Page 12 of Reformation
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the attack on Pandora,” Rupallier stated.
“Through unofficial channels, yes,” Miles replied. “Why hasn’t the attack been made public yet?”
“We wanted some time to consider the appropriate response for a piracy attack of this severity. Clearly, our efforts so far haven’t been aggressive enough. We decided the best thing to do in this situation is to mobilize a division of the Central Fleet to deal with it. It’s an excellent opportunity for the Academy’s rising cadets, and—”
“Cadets?” Miles knew it wasn’t in his best interest to interrupt, but he couldn’t help it. “Why would you send out cadets? Why not use the force stationed at Ceyla? They’re weeks closer to the Fringe.”
“The division at Ceyla has orders to maintain its presence there to protect the city and surrounding stations.”
Miles frowned. “Surely the risk there is low? It’s not exactly a Fringe planet.”
“Close enough.” Rupallier’s voice rang with finality. “And it’s at the discretion of Central Command to decide if and when to allow cadets to participate in space maneuvers, and that decision has already been made.”
It was time to be more direct. “I understand and respect your authority to make those calls. It puzzles me that you’re bringing me into this situation, though.”
“It’s possible that our response will involve a ground presence on Pandora itself,” Admiral Davenport said, smoothly taking the reins of the conversation. “No one in the fleet has more experience in planning and commanding ground operations than you, Miles. And given your personal investment in the colony—”
“Which makes him the last person we need commanding ground troops,” General Sokha interrupted. Rupallier and Davenport both looked at him with the exasperated airs of people who had already had this conversation, but he pressed on. “I’m against your involvement in this action. Your very investment could compromise your ability to make necessary decisions in the heat of the moment.
“Obviously, my concerns have been overruled,” he added with a glare at his compatriots, “but you should know that youwillbe under observation, General Caractacus. All of your actions will be open to review, and if they’re found wanting, you’ll be held responsible in a court of military justice.”
It was the perfect storm. Reinstatement, encouragement to undertake close-combat operations with green troops against an unpredictable enemy, and the promise that every single one of his decisions could and would be used against him if they were interpreted the wrong way. Which some of them almost certainly would.
“I feel sure that such a review will be unnecessary,” Davenport snapped. “The situation calls for a strong commander, not a backseat driving committee.”
“And there’s no one else in the entirety of the fleet, on active duty, who could do this?” Miles asked. He already knew whatthey were going to say, but he wanted it recorded and out in the open.
Admiral Rupallier folded his hands on the table in front of him. “Are you refusing reinstatement, General?” Every staffer in the room tensed, and Miles could almost hear his secretary’s teeth grind.
“I will always do my duty,” Miles replied. “Even if that duty is a hard one.”
“What’s so hard about the situation at hand?” Rupallier asked. “One could almost think of it as a gift from Central Command, letting you back into the field for this operation. Who else would you trust to ensure it gets done right?”
Miles smiled thinly. “Absolutely no one.” Davenport flinched a little, but Miles wasn’t done twisting the knife. “I assume the customary twenty-four-hour reinstatement rule applies here, or is that another formality being done away with?”
“Time is of the essence, General,” Rupallier reminded him.
“Certainly, but given that I know nothing of the forces being mobilized or who my fellow commanding officers will be, I would think that you’d want to minimize mistakes in the field by giving me time to review what intelligence we have on the attack and coordinate a plan of action.”
“Let him do it by the book if that’s how we’ll be judging him,” Sokha said, in an unexpected show of support. “You have twenty-four hours until you leave, General Caractacus. Use them wisely.”
“I plan to.”
“Be back here at 1300 tomorrow to meet the shuttle that will take you to your command,” Rupallier said. “You’re grounded until then. Your military escort—”
“Will be waived.” Both the other commanders looked at Davenport like he was crazy. “For which I’ll take personalresponsibility,” he added. “But I don’t see any need for it. It’s not as though Miles is going to run off with state secrets.”
Sokha shrugged. “Any fuckups are on your head, then.”
“I don’t anticipate any problems.” Davenport looked directly at Miles. “Do you?”
“No.” He nodded slightly, then stood up. “Sirs.” He held his salute until it was returned, then left the conference room without a backward glance. His staff held their positions around him, but now at least there were no direct threats.
“Claudia and the girls are en route to meet you in a suite at the Palace Hotel,” Shen Lin said as they walked. “I’ve ensured that the highest-level security measures are in place. Everyone attending to them has been personally vetted, and there are three potential exits for them in case of emergency. Your son has transport standing by to take them out of the system as soon as you’re gone.”
It was above and beyond their standard emergency procedures, but Miles wasn’t about to argue. “And Garrett?”
“He’s waiting for you as well.”
