Malin shook his head, poker-faced. “No, sir, I do not. Two brigades of our soldiers, supported by orbital bombardment from our warships, should easily succeed. Which brigade will be left behind, General?”
“I’ll talk to President Iceni about that.”
“Colonel Kai—”
“I’ll talk to President Iceni,” Drakon said, emphasizing the words this time to ensure that Malin knew he was pushing it.
After Malin had left, Drakon hunched over his desk, trying to grasp what was bothering him. Part of it was Malin himself. After years of feeling that he knew everything important about Bran Malin, feeling that Malin could be counted on, he now found himself questioning Malin’s actions and motivations.
Morgan, of course, always questioned Malin’s actions and motivations. That had left little need for Drakon to do it. But without Morgan, the dynamic had changed abruptly.
Perhaps I’ve grown too dependent on Malin and Morgan. As a team, they were often a pain, but they were also very, very capable. That made it too easy to lean on them and take their support for granted.
That’s gone, though, and it can’t return.
Is there anything else that could be giving me subconscious worries?
Things were quiet here, despite the impossible-to-eliminate rumors among the military and the civilians. Morgan had confirmed the state of Haris’s forces, so they knew exactly what they would be facing in Ulindi. And Ulindi did have to be dealt with, despite the inevitable risks of any military operations, and despite the problems they would face rounding up enough freighters modified for carrying troops and attaching temporary air locks and shuttle clamps to them so that the two brigades could get to Ulindi and hit the ground hard and fast.
It all seemed pretty simple.
He had to be missing something.
Chapter Six
“Who are you planning on leaving here?” Iceni asked. She had that look she got when she was facing a necessary choice that she would prefer not to have to deal with.
“Colonel Rogero,” Drakon replied, having learned not to string out answers when Iceni felt that way. This being a meeting at which critical decisions were being made, it was being carried out in person to avoid the chance of someone’s tapping in to any comm link. He had come to her office for that meeting, as he usually did, and wondered if she was even noticing that concession to her. Not that he was going to bring that up. With Gwen Iceni sitting less than three meters away, he had no interest in antagonizing her.
“Rogero?” She paused, thinking, then gave him a keen look. “People are going to think he’s my favorite.”
“He is, isn’t he?”
“As ground forces brigade commanders of yours go, yes,” Iceni said enigmatically. “Is that why you chose him to remain?”
“Partly.” Drakon nodded toward the star display. “Colonel Kai is as steady as a rock and absolutely dependable.”
“That sounds like he would be the best choice to leave here,” Iceni commented.
“Yes, but he’s deliberate.”
“Slow, you mean,” Iceni said.
“He can be,” Drakon conceded. “You can count on him absolutely, but he might take a while to act when quick action is necessary. I can get him moving faster, but you might not be able to.”
“You think quick action might be necessary?” Iceni sat back, her gaze on him intent.
“I don’t know.” Drakon made an irritated chopping motion with one hand. “I don’t know of any threat. But if something did happen, if Colonel Kai were the ground forces commander here, he might take too long to react. His temperament is best suited to being along on this operation.”
Iceni watched him for several seconds, then nodded. “So, not Kai.”
“That leaves Colonel Gaiene. I know your opinion of him, but if I thought he was best for this, I’d be urging you to accept his remaining behind. He’s not the best, though. He raises hell anywhere he is, which is good on a battlefield and not so good in garrison.”
“None of our subordinates are perfect,” Iceni said, looking off to one side as she spoke. “But I would prefer not having to depend on a ground forces commander who might be drunk and in the wrong bed when he is needed.”
“Which leaves Rogero, who would be a damned good choice regardless.”
“And,” Iceni added dryly, “if you leave Colonel Rogero behind, you won’t have Captain Bradamont upset at you.”
“She’s among those I wouldn’t want upset at me,” Drakon agreed, giving Iceni a look that drew a small smile from her. “I was uncertain whether you’d want her to accompany the flotilla going to Ulindi, though.”
“No,” Iceni said. “I sounded out Bradamont on the matter. She was concerned that her participation in an offensive operation by us might violate her orders. I think she would do it if I said pretty please, because taking out Haris is really a defensive offensive operation, but this is something Kommodor Marphissa should be able to handle easily, and with her gone from Midway, I’d like Bradamont here backstopping Kapitans Kontos and Mercia.”
“That seems prudent,” Drakon agreed.
“I’m glad you approve.”
“Gwen, are you unhappy with this operation? I’ve done planning, but that’s it. I can write that off to contingency thinking. We can postpone hitting Ulindi or call it off completely. Haris is a problem, but he’s not an imminent threat.”
She made a face, looking downward. “I suppose I’m not hiding it very well. Yes, I’m unhappy with this operation, but if you asked me to list reasons not to go ahead with it, I would be hard-pressed to give you any, and I agree with the reasons why we need to eliminate the threat posed by Haris without waiting for things to get worse. I also agree that the level of arrests and executions at Ulindi indicate that Haris feels weak and is taking desperate measures to shore up his position. What happens to your Colonel Morgan if we called it off?”
“I can get word to Morgan to get herself out of Ulindi. She’ll be able to do it.”
“Unfortunately, you’re probably right.” Iceni sighed, running one hand through her hair.
“There is also the consideration,” Drakon said, “of what happens to Ulindi if we don’t go ahead with this, but Haris gets downsized by local opposition and someone loyal to the Syndicate hands Ulindi back to the CEOs on Prime.”
“Too many worries. There are always too many. We never have time to lay one completely to rest before others occupy our attention.” She took a deep breath and looked at him, her expression hardening. “If this operation goes well, and if your Colonel Morgan survives, we will need to talk once you return.”
“About Colonel Morgan?” He watched her nod, then nodded in reply. “I understand.”
“Do you? She betrayed you, Artur. She used her position close to you to exploit you when you were at your most vulnerable in order to further her own plans. I happen to agree with you that Colonel Morgan is a tremendously capable individual. She’s also crazier than a loon. That’s a very dangerous combination.”
“Believe me, I know.”
“Then why—” She bit off the question before saying it.
But he knew what it would have been. “Because I was drunk and depressed and stupid.”
His candor didn’t seem to mollify Iceni. “I hope the experience was worth the trouble it has caused us.”