Free Starfist: Hangfire by David Sherman & Dan Cragg Page A

red-on-gold sign set in the spacious lawn in front of it said: LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARCHIBALD HENDERSON
    FLAG CLUB
    FLAG MESS
    HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS
    (members and guests only)
    "Here we are, sir."
    Sturgeon looked at the sign. "I don't have a membership," he said softly, annoyed at himself for not anticipating a membership requirement.
    "Yes you do, sir. The nova on your collar gives you admittance. I believe there is a nominal membership fee, but they'll have to tell you about that inside."
    "Well, thank you, Lieutenant Ehrhardt. I guess I can find my own way from here."
    Ehrhardt came to attention and saluted, then about-faced and headed back toward the officer of the guard office when Sturgeon returned the salute.
    Sturgeon looked at the sign again and wondered why a Flag Club was named after a lieutenant colonel. It suddenly came to him. Archibald Henderson had been the fifth Commandant of the U.S.
    Marine Corps, a legend.
    As Sturgeon approached, the door to the clubhouse opened, not on automatic, which he might have expected, but by a live human being who held the door open and gave a shallow bow as he stepped in, all to Sturgeon's startlement. Since he'd been close to flag rank, he'd never been assigned anywhere that had a flag officers' club; he wasn't prepared for the high degree of personal service given to generals and admirals.
    "Are you a guest, sir?" the man asked when he straightened from his bow.
    "I'm afraid not, I'm merely visiting—and looking for some dinner."
    "Certainly, sir. This way please." The functionary, dressed in an archaic black suit with starched white shirt front and white gloves, led him to a small but ornately carved desk and indicated he should sit at it.
    A data screen and keyboard morphed from the surface of the desktop. "I'm afraid I must ask you to fill out a membership form, sir. Simple visitors are not allowed, but the form and a nominal fee will allow you full Flag Club member's benefits for the duration of your visit."
    "Thank you," Sturgeon said, and read the membership form and club rules.
    The functionary, in response to a signal Sturgeon neither heard nor saw, went to the door to open it for new arrivals.
    Sturgeon was vaguely aware of the voices of the new arrivals as he began filling out the form—and yes, the fee was nominal, less than he'd expected.
    "Ted!" a voice interrupted him. "Ted Sturgeon, is that really you?"
    Sturgeon looked up, surprised. He was even more surprised when he saw that the man addressing him wore a single gold nova on the collars of his tunic.
    "General Aguinaldo!" he said, jumping up to stand at attention.
    Aguinaldo strode to him, clapped him on the shoulder and warmly grasped his hand. "It's not ‘General’
    in here, Ted. Here we're on first-name terms, from the assistant commandant on down to the newest brigadier." He chuckled. "The Commandant, of course, is the Commandant. What brings you to Fargo?
    Wait, I forget myself." He turned to the men who'd entered the room with him. "Ted, I'd like you to meet Sam Saoli and Hank Tui." Sam Saoli wore the three silver novas of a Marine lieutenant general, Hank Tui the two novas of a major general. "Gentlemen, I want you to meet Ted Sturgeon. His FIST was the first wave to cross the beach on Diamunde, and he was one of my Corps commanders there."
    Admiration was evident on the faces of the two generals.
    General Saoli stuck out his hand to shake. "I've heard about you, Ted. Pleased to make your acquaintance. That was a hell of a job you did." He shook his head and added with a touch of envy, "I've never had the opportunity to command a Corps myself, you'll have to tell me what it's like."
    It was exceedingly rare for a Marine to command a Corps-sized unit, and unheard of before Diamunde for a Marine to command one in which his subordinate commanders were army generals who outranked him. Brigadier Sturgeon had commanded a Corps with army major generals commanding the divisions that made up the