by Daniel Gibbs
Tural raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I can make a blanket promise to that effect, Colonel, if whatever you share with me impacts your ability to command this ship.”
“I’m certain you’ve noticed my…cold, emotional state the last few days.”
“I’d be lying to you if I said I hadn’t, Colonel. You’ve absorbed a great deal of emotional trauma. I would strongly recommend you visit a counselor.”
David pursed his lips, considering what he was about to say. “Doctor, I had an experience last night, one that I can’t explain. I was hoping you could help me understand it.”
“If I can, I will. What happened?”
For the next ten minutes, David explained to Tural what he believed was the vision he received the night before. “In conclusion, Doctor, I’ve never had a dream like that in my life. It was like I was really there, like it actually happened.”
Tural wore a questioning yet inscrutable look on his face during David’s entire explanation, rarely interrupting. “Colonel, if I may…I’m not sure what use I can be to you. While the Quran quite clearly states that dreams can be authentic messages from Allah…I’m not sure what you’re looking for from me.”
“I was hoping you could run some tests on my brain and tell me if I’m okay, Doctor.”
“I can run a baseline scan of your brain easily, but I’m not sure what I’d be looking for,”
“Let’s just make sure it’s in good working order, then,” David replied with a smile.
Tural stood and gestured to the door. “Very well. Let’s get you onto an examination bed.”
After he led David over to the bed, it took a few minutes for the scan to be completed. He had to sit completely still and wait for the laser to pass back and forth over his head several times. At the conclusion of the scan, they returned to Tural’s office. Tural pulled the scan images up on his personal tablet and reviewed them.
He looked up at David. “I will admit, these results are interesting, Colonel.” He turned the tablet around and showed it to him. Pointing to a specific section, he continued. “Do you see this here? That’s your hippocampus, or the portion of the brain that governs much of the memory functions.”
David looked at the image; he had no idea what he was looking at. “You must forgive me, Doctor. I have no idea why that image would be interesting to you.”
“Of course… well, see how it’s lighting up? That indicates that you’ve made many new memories. That’s not something I would expect to see after you were asleep most of the night having a dream.”
David furrowed his brow. “Does that mean you see some evidence to back up the idea that it wasn’t just a dream?”
Tural shook his head. “Colonel, I’d be lying to you if I said there was irrefutable scientific evidence that you had what amounts to an out-of-body spiritual experience.” He spread his hands. “Is the fact that you seem to have made a lot of memories the last few hours interesting? Yes. Does it point to possibly something happening with you that can’t be readily explained based on what you’ve told me? Yes. Ultimately, only you will be able to decide what happened. You’ll have to accept it on faith or not at all.”
David nodded and sat silently for a moment. “What do you think happened?” he asked, searching for some level of validation.
“From the perspective of my role as the chief medical officer on this ship, Colonel…nothing happened,” Tural replied. “If I were to step back and simply evaluate what you’ve told me against the available evidence and combined with my faith in Allah, I believe something happened to you. Was it a dream? Something more? I don’t know. If we accept that God speaks to us, who is to say that he didn’t speak to you last night? Perhaps your subconscious mind gave you a much-needed emotional boost. The end result is the same. You have to decide for yourself as to your interpretation of it.”
David sat back in the chair. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said, beginning to rise.
“I see no reason for this to go into your medical record, Colonel.”
“Thank you for that.”
“Anytime, Colonel. Godspeed.”
Deciding that he needed some quiet time with God, David made his way to the shul onboard the Lion. He donned his yarmulke and his tallit gadol, or prayer shawl, before entering. Rabbi Kravitz greeted him immediately. “Colonel, it’s been a few days. Did you forget about Shabbat?” Kravitz asked, mirth in his voice.
David shook his head. “I’m sorry, Rabbi. The last couple of days have been…challenging for me.” As he spoke, he walked over to a pew and sat down; Kravitz followed and sat with him.
“In such times, you must turn to God,” Kravitz said.
“I realize in times such as these, Rabbi…I’m not a great Jew.”
Kravitz laughed. “And who is a great Jew? Certainly not me.”
“Rabbi, when Sheila was killed…”
“You wondered where God was?”
Looking down at his hands, David nodded. “Yes.”
“What about now?”
David looked up and directly into Kravitz’s eyes. “I think that Sheila came to me in a dream or a vision last night. And I think that God let her.”
A questioning look washed over Kravitz’s face. “That’s quite a feat, Colonel.”
“I realize it sounds crazy. I have no evidence to support that idea except Doctor Tural found I have large amounts of new memories in my hippocampus.”
“Does Dr. Tural believe you had a vision?”
“Medically speaking? No. There is no proof either way. He told me I have to accept it on faith or not at all.”
Kravitz nodded. “What happened in your dream?”
David explained from beginning to end the dream/vision he experienced, sharing almost all of the details with the exception of Sheila’s declaration of love for him and his for her. “It was more real than any dream I’ve ever had. It was like I was there.”
“God certainly has visited us in dreams since the beginning of our history,” Kravitz said. “Do you believe it was a vision from God, David?”
“Yes.”
“Then I believe it was as well. A man like you isn’t taken to flights of fancy. I think a more important question is, what are you going to do with it?”
“Fight the good fight. Without hate in my heart.”
Kravitz put his arm around David’s shoulders. “Would you allow me to pray with you, David?”
David nodded his assent and Kravitz began. “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bestows good things upon the unworthy and has bestowed upon me every goodness.”
David immediately recognized the prayer for surviving danger. He spoke the traditional reply. “Amen. He who has bestowed upon you every goodness, may He continue to bestow upon you every goodness. Selah.”
“Lord our God, King of the Universe, bless this man,” Kravitz continued. “Grant him courage, wisdom, and give him good counsel. Show him the path, and do not allow him to venture from it. Amen.”
“Amen,” David said. “Thank you, Rabbi.”
“I will leave to your prayers and meditation,” Kravitz said, standing up.
David inclined his head in acknowledgement as the older man walked off to comfort another member of the congregation. Bowing his head, he prayed for the next fifteen minutes, closing with the prayer that was traditional to him: God, if it is your will, spare the lives of my crew and allow them to return safely to their families. After finishing that prayer, he stood and walked out of the shul, removing his prayer shawl and yarmulke.
Emerging from the shul and walking down the ship’s passageway back toward his office, David reflected on his feelings. From near emotional destruction twenty-four hours ago to being back to something of his former self now, he considered it nothing short of miraculous. Everything felt right again, he realized. While part of him was still sad, he wasn’t broken any longer. Smiling, he quickened his step; there was much to do and now was the time to do it.
Davi
d, Tinetariro, Ruth, and a robust honor guard consisting of both Marines and enlisted crewmembers from the Lion stood in an airlock on the starboard side of the ship. He’d received a notification thirty minutes prior that both President Spencer and Chief Minister Sherazi would be touring the Lion. As Ruth was busy adjusting her dress uniform, she looked over at David. “Sir, why’d they only give us thirty minutes’ notice? Trying to get everyone into the proper uniforms and at the airlock is practically impossible in that amount of time.”
David smirked. “Well, I could say that they just want to see if we could do it…but I suspect the real reason is security. Having the two heads of state of the Canaan Alliance in one place is a great risk.”
“We’re at Canaan’s main space station. This is literally the most secure location in Terran Coalition space.”
“Perhaps it is, Lieutenant. But no one is putting anything to chance after the events of the last week.”
Ruth peered at him for a moment. David could tell she was trying to figure out what had changed, as his entire attitude was different today. His shoulders were squared, he was smiling, and he didn’t look like a storm cloud.
David felt his personal tablet vibrate and pulled it out of his uniform, staring at the screen for a moment. “Okay, look alive, ladies and gents. They’ll be here momentarily.”
Tinetariro performed a final inspection of the enlisted crew’s uniforms. David watched her expertly fix several errors with the practice that only came from thirty years in the service. While some might question why that was so important to her, he knew from his brief interactions with the master chief so far was that to her it was simply a matter of respect, and if the President of the Terran Coalition was going to walk onboard their vessel, she’d make sure it was perfect.
David got one more vibration on his personal communicator, an alert that the president, chief minister, and their respective entourage were entering the air lock. “Master Chief, here they come,” he announced. The security detail for both heads of state strode through the open hatch, followed closely by President Spencer and Chief Minister Sherazi.
“Attention on deck!” David announced with the practiced voice of command. Immediately, the honor guard and Ruth snapped to a stiff attention posture. Tinetariro trilled her bosun’s pipe, serving to “pipe” the dignitaries aboard.
“Permission to come aboard, Colonel?” President Spencer asked of David.
“Granted, sir.”
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing this ship fully operational for some time, Colonel Cohen. That it has performed so well is beyond our wildest hopes and dreams.”
David pursed his lips. “Regardless of the tragedy of the last few days, sir, we do have much to be thankful for. I consider this vessel to be a marvel, both in its technology and in the ability of its crew. No one could ask for a better team.”
Spencer smiled. “Glad to hear it, Colonel. Have you met Chief Minister Sherazi?”
Sherazi took a step forward and extended his arm to David. “Greetings, Colonel.”
David took the outstretched hand and shook it firmly. “Chief Minister, welcome aboard.”
General MacIntosh and another Saurian male, who wore a CDF uniform, walked through the open hatch, followed by the last members of the security detail.
At the sight of MacIntosh, David stiffened once more. “General,” he said formally.
“At ease, everyone,” MacIntosh ordered. Looking at David, he addressed him directly. “Colonel Cohen. Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted, sir.”
“Please allow me to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Talgat Aibek, the first member of the Coalition Defense Force and Royal Saurian Navy officer exchange program that our governments agreed to this morning.”
He took a step forward and extended his hand to Aibek, who extended his own hand and shook David’s hand firmly. David took a couple of seconds to size him up; like all Saurians, he was taller than an average human. The scales atop his head were particularly colorful. He appeared to have powerful and well-defined muscles, and there was an array of campaign ribbons on his uniform David did not recognize.
“Welcome aboard, Colonel.” As he continued to process Aibek, he realized that the XO’s position on the Lion was technically a billet for a Lieutenant Colonel. Was this his new XO? For just a moment, David felt the bile rise in him and the thought too soon ran through his head.
MacIntosh cleared his throat. “Let’s begin the tour, Colonel Cohen.”
“Yes, sir,” David said crisply. He turned to Tinetariro. “Master Chief, the honor guard is dismissed.”
“Yes, sir! Company, dismissed!” Tinetariro ordered. The group of crewmembers melted away, leaving David and Ruth to conduct the tour. Over the next couple of hours, he led them through the Lion. Starting with the massive engineering space, he found himself impressed by the questions President Spencer asked about the anti-matter reactor. They also toured the hangar bay and the bridge.
Ending up in the wardroom, David, MacIntosh, Aibek, and the two heads of space sat down while the security details took up positions outside, save for a single agent from both governments.
After pleasantries and chitchat had been dispensed with, MacIntosh got down to business. “As I’m sure everyone here is acutely aware, our new alliance brings with it many logistical concerns. Not the least of which is how do we tightly integrate two separate militaries.”
“Not unlike the issues the Terran Coalition had fully integrating most nation-state militaries into the Coalition Defense Force at the outbreak of hostilities with the League,” David said.
“Exactly, Colonel. Only this is harder because we’re two separate species who do things very differently.”
President Spencer gestured between David and Aibek. “The reason you two are here, Colonel Cohen and Colonel Aibek… is we want you to set the standard for integration between the Terran Coalition and Saurian Empire. To help set that standard, Colonel Aibek is being assigned as the XO for the Lion of Judah.”
David nodded his understanding. “Yes, sir.” Well, I was right about that part at least. Hopefully, this guy is a good officer who will integrate well into the crew and work seamlessly with me.
MacIntosh stared at David and Aibek with a gaze that seemed to bore into David’s mind. “I want to be perfectly clear here. This has to work. For the sake of both our nations. We’re going to have one chance and one chance only to push the League back before they send their own reinforcements. The only thing in our favor right now is our supply lines are far shorter than theirs. As the first Saurian serving on a CDF capital ship, Colonel Aibek, it’s your duty to show the way.”
Aibek replied with a crisp, “Yes, sir.”
Sherazi leaned forward in his chair. “If the two of you can work effectively together, it will show the rest of us the way. We’re all counting on you.”
David and Aibek exchanged glances before David spoke. “Sirs, I think I speak for myself and for Colonel Aibek when I say that we’re going to make this work. The League is an evil that needs to be pushed back and defeated. With our combined strength, that goal is within reach. It will not be derailed because of personality conflicts.” He paused for a moment, thinking he might have been too forward. “I hope that wasn’t too direct, Colonel.”
“Not at all, Colonel. I am certain I can adjust to your command style, whatever it may be. And if we have any issues… I would welcome a sparring match to clear the air in any human martial art form you would care to choose.”
David glanced at Aibek for a moment, not even sure what to make of his statement. Aibek, on seeing his reaction, tried to clear up the confusion. “I jest, Colonel.”
David cracked a smile. “Noted.”
MacIntosh looked somewhat amused himself. “That settles it, then. We’re going to make this work. Then we’re going to kick the League’s ass back to Earth and take out those communist bastards once and for all.”
“Now that’s a sentime
nt I can get behind despite the language, Andrew,” President Spencer said, smiling himself. “Andrew, Chief Minister, any final thoughts?”
Sherazi shook his head. “None. I have confidence the right officers are assigned to this ship.”
President Spencer stood, quickly followed by everyone else; the meeting was close to being adjourned. “Colonel, I wish you good luck and Godspeed. Carry on.”
“Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” David quickly responded. “Perhaps Colonel Aibek could stay behind? I’d be happy to show him around some of the other areas of the ship, like the mess.”
“Excellent idea, Colonel. I’ll show our guests back to the shuttle. Godspeed to you both,” MacIntosh replied.
After the two heads of state and General MacIntosh had left, David turned to Aibek. “I realize we don’t know each other well. To summarize how I do things…I am tough, but fair. I want the best of this crew and this ship, and most of all, I want to defeat the League so that someday, perhaps we don’t have to get up every morning and kill our fellow man.”
Aibek seemed lost in thought for a moment before responding to David. “That is a burden I do not relish, Colonel Cohen. I hope my presence here can be positive. I will strive to the best of my ability to serve well as your executive officer.”
David resolved to take Aibek at his word; after all, MacIntosh wouldn’t have assigned him if there were any doubt in his mind about the Saurian’s abilities or effectiveness. “I have no doubt of that, Colonel. Now, if you’d follow me, let me show you some things about this ship that aren’t on the main tour.”
Aibek smiled and walked around the table. “Lead on, sir.”
Sometime later, onboard the shuttle that carried President Spencer and General MacIntosh back to Canaan, President Spencer called MacIntosh into his private office. The shuttle was designated “Coalition Defense Force One,” while Spencer was onboard. It was outfitted with the latest defensive technologies that centered around stealth. The craft also carried enough communications and command and control gear to run the war if required.