ever make. “Alright,” he decided. “When do we start?”
Admiral Byrd thought for a moment, then rubbed his hands together. “Well, let's just say I'll be in contact. You'll receive a communication the day each mission begins. I'll brief you on the mission, and you'll find evidence where they say there is none. Got it?”
“So, I'm on call.”
“You're in service to all of humankind. If that's on call for you, then you're on call.” Admiral Byrd stood. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to meet the press about this. They're going to make you look like a monumental piece of Guild. But I'm going to tell them that you had nothing to do with it, and that it was some unnamed cadet Techies that were having a little fun. You'll still be considered the best pilot in ten years, but not the winner of these games. That will go to the young cadet on Starship Sirona.” He placed his hand in his military issued coat pocket, digging out a small envelope. He tossed it to Connor, who easily caught it in his hands. “That's 10,000 bulvas to start. The rest will come after the mission and that's how we'll do things, okay?” He didn't wait for a reply, saying, “SGC Connor Jay, you're dismissed.”
3 Months Before the Attack
Brigger stepped into Admiral Byrd's quarters as the vertical door slid shut behind him.
“Sit,” ordered Admiral Byrd, reading a communication on his HDC, too busy to look up.
“Yes, Admiral.” Brigger sat down on the other side of the admiral's desk, his hands folded in his lap, waiting patiently.
Admiral Byrd pushed the power button on his HDC, shutting it off. He leaned back in his chair. “We have an opening for First Lieutenant on the bridge. First Lieutenant will oversee and help the Commanding Officer of Starfighter Division with launching and landing bay crews by doing administrative tasks, such as scheduling work, quality control, coordinating other departments, and conflict resolution. If by chance the captain, the Third Mate and I all die on the bridge, or off of the bridge, First Lieutenant takes over the bridge and commands Starship Brigantia.” Admiral Byrd paused, staring at Brigger as if he was searching Brigger's soul. “You applied for this position. From your records, it indicates that you are qualified.”
“I am here to serve and protect the people of Starbase Matrona and the military personnel of Star Guild. And to assist you in whatever you desire,” replied Brigger.
“I was looking through your files and it says you were stationed as a Third Mate Operations Officer on Starship Hathor. Is that correct?”
“That is. Though, I don't have much more than six month’s experience on a ship. And, during those six months I sat around a lot.”
Admiral Byrd chuckled. “I don't see how that is possible, Brigger. If you served during the time that the file indicates, then you should be dead, and for eighteen years now, along with my mentor Fleet Admiral Revel Sune. Are you fooling with us and the Star Guild system?”
“No, I am not,” said Brigger. “Is it rare for a person of your race to survive an explosive event like that?”
Admiral Byrd pointed at his own chest. “A person of my race?”
“Yes, what I should ask is this: do your bodies expire so easily?”
“Excuse me?” The admiral put both hands on his desk, saying under his breath, “You're not right of mind.”
Brigger glanced down, feeling that what he said must be quite contrary to human customs or questions. He closed his eyes, waving his hand in the air. He opened his eyes, satisfied to see that the Admiral was expressionless, but fixed on Brigger's hand movements.
Brigger took in a deep breath, intoning, “You will forget this conversation has ever happened, Admiral, and you will feel compelled and happy to hire me, knowing that whatever our conversation was, it went well. When the time comes, and when I signal you on the bridge, you will call upon the Knights Templar. However, in this moment, when I stop waving my hand, you will come back to now consciousness.”
Brigger dropped his arm in his lap, ceasing his strange hypnotic hand movements.
Admiral Byrd blinked a couple of times, feeling a bit woozy, then stretched out his hand to Brigger's. They clasped and shook.
“Thank you Brigger. You're hired. Report to Starship Brigantia's Human Resource department immediately.” Admiral Byrd opened a desk drawer and took out a piece of paper. At the bottom of a page of verbiage he signed his name on a dotted line. “Hand this paper to the department intake personnel. I'm pleased you're aboard this ship. You may go now.”
Brigger smiled. “I'm grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, Admiral.”
The admiral smiled back, something he rarely did. “No, thank you.”
Suddenly, Chase's voice sounded through the intercom.
“May I come in, Uncle?”
Admiral Byrd spoke, “Open.”
“Hello,” greeted Brigger, standing and extending his hand.
Chase took it, smiled his charming smile, asking, “And, you are?”
“I'm just leaving. My name is Brigger. Nice to meet you.” Brigger gave a glance at Admiral Byrd before he left, smiling brightly.
Chase sat, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. “Who was that overly nice gentleman?”
The Admiral shook his head, much like a dog shaking water off after a bath. He rubbed his eyes and coughed a few times, then blurted out, “What did you ask, Chase?”
Chase ran a jerky hand through his hair. “Are you okay, uncle?”
“What do you mean? I'm fine.” Admiral Byrd started rubbing his hands against his pant legs, then yawned.
Chase half stood, his knees slightly bent. “Do you need me to get some help?” He gestured toward the door.
“Water?” asked Admiral Byrd.
“Right in front of you, uncle.” Chase sat back down, pushing the water more in the admiral's direction. His uncle picked it up and downed it in several large gulps.
“I can get some help. You don't look well. You're becoming white.”
“No, no, no. I'm fine. Stay here, Chase.”
Chase nodded. “So...you asked to see me?”
“I did.” Admiral Byrd coughed again. “I wanted to talk to you about your fainting spell.”
Chase tightened. “That was several months ago. Next time, ask me my thoughts on the situation before you speak to the media, please?”
“You said my allegations of poisoning weren't founded on any logical reasoning. They blared that over the vid channels, too.”
“And I stand by that.”
Admiral Byrd crossed his arms. “I've been in governance for far too long, Chase. I saw through the tactic.”
“You’re suggesting that my opponent was trying to kill me?”
“No, I suggested that your opponent tried to poison you.”
Chase leaned forward, pointing his finger at the admiral. “That was plastered all over the vid channels and the news files. How do you think that made my campaign look?”
Admiral Byrd dropped his arms in his lap, letting out a sigh. “It made you look like a fool. I know. I apologize, Chase. It wasn't my intention. I just know governance like the back of my hand. If anyone tries to hurt—”
“You're not even in the governance, uncle.”
Admiral Byrd hesitated for a moment, studying his young, testosterone-filled nephew. He breathed in deeply, letting out an exhale. He had to remind himself that Chase was only in his thirties, still trying to find his voice and his way in life, and looking for a stepping-stone in his career.
“Chase, please understand that I'm a tier above the governance officials and just below Prime Director Zim Nocki. I know how it works and I've dealt with this business for eighteen years now. When I see something important, I'm not going to act blind and ignore it.”
“So you say something so ill-founded that it makes you look like the biggest joke and laughing stock on the starbase and in all of Star Guild military. You're the admiral for Guild sakes.” Chase stopped himself, knowing that berating his uncle, let alone a top military official, was neither ki
nd nor necessary. He cupped his hands. “I apologize for being rude and talking to you like a kid, uncle, I just don't—”
“I had the glass tested, Chase.”
Chase paused, leaning back in his seat. “What glass? The one I drank from on the podium? The one in the debate?” He knew the answers to his questions, and continued, his brows raised. “And?”
“It was poisoned. Not enough to kill, but enough to do what it did.”
Chase put his hand up. “Do not do anything, uncle. Please. I'm going to win this my way. I'm going to win this. Do you understand? I'm going to win this fair and square.”
Admiral Byrd flared his nostrils. “He's not playing fair, Chase!”
“But I am.” Chase got up. “Open,” he snarled, and walked out of his uncle's quarters and down the hall. “Do nothing!” he barked, without looking over his shoulder.
Admiral Byrd stared at his nephew, wanting to hug him more than lecture him, but sometimes winning fair in the governance just didn’t cut it and the Admiral knew it and knew it well.
Chase disappeared around the corner and the Admiral pressed a few buttons on his HDC, bringing up his com link.
A voice came online. “It's been far too long, Fleet Admiral James Byrd.”
“It's James to you, Prime Overseer Savannah Levens. And, it's only been two hours.”
“I know. For me, that's too long. And—it's Savannah to you.” There was a flirtatious tone in her voice. She liked to tease the admiral for many reasons, one reason she would never tell him, the other reason was to put him at ease and hopefully make him smile, or better