Valor At Vauzlee (43 page)

"But I was just promoted eight months ago."

"They only placed you where your number of years of commissioned service indicated that you could be. I think that it would have been a bit too much to promote you directly to Commander from Ensign, especially since you still look like a recent Academy graduate. Lieutenant Commanders, on average, have attained their rank when they've had between fourteen and eighteen years of commissioned service, but some have achieved it in as little as eleven years. You have a little more than twelve years now, even if all but a year was in stasis sleep. At the very least you would have achieved Lieutenant and been knocking on the door of Lieutenant Commander if they hadn't overlooked you during the search for Hokyuu survivors. I'll be surprised if they don't consider you when the Promotion Selection Board convenes next September. Up to ten percent of the officers named on the Selection List can be early promotion, you know. That would make you available for promotion by the fourth quarter of next year."

"How do Richie, Andy, and Jimmy feel about my promotion and postings?"

"They're all happy for you, sweetheart," her mother said. "Even Billy. You can't fault them for a little jealousy. Andy and Jimmy are both hoping to receive promotions to Lieutenant Commander this coming year. The GAC has made special arrangements with SC for all of them to be here for the ceremony. Billy and Richie are already in port. Andy and Jimmy are expected in before Saturday."

"I can't wait to see them. It's been so long since we were all together."

Jenetta half-turned and said, "Come," when the computer interface announced that Lieutenant Ashraf was at the door.

"Excuse me, Captain," Ashraf said as she entered the room and braced to attention. "The press is still waiting out on the dock."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Yes ma'am."

Jenetta turned back to her parents as Lt. Ashraf left. "Space Command wants me to do this interview. I couldn't face the newsies when the court-martial was over and ran away from them. Why don't you come along, and when it's over I'll give you a tour of the ship."

Ten minutes later, Jenetta was stepping up to the podium on the small temporary stage erected by the spaceport's dock personnel. A Marine security detail, insisted upon by Marine Captain Galont, had cleared the way for her, and now stood nearby to protect her from overzealous newsies, or perhaps them from her if they encroached too far. She read the statement that she had prepared while en route to Earth and then answered questions for about an hour. Not that she could really add anything that hadn't been stated already during the court-martial, but the court's video records and transcripts hadn't been released to the news services yet so the reporters were still hungry for information, and it
was
her first statement to the press. They also plied her with questions about her role in the battles of Vauzlee and Higgins, but she declined to answer, citing the fact that it would be inappropriate until the official reports were released by Space Command. As the reporters hurried away to write and file or transmit their stories, Jenetta returned to the ship with her parents. She knew her father wanted to see the Song and her mother just wanted to be with her and hold her hand, so both would appreciate the tour.

"That was an excellent presentation, Commander," her father said as they walked back aboard the ship.

"Thank you, sir. I've had a long time to prepare myself."

"What's this I hear about an intruder on your ship that tried to assassinate you?"

Jenetta looked at her father and asked cautiously, "Where did you hear that, Dad?" Although it had been months since Pretorious had snuck into her quarters and tried to ‘conclude their business,' she didn't believe that the story regarding the assassination attempt had yet been released.

"Oh, a newsie asked me to comment on it while you were answering questions from the press." Her father tried to look nonchalant, but didn't fool Jenetta. So many people within Space Command knew of the event that he might have picked up information about it on the base, and was offering her an opening so that she could present the information to her mother on her own terms before it became public. "There're also some persistent rumors circulating that you developed the battle tactics used at both Vauzlee and Higgins," her father said.

Although Jenetta hadn't related the details of her involvement with the tactics used in the two battles to her parents, she wasn't exactly trying to hide them. She
had
purposely evaded explaining about the injury for which she was receiving the second Purple Heart, but since she seemed sound of limb with no visible scars, her mother had not pressed the issue. If the press really did have the story about the assassination attempt, it would shortly become common knowledge, so Jenetta decided it was better that they hear the full accounts from her first. She related the whole story regarding Pretorious during the tour. Her mother clutched her arm tightly as she told them about hitting him with the viewpad, and then kicking him as he fired. Her mother insisted on seeing the wound immediately and Jenetta allowed her to open her tunic and raise her blouse to see the spot where she was shot, although it was hardly proper for a ship's captain to allow that in a corridor.

"But there's nothing here, honey," her mother said. "Not even a scar."

"I told you that it healed."

"But there should be entry and exit scars if you were shot by a laser pistol, and haven't received corrective surgery," her father said.

"I healed without scars. It seems to be a benefit of the DNA procedure that was performed on me. I heal exceptionally faster than most other people, and the injuries mend without leaving marks or scar tissue. Even the old compound fracture scar that I had on my leg, the one from when I was injured after falling out of the tree when I was seven, has disappeared. X-rays don't show any evidence that the leg was ever broken, nor is there any discernible evidence of a fracture from when my arm was broken during the seizure of the Prometheus."

"And the battle tactics rumor?" her father asked candidly.

"Alright," Jenetta said softly, smiling. "I'm guilty. I'm the one who came up with the insane plan to initiate our attack on the Raider fleet at Vauzlee with just the Prometheus so that we could cause as much damage as possible before the Raiders knew of Space Command's presence in the area."

"That was you?!" her mother said in shock.

"When one takes the time to study it closely, dear," her father said, "they understand that it wasn't insane at all. In fact, I believe that I told Jenetta that it was
inspired
back when I thought that Gavin was responsible for developing it. Having learned that my daughter was the architect filled me with— awe. And the defensive plans at Higgins? They were yours also, were they not?"

"I made some suggestions, Dad. I haven't viewed the battle logs or the re-created simulations yet, so I don't know how closely they might have followed them."

"The
inside
story I've heard is that they followed them to the letter. You've stirred up quite a controversy at the War College, honey. I understand that half the instructors have branded you impulsive and reckless, while the other half are insisting that your innovative tactics be immediately incorporated into a new Station Defense Operations Manual."

"I seem doomed to be at the center of controversy," Jenetta said.

"A famous showman once said that there's no such thing as bad publicity," her father said grinning. "As long as your name continues to be associated with outstanding success in battle, let the controversy reign. Admiral McGinty at the War College was so impressed that he asked me to drop over and see him."

"Has he offered you a teaching position?"

"Me? No. He doesn't want me, honey; he wants you. He wondered if I might be willing to help persuade you to accept a full professorship at the college. He'd like you to teach a course in Modern Warfare Techniques. He says that he spoke to Holt, but Holt refuses to release you from his command structure unless you request a transfer. McGinty says that he can promise you a promotion to full Commander within five years, and to Captain within fifteen if you transfer to the War College."

"Me? A professor? I don't think so, Dad. I just got what I've worked for my entire life, a line officer posting aboard the best ship in the fleet. If I ever manage to make captain, I want it to be on a ship, not in a classroom."

"I told McGinty that your heart was in space, but I also promised him that I'd pass along his offer."

Sadly, Jenetta couldn't go planet-side with her parents following their special tour of the Song, but as she walked them to the Earth shuttle dock for their trip home, she promised to come down as soon as possible. Her security detail again fell in around her as she left the ship. They cleared the way and kept anxious admirers from getting too close to Jenetta and her parents. She later stood at a viewing port and watched as the small ship backed away from the airlock. She remained there until the ship was lost from sight. Her mother's perfume and her father's cologne were still fresh in her mind as she entered the Song again. The officer of the deck smiled at the expression of happiness that replaced the normally staid façade.

The following morning the Song backed slowly away from the docking pier at Earth Station Two and made the quick trip to the Mars shipyard. The Geneva and Buenos Aires had traveled overnight, and were already berthed inside enclosed repair docks. The Prometheus and Chiron were scheduled to arrive at Mars later in the day.

The ship yard at Mars is enormous. Located in fixed orbit above the red planet, seventy of the hundred ship berths are totally enclosed. Once the massive end doors are sealed, the berth is pressurized so that workers didn't need full E.V.A. suits. The enclosed berths are used both for laying the keels of new ships and for repairs and refits where the hull has to be opened. Once a new or repaired ship is fully pressurized, it can be moved to one of the ‘open' berths for completion. They aren't completely open, of course. A skeletal structure around the vessel offers a number of advantages, such as lighting and anchor points, but workers do have to wear full E.V.A. suits. So if enclosed berths are available, ships are kept inside. The extent of the necessary repairs justified the removal of five newly built ships, as yet un-pressurized, from enclosed berths to make room for the five ships returning from Higgins.

As the Song waited for traffic in the yard to be halted so it could proceed to the appointed berth, its shuttles, tugs, and fighters were launched. The fighters proceeded down to the planet where they would be housed in an underground base for the duration. The tugs and shuttles were flown around to the rear of the berthing structure and parked in a docking bay from which they could be launched at any time. If the small vessels weren't stored elsewhere, they would be stuck inside the enclosed berth until repairs were complete and the dock opened.

The gargantuan doors of the berthing structure were opened wide to receive the ship, but the almost kilometer long vessel was ordered to come to a halt outside and wait. Within minutes, yard tractors arrived and attached themselves to the ship. When all were secure, they took control of the ship and very slowly moved it into the enclosed space. It was another hour before all movement ceased. Tether lines attached to the ship held it securely in position.

Although every damaged hull plate would be replaced, most of the ship would remain pressurized. Even if the berth structure suddenly lost atmosphere, the ship was safe for habitation. Half the crew had already departed and would spend the next month on shore leave, before returning to allow the other half to leave. Half of the Space Marine contingent would likewise remain aboard at all times to provide continued security aboard ship.

At the yard director's office Jenetta inquired about turning over responsibility for the ship.

"I'm sorry, Commander," Mr. Quintana said, "but many of the regulations have changed since the Raiders were able to steal the two battleships from our yard. Now, once a ship has been commissioned, only the next commanding officer can accept responsibility for it, unless the ship has first been decommissioned. I certainly can't accept it. Uh, do you know who will be relieving you?"

"I haven't been told who will be taking command of the Song," she said. "I was only ordered to bring it here."

"Might I suggest that you contact Supreme Headquarters?"

"Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr. Quintana."

"In the meantime, as the ship's present commanding officer, you'll be available for regular consultation regarding the repairs and the schedule?"

"I suppose that I will."

"Excellent. And, by the way, welcome home, Commander. All Earth is waiting to greet Jenetta Carver and thank you for what you've done."

"Thank you, Mr. Quintana," Jenetta said smiling. "I'm delighted to be home again."

"Captain Charles Yung of the Frigate Roosevelt will be the new captain of the Song?" Jenetta repeated to the aide at the Admiralty Board that had finally been able to answer the question she had been asking everyone she could reach for the past hour.

"Yes, Commander. The Admiralty Board has confirmed his COAC selection and appointment."

"And can you tell me when he'll relieve me of command?"