Kas wondered how the man managed to get knife-edged creases in his shipsuit. Certainly the ship’s laundry facilities were not yet online. He straightened and returned the salute, inviting Wansung to sit. The man did, but still somehow managed to convey a feeling he’d be more comfortable standing at attention.
Wansung flashed him a blinding grin. “It’s a genuine honor to meet you, Commodore,” he began. “It’s about time one of us got a flag!”
Kas frowned. “One of us?”
Wansung’s head bobbed. “Sure. An outie. I was beginning to think the only way an outie would get flag rank would be by moving to the Alliance!” He favored Kas with another blinding grin.
Kas suppressed a groan. “Please,” he prayed silently to any god that happened by, “Not another damned bigot!”
He sighed. With an effort, he made his tone light and pleasant. “Tell me about yourself, Commander. You were one of the last to arrive at the base on Prime, and I didn’t have much time to review your record.”
Wansung responded with another crisp nod. “Yes, sir. I just got my third full ring three years ago.” He flushed slightly as he admitted, “I’m afraid this is my first assignment to a combatant vessel, unless you consider a planetary assault ship a combatant.” He shrugged. “I don’t. I mean, all they really are is a space bound truck hauling the real fighting troops to the battle.
“Aside from my last tour, as Exec on one of those, I had two tours on supply vessels. I’d almost given up hope of getting a combatant assignment, where I could really show what I could do. It’s getting so the innies keep all the good fighting assignments to themselves!” He continued in this vein for several moments, not noticing Kas’ increasingly stony expression. Finally, he ran down.
Kas sighed. “Very well, Commander. You will be assigned as Rekesh ’s Operations Officer. Now, your lack of combatant ship experience will be a problem, and I expect you to be using the strategic and tactical library and simulations frequently to hone your skills.”
They talked a bit more, and Kas began to relax. Wansung made no further comments that might be considered bigoted, and Kas began to wonder if the man had just imagined that stressing their common origins would be a good way to try to bond with his CO. If so, his judgment might be faulty, but at Least Kas wouldn’t have to worry about his treatment of innerworld crewpeople.
Kas began to relax a bit, but he was still uncomfortably aware that there were only two more Commanders. Despite his words at the meeting, Kas really didn’t want to appoint Rom to command Starhopper, and Wansung was simply too inexperienced. The freighter would be his scout, and operating largely independently. Kas wanted her to have the most qualified skipper available.
Kas looked at the woman on the other side of his desk, trying to recall all the details of the service record he’d seen on Prime. “Please be seated, Commander.”
Commander San To-Ling was the senior of the cold-sleep officers, which meant she was senior to everyone on the mission except Kas. Her last assignment had been as Executive Officer aboard Haroun Al-Rashid, a battle cruiser and sister ship to the Rekesh. Judging by her seniority, she was undoubtedly due for promotion to Captain. In fact, Kas suspected she was overdue. For the fiftieth time, he cursed the fact that he’d been unable to bring the crew’s service records.
Physically, To-Ling was a tiny, middle-aged woman. She certainly massed less than fifty kilos, and stood only about a meter and a half tall. But she stood ramrod straight, and her angular features betrayed a coldness and arrogance Kas felt as a physical force.
“Thank you, sir,” she replied, her tone making the last word a sneer. “I prefer to stand.”
Kas nodded. “Very well.” He frowned. “Tell me, Commander. Just what is it that makes you so hostile? Is it me personally, or is it just that I’m an outerworlder?”
To-Ling regarded him coldly. “May I speak freely, Commodore?”
Kas nodded again. “Please. And consider that permission to apply at any time when we’re alone.”
She suppressed a snort. “Very well, sir. To be honest, it’s both. I’ve never served under an outie before, and I’m not looking forward to the experience.” She shrugged. “Oh, I’ve known some outies that were very competent at their jobs. But I’ve never known one to be completely civilized.”
She hesitated before continuing, “And frankly, sir, an officer who would assault another officer, especially one senior to him, betrays a lack of self control I find appalling. I find it difficult to deal with the fact that this mission is commanded by an officer so… unmilitary.”
Kas paused before replying. Finally, he said, “Very well, I asked for honesty, and I’ve received it. I replaced Starhopper ’s exec because he was an outerworld bigot. Now it seems I must deal with an innerworld snob. I’ll merely content myself with asking who is more civilized — a person who deals with others based on who they are rather than where they’re from, or one who substitutes arrogance and stereotypes for judgment? I’ve always felt that being ‘civilized’ mostly consisted of making others feel comfortable in one’s presence — not assuming an unjustified air of superiority and using it to look down on those one considers ‘inferior’.
“As for your feelings about me personally,” he continued, “You may be surprised to learn that I agree with you. The episode to which you refer is not one of which I am proud; but I have no intention of defending myself or my actions to a subordinate. I will say only that it was an aberration — not typical behavior for me.
“Now. For good or ill, you are the senior Commander aboard. I can do three things with you; give you command of Starhopper, make you Flag Captain of Vir Rekesh, or retain command myself with you as exec.
“I’ve decided on the third alternative. Starhopper ’s crew is all outerworlder. I will not subject them to a skipper who considers them inferiors. For the same reason, I’m not going to appoint you Flag Captain. You’ve served as the exec of a cruiser before. You’ve done it well enough to retain the position. How you’ve been able to successfully do that despite being an arrogant snob and while retaining such silly prejudices, I confess I don’t understand. But by the time this mission is over, I will know whether you’re as effective as your manner indicates you think you are.”
He sighed. “Now, sit down, Commander, and let’s figure out how to make this ship as battle-ready as possible as quickly as possible.”
To-Ling reluctantly took a seat and for the next half hour they discussed the situation aboard the Rekesh. As their discussion continued her reluctant air slowly dissipated, and soon she was animated and enthusiastic. As long as the discussion remained professional, her snobbery was not evident. But as Kas brought the discussion to a close, her arrogance reasserted itself, and Kas shook his head as she stalked stiffly out of the room. San To-Ling was going to require watching.
The next officer summoned to Kas’ cabin was Var Ler-Traken, Kas’ next senior officer. Ler-Traken was the opposite of To-Ling. Tall and distinguished-looking, he could have been a vid star. But if anything, Ler-Traken seemed even more unhappy than To-Ling. With him it showed in a black scowl and growled surliness.
Kas sighed and briefly wished for the days when he had only the five crewmembers aboard Starhopper to concern him. “All right, Commander. You’ve made it obvious that you’re unhappy. Tell me about it. And you can be honest.”
The scowl faded slightly. “I’m sorry it shows so much, Commodore. But not very sorry. I was in transit when I was grabbed for this mission. I had orders to command of a destroyer, Harpy.”
Kas nodded. “And of course, such orders are usually followed shortly by promotion to Captain.” Ler-Traken nodded.
Kas sighed. “I’m sorry about that, Commander. But this mission is vital, and I won’t apologize for the best officers available being grabbed for it. I’m sure that if we succeed, the delay will be short. And of course, if we fail…”
A first, faint smile played across the handsome face. “If we fail, we won’t have to worry about it.”
Kas grinned and nodded. “Exactly. Now. As I recall your record, your last assignment was as Captain of a frigate.”
Ler-Traken nodded again. “Yes, sir. Sparrow. We were involved in that border skirmish at Snomish last year.”
Kas straightened. “Of course! You captured a Glory ‘pirate’ intact, right?”
Ler-Traken smiled grimly. “Yes, sir. Of course, she wasn’t a pirate. She was one of those corvettes the Glory bought about fifteen years ago. And that skipper was at least a Swordsir, even if the crew didn’t wear insignia.” The smile faded. “They booby-trapped the airlock, but we were ready for their tricks. When we got aboard without blowing the main fusactor, the crew suicided. The Glory claimed they were pirates, of course. But they had a harder
