Free Badger by Kindal Debenham

had suffered a defeat in the elections for Ankara Seating, allowing the opposing Independent party to send another representative to the House of the People. Both men were heaping abuse on the victorious candidate, mourning the apparent ignorance of the electorate. Jacob gritted his teeth and tried to block out the conversation. He had never paid much attention to politics, given his own outsider status with most of the Union. All he knew was that the former Union planet of Rigannin had been heavily invested in the Federalist party; that alone was all the endorsement he needed to vote Independent.
    Jacob managed to contain his worries and annoyances long enough for the skiff to reach Badger ’s shuttle bay. Lieutenant Phong brought the craft up into the bay and settled it back down inside. Jacob waited until the serious-faced officer turned to give him a thumbs-up before he unstrapped himself. The other officers all stood as well, and once again they preceded Jacob through the hatch to the deck. He followed in their wake, keeping his shoulders straight and his face impassive. As bad as this meeting was going to be, he did not want to give Upshaw the satisfaction of seeing him downcast as he went to his doom.
    The High Admiral was there to collect them in person. Alan Nivrosky looked older than he had at Reefhome, though he wore the same iron-hard expression. There he had been fresh from the victories over the last great invasion from the Odurans. Nivrosky had maneuvered the Celostian fleet brilliantly, smashing their forces at Rigannin and again at Forseth. The Navy had waged a short campaign that sent the Odurans running back to their territory. Captives taken from Erad had all been recovered from the Oduran prison ships, and the entire Union had celebrated.
    That good news had more than eclipsed Jacob’s own triumph over the Telosians, but he could hardly say he minded. The Union needed that good news to offset the disaster at Rigannin. Plans for treachery and secession had left the planet short of defenses when the Odurans struck, and the League’s warships had not been gentle. Every major settlement on the world had been bombed out of existence, supposedly as some sort of message from the Odurans about their superiority. All it had done was anger the Union and cement the already deep hatred between the two nations.
    The High Admiral now seemed weary, almost exhausted. Over the past six months, the Odurans had attacked over a hundred times in minor skirmishes. Most were one ship strikes, taking only a single freighter or transport at a time. Others were the work of small task forces, similar to the strike Jacob’s squadron had driven away. None had included more than half a dozen ships, but the sheer attrition of the continual attacks was beginning to grind down the readiness of the Naval units stationed along the border. Central Command had to strain further and further to fill in all the gaps, and the stress was leaving its mark on the High Admiral as well.
    Though his graying visage showed the marks of the almost unending war he led against the Odurans, but the High Admiral seemed more at peace now that his son stood at his side. Other officers were there as well, though Jacob could not see Al-shira among them. He tuned them out to focus on Leon.
    Leon Nivrosky seemed relatively happy as well. He resembled his father with his strong jaw and brown hair, though his was not flecked with the signs of age. Leon shared a certain cold dignity, something that had bothered Jacob when they had been ensigns together on Wolfhound and Ensign "Taylor" had consistently acted as if he had a superior grasp of command. Now Jacob often wondered what decision he would have made aboard that stranded destroyer if he had known the son of the High Admiral had been standing right next to him.
    Jacob waited while the High Admiral greeted the others. Each officer received the same welcome; a sharp salute and a few blunt words followed by one