Indomitable (18 page)

ANTI-SLAVER'S GUILD SAVED MY LIFE

A quick scan of the article and she knew Jang's orphan story was absolutely true. Her parents had died when she was young. An unscrupulous uncle had sold her to a sex ring at the age of seven. She'd been trafficked until thirteen. Escaped with a life-threatening virus. Jang had clawed her way back to health, and attended school, landing an internship with Justice Brick on the high court. The more Promise read the more she liked Senator Terra Jang.
But don't like her too much. She's still a poli—

Bang.

A gavel crashed and the hearing was called to order by a frail-looking gentleman wearing a dark-gray suit and a bow tie. The man appeared in Promise's holoscreen and seemed to look right through her. His name floated to the right. Senator Harold McIrney.

“Lieutenant Paen, thank you for appearing before the committee this morning.” Senator Jang's dossier vanished and McIrney's replaced it. He was the chair of the Homeworlds Alliance Committee, in his eighth decade, a high-ranking member of the New 'Verse Democratic and Labor Party. The challenge in his eyes was impossible to miss. “We look forward to hearing what you have to say to us regarding the tragic accident that claimed the life of Sergeant Richard Morris, one of your platoon sergeants, and we hope to learn the truth of why your unit took the actions it did leading up to the sergeant's ill-timed death.”

Promise nodded and squared her shoulders. A shiver of sharks was circling, and Promise feared Senator McIrney was leading the pack. McIrney introduced his fellow committee members and gave an opening statement. Then he addressed Promise.

“Before we ask you
our
questions, I believe you prepared a statement for us to hear. Yes?”

“Yes, Senator McIrney.”

“The floor is yours, Lieutenant,” said McIrney. “You have the committee's undivided attention.” Then McIrney clasped his hands together and leaned forward.

“Thank you, Senator.” Promise took a sip of water and said a quick prayer.
Sir, morning glory. I could sure use some grace.
“Before I read my statement, I'd like to thank the Homeworlds Alliance Chair and Committee and the Senate Frontier Defense Chair and Committee, and the honorable senators present, for the opportunity to testify today. I've given much thought to my comments, regarding the fateful events of the day in question. I wish to make it clear that I was Sergeant Morris's commanding officer. He was operating under my orders when he was killed, and I assume full responsibility for his loss.”

Promise spent the next five minutes sketching the events leading up to Morris's death: her unit's losses; the mysterious stand-down codes and her conversation with General Granby; infiltrating the island; and her deep regret over the sergeant's death. “He saved my life on Montana. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for his actions then. His loss will never leave me.” Promise fought hard for her composure.

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” said McIrney with a flat expression. “While I appreciate your candor and heartfelt feelings for Sergeant Morris, I'm not sure I agree with everything you said regarding the training operation you commanded. But, we will get to that in due time. For the present, I yield the floor to the honorable Senator Jang. Senator, the floor is yours.”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.” Jang turned to Promise. “Lieutenant, you're a credit to the Marine Corps and to our great Republic. You deserve even more for what you accomplished upon your birth world, Montana. And you have my sincere thanks … and that of your star nation.”

McIrney and a few of the other senators on the platform went rigid in their chairs at the mention of Montana. Smiles forced, there and gone a moment later. Jang's comments had obviously touched a nerve.

“Thank you, Senator Jang,” Promise said.

“I just have a few questions for you. So, let's take them one at a time, okay?”

Promise nodded.
Here we go.

“First, did General Granby order you to continue the training operation before or after your unit suffered nearly ninety-percent casualties?”

“After, Senator.”

“Secondly, did the general send you the stand-down codes for the island's defense?”

“Senator, I honestly can't be sure. It was not precisely clear to me where the codes originated from.”

“Understood, Lieutenant. Then tell us what you believed at the time to be the case.”

“At the time … yes … I believed the codes came from the general. Though I wasn't sure.”

“Very good. Thirdly, did the general authorize you to continue the training operation after she'd commed the island and told the lance corporal on watch to stand down the island? I believe she told him to go get something to eat too. Does that sound about right?”

“Yes, Senator, but not in so many words. However, her intent was clear. That's as I remember things.”

“Very good, Lieutenant,” Senator Jang said. “As you know, Lieutenant, your actions on the day of Sergeant Morris's death have come under scrutiny.” Jang looked to her right as she spoke. “Mr. Chairman, I'd like to read a letter from Lieutenant Paen's former commanding officer because it speaks directly to her utter dedication and experience in—”

“Senator Jang.” McIrney's tone was patronizing. “If you wish to ask the lieutenant more questions then please continue. Otherwise, please yield your time to the next speaker. We have a tight schedule to keep this morning and much to discover.”

“Mr. Chairman, this letter—” Jang held aloft a piece of carbonscreen. “—bears directly upon the events at hand.”

“Senator Jang, we are here to question the lieutenant, not to grandstand. Since you have no further questions, the chair recognizes—”

“Mr. Chairman, I must protest your actions. My time is not up!”

The senator next to Jang leaned over and spoke something into her ear. A brief flash of anger crossed Jang's face. They exchanged words and then Jang closed her eyes, and nodded. When she looked up, a near-convincing smile was locked into place.

“If it pleases the chair, I yield the bulk of my time to the honorable Senator Oman,” Jang said. She glanced at Promise, her expression unreadable. But the close-up of Jang on Promise's screen showed the worry in her eyes.

“The chair acknowledges the honorable Senator Jang has yielded the remainder of her time to the honorable Senator Oman. Senator Oman, the floor is yours. You have your time plus Senator Jang's remaining minutes to ask your questions.”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.” Senator Lucia Oman surveyed the Senate floor. Her cool, deep-set eyes bored into the pickup and out from the flatscreens positioned throughout the Senate floor, and via the nets across Hold, into every tuned-in home. The news bureaus were feverishly editing the feed in real time and transmitting just-in segments to the small fleet of private courier jumpships scheduled for all the major system nexuses. Departures in the
A.M.
and
P.M.
hours. The senator licked her lips and nodded.

“Good morning, Lieutenant. I don't expect to keep you long. I hope you'll be forthright and as direct as possible in answering my questions. Do that and you and I will get along famously.

“Sergeant Morris's death is a loss to us all. But his death was unnecessary and completely avoidable, Lieutenant Paen, and that is the basis for my questions today. I'm most interested in your exchange with Lieutenant General Granby earlier that morning. Please relay the contents of your conversation with her to your best recollection.”

Promise had carefully prepared for just such a question. She consulted her minicomp and read from her notes, even though she could have projected them onto the holoscreen before her.

“Lieutenant, I know
what
was said between you and the general. I've seen the data feed from your mechsuit too. I'm far more interested in why it was said in the first place. Would you care to read between the lines?”

“I'm afraid I don't understand the senator's question.”

Oman sighed over the pickup. “Of course you don't. Why don't we start with the facts and work toward the truth, okay?

“Lieutenant, is it true you petitioned General Granby to continue the Mount Bane operation, even though your company had suffered almost ninety-percent simulated casualties?”

“Yes, Senator, that is correct.”

“Hm … that's telling. And is it true the general granted your request?”

“Yes, Senator, that is also correct.”

“I see. And is it true the stand-down codes for the Mount Bane installation magically appeared on your, ah, your mechsuit's heads-up display. Your HUD as you call it?”

“I suppose you could say the stand-down codes appeared unexpectedly, Senator.”

“Indeed. And did you know the general had sent them to you?”

“As I've already said, I had no specific knowledge of the sender's identity, Senator.”

“But you had a hunch, didn't you? Were you aware of the general's antipathy for the entire Mount Bane program?”

“Not specifically, no.”

“How about generally, Lieutenant?” The senator's eyebrows rose together.

“I believe the general has spoken freely on the matter, Senator.” And General Granby had, on more than one occasion. Her distaste for the games was no great secret.

“Do you agree with the general?”

Promise's mouth opened reflexively. She forced it closed as her mind raced for a suitable answer.

“Ah-ha, now we come to the truth. You utilized codes you should not have possessed because you wanted to win the game, at all cost. You and the general are both decorated, skilled warriors, and a credit to our Fleet Forces. Each of you seems to have a history of rushing into overwhelming odds and bending the rules to suit your own purposes. Did you actually believe you could take the installation with, how do you say it, a reinforced
toon
?”

Promise hesitated. “I believed I had to try. War isn't fair, Senator. I simply utilized every advantage at my disposal.”

“That may be true, depending upon your point of view, of course. But we are not at war, Lieutenant, a fact I must constantly remind some of my fellow senators of.”

“We are not
yet
at war, Senator,” Promise said, and she might as well have tossed a flash-bang into the room. A collective gasp rose from behind her. “Whether war comes will ultimately be a political decision, not a military one. My job is to prepare for war should it ever come. That's why we have the games.”

The blood drained from Senator Oman's face. “Yes, and that's why we have this committee, to make sure leveler heads prevail. Tell me, Lieutenant, do you believe in an unwinnable scenario?”

“Are you referring to the overarching philosophy of the Mount Bane war games?”

Oman hesitated a moment. “I am, yes. Why?”

“Then, with respect to you and my superiors in the audience, no, I do not. There must always be a way out. There must always be a path to victory. There must always be hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Training Marines to lose is a mistake.”

“So you do agree with the lieutenant general.”

“I sympathize with her position, yes, but arrived at my own opinion independently.”

“And her methods. Do the ends justify her means?”

“She changed the game's parameters. In war, our enemy will do nothing less than that if it means achieving victory.”

“And here we are again, back to war. Lieutenant, need I remind you we are enjoying an unprecedented time of peace across our core member worlds.”

“And how about our protectorates, ma'am?”

“You're referring to your birth world, Montana.” Oman's words carried a dangerous edge to them. “You have a bit of history with unwinnable odds, don't you, Lieutenant. How many Marines did you lose on Montana?”

“Senator Oman!” Senator Jang was standing now. “With all due respect, you are out of line.” A swell of outrage rose from the Senate floor, though Promise couldn't be sure how much of it was for or against her.

“Sometimes, Lieutenant, battles are manufactured, not simply fought.” Oman was almost shouting. “War is the most costly game and it rarely solves anything. One should not court it.”

Two more senators stood in protest, the voices carried by the pickups across the chamber. The chairman banged his gavel to no avail.

“Mr. Chairman.” Senator Terra Jang was leaning into the pickup. “We did not call Lieutenant Paen to testify in today's hearings just to second-guess her past command decisions or question her patriotism to the Republic.” Jang's voice shook with anger. “The lieutenant is a highly decorated Marine Corps officer and a national hero. She deserves to be treated as such.” Jang had a roll of carbonscreen in her hand and was waving it menacingly at Senator Oman.

“I remind the honorable senator from Glasgow that
she
yielded her time to
me,
” Senator Oman said. “You are free to request supplementary minutes from the chair after I and the rest of our colleagues have each had a turn to question the lieutenant. Thank you, Lieutenant Paen, for your service to our star nation. Mr. Chairman, may I suggest a short recess before we continue?”

 

Twenty-one

MAY 6
TH
, 92 A.E., STANDARD CALENDAR, 0923 HOURS

REPUBLIC OF ALIGNED WORLDS PLANETARY CAPITAL—HOLD

RAW SENATE BUILDING

Promise found her seat
in the upper gallery of the Republic of Aligned Worlds Senate chambers, two rows from the front. She sat on the cushion's edge to get the best possible view. Politicians, reporters, government workers, and military brass flooded the main level of the RAW's upper house of government. The Senate was circular in shape, with an outer and an inner ring comprised of delegation boxes and virtual pickups. Plebiscite worlds—mostly from the verge—sat farthest away from the center platform, where the Senate president and the committee chairs presided over half the daily affairs of the Republic's governance. Core worlds comprised the inner ring of the chamber. The outer ring funded eighty percent of the government and wielded twenty percent of the power, while the inner ring generated twenty percent of the Republic's tax base and got to spend the other eighty percent too. You could have cut the enmity between the two with a knife.