Ships of Valor 1: Persona Non Grata (25 page)

“Ari, are you sure this is wise?”
Heart
voiced the question everyone else in the room had on their minds. I shook my head and told them of course not, but it was right. Sometimes you have to take the hard right over the wise choice. “As General Campbell said, there will be repercussions. There is a high probability you will not be allowed back on Terra. Ever.” I nodded and told them I knew. His concern was touching, and his reasoning was solid enough to push through my anger, but my choice was not emotional. Just because I was mad, didn’t make the decision wrong. The choice wasn’t about me. It had never been about me. The mission was always about the greater good, no matter how much I despised that phrase. When the General had offered me the job he had escalated my self-interest by offering me a devil’s bargain but he did it in the name of doing something bigger than myself. At the time, I thought I was selfish and my treating it like a solo mission had reinforced the mindset. But when it boiled down to it, my mission was to provide stability and mission was more important than any personal reward.

“Son, let me do this. I at least have a little insulation. The Terran Alliance already hates me. It’s a good plan, but you’re giving up too much for it.” I told him I wasn’t giving up a damn thing. Everything I needed was in that room or close enough. My family was there, him, Lysha, with
Heart
and Robert via teleconference. “All right. Legion gave the go ahead. They agree the Zhangs are a threat. Maybe not today, but based on their history they will be, and that’s why the Legion exists. Unfortunately, they’re not the kind of threat we can deal with traditionally.”

It was decided. Strangely, I had none of my regular nervousness when I entered the assembly the second day. I was walking with a sense of purpose. The first hour was routine, with pleasantries and discussions and what appeared to be the new normal of having Mistress Zhang as part of the collective. After the first break, the General asked for a few minutes to make a few administrative announcements and was everyone seemed content to grant him the stage.

“First, I’d like to offer two sets of congratulations. Our own Ari Gadsden has received a promotion to Colonel for his services during these troubling times.” Pointing to me, I waved and received a bit of applause. I was still in my Legion jacket with the huge gold sergeant’s stripes but added my new rank insignia to the collar of what passed for a dress shirt. I could feel the pins backings of the silver triangles pressing into my throat reminding me of the weight of what was about to happen. 

“Additionally, it has come to our attention Mistress Zhang has been granted Luna Citizenship.” More applause. Although much of it seemed polite like the clapping for my promotion, there was quite a bit that appeared genuine. Humans have a few real strengths. First is our ability to chase. We don’t get tired making us excellent hunters able to become predators on par with creatures far beyond our weight, strength, or even ferocity. Second is or ability to adapt. We are able to evolve to new situations quickly. I’ve dealt with other galactic races and this is our huge advantage compared to most of them. Most are steeped in generations of how things are done because it works. Humans are young in comparison. We are still figuring it out giving us a massive edge when dealing with new situations. Finally, is our ability to forget. It’s what keeps us from killing each other.

The Zhangs were both human and not. They were leveraging our willingness to forget to maximum effect. When the General had invited GSI and Mistress Zhang to the assembly, he had a plan in mind. That plan was quickly scrapped due to the revelations and her own maneuverings. I hoped my new plan was both good enough and simple enough to survive first contact.

“We are pleased by this great honor.” The cacophonous voice grated at me, but the situation would be over soon. The dissonance set my nerves on edge to the point where it took me an act of will to stay sitting. I felt like there was an undertone of screams hiding within her voice. After
Heart’s
comments about multiple personalities fighting for control, I thought I understood. Mistress Zhang was the senior voice and the discord was the rest were battling within a singular host like the biblical demon Legion. This had come down to a Legionnaire versus Legion.

“There are however a few other matters of discussion. There are certain criminal activities that have come to light, which may chill our proceedings a bit. Are you aware of these accusations, Mistress Zhang?” The poker face he had was amazing. The collected audience shifted back and forth between the faceless booth and General Campbell unsure who was displaying less emotion.

“We are sure the allegations are unfounded.” The voice cracked. It wasn’t only me who heard it. The rest of the audience roared demanding to know what was going on. General Campbell gave them a solid five count before raising his hand, not quite requesting silence. He was playing the crowd letting them feed on the smell of blood. “Of course, of course. I’m sure all of these questions can be answered in due course. At trial.” He let the words hang in the air.

“We will not stand trial.” Mistake number one. Never tell someone what you won’t do. The crowd lost it. The thing about diplomacy is the illusion that no one is above the rules. Everyone is, but has to appear no one is. By flat out saying they were going to ignore the rules, Mistress Zhang had lost all the protection she had gained the previous day. Their arrogance was their undoing. I stifled a chuckle.

The General took the rebuke in stride, playing ever the diplomat. “My apologies, I meant a discussion.” His calm voice made him seem reasonable in the throng who was quickly becoming passionate. It was a great trick; I had seen used before. Nothing makes an argument appear to fall apart faster than different levels of emotional investment. By remaining on the colder side of the argument, he made even little spikes of heat seem disproportionately large in comparison.

“There is nothing to discuss.” Mistake number two. We were sitting in the land where everything was discussed, even if not worth discussing. The point was the talking. When parties were talking, they weren’t fighting. That was what diplomacy was all about. Not fighting. Refusal to talk was the equivalent of pulling out a glove and slapping someone.

“We are not subject to your authority.” Mistake number three. No one said the Zhangs were, but corporations don’t make rules, governments do, especially on good old Terra. Mistress Zhang seemed to have forgotten all of her holdings were located on sovereign land. She was indeed subject to quite a few of the nations’ authority, but the General played off her response a different way.

The General actually stepped back and took on a hurt look. “Oh, I’m sorry you feel that way, but you are mistaken. With citizenship comes obligation. Additionally, none of us is truly autonomous. You cannot murder other sentient beings without expectation of backlash.” This was the first time he had said what the actual charge was and at the word murder, there were gasps. I almost laughed.

“Who do you accuse us of murdering?” Mistake number four. Never ask a question you don’t know the answer to if you aren’t in control of the situation. The answer will shock you. Worse, if you are in charge of the situation, and you ask it, chances are you are going to lose control of the situation. That’s what happened to Mistress Zhang. She committed a cardinal mistake and walked into our trap.

The large display behind me lit up with several names under the headings of murder and attempted murder. On one side were several more as of Max Hayes former security and technical team from Fiji. On the other side were other members as well as hers and my own. I wanted to smile but these were people who had lost their lives to take down this monster. Taking joy at the Zhangs’ downfall would bring me closer to being like them and I would not tolerate that. Before I had a chance to move, Hayes herself was standing in her full uniform center stage next to General Campbell. “Mistress Zhang, by the power vested in me by the Empress, may she live forever, you are to submit to the authority of this council. Failure to do so will result in all known equipment being destroyed.”

That was not how the meeting was supposed to go down. The original plan had been for a Legion arrest. Our purpose was Galactic stability and the Zhangs ran counter to that. They had destabilized not only the Terran Alliance but Sol in the process. The Zhangs were a direct threat to intent and spirit of the Legion’s charter. That was how I had managed to sell the intervention to HQ back on Luna with the General’s help.

As the General had gotten the Terran Alliance probationary status back in the GU, Legion had authority to operate again. My promotion to Colonel was honorary and gave me not only the perceptual standing to sit next to the General, but also the legal jurisdiction to conduct the arrest. Everything had gone according to plan up until Hayes stepped in. I was in no position to stop her since Arion was her home turf, but I sure as hell wanted to know why the plan had changed at the last possible second.

She was in the outside hall waiting but before I could ask what in the hell was going on she stopped me with a raised hand. “You’ve got friends in high places and I owed you one. You could have let me bleed out. You didn’t. Now we’re square.” She turned and walked away. I wanted nothing more than wring her scrawny neck or to put three more holes in her, but
Heart
had told me I wasn’t allowed to have my gun in Arion, and I was neither brave enough nor sure enough I could take her without it. Especially, if she knew I was coming. I settled for staring at her leaving, fantasizing about ways her day could go as horribly wrong as mine just had.

“Do I need to be jealous?” I turned and saw Lysha looking at me slightly cockeyed. Her smile instantly brightened my mood. I told her not in the least as that one was meaner than a rattlesnake and I preferred my women tall and auburn, not short and blonde. She laughed. Oh, how I loved her laugh. I was so caught up in the sound and the smell of oranges I almost forgot to ask when and why the plan changed.

“You were willing to give up everything to do the right thing. You shouldn’t have to give up coming home.” She bit her lip. “Robert realized the Empire could do the arrest since we were in Arion. I made some calls.” She shrugged as though it were no big deal. “It seems to have worked out. I’m not sure which was better, Zhang’s reaction or Adam’s. He didn’t know we were changing things either.” I told her I didn’t catch the General’s. “You don’t play cards with him but he was also facing the crowd at the time. He was expecting you a few seconds later, so he was shocked when Maxie showed up.”

She had skirted it a couple of times but I knew she was actively avoiding the real issue. Her poker face was almost as good as the General’s but the lip bite was a dead giveaway. She was nervous and didn’t know how to broach the issue. We had met because I couldn’t come back to Terra. It was what brought us together. That situation no longer existed. She was happy for me but she didn’t want to lose me. I didn’t want to lose her either. Less than a day ago I had decided what was more important to me. When all the chaff was gone, I had chosen her.

I would always choose her. Terra wasn’t home anymore. It was where I came from but home was where Lysha was, for as long as she would have me. I told her this. For my troubles, I got kissed and called “Fuel for brains. I was wondering how long it would take you to realize that.” I let her know one of my most endearing qualities was being a bit oblivious sometimes, and tall, I was also tall, which got me another laugh and a solid kiss.

I was hovering on the verge of sleep. My eyes shut listening to all the sounds of the ship.
Heart’s
repairs had been completed in Arion, and the Empire had been kind enough to replace both of his destroyed lifeboats. Our return flight to the Luna was scheduled to take under a day. Lysha was in the seat next to me playing with Em and trying to figure out what we were going to do with cats on the moon. “I don’t know that she’s going to handle the lower gravity well, and I really don’t think I can keep it this high all the time. I don’t know how you can stand it.”

I had visions of a cat that was already able to jump several meters, doing things using those Terra defined muscles on Luna. I really had not thought this obligation through. Luckily, my partner chimed in with a healthy dose of good sense. “There is a long tradition of ship’s cats. I believe Em and the kittens will make good companions for me while you and the Colonel are enjoying your honeymoon.” I told him to knock it off, as the rank was honorary. “Not to argue, but yours appears to be a permanent commission. Your retired status seems to be rescinded.” Bloody hell. I told him to get my retirement papers back in before the General got any funny ideas and drafted me again.

“They’ll have to go through me first, love.”

Aaron Kennedy has had an eclectic career including eight years in the Marines, several as a technical writer, arms dealer, dispatcher, and various management roles. He lives in Virginia with his wife, son, and many cats. When not writing or working, he spends his time training for endurance running events.

He welcomes readers to contact him at
[email protected]
and at
www.shipsofvalorbooks.com