War Of Honor

Office, it would be 'premature' to formulate new policy at this time. Which means that our traditional policy—that we aren't prepared to countenance any violations of Silesian territorial integrity by outside powers—remains in force. We're supposed to make that stand up . . . without, of course, provoking any confrontations with the Empire.'

'And if they want a confrontation with us?'

'In that case, we do the best we can.' Honor sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. 'To be completely honest, Rafe, what I'm afraid of is that the Government will continue to refuse to enunciate clearly and concisely what its intentions are for the benefit of Gustav XI. In the absence of clear, unambiguous signals from the Star Kingdom, he may just find himself encouraged to push even harder and further than he originally had in mind. And if that happens, we're going to find ourselves squarely in the path of a situation which can all too easily slide right out of control.'

'With all due respect, Ma'am, what in the world possessed you to accept this command? You know Silesia, probably better than ninety percent of the Navy's officer corps, much less the bureaucrats over at the Foreign Office. And you know the Andies, too. Unless they're ready to give you a lot bigger stick than anything I've seen yet suggests, we're going to come up mighty short if the Empire gets aggressive. And as you say, you and the Government aren't exactly on the same frequency.'

He started to say something more, then stopped himself, but Honor knew what he hadn't said.

'It's entirely possible that you're right,' she said quietly. 'I won't go so far as to say that anyone in the Government actively wants a major deterioration in our relations with the Empire. If that happens, though, I don't doubt that at least some members of the current Government would be less than displeased to find themselves in a position to hang me out to dry. But I can't just sit by and watch the wheels fall off. There are too many innocent bystanders, and we have a responsibility to the Sidemorians. For that matter, we have a responsibility to the Silesians, as well.'

'It's not your job to make the Star Kingdom's foreign policy make sense, Ma'am.'

From anyone Honor hadn't known so long and so well, that statement might have carried overtones of disapproval. From Cardones, she didn't even need her sensitivity to emotions to know he meant exactly the opposite. It wasn't disapproval of her egotistical assumption that she might somehow make a difference; it was concern that if she tried and failed, she would find herself caught in the gears.

'No, it's not,' she agreed. 'But it is my job to do what I believe is right, and what I think the Queen would expect one of her officers to do. Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing in the universe, and sometimes it carries consequences we shouldn't have to face. But no one said it would be easy, and if we can't take a joke, we shouldn't have joined.'

Cardones' mouth quirked in a smile at the hoary lower-deck proverb, and she smiled back crookedly.

'At the same time,' she said seriously, 'I'll understand if you have some reservations about accepting the flag captain's slot.' He started to reply quickly, but she raised her hand. 'I'm serious, Rafe. This could turn very ugly for everyone concerned. I believe you're still junior enough that no one's likely to be interested in making an example of you if things come completely apart. I can't guarantee that, though, and I want you to think very seriously about whether or not you're prepared to run that risk just because I think I'm a female reincarnation of Don Quixote.'

'I don't need to think about it at all, Ma'am,' he told her. 'You're probably right that no one's going to be looking to pin the blame on a lowly captain if it all falls into the crapper. But even if they were, I can think of lots worse company to be in. And you're also right that I don't remember anyone at Saganami Island telling me they paid us our lordly salaries for doing the easy jobs. If you're crazy enough to take this one on, I'd be honored to take it on along with you.'

'I knew you were going to say that,' she said. 'And I suppose I ought to be a little ashamed for having counted on it. But I'm not.'

'I should hope not. For that matter, it's probably your fault, now that I think about it,' he replied. 'There I was, a young and impressionable lieutenant, and you went and set a completely unrealistic example for me.' He shook his head mournfully. 'When I think of how much simpler my life might've been if I'd never gone to Basilisk Station with you it just completely exhausts me.'

'I don't know about simpler, but it probably would have been safer,' she said wryly. 'I don't think it's all my fault, though. You never were very smart about keeping your head down.'

'Now that's not fair, Ma'am,' he said severely. 'It's not that I'm not very smart about keeping my head down—it's just that I'm not very smart. Period.'

Honor chuckled, then lifted her stein in a brief salute. He responded in kind, and leaned back once more.

'Now that that's more or less settled, Ma'am, where do we go next?'

'I understand that Werewolf is just completing a refit cycle.' Honor made the statement a question, and he nodded.

'Yes, Ma'am. The yard dogs are supposed to turn us loose in about two weeks. I think we're going to run a little longer than that, though. All of the yard work dropped back to a slower tempo once the peace talks began, and it's dropped even further now that we've formally begun to build down our force levels.'

'I know. And to be honest, I'm not going to be upset if your refit does run a little over. My impression is that things are coming to a head in Silesia, but there's still some time in hand. I don't want to lose any time getting on station, but it's going to take the Admiralty the better part of a month to assemble the other reinforcements we're supposed to take out to Sidemore with us, anyway.'

'I'm glad to hear it,' he said frankly, 'because I was sweating it just a little, actually.'

'No flag captain wants her admiral to think she's slack, Rafe. But I've been a flag captain, too, you know. There's not a lot you can do to make the yard dogs turn your ship loose any sooner than they're good and ready to.'

'Actually,' he admitted, 'that's not the only problem I have. Captain Thurmond, my COLAC, was just detached for compassionate leave. His wife was killed in a boating accident on Gryphon, and they have—had—three children. My understanding is that he won't be returning. Certainly not before we complete the refit and begin working up again.'

'I know,' Honor repeated. 'I wouldn't worry about it, though. While Admiral Draskovic and I were discussing other personnel assignments, I requested a new COLAC for you. I believe you know him. A Captain Jay- Gee . . . Tremaine, I think it was.'

'Scotty? You got Scotty for me?' Cardones' white teeth flashed in an immense grin. 'Dare I hope that you got me Harkness, as well?'

'Where one of them goes, the other is certain to turn up,' Honor said dryly.

'Outstanding!' Cardones grinned at her for another second or two, then shook his head. 'I'm beginning to think you must have been exceptionally persuasive with Admiral Draskovic, Ma'am.'

'You might say that,' Honor allowed.

'And who else did you get for us, if I may ask?'

'Well, let's see. I got a task group commander named Truman, and another one named McKeon.' Honor looked up at the ceiling and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. 'And at my urgent request, High Admiral Matthews has agreed to release a Commodore Brigham to serve as my chief of staff. And for an ops officer, I got Captain Andrea Jaruwalski. I don't know if you know her, but she's good, Rafe. Very good. Oh, and I got Fritz Montoya as our senior medical officer, too.' She shrugged. 'There may be—oh, one or two other officers I specifically requested, but those are the high spots.'

'It's going to be like old times, isn't it?' Cardones observed.

'Not too much like 'old times,' I hope.' Honor frowned ever so slightly. 'I think it's a good, solid team, but when I sat down to put it together, I couldn't help remembering the old Fearless.'

'I'm not surprised, Ma'am. And we did lose some people in Basilisk. And at Yeltsin's Star, too, for that matter. But we also did what we set out to do both times, didn't we?' He held her eyes until she nodded, almost against her will. Then he shrugged. 'Well, we'll just have to do it again, then. And at least we're all practiced up at it!'

'More practiced than I'd like,' Honor agreed ruefully.

'That's the name of the game, Ma'am.'