Aaron didn’t immediately answer, but another swipe at Captain Jackson seemed appealing. “That one part of my file includes comments from Senior Captain Jackson and the others are from competent starship captains who have been out in the black?”
Perhaps he’d pushed too far. But he wasn’t going to sit idle and nod, “yes sir no sir”, while they attacked him over the deaths of his crew. His men and women who without hesitation he would give his life for. And if they believed he would make it easy for them, they would have to update his file.
“Sir,” Aaron continued, “barely a week has passed since they awakened me. Since then, I’ve learned of the deaths and injuries to my crew, my shipmates, and my friends, while still recovering and limping around a damned medical bay. Now I’ve been released, just to come in here and listen to some people, who, without a clue what they’re talking about—judge me in hindsight. They’ve had two weeks to analyze and squabble like bored men with nothing else exciting to tend to in the Fleet. Now, they think it’s fair to damn me on what I had seconds or minutes to act on. Damn them, sir. Damn this inquiry and damn the—”
“As you bloody well were, Commander!” The Supreme Commander stood and pounded the wide-table in front of him.
Aaron shivered at the rage. He’d short-circuited the fuse of the one person in the entire Fleet, who everyone said had the coolest temperament in the face of any adversity. Maybe they would make a special note about that in his file too.
The Supreme Commander took a deep breath and eased himself back into his seat. He had regained his composure, despite Aaron’s best attempts to erode it.
“What I am reading here, Commander, is an individual in conflict with himself. Almost as if you were a child of two vastly different worlds. Going forward, the question we face is—how do we harness these talents for command, which you clearly possess, while ridding you of the ones holding you back.
“The others and I have discussed this matter in depth before today. Giving you the opportunity to be heard was in keeping with process. I am concluding this matter now. There will be no further hearings. I consider the issue with regard to your competence to command closed. There will be no further discussion on it. I have made my decision. You will continue in a command capacity. Separate and distinct are the claims made in your report. Whatever flaws you have, Commander—you are not a liar.
“I’m afraid this has grave implications for the Fleet and the United Star Systems. Tensions along the border with the Empire are exceedingly high. Whispers of anti-USS sentiment among the Border Worlds permeate the core worlds. Now we have the discovery of an advanced aggressor attacking USSF and Imperial ships near the same Border Worlds. We do indeed have much to do. This inquiry has concluded.”
Aaron’s jaw dropped. He’d figured the Supreme Commander was about to order a full court-martial and his downward spiral would continue. But instead, he’d just exonerated Aaron and accepted his version of the events.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the fateful encounter. He played it over and over in his mind, yet couldn’t think of anything he could’ve done differently. Maybe he was reckless with the lives of those under his command and should be court-martialed. To say the Supreme Commander’s statement was a sudden and unexpected outcome, would be an understatement.
Aaron couldn’t think of a good reason for the sudden conclusion, was this some kind of spectacle for his or someone else’s benefit?
Senior Captain Jackson didn’t even try to protest. He took his personnel device and headed for the exit. He played his part well. What if they staged the whole thing to elicit a response and judge his reactions? But for what purpose? This is why life aboard a starship appealed to him from an early age. There were no cloak and dagger games or hidden agendas. Just a captain, his ship and his crew against the unknown.
Aaron stood and acknowledged the head-table and turned to leave when he felt an arm on his shoulder. He flinched.
It was the Supreme Commander.
“Commander, you’re coming with me. We have important matters to attend.” Shepherd guided him out an unknown exit. There was a distinct edge in his tone. “I’ve been talking with your father for the past two weeks while you were in recovery. Very interesting man. He’s very proud of you. And I can see exactly where your unique wit comes from.” He motioned to the right and together walked into a narrow corridor. “Commander, I’ve transferred you under my direct command. Meet me in my personal quarters in exactly one hour. Tell no one. Just come—one hour. Turn left at the end of this corridor. My aide will meet and guide you out.”
Aaron for once had nothing to say. Shepherd was staring right at him. Now he was closer, he could see the fatigue in the man’s eyes—the SC clearly had not slept well in recent times. He seemed nervous or afraid. Was that fear in his voice? Whatever was happening in the Border Worlds had the Supreme Commander on edge. What could rattle something as constant as a northern star?
Aaron nodded instead.
“One hour aye, sir.”
He rounded the end of the corridor and almost bumped into Lieutenant Delaine. “Lieutenant.” He smiled.
She nodded. “This way, Commander.”
Delaine led him through the labyrinth of corridors and back to the station’s habitat ring. The Supreme Commander took his personal security serious. That must be a good thing then. It meant the man was no fool.
As he headed for his guest quarters, a knot formed in his gut. Lee and Vee were conspicuously absent. It would be nice to see a friendly face. They hadn’t even come to see him when he was in recovery. As far as he was aware, no one came to see him. His caregivers kept him in an insulated bubble. It was necessary for medical observations they said. He was a Fleet officer and he couldn’t refuse the medical staff’s care.
When was the last time he’d seen Vee, anyway? In the escape pod.
So where was the XO? Why wouldn’t he come to look for him? If he had, why hadn’t they allowed Vee to see him? He stopped and leaned on a bulkhead. He choked and almost heaved when the only reason he could think of came to mind.
He returned to his guest quarters and tried reaching out to old contacts, but it was useless. No one would tell him anything about his crew. It was as if they no longer existed. But every good starship captain had an equally good friend in the intelligence community.
Shepherd would have to wait. He had to find his friends.
Chapter 4 – Your Mission Aaron
USSF Headquarters
High Earth Orbit
Present Day
For the past fifteen minutes, Aaron paced what Captain John Higgins called an office. A dingy carpet covered the deck and what looked more like weeds instead of plants adorned each corner. The overhead lighting was dim and the furnishing sparse. Undoubtedly, the captain didn’t want guests getting comfortable.
Aaron had met Higgins while serving as the tactical officer aboard the Venture. Higgins was one of the first Intelligence assets assigned to a line ship. That was the first policy Supreme Commander Shepherd implemented when he took command of the United Fleet.