Free Badger by Kindal Debenham Page B

them access codes to their doors and then departed with a sharp salute. Jacob was left with a still solemn Leon Nivrosky obviously waiting to be invited in to discuss whatever it was that he wanted to say. There didn’t seem to be a way around the conversation.
    “Commander Nivrosky, is there something you need to discuss with me?”
    Leon nodded. “I believe so, Jacob. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all, Commander. Not at all.” Jacob opened the hatch to his quarters and walked in. It was a moderate sized room, with a narrow cot on the right and a desk against the wall on the left. There were two chairs, one at the desk and the other up against the back wall of the room. Jacob strode over to the one at the back, pausing to pull out the chair at the desk for his fellow officer. He fell into the seat and managed a weary smile as Leon sat. “Well, Commander, what can I do for you?”
    Leon returned his smile. “I was just hoping to catch up with you, Captain Hull. It seems like it has been a while since we last made contact, and I would prefer to have a closer working relationship with my superior officer if I can manage it.”
    Jacob stiffened. He met Leon’s eyes with a cold stare. “Are you suggesting that I have not been in contact with you, Commander Nivrosky? It isn’t like I have been ignoring your reports.”
    Leon’s smile faded slightly. “I meant something that would have required you to actually speak with me, Captain. Lately you haven’t been ready to give me much more time than you have my Countermeasures officer, though I’d bet you have spoken more with her these past few weeks.” He tilted his head to the side. “Have you lost confidence in me, Jacob? Or have I somehow betrayed your trust?”
    Jacob shook his head. “No, but—”
    “Then I suggest, respectfully, that you stop acting like it. Sir.” Leon’s face shifted into an expression very much similar to the one his father had worn just a few moments earlier. The resemblance was unsettling to say the least.
    There was a moment of tense silence, and then Jacob looked away. “I’m sorry, Leon. With everything that had been happening in the squadron, I just assumed it would be easier for you if I maintained a distance.”
    Leon snorted. “And Isaac can handle the horrors of being associated with you when I can’t? I hoped I had gained at least the same level of respect from you that he has, after all we’ve gone through.”
    The rebuke hit home, as did the sudden reminder of Isaac’s present sullen attitude towards him. Jacob forced a smile. “Well, it’s more like I thought he had a lot less to lose, Leon. After all, the son of the High Admiral can’t be seen slumming with the maverick of Tiredel’s defense forces.”
    Leon snorted again, amused this time. “The son of the High Admiral can slum with whoever he damn well chooses. I don’t remember you standing so much on formality back in the Wolfhound . You were actually pretty militant in coming from the other direction, I believe.”
    He gave his former Gunnery officer a resentful look. “I wasn’t that bad. Besides, if you recall, we were both pretty busy back then. Something about pirates, I think.”
    Leon grunted. “Better to be fighting them than the damn Odurans. Mean as they were, those Telosians couldn’t shoot straight enough or fast enough to match some of these League ships.”
    The reminder of the raids along the border was sobering. Jacob nodded. “You’re right, but then again we have more ships to fight them with now.”
    Leon grimaced. “At least, we have them for now. There’s been some talk about decommissioning the Hunter class destroyers completely. Something about the class lacking the appropriate armor to protect our crews, having sacrificed it to overload on firepower.” The commander shook his head, disagreement plain on his face. “Of course, they’ve never seen what that kind of firepower can do in the right situation, so they’re