The Service of the Sword

young man had studied naval affairs just as thoroughly and relentlessly as he did everything else. If so, he'd understand perfectly well that a single superdreadnought attached to a flotilla the size of Admiral Chin's would be outmatched in the event of—ah, 'internal hostilities.' Especially since—Jesus, is he possibly this Machiavellian?— Cachat had also seen to it that the internal security squads for both superdreadnoughts were now composed of Marines and StateSec troops who got along well with Marines.

While . . . 

Jesus Christ. He is that Machiavellian. Now that I think about it, by transferring all the worst elements from the SDs over to the task force, he's split them up and scattered them over three dozen different ships. With no way to communicate with each other, and . . . surrounded by Navy and Marine ratings who'd hammer them into a pulp cheerfully—or shoot them dead—if Chin or Cachat gave the order. 

Which leaves . . . 

He couldn't help it. A little groan forced its way through Yuri's lips.

Cachat frowned. 'What's this, Citizen Assistant Special Investigator Radamacher? Surely you're not objecting to a new assignment? You just got through assuring me your health had recovered sufficiently.'

'Yes. But—'

His mind raced wildly. Cachat was a lunatic. Lunatic, lunatic, lunatic!

Yuri took a deep breath and tried to settle down. 'Let me see if I understand you properly, Citizen Special Investigator. You're relieving me from my duties as a commissioner in order to serve as your assistant. And since I assume you will be accompanying the task force in its mission—'

'That's essential.' Cachat snapped the words. 'I must oversee the operation of this entire combined StateSec and Naval force. In action, which is where it belongs. If nothing else, I intend to make sure that this important unit of the People's Republic is doing its duties properly and according to regulations. Which I can't possibly accomplish while everybody is lolling about in orbit twiddling their thumbs. There is no Manticoran threat to La Martine posed in the near future beyond commerce-raiding, so leaving a single SD on station in the capital should be more than sufficient to maintain order here.'

He bestowed two piercing dark eyes upon Yuri. 'The more so if the investigation on the Hector Van Dragen is concluded in my absence by a capable subordinate. You do have an excellent service record, Citizen StateSec Officer Radamacher. Now that any questions concerning your loyalty or possible involvement in the Jamka affair are resolved, I see no reason you can't accomplish the task quite successfully.'

Cachat shrugged, as if moderately embarrassed to say the next words. 'I dare say I've already rooted out the worst of the corruption and slackness aboard this ship. So all that really remains for you to do is oversee Citizen Captain Gallanti—'

She's going to love THAT! Yuri quailed a bit at the thought of Gallanti's temper.

'—and rigorously pursue whatever remaining traces of corruption and slackness you might uncover. To that end, I'll be leaving you the best of the new security units I've managed to put together. The best StateSec security teams—most of them from the task force, naturally, since the rot had festered too long here on the SDs— along with Citizen Major Lafitte and his Marines. I should think that would be sufficient.'

That'll mean Ned Pierce will still be around. Thank God for that. I'll need his shoulder to cry on. 

There didn't seem anything he could say. So, he simply nodded his head.

'Good.' Cachat turned to leave, his hand on the door latch. Citizen Commissioner Justice began to follow, but not before giving Yuri a quick smile. Almost a shy smile, somehow, which was odd. Sharon Justice was normally a very self-assured woman.

The smile, even on lips still puffy from her beating, made Yuri's heart lift. Even more, the warmth in her brown eyes.

A sudden realization jolted him.

'Ah—Citizen Special Investigator?'

Cachat turned back around. 'Yes?'

Radamacher cleared his throat. 'I simply wanted to make sure my understanding of regulations is clear. As an assistant now attached to your office, I believe I am no longer in the task force's chain of command. Is that correct?'

'Of course,' replied Cachat curtly. 'How could it be otherwise? You report to me, and I report to State Security HQ in Nouveau Paris. How could we possibly be responsible to the same chain of command we're investigating?' Impatiently: 'An officer of your experience simply can't be that ignorant of basic—'

He broke off. Then, glanced quickly at Sharon Justice. Then—

Yuri couldn't quite believe it, but . . . Cachat was actually blushing. For a moment, the young man looked like a schoolboy.

The moment didn't last long. Abruptly, as if summoned, the fanatic-face shield closed down. Cachat's next words were spoken in a very impatient tone of voice.

'If this involves a personal matter, Citizen Assistant Investigator Radamacher, it is no concern of mine so long as no regulations are broken.'

He seemed to grope; the first time Yuri had ever seen the SI at a loss for words. Then, concluded in a half-mumble:

'I have pressing business. Citizen Commissioner Justice, the task force will be leaving orbit very shortly. I'll expect you to report for duty on time. Say, an hour from now.'

He opened the door—flung it open, more like—slipped through, and was gone. Closing it firmly behind him.

Yuri stared at Sharon. Her smile now seemed as shy as a schoolgirl's herself. He suspected his own did likewise.

What to say? How to say it? After three years of scrupulously never crossing the line. 

And in an hour?! A lousy HOUR?! Cachat, you bastard! 

Sharon broke the impasse. The shy smile dissolved into a throaty chuckle, and all her normal self- assurance seemed to return.

'What a mess, eh, Yuri? We're both way too old—too dignified, too, especially you—to just hop into bed.' She eyed the cabin's narrow bed skeptically. 'Leaving aside the fact that neither of us have our youthful slender figures left. We'd probably fall off halfway through—and I don't know about you, but I'm still way too bruised to want another set just yet.'

'I think you look gorgeous,' Yuri stated firmly. Well. Croaked firmly.

Sharon grinned and took him by the hand. 'An hour's only an hour, so let's use it wisely. Let's talk, Yuri. Just talk. I think we both need it desperately.'

They didn't just talk. Before the hour was up, there'd been a clinch or three tossed into the mix—and a very passionate goodbye kiss when it finally came time for Sharon to leave, bruised lips or not. But, mostly, they talked. Yuri never remembered much of the conversation afterward, although he always swore it was the most scintillating conversation he'd ever had in his life.

What was most important, though, was that after Sharon left and Yuri took stock of his situation, he realized that for the first time in years he felt just great. And, being by nature a cautious man but not a coward, was also sensible enough to ride that feeling out into the corridors and through the labyrinth