“As long as I keep Ark Royal as a flagship, I don’t mind,” Ted said.
The First Space Lord smiled. “Congratulations, Admiral Smith,” he said.
James couldn't help, but be mildly bothered by the summons to Nelson Base. Between debriefings and supervising the repairs to Ark Royal, he simply didn't have the time to spare. But the summons had left no room for objections, so he’d boarded the shuttle and made his way to the giant space station. Inside, it was no surprise when he was escorted to a private briefing room.
“My official weblog states that I am in a meeting with a design team leader,” the First Space Lord said, as soon as the hatch had hissed closed and locked itself. “We don’t have much time.”
“Yes, sir,” James said.
“Admiral Smith,” the First Space Lord said, taking a seat. “Is he suited for independent command?”
“Yes,” James said, without hesitation.
The First Space Lord looked up. “Are you sure?”
James kept his expression as blank as possible, even though the First Space Lord was probably used to reading people more inclined to deception than James.
“Yes, sir,” he said, finally. The Captain had come alarmingly close to a relapse, but disaster had been averted… and he’d managed to get his ship and crew home. And he’d captured an alien starship in the process. “Permission to speak freely, sir?”
The First Space Lord nodded, impatiently.
“Captain Smith is responsible for the destruction of a number of alien carriers, along with smaller ships, the recovery of over two hundred former captives, the capture of thirty-two alien POWs and, last but not least, the capture of an intact alien starship,” James said. “By any standards, Ark Royal’s cruise through enemy-held territory was the most successful naval operation since Trafalgar. We successfully gave the enemy a bloody nose.”
He paused. “We might not have succeeded in liberating New Russia,” he added, “but that wasn't part of our mission orders.”
The First Space Lord sighed. “Blame the media,” he said. “They expect perfection — or nothing.”
James nodded, silently grateful that the reporters were off the ship and tormenting someone else. They’d certainly helped promote the Captain — but they’d also raised the uncomfortable question of why New Russia hadn't been liberated. At least the Russian government had been smart enough to understand that the planet couldn't have been liberated, at least not without an unacceptable level of risk. They weren't fuelling the flames.
The First Space Lord looked up at him. “I believe that Captain — sorry, Admiral — Smith has proved himself,” he added. “But I will still require you to keep an eye on him.”
“Sir,” James said, carefully, “can I ask why?”
“Two reasons,” the First Space Lord said. “First, he will be placed in command of a multinational fleet… and he was not the most capable officer at building connections to the foreign starships. This time, the other commanders will not be from minor powers.”
James nodded in reluctant understanding.
“Second, because fame and fortune may well go to his head,” the First Space Lord added. “As his Flag Captain, you will be in position to advise him — and to report any problems before they become public.”
“I don't like it, sir,” James said, twisting uncomfortably. “With all due respect, sir, you’re asking me to act like a spy.”
“You have been acting like a spy,” the First Space Lord pointed out, coldly.
“Yes, sir,” James said. “And I didn't like it.”
“You don't have a choice,” the First Space Lord told him. “The war isn't over — and the deciding moment may come to rest on Admiral Smith. When it does, I want you to ensure that he’s ready to handle it.”
James hesitated, but knew there was no real choice.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
Kurt couldn’t help a thrill of excitement as the taxi made its way back to his home, even though he was nervous about seeing his wife once again. He'd rung ahead and asked the children to stay home from school, despite the probable anger of their teachers. He just couldn't wait to see them again.
The house was dark and cold when he opened the door, until he stepped into the kitchen. Inside, Molly, Penny and Percy greeted him, the two teenagers throwing their arms around him and hugging him tightly. Molly — and a young girl he assumed was the home help — seemed a little more standoffish, but he hugged her anyway. A pang of guilt, as sharp as a knife, echoed through him as he remembered everything he'd done with Rose.
“Welcome home, dad,” Penny said. She pushed him towards a chair, then produced a sheet of paper. “I did very well on my exams.”
“Well done,” Kurt said, grinning like a madman. His kids were fine, his wife… well, she wasn't entirely fine, but at least she wasn't shouting and throwing things at him. “And you, Percy?”
“I’m going to apply to the Academy next year,” Percy said. “I can go, with your permission…”
Kurt swallowed. “Later, son,” he said. He knew it wouldn't be easy to convince Molly to agree — and he wasn't going to write any permission slip without her consent. “Later.”
The home help stuck out a diffident hand. “I’m Gayle,” she said. She was tall and muscular, reminding him of a handful of female servicewomen he knew. “I’ve been looking after your kids for the last two months.”
Kurt frowned. Hadn't there been another girl?
“She's practically been living here,” Penny said, crossly. “I can't get away from her.”
“Good,” Kurt said, unsympathetically. He ignored the whining about how Gayle put a crimp in Penny’s social life. Constant supervision was probably good for her, even if she wasn't going out and having fun with her friends. “You have to get high marks in your exams or your social life will take a disastrous fall.”
Penny looked sulky, but cheered up when Molly brought out the cake.
Afterwards, when the teenagers were in bed, he spoke to Molly. “What happened to their schooling?”
“The school said that it wasn't going to expel children from military families,” Molly said. “But I don't know how we’re going to keep them there.”
She shook her head. “Penny acted quite badly for months,” she explained. “I had to practically thrash her bottom red to stop her driving the teachers mad — and that was with supervision. I don't know what I would have done if she’d been expelled. As it is, we don't even have the money to keep them there past the end of the year.”
Kurt smiled. “Prize money,” he said, and produced the cheque from his pocket. “We can keep them there for a few years, if necessary.”
Molly stared at the cheque, then shook her head in disbelief. “Where are you going now?”
“Luna Academy for several months,” Kurt said. Ark Royal’s fighter wings would have to be rebuilt from the ground up, so the Admiralty had decided his experience would be better used in teaching new trainees how to fight the aliens. He couldn't fault them — and besides, getting leave to visit Earth would be much simpler from the moon. “It’s not as… sexy a job as CAG, but it will keep me nearby for a few months.”
“That’s good,” Molly said, reluctantly. She took the cheque and folded it into her pocket. “I…”
“I missed you too,” Kurt said. It was true, in a way. “And thank you for waiting.”
He picked his wife up and carried her into the bedroom. It had been a long time, far longer than just his deployment to Ark Royal, yet there was something… odd about their lovemaking. Afterwards, he lay on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. What was different now? His experience with Rose… or realising that, perhaps, Molly didn't really miss him when he was gone.