Command Decision (5 page)

Ky thought back to her experiences aboard Spaceforce training ships. Of course everyone had been military, and military discipline had prevailed. Only the cadets asked questions, for the most part, and they were expected to obey orders without such questions at the time. But was that necessary here, for people without military training?

“My concern,” Hugh went on, “is that when we’re in combat again, your civilian crewmembers may be slow to respond to orders they don’t understand, or—for those with more initiative—may do something unexpected, and either of these could put themselves or the ship in peril.”

“You’re really worried about this?” Ky said. “After we’ve been in combat and nothing like that has happened?”

“Captain, the last post-battle analysis, from the most recent engagement, shows that twenty percent of the crew with civilian background either questioned orders, delayed response, or engaged in unordered activity. Now, as it happens, none of those things was critical in the event—but that’s not something we can depend on. And this latest incident—bringing aboard uninspected food items, failing to enter them on the ship’s stores list, distributing them at a party neither you nor I knew about—shows that a casual attitude toward standard rules has spread even to some of the military crew. You’re going to have to decide what to do about it.”

Ky frowned. She had not made any connection between the crew’s performance during combat and the food poisoning incident, and for that matter she hadn’t thought of the crew’s behavior as below standard. If Hugh was right…“You have a recommendation?”

“You’re not going to like it.” Hugh rubbed his nose. “We would be better off with an all-military crew. Retraining this one is going to be difficult, partly because the original crewmembers are in some way associated with your family—with your civilian identity—and partly because you have two distinct groups: the old crew, who have one kind of loyalty to you and your family, and the new crew, who haven’t.”

“Um.” Ky steepled her hands to give herself time to think. “I hadn’t realized there was this problem—”

“You haven’t really had time,” Hugh said. “You’ve been dealing with other crises. But it’s something you need to consider.”

“I don’t want to get rid of people who’ve served with me through the whole thing,” Ky said. “Loyalty cuts both ways.”

“I thought you’d say that,” Hugh said. “That’s fine: that’s laudable. But you’re going to have to explain the reality of a warship to them. That’s what we are, now. I know you were thinking privateer at one time, but it’s clear your entire focus now is on fighting a hostile force. We cannot afford to have any gaps in discipline.”

“I see that,” Ky said. “I suppose—the ones who can’t make the transition would still be useful to Stella, as civilian crew on other Vatta ships, if they’re willing.”

“Quite so,” Hugh said, nodding. “You don’t have to throw anyone out in the cold; you can transfer them to jobs for which they’re more suited. I’d recommend acting on this as quickly as possible.”

“But that means hiring new crew,” Ky said. “I’m not sure how easily we can find what you’re looking for. Or how quickly they’ll bond into a crew—”

“The sooner we look, the sooner we can find,” Hugh said. “And if I may, I’m not at all sure Ciudad’s the best place to look, not with you—any woman, I mean—in command.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Ky said. “There’s no reason they’d join up with us just to avenge the loss of their ship; they’re more likely to blame us. But I can’t tell the other captains that until we come out of FTL.”

“In the meantime,” Hugh said, “you could consider retraining those of your civilian crew who are willing. We have enough experienced veterans aboard to do that.”

“I’ll talk to my—the old crew,” Ky said.

The remaining crew from
Gary Tobai
filed into Ky’s office. She could not help but notice how casual they were compared to the ex-military personnel she’d hired. Respectful, but in their own individual ways.

“We have a problem to solve,” she said, aware that this was not how she’d have started out with the Gannetts, or even Hugh or Martin. “You all know that
Vanguard
is now acting as a military ship—”

“Yes, I just want to know why we can’t at least carry some personal cargo for trading,” said Mehar. “Privateers still carry cargo, don’t they?”

“Privateers do,” Ky said. “And yes, when you signed on, that’s what this ship was. But as things are now, operating as independent privateers will just get us killed when we run into a superior force of pirates. That’s why we’re teamed up with
Sharra’s Gift
and
Bassoon
. We’re forming as an interstellar defense force, a real space navy.” From their expressions, some of them found this very bad news.

“I know some of you won’t like this,” Ky said. “And you’re not being shanghaied—you’ll be able to leave the ship at the next port, with pay due in your accounts, and a bonus for hazardous duty.” She paused a moment; some of them shifted their weight but no one said anything. “Or if you’d rather, I can transfer you to Vatta Transport—the real Vatta Transport—and send you to work on the civilian traders Vatta is once again operating.”

“I’ll take that,” someone said from the back; others turned to look, and Ky saw the number two engineer, Foxeham. “I’m really—I’m not—”

“That’s all right,” Ky said. “No need to explain. It’s not what you signed up for. My cousin Stella, who’s running Vatta Transport now, can always use more crewmembers as she acquires more ships. We’ll pay your passage to Cascadia, where she is now.”

Foxeham nodded, looking shamefaced but relieved. Well, not everyone was cut out for the military life, and she could run the ship with a short crew of engineers if she had to.

“The rest of you,” Ky said. “If you want out of your contracts, or to have them transferred to Vatta Transport, let me or the exec know. We’re due to drop out of FTL in another two days; I’ll want a list by then. Those who know you want to stay, please remain behind; the rest of you are excused.”

Those leaving began to mutter among themselves even before they cleared the cabin; to Ky’s relief, the tone was more satisfied than worried. Facing her still were a half dozen, all those who had been on the
Gary,
including Lee.

“I gather you want to be in this,” she said.

“We’ve been with you from the beginning,” Lee said. “And some of it’s been the best time of my life. You bet I want to stay.”

“Me, too,” muttered the others.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Ky said. “And here’s why.” Quickly, she outlined the differences in discipline that Hugh had named most critical. “The thing is, if you continue to act like civilians, that could get you killed—or, at worse, the whole ship lost. Yes, even just one of you,” she said to the disbelief in their faces. “Let me outline just one scenario. Say we’re boarded. You’ll say, Been there, done that, right? But I’m talking about actual penetration of the crew compartments, which didn’t happen last time. If you don’t do exactly what you’ve been told—what you’re supposed to—without thinking up any heroic bits that backfire—”

“Why would they backfire?” Lee interrupted.

“And there’s another problem,” Ky said. She sighed and shook her head. “Lee, you and the others are used to talking to me as the captain, yes, but also as Gerry Vatta’s little girl who needs taking care of.” His eyes widened, and she nodded. “Yes, you are. That’s understandable. But it has to stop. This is now a military ship; we will be maintaining military discipline. For some of you—including some of the best of you—that’s going to be a considerable strain. You weren’t trained for it; you’re not used to it; you still have that history with me when we had a nonmilitary relationship.”

Lee opened his mouth and shut it; Mehar raised her hand. Ky nodded at her.

“I don’t understand why it all has to be military, Captain. I mean, why does it have to be that way for us as well as them?”

“Because a ship’s crew has to be all one piece, bonded,” Ky said. “You have to trust the military—the
present
military—and they have to trust you. Everyone has to know that everyone else will follow orders quickly, precisely, without questioning, in any crisis. And the newer crew have to know that they are equal with you, that you’re all on the same footing.” She paused again; they were listening intently—not rejecting it, but not yet completely convinced.

“Look,” she said. “You are my oldest crew; we’ve been through a lot. I can never forget that, I trust you and respect you at a level the others still have to earn. But I can’t treat you differently and be fair to them.”

Lee nodded, as did Mehar. Lee raised his hand this time before blurting out anything; Ky nodded.

“I understand that,” he said. “And—I guess—I understand the need to change. But…I’m not sure I can change, and I sure don’t know how fast.”

“Good points,” Ky said. “Here’s what I want to do. I’ve spoken to some of the military side about what might help you transition with as little difficulty as possible. You’ll all need to do some physical training and some cross-training in other specialties. You’ll all need to start learning, if you haven’t, the correct procedures, in the military sense. The parameters have narrowed; I’ll be pickier about precision; I’ll be pickier about discipline. I want you to get to know the fighting crew, not stay aloof from them. Lee, I know you’ve partied with them—” Chuckles broke out, relaxing some of the tension. “You don’t have to like them all, but you need to know them.”

“Er…what if they…,” Mehar started. Ky looked at her. “Sorry,” Mehar said. “Captain, if I may?” Ky nodded. “Some of them…they’ve made remarks…personal…”

“That will stop. I’ve told them. No hazing, none of that. It happens in basic training, but this isn’t standard basic training and we don’t have time for it. I’ve made up a cube with some of the procedural stuff for you—for instance, if someone makes an unwanted sexual advance, there’s a procedure for reporting it. There will be consequences.” Mehar had stood beside her in that corridor when she and Mehar together had killed the mutineer leaders; when Gary Tobai died. She was not about to tolerate anyone hassling Mehar.

“Another thing. No questioning orders, at least not without first asking permission, and never in action. That’s going to be hard for some of you in particular.” She gave Lee a grin; he smiled back, sheepishly. “But there are reasons, among them gaining the trust of the military bridge crew. They have to know that you do what you’re told first, and ask questions later. And yes, before you ask, there’s room for initiative and all that—but not now. Clear?”

Nods, murmured combination of “Yes, ma’am,” and “Yes, Captain.”

“Here’s the cube,” Ky said, handing them out. “Take it and look at it, first thing. If any of you change your mind and want out, either after looking at it or after trying the training, just let me know. I will always respect you and the service you’ve already given me—and Vatta—no matter what you decide.”

More nods.

“Dismissed,” Ky said. They all looked startled, but began moving out. “Lee, just wait a moment, would you?” Lee, Hugh had pointed out, was a critical person; he had been operating in a semi-military role for a long time now, and his cooperation and leadership would help with the crew transition—if he could stand the discipline.

“Sure, Captain,” Lee said. Then he pulled himself into an exaggerated version of “attention” and said, “Am I supposed to stand like this when I talk to you?”

Part willing, part resenting. Ky shook her head. “No, certainly not all the time. Lee, when my father sent you out as second pilot under Riel, you were starting to get bored, weren’t you?” He had told her that once.

“Yes, Captain,” he said, relaxing slightly but still more formal than usual for him. His hand twitched; she knew he wanted to run it through his hair, as he often did while they talked.

“And you told me you actually enjoyed the excitement, that being with a privateer didn’t bother you at all, right?”

“Right, Captain.”

“Lee, you have a lot of potential. I think so, and Hugh thinks so. You already know how to use small arms; you’ve already shown yourself to be brave and resourceful. But I can’t tell how much the tighter discipline will bother you. Some very brave and resourceful people just don’t handle it well. Give me a clue.”

Lee’s stiff posture relaxed still more. “Honestly—I don’t know, Captain. I always kind of hankered after the hero-stuff I saw in entertainment vids, imagined myself as a space ranger type, but I knew it wasn’t realistic. And the villains were usually the ones hyped on discipline, all that standing in stiff rows and saluting and barking
yes sir, no sir, immediately sir
like trained animals.”

“Um. And if you keep thinking of military discipline in those terms, it will be harder for you and you will resent it. Tell me, do you think my Exec is competent?”

“Hugh? He’s brilliant!”

“So, if he tells you to do something, how likely is he to be right?”

“Hasn’t been wrong yet,” Lee said. Then he blinked. “Oh. But I always ask, don’t I? Or nearly always?”