She looked down and shook her head. 'It does happen. This certainly isn't the first time. No one gets a reward for stopping a program in its tracks, Paul. No one in government gets thanked for killing a program, and no one in industry gets bonuses for finding big problems with something that's already over-budget and behind schedule. They try to bury the evidence and wave the program though and cross their fingers. I'd never do it. Your father wouldn't. But there are sometimes people who will. I'm afraid the sailors on the Maury aren't the first victims of that sort of thing, and they won't be the last. Buyer beware, Paul. It applies to the military, too.'
'I won't forget that.'
'Is Jen with you?'
'Yes. Uh, you remember that thing you asked me about earlier, Mom?'
'What thing?'
'The are-you-already-engaged thing.'
'Oh. That thing.'
'Yes, um…'
As Paul hesitated, Jen pushed her way in front of the phone. 'I said yes. We're engaged, ma'am. Surprise!'
Paul's mother's smile got a little brighter. 'I'm not all that surprised. Welcome to the family.' Julia Sinclair paused for just a moment. 'And no more ma'am, please. From now on, just call me 'Commander.'' She laughed. 'I've waited so long to say that to a daughter-in-law!'
'I'm going to out-rank you someday, Commander.'
'Oh, no, you won't! Seniority will stay firmly with me, young lady. In perpetuity. The governing instruction for mothers-in-law lays it out very clearly.'
'I've never seen that instruction.'
'You won't need it for a while. Paul, I'll let your father know the good news.'
Paul looked at Jen after he'd broken the connection. 'And they lived happily ever after.' He wasn't sure himself how much he was joking.
She laughed. 'Oh, yeah. That sounds just like you and me. Right now, all we have to do is find out a time when your and my father's ships are both in port, I'm here as well, your parents can make it up to Franklin again, and anyone else we really want to have at the wedding also can be here.'
Paul exhaled. 'Maybe if we put that problem to the fleet scheduling mainframes they can come up with a solution. Eventually.'
'It'll probably take a while.' Jen checked her data unit, biting her lower lip in concentration. 'As long as we can find a four-hour long window where everybody's available, I say we go for it.'
'Yeah. I guess that'll be the hardest part of setting up the wedding.'
Jen stared at him for a moment. 'No,' she finally stated. 'Not even close. Think of it as a military exercise, Paul. A big one. With lots of things to set up and coordinate.'
'Oh.' Paul grinned. 'Maybe we ought to give it a code name, then. How about Operation Wedded Bliss?'
'Gag.'
'Operation Hazardous Endeavor?'
'Eh.'
'Operation Come Hell or High Water?'
Jen smiled. 'Perfect. But there's something else I have to do right now. Is the Maury 's crew still billeted in the barracks near the shipyard?'
He nodded. 'Are you going now?'
'I need to report for duty, Paul. Back to my command.'
'Remember, they didn't go after you, Jen.'
'Except for Taber.'
'Except for Taber. But you've just had murder charges against you thrown out. We don't want to go through another court-martial.'
'Nah. Taber's not worth it.'
'The Maury 's crew supported you. Captain Halis stood by you.'
'I know. But, heck, if even I started having doubts-' She gave him a demanding look. 'I didn't say that.'
'I already knew, Jen.'
'How?'
'I wasn't the only person who believed in you. Some of them gave me good advice.'
'I will get the details of that out of you, Mr. Sinclair.' Jen grinned again. 'Hey, want to come along with me and see the faces of my shipmates when I waltz in?'
'That'd be fun. I'd better check with my department head, though.' Paul made another call.
Commander Garcia looked out of sorts, though for what particular reason this time, if any, Paul couldn't tell. 'We heard. Sure. Take the rest of the day off. It's not like there's any work that needs done.' Garcia looked slightly to the side. 'There's a meeting at 1500 you need to be at. Be back on the Michaelson by then. You can take off until… no. There's a contractor coming aboard at 1400 and you have to be there. Until… no. The XO wants a training records review and I need your input. You'd better get back by 1300 to take care of that.' His eyes shifted. 'Glad to hear about Shen.'
'Thank you, sir.' Paul looked over at Jen. 'I have the rest of the day off. Until 1300.'
'Wow. A day off that's an hour and a half long. You guys on the Michaelson have it easy.'
'Hey, we're space warfare officers.' She began walking toward the dock area and Paul paced her. 'Jen. There's something I've wondered.'
'What's that?'
'It's very personal.'
She gave him a wry grin. 'I'd say you've earned the right to ask me a very personal question.'
'Do you ever cry?'
Jen walked on silently for a moment before answering. 'The last time I cried was the day my mother died.'
Paul nodded. 'I understand.'
'Satisfied that I'm human?'
'Yes. Of course.' You just never want to show it. I saw the wall Jen's built around herself crack while she was in the brig. Am I going to be able to handle it if and when it breaks?
Oblivious to his thoughts, Jen smiled again. 'Then pick up the pace, Mr. Sinclair. We've both got a lot of work to do.'
