Yet basically the situation didn't seem seriously less favorable than before: The Confederation's fleet was inferior to the empire's, and the war would be won in space by the stronger fleet. The stronger fleet could go to whatever system it wished. And controlling the space around a planet, one could concentrate one's surface forces wherever advantageous.
A movement caught the sultan's eyes; the main gangway opened in the side of the cruiser, and a ramp extruded. Marine guards stepped smartly out onto the ramphead and to its sides, then turned about and saluted. A heavy-set man in an admiral's full-dress uniform stepped out and returned their salute, then, his aide behind him, rode the ramp toward the ground.
Traditional to a fault, the sultan thought watching him. There aren't too many around like you.
Debriefs had taken five days. The sultan himself had debriefed Commodore Igsat Tarimenloku, then had spent four days reviewing other debriefs. What he'd learned was no surprise, no worse than he'd expected.
After that he'd spent an hour questioning the marine general, Saadhrambacoora. The experience had been unsettling. The general had been a hard old officer. He was a veteran of the Ikthvoktos Suppression, and as a young man had led an armored company in the crushing of the Sangjee Uprising-as much fighting experience as probably any Klestronu officer alive. All of it creditable till this.
But his experience on Terfreya had broken him. Outwardly it wasn't conspicuous-he put a good face on-but you could see it in his eyes when he talked about it. Definitely unsettling. The Confederation force there sounded worse than the statistics suggested. Saadhramabacoora made it sound positively- eerie, especially in their assault on the marine headquarters base, the action that had forced the marines to withdraw.
The official report of that assault had been compiled by a Major Kooro Thoglakaveera, the man who'd taken over after the general had been-wounded. Remembering the circumstances of that wound, the sultan winced inwardly. Diabolical!
Taking charge of a chaotic, demoralized scene, Major Thoglakaveera had enforced discipline and carried out the commodore's radioed order for an orderly evacuation. Major Kooro Thoglakaveera. His father was Leader of the Klestronu House of Lords, a sometimes ally, sometimes adversary of the sultan in the Diet.
After reading the major's debrief, the sultan had decided it would be politic to talk with him. Now his commset announced the young major's arrival. "Major Thoglakaveera to see you, Your Reverence."
"Have him brought in."
"Yes, sir."
Though the sultan didn't know it, the major was forty years old. But as six of those years had been spent in stasis, he was effectively only thirty-four. A handsome thirty-four, and tall for a Klestronit. Like all adult male Klestronu-like almost all adult male humans in the empire-he was dark, with a beard that, shaved, gave a blue tint to a face that was otherwise mahogany. His eyes looked aggressively intelligent. His thick, bristly brows were a straight line, his nose narrow, cheeks flat. His uniform was tailored to an athletic body, and pressed to razor creases. He stopped before the sultan's desk and saluted sharply. Rather exaggeratedly, the sultan thought.
"Sit," said the sultan, gesturing, and Thoglakaveera sat. "I've looked over your debrief, and Commodore Tarimenloku's report of the, um, disastrous night on which the marine base was assaulted. I've also questioned General Saadhrambacoora. So I won't require a great deal of your time.
"How, in your opinion, did the enemy troops penetrate the headquarters base? And the recreation compound?"
"By parachute, sir, without a doubt."
"Really? I read that parachutes were used to attack the two field bases. You authored the report, did you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"You didn't mention parachutes in the assaults on the headquarters base and the recreation compound."
"Sir, we didn't find any parachutes there. We did at the field bases."
"Why didn't you find parachutes at the headquarters base and the recreation compound if they were used there?"
"Sir, the enemy troops there were evacuated by floater. They took their parachutes with them. They had to fight their way out of the field bases, and left their parachutes behind."
"Hmm." The sultan regarded the officer quietly for a minute. The explanation had not convinced him. "We are disappointed in the paucity of information about the Confederation's armed forces. You were the brigade's intelligence officer. Why weren't enemy prisoners taken? I know what the debriefs say-yours and others. But I want to hear it from you."
"Sir, the enemy cadets and soldiers did not surrender. When shot, of course, they usually died quickly; we used beam weapons to a very large degree there. And whenever possible, their live wounded would arm a grenade, then let it explode when they were approached by our men, killing some of them. Our men responded by shooting all fallen enemies not conspicuously dead. Despite orders to the contrary."
"Ah. A single prisoner of war was captured and brought here to Klestron. One prisoner; a woman. I understand you were in charge of her transfer."
The major's eyes had widened for just a moment. "Yes, sir. I didn't know she was brought here though."
"She's said to have lost her memory. During an accident while being interrogated. One might hope she could regain it. She's thought to be noble or at least gentry, and might have valuable information. Did she say anything to you that might be useful?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid not. She spoke very little, and I had orders to deliver her unquestioned for interrogation aboard the flagship. Where sophisticated instrumentation was available."
"Hmm. I'm told that no other female troops were observed among the enemy, dead or alive. Comments?"
"Well, Your Reverence, in battle they'd be difficult to distinguish, given similar uniforms. Battle kit fits loosely." He shrugged. "If there were other female soldiers though, I suspect they were very few. Otherwise, given the state of the corpses, often with uniforms shredded or half blown off, if there'd been many females, they'd have been noticed and talked about."
"Umm. I suppose they would." The sultan looked the major over openly, if the man squirmed, he hid it well.
"Tell me, Major, what would you think of an office post, here in Khaloom?"
The major looked wary. "If Your Reverence wishes."
"I will not force it on you. But if you're willing-The post is Vice Minister of Armed Forces."
Thoglakaveera didn't fully conceal a flash of joy; apparently his ambitions ran higher than military command.
"For the time being," the sultan continued, "you'll be promoted to brevet colonel. Your pay will be that of a vice minister, however."
He gazed at the officer. "And, Major, it is quite all right with me if you smile."
The major smiled, not widely. "Thank you, Your Reverence!"
"The marine commandant's office will be informed today. Report there tomorrow morning at ten to sign your promotion form and receive your colonel's insignia. You'll then have a week free of duty. On next Oneday, report to the Minister of Armed Forces to begin your orientation.
"Any questions?"
The major's pleasure leaked through his eyes. "None, Your Reverence."
"Then you are dismissed."
The major saluted, about-faced, and left the sultan's office.
Full of himself, the sultan thought. Well, I suppose most of them are, when they're young and ambitious. He chuckled dryly. Perhaps I should have asked Venkat if he wants a vice minister. But the young rooster should be some good to him, at least. And it should make his daddy happy, and easier to get along with.