Free Warrior Chronicles 3: Warrior's Realm by Shawn Jones Page A

matter how tough he is, General Addison cannot win with sticks and rocks. You give those of us on the front line a chance to win. Never forget that.”
     
    “Thank you Captain Jones. General, if you will follow me, I will take you to your quarters. Captain Jones, the shuttle will return you to the Remington whenever you are ready.”
     
    Cort said, “Wait, Captain. I want you to stay on board for the next couple of weeks. I will bring my own crew on, but I want you and your people to train them. You know my ship better than anyone else, and I want them to as well.”
     
    “Yes, sir. Thank you. Now if you will follow me.”
     
    --
     
    “It’s good he knew his limits, JJ. And that he was willing to admit them makes him invaluable to us. I talked to him a bit as he showed me around the ship. He has no qualms about the war, he just knows he might not be the man to pull the trigger.”
     
    “Agreed, General. But it brings to light another problem. We just don’t have the trained staff to man all the ships we have coming out of Phobos. Any suggestions?”
     
    “Shadows. Put the trainees with active crews. Every person on every ship has a tagalong. Once you have every ship double staffed, split them and do it again. Pull the really good trainers aside and start a war college. I brought thousands of files from my time that teach strategy and tactics. Because we are in a three dimensional environment, pay special attention to the submarine training. That’s the closest analogy we have to the war we are in now. Fill the college with simulators and train your crews. I’ve got Mike Rage doing something similar with ground troops.”
     
    “I am going to lose my ship, aren’t I?”
     
    Cort decided not to tease her about her use of contractions. Like Rand, she was also adapting his speech patterns.She was too somber. “Not yet, Jade. Right now we don’t have a training platform. Until we do, you might as well use your ship. Continue your current mission, but find your replacement. I don’t even mind you staying in fleet, but you are the head of my navy. Right now that is a handful of ships that can work together, but I’ve got fifteen thousand people headed our way to man your ships. And that’s just the first wave. So once the last of the three Remington class ships is built, you become an admiral.”
     
    “Fuck. That soon?”
     
    “Yeah, but like I say, you can stay on a ship for awhile. Lots of Admirals float. You should keep Book at Phobos. He’s passionate about it. Make him an admiral, but keep him in the shipyards.”
     
    “Yes, sir. Say, do you have any scotch on board with you?”
     
    --
     
    “I feel like I let the general down, sir," Book and Jones were in the wardroom having coffee when he made the confession to her.
     
    “No, you did not. He hoped you would turn down the ship. You are too valuable building the Navy. Captains are easier to train than shipbuilders are. Your background makes you perfect for the job. The fact that your wife is an Addison helps too. He has no doubt of your commitment to this cause.”
     
    “I married into the family before college. Chris was pregnant with our first. Once I was family, I found out the trust would pay for my education. But my wife and I both discounted the family legend. When he became public knowledge, we were shocked. A legend becoming reality inspires a lot of loyalty. That’s why I had to turn him down. I would not be able to forgive myself if I let that man down.”
     
    “Keep building ships like the Taurus , and you will be just fine.”
     
    “Yes, sir.”
     
    AFS Taurus
     
    “Transition complete, passives coming online. Oh my gods!” On the main viewer, at zero magnification, was a massive ship. An angular barrel nearly a kilometer long and half that at its widest point, the giant cask was right in front of them.
     
    Addison said, “Charge the point-defense railguns, but do not run them out.”
     
    Five seconds later the