maybe you would –“

  “You thought wrong,” Lucky said fiercely, pushing her off of him and climbing from the bed. “If I had done that to you, you would have called it rape.” Without waiting for a reply he went into the head and slid the door shut behind him.

  Standing there in the dim light he felt dirty and used and ashamed. As quickly as he could he turned on the jet sprays and climbed into the cleanser, letting the sharp needles of water tear away her odor and slime. Yet in the hot, steamy air her odor seemed to cling to everything, and with an angry twist he turned the sprays up as hard as they would go.

  He knew he was wasting water, but he didn’t care. If Graycloud couldn’t recycle it fast enough, Janette would just have to do without cleansing herself. Be interesting to see if she could keep her beauty looking so fresh without water for her cleanser.

  Why? Why had she done that? What right did she think she had to use his body? Lucky didn’t know and he didn’t care what she thought she was doing or why. It didn’t matter anymore. She had violated and disgusted him, and he wanted nothing further to do with her.

  As soon as the Gouldrive was repaired, he was going to take her back to Oina and let her try to get to wherever she was going from there. He wasn’t about to spend any more time than necessary with a woman who had no scruples about using another human being for her own pleasure.

  Finally he turned off the water jets and turned on the blowers. He still didn’t feel clean, but he knew it would be a long time before he would ever feel clean again. What did she think he was? One of those sexual ephemera like the ones they sold on Nordeen – a device to be used and thrown away?

  Lucky shuddered in the warm air and wrapped his arms around his chest. He wanted to cover himself and hide. The dirt was gone – the physical dirt at least – but his shame remained, a shame as illogical as it was damning.

  How could he have let this happen? How could he not have guessed that she might do something like that? He didn’t know. He must have done something very, very wrong. As the blowers dried the last of the water from his body, tears ran slowly down his face, and Lucky cried without knowing why.

  22

  HENLEY STOOD IN THE LITTLE CUL-DE-SAC facing General Mari and tried to control his anger. Yet when he spoke, he knew it was a losing battle. “What in the Corps have I done to you, General? All I want to do is observe and report the war from Sutton? What’s so wrong with that?”

  “Look, Mister, I’ve got no use for tellers – whether they’re in the Service or not – and I don’t want you here. Pajandcan says you left without authorization, so as soon as that transportation gets here, you’re hopping off this planet with me.”

  “Fine. Just fine, General.” Every time Henley thought he had made points with Mari, the general turned around and read him the same story about how he would have to leave. He had thought his story about the drowning of the Uke aircraft might have pleased Mari. It hadn’t.

  Now Henley was just tired of the arguing with Mari and tired of losing every argument. “I’ll be sure to put all this in my story for the Flag Report, and since Admiral Gilbert authorized me to come here, I’ll put your actions in my personal reports to him. I’m sure he’ll appreciate the cooperation you’ve given me and want to commend you to the rest of the Joint Chiefs.”

  Mari stared at the little stalactite over Stanmorton’s head before shifting his eyes back to the persistent teller. “As a member of the Joint Chiefs, I seriously doubt that I will have to concern myself with that.” He secretly admired Stanmorton’s grip and determination to stay on Sutton, but he had made up his mind, and no converted ci
vy was going to change it.

  “However,” he said after a long pause, “if you’re going to write me up in the Flag Report, be sure to spell my name right. That’s Fortuno, F-O-R-T-U-N-O, Mari, as in Marie with no ‘e’ on the end. You got that?”

  “You bet,” Henley said. He was sick and tired of fighting the general’s unjustified stubbornness. It was time to push as hard as he dared. “Let’s see, that’s Mari, ‘M’ as in mud, ‘A’ as in ass, ‘R’ as in rude –“

  “That’ll do, Mister!” Mari was startled by Stanmorton’s continuing effrontery and fast losing any patience he had left. The teller’s admirable persistence was one thing, but his insults were quite another. “One more crack like that from you and I lock your ass up for the duration.”

  Henley sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Look, General, can I say one more thing?”

  “Build your own cell,” Mari said sharply. “I’ll watch you.”

  “Then listen to me for once. I’ve tried to be reasonable. I’ve tried to understand your point of view. I’ve tried everything I know how to stay out of your way and off your mind, but you just won’t let go of it.” Henley heard the fatigue and resentment in his voice and changed his tone.

  “I respect your abilities as a soldier, sir. I truly do. And I have no doubt that you have the power to lock me up somewhere till the end of the war. But I also know that one of the few guaranteed liberties left to a citizen of Sondak is the freedom of speech.”

  Mari snorted. “Go on.”

  “So you can lock me up, General. You can throw me off this planet. You can do whatever it is you feel you have to do because of some irrational paranoia you have about tellers.” Henley meant to pace his words, but they rushed out of his mouth. “But I’ll tell you this. If you do any of those things, I swear to you that I’ll make your paranoia come true. I’ll dig up every bit of dirt you ever stepped in, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure the public knows everything there is to know about General Fortuno Mari.”

  “How dare you?” Mari asked as the blood flushed his face. “How dare you threaten me like that?”