Double Spiral War Trilogy

by Warren Norwood

  Sjean wished she had his confidence about the war, but she hadn’t heard anything that made her believe Sondak was going to win. Despite all the Efcorps propaganda, it seemed fairly obvious to her that the Ukes still had the advantage and were making the most of it.

  “I think it would be a mistake, Caugust. If we don’t bid on getting Ayne and the weapon back, then I think you should notify Sci-Sec and let them handle it. The risks are just too great not to.”

  “And if I don’t like either of those options? What then?”

  “Then I’m afraid I would have to tell Sci-Sec myself,” she said softly.

  “You’d do that, too, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have any choice.” Sjean looked up at him and wondered why he was finding this so hard to understand. “Don’t you see, Caugust? It’s at least partially our fault that this Oinaise found the weapon. It’s totally our fault that the thing exists at all. Somewhere along the line we have to accept the responsibility for that.”

  Caugust sighed. “You sound like my conscience, and you’re as right as it is. But whatever we do, however we handle it, we’ll do this on our own. No Sci-Sec this time. We’ll use our own security people and no one else. We’ve let enough things get out of our control already.”

  Sjean released a small sigh of her own and swore to herself that regardless of what happened, once this war was over, she was going to get out of the weapons business forever.

  30

  ADMIRAL JOSIAH GILBERT STOOD before the Joint Chiefs and waited for their censure. Only a few hours earlier he had learned that the Ukes were attacking Bakke and Yaffee and he was sure Wallbank would be next. He had failed in his evaluation of the Uke’s strategy and strength. All that remained was for the Joint Chiefs to do their duty and officially relieve him of his.

  Stonefield, Lindshaw, and Erresser looked back at him without speaking. Hilldill was still at Satterfield, and no replacement had been named for Mari. These three had already determined his future.

  The only expressions on Gilbert’s face were fatigue and sadness. Even the news that Mica was uninjured had done little to bring him cheer. There were too many dead and dying, too many losses for there to be joy in his life. He fully expected to be stripped of his command and forced into retirement. At best they might assign him to some relatively meaningless office job – in which case he intended to resign. Even he had difficulty believing that what he had done was right.

  “This has not been an easy decision for us, Josiah,” Stonefield said, breaking the tension in the room. “Despite the optimistic reports from Avitor Hilldill about the condition of Satterfield, we believe your actions, and those of others that you approved, have caused the fleets to suffer appalling, and perhaps unnecessary, casualties and losses of ships, materiel and equipment.”

  “I am thoroughly aware of that, sir,” Gilbert knew he had no right to speak, but a desperate voice inside of him wanted the Joint Chiefs to understand how greatly he felt the pain and responsibility for what had happened. Yet he fully respected their traditional right to drag him through the mire of his grievous errors.

  “You will let me finish, Josiah,” Stonefield said. “In considering what action, if any, should be taken against you, we chose to ignore the demands of the Combined Committees and the TriCameral. This is a purely military-executive matter and there were certain mitigating factors which we took into consideration which our civilian branches would not understand.

  “Those factors were the intensive duties you assumed as the Combined Fleet Commander, the pressure upon you to take the offensive against the Ukes – partially from within the Services, but also from influential civilians inside and out of the government – and also the considerable influence exerted upon you by General Fortuno Vasquez-Yohansin Mari, late of this body.”

  Why couldn’t he just get on with it? Gilbert wondered. Why did Stony have to drag it all out like this? Tradition and form notwithstanding, Gilbert was ready for their verdict.

  “Furthermore, the Joint Chiefs must necessarily assume full responsibility for any military action – sanctioned or not – within the realm of its executive jurisdiction.”

  Gilbert saw a twitch in the corners of Stonefield’s mouth when he paused, and knew the answer was finally coming.

  “Consequently, after much thoughtful deliberation and, I might add, considerable heated argument, it is our judgment that you shall retain your command – not only to do what you can to defend the polar systems under these new attacks, but also to proceed with further offensive planning against the U.C.S.”

  Those words were so unexpected that Gilbert couldn’t talk. He could barely think until he realized what he had to do. “I am sorry, sir, but I cannot accept that. I am unworthy of retaining my command and request that you accept my resignation from the Service as of this date.”

  The twitch in the corner of Stonefield’s mouth turned into a very tight smile. “We anticipated that,” he said slowly, “and agreed – unanimously I should say – that we would refuse to accept your resignation. The defeat at Satterfield was costly, Josiah, and the polar systems are now in grave danger because of all that has happened. No one argues that.” His smile was gone. “But we were forced to the reluctant conclusion that your initiative which led to that defeat at Satterfield was the lesser of all evils. Neither Sondak nor the Service can afford the absence of your experience and abilities – especially now.”

  Voices of protest rose inside him, but Gilbert’s sense of duty held those voices down. By accepting this continuing responsibility he could at least try to make up for the mistakes he had made. That was the deciding factor for him – the only deciding factor.

  “Very well,” Gilbert said with great sense of resignation, “I will do as you wish.” As he spoke an old co-sergeant entered the room and handed Stonefield a message.

  Stonefield red it aloud. “Wallbank and Roberg both report initial skirmishes with light enemy attack fleets.”

  Gilbert’s burden settled onto his shoulders and his conscience like a tangible weight that threatened to crush him.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “And just what am I supposed to do, now?” Janette asked.

  “Whatever you void well please, just so long as we never see you again,” Lucky said, throwing her space duffle at her feet. “Because if we do, you’re as good as dead, Inspector.” Without waiting for Janette’s reply, he turned and walked quickly toward Marsha on the other side of the dock, full of an anger that he dared not release.

  Janette watched him leave with the faint shadow of a smile flickering around her lips. Not if I see you first, Captain, she thougt. No man treats me like you did and gets away with it.

  With a flick of her lashes she dismissed Lucky Teeman from her thoughts for the time being. Her problem now was to find transportation to Patros and wring Xindella’s fat neck – figuratively, of course. She would save Sci-Sec’s ability to eliminate him and his corrupt enterprises until he had handed over the Drautzlab device. And Xindella would hand it over. She would leave him no choice.

  An hour later when Marsha and Lucky walked through the door into Delightful Childe’s presence, he spoke before either of them had a chance to greet him.

  “Your absence left me with a great deal to do on my own, Captain Teeman,” he said with the Oinaise version of a smile revealing his teeth on either side of his proboscis. “However, I am pleased to tell you that all has gone well and that our position with Cloise has been greatly reinforced.”

  Lucky grinned and squeezed Marsha’s hand. “Can you tell it directly, or is there more fluff to this speech of yours?”

  Delightful Childe snorted, then ducked his head quickly behind the screen and muttered soothingly in Vardequerqueglot. When his face reappeared, his smile was gone. “Nindoah resents your rudeness, Captain, and I must agree with her.”

  “Then I apologize.”

  “Very well. I accept. Now, as I was saying, Cloise has formed
a protective alliance with the Castorians, and we have agreed to join with them in their coalition.”

  “It’s about time. I told you this was your war as much as anyone’s.” Lucky was pleased by the announcement when he saw the stunned look on Marsha’s face.

  “That means…what? Who are you – I mean, who is this alliance siding with?” Marsha was frightened by this news.

  “No one,” Delightful Childe said. “We will be serving notice to all combatants that we are neutral and expect free passage throughout the galaxy.”

  “But the Castorians are working with Sondak. That’s hardly what I’d call neutrality.”

  “You have proof of this, Marsha?”

  “No. But Castorian ships have been following ours – I mean the U.C.S. ships all over the galaxy.”

  “That is no proof that the Castorians are –“

  “Maybe not,” Lucky interrupted, “but I think Marsha’s right.” Despite what had happened with her father, her loyalty to the U.C.S was unquestionable, and Lucky’s sympathies still ran toward the Ukes more than Sondak. “If the Castorians have been following Uke ships, their neutrality has to be questioned, doesn’t it?”

  “Are you making a statement, or asking a question, Captain?”

  “I don’t know…a question, I think.”

  “It is a statement,” Marsha said quickly. “If they are following U.C.S. ships, then their neutrality is suspect.”

  “That is an unverified premise followed by a logical, but not necessarily valid statement. However,” he said fanning the seven fingers of one hand as though physically holding her protests back, “I shall look into the matter. In the meantime, you should know that our methane operation is almost ready.”

  “But who can we sell it to now?” Lucky asked.

  “To whoever wants it, of course. Neutrality is not the same thing as isolationism, Captain Teeman.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s not going to make either side very happy if we’re selling methane to the other.”

  “Perhaps not, but we shall deal with that when the time comes. I know you are both tired, but before you leave, I have to ask what became of the rude Inspector Janette?”

  Marsha frowned. “We dumped her on the dock when we landed and told her she was on her own.”

  Delightful Childe snorted softly. “I see. Am I to take it then that we will not receive a transportation fee from her?”

  “That’s right, partner.”

  “Ah, well. Go. Rest now, both of you. Take what leisure you can for the next, uh, what you call weeks. Soon we will all have to be active again.” Before they even left the room Delightful Childe had to duck behind the screen again to silence Nindoah. He would be greatly relieved when this child’s umbilical was severed from both of them.

  Parenting was a constant distraction from the more pressing matters in his life. With Oina aligned with the Castorians and Cloise, a power shift had taken place in the galaxy, one that would have implications no one could predict. That frightened Delightful Childe. He liked things to be predictable, and he did not like power struggles. Now he was part of an unpredictable power struggle that involved even more than the alliance of the non-human races.

  He had not told Captain Teeman about the outrageous message from Xindella, but there would be time to discuss that later. It troubled Delightful Child deeply that his cousin might suggest that Oina become involved in a festbid for such a terrible weapon. Hadn’t it been enough that he had helped Xindella find the monstrosity?

  Reluctantly Delightful Childe admitted to himself that in spite of all his objections there might be good reason to participate in the festbid, if only to prevent the humans from re-acquiring the weapon.

  The problems of the weapon and the alliance would call for much prayer and thought before any new decisions could even be considered. Yet prayer and contemplative thought were difficult at best these days. With a growing sense of weariness Delightful Childe responded to Nindoah’s chattering demands and turned his attention back to their offspring.

  In their quarters Lucky and Marsha stepped into each other’s arms and kissed passionately. This was the first time they had been truly alone since right before they parted on Alexvieux. They had done their talking aboard Graycloud, but because one of them had always been watching Janette, they had not made love. Now when they finally pulled apart, they both knew it was time.

  Without a word they took off their clothes in a frenzy and scrambled into the bed. For a little while, at least, the only thing in the galaxy worthy of their attention was two happy people locked in a rollicking, sensual embrace.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “We were bruised. They were bloodied,” Frye said to the assembled members of Bridgeforce. “Sondak cannot withstand much more punishment before its leaders must sue for peace.”

  “From your casualty and loss reports, it appears that Tuuneo fleet was bruised rather badly, Admiral Charltos,” Meister Hadasaki said quietly.

  “Yes, our losses were heavy, but thanks to the diversionary action provided by Marshall Judoff’s attempt to aid Yozel at Sutton, we managed to inflict far more casualties than we received.” He hated treating Judoff’s desertion as something positive, but Frye was reluctant to antagonize her further. By describing her actions as a contribution, perhaps she might at least remain neutral in the discussion.

  “But we lost Sutton and did not gain Satterfield.”

  Frye had thought that Hadasaki was his ally. Now he wasn’t so sure. “That is true, Meister. But we rendered Satterfield basically useless to Sondak, and destroyed much of their Polar Fleet in the combined operations. The first reports from the harassing fleets attacking the remaining polar systems have been positive. Surely you can see that this amounts to a significant victory for us.”

  “I agree with Admiral Charltos,” Judoff said. “In comparison to the devastation our joint forces caused, our losses, while regrettable, are certainly within acceptable limits. As soon as the new bombships are ready for action, we will take them back and deal the final blows not only to Sutton and Satterfield, but also to every Sondak system within reach.”

  “Politics and war make for strange alliances,” Hadasaki said with a smile. “If you two agree, shall we officially declare this a victory?”

  “A victory in honor of Admiral Tuuneo,” Frye added with a catch in his voice that surprised him.

  Vice-Admiral Lotonoto seconded that motion, and Bridgeforce declared the battle at Satterfield a victory dedicated to the memory of Admiral Tuuneo. Immediately thereafter they adjourned.

  As he walked out with Melliman, Frye felt a rewarding sense of accomplishment. “I think we should celebrate – a special evening for a special occasion.”

  She touched his arm discreetly. “By all means, Admiral.”

  For one brief moment Frye saw Vinitas’s face instead of Melliman’s and he felt a distant pang of sorrow. With a quick mental shrug he pushed that emotion down and away. Vinita was gone. Marsha had deserted him. But Melliman was here and now. This was a time for happiness, not sorrow.

  Yet as he led the way out of the headquarters building, he knew that this victory over Sondak was less meaningful than it would have been if Vinita were still alive.

  ◊ ◊ ◊

  “How much time do you have?” Henley asked as they strolled around the Walker’s exercise deck. He still felt uncomfortable in Mica Gilbert’s presence, but now that they were going to be parted again, he wanted whatever time he could have with her.

  “Less than an hour. Dimitri wants to leave for Bakke as quickly as possible.” Mica sensed the distance between them and blamed herself.

  “So you are going to stay out here?”

  “Yes. Rochmon wants me back on Nordeen” – and more than that, she thought – “and so does Father, but for the time being I’m going to stick with Dimitri.”

  “You like the action, don’t you?”

  “Some of it,” Mica said after a slight pause.

  Henley
chuckled. “You thought I was crazy when you found out I was drawn to it.”

  “I thought a lot of things were crazy then. What about you? What are you going to do?”

  “Oh, I’ll stick with Schopper and his troops. I figure that they’ll probably get involved quickly enough for me.”

  “Well, from the looks of things right now, I would agree with that.” When she looked at him she suddenly hoped it would be a long time before he saw action again. “Henley, who do you think will win the war?”

  “We will.”

  “You seem awfully sure of that. Don’t you have any doubts?”

  “Of course I do.” Henley stopped walking, sat on one of the benches along the bulkhead, and adjusted the tension of his sling to relieve the ache in his wounded shoulder.

  “Look, Mica,” he continued when she sat beside him, “by all rights, the Ukes should already have won. They took Fernandez and Cczwyck and the Ivy Chain and Ca-Ryn. But they didn’t take Roberg when they had the chance. They lost the battle of Matthews system. They lost Sutton and they didn’t take Satterfield. Despite these new attacks, I’d rate the current situation a stalemate – a stalemate where the Ukes have lost the important part of their initiative. Unless they get it back, we’re going to win.”

  “And you don’t think they’re going to get it back?”

  Henley told her what he wanted to believe, what he had to believe to keep going. “No, I don’t think they can. We know their fighting a pacifist movement called the kyosei on half of their planets, and unless they find a quick victory, that movement will only get stronger. I think these new attacks of theirs are acts of desperation.”

  “I’m not sure I’m convinced,” Mica said, “but I believe you are.” There was a gleam of enthusiasm in his eyes that she was glad to see there. “Furthermore, I’m impressed by your analysis. You’ve given this a lot of thought, haven’t you?”

  “Since I got shot I’ve spent most of my time thinking about the war…or about you.”

  Mica looked away. She had wondered when they would get to this. Given the brief time she had left with him, it was just as well that it had come quickly. “I owe you an apology,” she said.