“And where are we going to get all these ships?”
She could tell Schopper was not impressed by her idea, but that was his problem, not hers. “We’ll get them, sir. We’ll get them from the reserve fleet and from the civilian combines and by commandeerin’ independents if we have to. But I’m sure you and Admiral Gilbert will find a way.”
Schopper stared at her for a long moment before he spoke. “You re uppity-damn sure of yourself, aren’t you, Ingrivia?”.
”Yes, sir,” she said without hesitation. “Have to be if I’m going to convince hardheaded old generals that I’m right.”
“And you think I’m hardheaded?”
“You said it, sir, not me. I woul’not be sayin’ things like that about my superior officer.” Rasha’kean gave him a flash of a smile. Over the ten short days she had worked for him she had learned that smile worked on him after all – just in a different way than it had worked on others.
“I still think it sounds very dangerous. What if the Ukes catch us at this supply plan of yours? They could stop us dead in space simply by destroying the supplies in any one of those systems.”
“I said there were double-other ways to do it, sir. The supply systems are only part of my idea. The other thing we can do is to use Ca-Ryn sleds.”
“What?”
“Ca-Ryn sleds, sir. They’re not sleds, actually, and they di’not even come from Ca-Ryn. But that’s what they’re called. Anyway, they’re really just big empty hulls you can fill and tow through space. If we can find enough of them – or build enough-we could fill them with supplies and tow them right along with the attack fleet.”
“Does Space Force know how to use these sleds?”
“Of course, sir. At least Border Fleet does. That’s where I first saw them used.”
Schopper rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he stared up at the ceiling. “So, what you propose is that part of our supplies be cached ahead of us, and part we tow along, and either way we avoid extended supply routes. Is that correct?”
“That’s about it. Except for one other thing, of course.”
“And what’s that?”
Rasha’kean suspected that she should wait to press this point, but she did not want Schopper ever to forget why she was there. “What we talked about before, sir. Once we get this set up and movin’, I want to be in command of a combat unit with the first attack force.”
“Now look, Ingrivia, we’ve already been over that. I said I would find you a combat command, but it won’t be with the first attack force. Someone’s going to have to coordinate this –“
“I resign, sir,” Rasha’kean said as she came to her feet.
“Take my commission and shove it up your –“
“At ease, Colonel! I’ll have no more of this resignation talk from you.”
“Then I’ll have my combat command.” She leaned forward with her hands flat on his desk and stared straight into his eyes. “With the first attack force. That’s the deal, sir.”
Suddenly Schopper laughed. “You’re going to be a damned pain to have around here, Ingrivia. You know that?”
“Only until I get my command.”
“In the first attack force,” he added.
“You got it, sir,” she said as she straightened up.
“Then get your boots out of here and draw up a detailed plan for what you just proposed-and I mean detailed. I want you to put down every contingency, everything that might go wrong, everything and anything that occurs to you that might be Important. I want the logistics part of your brain, Ingrivia, and I want it in a report in five days.”
“Will do, sir,” she said with a quick salute. He ignored her, so she left. Score one for me, she thought as she headed for her office. Score one for me.
5
MARSHALL JUDOFF STOOD WITH HER HANDS on her hips and an ugly scowl on her face. “And just where in the void did you hear about that, Charltos?”
“Does it matter?” Frye asked. He could tell by the expressions that most of the members of Bridgeforce were as stunned by the news as Judoff was. Only Meister Hadasaki was smiling.
“It’s a freespacer’s lie,” Judoff said, “and I don’t have to listen to the likes of that from the likes of you.”
Then you deny any involvement with this so-called Ultimate Weapon? And you deny having the Sac scientist Ayne Wallen in your custody? And you deny that you were aware of this festbid for the weapon? And you deny-“
“I don t have to deny anything.” Judoff sat back down and folded her hands neatly in front of her. “Whatever actions I have taken have been on the behalf of the U.C.S.-which is more than we can say for that deserting daughter of yours Admiral.”
Beside her, Commander Kuskuvyet coughed and looked down at the table, making Frye wonder if Judoff’s aide were as nervous and clumsy in bed with her as he was in public.
“Come now, Judoff,” Hadasaki said, “either these allegations are true, or they are not. Which is it?”
“Believe what you will, Meister.”
“Then I accuse you of treason” Hadasaki said softly
“Treason?”
“Yes, treason. You have betrayed-”
“You’re insane! I never in my life committed a treasonous act, nor would I ever-“
“And who lies now?”
Frye slapped his hand on the table. “Both of you are out of order. We have no indications that Marshall Judoff has done anything that can be considered treasonous, Meister, and none, so far, that she has lied.” They were both staring at him, Judoff with a smirk, Hadasaki with anger flushing his face.
“However,” Frye continued, “if Marshall Judoff refuses to respond to these allegations, then I believe Bridgeforce will have cause for considerable concern.” He looked directly at Judoff and hoped she had gotten the message clearly. The U.C.S. still needed her and the forces she commanded if they hoped to win this war. There would be time enough after they won to expose Judoff for what she really was – a spoiled, ego-powered sex-maniac who in every critical situation thought first of herself.
“Very well,” Judoff said slowly, “since you already have half-truths about what has been happening, I suppose it is my duty to give you the facts. I neither informed Bridgeforce of this situation nor involved you because the negotiations have been occurring outside all official channels. I had hoped to be able to obtain this weapon and present it to you without having to involve–“
“More flimsy lies,” Hadasaki said.
“Oh, shut up, Hodass, and let her finish,” Vice-Admiral Lotonoto said with a quick shake of her head.
Frye was surprised by Lotonoto but held his tongue. Despite his position as chairman of Bridgeforce, he was still the junior ranking member. That required him to allow the other members to express their opinions in ways Admiral Tuuneo never would have stood for.
“Thank you, Lotonoto,” Judoff said. “Your respect is appreciated.”
“No respect intended,” Lotonoto said. “Just want to hear the rest of your lie before I vote to hang you by your dugs to dry in the sun.”
“All right. Damn you all,” Judoff said flatly. “I’ll give you the straight story, and then walk out on your apologies. Kuskuvyet here learned through a contact on Patros of a scientist who had defected from Sondak-the Ayne Wallen mentioned before. We managed to arrange for Wallen to be transported to us, but before we could obtain any specific information, Wallen escaped with the broker who had made the original arrangement. We believe this plan was devised as bait to involve us in a festbid for a prototype of the weapon itself.”
“And that is all?” Frye asked.
“Not quite. It seems that this same broker managed to obtain the prototype of the weapon constructed by Drautzlab on Summer, so that whoever wins the festbid gets both the weapon and its creator.”
“What exactly does this weapon do that makes it so interesting?” Hadasaki asked.
Judoff frowned. “If the limited information we have is correct, this th
ing that Drautzlab calls the Ultimate Weapon would be capable of exploding stars.”
Soft whistles and sighs filled the room.
“Impossible,” Lotonoto said. “Such a weapon would have to carry enough mass to make it the size of a small planet.”
“Wallen claims it works at a distance. ’Reciprocal action at a distance,’ he said.”
“Even more impossible. I don’t believe for an instant-”
“Pardon me, Admiral,” Frye said, “but leaving that aside for a moment, I would like to ask Marshall Judoff if she knows who else is involved in this proposed festbid.”
The smile she gave him was one of smug self-assurance.
The tides had turned in her favor again. “There are at least two other interested parties: Drautzlab itself, probably with the help of Sondak’s Scientific-Security Division, and the new alien alliance including Cloise-which has been supplying the Saks with methane, by the way-Castor, and the Oinaise. A curious group, don’t you think?”
Hadasaki sighed and leaned across the table. “So, please tell us again, Marshall Judoff, why, if so many powerful parties are interested in this weapon, you did not see fit to tell us about it voluntarily?”
His question brought chaos to the meeting. Within seconds members were on their feet and yelling at each other in five languages-the Kyosei faction, Drew, Garner, and Toso, defending Judoff and her methods, and Hadasaki and Lotonoto leading the attack of those who condemned her. After several attempts to restore order, Frye gathered his things together, declared the meeting adjourned, and left them to their arguments.
As he returned to his office he wondered how they were ever going to accomplish anything as long as this division between the kyosei and the others kept getting worse. He didn’t understand the kyosei now and never had. Their goals seemed self-centered and defeatist to him, and their propaganda seemed deliberately designed to confuse the citizens of the U.C.S. – not to mention confusing him, as well. They claimed to want to win the war, but at the least possible cost, and with a plan of isolationism that would cripple the U.C.S.’s already weak economy.
It just didn’t make sense. None of it.
Melliman jumped to her feet the moment Frye entered the office. “We’ve had some bad reports coming in, sir. I think you’d better take a look at them right away. “
“Very well, AOCO,” he said, hearing fatigue in his voice “Fix me some tea and I’ll get started.”
Hours later Frye shook his head in quiet dismay. Somehow Sondak had found the ships to reinforce their polar sector. The raids he had designed to cripple the Saks there and open holes in their defenses were beginning to cost the U.C.S. As much as it was costing the Saks. But why? What’d he done wrong? And where had they found enough ships.
He shook his head and wondered if he should call another meeting of Bridgeforce for tomorrow. Then he realized that for all he knew, they could still be up there arguing now.
Better just to prepare a summary report for them. How would Tuuneo have handled this? He wondered. Tuuneo had had prestige and respect, and Bridgeforce would have yielded to that. But Tuuneo was long dead, and whether he liked it or not, Frye was responsible for seeing that Bridgeforce was pulled back together.
He leaned back with a sigh and suddenly realized how late it was “AOCO,” he said into his lapel mike, “let’s lock the files and go home. I’m tired and hungry.”
“Ready when you are, sir, her voice said from the desk speaker.
Frye didn’t say much on the trip home, and Melliman respected his silence. Only after they had eaten the meal she had ordered ahead for them and were sitting on the low couch sipping their wine, did he finally open his thoughts to her
“Bridgeforce went at it again today. That’s the third time in six days. You’d think the kyosei were trying to keep us from getting anything done.”
“Is that so hard to believe, Frye?”
“What do you mean?”
Melliman set her glass down and put her head back against his arm. “Well, if Drew, Garner, and Toso can stall Bridgeforce--even if only for thirty days or so – they could probably use that to force you and put Judoff in charge.”
“Damn,” he said, looking first at the overhead, and then turning quickly to her. “Clarest, you’re brilliant. And you’re right, too. But why didn’t I see that?”
“Because you’re in the middle of it, my love, up to your armpits.
Frye gave her a quick kiss on the nose. “You win the prize for the day, he said with a sudden laugh.
“There’s only one prize I want.” Her hands slipped gently around his neck, and she pulled his mouth to hers.
For a second Frye resisted. There was so much to do, so much he had to think about, that he wasn’t in the mood for lovemaking. But his mouth accepted hers with practiced skill. His arms automatically wrapped themselves around ‘her and his groin tightened with a desire for her that washed his resistance away. There would be time for thinking later.
Slowly and sensuously they shared long, searching kisses while their hands busied themselves removing each other’s uniforms. Then they were finally naked on the floor Clarest lying on top of him, teasing his need, brushing her breasts lightly across his chest, pressing her hips hard against his, tickling his ear with her tongue.
With gentle pressure he raised his knees so that she slid up his body a little, then pulled her legs up until she was kneeling over him, the heat of her desire pressing against him.
Clarest needed no further encouragement to capture him with a soft plunge of her hips. Then with the ease and grace and exquisite timing that comes from intimate knowledge, she rode his body up the long rise of excitement until they peaked together and plunged over the edge of joyous release.
Frye stroked her hair and her back as they slowly recovered their breath and wondered again at the marvel she was. The best Aide-of-Commander in the whole U.C.S. with a grasp for tactics that continually impressed him, an excellent cook, even if she wasn’t as good as he was; a fine companion; and a very talented lover. What more could he want?
Vinita a voice whispered in his mind.
A quiet smile lingered on Frye’s lips. He would never forget Vinita, never be able to love anyone--even Clarest the way he loved her, but Vinita was gone, and he had mourned enough. The energy he had given over to mourning for her was now channeled toward winning the war. In her honor, he thought, and Tuuneo’s. For both of them.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Melliman whispered.
“I’m thinking, my dear Clarest, that if we do not get up from here, I will fall asleep, and I still have too much to do tonight to sleep yet.”
She gently rotated her hips, “Are you sure you want to get up right now?”
“Yes, you insatiable delight. If you will help me get some of this work done and if you’re still inclined to use my body later I think you might find me willing.”
“You’d better be,” she said as she slowly pulled herself off of him, “because my body is very fond of your body.”
Working together, it took them two hours to put together the summary report for the rest of the member’s of Bridgeforce. Then after sharing another glass of wine Melliman led him by the hand to the bedroom, and Frye made good on his offer.
Afterward, as he lay in the warm love-stupor with Melliman obviously falling asleep beside him, Frye unexpectedly felt himself slipping into a dark mood. It was Judoff and her treachery and her damnable kyosei, and Lotonoto with her arrogant ways, and Hadasaki with his meddling ways, and the whole of Bridgeforce with its arcane politics that depressed him.
Maybe I should just resign and ask for a fleet command, he thought. Wouldn’t that foul their brass?
And Judoff would take over. And what would happen to you and the war? And whose brass would, be fouled then? Whose, Mister Brilliant-Admiral Frye ed’Laitin Charltos?
Whose then?
It took a long time before fatigue won over the questions in his mind and he fell
into a heavy sleep.
HENLEY STANMORTON LOOKED UP from his almost-empty plate when he heard the commotion and stared across the restaurant at the heavily bearded, garishly made up figure skipping toward him. When he realized who it was, he laughed out loud. “Kinderman? Kyrie Kinderman? Is that really you?”
6
“Krystal R. Kinderman, in the raggedy flesh,” the man answered every poetic bone metrically intact.”
“And then some,” Henley said, waving him to a chair. “You’re a little more hirsute than the last time I saw you, and deal thinner. What are you doing here? Come to harass the powers that be, I suppose.”
“Why, Henley, old son, how could you ever think such a thing of me, who has known and loved you so long?” Kinderman’s uneven brown teeth filled the orange smile painted on his black beard as he sat down across the table from Henley and carefully arranged his purple-and-red striped longcoat. All around them the other customers in the restaurant slowly turned back to their own concerns. “You know my only purpose in life is to spread the joy and beauty of poetry to the mass of humanity.”
“And raise hell with anyone in authority who crosses your path,” Henley said, wishing he were more amused by Kinderman’s outrageous presence. He could have used the humor.
“Ah, but it usually works in reverse, you snotty old Teller. It is the authorities who rise what you so quaintly call ‘hell’ with me.” Kinderman paused with an exaggerated frown, then brought his hands flat together in front of his face touched his nose to his forefingers and gave Henley a little bow of the head. ”Your humble old friend merely attempts to educate the oppressors of the adorable masses whom they force to dwell under the wretched trials and–“
“Enough! Enough. I’ve heard you spout all that spacecrap before, remember?” Too many times, Henley thought. He remembered the days when Kinderman had been at the top of his form, traveling around Sondak, issuing poetic manifestos that advocated intergalactic brotherhood. Kinderman had received good coverage from the Tellers as comic relief from the less cheerful news of the day. But that was before the war had started.
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