I had finished explaining all my impressions about the content of Jaki’s conversation and we both had several questions that we deemed important to follow-up with if we ever got the chance. I was just starting to explain that yes, Jaki was attractive and sexy and had a great body but there was just something about her that left me a little on edge when another member of our team, Dr. Tony Decker, knocked on my hatch and stuck his head in…
“You’ve really stepped in it now Spencer. Major Reagan wants to see you in his wardroom. Stat.”
“Stat? You’re not that kind of doctor!” I yelled at his retreating head.
I looked at Anzio and he shrugged. We both thought Decker was your basic asshole but he wouldn’t screw around with something like this. As I headed off to face the music I couldn’t help seeing Julie’s face… Was that anger or something else?
Chapter 9
Major Mathew Reagan, US Army
“Yes sir!” I half shouted. Was I really standing here at attention being dressed down by this Air Force puking excuse for a Colonel? I hadn’t been ripped this way since I was a second lieutenant. Senior officers don’t act like gung-ho TV marine sergeants—at least the sane ones don’t.
I’d been ordered (ordered—not ‘requests your presence’) to Colonel Eugene Memphis’ office an hour ago. I’d spent the last 45 minutes cooling my heels in the waiting room listening to the muffled shouts coming from his office and then watched a red-faced Major Mike ‘Iron Jaw’ Reynolds leave in a controlled rage.
“So how is it Major that one of your scientists goes behind the back of the entire diplomatic corps, makes unauthorized contact with not just any alien but the Head of the Entire Fucking Mission, then gets it blogcast over the entire base?” Memphis was practically spitting.
“Sir, I do not have any knowledge of how the meeting came about and I am not aware of any special authorization that would have been needed. It is in their mission brief to promote dialogue and learn as much as they can. I am also under the impression that Dr. Spencer was totally unaware that his session was being blogcast.”
“I am not going to play games with you Reagan. You know very well that this type of sensitive conversation should have been restricted. And since you’re so stupid as to not get it, I’m making it an order; you are not to allow your personnel any unscheduled access to the alien team at least until we arrive on their planet. Have you got that?”
“No sir,” I responded in the steadiest voice I could deliver. “Since it violates the mission brief I’ll be needing that order in writing and sir, I would respectfully ask you to reconsider. If word gets out it could undermine the confidence and good faith of the entire team, sir.”
After a few moments Colonel Memphis responded, “Major Reagan do you have any idea what would happen to your career if I replaced you on this assignment?”
Actually, I knew it was too late to replace me because General Nesbit had told me so, but I didn’t think this was the best time to bring it up.
Colonel Memphis continued, “Watch your people Major; that is an order. Keep them out of trouble and out of my hair. Dismissed.”
When I arrived back at my office Dr. Derrick Helmer was waiting for me. He wasn’t really my superior (he wasn’t military… or security, or whatever) but he carried the authority of the command staff and a certain amount of deference was expected.
“Dr. Helmer, what can I do for you?” I said as I breezed through the hatchway and headed for my desk.
“Major Reagan, I know it’s a busy day and I’m really sorry to bother you but if you can spare a few minutes I think it’s important we talk.”
Helmer’s HQ buddy Col Memphis had just chewed my ass and now he was here being all nice and respectful? I wasn’t born yesterday…
“As I said Doctor, what can I do for you?”
Helmer pointedly glanced at the chair in front of my desk and I waved him an invitation to sit down.
He started by saying, “Major, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be in charge of a group of civilians, especially scientists. As a scientist myself I know that we can sometimes be obsessed, stubborn, and oblivious to things that might be important.”
He paused and when I didn’t respond he continued, “I’m here to offer my help.”
Before answering I took a few moments to size Dr. Helmer up. He was definitely a cool customer; he wasn’t fidgeting and he was politely maintaining eye contact. He was a model friend that only wanted to help.
“What specifically is it that you want to help with?” I asked.
“You may not be aware of it Major but Dr. Spencer and I have been friends and colleagues for years. He is brilliant but, and I say this as a friend; he can sometimes be rather self-absorbed and misguided. It might be best for everyone if you allowed me to ‘take him under my wing’ so to speak and keep him out of trouble. Nothing formal of course, just your blessing and trust to work closely with him. I have some projects that he could be extremely helpful on and would keep him busy.”
After a moment I stood up and stuck my hand out. “Thank you for coming Dr. Helmer. I’ll take your offer under advisement but for the moment I think we have the situation under control.”
It had been an incredibly busy day and it didn’t look like I was going to be getting my dinner anytime soon. I’d asked Captain Hiromi to track down her sister Captain Kamiko as well as Dr. Spencer and invite them to my office for a talk.
Dr. Spencer arrived first and seemed in a good mood; he started in on some friendly small talk and I apologized for calling him into my office earlier only to be called away by Col Memphis. I was still reserving judgment about him but he seemed a likable enough guy. I don’t usually cotton to people that talk a lot but he was so unpretentious that it worked for him. In our team meetings over the last two months I’d noticed that he would sometimes appear to not be paying attention but I’d never seen anyone catch him out on it. He never missed a beat and could jump in on the conversation at any point. According to his file he was one of the brightest people on the entire team but you would never know it; he wasn’t an egghead at all.
Captains Hiromi and Kamiko walked in together and I asked them to close the door and take a seat.
“Captain Kamiko, Dr. Spencer is not in your squad but I think you need to be here. Dr. Spencer I will also thank you for your time and since Captain Hiromi is your Blue Squad Leader I wanted her here as well.
“I’ve asked for this powwow because of today’s events. I need to understand exactly what happened and how it happened. A lot of people got embarrassed today and a lot of people are looking to assign blame. Unless I know exactly how it all came about I’m not going to be able to protect anyone and even if you have or haven’t done anything wrong you’re very likely going to need that protection. Hiromi, I could order you to give me a full report but I’d rather hear it from all of you voluntarily. So, how about it? Will you brief me into your circle?”
They all sort of glanced at each other and then interestingly enough it was Dr. Spencer that spoke first. He tried to take responsibility by telling me that he’d heard about Dr. Bell’s meeting with Jaki and managed to talk himself into an invitation (Kamiko pulled me aside later and set the record straight by telling me that she suggested Mark to Dr. Bell).
After hearing the full version I surprised him when I asked about his friendship with Dr. Helmer; his reaction told me everything I needed to know.