Lyon's Pride (28 page)

“Come in.”

“Lieutenant Senior Grade Greevy reporting for duty, Primes, and I've taken the liberty of ordering peppers for you.”

Alison Anne was appropriately solemn-faced as she advanced with the tray of tall drinks which she presented first to Thian, managing a sly wink before she served his brother and Clancy.

“Good thinking, Lieutenant, and congratulations,” Thian said formally, then grinned. “Alison's taken courses in 'Dini health care, Rojer, Clancy…”

“Yes, while waiting for you to perform your first duties,” Greevy said, still very much in a dignified naval attitude, “I've had the chance to meet all your 'Dinis. So has Commander Kloo…”

“Rame's here?” Rojer cried and, careful not to slop the drink from his glass, he made his way to the lounge, where Semirame Kloo snapped him a salute before her face broke into a proud and grateful grin.

“I can't thank you guys enough. Del Falco turned pissant
with a vengeance when you skivved off,” she said, “which made him difficult enough until Clancy was yanked off, too. When the Admiral discovered his destination, the shit really got recirculated. I was clenching my teeth in expectation of where he'd land next when I got my orders. I don't think anyone's ever cleared the Phobos Base as fast as I did. And to the
Washington
, of all assignments! D'you guys have any idea how many people hate my guts now?”

“And we don't bloody care,” Clancy said, swinging Semirame up and around before he put her down on her feet again.

Still grinning, she pulled her tunic straight, because she was wearing the same formal uniform that the medic was.

“Then you've already been on the
Washington
a week?” Thian asked. When she nodded, still grinning, he asked who else Ashiant had brought of his
Vadim
officers.

“I haven't met even half my own watch yet,” Rame said, “but I know for sure he brought his engineering officer, Yuri Tikele, Ailsah Vandermeer as first officer and Commander Fadh Ah Min as weapons, plus quite a few of the
Vadim
's chief petty officers, too.”

“Not his number one? Commander Germys?”

Rame grinned. “He got booted up to captain on the
Vadim
.”

“Commander Exeter's here in sick bay,” Alison Greevy said, “and we've a Mrdini unit, because this is a mixed crew, and I'm liaison.” She added that with a grin of pride.

I always said you were cleverer than you knew, Greevy
, Thian said.

And you kept your promise
.

Only because
you
added an element that made it absolutely possible.

With due ceremony, Rame then handed a disk to Thian.
“I'm told you're officially the head of the Talent facility, Prime Thian, and I personally received this from Earth Prime Raven with instructions to give it into your keeping. It's for you three only: a listing of all the Talents in this fleet. A handful
are
known to their superiors as possessing
some
Talent, but they're mostly higher than the grade they're listed as. Some have come aboard in minor capacities with T-2 and T-3 qualifications. I respectfully suggest that you either 'port them to this lounge privately or allow me or Lieutenant Greevy to make contact. A code word for all Talents to open their minds to you has been set up throughout the Fleet. That's in the orders, too, and every one of us has been primed to response, though Earth Prime told me that
we
don't know what the word is.

“On an open frequency, the code word ‘Saki' will alert us to be on guard, for you and whoever else is named after that code.”

“Now,” and Alison took a step forward, “peppers not withstanding, Misters Prime, or is that Prime Misters, or what?”

“I'm not a Prime,” Clancy said with a grin.

“In here, we're informal, but if you've got to use titles, Prime'll do,” Thian said.

Alison cocked her head slightly. “I heard—scuttlebutt, mind you—that you got captain's rank.”

“I,”
Thian responded with a broad smirk, “was told that, humble civilians though all Talents are, T-1s are considered as holding a rank similar to that of a ship's captain.”

“But that doesn't mean we're captains,” Rojer said, finishing the explanation.

“So a T-2 like me would be equal to a lieutenant commander?” Clancy asked.

Thian shrugged. “Why not?”

“You did well…Clarence,” Semirame Kloo said, arching her eyebrows.

“I've got the Talent, kid.”

“What I started to say,” Alison began in a stern tone, “is that peppers notwithstanding, you Primes have a captains' dinner tonight, and that's captains plural plus all first officers so that's a mess of people. So you Primes get some rest. That was a big push you just made. Even Rame and I felt it, didn't we?” She looked toward the shorter commander for verification and got an answering grin.

“We're fine,” Rojer said negligently.

“That's because
you've
never been to a captains' dinner, coz,” said Clancy and glanced around at the half-open door. “Which is mine?”

Rame shrugged. “Whichever—since you're informal here.”

“Haven't you…” and Clancy stopped, gesturing vaguely at the room doors.

She shook her head. “I'm quartered nearby but Alison's down in sick bay. Now, you guys sack out! C'mon or they'll never stop talking.”

Greevy managed one more sly wink at Thian as the door slid shut behind her.

“Eeney, meeney, miney mo!” and Rojer's finger ended up pointing at the middle door on the port side of the lounge.

Thian grabbed his duffel and made for the top room on the other side as Clancy made for the nearest starboard one.

Thian noted with approval that this was a proper bedroom, though there were storage units under the double bed, and wardrobes, as well as private shower and toilet. He didn't feel fatigued at all until he had dutifully lain down. Almost as if there'd been a subliminal command, he fell instantly and deeply asleep.

T
HE captain's captains' dinner was every bit as formal as Thian, Rojer and Clancy dreaded. Captain Ashiant made good use of their fluency and acquaintanceship with Mrdinis and each had a 'Dini on either side. Opposite them were Humans and it was permissible to talk across the table from time to time.

Captain Ashiant sat at the head of the table, with Spktm, now captain of 'Dini Constellation
LSTS
, on his right and Thian on Spktm's right with the 'Dini first officer, Mgl, from the Galaxy
KLTL
as his other partner. Rojer was across from his brother with the 'Dini Galaxy-class commander, Ktpl of the
KLTS
, on one side and AS
LSTS's
first officer, Tlpl, on the other. All four 'Dinis were quite conversable so there was no problem for the brothers. They both 'pathed messages of encouragement to Clancy who was seated at the bottom of the table between the 'Dini destroyer captain and a Galaxy-class number one. But Clancy was also seated across from one of the three
women, a very attractive commander. The captain of the destroyer
Athene
was seated beyond Rojer and the third woman, another first officer, was beyond Thian by two places. Clancy quipped back that he was better off than they.

The food was good and each species treated to specialties designed to satisfy different palates. The wines were excellent and Spktm obviously relished the yellow beverage it was served, though the first officer, Tlpl, drank only water.

The dinner went on and on, with numerous courses, and much conversational time between each. Then Thian began to appreciate the ulterior motive of such a lengthy and seemingly formal affair. By the end of it, every one of the top-ranking officers had had a chance to assess each other, and the Primes, either by direct conversation or by observation.

When the final course of savories had been finished, and after-dinner beverages had been replenished, the stewards withdrew, the double doors swooshing shut, and Captain Ashiant rose.

“Captains, Primes and commanders, while we are still far enough away from the Hivers' objective, wherever that may be,” Ashiant began, and received a few chuckles, “I suggest that you take advantage of the lull to personally inspect the new facilities aboard the
Washington.
I know that the two Constellation-class ships have had the new weapons systems installed and so has the
Solidarity
, but we must all be aware of how these missiles can be effectively used.
If
we need to employ them.”

“
WHY HAVE THEM IF NOT TO USE THEM
,” Ktpl asked bluntly.

Ashiant leveled a glance at Ktpl. “
OUR ORDERS ARE WRITTEN SO THERE IS ONLY ONE MEANING, CAPTAIN KTPL
.” He
glanced around to be sure that all the Humans had understood his 'Dini reply. While Thian noted that Ashiant's command of the 'Dini language had improved in accent and fluency, he wasn't surprised when the captain continued in slow and well-enunciated Basic. “The Alliance High Council has spoken in these orders and guides us all in the performance of the objectives of this mission. We have the greatest fleet ever to set out across this galaxy. We will accomplish its aim: to be sure the remaining Hive spheres do not destroy life forms, do not begin two new colonies. When that is done, as you all know, this fleet is to separate and investigate other G-type star systems with M-5 planets that have been bypassed. And establish their condition. Five years have been allotted to these tasks. Let us drink to success, captains, Primes and commanders.”

Solemnly all rose and the toast was repeated by Human and 'Dini alike.

Thian rather hoped that this ended the evening but the diners left the long table and congregated in smaller groups: some officers renewing acquaintances while others solemnly discussed details.

“Don't turn,” said a low voice behind him and, recognizing Ashiant's tone, Thian complied. “Would you be good enough to 'port me to your quarters for breakfast tomorrow morning, Thian? Raven said you'd know me well enough to find me wherever I am on a ship, even the size of this one.”

Thian bent his head, appearing to smooth down his hair as he murmured his reply. “I can if you really require such security, sir.”

“This once, I do.”

Ashiant immediately drifted away, raising his voice to address Captain Cheseman of the
Solidarity.
Thian was still puzzling over that request when Clancy wandered up
to him to say that they could politely leave any time, now that two of the captains had bid Ashiant a polite farewell.

Thian “told” Clancy about Ashiant's request. “Why should a captain, a fleet commander, have to resort to such tactics, Clancy?” Thian asked, uneasy about subterfuge.

“Doubtless he'll tell us tomorrow morning at breakfast,” Clancy said, not at all perturbed. “And that's going to come soon enough,” he added, glancing at the digital which flashed 0235 at them. “At 0645.”

“I'll just secure this door,” Rojer said, waving his hand across the inner door pad. “I never
knew
a dinner could last this long and everyone—well, nearly everyone—still be stone-cold sober.”

*   *   *

Having set his internal alarm, Thian was awake at precisely 0630, showered and dressed by 0642. He found Clancy in the lounge ahead of him with a table for four loaded with covered dishes.

“Thanks!”

“Know my way about a ship's galley better'n you would.”

“Nonsense,” said Rojer, yawning as he joined them, his short hair still wet and soaking the neck of his fresh shipsuit. “You took a good few peeks into those stewards' minds last night so you'd know the exact layout and when not to freak 'em out of their minds, 'porting stuff up here.”

Clancy dismissed that accusation with a wave of his hand. “Thian, time!” Clancy said as the digital went from 0644 to 0645.

Thian easily located Captain Ashiant, whose quarters were on the same deck and not far away, but the man had had no warning to set down the cup he'd been drinking from when Thian transported him. He glanced quickly to be sure the liquid hadn't spilled from the cup and seemed
mildly astonished that it showed no ripple of its recent transplantation.

“Damned smooth, Thian lad, damned smooth,” he said and then gestured for Clancy to stand down from attention. “In these quarters, Sparrow, Talents don't stand on ceremony.”

“Thank you, sir,” Clancy said with one of his irrepressible grins. “Have some more breakfast, Captain?”

Simultaneously, a chair was pulled back from the table and covers whisked off the hot food they had concealed.

“Humph,” Ashiant remarked with a wry smile for each of the young men, “breakfast in here could get to be a pleasant habit.”

“Any time, sir,” Thian and Rojer chorused.