McReidy turned to John. “Security team on a docked ship?”
He shrugged. “Call me paranoid.”
She nodded lightly and turnedback to her console.
“Giacomo, take off,” heinstructed. “I’ve got first shift. I want you back in eight.”
“Sir,” Giacomo answered, butdidn’t move.
John’s gaze shifted betweenMcReidy and Gillespie. “You two have got a certain admiral to see. Good luckwith that.”
He leaned back in the chair. Thecommander-in-chief would never be his favourite person and he was glad hedidn’t have to front the admiral.
Gillespie tossed his earphoneonto the console, relaxed back in his seat and stared at the far wall. McReidy’s face screwed up as she tensed.
“Hey, you did nothing wrong,”Giacomo put a hand on her shoulder.
“Giacomo,” John spoke.
“Sir?” he turned to John.
“Go.” John hitched a thumb overhis shoulder towards the door.
Giacomo opened his mouth as if tomake an excuse, then sighed. “Yes, sir.” He turned back to McReidy. “Been apleasure. Take care.”
“You too,” she smiled.
He got to his feet. “Goodbye,Steve.”
Gillespie waved a hand inacknowledgement.
Giacomo passed Kowalski on theway out; the pair exchanging brief goodbyes. The young engineer stood justinside the doorway, fidgeting and staring at his boots.
“You’re not in trouble this time,Sam,” John told him.
“I know, but…”
John straightened up in his chair. “You will be if you keep the admiral waiting.”
The comment struck all three ofthem. McReidy was on her feet and headed to the door. Gillespie waited asecond longer before joining them.
The main screen came on, stoppingthem in their tracks.
“Ah, Commander,” Colonel Chowgreeted him. “I’m glad I caught you before you left the ship. Admiral Powershas requested your presence at tomorrow’s meeting.”
“Why me?” John asked, notexpecting an answer.
“In the absence of a captain, youare the current commanding officer,” Chow explained. “At this stage, I don’tknow when a new captain is likely to be assigned. That is not myresponsibility. However it is my responsibility to inform you that bothLieutenant Commander McReidy and yourself are requested to attend a formalreception this evening.”
John raised a fist to hisforehead as his face screwed up in anguish. “I would prefer to be excused.”
“Not an option.”
John dropped his hand. “Whattime?”
“Nineteen thirty hours.”
John glanced at his watch. Hestill had a couple of hours and a call he had to make, and he’d have to changethe roster. Tan wasn’t due to take over from him for four hours.
Chow was still talking, but notto John; his attention on McReidy. “An escort is standing by to take the threeof you to Admiral Powers.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered.
* * *
It was almost nineteen thirtyhours when John arrived for the reception. A formal occasion required dressuniform. The long red jacket was stiff, the gold braided collar felt tightaround his throat. He ran his finger around the inside to loosen it slightly,to no avail. At least with Decker around, he knew his uniforms were alwaysspotless. His polished black boots shone, but he found himself quickly shiningthem against the back of his leg – a habit he hadn’t realised he had developed.
The reception hall was in one ofthe newer wings. Built to impress visiting dignitaries, its ceilings were muchhigher than necessary. Chandeliers dangled, the candlelight illusions throwingshards of light throughout the hall. A copy of the Bayeax tapestry covered onewall. At least, John figured it was a copy. He couldn’t see France letting go of the real thing just to stick it on a space station.
Kuiper was also home to a numberof alien dignitaries. About a dozen worlds had sent ambassadors to negotiateand represent them in treaty, trade and other matters. They had their own wingand rarely set foot outside it.
John considered the hall a wasteof space and money on a station that struggled to fit the fleet’s biggestships.
The reception was for captainsand first officers only. All officers were allowed to bring a guest. Some ofthe captains chose to do so. First officers wouldn’t be caught dead doing so.
The place was full of uniforms;gold braid and insignias catching in the chandelier light. There were nearlyas many sparkling guests, each seemed determined to complement their partnerand outshine all the other guests. Some hung off an arm – at least for apolite amount of time – before gathering in their own groups.
First officers were a breed amongthemselves. They remained out of their respective captain’s way, but attentiveenough that a glance or raised hand would have them in immediate attendance.
Waiters skilfully manoeuvred theroom with trays of drinks above their heads, responding immediately to a raisedhand or a click of fingers. A buffet and a bar – for those whose tastes wentbeyond champagne or wine – ran along one wall. Waste seemed to extend to agood proportion of the station’s fresh food supplies with plenty of salads –the women’s choice – breads and pastries, and a selection of hot meats andvegetables.
As John surveyed the room, he sawMcReidy deep in conversation with a bunch of uniforms he didn’t recognise. Hereyes smiled warmly as she acknowledged his presence from across the room and hefigured her grilling that afternoon hadn’t been too bad. He nodded, returningher smile.
He glanced at his watch. Twohours before he was due to meet with Mark. He figured he could suffer twohours reasonably painlessly. His attendance may have been required, but thatdidn’t mean he had to do any more than turn up. He had no intention of puttinghimself in the path of any of the big boys.
He spotted Powers with Kirov’s Captain Mikhailovich. The admiral’s glances oversaw the room, but seemed tolinger slightly on some of the women. John instinctively ducked his head andturned away, running into the eyeline of Hood’s commander, AdmiralBustlethwaite. He nodded formally though the admiral had enough uniformsorbiting her that she probably didn’t notice him. Still, it never hurt to betoo formal – just in case.
Eavesdropping wasn’t onlyreserved for the ship and he mingled into a dozen conversations that told himnothing about what was going on. In fact, wherever a woman was concerned, sheseemed to be the focus of the conversation.
He drifted to the bar; a rum andCoke in order. He relaxed as the waiter poured his drink,
