Tehrani chuckled. “I told you back then I didn’t want a dashing military officer.” She playfully rolled her eyes. “And I thank Allah for bringing you into my life.”
“I can’t begin to understand what it’s like out there, except that I know there must be a deep sense of foreboding. Perhaps similar to the one I have when I hear about your ship in the news.”
Of course he’s worried too. Being at war hadn’t been in her plan or anyone else's, for that matter. At times, Tehrani struggled with the load. “I wonder if I’m not becoming indifferent to what’s happening around me. As I continue to live out the reality of this conflict, I feel as if I’m being hollowed out by it inside.”
Ibrahim's eyes grew wide. “Wife, our minds help shield us by lessening the pain.” He sighed. “Have you talked to anyone?”
Tehrani harumphed. “You mean did I see a shrink? No, and I’m not going to.” The suggestion immediately brought hostile thoughts to the forefront of her mind. She forced them down. “I’m sorry.”
“Maybe the imam?”
“I should.” Tehrani tilted her head. “Pray for me.”
“Every day.” He smiled. “Several times a day.”
She snorted in return. “And to think a year ago, we only visited the mosque on major holidays.”
“And not even all of those,” Ibrahim added.
“Am I a hypocrite? I’ve said more prayers and been to services more times in the last year than I have in the last twenty years.”
Ibrahim’s eyes twinkled. “I think not. Perhaps the real test is what happens after the war. If we quit going and abandon Allah, then I’d say we are. I also do not believe we will do that.”
His words made sense, as they usually did. “No. My faith has become a source of strength. If nothing else, the promise of a better life after all this is said and done.”
“All this introspection, dear… What’s bothering you?”
She leaned back and frowned. “I used to think everything was a shade of gray and most things were so tangled up that we couldn’t get to the bottom of their morality. Then this war started.” Tehrani tilted her head again, and her neck gave an audible crack. “Now, after twelve months of combat, I believe everything is black and white. I fear for any slide into doing wrong, because I see what happens to those who do.”
Agent Grant was front and center in her mind. He was convinced his actions were ultimately for the greater good and justified whatever means required to achieve the end goals of defeating the League or defending the Terran Coalition. Seeing the corrosive nature of that belief on display had been an eye-opening experience.
“I trust you’ll make the right decisions, Banu,” Ibrahim replied. “I miss you so much.”
Tehrani smiled. “I miss you, too, husband. Hopefully we will get some leave soon.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “It would be nice to leave it all behind, if only for a few days.”
“Soon.” He didn’t sound convinced. “Our time is almost up,” Ibrahim said as he sighed. “One of these days, I’m going to figure out how to get the government to pay for more comm credits.”
She laughed. “When you do, figure out how to get more ships too.”
Ibrahim chuckled. “I’m only an economist, not a magician.” He touched his fingers to his lips then to the camera. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Tehrani replied.
The screen went black a moment later as the connection cut out. While she was forever grateful for the convenience of talking to her husband each week, at times, it was like being snapped out of the battlefield for a moment then being tossed right back in. The whiplash is something else. Setting aside the tablet, she picked up her copy of the Koran and began to read in the hopes it would calm her soul. May I find the strength to carry on, no matter the cost, as Allah wills it.
After completing his after-action report and debriefing the Greengold’s squadron commanders, Justin Spencer felt pride at a job well done. The Red Tails had performed at incredible levels against the converted pirate carrier, and the use of rocket pods had given them an extra advantage. That Adeoye had come up with the innovation was the tipping point with Whatley to get him assigned as the Winged Lightning CO. Still, the most pressing thought in Justin’s mind was talking to Michelle and Maggie. His comm credits had reset, leaving him to ditch the Alpha element card game early and make his way back to his cabin.
Personal tablet in hand, he sat on the small couch in the living area of his stateroom, counting down the minutes. When the time read 1900 CMT, Justin touched the vidlink call button and waited.
A moment later, Michelle appeared in the living room of their modest home. Her lips curled up into a huge grin, and her eyes grew wide. “Oh, baby, I have missed you.”
“I missed you too.” Justin touched the screen with two fingers. “Where’s Maggie?”
“Sleepover with a friend.” Michelle winked. “I thought it would give us some quiet time to talk. For all fifteen minutes we get a week. How are you? The news said the Greengold fought a group of pirates. I mean, pirates? Seriously? This is the twenty-fifth century.” She made a show of rolling her eyes.
Justin laughed loudly, the sound echoing off the walls. “Thank you. I needed that. I kept picturing the guys I was fighting in old-timey pirate clothing from a thousand years ago.”
She laughed, too, her eyes twinkling. “Do you routinely imagine your opponents in bad clothing, kind of like if one’s giving a speech, the common advice is to think of the audience naked?”
“I don’t think I’ve heard that one before,” Justin said with a snicker. “Nah, just these particular opponents. Enough of the war. How’re you… and our baby?”
“Both mother and child are doing well,” Michelle replied in
