Kelly Blake 3: Where the Stars Are Few and Far Between (13 page)

Candy needed a break. She needed Kelly in her arms and here with her. His last call suggested that he might be able to get a few days off. She would have to hound him a little to come spend a few days with her. They still hadn’t planned a honeymoon yet. While Amy said to go to one of the tourist worlds and get away from Armstrong, Candy thought living here for a while as husband and wife would be fine. They had thousands of hectares of wilderness to get lost in if they needed to get away. She checked her communicator to see if he was on planet and sent him a message to call her as soon as he was free. It was time for her to fly off to work.

* * * * *

Kelly had been requesting the identities of the Ambassador and Reporting Officer that would accompany them on their journey. Fleet Intelligence and the State Department were being unusually non-responsive to his requests. After two weeks, a message came in from Fleet Ops. The Ambassador-at-Large would be Ambassador Frank Thorson. Kelly thought this a good choice. Kelly had run into Thorson on Barataria, where Thorson had been involved in the capture of Julia Debran, the then wife of a wealthy industrialist on Rigel Prime. Kelly had rescued her and her daughters and captured the planet. The former pirate planet petitioned for annexation into the Galactic Republic and appointed Thorson as their ambassador to the GR. He would be a fine Human ambassador to the A’Ngarii.

The next day, Fleet Intelligence informed him that the reporting officer would be Alistair Bennett. He expected that. When he had asked Alistair to be one of his groomsmen, he’d hinted at it. His Exec would be overjoyed. They’d had a fling during and after the Barataria mission, but couldn’t make it last.

* * * * *

Shadow Leader G’Motta and his fleet retired from picket duty and another task force took his place. His flagship was the only surviving ship from his original force that defeated the Human Task Force 121. All the rest had been destroyed or were damaged and towed to the mobile repair station above the occupied uninhabited world. His task force was ordered there for a rest period. The Armada Commander invited G’Motta to join him on the surface for a hunt in his honor. G’Motta just wanted to sleep, but if the Commander wished his presence, he would go. One did not turn down an invitation from the nobility, and Shadow Force Commander (Baron) J’Kol was nobility.

Baron J’Kol was a Shadow Warrior who had led a small task force in the original K’Rang-Human war. He had distinguished himself by ramming his Shadow Destroyer into a damaged Human carrier, after instructing his crew to abandon ship. He singlehandedly steered the destroyer into the carrier and used the final escape pod. He drifted in space for three days, shutting off his life support system whenever a Human ship came near to convince them his was an empty pod. He almost died three times from lack of oxygen.

He had been granted his barony upon arrival on G’Durin. He was always cited as an example of nobility by merit, not birth. His example was the goal put before each new warrior, to rise to the nobility by merit.

G’Motta parked his heavy cruiser and fleet in orbit above the uninhabited world. He wondered when the world would be given a name. It should be given a name. He objected to trading this space for the worlds in the human Taurus sector. Too many K’Rang had died holding this space for it to be just given away.

At the appointed time, a pinnace from the flagship came for him. He climbed onboard, carrying a small bag and a weapon case. Baron J’Kol was not on the pinnace. He expected to travel directly to the world below, but the bosun’s mate told him he would be taken to the flagship first.

He arrived at the flagship and was met by a female shadow warrior, who took his bag and weapon case. She was Baron J’Kol’s niece and aide, and was friendly and attractive by K’Rang standards of beauty. She led him to the baron and left them alone. The baron rose from his seat and sniffed noses with G’Motta, a K’Rang a gesture of respect and familiarity.

“Sit, Shadow Leader, but first help yourself to some refreshments.”

Baron J’Kol directed him to a tray of freshly killed game and wines. G’Motta was not hungry before, but the sight and smell of the freshly killed and prepared game made him famished. He helped himself to a plate and a goblet of wine and took the proffered seat.

Baron J’Kol, a fit and trim K’Rang noble, sat opposite him as he ate.

“Shadow Leader, I am most impressed with your performance on the picket line. Did you know that you are the only commander to return to the line? We have had to remove all other commanders for failure to carry out their orders to return to the line. Your dedication to duty is noted and will be rewarded. I have put you in for the Claw of K’Rang.”

G’Motta stopped eating in mid-chew. The Claw of K’Rang was the second highest K’Rang military award. The next higher award was only awarded posthumously. He was deeply honored.

“Shadow Force Commander, I hardly feel worthy of this award.”

“Nonsense, you destroyed the original human fleet guarding this space. You have held the line against onslaught after onslaught by the human ships. You have devised new tactics to reduce our losses. You have shown the warrior spirit by attempting to locate the Human base. You are much too modest.”

“I am just doing my duty to the Empire, Baron.”

“We all do our duty to the Empire. You do your duty better than almost all other commanders in my armada. I wish to reward you with more than just a piece of metal and cloth. I want you to join my staff, I want you as my operations officer.”

G’Motta held back for a moment to think and answered, “Of course, Baron, I will go wherever my talents will best serve the Empire.”

Baron J’Kol looked at this K’Rang before him. He saw a bit of his former self. His service to the Empire too had been rewarded by being brought into the nobility. It was an epiphany for him when he found the nobility that he had obeyed so faithfully were unworthy of his service and loyalty. Most were nothing more than fops and dilettantes. He decided on the day of his barony that he would seek out likeminded Shadow Warriors and put them in situations where they would earn their rise into the nobility – especially when he controlled the nominations for military candidates to the nobility. Shadow Leader G’Motta would make a prime candidate. Now all he had to do was keep the two of them alive through this campaign, so he could put his plans into effect.

* * * * *

Kelly got in the air car with Candy. He had taken the weekend off after declaring the Orion as mission ready. Candy needed his help in making some final decisions on the wedding. She also needed to lie in his arms and do nothing.

As they flew to her mountain home, she asked, “Where do you want to honeymoon?”

Kelly thought and asked, “Could we just stay at your house? It’s got everything we need and it’s secluded. We can just tell every one to stay away.”

She leaned over into his arms and said, “Perfect! My idea exactly! If we need to get away, we can hop in the car and go camping. We have millions of hectares to choose from.”

With that decided, she brought the car in for a landing on her meadow. She saw Carol’s air car was still here. Good, she wanted Kelly to meet her.

She called out, ”Carol,” as she walked up to the house. Carol met her at the front door with her assistant Irene and said they were just about ready to leave. A large number of presents arrived today and she and Irene had a big job cataloguing them. She told Candy that they all wouldn’t fit in the music room anymore and they had to place some in the library.

Candy said that was fine and introduced Kelly, and all went into the house. Kelly looked into the music room and library and stopped dead in his tracks.

“We are raking in the loot, aren’t we? My hand is going to fall off writing all those thank you messages.”

There no longer was a mail service and all messages were electronic. Candy had decided on a new take on the old traditions: The notes were to be hand written, scanned in, and sent out electronically.

Kelly asked, “How many guests will there be?”

Carol said, “400, but we’re getting presents from more than just guests. Senators, representatives, governors, old family friends, former crewmates, classmates, and complete strangers have been sending in gifts. It seems your parents are prolific gift givers and all their friends are paying them back. We just catalogued the seven hundredth present. We’ve started putting the ones we feel will bring up ethics questions in the library.”

Kelly looked in the library and just shook his head. There were tens of thousands of credits worth of presents in there.

Carol called them to the couch and pulled out her list of issues to be resolved. In minutes, Kelly and Candy had decided on flower colors, gifts to the wedding party, and the music to be played at the reception. Carol gathered her assistant and was gone.

Kelly and Candy spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and planning their future together.

* * * * *

The normally sedate and genteel Senate proceedings were unusually loud and full of sharp language this morning. The eight senators from the four captured worlds were haranguing the Senate about when the Fleet was going to take action to eject the K’Rang fleet from GR space. In response, Seth Grinstead, Colonial Party Assistant Majority Leader, stood to respond.

“I would like an opportunity to respond to the ladies and gentlemen from the captured worlds. Let me start by recounting the results of legislation forwarded by the Galactic Party five years back, of which they are all members. In fact, two of the Senators here today were co-sponsors of the Defense Reduction and Peace Dividend Act. This act reduced Fleet personnel end strength by 50%. Capital ships were reduced by 35%. Support ships were reduced by 50%. All this was done in the mistaken belief that the K’Rang defeat at New Alexandria meant they would never challenge us in our space again. Ladies and gentlemen, we can see how effective that strategy was.”

“Now, those same senators that gutted our Fleet’s capability are asking why Fleet hasn’t rescued their constituents yet. The answer is obvious. Fleet has to recall thousands of veteran reservists, re-commission hundreds of ships, equip them, train them, and ready them for battle. This takes a bit longer than just ordering the active Fleet to accomplish a mission.”

The Senator held up a copy of the the Defense Reduction and Peace Dividend Act to further drive home his point and said, “I heard you ask, 'When will the Fleet move?' The Fleet will move when it is ready for combat and God help the K’Rang when they do.”

* * * * *

Admiral Chang entered his conference room and the assembled officers came to attention. The admiral told them to be seated. He looked around the table at his Ops Chief, Vice Admiral Andrea Binder, the 1st Combined Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral David Haddock-Halloway, the 2nd Combined Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Avrim Levi, the 15th Battle Group Commander, Rear Admiral Sue Thomas, his Reserve Task Force Commander, Rear Admiral Stefano Pappas, his logistics chief, Vice Admiral Glenda Curtis, and the Scout Force Commander, Rear Admiral Paolo Minacci. These were his key players. He went around the room to get status reports from all of them. Fleet Ops was ready. 1st Combined Fleet was ready. 2nd Combined Fleet was ready. 15th Battle Group was ready. Reserve task Force was ready. Logistics was ready. Scout Force was ready.

Admiral Chang looked over at Sue Thomas when Paolo answered and she gave him a head nod. She had not one, but two scout ships.

Admiral Chang the said, “Ladies and gentlemen, all that’s left is to pick a date. I propose three weeks hence. Are there any problems with 10 October?”

Heads shook back and forth around the table.

“Admirals, plan your operations accordingly. D-Day is 10 October. Now I believe some of us have a wedding to go to. It’s a pity they won’t get much of a honeymoon.”

* * * * *

Kelly was only a tad nervous. 400 guests were assembled, including the President of the Republic. Despite all the moving pieces, the wedding was coming together smoothly.

Edgar Timmons, Steven Maynard, and Alistair Bennett were keeping him company in the hallway off the Base Chapel’s sacristy, waiting for the call to move out to the front of the church.

Edgar said, “This is the smartest thing you’ve done since I’ve known you. Janey told me to tell you, ‘It’s about time, jackass.’”

The whole group broke up laughing. The chaplain stuck his head out into the hallway and glared at them. Kelly kept his thoughts to himself, but he agreed with Janey. He should have done this three years ago, not when he’d just gotten a deployment order for a week after their honeymoon.

The chaplain came out and said it was time. Kelly led his groomsmen out into the massive chapel. They walked in front of the church and turned to face the crowd of friends, bosses, and well-wishers. Kelly saw the President and First Lady sitting on the aisle on the groom’s side, in the second row behind Moira. A coin toss had decided which side they sat on. The rest of the pew was filled in with cabinet heads and their wives. The row behind contained the overflow and presidential guards and aides.

On both sides of the aisle he saw more braid than in a seamstress shop. Over 70 stars sat in the pews. Intermixed with the admirals were senators and representatives. Local officials and governors filled two rows of pews. Behind them and filling the rest of the chapel were the less illustrious guests, friends, and late arrivals.

Then the organist played the introduction to the classical “Bridal Chorus” from Lohengrin, and all stood up to face the rear. Angie, Tammy and Connie walked up the aisle to take their places opposite the groomsmen. Candy and her father stood momentarily and then made the slow march up the aisle to the front of the chapel. He stopped, raised Candy’s veil, kissed her, and handed her off to Kelly. Kelly was thunderstruck – he had never seen Candy more beautiful. The rest of the ceremony was a blur to him. He vaguely remembered reciting his vows and placing the ring on her finger.