''Sorry, I didn't mean to forget who was in charge here.''
''There was no question who commanded here, Kris. I think Gassy was just showing he remembered who signed his paychecks.''
''Every time I get into one of these things, it's with a cat-knitted ball of yarn for a chain of command.''
Ron stood at the single step up to the Fire Center, watching the last sailors march out of the square. ''I'm really going to let the rapist get off scot free,'' he muttered.
''I didn't agree to that,'' Kris said.
''Didn't we just agreed to return Hank's sailors?''
''Yes. But we said nothing about their condition at return.''
Ron frowned. ''What are you up to? You've just stopped a war, Longknife. I know that's unusual for your family. Are you going to start another one now?''
''I doubt it. Are you aware of the gauntlet?''
''A strong glove, maybe fire resistant?''
''But also an ancient form of punishment. You form two rows of nice, kindly folks with clubs, then someone runs between them. I'm surprised one of your commissioners hasn't done one.''
''Who are the nice people you're thinking of?''
''The two girls that were raped. Their friends; boys and girls. Who do you think might be interested?''
''Half the planet,'' Ron sighed.
''I'll head topside as soon as the last launch is off. I'll let you know when the fleet will be leaving. You figure out what you want to do about getting the sailors to the landers.''
Ron nodded and walked off. Jack stayed at Kris's elbow. ''You hoping the girls flinch. Won't want to club the sailors?''
Kris thought about it for a moment. Things could get dicey if sailors got hurt. Was it better not to? Would she want to beat up the coworkers of someone who raped her and…
''I know I'd want to take a lead pipe to anyone who hurt you,'' Jack said.
Kris looked sideways at Jack. Whichever way it turned out, it was nice to learn that one thing about her nanny. Very nice.
Chapter 17
Kris watched the Incredible cut loose its last tie-down with her station, very mixed emotions riling her gut. Hank was leaving, which was cause for much rejoicing. That Hank was leaving without paying an Earth dollar for the damage his men had done, left a very sour taste in the financial markets dirt-side.
That the young women who'd been assaulted chose not to retaliate on the sailors, was no comfort to Kris. Part of her wanted to be down there with a thick leather strap. But there were five hundred sailors and only two rapists. And those rapists might very well have snuck out with the initial release of sailors that first night. Whenever Kris felt the need to pound on a Greenfeld sailor, the mental image that always came to her was Chief Meindl… and his wife and two children.
''I'm glad this dirty business is over,'' Kris muttered. This was part of the Longknife creed she'd never faced before. We do the least lousy thing when all the other options are worse. Grampa Trouble, are there any more things about being a Longknife that you haven't mentioned?
The first launch connected with the Incredible. There were more on the way, now. Carefully spaced, Hank was rewarded with fifty more sailors every time a ship started to pull out or completed the process. The sensor suites on the Resolute, Wasp, and even the Patton were up. At the first sign of hostility from the ships, Kris would be on the horn to Hank. If she didn't get immediate satisfaction, the station's 6-inch lasers would do their best to fillet and fry those ships. At this range, a 6-inch laser could do horrible things. Of course, return fire wouldn't leave much of the station in one piece.
Matters could still go south in a hurry.
Kris stood the watch, hand never far from the mike. Jack sat at the weapons station, his thumb next to the Weapons Release button. Today, full crews manned the lasers; they were fully charged and tracking. Kris expected a complaint from Captain Slovo, but the commlinks between ships and stations stayed at only those low levels necessary for getting underway details.
The last ship, Max Göckle's Eager, trundled down the pier, unlocked its bowline, and angled for the last launch. ''Now we're most vulnerable,'' Kris whispered. ''He's got all his crew back. We hold no cards.''
''Hank ordered the squadron to form line on the flagship,'' Steve said from the comm desk. ''No hostile sensor reports from our ships.'' The former and very recent commander of the station was in jeans… a chicken farmer once more to all appearances.
''Keep our lasers sighted on his rocket motors,'' Kris said.
''That's what I'm doing,'' Jack whispered. Out in space, the cruisers jockeyed into their positions. They were now a battle line. Kris held her breath.
''Message from the flag,'' Steve reported, the relief in his voice already telling Kris what would follow. ''Begin one g deceleration on his mark. His mark is… now.''
And the squadron broke orbit.
And the bridge broke out in cheers. Decorum regulations were excused long enough for everyone to hug someone… or two… or three. Well, not quite everyone. Kris stood like a rock at her station, watching as the ships continued their orbital change. Beside her, Jack sat, eyes on his board, looking for any change. Then, as the ships fell further and further away, he said, not looking up at Kris. ''Permission to stand down.''
Kris took a second to make sure she saw nothing wrong. Nothing changing. Then she sighed and sat down in the chair next to Jack. ''Permission granted, Marine.''
Jack eyed the people celebrating around them. He reached over and gently stroked Kris's back. She shivered at his touch. And his hand went away after one ''pat on the back'' that wasn't. ''You did it, Kris. You took this planet through a major crisis, stopped a patented Peterwald takedown, and did it without a single person dying. This is better than Turantic.''
''I had more support here. Ron was for me. And we did have two rapes. Them and buildings burned.''
''Kris, no one gets a perfect score on one of these.''
''What are your orders, Your Highness?'' Steve asked.
''You know you don't have to do that,'' Kris said. ''I don't think Chance will ever recognize Wardhaven nobility.''
''No, but I think a lot recognize you. Now, again, I ask what are my orders, or do you want me to salute?''
''Genuflecting should suffice,'' Jack said.
''And when did a squid ever take advice from a jarhead?''
''Gentlemen,'' Kris said, ''I've avoided one war this week. I don't have enough in me for another. Steve, tell your personnel to stand down. They can order whatever they want from the station's restaurants, watch a movie, whatever. The station will pay. I want a minimum staff left on all sensors. Keep the lasers charged. Hold everyone here for the next six hours. I want to make sure Hank's got a solid head of steam up for a jump point… and I want to know which one he's headed for.''
Now Steve did salute, an informal thing that bore more respect than most in the history of that honor. ''Aye, aye, ma'am. Now, if you don't mind me saying so, you look exhausted. You, too, Marine. Why don't the two of you get some sleep. I'll keep the watch. Anything goes wrong, you'll hear real fast.''
''I could sleep the clock around,'' Kris said through a yawn.
''Me, too,'' Jack agreed, offering her a hand up. Somehow the hand stayed on her back as they left the Command Center. It was good he did; she kind of needed steering toward her stateroom.
Jack opened the door. Kris thought of inviting him in for a drink. But she saw her bed and had just enough energy to fall in that direction. A moment later she felt Jack removing her shoes.
She rolled over. And found herself smiling at Abby as her maid slowly unrolled her from undress khakis. Kris was asleep before her maid was done.