'You were the military-history major, not me,' Sharon replied.
'Something just doesn't set right with the way things are right now,' Wallace continued. 'We haven't seen hide nor hair of the Seppies since the Battle of the Oort. President Moore has been doing his best to fight the idiots in Congress to build up the fleet, but that has been slow and marginal. You know that Ahmi hasn't had the same problem dealing with her constituents.'
'If she did, she'd have them killed. Or do it herself. She's a bloodthirsty bitch, that one,' Sharon agreed.
'We better get ready. I think America is in for the culmination of the last hundred years of strife between the Martian working class, the colonists, and the manifest-destiny explorers.'
'Yeah, I believe it is coming sooner than we realize, but who knows? God help us is all I can say. But the Seppies haven't been in a shooting war for the same amount of time, either.' Sharon finished her drink and sat it back down at the edge of Wallace's desk.
'Good point. Want another?'
'No, Admiral, I'm on duty. I've got to get back to the
'Yeah, me, too. Did you want to meet the First Daughter while you're here?'
'No, thanks, I just don't have time. And stop being such a Wally-worry-wart, Admiral, it'll give you heartburn, headaches, and hemorrhoids. We've got good troops, you and me. They'll do what has to be done to get the job done.' Sharon stood up and saluted the two-star admiral. 'As always, a pleasure, Admiral Jefferson.'
'Right back at you, Admiral Walker.' Wallace returned the salute. He was slightly startled by a crackling and sizzling sound and a bright flash of white light, and then Sharon vanished from right in front of him. 'Goddamn, I'm never gonna get used to that.'
Chapter 8
July 1, 2394 AD
Mars Orbit, Sol System
Friday, 11:05 AM, Earth Eastern Standard Time
'Lieutenant Commander Buckley and Captain Harrison are here, Admiral.' The XO stood at ease in the hatch of the admiral's office.
'Come in, Larry, come in.'
Joe wasn't sure what all this was about other than the fact that he had been ordered to report to the CHENG and the XO as soon as he got the 'goddamned elevator back on line.' That had been the XO's exact words.
'At ease, gentlemen.' RADM Jefferson stood with a deadpan expression and his arms behind his back. Joe tried to relax just enough as not to look too at ease. Joe knew that the admiral liked him. Well, at least he thought he did. He had given the admiral every reason to like him. Hell, Joe's dad had sacrificed himself to save the ship for Captain Jefferson years ago. And then Joe had done nearly the same damned thing on his first day on the job. Hopefully, if there was some ass chewing about the elevator trick, then his past performance would soften it. And there was always the nagging fact that his antics helped them defeat the
'Sir.' He and Benny responded almost in harmony with each other. Benny's voice was a little more baritone than Joe's, and couldn't neither one of them carry a damned tune in a bucket.
'Benny, I have to tell you, your presence in the Engineering Room most certainly was missed today. Did you hear about all the crazy things that went on down there in the Engineering Room of my ship?'
'Aye, Admiral, I did,' Benny replied.
'Lieutenant Commander Joeseph Buckley Jr., what are we supposed to do with you?' The admiral turned from Benny to Joe. 'That trick with the elevator you pulled today, son, well, it was underhanded, and dirty pool. Let me tell you, Admiral Walker ain't none too happy about it, either. And the audacity of putting up the notice sign . . .'
'Sir.' Joe looked straight ahead and tried not to let his voice crack. 'Just following procedure for the elevator maintenance, Admiral.'
'Benny, what do you think
