Free April 8: It's Always Something by Mackey Chandler Page A

bluntly. "I mentioned that he screwed up big time by going back to Earth. It was a bad choice for bad reasons. Again, reasons of youth. But the point was he admitted he screwed up without trying to make a list of excuses. Don't you realize how rare that is in people? That he could admit to himself he made an error first. Many can't do that. But to admit it to others is a huge step beyond. This is the sort of fellow you want working for you in twenty years, when you have a complex project that can't help but have problems and setbacks. The difference between success and failure can often be a manager who either comes to you with a problem to fix it, or tries to cover it up for fear some blame may attach to him. You do see what a disaster that can be?"
    "Ah...As a friend of mine has said a few times, I'm instructed. Perhaps this is a reflection of my own lack of social skills," Jeff admitted, "but I just expect that of my employees. I'll have to discuss it further with April. She has brought me a long way toward understanding social and...emotional issues."
    "Well you can expect it all you want, but if it hasn't bitten you on the butt yet it's a miracle. If you weren't aware people do that, then I'm glad I could enlighten you," Jan said.
    "I believe I'd have classed that as Earth Think. But I will keep it in mind," Jeff promised.
    "And you should know...Yes I did a soft recruit, and invited him to feel free to talk to me, but he isn't in my pay ," Jan said.
    Jeff weighed everything in his mind, staring into the screen, projecting all sorts of information to Jan who watched this very brief but intense process play out on his face without a word.
    "He wouldn't have taken the pay, or the implied conditions that went with it," Jeff decided.
    "You are an absolutely infuriating person," Jan said. "You miss the obvious and then clearly see the much more complex with ease."
    Jeff did an elaborate shrug. "Then only put the complicated questions to me," he invited. "It will be more efficient and less frustrating for everyone involved."
    He wasn't sure why Jan was laughing so hard when he disconnected.
    * * *
    "Colonel Allister, I've had no success at all negotiating privately with Colonel Bilkie of the God's Warriors. I wish you'd reconsider softening our ideology on rank. The fact I'm bringing a request to them from a Colonel instead of a General seems to make a real difference in how they view it. I get the constant feeling they consider us a lesser organization because we are headed by a committee of equals rather than a head. I know it's an empty title, but you are acting as head, even if temporarily. Why not let whichever Colonel is acting head assume the temporary rank of General? Not personally, but rotating. It will present a face to these others they can understand."
    "We had a General. It's too much power for one man and pretty soon he believes his own lies." The memory of how deeply he'd trusted that General and how deeply disappointed he'd been in his purity of purpose still haunted Allister. "Softening our ideology is why he was removed," he reminded Sass. "If you are uncomfortable with our structure, Lieutenant, you are welcome to resign your commission and return to being a simple soldier who doesn't have to ponder these things, just follow orders."
    "No sir. I believe I have something to contribute." Lieutenant Sass replied. He'd seen what happened to those reduced in rank. They were assigned things like door kicking that afforded them opportunity to demonstrate their ultimate loyalty on an accelerated basis.
    "We shall proceed with our own resources," Allister decided. "There are still facilities and units that haven't been integrated. It would have been easier with their cooperation. Not so much with space resources, because we hold most of those, but on this end with ground resources like transport and supply."
    "Things have gone much smoother in that regard since they tried stopping our convoy trying to pass through