Free Here Comes Earth: Emergence by William Lee Gordon Page A

that there was little
down-side; if Jaki got all bent out of shape everyone could write me off as
just a history professor. It’s not like I’m on the diplomatic team or HQ
staff.”
     
    After
thinking about it for a couple of seconds I exhaled heavily and said, “Well,
off the record I’m telling you good job – someone needed to push those bastards
off the fence so we could start making some real progress but you need to know
that you’re now on everyone’s radar. You’re no longer ‘just a history professor’
so you’re going to have to watch yourself. I’m not going to tell you to stay
away from Jaki, she seems to have an affinity for you, but there may be others
that do want to isolate you. Keep your nose clean and don’t give them an
excuse.”
     
    ∆∆∆
     
    Later
that night I found ‘Iron Jaw’ devouring a truly rare steak in an almost empty
Officer’s Mess. After grabbing a hamburger for myself I sat down across from
him.
     
    After
a few bites I started, “Another great day of serving our country...”
     
    “Yes
it is,” he sallied.
     
    “I
don’t really know any Air Force officers,” I ventured.
     
    “I
do,” he said. “And almost all of them are fine men and women that I’d be proud
to serve with.”
     
    “I
also don’t really know anything about Memphis’ background,” I quipped.
     
    “Well…”
Mike drawled. “I’ve heard tell that a certain Eugene Memphis has spent a lot of
time at the pentagon. Seems like every time he gets a field command he ends up
right back in brass alley.”
     
    We
both knew that the good commanders tended to go from field command to field command.
     
    “Sounds
like our friend has a patron. Has he ever had a combat command?” I asked.
     
    “Nope.” 
     
    Needless
to say, this wasn’t a comforting conversation.
     
    “Word
is,” Mike continued, “that in his last field command he held a live fire
exercise and got several of his airmen killed.”
     
    I
stared at Mike. “And just how would you know this?”
     
    “Did
I ever tell you,” Mike said as he looked away, “that my kid sister married a
man that lost his brother in the Air Force?”
     
    After
a moment of thought I said, “It must have taken someone that was pretty fed-up
with the diplomats to air that blogcast.”
     
    Mike
grunted and said, “Yeah and they must have been hanging around the security
offices at just the right moment. It’s kind of crazy how things work out
sometimes.”
     
    ∆∆∆
     
    Dr.
Spencer wasn’t the only member of Blue Squad making headway. The very next day Dr.
Toni Andretti (Dr. Mom) uncovered a bombshell with her interview. Probably
every scientist on the base… probably everybody on the base watched the
recording of her interview at least once.
     
    While
it caused great excitement for the entire team, Captain Hiromi suggested I talk
to Dr. Andretti. Though she was putting up a great front her squad leader
didn’t think she was nearly as enthused. I caught up with her in the hallway
just outside of the medical section…
     
    “Dr.
Andretti, can I have a moment?” I asked.
     
    “Major,
how many times have I asked you to call me Toni or Dr. Mom if you prefer. There
are far too many titles running around this base for anyone to be impressed.
Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll keep on addressing you as Major – I know how
important that is to you military types,” she said with a big sincere smile.
     
    If
this woman had ever offended anyone in her life I’d be shocked.
     
    I
leaned up against the hallway wall and started again, “Ah, Toni I just wanted
to check in with you. You did a great thing yesterday but a little birdie is
telling me that you’re not quite as satisfied as might be expected.”
     
    “Oh,
I’m just fine. We’re all doing such important work here and I’m sure all of us
will have some disappointments along the way.”
     
    “But
that’s just it,” I said. “You made a great breakthrough and uncovered a