“Can’t say as I blame her,” Admiral Gilbert said, breaking the silence that held the room. He wasn’t sure why Stony had required his presence at this meeting; however, that did not mean that he was going to sit quietly by while an apparent injustice was done. “Seems to me, Stony, that you’re asking this woman to let herself be degraded and used without giving her anything in return.”
“I don’t believe this,” Stonefield said with a glare. “Are you defending this woman?”
Gilbert didn’t want to anger Stony any further, but since the lines of confrontation were already drawn, there was no sense in backing away from them. “Yes, sir, I suppose I am. No one ever produced any evidence of treason against her, and now you want her to accept a job where she’ll be treated as though she were guilty. Hardly seems fair to me. I know how I would feel under the same conditions, and it wouldn’t be much different than she does right now.”
. Your loyalty is hardly at question here, Josiah,” Stonefield said.
“And mine shouldn’t be,” Bock said. There was fire in her eyes now, but her voice was steady and level. “I worked my skinny ass off for Cryptography helping to break the Ukes’ Q-Two code, and as a reward you accused me of treason and stripped me of my job. Now you want me to help you break the Q-Three? What will I get if I do that? Life in prison?”
It was all Rochmon could do to keep from cheering, but something besides the look on Stonefield’s face helped him repress that urge.
“Don’t get sarcastic with me, Bock. I could force you to accept this offer under terms-”
“You can’t force me to accept a damn thing, Admiral,” Bock said calmly. “You can call me back to active duty and assign me to Cryptography or ship me out to the polar systems or put me in prison – if you’re willing to fight Sci-Sec Command for me, of course – but you can’t force me to accept anything. You can only move my body around.
She paused as though waiting for him to respond. Gilbert and Rochmon were both fighting to control smiles.
“If the Service wants my help breaking the Q-Three,” she continued, “you’ll have to give me your personal guarantee that I will be treated exactly as I was before all these stupid accusations began. I’m not asking for anything more than that, but I won’t accept anything less.”
Rochmon could no longer hold his tongue. “That seems fair enough to me, sir,” he said quietly.
“And to me,” Gilbert added.
“But not to me,” Stonefield said. “I absolutely refuse to put up with-”
“No wonder you’re a damned admiral,” Bock said with a laugh. “You’re so sticky-stuck on yourself you’re not fit for anything else. Go seven ways to hell, sir,” she added with a mock salute as she rose from her chair, “and have a miserable trip.”
She had almost reached the office door when Stonefield said, “Very well. I’ll reinstate you with no restrictions.”
No one spoke as the three of them stared at his smiling face. “Had to test you,” Stonefield said finally, “and I had to know that Gilbert and Rochmon were willing to stand behind you. If you had accepted the restrictions, I would have been convinced of your guilt. As it is, I believe that you-“
“Stick it,” Bock said as she opened the door, “where the sun don’t shine and the grass don’t grow.”
“Bock!” Rochmon said in his best command voice as she walked through the doorway. “Get back in here!”
No one was more surprised than Rochmon when she stepped back into the room and closed the door.
She stood with her back against the polished wood, her eyes filled with angry light. When she finally spoke, her voice was cold and clear. “Let me tell you all something, just so there won’t be any misunderstanding between us. I’ll go back to work at Cryptography with a written exoneration in my files along with a letter of apology from you,” she said, pointing a bony finger at Stonefield.
For the first time since this meeting had started, Rochmon realized that Bock was doing the same thing to Stonefield that she had done to him once years before. She was playing a game, and had been all along. That realization bothered him.
“But:” Bock continued, “if detect the slightest hint of the restrictions you mentioned awhile ago, I’ll walk out Cryptography’s door without hesitation and never return. Do all of you understand that? Good,” she said after they all nodded, “because I won’t warn you before it happens. I’ll just walk. There’s more than one organization in this galaxy willing to pay for the use of my talents.”
“The Service does not take kindly to being threatened “ Stonefield said coldly.
“No threat, Admiral, just a statement of fact. If I catch your watchbirds looking over my shoulder, then you can find yourself another sucker, ‘cause I won’t accept it.”
Rochmon wanted to say something in support of her, but now that he understood that this was all a game to her, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He didn’t know why she was doing this or what it meant, but knew he didn’t like it at all.
◊ ◊ ◊
“I am here, Proctor,” Ranas said formally as he entered her chamber.
Leri’s body was still heavy with the residue of sleep, but she forced herself into a coil of respect. “Thank you for coming,” she said quietly.
“As the Proctor commands,” he responded automatically.
“No, Ranas, not as the Proctor commands...as Leri requests. I asked you to come here as your estranged mate because I feel it is time we had a long talk about us and our future.
“We are not estranged, Leri.”
Leri’s sensitive nostrils could smell the odor of control around him mixed with a scent of love and respect. “Then what would you call the way we have been living our lives?”
“A temporary separation,” Ranas said evenly, “one that I suspect will come to a natural end when the time is right for both of us.”
Leri was almost amused by the casual tone of his answer but whatever he thought, she needed to talk about what had happened to them. “Do you have some timetable for this ‘Natural end’?”
Ranas hesitated. ‘“There are a variety of possibilities, Leri, and a variety of factors involved. Perhaps after the humans settle their war and you can pass the duties of Proctor on to another, we will know when the time is right.”
“That could take hundreds, maybe even thousands, of seasons. Must we wait that long?”
“What is another thousand seasons, Leri? Have I not been patient with you for several thousand seasons already? Have I not endured the presence of Weecs in our burrow for several hundred? What do I care how long it takes? In the end we will be together with the Elett’s blessings. That is all that matters to me.”
As startled as she was by the rush of his words, Leri did not miss the pain she heard behind them nor the slightly bitter scent of frustration that rose from him. She did not know what to say – how to respond to him – but he had brought up Weecs’s name, and she did know that unless they discussed Weecs they would never break down the barriers that had risen between them.
“But what about you, Leri?” he asked. “What matters to you?”
“Many things,” she said with a sudden weariness, “but most of all the vision I once had of leading our Cloise to peace and happiness free from all the aliens. That vision has become garbled beyond recognition, and I do not know what to do about it. However,” she said, taking a deep breath, “there are also those things that matter to me which have nothing to do with my duties as Proctor – things like our relationship, and mine with Weecs-“
“Of course.”
“Do not treat me to your sarcasm,” Leri said quickly. “I can smell it on you.”
“What you smell is not sarcasm, Leri. It is disdain for Weecs. I see nothing in him beyond his obvious lust for your body that would make him worthwhile in any-“
“That will be quite enough! I will not apologize to you for my affair with Weecs. He came to me when I needed what he had to offer and gave of
himself without asking for anything in return. There is nothing wrong or shameful about that.”
“Of course not” Ranas said slowly, “except in the way he weakens you in front of our people.”
Leri felt the frustration building inside her. This was not at all how she had meant for this conversation to go. But then, little had gone the way she wanted it to since the humans had begun their senseless quarrel. “Then let one of them come forward and replace me” she said, knowing that neither he nor any other of Cloise’s people would volunteer for her job.
“I did not mean that you should be replaced.”
“Ah, but you did, Ranas, you did, because your vision has us back together after I am no longer Proctor. Is that not true?
“Perhaps.”
“You said it,” she continued, “and you cannot withdraw from that. And while you are looking for my replacement remember that it was Weecs, not you, and not the Council who rescued me from Exeter the Castorian.”
“With our aid,” Ranas added defensively.
“Yes, with your aid, but he was the only one brave enough – or who loved me enough – to travel into space for me perhaps he should be the next Proctor.” Leri was as surprised as Ranas was by that suggestion.
“You cannot mean that Leri!”
“Why not? He is an historian, wise beyond his years, and he certainly has been exposed to the workings of the office under extreme conditions.”
“The very suggestion is outrageous. He is too young, too immature, too obviously ruled by his gonads to assume the-”
“Oh, hush! You cannot see Weecs for your jealousy. I will admit to you that this is the first time I have considered this possibility, but the very fact that he lusts after me not this office, makes him all the more an acceptable candidate.”
“Leri, I don t understand how you can-”
“Then listen to me, Ranas. You want me back – us together again? If so, you should be seriously considering every possible candidate to succeed me – if not Weecs, then others. But I suggest you look at Weecs’s qualifications very carefully because if he were to become Proctor, he certainly wouldn’t have the time for me as he does now, and without his constant desire for me, I am afraid my interest in him might wane.”
“That is a poor reason to choose someone for Proctor.”
“But Ranas, I never meant to suggest it as a reason, only as a side-effect that might interest you.” Leri could tell from his scent that despite his protests her suggestion had lodged in some positive area of his brain. She would miss Weecs. She was missing him already, but her intuition told her he would make a good Proctor, and she would gladly give up the office to him or anyone else who wanted it.
“Go away now,” she said softly. “I am tired and need to rest.” And to think, she added to herself.
10
“SERGEANT JULIANNE DENORO, REPORTING AS ORDERED, MA’AM,” the trooper said with a perfectly executed salute.
Rasha’kean Ingrivia returned the salute and appraised this lean, well-tanned sergeant in front of her with an eye that told her this woman had been through more than her personnel file indicated. Even in her postduty uniform Sergeant Denoro looked as if she were ready to jump into combat.
“Sit yourself, Sergeant,” Rasha’kean said, waving Denoro to the only other chair besides her own in the cramped little office.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Denoro sat in the chair at attention, showing the years of discipline that had become ingrained as part of her physical bearing.
“Do you know why you were assigned to me, Sergeant? I mean, did anyone explain your orders to you?”
“No, ma’am, they didn’t.”
Rasha’kean laughed. “Typical of the Planetary Service, d’not you think – to send you somewhere without botherin’ to tell you what it’s all about?”
“That’s been my experience,” Denoro said, allowing herself a well-controlled grin.
“Well, Sergeant, I d’not know if you’re goin’ to like the assignment, but I can tell you right now that I am needing you and the benefit of your experience about as much as anybody in this Service. From now until Fate separates us, you will be my executive officer, second in command of any unit –“
“Begging your pardon, ma’am. Sorry to interrupt and all that, but isn’t that a bit out of line? I mean, really, how am I gonna order some officer around if I have to?”
Rasha’kean laughed again. “D’not worry about that for now, because there are no officers for you to order. When we get to our unit out on Mungtinez, then we’ll worry about it. But you wi’not be the first sergeant to hold the X.O. job, you know.”
Denoro shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m a bit confused, Colonel Ingrivia. Maybe I still haven’t recovered from that bump on ,the head I got on Sutton. Let me see if I got this right. We’re going to Mungtinez to join a combat unit there, and you’re gonna be the unit commander, and I’m gonna be your Executive Officer. Is that right?”
“You got it, Denoro, dead on the bullet.”
“But why me, ma’am?”
“For a lot of reasons, Denoro. Let me explain my situation and you feel free to interrupt whenever you need to. And you can drop the ‘ma’am’ stuff. I’m afraid I still like the oldy form when everyone was called sir. So either call me sir, or colonel, or Ingrivia if that suits you. All right?”
Again Denoro shook her head. “All right, Colonel, but that will take some getting used to.”
“Take all the time you need. Anyway, here’s my setup. I am currently workin’ on a logistics plan for General Schopper’s next line of attack against the Ukes. As soon as that is approved, I will be shippin’ out to command a Z-company in the first major counterattack against the Ukes. You with me so far?”
“Yes, m-sir.”
“Good. Now, I requested that a senior sergeant with combat experience be assigned to me as soon as possible so I could begin my get-readys for command and –“ She stopped when she saw the puzzled look on Denoro’s deeply tanned face. “A question?”
Denoro hesitated. “Well, Colonel, maybe I shouldn’t ask this, but why would a logistics officer want a combat command?”
“Because I’m a combat officer by trainin’, Denoro, and I’m only stuck behind this logistics desk because of some experience I’ve had in this area.” Rasha’kean smiled when she saw the look of relief on Denoro’s face. “Of course,” she said as her smile grew even wider, “you were afraid you were goin’ o have to follow a noncombat officer into battle. I’m sorry. I should have told you that up front.”
“No problem,” Denoro said with a smile of her own. For the first time since she had entered the office, she physically relaxed. “But all that still doesn’t explain what you’re gonna do with me.”
“You’re my source, Denoro. I ca’not and will not attempt to lead a Z-company into battle with only my training and experience to go on. You’re here so I can dig out of you everything you can possibly tell me about the actual fighting you’ve been through – and that’s why you’re my X.O. I want combat experience at the top, and there are not enough officers around who have it to spare one for a Z-company. Besides, I di’not want a junior officer. I wanted a senior sergeant, and from what I saw of your record, it looks like I got the best.
“Don’t know about that, Colonel, but you certainly got a shit-load of experience when you got me. And I gotta tell you something right now, ‘cause I don’t want you to misunderstand later.”
“Go ahead, Denoro. As far as I’m concerned, you should always feel free to tell me anythin’ you think I need to know whenever you think I need to know it.”
“Good enough. Then this is it: if I’m gonna be your X.O., then I’m gonna do exactly what you just said. This is my second war and God knows I hope it’s my last, but I plan to do everything I can to live through it. Once we get into combat, Colonel, if I say, ‘Duck,’ you do it first and ask me why later. If I say, ‘Jump,’ don’t ask me how high till you’re already in the air
, ‘cause a lot of what happens in real combat isn’t in any of the Corps’ training manuals. It comes from more than training and experience. It comes from instinct.”
“Looks like your instincts have served you well so far,” Rasha’kean said “and I’m certainly not goin’ to buck them. As long as you remember at even when I’m jumpin’ I’m still in command, I think we’ll get along just fine. ..”
Denoro grinned. “You jump, Colonel, and I’ll remember.”
“Good. Now, Denoro, what do you know about logistics?”
“Not much, Colonel – at least not the way I think you mean. Most of my experience in that area has been ground combat logistics, and I expect you’re talking about something more general than that.”
“Well, you’re about to learn – probably more than you ever wanted to know. Anythin’ you can do to help me with this job means that much more time you and I will have to get on with my education. However, for the time bein’, go get yourself somethin’ to eat and – Where’s your kit?”
“Oh, I’ve already checked into the Temporary Duty Quarters, Colonel. When do you want me back here?”
“Oh-seven-hundred tomorrow.”
Denoro stood and saluted. “I’ll be here,” she said, then hesitated. There is one other thing Colonel.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, when I got my orders, I asked around, and a couple of people told me that, uh, well, damn – that you were part Uke. Is that true, Colonel?”
Rasha’kean smiled. “No, Denoro, it definitely i’not true. Whoever told you that di’not know anythin’ about my family history. Anythin’ else?”
“No, sir,” Denoro said with a second salute. “See you in the morning.”
After Denoro left, Rasha’kean turned back to her logistics plan with a positive glow. Having Denoro in her office had made her feel much closer to realizing her goal. She was going to make damned sure there was nothing in this version of her report for General Schopper to complain about, be cause she was more eager than ever to get her combat unit and start repaying her Uke cousins for what they had done to her family.
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