Duty, Honour, Love

Eight people sat either side of a long table in an office. Karasena sat beside Mark it felt natural having him at her side. Dareia sat on her other side while Jane sat beside her. Across the table the Chief sat with Cloiytie and with them were Laura Rollins and Kathleen Morin. The expression on their faces grim as Karasena unfolded what Admiral Katares had told her.

The Chief leaned across the table staring directly at Karasena. Instinctively Mark reached for her hand and clasped it under the table. She felt better for his assurance.

“Admiral Katares’ info correct?” the Chief asked her.

“He certainly wouldn’t lie to me!” Karasena responded as was rewarded with a hand squeeze from Mark. He was on her side as were both Dareia and Jane.

“These raiders have six ships?” Cloiytie said thoughtfully. “Do we know their capacity and armaments?”

“I’ll comm Katares for more info he seemed to want us to be prepared. I’d say six who knows how many will actually appear?” Karasena said to her.

The Chief grunted. “Eight weeks or less isn’t enough time to train what militia we have?”

“Danielle is confident we can dismount the point defence railguns from the Orinoco. We can count on sixteen in working order. We have three torpedoes maximum range of a thousand k’s.” Mark paused then continued. “And the main gun which is only useful if a target is a direct line of sight.”

Jane now felt justified that she hadn’t ripped the wires out of the controls. She remained silent her mind on Dareia and finding out if she was a telepath. She was filling her mind with erotic images involving her and Dareia in hopes the T’Arni would betray herself. Unfortunately Dareia hadn’t even twitched. Abandoning her efforts she concentrated on the task at hand, how to defeat the raiders.

Karasena continued. “I’ll assign some of my soldiers to help you with the training. I’ll put Lieutenant Dareia in charge. She’s the only one of us with combat experience.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dareia said in a neutral voice. She was well aware of what Jane was trying to do. It amused her with the efforts the Human was going through to get her attention.

“And me,” Jane asked.

Mark spoke. “Lieutenant Walberg I need a coherent plan for defence of the city.”

“Yes sir,” Jane said almost snapping a salute.

“I’ll supply Lieutenant Walberg with all the info she needs. I’ve been here since the first buildings were constructed.”

“Doctor Morin?” the Chief asked Kathleen.

Kathleen made a face. “I’ll increase the training of my staff I’ll make up some excuse. I have just the person for that.” She turned to Mark. “In light of that I’m retaining Doctor Olivia de Cigales’ services for that.”

“And I and the rest of my team will be brushing up on our first aid skills,” Laura added.

The Chief nodded thoughtfully. “Right we’ve all got our assignment lets get to them then? Meeting adjourned.”

They split up and exited the room.

Karasena stopped Mark with a light touch on his arm. “Mark?” she said quietly unsure if she was doing the right thing.

“Karasena?” Mark responded instantly.

“Will you walk with me, Dee and Jane can work out the details.”

“Always,” Mark replied his eye searching her face. It couldn’t be the PD’s he had already outlined that plan on the way to the meeting. He heavily doubted Jane and Dareia would work out any details language was a barrier between them.

Karasena warmed to his words which made her even more uncertain that she was doing the right thing. But being here with him was all the comfort she needed.

Unknown both Laura and Kathleen weren’t that far away. Laura had a conspiratorial look in her eyes. Kathleen found it amusing despite the seriousness of the situation they were in. In fact she felt liberated it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She was enough of realist to know it wouldn’t last but she was determined to enjoy it while she could.

“Laura?”

“Our president will need a stable relationship,” Laura quipped.

“Ok start talking rationally. President, Erikino doesn’t have a president?”

“Oh it will once this is over. Karasena is the only ideal candidate!”

Kathleen stared at Laura confused. “Ok who replaced Laura Rollins this one isn’t making any sense?”

“We need a strong leader that speaks for all of Erikino not just Hawthorn. Karasena will be that.”

Kathleen wasn’t certain about that. “Ok,” she countered. “Why not Mark Stillway?” Again a nonsensical question for an answer of the same.

“Technically he’s still a POW but as Karasena’s husband they’d be a force to be reckoned with. GO team ‘K’!”

“That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard and I’ve heard some of the hospital requests for expenditures so I’d know?”

“See that’s got you interested,” Laura laughed.

“No it hasn’t,” Kathleen said with a shake of her head.

“We can discuss this further on the way back. And as the Chief says we have work to do.” Laura paused and looked around quickly. “Oh one other thing you should know. Lieutenant Dareia is a telepath she tried to hide it from me but it was obvious she was and Lieutenant Walberg knows or thinks she does.”

Kathleen glanced at Laura. “She doesn’t have the symbol?”

“Neither do I if you recall then I was born here but my parents did.” Laura sounded disgusted with that. “I consider it as a mark of slavery, behave or they’ll drug you senseless.” Laura snorted derisively. “The Confederacy would deny it but amounts to the same. You have to be registered. It’s supposed to tell everyone you’ve been trained etc, etc.” She took a deep breath. “I’m better than that.”

This was a side of Laura that Kathleen had never seen she always counted the woman professional in everything she did.

“Laura?”

“Sorry for that outburst. I best get back Allie will start to worry. I can’t undo my hard work.”

“You really like that girl?” Kathleen said and regretted her words. “My turn to say sorry.”

Laura waved it off. “I’ve never had a child, too busy with work. Allie Brock is the closest I’ll get to having a daughter.” She shook herself. “Best go before I get too maudlin coffee would help.”

“Coffee?” Kathleen could quite comprehend Laura’s turnabout.

“Coffee or more specifically your coffee.

”

Kathleen just sighed and despaired at her dwindling coffee reserves. With that they left.

Jane was already outside arguing with security when Dareia reached her. Although she could read Jane’s mind there was nothing she could say to her while language was a barrier. Then she doubted Jane would fully trust her while secrets remained between them, hers and Jane’s. She heard one of the Security Officers speak as she approached his mind on his job.

“Ma’am,” the Security Officer said politely. “You can’t walk the streets without an escort.” He was speaking in Terran but Dareia read that from his mind.

“Damn it why not,” Jane replied holding onto her temper by a thread. “It isn’t if I’ve anywhere to run to!”

“We can’t leave our posts you’ll have to wait here until I’ve called for an escort.”

“What’s going on here?” Dareia interjected although she already knew what was.

The Security Officer switched to Galactic the roughness of his accent a clear indicator it wasn’t his first language. “I can’t let the Terran walk the streets on her own.”

“I’ll escort her,” Dareia said patting the sidearm on her hip. She thought it disrespectful calling Jane a Terran when he was one as well.

“Of course ma’am.”

The second Officer approached into the range of her telepathy. His thoughts invaded her mind with thoughts so disgusting almost making her flinch. In his mind he was happy to rape Jane. Her quandary was to let Jane know she was a tepe and come out warn her that the so called Security Officer was a rapist. As much as she hated it she’d have to keep it secret and tell Karasena when she could. With as much dignity as she could she turned to the other Security Officer and asked. “Tell Lieutenant Walberg that I’ll escort her back.”

The Security Officer dutifully translated.

Jane was unhappy with the turn of events but despite her distrust of Dareia it was the best option. She didn’t like the looks one of the Security Officer was giving her. Something about him warned her senses. The two women walked back to the Festival Hall. Jane in silence while Dareia had to put up with a riot of thoughts. It was going to be a long day for the both of them.