Virtues of War (5 page)

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ve convinced the Parliamentary defense committee to use one of our own to lead the investigation,” Chandler continued, “since civilians don’t have the expertise to know where to look. They wouldn’t allow a combatant—too close to the decision-making—but they accepted my suggestion of a senior support officer.”

Thomas listened carefully. He wasn’t a support officer—unless Chandler intended to bury him in the rear echelon. He wasn’t a senior officer either—again, unless Chandler had plans…

“The careers of a lot of people can be made or broken by this war,” Chandler concluded. “The last thing we need is for the politicians to start blaming my expeditionary force. I need this problem to go away. Fast.”

“I understand, sir,” Thomas said slowly, trying very hard not to look at Chandler’s new admiral’s rank. Thinking quickly, he lined up his pitch. “I think I might be able to help.”

“Oh?”

“As I understand it, there’s been a program established to conduct in-depth research on the Dark Bomb, and I’ve also heard that the research isn’t going very well.” At that Chandler stiffened almost imperceptibly, but his voice remained neutral.

“Of course there’s research underway,” he said cautiously. “We need to develop that big stick to keep the Centauris in line, in case they decide to get ambitious again. As to how it’s going, that’s a problem for some fat admiral in the Research Squadron.”

Chandler had already maneuvered himself to be assigned the head of the project, Thomas knew. Aside from combat, it would be the most effective career-builder in years.

“No doubt,” Thomas agreed, “and I’m sure, sir, that the Research admiral is supervising it to the best of his ability.” Chandler shot him an appreciative smile. “But I’ve heard from the inside that things aren’t going well, and I think I might have a solution.”

“I’d expect little else.” Chandler’s smile faded, but his bemused expression did not. “I always taught you to come, not with problems, but with solutions.”

Thomas nodded. “The problem, sir, is the ship in question.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “The
Neil Armstrong
is missing a key element of her command team—the XO. They have a captain who’s been Research his whole career, a science officer who’s just recently been promoted from the ranks, and a cox’n close to retirement. They need a strong, capable XO to go in there, motivate the team, and get the research back on track.” He paused, then went in for the kill.

“They have enough scientists on board already. In my opinion, this officer should be from Fleet, so he can instill some discipline. Ideally he’d have experience in their field of research, so he can effectively guide them despite his lack of scientific qualifications.”

“And where, Thomas, would we find such an officer?” Chandler clasped his hands behind his back.

“I respectfully submit my name, sir. I’m qualified, currently idle, and I have a personal interest in this. It was my technical submission to your staff back in Centauria that prompted the Dark Bomb mission—one which I personally commanded.”

Chandler looked him over for a moment, his expression intensifying but still glinting with good humor.

“You realize that the XO of an explorer-class Research ship usually holds the rank of commander?” he responded. “I doubt I could conjure up a promotion without causing some serious political ripples.”

Thomas had anticipated this response. “Perhaps it could just be a temporary assignment, from
Rapier
. I’d keep my appointment to Lieutenant Commander, which would give me all the authority I need to take charge. When the research is moving well again, Astral HQ can decide whether to post me there permanently or assign a more qualified officer. Either way, we’ll have achieved our primary mission of getting the Dark Bomb research back on track.”

Chandler glanced around again. “I’m impressed, Thomas, and you’re right. The program’s not off to a good start. The fat bastard who’s in charge of those eggheads has already started bragging about how Research is going to develop Terra’s newest weapon. He’s already calling it ‘the Peacemaker.’” He practically spat the word. “He’s trying to take control of the project, or at least take credit for it.”

Thomas quickly searched his memory. The head of the Research Squadron was an Admiral Bush, and he was indeed somewhat overweight.

“I’ve been able to secure the project director position for one of our people,” Chandler continued, “reporting directly to me, and I think I’ve been able to get at least one other member of your crew posted to
Armstrong
.”

Katja?
Thomas’s heart tightened in his chest. “As XO, sir, I’d be able to ensure that Expeditionary Force 15 is fully recognized for our part in developing and deploying that weapon.”

Chandler nodded. “I’ll get you out there. Don’t let those Research monkeys claim our discovery as their own. The Dark Bomb is our best defense against that Fleet Marshall Investigation.”

Message received
, Thomas thought to himself. He was being used as a pawn for now, but Chandler had the power to make great things happen in the future. “Thank you, sir. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good.” Chandler nodded. “You’ll get your orders in the next day or two. Until then, go find that beautiful wife of yours.” With a hearty slap on the arm, he strode off.

Thomas glanced around. Soma was nowhere to be seen, and there was no one nearby worth speaking to.

Unconsciously at first—or so he convinced himself—he moved toward Katja. Sidling up to a respectful distance, he watched as a reporter asked her father what appeared to be a concluding question. All eyes were on the patriarch, except for Katja’s sister who gave Thomas another, longer glance. She was pretty, he had to admit, and more high-fashion than Katja’s blunt, no-nonsense style.

He broke her gaze, reminding himself that he was a married man, and focused instead on the reporter, Chuck Merriman, one of the major war correspondents for ANL. He was impressed that the Emmes family rated so significant a media resource—just a further reminder of the efforts the military was undertaking to bolster its image.

The interview concluded, and Merriman’s cameraman gave the all-clear. As one, the members of the Emmes family relaxed and shifted apart, shattering the cozy family image. Katja muttered something to her sister and craned her neck to look through the crowd. Her eyes froze when they reached Thomas.

He smiled and gave her a little wave. Despite his desire to speak to her, he felt his confidence suddenly waver.

She hesitated, eyes locked on him. Her face was stoic, and he felt himself growing tense. Their farewell had been friendly and professional, but that didn’t mean everything had been resolved.

Finally she stalked over and reached out.

“Lieutenant Commander Kane—good evening.”

“Hi, Katja,” he said as he took her tiny hand in his, trying to put as much affection into the shake as he could. “It’s nice to see you.” She held his grip for a long time, the depths of her dark eyes unreadable. Her lips were pursed tight.

As the silence became awkward, Chuck Merriman approached. Thomas released her hand and smiled automatically for the newsman. Merriman’s attention, however, was on Katja.

“Lieutenant Emmes, a moment?” A wry grin lit up his features. “Or, if you prefer,
Miss
Katja? I don’t often get surprises like that.” It seemed a very strange thing to say, but she relaxed visibly, and looked up at the reporter with the best coy expression Thomas had ever seen from her.

“A woman needs to be able to surprise, Mr. Merriman,” she responded. “How else can the news be interesting?”

Merriman’s casual amusement expertly covered his searching gaze, Thomas noticed. He doubted anything was ever truly “off the record” with this reporter.

“It’s kind of fun to be surprised, actually,” Merriman said, and he shrugged. “I thought there was something different about you that day, but I didn’t make the connection. I guess your beautiful hair led me astray.”

Katja brushed her hair out of her face, the awkward motion revealing how unused she was to doing so. Thomas had only ever known her with a cropped halo, and this new look was fascinating.

“If that’s all it takes, Mr. Merriman, you must get distracted often.”

The reporter laughed again. “If it’s all right, I’d like to do some follow-up interviews with you. The public love human interest stories, and I think a series of pieces following the lives of three serving family members would really be inspiring.”

She hesitated, but only for a moment.

“All right,” she said, “but I’m not sure where I’m posted next.”

“That’s fine. My network will liaise with the Astral Force, and I’ll find you.”

“Well, if I stumble across you again, then I’ll know that it’s permissible to speak to you—and I’ll even use my full name.”

He thanked her with a winning smile then nodded to Thomas. “Sorry for interrupting, Lieutenant Commander.”

Thomas watched Merriman retreat and turned back to Katja.

“He’s right. You do look beautiful.”

Her expression immediately hardened.

“Don’t start with me, Kane.”

He paused. “Sorry,” he responded. “I just meant that I like your new hairstyle. Are you going to keep it?”

Her tone lightened. “I doubt it.”

“Not too useful under a helmet, I guess.”

“I guess.” She seemed to sag a bit. This wasn’t the Katja he knew. He began watching her carefully.

“You said to Merriman that you don’t know where you’re posted yet. I figured your regiment would get some down time, after the last year.”

“They’re being reinforced, and are getting ready to deploy as peacekeepers to another colony.”

“Wow. No rest for the wicked.”

“I’m not going.”

He blinked. Katja turning down an operational tour? A grim suspicion began to form in his mind. “Have you been posted to another unit?”

She glanced over her shoulder, toward her family. None were within earshot, but she stepped in very close to him, barely lifting her eyes.

“I’ve been deemed unfit for a combat unit. I’ve been buried in an admin backwater until I sort myself out.” Her eyes suddenly shone with moisture and she dropped her gaze. “But how can I sort myself out, sitting around here on Earth when every day I get closer to killing one of these damn civilians?”

Her words solidified his growing suspicion, and suddenly he saw her with new clarity. The deep fatigue in her shoulders propped up by sheer will, the haunted fog in her eyes, the terrible emotion so close to the surface. This was not a healthy Katja Emmes standing in front of him.

He remembered his own state of mind when he’d returned from his first combat tour. The Astral Force worked hard to take care of its troopers, but only if they were willing to be helped.

“It’s a tough adjustment to make,” he said, “coming home the first time. Did you get any treatment from the docs?”

“I’m drugged right now, Thomas.”

And that couldn’t continue indefinitely, he knew. She needed to stay busy, in uniform. “Think of your admin posting as a break. With the way things are going, they’ll have plenty of work for you on the front line, soon enough.”

She considered in silence, then nodded. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Right about what?” another voice asked, approaching rapidly from behind.

Thomas turned, and nearly stumbled as Soma stepped up and threw an arm around his waist. Her large eyes bore into Katja. He slipped his arm over her shoulders and held her close, taking a champagne flute from the server who had been carrying a tray in Soma’s wake. He handed it to her and smiled.

“Just talking shop,” he said. “Nothing interesting. This is one of my officers I was telling you about. Lieutenant Katja Emmes. Lieutenant, please allow me to introduce my wife, Soma.”

Katja’s face shifted into a smiling mask, a single tremble marring her bottom lip. Soma disengaged from him and gently pressed her hand against Katja’s shoulder, kissing the air just next to her cheeks.

“Thomas has told me so much about you, Lieutenant Emmes, but he never mentioned how beautiful you are.” Her smile was broad, but her eyes were carefully level.

Katja’s smile didn’t shift. “He spoke often of your beauty, Mrs. Kane, but I see now how inadequate his words were.” She dropped her eyes quickly. “I don’t mean to intrude, and I should probably get back to my family.”

Soma returned to her position against Thomas. “How nice to meet you.”

Katja gave him a curt nod. “A pleasure, sir.”

Thomas took the second drink from the waiting server and clinked his wife’s glass.

“To a happy day.”

She smiled and drank, but her gaze surveyed the crowd.

“Oh, there’s Chuck!” she said. “We have to say hello.” She took his hand and led him toward where Chuck Merriman was chatting with his cameraman. The reporter looked up immediately at their approach. His broad smile returned, and he stepped forward to kiss Soma’s cheeks.

“Well, hello, gorgeous,” he said. “Who let you onto the planet?” Soma smacked him lightly on the chest and nestled in against Thomas again.

“I married my way on,” she replied. “That’s how everyone’s doing it these days.”

Merriman’s eyes focused on Thomas, and shifted momentarily toward Katja’s departing form before returning. He extended his hand.

“We haven’t formally met… Chuck Merriman.”

“Thomas Kane. I didn’t know my wife was so newsworthy.” He gave her a playful squeeze. “Do you have a past I should know about, dear?”

She laughed. “Chuck and I go way back. Where did we first meet—Mars, somewhere?”

He shrugged. “Who knows? I’d say it was a long time ago, but that’s impossible because you’re so young.” She laughed again, then toasted him with her champagne flute before downing it.

“Chuck, you should do a piece on Thomas,” she said. “He’s a hero from the war.”

“I’d be happy to.” He gave Thomas an appraising look. “What was your role?” The suddenness of it took him off-guard, but Thomas easily summoned his best look of heroic humility.

“I commanded one of our fast-attack craft. It—” Suddenly Soma interrupted him.