“Lieutenant Commander,” he calledin a barely even tone.
McReidy was at his sideimmediately. “Yes, sir.”
“This is Lieutenant CommanderMcReidy, my first officer,” he introduced, “whom you will treat with therespect she deserves.”
His focus zeroed in on Kerrod,who went to open his mouth but then backed down. “From now on, if you have anycomplaints you will take them to her.”
John felt McReidy bristle besidehim.
“You will do everything shesays. You will not annoy any of my crew and you will not, under anycircumstances, invite yourselves onto my bridge. If there are any moredisputes, you will find yourselves confined to the cargo bay. Do we understandeach other?”
It was a one way conversation inwhich John was laying down the law. The only answer he expected was silence. A verbal answer would only have contained an objection.
“Good. Lieutenant Commander.” He turned slightly to McReidy. His eyes met hers for a second. It wasn’t herfault. His voice lowered, softened a fraction. “They’re all yours. I don’tcare what you do with them. Just keep them out of my way.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered formallyas though his comment was an order.
Kerrod couldn’t keep his mouthshut any longer, giving McReidy no more than a cursory glimpse. “On my world,a woman knows her place, and it is not telling men what they can and cannotdo.”
Punching out the ambassador was avery real possibility, but McReidy answered before John could react. “Thankfully, Ambassador, we are not on your world. Now that we all understandeach other, I will be happy to escort you from the bridge.”
Her tone was civil and polite;the smile plastered to her face through sheer habit and indignation. Delma andErsog were agreeable, as she stepped past them and indicated the door, but thatwas mainly due to John’s lecture. Kerrod hesitated. John wasn’t budging andthe ambassador faced a brick wall of intent.
“Of course, Commander,” Kerrodceded to John’s authority, discretion being the better part of tact. “Apologies, Commander.”
He turned and strode to the door,all but ignoring McReidy.
John sighed with relief as thebridge door closed behind the four of them. He returned to his chair, sinkingheavily in it.
“You know that wasn’t fair, don’tyou?” Gillespie’s question came with a strong mug of coffee, which Johnaccepted gratefully.
“I know.” John gulped at the hotliquid. “I’ll make it up to her.”
The rest of the day was purepeace. The other ambassadors were informed of John’s decision. Most wereunaffected and took it in their stride. Bela was put out of place. She nowhad no legitimate reason to seek out John.
Back to top
Chapter twentythree
It was late afternoon thefollowing day when Bismarck reached Manadosian space. Tan had beeneavesdropping since his shift began and the previous shift had also done so. Nothing had been picked up. Command’s latest reports had nothing in the area. Drago’s focus was elsewhere and the only information he had was well over amonth old – well before Manados was attacked and the Earth ship had gonemissing.
Both Command and John reasonedthat the enemy wouldn’t still be hanging around. If they’d known there weresurvivors from Manados, they would have found them and eliminated them. Bismarck was small enough and cunning enough to slip in. While they could havesent a fleet or at least an escort, anything large enough to defend itself wasgoing to make itself a target – and tell the Andromedans there was somethingworth protecting.
The morning report from Commanddeemed the area safe and the pickup to go ahead.
John had McReidy on the bridgefor the simple fact that he needed her there. She was the one Cush hadcontacted and he didn’t need her or her mind occupied with anything else if theManadosian chose to do so again.
Gillespie pulled his earphoneout, dropped it to his console and rubbed his eyes.
“Steve?” John queried.
“Just need a minute before wehead in there.”
John let out his breath. “Everyone take a minute to relax. Mister Tan, you too. Run it through mainsfor a minute.”
Tan nodded, switched his consolethrough the main screen. The softest fuzz of background noise underlay thequiet. He pulled his earphone out, sank back in his seat and rubbed hisforehead.
Scanners ran the frequencies anddegrees, and found nothing.
“McReidy. Anything?” John asked.
She shook her head.
“All right, let’s move in.”
The ship moved forward. Everyonestraightened in their seats, the main screen cleared, earphones went in, andtensions rose. While they wanted clear space, they were also wary of it.
The moon came up on scanners.
“Giacomo, scenic route.”
“Yes, sir.”
Giacomo eased away from the moonand headed to the planet beyond. It was incapable of supporting life with asulphuric atmosphere. Anything watching them would assume they would keepgoing. And if anything came up on scanners, they would keep going.
“Mister Tan, make contact.”
McReidy reached a hand to herforehead.
“Problem?” John asked.
She lowered her hand and shookher head. “No, sir.”
“Message coming through,” Tanacknowledged. “They’re ready for immediate pickup.”
“I’m getting thirteen… fourteenof them, sir,” Gillespie advised.
“That’s going to make numberstight.” John hit the intercom. “Mister North.”
“Ready to transport, sir,” Northanswered.
“Scanners still clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Gillespie answered.
“Giacomo, go get them.”
Bismarck pulled away from theplanet and headed to the moon. The co-ordinates were locked into the helm andGiacomo set a light orbit above them.
“Transport, Mister North.”
“Transporting, sir.” A fewseconds later, North confirmed, “Manadosians on board, sir.”
“Thank you, Mister North.” Johnswitched the intercom off. “Giacomo, move us away. McReidy, I suppose webetter go greet them.”
“So,” McReidy ventured as theyheaded to the transporter room. “Do you think Powers sent someone else to pickthem up because of you and Cush?”
“It had crossed my mind.”
“Hmm… I suppose we should begrateful that some people can’t stand you.”
He hesitated a step. “Hang on a–”
“You dumped me with the rest ofthem,” she grinned.
“Yeah, guess I asked for that,”he conceded. “How did you go with them yesterday?”
“Are you sure I can’t tranquilisethem?”
His soft laugh filtered throughthe transporter room doorway before his mood changed with his presence.
“Governor.”
“Commander.” Cush’s gaze metMcReidy’s and he softened. “Lieutenant Commander.”
“Governor Cush,” she greeted himpolitely, her genuine warmth permeating the chill.
“You were lucky to escape,” Johnlooked to the Manadosians bunching together in the small room. They hadnothing but the clothes on their backs. “If there is anything you need. Medical –”
“We are adequate.”
John nodded. “I must apologise,but we are
