Free Inadvertent Adventures by Loren K. Jones

her knitting down. "What happened?"
    "What happened? Wha' happened was tha' she threatened to tell her son."
    "Her son?" she asked suspiciously.
    "Secretary o' Commerce Fairmont."
    She whispered, "Bloody hell."
    "That's what I said. ‘Tis a total loss. We don' even dare reveal that we had an interest in it. And there may be even worse news."
    "I'd be interested in hearing what could be worse than the loss of a three billion credit resort satellite."
    "Amberson may have been exposed."
    The woman walked over and poured herself a shot of whiskey. "Tell Harriet to deal with it."
    "Aye, that I will. As soon as I get another 'Pad."

Chapter 8
    I T ONLY TOOK SEVEN WEEKS AFTER the incident in the Hobson System before the Department of the Navy found out about what Ann had done and sent her recall orders. The order was short and to the point.
     
    "Rear Admiral Annette Stevenson, you are directed to return to the Georgia System with the CSS William the Conqueror battle group to face charges of misappropriating Navy vessels and personnel for personal purposes. You will surrender command of the battle group to Captain Hellete immediately and consider yourself under quarters arrest pending your arrival."
     
    Signed,
    Fleet Admiral Edward Teach
    CINC Epsilon Quadrant
     
    William the Conqueror led her escorts out of the Hobson System just three hours later. It only took six days in hyper to reach the Georgia System, and Admiral Stevenson was ordered to the Naval Administrative Habitat to face charges that would cost her her command, if not her commission.
    Admiral Stevenson and her guests were met by Admiral Teach's gig and Chief of Staff while the battle group was still maneuvering to their assigned parking orbit. The tall woman in the captain's uniform was no stranger to Ann or Sterling.
    "I didn't believe you'd risen from the grave, Sterling," Captain Jenissa Harrisson said as she stepped forward to clasp hands with him.
    "Never made it into the hole, Jenny," Sterling said as he smiled up into her dark face.
    "Not for lack of trying if what I hear is accurate." Captain Harrisson turned toward Ann and came to attention. "Admiral Stevenson, I am to escort you to Admiral Teach immediately. He was just short of apoplectic when he heard what you did with William the Conqueror and your battle group. You'll be lucky to retain your flag."
    "No I won't. I'd be beached at best if I stay, Jenny, but I won't stay." Ann paused as Captain Harrisson's expression turned intensely curious. "Sterling accepted my proposal and we're married again. Captain Hellete performed the ceremony before the orders came. I'll be leaving the service to stay with him."
    "You're just going to surrender your flag, Ann?" the captain asked, forgetting military courtesy in her shock.
    "I am," she replied. The trip over to the Fleet Command Habitat was a quiet one.
    Admiral Teach met them in his day room and frowned mightily at the three civilians who followed Ann into his presence. "What's the meaning of this, Admiral Stevenson?"
    "Admiral Teach, I believe you know my husband, Sterling Stevenson, formerly of the CSS Stellar Navy." She paused as Admiral Teach's eyebrows tried to climb onto his hairline for a better view. "The other two are associates of his and were instrumental in the destruction of a ship that was engaged in commerce raiding."
    "I know your husband," the admiral said, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I sent flowers to his grave. That, however, has no bearing on these proceedings. You, Admiral Stevenson, took your battle group away from your assigned patrol area in pursuance of a personal vendetta against one Pahna Mah in Hobson's Planet orbit."
    Admiral Stevenson snapped to attention before answering. "Sir, I was under an obligation to pay the debt owed by my 'deceased' ex-husband, and unable to leave the battle group. Therefore I took the battle group with me to pay that debt."
    Admiral Teach scowled as he considered his answer. "I've