'You're tired, you're easily distracted, you lose focus, and-with the greatest respect, sir-I don't think you're… I don't think you are handling the squadron the way you used to. Today was a good example. We were lucky, damn lucky, that only three Hammer heavy cruisers waited for us. We knew we had a problem, but we ignored it. We should have taken the time to make another reconsat run, but we didn't even though we had all the time in the world. That was wrong, sir, and it risked this ship and the lives of all onboard. It's not the first time, either. The Barcoola operation. Grendell and Tyrlathi before that. Too many chances taken, too many corners cut. I'm sorry, sir, but this cannot go on.'
'Shit, Jayla,' Michael muttered. 'Now, that's what I call speaking freely.'
'Well, sir, I'm your executive officer, and I did ask your permission,' she said. 'I have a duty to be straight with you, and I wouldn't be much of an exec if I wasn't.'
'True,' Michael said, wondering how to fix a situation fast spinning out of control. He understood Ferreira well enough to know she was worked up about something right now, and he was that something.
A long and uncomfortable silence followed before Ferreira spoke. 'I've checked Fleet Regulations, sir'-her voice hardened into a flat monotone-'and specifically section 34, subsection 15, Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Officer.'
'Ah,' Michael said. 'I see.'
And he did. He knew where this was heading. One part of him wanted to rip Ferreira's head off, another wanted to tell her to do whatever the hell she liked, and a third wanted to curl up in some dark corner until the demons went away. Truth was, he did not know himself how much longer he could go on. The unseen burden on his shoulders was killing him, and now that Ferreira knew something was wrong, the load was close to unbearable.
'May I continue, sir?'
'Yes, yes. Go on,' Michael said.
'Well, sir. We both know what my responsibilities are. 3415 is clear. If I have reasonable doubts-'
Michael raised a hand to stop her. 'I know, Jayla,' he said. 'I know what 3415 says. If you have reasonable doubts about my fitness for command, you are obliged to report that fact to the relevant authorities. It is your duty. I understand that.'
A long silence followed before Ferreira spoke again.
'I will, sir,' she said. 'I'm sorry, but I will meet my obligations under 3415. This cannot go on because if it does, well… ah, let's say that I think there is a better way.'
'Well, then,' Michael said, rubbing eyes gritty with stress, 'I suppose… I suppose I'd better tell you what the problem is.'
Ferreira looked right at him, eyes narrowed, mouth set in a stubborn line that brooked no dissent. 'Yes, sir,' she said. 'I think you should.'
Michael sighed, a sigh of capitulation, a sigh of resignation, the sigh of a sinner brought to repentance. 'Okay, okay, I will,' he said. 'Watch this. It's a personal vidmail I received from one of my Hammer friends. It's self- explanatory.'
'Okay, sir,' Ferreira said, face screwed up into a look of pure bewilderment.
'Here we go, then,' he said comming the vidmail file to the bulkhead-mounted holovid screen.
A man appeared, dressed in the black high-necked uniform and woven silver badges of a senior DocSec officer, a thin smile doing nothing to soften a face dominated by eyes of pale, washed-out amber.
'What the hell?' Ferreira hissed softly.
Michael's heart pounded, kicked into frantic life by an ugly mix of fear and hatred. He could never forget the eyes of a man devoid of compassion, the eyes of a killer, the eyes of a man who had seen so much suffering that he had lost all capacity to care.
Ferreira sat transfixed, silent, unmoving, eyes locked on the holovid screen as the man started to speak.
'Hello, Lieutenant Helfort, or may I call you Michael?' the black-uniformed man said. 'Do you remember me? Yes, I'm sure you do, but just in case you've forgotten, I'm Colonel Erwin Hartspring, Doctrinal Security, Section 22. You made me look like such a fool the last time we met, so I've certainly not forgotten you. I know you think we Hammers are a bunch of clods, but we're not. So when an opportunity as good as Lieutenant Anna Cheung falls into our laps, we know what to do with it. She made a big mistake, talking about you openly the way she does.
'So, Michael,' Hartspring continued, 'we know how you feel about Lieutenant Cheung, and since we've been having such trouble getting to you what with all those damned security drones, we decided it would be much easier if you came to us. Our chief councillor is so insistent. He wants to shake your hand before we… well, let's leave that bit to your imagination, shall we?
'So this is what I propose, Helfort,' the man said, 'and it's nonnegotiable, so don't waste time or energy trying to wriggle out of it. You've got three months to present yourself to our embassy on Scobie's World. Three months. If you're even a day late, just one, the first Lieutenant Cheung will know about this little plan of mine is when I collect her from her cozy little prisoner of war camp for handover to some of my more… now, let me see, how can I put it? Um… yes… for handover to some of my more high-spirited and energetic troopers for a week of fun and games. They've seen holovids of her, and let me tell you, they are very, very keen for the party to start. They love the way Fed women are so perfect, and I must say your Anna is one of the prettiest. They can hardly wait. Did I mention that there'll be ten of my boys at the party? No? Oh, well, now you know. Anyway, I don't think she'll look quite so attractive when the week's over, so I think I'll send her to one of my firing squads.
'Of course, by then she'll be begging to die, so having her shot is not much of a threat, but I mention it just so you have the full picture. I think I might even command the firing squad myself. It will be fun to watch the single most important person in your life die. Ah, revenge; it is such a sweet thing. And yes, talking of watching, I forgot. We'll have holocams film every minute of the last week of Lieutenant Cheung's life. I'll be sure to send you a copy. I think you'll enjoy it. I know I will. So there it is. Just so we're absolutely clear, our embassy on Scobie's World in three months or Anna dies a death you do not even want to think about. I'll be waiting for you, so be sure to ask for me.
'Oh, what the hell. As you know, I'm not an unreasonable man, Michael. I know it's going to be hard for you to get to Scobie's, so why don't we say October 1? I think that's only fair, don't you? But do not be late, d' you hear?
'Before I go, there is one last condition, so pay attention. Do not even think about telling anyone about this little arrangement of ours. Nobody. Because the minute we find out you've opened your big mouth-and we will-the deal's off and Lieutenant Cheung will be starting the party with my troopers early. You can trust me on that, Michael. Anyway, that's it from me. Looking forward to seeing you real soon. Bye, now.'
Ferreira sat back in her chair, her face twisted into a mask of shock and anger. For a while she struggled to speak.
'Those Hammer bastards,' she said at last. 'You think they'd do that?'
'Hand the woman I love over to a bunch of psychopathic DocSec troopers for a gang-rape party followed by a firing squad?' Michael said, his face creased with pain. 'Oh, yes, Jayla, oh, yes. I think they'd do that. I know the man in the holovid. Colonel Erwin Hartspring is exactly as you see him.' Without knowing it, Michael ran his fingers across his cheek, where Hartspring's riding crop had slashed his face open all those months before. 'I think he'd throw his own mother to those DocSec animals if it suited him.'
'Sweetjeezus,' Ferreira whispered. 'So what… what happens next? What will you do?'
'What can I do?' Michael said. 'Without the right orders, I can't even get off Nyleth, never mind get all the way to Scobie's. I'm screwed, Jayla, and because of me, Anna will die a death worse than your worst nightmares, a death so horrific you don't even want to think about it.'
Ferreira nodded but said nothing. The silence dragged on for an age before she spoke again. 'Tell you what, sir,' she said when she climbed out of the armchair. 'Leave the problem with me. I'll have a think about it. In the meantime, I'm exercising my authority as Redwood's medical officer to order you to take a day's bed rest. I'll have a medibot come and check you out, prescribe something that will at least allow you to get some sleep. I'll run the hot wash-up and have the report for you to look at when you're ready to deal with it. That okay?'
'Fine by me, Jayla,' Michael said, his voice flattened into a monotone. 'That's fine by me.'
'Good. I'll see you tomorrow.' Ferreira halted at the door and turned back to look at Michael. 'Thanks for telling me, sir. I'm glad you did. Maybe we can find a way to sort this mess out.'
'I hope so, Jayla,' Michael said, his face a wooden mask. Unburdening himself to Ferreira had lifted his spirits,
