John Ringo - Against the Tide

“So what is he doing in charge of this?” Edmund asked.

“The New Destiny force is commanded by General Kossin,” Travante said. “I would suspect that Conner is something on the order of a control or a political agent, sent to… watch the proceedings rather than directly command. And if part of the plan was to capture your daughter, he would probably have had some charge in that.”

“I’m getting increasingly angry and frustrated with the degree of penetration New Destiny has managed,” Sheida said, shaking her head. “They knew where Edmund was and they knew where Rachel was. We’ve determined that there is a leak here, at a very high level. We’ve even determined who it is…”

“Don’t tell us,” Edmund said.

“I wasn’t going to,” Sheida replied, frowning and looking over at Joel. “I probably shouldn’t have even mentioned that much.”

“But since you have…” Joel said, “we’ve… cocooned the known source. From now on New Destiny will get only what we want them to get. From that source, at least. There are other suspects, here and elsewhere. But the time for housecleaning is… not yet.”

“Agreed,” Edmund said, frowning. “But we need to clean house. Soon. Certainly before any counterattack.”

“We have to deal with this attack, Edmund,” Sheida reproved. “Not worry about future plans.”

“Actually, I’ve already got a staff working on future plans,” Edmund replied. “You have to start the planning at least this early. However, yes, we have to deal with this attack first. And we will.”

“You’re confident of that?” Joel asked. “The… correlation of forces is suboptimal.”

“Let’s just say that… I’m sure that tomorrow will be a day of many fell deeds,” Edmund said, smiling tightly. “If that’s all…”

“I think so,” Sheida said, frowning. “Good luck, Edmund. You’ve never failed me before…”

“This won’t break the string,” Edmund assured her.

“Since I’m here,” Joel said, coughing and clearing his throat. “I don’t suppose I could have a moment alone with my daughter?”

“I’m headed for my cabin,” Edmund said, standing up and gesturing at the door. “Mistress Travante is free to have the room as long as she wishes.”

Sheida nodded to the two of them and vanished as Edmund, Shar and Herzer left the room. Herzer looked over his shoulder as he left and Megan smiled at him. He grinned back and closed the door.

“I’m… very glad to see you well,” Joel said, his voice catching slightly. He cleared his throat and sighed. “Very glad.”

“Just as glad as I was when Herzer told me you were alive,” Megan replied, grinning. Then she paused and frowned. “Any word on mother?”

“No, unfortunately,” Joel said. “She’s in a New Destiny held portion of the Briton Isles. I haven’t asked agents to go poking around for her, obviously. Far too dangerous for her. And them. One of Edmund’s plans that he alluded to will involve the recapture of the Briton Isles, first. Then we might be able to find her. If she was home.”

“But we’re here,” Megan said, brightly if brittlely.

“Yes,” Joel said, sighing. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, now. Once you close with the coast we can portal you to Chian…”

“I think… I should stay here,” Megan said. “At least until the battle is done. If it goes bad, I can always port out. And… well I’d rather stay here, for now.”

“I noticed that you seem… close to Major Herrick,” Joel said. “I don’t suppose that has anything to do with it?”

“You mean my boyfriend?” Megan replied, grinning. “Dad, if you don’t have agents on the boats, I’d be very surprised. And where the councilwoman is sleeping would be part of their reports.”

“As is her attachment to a young Blood Lord officer,” Joel said, nodding. “One that… spends a great deal of time trying to get himself killed.”

“He’s very good at not getting killed, as well,” Megan replied. “And as he pointed out to me, that’s his job. I want him to come back, but I think I’d love him less if he wasn’t what he is. He’ll make it; I have to believe that. And despite what your reports might say we’re not having sex. Too soon for me, something he understands. He’s a very unusual young soldier.”

“Yes,” Joel said, dryly. “I’ve seen those reports as well. How is Bast taking it?”

“She’s sleeping in the same cabin,” Megan chuckled. “She’s been good company. Herzer has suggested, a couple of times, that I… discuss things with her. About… what happened to me. I’ve talked to her some but not as much as either would prefer. I know I have to talk about it but… Bast is the wrong person for me. I’ll find a counselor after we get this battle settled. I promise.”

“Good,” Joel said. “Something else I can relieve my mind of. You’ve made me very proud of you, Megan. I was proud of you before, naturally; any father with a fine daughter is. But what you have been through, how you handled it, how you are handling the burden thrust upon you now, all of them make me very proud. Your mother would be proud as well. Will be when she hears about it.”

“Thank you,” Megan said, her face clouding. “I won’t say that any of it was easy.”

“Very few things that are easy are worth the time it takes to do them, Megan,” Joel said. “What you did was hard . And you did it well. What you are doing now is hard and you are doing it well. That is why I’m proud of you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Megan said, making a face.

“Now, go assure your friend that you’ve had a nice chat with your Poppa,” Joel said. “He looked as if he wasn’t sure.”

“I will,” Megan said, standing up and cocking her head at the avatar. “I can’t kiss you good night but…” She put her fingers to her lips and threw him a kiss. “Good night, Poppa.”

“Good night, Megan,” Joel said. “Be well.”

“I shall.”

“Ensign,” Edmund said as Van Krief came in the cabin. “Feeling a bit left behind on the tide of events?”

“A bit, sir,” Van Krief said, sitting down nervously as Edmund waved to the cot.

“Well, you’re not anymore,” Edmund said, tossing her a dispatch envelope. Unusually, it was still unsealed. “Read that.”

Van Krief opened the envelope and extracted the three sheets within. She read the first sheet, her face a somber mask, then turned to the second on which was included a map and the last, which was a signals supplement. When she was done she looked up.

“Comments?” Edmund asked.

“Bold, sir,” was all she said.

“Necessary,” Edmund replied. “Magalong has to move . He’s done well in the defense but he is going to have to move like lightning. You’re taking that dispatch to make that clear and to make clear why . You know why, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Van Krief said. “Sir, I’ll make sure he understands.”

“But only Magalong,” Edmund said. “Keep this very close. If it gets out, we’re all up a creek. And don’t go and wrap those around some cigars. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Van Krief replied.

“Dragon leaving in thirty minutes. You’re on it.”

“Yes, sir.”

And then there was one.

“Sheida,” Edmund said, sighing. “Sorry to bother you again.”

“I’m three hours behind you, Edmund,” the queen said, smiling. “And you’re never a bother. But you should be getting some sleep.”