His father came alone, leaving his protocol officers aboard his shuttle. Robb knew the man liked to do things himself.General Brindle. He still couldnt get used to his fathers title. Of course, he himself was now Commodore.
Conrad Brindle stood in the corridor in front of the lift, wearing a snappy new EDF uniform complete with fresh stars on his shoulders. Instead of his usual unreadable expression, a succession of emotions played visibly across the older mans face.
Robb stared at him for a moment and finally said, I. I dont know whether or not Im supposed to salute you.
His father frowned. I wouldnt worry about a thing like that now. Weve got more important matters to deal with.
Ill take you to Fleet Admiral Willis, then. Robb gestured for him to enter the lift. Then he added, Weve always been trying to help, you know. He realized that this might be their only brief chance to talk alone. The lift doors whisked shut, and they began to ascend to the bridge. Thank you for what you did at Pym. They both knew that Conrads actions had probably saved Robbs life there.
General Lanyan made it necessary. His father looked at him coolly, then finally burst out, Robb, I was furious with you for abandoning me on Theroc. Your training, your oaths of loyalty, your impeccable service. all thrown away for a bunch of rebels who tore up the Hansa Charter? You turned your back on the Hansa, on the EDF.
But not onEarth, and never you. I always did what I thought was best for Earth, and I stand by the course I chose. Robb stiffened, facing the closed doors, knowing they would open on the bridge at any moment.
Instead of making a bitter retort, Conrad surprised Robb by nodding slowly. For my own part, I thought I was being loyal to Earth by remaining true to theEarth Defense Forces, but serving under General Lanyan made me ashamed. I participated in despicable acts, robbing the Golgen skymine complex as if we were a bunch of pirates. We went to a Roamer asteroid-processing facility, too, but it was already destroyed. Then, at the Osquivel shipyards all those civilian. Conrad looked stricken. Casualties.
When the lift doors whisked open, the two took a moment to recover their professional composure before stepping out onto theJupiter s main deck.
Admiral Willis got to her feet. Congratulations on your promotion, General. You were always an excellent soldier and, in my opinion, not as much of a horses ass as Lanyan was.
Conrad was taken aback by her candor. The consequences of my predecessors decisions. speak for themselves. I hope to employ a somewhat different command approach.
Robb extended his hand. Nows our chance to set things straight, sir. He glanced at the immensely complex tangle of projected orbits of all the lunar fragments that had been mapped thus far. Theres plenty of work to do.
His father nodded. Ive already authorized the release of our largest warhead stockpile. The Chairman objected to putting such weapons anywhere close to Confederation loyalists, but I overruled him when eight fragments left a chain of craters across the Sahara. He drew a deep breath, gazing toward the deceptively calm image of Earth on the viewscreen. He could not see the deadly storm of rubble all around them in space, but he knew it was there.
Chairman Wenceslas didnt want us to use every means possible to prevent further impacts? Robb said in disbelief. What in the world did he expect us to do with the atomics launch a warhead strike on Earth?
Admiral Willis shook her head, looking disgusted. These fragments are bad enough, General Brindle, but in my studied opinion, the Chairman himself is an even greater danger to Earth.
113
Sarein
When Basil came to her quarters that night, Sarein was not ready for him.
After the murder of Captain McCammon, the sudden disaster with the Solar Navy, and then the faeros at the Moon, the Chairman had withdrawn to deal with other emergencies. Sarein had avoided him entirely and had actually been relieved when he retreated to his underground bunker far beneath the Hansa HQ.
Every shred of hope, every small confidence that she could change him and halt his plunge into irrationality, had died with McCammon.
Now, in the middle of the night, Basil stood at her door looking as if he could go anywhere he wished, and she knew she had no choice but to let him in. If she had considered it even remotely likely that he would visit her, Sarein would have found a different place to sleep. to hide.
Now it was too late. She didnt dare raise his suspicions, since she knew what he was capable of doing. He had given the order to kill McCammon with no more emotion than he would have shown in asking for a sandwich. Had that truly been the end of his witch hunt, or was he still suspicious?
Now he was here.
And he wanted totouch her.
Basil smiled at her. Thats not a very warm welcome, Sarein. She thought there was a smell of blood about him, a metallic tang that made her heart stutter. You seem surprised to see me. You must feel neglected. Have you forgotten all the times you asked me to come to your quarters? Those were good days. stable days. He raised his eyebrows. I was afraid you might think I was avoiding you, that I was too preoccupied with the concerns of the Hansa.
I understood completely, Basil. What had he been imagining?
He walked through her remodeled chambers without bothering to look around. She had no doubt that he regularly observed her quarters with his own surveillance systems. Did he watch her undress, like a voyeur? Did he look at her longingly and remember the times they had actually been happy, or at least content together? Did Basil Wenceslas even have lustful thoughts, or was that part of him dead? As he stepped closer, she knew for certain it had died inher.
She could not show her anxiety, but he had to know she was still shaken by the execution. McCammon had been her friend. One moment he had been alive, protecting her, caring for her, and the next, his blood had spattered her cheek, her clothes. She drew a deep breath and tried to think of some way to stall him. Would you like me to put on some music, Basil? Shall I call for a meal?
He placed his hands on her upper arms, drawing her close. Were well past the point where we need to waste time on a long, slow seduction arent we? He kissed her. Sarein tried her best to respond, but she felt sick.
Captain McCammon. his body spasming from multiple gunshot wounds, sprawling on the floor. the scarlet pool leaking out.
She couldnt get enough air to breathe. She shuddered when he stroked her short hair, traced his fingers down her back, then reached around to her breasts.
I can tell youre excited, he said.
Sarein wanted to scream.