“Oh, it was a surprise alright,” Jake replied, and explained what had happened with Colonel Whitehall, while a still scowling Mercer continued to give them the silent treatment.
“Quit pouting, you big baby,” Dougherty told Mercer. “It sounds like a good time was had by all. I’ll buy you dinner at the Bombay, and the three drinks it’ll take to make you pass out.”
Mercer broke into laughter, unable to hold it in after the reference to his drinking ability. “I’ll hold you to it, needle dick. Did you bring our dress blues down?”
‘Yep, and mine,” Dougherty replied. “I’ll watch your buddy while you guys go get cleaned up.”
Jake gestured towards the Marines, joking around on the other side of the loading bay, where the showers were. “We’ll hang out until Soddie comes down. That’ll give Vic and his crew a chance to clean up, and head out.”
Mercer leaned over towards the cringing Chirar. “You, my friend, are going to be one unhappy EC lackey when our other buddy, Sod, gets down here and ID’s you. You get to meet Mr. Snappy then, and tell us about anyone else in your little operation here.”
Chirar sat up straight. “I have nothing to say to you or this Mr. Snappy fellow. I will await a hearing on Genoa.”
The three friends, sitting around Chirar burst into raucous laughter. It took over five minutes for them to regain enough composure to speak. Dougherty clapped a hand on Chirar’s shoulder good-naturedly.
“General, you are one funny guy.”
“I don’t know what in the world would make you think we’d drag your sorry ass all the way to Genoa for some trial,” Jake added, shaking his head in amazement, “but that ain’t going to happen.”
“Believe this too, you little puke,” Mercer chimed in, pointing his finger in Chirar’s face. “I predict once Mr. Snappy re-interviews Soddie in front of you, you’ll be begging me for a chance to tell us everything about yourself.”
“You do not know me, Monsieur,” Chirar replied. “I am innocent of these charges, and just because you torture some poor fool into pointing a finger at me, you.”
Jake grabbed Chirar by the neck, and yanked him close. “Listen to me, you twit. If Hushanni names you as an accomplice in this kidnapping ploy, putting five thousand colonists’ lives in danger, and risking the fuel cell investment we had on Casserine, two things will happen. First, you’ll tell us everything, and I mean everything. Secondly, you will be brought before a military tribunal right here on Rigel along with the other pirates, and I’ll give you three guesses who will be the presiding judge. I don’t like your chances, sweetie. If you’re lucky, you’ll rot at Tannengate Penal Colony. If you’re unlucky, you’ll get your wish to go to Genoa. I’ll scatter your ashes outside the base. That’s as close as you’ll be to Genoa.”
Jake threw him back on the floor in disgust. He hesitated for a moment, and then reached back down, and yanked the three stars off each side of Chirar’s tunic collar, tearing the material off as if it were paper. “You won’t need these anymore. I’m busting you down to buck private, awaiting trial.”
Dougherty refilled Jake’s cup, and handed it to him as Jake sat back next to a smiling Mercer. “I see you have taken a personal interest in this, Jake.”
“Tea,” Jake sighed, sipping the tea. “Having five thousand lives hanging around my neck does that to me.”
“Hey General, I mean Private,” Dougherty addressed Chirar with enthusiasm. “You aren’t some martial arts expert or anything, are you?”
Chirar watched in complete confusion as his three captors dissolved into wild laughter again.
The Bombay Club proved to be gracious hosts to the hundreds of Marines and ship’s crew, down from the Intrepid on liberty. Notoriety as a sensational port of call, still drove the present owners of the club to make their customers the happiest on any of the colonial ports. Professional dancers, bands, and the most reasonably priced food and drink anywhere, served to make a visit to the Bombay a memorable one. Every kind of virtual reality pleasure imaginable could be accessed within the huge complex.
After the interrogation of Hushanni and Chirar proved fruitful, Jake turned over the information to Whitehall with orders to move on the people listed immediately. With their prisoners under guard in the Rigel Brig, Jake, Mercer and Dougherty had cleaned up on Alpha Drop Ship. Their arrival at the Bombay caused a sensation, as Marines and civilians alike, applauded the trio, after a Marine lookout at the entrance signaled they were coming. They took their celebrity status in good humor.
The manager of the Bombay escorted them to a table, where they were within easy access of the bar, or the entertainment. Colonel Peters and Major Corey joined them there, after landing with another group of men and women going on liberty, including Dougherty’s Doctor friend: Lieutenant Christine Spiros. Corey was the first to spot the three, clicking their shot glasses together in a toast.
“There’s the brigands now,” Corey said, pointing them out amongst the huge throng of uniformed personnel. “I hope they haven’t been toasting for too long. Those three can get pretty dangerous after they’ve had a few.”
“They’ve known each other a long time,” Peters added. “With all they’ve done, I guess if they want to get a little wild, who are we to question it, Sara?”
“Question it?” Corey laughed over her shoulder on the way over. “I’m going to drink those three bozo’s under the table.”
Peters winked at Lieutenant Spiros. “Don’t worry Doc, I think she’s just kidding.”
“I hope not, Sir,” Spiros replied, waving at Dougherty, who had spotted them.
Dougherty slapped hands on the way by Corey, and saluted Colonel Peters while throwing an arm around Spiros. “Hello Sir, I see you’ve met Lieutenant Spiros.”
‘Tea Tim, we received your orders on the Intrepid to not come down here without her,” Peters joked, as he returned the salute.
Dougherty laughed in appreciation of the dig. “I didn’t quite mean it like that, Sir, I…”
“Forget it, Tim,” Peters interrupted. “How’s the celebration going?”
“We just walked in the door. One of the Nest Marines outed us as soon as we came in. The whole place welcomed us. I could get used to walking into places with Jake.I mean General Matthews,” Dougherty replied. He looked into Spiros’ smiling face. “Hi Christy, glad you could come.”
As Colonel Peters began threading his way through the crowd again, Spiros pulled Dougherty’s face down to hers, and kissed him passionately. Dougherty responded enthusiastically before a loud whistle shrieked across the noisy hall over the music and crowd noise, followed by Mercer’s piercing yell.
“Get a room, Doughboy!”
Dougherty stroked Spiros’ face as he gently drew back. “C’mon, let’s go join the group before Charlie comes over and makes a fool out of himself.”
They walked arm in arm to the table, where Jake and Mercer both stood up and shook hands with Spiros.
“Hi Doc,” Jake greeted her. “I’m glad Tim thought to invite you.”
“Yea Doc,” Mercer added. “I was afraid after putting up with him on the way over to Rigel, you resigned your commission, and left for the end of the galaxy.”
Spiros laughed. “No, I’m okay, Colonel. How’s your chest healing, General?”
“I’m just like new, Doc,” Jake replied, waving everyone down into their chairs, as an iced bucket of champagne was brought over. “You can hardly see the scar amongst the others. Listen, everyone, relax while I stir up the surprise I’ve been waiting to spring.”
Jake walked off in search of the Manager of the Bombay. Mercer, in the meanwhile, opened one of the bottles of champagne, managing to avoid getting it all over. This elicited applause from Dougherty.
“I’m impressed, Charlie,” Dougherty said, holding up Lieutenant Spiros glass along with his as Mercer poured. “I didn’t think you knew what champagne was, let alone how to open the bottle.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know abo
ut me, young Jedi,” Mercer replied, filling Colonel Peters’ glass as well as Colonel Cory’s before pouring his own.
The music stopped, and they all looked up at the stage, where Jake stood inside the amplification stage. He held up a hand, and the Bombay’s main dance floor, and dining room became quiet, with Marines and ship’s crew hushing the whole room in seconds.
“Official word came to me a little while ago, confirming a request I had made to Genoa,” Jake explained, his deep voice carrying easily within the confines of the Bombay. He looked at the table where his friends were seated. “Colonel Jason Peters, please come up here.”
A spotlight glared right on the surprised face of Colonel Peters, as Corey and Mercer pushed him up to his feet from either side, as the room erupted in applause. An usher appeared next to him, and gestured for Peters to follow him. Peters trailed the usher to where he could ascend the stage. Jake met him with a handshake. Turning to the crowd, Jake held up a certificate, and a small box, decorated with the United States Flag, and the insignia of the Space Corps.
“All of you know as well as I what Colonel Peters has meant to this operation from the first attack at Bougainville, through the destruction of the first alien vessel, to the coordination of a staggering array of events which brought us here to Rigel in time to rescue five thousand lives. The Congress of the United States of America has confirmed my recommendation for Brigadier General in the United States Space Corps. May I present Brigadier General Jason Peters. Your first stars, and your first salute, Sir, it has been an honor to serve with you.” Jake handed Peters the certificate and box before coming to attention and saluting.
Peters returned Jake’s salute, and then shook hands with him again, a look passing between them of brothers in arms. Peters then turned to the wildly cheering crowd, holding his promotion confirmation up. He then gestured for quiet, which came a few moments later.
“I have never known better men or women than my comrades through this long journey from Bougainville to Rigel. I am grateful to accept this promotion, but I do it with full knowledge I could not have come so far without all of you. With General Matthews permission I will ask but one other sappy thing. Major Sara Corey, will you marry me?”
This time you could hear a pin drop as the spotlight played over to Corey’s face. Tears were starting at the corners of her eyes, and her friends sat in silence, waiting for her to speak. She stood up slowly, her smile erasing the stunned open mouth look from a moment ago.
“In a heartbeat, General,” Corey called out loudly, as she started for the stage.
General Peters left the stage to meet her, in the midst of the still milling crowd, which had erupted in whistles, cheers, and wild applause, all led by another General on the stage. Peters took a small case out of his jacket pocket as he walked, shoving his general’s stars and confirmation inside his tunic. He was already taking the ring out of its holder as he closed the distance amidst the parting crowd. Peters took Corey’s hand, and slipped the ring on her finger. Corey wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
“I’ve had that ring for the last month, baby,” Peters stated directly in her ear, only loud enough for Corey to hear, with all the noise around them. “I was waiting for the right time to give it too you. I hope this wasn’t too far overboard. I love you.”
Corey pulled back to face him. “It was perfect, you big goof.”
She kissed him tenderly, as Peters held her to him. Jake signaled the band on stage, and they began a slow haunting melody, which soon had everyone around the couple, slow dancing with them. Dougherty immediately pulled Spiros up to dance amongst the sea of Marine, and Space Corps uniforms. Jake arrived back at the table, where Mercer sat alone, only moments later. Instead of handing him a glass of champagne, Mercer gave Jake a double shot glass full of amber liquid, holding his own up in a toast.
“Semper Fi, my brother,” Mercer said, clinking Jake’s glass.
Jake nodded, downed the drink, and sat down next to Mercer, holding his shot glass out for another refill. “That went well.”
“It seems your new General upstaged you a bit, Jake,” Mercer pointed out.
‘Tea, and the smart ass even had the ring on him,” Jake agreed, sipping his refill. “He surprised me, anyway.”
“Hey, you saw Sara’s face. I thought she was going to pass out. So, where do we go from here?”
“Well, I have to lead a speedy military tribunal for our prisoners, and then depending on what I hear, some will be going to hell, and others to Tannengate.”
“Old Chirar thought he was in hell already, when it came time for him to get a taste,” Mercer laughed.
Jake held up his glass. “Here’s to Mr. Snappy, the scourge of the galaxy.”
“Mr. Snappy,” Mercer happily joined in, raising his glass again to clink against Jake’s.
“Hey, the Tennyson’s in port,” Dougherty exclaimed with enthusiasm, as he, Jake, and Mercer stood in the forward observation deck of the Intrepid. Filling the viewing portal lay the huge complex space station, and seat of the Military Governorship, Genoa. The transport Tennyson, docked to one of the many Genoa transport docks, was a welcome sight to Dougherty and Jake.
“I guess it would be a good time to have a dinner with Governor Risling and some of the folks from the Tennyson,” Jake mused.
“I’ll bring Christy with me, so Colonel Stedman can meet her,” Dougherty replied.
“After liberty on Rigel, Genoa doesn’t interest me much,” Mercer commented. “I even had a good time at the tribunal for those pirates. You were pretty lenient on the pirates, Jake.”
“Ten years on Tannengate Penal Colony ain’t my idea of lenient, Charlie,” Jake pointed out. “Besides, Soddie and Chirar are orbiting Rigel without a ship. You can’t get any more final than that.”
Dougherty looked back at Jake. “Were you surprised those two were equal partners in the hostage deal?”
“Yea,” Jake admitted. “I figured Chirar would have been just another Earth Command puke taking payoffs. I was going to give him ten years with the other bunch until we found out otherwise. I’m going to get
Risling to make Whitehall’s command on Rigel permanent. He’s a good man.”
As the huge battleship Intrepid inched into the final docking holds, the three men stood silently. General Peters voice announced the Intrepid was docked over the ship’s voice channel.
“Ready, gentlemen,” Jake asked, tugging on his dress uniform tunic. “The Governor awaits.”
“I’ve spent more time dressed up in the last few weeks than I have in my whole career,” Mercer joked.
“Get used to it, pal,” Jake replied. “We’ve already killed everyone and everything we needed to. Now, we’ll have to settle for parades and dinners, instead of armor and weapons. Even you must be ready for a little downtime, Charlie.”
‘Tea, I think I’ll settle in on Omaha, if you’ll give me a duty station there,” Mercer agreed.
“Consider it done,” Jake replied. “You really going to hook up with Alice and her little girl, huh?”
“Yep, I’m going to get a nice place next to Nick’s spot there, and wait for the next time someone needs an attitude adjustment. Maybe Yuri will let me keep the troops in shape, and I can get Nick to help me refine that little Mr. Snappy pistol you used on Casserine.”
“I wish Adrian would get it out of her head about going back to Casserine,” Jake added. “It drives me crazy just watching her get back used to the place.”
“Could you imagine her getting through a pregnancy there?” Dougherty asked, shaking his head. “That would be brutal.”
“How about you, Tim?” Mercer asked. “Want to stop flitting around all over the universe?”
“Not if I can stay on the same ship with Christy,” Dougherty replied with a smile. “I’ll be sure to come visit you guys though, even if you do end up back on the Rock, Jake.”
“We’ll just come on board and see you, Tim, but Charlie will wa
nt to come down on the surface and have dinner with us, right Charlie?”
“I ain’t ever going back down on Casserine again, but I’ll hitch a ride out to see you once in a while. I just wish you’d try and be a man, and get Adrian to stay on Omaha.”
“Okay, okay,” Jake nodded, as Mercer and Dougherty laughed. “I admit I don’t have as much input as I’d like with my wife.”
“Input, General?” Mercer exclaimed in mock astonishment. “You have no input. I’m surprised your wife doesn’t just reach up and grab your ear, and lead you around like a recalcitrant puppy.”
“You better hope Alice don’t ever get the leash on you,” Jake warned, as his two friends continued laughing. “I’ll come all the way from Casserine to see that play out.”
“It’s Luke Skywalker here you’ll be making fun of,” Mercer said, pointing a finger at Dougherty. “The Doc already has the choke collar on, and is fitting the boy up for the chain.”
Dougherty looked up in the air with a dreamy, faraway look on his face. “Christy can use me till she use me up, boys.”
“Told you,” Mercer added, acting disgusted. “How pathetic.”
“Let’s go. The faster we get done with this pit stop on Genoa, the faster we can take off again for Omaha,” Jake said, heading for the observation deck exit.
“How long are we staying, Jake?” Dougherty asked, falling in behind him. “You said you’d decide when we got here; but c’mon, give us a hint.”
“I have to find out face to face with the Governor about how things are going on Earth,” Jake answered. “Because of all the Earth Command influence out here, he didn’t want to even discuss anything about our new allegiance.”
“Is there any reason to expect trouble back there you think he hasn’t mentioned?” Mercer asked.
“No, he’d have taken the chance if there had been any real problems. I think he’s just worried about stuff like we just handled. Hell, if Rigel could have a Marine General in league with fuel pirates, and Earth Command has beens, think of the problems Earth probably deals with still.”
“They just need more military tribunals, like we just convened on Rigel,” Mercer replied.
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