Shortly, they arrived at the restaurant and Alistair had a sheepish look on his face. Kelly asked what was the matter when they all got out. He mentioned that he had been here quite recently. Kelly could only imagine what that meant.
They had the restaurant to themselves. Mr. Maynard met them at the door. He escorted the admiral into a small, intimate bar and got a drink for him. He had arranged for all their counterparts to meet them at the door and similarly escort them to the bar. Kelly’s unfortunate counterpart was the Torpedo Ship Wing Commander. A handsome, but celibate, Ascetic Presbyter, first-class, escorted Mary. A Torpedo Ship Flight Commander was Connie’s escort. Ambassador Thorson escorted Alistair.
After a couple of drinks and some polite, but sometimes restrained conversation, all were ushered into the dining room by Mr. Delvane. The dinner was marvelous, a delicious four-course meal of soup, roast meat with local vegetables, salad, and a dessert. Kelly noticed the Ascetic Presbyter had no problem consuming the fine food. The Admiral asked if he could compliment the chef and a short pudgy woman in white chef’s clothes was brought out to meet him and share a glass of wine.
She was only slightly embarrassed by the effusive praise heaped upon her by the Admiral. Then she saw Alistair at the end of the table. She walked up to him, slapped him on the back, and said that he did look them up as he promised and this time he did come in through the front door. An awkward moment was diffused when Alistair replied that he just had to come back to sample more of her exquisite cuisine. She beamed.
After tables were cleared and brandy had been served, Steven asked the admiral about the K’Rang. He asked if they had any evidence the K’Rang were going to advance into the Star Cluster. Admiral Minacci replied that there was a K’Rang fleet poised just outside the cluster, but that they had yet to exhibit any behavior that signified they were preparing to move into the cluster. Steven vowed to place all Baratarian forces under Admiral Minacci’s command if the K’Rang made any move into the cluster. The Admiral thanked him for his faith in him. He told Steven that he had requested a cruiser squadron be sent to reinforce him. Now, if they only get here before the K’Rang moved.
The dinner broke up. The Admiral, Kelly, and Mary were dropped off at the guesthouse, while Connie and Alistair were taken on to the Vigilant. Kelly changed into his duty uniform and met Mary to walk over to their respective charges. Kelly made a quick walk through of the Vigilant; saw all was as it should be. Mary made a similar walk through of her unit berthed on board the AS-500, and returned with Kelly to the guesthouse.
Kelly awoke alone in the early morning light. A fully dressed Mary Chen leaned over him, kissed him, and said, “Go back to sleep. You have two hours before the alarm goes off.”
She said she was going back to her room to change into her physical training clothes and go for a run. She asked if he would care to join her. Kelly rose up, kissed her, and said he’d already had enough exercise keeping up with her. He’d pass on the run.
She asked, “Would you like to help me get cleaned up after my run? You could scrub my back.”
Kelly smiled at the thought, but passed. He would probably be back on the Vigilant for breakfast. “Why don’t you join me there after you clean up from your run?”
As she headed out the door, she said, “An unmetered shower together would have been a lot more fun.”
The time for the ceremony approached. Kelly called his crew into formation and inspected their uniforms for the ceremony. Mary’s inspection was formal and highly regimented, while Kelly’s inspection was relaxed and matter of fact. Kelly was impressed with the way she could slap the heavy M57 blast rifle from the arms of her Marines and twirl it like it was a plastic toy. When it came to a stop she let go and it hung in the air for a split second, then the Marine grasped and cycled the weapon closed and safe.
Kelly had his people relax in the shadow beneath the Vigilant. Mary filed hers back inside the AS-500. Kelly considered moving his crew back into the cooled Vigilant, but the Ascetics started marching onto the field. Kelly checked his pocket terminal and saw they were only 30 minutes away from the start. He told Chief B to fall them in on their positions at 15 minutes out.
He watched the Ascetics march in long battalion formations onto the field in their camouflage uniforms, with their traditional white tunic surmounted by a red cross. Surprisingly, at the end of their formation was a mobile air and space defense battalion floating onto the field mounted on their hover carriers. Kelly didn’t know where this equipment had been. His sensors hadn’t found them. These combined missile and hypervelocity plasma gun systems would prove useful and effective if the K’Rang penetrated all the way to Barataria. Kelly was just glad they were hidden away while he was merrily skipping across the atmosphere. He would have to ask one of the Ascetics where they had been stored.
Chief Blankenship formed up the ship’s company and marched them into position to the left of the reviewing stand. No one would mistake them for a drill team, but the crew was obviously doing their best. Their turning movements were crisp, they were in step, and they all halted at the same time. On the opposite side of the reviewing stand, Mary marched her company to their places and halted them precisely on their marks.
With the last of the troops positioned, Mr. Delvane stepped up to the podium. Kelly and Mary hurried to their seats. Kelly was to the immediate left of the Admiral. Mary took her place two chairs further down. A pocket terminal with the sequence of events on the screen had been placed on every seat.
Mr. Delvane welcomed all visitors and dignitaries to the surrender ceremony. He enjoined all to see this as the evolution of Barataria from a non-aligned world to a member planet in the Galactic Republic. The large number of former captives in the crowd cheered loudly.
The announcer called attention to the sky as the six remaining torpedo ship squadrons made a fly over of the ceremony in four-ship formations. They were followed across the sky by twelve Undefeated-class cutters in single file.
Friedrich Debran had also been invited to the ceremony. He and his family sat on the opposite side of the platform from the admiral and Kelly. Julia Debran, seated next to him, was bored and wished she could be anywhere but in this folding chair in the hot sun, watching a bunch of fancily dressed soldiers marching around. She didn’t understand why they hadn’t already signed the papers and been done with it without all this pomp and circumstances.
As the first torpedo squadron made its way across the sky and all eyes were looking up, her supplied pocket terminal buzzed. Julia looked down, expecting it to say something about the squadron, but instead she saw the following:
“Do you still want to divorce your husband? If yes, press Continue. Thorson.”
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She looked around and all eyes were still looking skyward. She pushed Continue on the screen.
“Do you wish a traditional divorce with 50 % community property settlement or a no fault divorce with no settlement? Push A for traditional. Push B for no fault.”
She pushed A and another screen appeared.
“That option is not available at this time. Press return for another option.”
She laughed, pressed return, and chose option B. Another screen came up.
“Are you Julia Halscomb Debran? Press yes or no.”
She pressed yes and that screen was replaced as yet another screen appeared.
“Are you currently married to Friedrich Rainer Debran resulting from a civil ceremony conducted on Rigel Station on 2295.08.03?”
She wondered where this was going and how long it would take. The aircraft had almost all passed over the parade field. She pressed yes and yet another screen appeared.
“Do you renounce your GR citizenship in favor of Baratarian citizenship? Press yes or no. (Do not worry. Your GR citizenship will be restored in a month’s time when our request to join the Galactic Republic is approved.)”
Julia pressed yes and the screen changed one last time.
&n
bsp; “In accordance with the Captains’ Court of Barataria, your request for summary divorce is granted. Congratulations, this is a perfectly legal and proper divorce recognizable in any GR court. It is in accordance with Baratarian law, which will be recognized as legitimate by the GR representatives when they thumb the surrender document. Keep this to yourself until you hear from me personally. Thorson.”
Her screen returned to the ceremony’s sequence of events. Julia did not know what to make of this. She prayed it was not some joke or trick by Friedrich. Her heart was buoyed by the thought it might be real. She looked at the ceremony with a renewed interest. The music playing as the Ascetics passed in review actually had her toes tapping to the beat.
The next to final event of the ceremony was a fly over by all 48 fighters and attack ships from the Assault Landing Carrier Golden Eagle. Then Steven Maynard and Admiral Minacci jointly thumbed the surrender documents. The final event was a prayer by the Bishop-Commander of the Ascetic Brigade. It asked for repose of the souls of those lost in the recent battle and for peace to reign over Barataria.
After the prayer, he gave the command to his unit to return to their barracks. That was the cue for Mary’s Marines and Kelly’s crew to retire from the field. In crisp military fashion, both units marched away from the reviewing stand and onto either the AS-500 or the Vigilant.
Refreshments were served in a large tent immediately behind the reviewing stand. Kelly followed the Admiral into the tent to get a pirate’s idea of refreshments. Rum punches, brandy, port, and clarets were free and freely served. Kelly watched his alcohol intake to maintain a clear head, and was rewarded with the rare occasion of Mr. Debran getting his own back. Debran was in a conversation circle with Maynard, the admiral, and Kelly. Debran’s wife and daughters were making their way down a buffet table. Ambassador Thorson came up to Mr. Maynard and whispered something in his ear.
Mr. Maynard looked over at Mr. Debran and said, “Friedrich, remember earlier when I said that I’m not a fool either? Do you know what those two survey ships you sent to the yellow sun systems will find when they arrive? They will find registered survey marker satellites specifying that Barataria legally claims those systems. Why don’t you call your Mr. Delphant and recall them so they don’t waste any more of your credits and time than they already have?”
Debran was furious to have been caught in a subterfuge and called out on it in public. He yelled for his wife and daughters to come along that they were leaving. His wife was talking to the ambassador and did not hear him. Debran rushed over, reached out, and grabbed Julia roughly by the wrist and started pulling her along. The next thing he knew was that he was in the air and crashing onto the hard turf floor under the tent. Julia had just executed a perfect hip throw on Friedrich.
She stood over him, yelling, “Don’t you ever touch me again!”
He stood up, dusted himself off, and spoke coldly to her, “You are still my wife. You will do as I tell you and that goes for those slut daughters of yours as well.”
Julia reared back and punched him square dead on the nose. Debran wound up on the ground again.
As he picked himself up off the ground again, a small man walked up to Debran and asked him if he was Friedrich Rainer Debran. Friedrich, already in a foul mood, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to staunch his nosebleed, turned on the man and said, “Of course I am, you idiot! What do you want?”
He handed Debran a small packet of paper and said, “Sir, you have been served.”
Debran, confused, asked, “Served? Served with what?”
“Why, your divorce decree, of course.”
Friedrich looked at the man as if the man had just been hatched.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t ask for any divorce proceedings.”
“No, sir, Mrs. Debran…excuse me, Ms. Halscomb requested a divorce and that divorce was granted by the Captains’ Court of Barataria this afternoon.”
Debran built up into a full rage and shouted at the small man, “Whom do you think you are dealing with, little man? I will have that divorce issued by your kangaroo court overturned before the sun sets.”
The little man advanced on Debran, causing him to take an involuntary step back.
“I am Emilio Rondage, senior partner of the law firm Rondage and Jompe. Ask your legal advisers if they want to tangle with me in court, any court, even those you’ve bought in the Rigel system. This divorce is absolutely legal and the GR Fleet can testify to it. One of the codicils of the Surrender Agreement was that GR courts would uphold decisions handed down by Baratarian Courts before the surrender document was signed, as long as they did not violate GR law. This divorce is legally binding.”
Debran did not know what to do. He had never been treated this way. He looked around for sympathy from the crowd and found none. He turned and stomped away. Julia would never see him again.
Thorson stood beside her and said, “Ms. Halscomb, I know this is sudden, but would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She smiled and said, “Mr. Thorson, wait, is Thorson your last name or first name?”
Thorson smiled back and said, “It’s my last name. I am Francis Jesse Thorson.”
“Well, Francis, I would love to be Mrs. Francis Jesse Thorson.”
Thorson picked her up and twirled her around to applause from the assembled dignitaries.
When he let her down, he said, “Rondage has sufficient evidence of Debran’s corruption of the Rigel legal system that he can argue in GR court that Debran made it impossible for you to get a fair divorce trial in the Rigelian courts. He thinks he can get you a 50 % settlement anyway. That’s enough about that. Where do you want to get married and honeymoon?”
She smiled and asked, “We can worry about that later. Do you think you can get my ship back before it is stripped?”
Thorson smiled. Yes, he thought he could do that.
Irina Bugarov was in the crowd that day. She was on the opposite side of the field and hoped to reach the scout ship and AS-500 across the massive parade field, but there were too many people and too many Ascetics providing crowd control to get over there. She and Terri found a shady spot on the hillside and sat down to watch the show. She and Terri had dropped the tired old women disguises and cleaned up. They got more than a few admiring glances, especially Terri.
Her heart swelled when she saw the F-48s and A-76s fly over the field. Yes, Fleet had come and rescued them, just like she knew they would. She had never lost faith in the Fleet.
As the crowd winnowed out, she and Terri worked their way across the field. She knew she was breaking protocol by walking between the Ascetic formations returning to their barracks, but she didn’t care. She was free. Today was her Independence Day.
She reached the empty reviewing stand and looked around for an officer. She assumed everyone went in the large tent or up into the ships.
She called up into the ship and a petty officer from the quarterdeck came down.
“Can I help you, ma’am?”
‘I hope so. I am retired Major General Irina Bugarov of Fighter Force. Could I speak with your captain?”
“Captain’s not aboard, ma’am. I believe he’s in that big tent, ma’am.”
She thanked him and they wandered over to the tent, but the Ascetic guards had orders not to admit former captives. Irina made a note of the scout ship’s name. She would write a thank you note when she was back in better surroundings.
The petty officer went back up the gangplank and joined Chief Miller.
“What was that all about?” Chief Miller asked?
“I don’t know. Some crazy old broad said she was a major general or something. She wanted to see the Captain. I told her he was probably in the big tent.”
Chief Miller shook his head and asked, “Why do all the crazies call themselves generals? Log it.”
Fleet Commander J’Kalt reviewed the scenarios presented by his battle staff. The spy ships’ report from the Human sector had been
transmitted to them and gave them an idea of what they might have to face. In their considered opinion, the best option was to conduct a reconnaissance in force into the star cluster. This gave them the greatest benefit for the least losses. The two shadow destroyers should lead the formation, as they had the best sensors and were best able to pick out the route through the cluster.
The Shadow cruiser and three light missile cruisers would follow, to be able to provide long-range support to the Shadow destroyers. The six fighter defense frigates would ring the formation, to provide flank security against Human fighters and fighter-sized craft. The remainder of the ships would form up with the six missile/gun destroyers behind the cruisers, followed by the ten support ships guarded by the four gun frigates.
The corvette J’New would remain at the opening to the cluster, to provide a communications relay and rear security. It would warn the fleet and Main Worlds if enemy ships got behind the fleet.
J’Kalt approved this plan and established rehearsals for the opposite side of the two Main World systems behind them.
The long-range sensor probe reported the power up and movement of the K’Rang Fleet. It tracked them as they moved to behind the nearest Main World system. It repositioned itself autonomously and reported its new position when it sent the data on the K’Rang Fleet. It got occasional glimpses of the K’Rang Fleet practicing movement and dutifully sent that info on, also reporting the Missile Corvette continuing to monitor the known entrance to the star cluster. As the corvette moved around the entrance, it forced the sensor to periodically withdraw into the cluster to maintain secrecy.
Captain S’Kal of the Missile Corvette J’New was looking over the shoulder of his senior sensor operator, H’Talli. He had been called to observe some sort of anomaly in the sensor scans, but he could not see it.
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