Jack Campbell - Leviathan

She sighed heavily. “I guess Badaya has his uses. That must be why I haven’t killed the idiot yet.”

“That, and it would be against regulations.”

“Yeah. I have to set a good example for the junior officers, who thanks to you have a much better chance of living long enough to grow into senior officers.” She ran one hand through her hair, grimacing. “Badaya is lucky Jane Geary wasn’t here, though. Speaking of which, in case you haven’t noticed, Jane Geary forgave you some time ago.”

“I noticed. She had a lot to be angry about.”

Desjani’s grimace changed into a scowl. “No, she didn’t. You didn’t create the legend of Black Jack that meant every Geary in your family had to join the fleet in order to carry on the great tradition. You didn’t start the war in the first place. You didn’t choose to get stuck in a damaged escape pod that had nearly exhausted its power when we finally found you after a century—”

“I really don’t like to think about that either, Tanya,” Geary objected.

“Sorry. And you didn’t take the fleet to Prime to fall into a Syndic trap that nearly destroyed the fleet and lost the war.” Desjani fixed him with a demanding gaze. “Did you? And you didn’t even ask Michael Geary to cover the retreat. He volunteered, sparing you having to ask him. Jane Geary was angry at Black Jack. She never should have been angry at you, and, eventually, she realized that.”

“Thanks,” Geary said. “It’s still hard…” He paused, looking toward the star display floating over the center of the table. “And speaking of hard, I need to call Roberto Duellos back.”

“Do you mind if I stay?” Desjani asked.

“No, I guess not.” Geary tapped the controls, and after a few seconds, the image of Duellos reappeared, standing beside the table.

“Admiral?” His gaze shifted to Desjani. “Personal or professional?”

“Professional,” Geary said. “ Inspire will take at least another week in dock before she can get underway again.”

Duellos hesitated. “I am going to make that happen faster than scheduled.”

“A week is already faster than scheduled. I assumed you would get things done faster, but a week is longer than I can wait before heading for Bhavan.” He could see the disappointment that Duellos was having a hard time hiding. “That actually works out to our advantage. I want some insurance against the possibility that dark ships might attack Varandal while the fleet is gone. Inspire , Formidable , and Implacable can provide that insurance along with a scratch force of cruisers and destroyers that will also be getting operational again in the same time frame. And I’m not exaggerating at all when I say that having you in command of the remaining elements of the fleet at Varandal will be a source of great comfort to me.”

“I see.” Duellos pursed his lips as he thought, then nodded. “I understand both your logic and your reasons. I’m not happy, but it’s not your job to make me happy, and it is my job to do what is needed. What am I supposed to do if dark ships do show up?”

“That depends on how many there are,” Geary said. “If it is a force small enough that you can handle it, try to bring it to battle and wipe it out. I’m sure that you’ve been studying the records of the engagements we’ve already fought with the dark ships and know what a challenge that will be. They’re tough, fast, and nimble.”

Duellos smiled. “So are my battle cruisers.”

“As I know from personal experience,” Geary agreed. “If the dark ships come in force, then your job will be to divert them from attacking other targets in Varandal, attempt to lure them into futile chases and missed intercepts against your force, and in general stall them and prevent them from doing damage while waiting for the rest of the fleet to get back to Varandal.”

“That shouldn’t be too difficult,” Duellos remarked in a dry voice that made it clear he was mocking his own words. “I’ll do my best, Admiral.” He saluted, clearly ready to depart again.

“Roberto,” Desjani said, “how is everything else?”

“Ah, now we are engaged with personal matters.” Duellos paused, his expression shifting, then made a slight, indefinite gesture with both hands. “There is a clearer understanding. My wife knows how much losing this would hurt me.” He waved around, this time including the entirety of the ships and environment of the fleet in the gesture. “And I understand better her concerns for me and for the future.”

He made a face. “Our eldest daughter is complicating matters. She has a strong desire still to enter the fleet as well, despite many now telling her it is a dead end and no longer required since peace abounds and nothing really important will ever happen again.”

Desjani smiled bitterly. “Yeah, I’m loving this peace stuff. I wonder how the folks at Bhavan are feeling about that right now?”

“Not to mention those at Atalia,” Duellos said. “That’s what worries my wife. She knows the risks of being in the fleet still exist. And if our daughter follows me into the service…”

Desjani smiled wryly. “I’d offer to look after her, but I’ve had so many ships shot out from under me that wouldn’t necessarily comfort anyone.”

“No, it wouldn’t. My wife and I agreed that we have visions for the future that are incompatible, and we agreed that we still want to have a future with each other. So… a dilemma.”

“There are assignments that could keep you closer to home,” Geary said.

“System defense?” Duellos looked offended. “After all we have seen?”

“What about a training assignment? That’s valuable. A chance to pass on what you have learned. At the least, you could save a few lives by teaching people what not to do.”

Duellos paused, then shrugged. “Perhaps. If we can resolve this latest mess. I will keep an eye on the place until you return, Admiral, and if the dark ships show up, I will see what some old, beat-up battle cruisers and some beat-up crews can do against the newest bright and shiny that attracted the eyes of our leaders.”

Three days later, the hastily assembled First Fleet was approaching Varandal’s hypernet gate when a courier ship carrying Captain Jane Geary popped out.

“What’s happening?” Jane Geary asked as the courier ship raced to intercept Dreadnaught so she could rejoin her ship.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t make it back before we left,” Geary told her.

She scowled. “I delivered the information to the people you had specified. I’ll fill you in on that later though I will say now that each of them promised to immediately get on the matter. But, after delivering the materials, I couldn’t get a ship back to Varandal. Delays and excuses and postponements. Finally, I threatened to go public, and this courier ship miraculously became available.”

“I’m glad that worked. Your executive officer can brief you on the situation when you reach Dreadnaught . We’ll enter the hypernet gate as soon as the courier ship delivers you and gets free of the hypernet bubble.” As Jane Geary’s image vanished, Geary turned a concerned look toward Desjani. “They were trying to delay her return. Do you think her threat to speak to the press is really what got her back here?”

“Of course it did.” Desjani said it as if the answer should be obvious. “She’s a Geary.”

“She’s not Black Jack—”

“She’s his closest living relative. I mean, as far as is known,” Desjani said. “Her special status isn’t confined to fleet matters or politics. If she wants to talk to the press, the press will come running.” She sighed. “According to everything I heard, Jane never sought out the press. She didn’t exploit her status in any way. But that could have been because it would have been perceived, rightly or wrongly, as her personally benefiting from the family name. Now, she’s working the problem along with us, and she’s using every weapon in her inventory to help us win.”