“Commander Blaine reporting as ordered, sir.”
Plekhanov absently returned the salute. Cziller didn’t look around from the window. Rod stood at stiff attention while the Admiral regarded him with an unchanging expression. Finally: “Good morning, Commander.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Not really. I suppose I haven’t seen you since I last visited Crucis Court. How is the Marquis?”
“Well when I was last home, sir.”
The Admiral nodded and continued to regard Blaine with a critical look. He hasn’t changed, Rod thought. An enormously competent man, who fought a tendency to fat by exercising in high gravity. The Navy sent Plekhanov when hard fighting was expected. He’s never been known to excuse an incompetent officer, and there was a gunroom rumor that he’d had the Crown Prince—now Emperor—stretched over a mess table and whacked with a spatball paddle back when His Highness was serving as a midshipman in Plataea.
“I have your report here, Blaine. You had to fight your way to the rebel Field generator. You lost a company of Imperial Marines.”
“Yes, sir.” Fanatic rebel guardsmen had defended the generator station, and the battle had been fierce.
“And just what the devil were you doing in a ground action?” the Admiral demanded. “Cziller gave you that captured cruiser to escort our assault carrier. Did you have orders to go down with the boats?”
“No, sir.”
“I suppose you think the aristocracy isn’t subject to Navy discipline?”
“Of course I don’t think that, sir.”
Plekhanov ignored him. “Then there’s this deal you made with a rebel leader. What was his name?” Plekhanov glanced at the papers. “Stone. Jonas Stone. Immunity from arrest. Restoration of property. Damn you, do you imagine that every naval officer has authority to make deals with subjects in rebellion? Or do you hold some diplomatic commission I’m not aware of, Commander?”
“No, sir.” Rod’s lips were pressed tightly against his teeth. He wanted to shout, but he didn’t. To hell with Navy tradition, he thought. I won the damned war.
“But you do have an explanation?” the Admiral demanded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well?”
Rod spoke through tightening throat muscles. “Sir. While commanding the prize Defiant, I received a signal from the rebel city. At that time the city’s Langston Field was intact, Captain Cziller aboard MacArthur was fully engaged with the satellite planetary defenses, and the main body of the fleet was in general engagement with rebel forces. The message was signed by a rebel leader. Mr. Stone promised to admit Imperial forces into the city on condition that he obtain full immunity from prosecution and restoration of his personal property. He gave a time limit of one hour, and insisted on a member of the aristocracy as guarantor. If there were anything to his offer, the war would end once the Marines entered the city’s Field generator house. There being no possibility of consultation with higher authority, I took the landing force down myself and gave Mr. Stone my personal word of honor.”
Plekhanov frowned. “Your word. As Lord Blaine. Not as a Navy officer.”
“It was the only way he’d discuss it, Admiral.”
“I see.” Plekhanov was thoughtful now. If he disavowed Blaine’s word, Rod would be through, in the Navy, in government, everywhere. On the other hand, Admiral Piekhanov would have to explain to the House of Peers. “What made you think this offer was genuine?”
“Sir, it was in Imperial code and countersigned by a Navy intelligence officer.”
“So you risked your ship—”
“Against the chance of ending the war without destroying the planet. Yes, sir. I might point out that Mr. Stone’s message described the city prison camp where they were keeping the Imperial officers and citizens.”
“I see.” Plekhanov’s hands moved in a sudden angry gesture. “All right. I’ve no use for traitors, even one who helps us. But I’ll honor your bargain, and that means I have to give official approval to your going down with the landing boats. I don’t have to like it, Blaine, and I don’t. It was a damn fool stunt.”
One that worked, Rod thought. He continued to stand at attention, but he felt the knot in his guts loosen.
The Admiral grunted. “Your father takes stupid chances. Almost got us both killed on Tanith. It’s a bloody wonder your family’s survived through eleven marquises, and it’ll be a bigger one if you live to be twelfth. All right, sit down.”
“Thank you, sir.” Rod said stiffly, his voice coldly polite.’
The Admiral’s face relaxed slightly. “Did I ever tell you your father was my commanding officer on Tanith?” Plekhanov asked conversationally.
“No, sir. He did.” There was still no warmth in Rod’s voice.
“He was also the best friend I ever had in the Navy, Commander. His influence put me in this seat, and he asked to have you under my command.”
“Yes, sir.” I knew that. Now I wonder why.
“You’d like to ask me what I expected you to do, wouldn’t you, Commander?”
Rod twitched in surprise. “Yes, sir.”
“What would have happened if that offer hadn’t been genuine? If it had been a trap?”
“The rebels might have destroyed my command.”
“Yes.” Plekhanov’s voice was steely calm. “But you thought it worth the risk because you had a chance to end the war with few casualties on either side. Right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And if the Marines were killed, just what would my fleet have been able to do?” The Admiral slammed both fists against the desk. “I’d have had no choices at all!” he roared. “Every week I keep this fleet here is another chance for outies to hit one of our planets! There’d have been no time to send for another assault carrier and more Marines. If you’d lost your command, I’d have blasted this planet into the stone age, Blaine. Aristocrat or no, don’t you ever put anyone in that position again! Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir”. He’s right. But—What good would the Marines have been with the city’s Field intact? Rod’s shoulders slumped. Something. He’d have done something. But what?
“It turned out well,” Plekhanov said coldly. “Maybe you were right. Maybe you weren’t. You do another stunt like that and I’ll have your sword. Is that understood?” He lifted a printout of Rod’s service career. “Is MacArthur ready for space?”
“Sir?” The question was asked in the same tone as the threat, and it took Rod a moment to shift mental gears. “For space, sir. Not a battle. And I wouldn’t want to see her go far without a refit.” In the frantic hour he’d spent aboard, Rod had carried out a thorough inspection, which was one reason he needed a shave. Now he sat uncomfortably and wondered. MacArthur’s captain stood at the window, obviously listening, but he hadn’t said a word. Why didn’t the Admiral ask him?
As Blaine wondered, Plekhanov made up his mind. “Well? Bruno, you’re Fleet Captain. Make your recommendation.”