Free Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service by Raymond L Jennings

careful.” Ken’Rathel
paused and then said, “I think that wraps it up for today, General. I’ll page
Doctor Marrash that you’re leaving my office so he can bolster med section’s
defenses.”
    Crineal
smiled at Ken’Rathel. “You know me too well, Sir.” He stood and placed his cup
on the desk before saluting. “Thank you for the tea, Sir.”
    Ken’Rathel
waved him away. “Go see to your pilots.” Crineal turned and started for the
door. “And try and keep Lieutenants Perl, Staller and Muscovy under control.
I’d hate to have to explain to Del’Herat how his son managed to fall out of an
airlock.”
    As
Crineal left the office he shook his head. He would love to know how Ken’Rathel
came by his information. It could make a man paranoid.
     
    Crineal
entered medical to find Major Strieger there as well. She was sitting and
talking to 1st Lieutenant Sumomo. He waved at her to keep her seat and went to
Lieutenant Feldea’s bed. She opened her eyes as he approached. Her left side
was covered with a regeneration sheath; her right foot seemed to be similarly
encased. He took the chair next to her bed. “How are you doing, Lieutenant?” he
asked, smiling at her.
    “I’m
ok, Sir. Mostly numb with this thing on me.” She gestured to the sheath with
her chin.
    “Hmmm….yes,
it’s hardly the most fashionable of bed wear, Fel.” He knew that off duty she
considered herself highly fashion conscious.
    She
gave a little giggle which made her seem very much like a teenager, at odds
with the veteran pilot he knew her to be. “Doctor Marrash says it could be a
month before I get out of here, Sir,” Feldea said somberly.
    “If
it gets too bad I’ll arrange a roster for the squadron to come and pester him
to release you.” She smiled at him weakly. “And the admiral gave everyone leave
for the duration of our stopover here. Yours is being held back for when you’re
fit again. You’ll have a whole month to shop and sun yourself.”
    “That
sounds great, Sir. Did the admiral also volunteer to pay for my credit tab to
cover the shopping?”
    Crineal
shook his head. “Sorry, Lieutenant. I don’t think the entire fleet’s budget
would cover that large a bill. You’re on your own there. Anything I can get for
you?”
    “Not
at the moment, Sir. The techs here are doing a great job at making me
comfortable.” He reached out and patted her right hand before standing. She
gave his a squeeze in return. “Thank you for being here, Sir.”
    “You
deserve it, Fel.” Crineal released her hand and joined Strieger to finish the
round of visits.
     
    They
left the ward together, neither speaking, both distressed by the injuries of
their comrades. They found themselves in the observation room of one of the
cargo bays, watching as various shuttles docked and unloaded before taking off
again. Crineal was the first to speak.
    “The
admiral suspended the search. Bannerman and Rochelle will be posted as lost in
action.”
    Strieger
bowed her head. “Damn.” After a few seconds she said, “I know they can’t still
be alive, but…” Crineal nodded in sympathy with her.
    They
stood there silently a little longer as one shuttle left the bay and another
edged in.
    The
major sighed. “Well, at least you’ll be getting leave now, Sir,” she waited a
few seconds and, when Crineal didn’t reply, continued. “The admiral did say all
of the squadron,” she pressed. The silence continued. She slapped her forehead.
“You turned it down, didn’t you?” Crineal nodded.
    “Sometimes
I don’t understand you at all, Sir,” she said in frustration. The shuttle in
the bay below dropped its cargo ramp. “Please, Sir, come with me and show me
some of the sights of Earth,” she was almost pleading with him now.
    He
tried to defuse the situation with humor. “Is that an indecent proposition,
Major?” he asked her with a small smile he didn’t really feel.
    She
looked at him squarely. “If that’s what it takes, Sir, then