He took a moment then to run one hand through his hair, looking at the surface of the table and trying to let his anger drain away. Looking up at the other officers again, Geary spoke in what he hoped was a calm voice. “It will take a little while to properly evacuate Invincible. Her crew performed in an outstanding fashion. Invincible and her crew will receive a fleet citation for courageous action prior to the crew being evacuated and the ship abandoned. We’ll blow up the wreck afterward to keep it out of enemy hands. I deeply regret the loss of that ship, as well as the other ships lost recently. I want us to be ready to leave this star system tomorrow, subject to the readiness of Warrior, Majestic, Orion, and the lighter units that have sustained damage to make the jump. I’d like to be informed of any problems on any of those ships that might prevent us from leaving. Our objective will be Tavika. Are there any questions?”
A commander with a haunted expression spoke in a steady voice. “What are your intentions toward the commanding officers of the other ships that accompanied Captain Falco, sir?”
Geary studied the woman. Commander Gaes of the Lorica, one of the surviving heavy cruisers. Her ship had stayed with Invincible while that ship limped to safety. “What do you think I should do?”
Her mouth worked silently for a moment before words came out. “Hold us accountable for our actions. Sir.”
“How bad was it at Vidha?” Geary asked.
Commander Gaes bit her lip and looked away for a moment. “Very bad. Overwhelming odds. We’d already lost two light cruisers and a destroyer at a mined jump point on the way to Vidha. As soon as we reached Vidha, we lost four more ships to mines right out of the jump point, and Polaris took enough damage she couldn’t keep up. The Syndics were sweeping in. We were asking for orders but none came. Triumph told us to run while she acted as rear guard, otherwise none of us would have made it out.” She paused. “My executive officer is ready to assume command of my ship.”
Gaes was no less guilty than Numos, perhaps, but had the courage to accept the consequences. And she had stayed with Invincible, doing what a damaged heavy cruiser could do to protect a crippled sister ship. “Not yet,” Geary replied. “You made a grave error. So did the commanders of the other escorts. Unlike certain fleet captains, you’re willing to admit that, and willing to take responsibility for your actions. You also had the courage and honor to remain with Invincible. I’m not blind to that. On that basis, I’m willing to give you another chance. Will you stick with this fleet from now on, Commander Gaes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then show me how good a commanding officer you can be. You and the others. I won’t pretend I won’t be paying particular attention to you and them. Can you live with that?”
Gaes looked back at Geary, her expression still haunted. “I’m going to have to live with memories of Vidha, sir.”
“So you will. May it make you and the others better officers. If you or any of those others decide you can no longer bear the burden of command, let me know. Otherwise, carry out your orders, Commander Gaes.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“Then I’ll see you all in Tavika.” Geary waited as the images of the other officers vanished rapidly. Rione’s image disappeared as fast as the others. Desjani, shaking her head and giving Geary a sympathetic look, left with a quick apology about duties she needed to be seeing to.
In a very short time, only Captain Duellos’s image was left, looking pensive. “I never cared for Captain Falco, but it’s a sad thing to see, isn’t it?”
Geary nodded. “How do we do justice to a man who no longer lives in this world?”
“Perhaps the fleet physicians can cure his ailment.”
“Cure him so we can try him? Cure him so he can use his skills to contest command of the fleet again?” Geary gave a bitter smile. “Or just cure him so he can realize what he did to the ships and crews who followed him? That would be a form of vengeance, wouldn’t it? Would Falco ever be able to recognize and accept guilt? Or would he rationalize it all away?”
“I don’t pretend to know what justice would be in a case like this,” Duellos noted. “But Captain Falco has lived in a universe centered on himself for a long time. On devotion of a sort to the Alliance as well, to be sure, but in Falco’s mind he and the Alliance are one and the same. I don’t think he’ll ever be capable of understanding his role in the loss of those ships.”
“What about the others?” Geary asked.
“Contemptible, aren’t they?” Duellos noted with a sour expression. “Maybe that little show of theirs, seeking to avoid all responsibility for their actions, will eliminate the remnants of their support. But maybe not. Some people can find ways to get around anything. I think you handled Kerestes, Numos, and Faresa right, but as far as the commanders of the lighter warships go, you should know that not all of them seem to have learned the lessons that Commander Gaes has.”
“I know. I’ll keep an eye on them. I just hate wholesale sacking of commanders. That’s a Syndic thing to do.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary.” Duellos paused, giving Geary a searching look. “But I imagine you erred on the side of mercy after too nearly erring on the side of vengeance.”
Geary tried to push away a headache. “You could tell?”
“I could. How many others could, I don’t know. There you definitely made the right decision. I say that even though for a moment I was ready to volunteer to be a part of the firing squads for both Numos and Faresa.”
“Thanks.” Geary stared at the system display still floating above the table. “Why do people like the commander and crew of Terrible die while people like Numos and Faresa survive?”
“I fear the answer to that is beyond my knowledge,” Duellos confessed. “I know I’m going to be speaking to my ancestors about it tonight.”
“Me, too. May they grant us the wisdom we need.”
“And the comfort. If you begin to focus too much on those who died here, Captain Geary, remember the sailors who survived this battle, and who escaped from the Syndic home system under your command.”
“You’d think that would balance out, wouldn’t you?” Geary stated. “But it doesn’t. Every ship, every sailor we lose is a blow.”
“And it is nonetheless what we must do.” Duellos nodded and departed.
Exactly sixteen hours later, Geary watched on his display while the drifting wreckage of Invincible blew into fragments as its power core overloaded. There would be no trophy left for the Syndics, and at least the surviving crew members had all been safely transferred to other ships, but it was still a sad moment that called to mind the fate of the Terrible. “All units, accelerate to point zero five light speed and come to course down one three degrees, port two zero degrees at time five one.” It was time to head to the jump point for Tavika, time to bid farewell to Ilion.
HE had to be seen on the ship, had to let the crew know he appreciated their efforts and cared about them, even though their welfare was primarily Captain Desjani’s responsibility. Geary walked slowly through the passageways, exchanging brief greetings, occasionally pausing for a short conversation with sailors who seemed to be daring to really believe that they would get home. Their faith in him was still unnerving, but at least Geary could find comfort in knowing that while he had made his share of mistakes, he had also brought them this far in the face of some serious obstacles.
Voices that were low but sounded angry came to him. Geary turned a corner and saw Captain Desjani and Co-President Rione standing almost nose to nose in an otherwise deserted short passageway, their expressions intense. The moment he came into view, they both stopped talking. “Is something wrong?”