His hands dropped and a long slowbreath escaped.
“That I led the Andromedans toShimodo.” He had trouble getting the words out.
“And?” A touch of angeraccompanied the word.
“We’re being recalled.”
Her softness disappeared and hermood reflected his. “How on Earth would he get an idea like that? Of all thestupid things, why would he believe something like that? Hasn’t he got anycommon sense?”
“Not where I’m concerned.”
“How did he even know anythingabout it?”
“Someone filed a report.”
She scratched her head and herbrow creased. “Melchior?”
John nodded. “Looks like he’llget Kowalski after all.”
“But it’s complete rubbish.” Herhand lowered. “Tell Powers the truth.”
“Yeah, right,” John rolled hiseyes. “Like he’ll believe anything I say.”
“Can’t you call in any favours?”
“I ran out a long time ago.”
“What about Drago? He knew thesituation.” McReidy was clutching at straws.
“And admit I risked the entirefleet by not attacking Velos? That’d go down really well.”
She had momentarily forgottenthat little fact. She was lost for words.
If he were guilty, he would haveaccepted it, but to be caught out by a deliberate misrepresentation of thetruth… Misrepresentation nothing, it was an outright lie.
“If I’d done something wrong –”
“You did.”
“And I’d do it again but –”
“Commander.” Gillespie’s voiceover the intercom interrupted them. “Message on scramblers for you.”
“I’m not in the mood,” Johnsnapped back.
“I think you should take it,”Gillespie insisted.
John sighed. “Who’s it from?”
“Scrambled from the source. I’mnot sure.” Gillespie tried to get a location. “It could be Antigua.”
“Put it through.” John resignedhimself to the inevitable. He might as well get it over with.
“I’ll leave you alone,” McReidyspoke quietly.
He didn’t want to be left alone. He wanted someone on his side – someone who understood him, who couldunderstand his reasoning, or lack of.
He slumped into his chair, thedoor closed behind McReidy and he switched on his console.
He recognised Captain Thorne of Antigua by his voice; a man he had never met but knew by name. He immediately recognisedthe craggy features of the other man as belonging to Admiral Simpson.
“Commander Madison,” Thorne beganslowly. “I wish to advise you that this conversation never took place and Iexpect its contents to remain confidential. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.” If John’s curiosityshowed, it didn’t reflect in his voice.
Thorne turned slightly toSimpson, as though wanting to know if the admiral wished to continue himself. Simpson nodded his intention to remain silent at this stage.
“It seems that someone owes youan apology.”
John lifted one brow slightly atthis confession.
“One you realise you will neverget,” Thorne hurriedly added. “A report was filed, on which an admiraltydecision was made. The report was since proven incorrect and has beenretracted.”
“And the decision?” John venturedto ask. He looked from one man to the other for an answer.
Thorne backed off. He was out ofhis depth.
Simpson continued. “I witnessedthe battle.”
“I didn’t know you were on Antigua, sir.” John was genuinely surprised.
“How could you?” Simpson asked alittle warily. “I know what happened and I’m not about to let a man go downfor something he didn’t do. Captain Thorne’s report contradicted CaptainMelchior’s to such a degree that Admiral Powers asked for my version. By thistime, your future was well and truly decided. Melchior’s a good captain, buthe will walk all over someone to get what he wants.”
John remained silent. What couldhe say?
“You’ve turned yourself intoquite a battleship. And a crew that’s not afraid to take chances.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Simpson was leading and John waswilling to let him.
“Right now, you’re of morebenefit to me and the rest of the fleet out here than… anywhere else.”
“What am I supposed to do, sir?”
“Ben Powers is a fair man. Hecan’t change his decision without losing face. But he can delay it.” Simpsonwas hatching his own plan. “Pick up the ambassadors and bring them in withoutincident, and we’ll see if we can come to some sort of arrangement.”
Simpson may have called it anarrangement. John saw it as an ultimatum. Either way, it didn’t matter. Hewould have no say in it. He couldn’t possibly imagine what Simpson was planning. He had been treading on thin ice since Emperor Komodo had quashed his courtmartial, knowing full well that Admiral Powers would carry out his threats ofretribution at the first opportunity.
Anticipating this outcome, Powershad acted too quickly. Being forced to back down once was bad enough. Hewould not lose face and do it a second time.
The transmission ended.
John stared at the console; thelight indicating his orders were waiting.
He opened them. Fullinstructions – he skipped over that bit. Destinations… Aran – they wereheading there – and half a dozen beyond. Then they looped back to familiarterritory and worlds they’d dealt with. He couldn’t see any issues with any ofthem until… Lushon – he cringed at that one. This was not going to be apleasant trip back.
Pick up – the words stuck in hishead. Was there a reasoning? He went back to page one and began reading. Nothing obvious in what was stated, but all these worlds were now behind theborder. They’d treatied with some; hadn’t made it to others. He could onlyassume the worlds were in imminent danger of falling. The grapevine wasextremely slow. Distances, knowledge and resources were running thin. Anyefforts to shore up a working alliance were falling behind due to the speed andefficiency of invasion.
It was impossible to know. Command worked on strategies from the safety of Earth.
Politics! John leaned back inhis chair and pushed away from the desk. His feet rose to the desk and heclosed his eyes and let it all ramble around in his head. He could come upwith a hundred theories and be wrong. And the correct theory could beshattered by the next battle.
It was a relieved John whoreturned to the bridge. McReidy watched him for a sign of what had happened. The light had returned to his eyes and the hint of a smile on his mouth toldher he hadn’t given up on himself.
“Commander?” she hinted.
“Reprieve,” he answered as hetook his chair. He couldn’t tell her anything else even if he wanted to. Theone word was enough.
She turned back to her console.
“We have some ambassadors to pickup,” John continued. “What’s our accommodation like?”
Shrugs all round told him no
