Resolute

Chapter 11

Someone once said war was diplomacy continued by other means. Or maybe it was the other way around. Father was want to say it either way. Kris wondered what that someone would think of her use of socialiting as a continuation of the war between the Peterwalds and Longknifes by other means.

Once upon a time, Kris had looked upon Hank as a potential Romeo, and her as Juliet, destined to end the bitterness between two warring families. Such romantic mush was ancient history, as Kris stepped into the hall from her room and came face-to-face with Jack and Penny.

Penny wore the requested Navy-dress dinner evening ensemble. ''The manual calls for miniature medals, but I don't have any. I thought you'll be just as happy with me in full-size ones.''

Kris nodded. ''Easier for the blind to see.''

Jack was in fresh dress blues to go with his shower and shave. He showed medals in place of a single row of ribbons. He eyed Kris. ''You've got the lapel pin from the Battle of the Line on the sash of the Wounded Lion. That's not regulation.''

Kris looked down at her dress. The bright red of the satin was bound to be eye-catching; the fire red hugged her waist, the one thing about her she was proud of. Below, it flounced out to sway very nicely as she walked. Above, it opened up. Abby's push-up bra might actually give eager male eyes something to catch when her top went one way and she went the other.

Abby had arranged the sash of the Wounded Lion, Earth's highest honor, to start under her right arm, and brought it along nicely so that the golden starburst of the order closed the sash nicely on her left hip. But, not content with the silent testimony of an undocumented Earth award, Kris added the lapel pin worn by civilian survivors of Wardhaven's recent defense.

Kris had no idea what medals, orders, or ribbons Hank might be sporting. Somehow she greatly doubted the long peace around Greenfeld had presented the many opportunities for bleeding and dying that Kris had faced of late. Or maybe the correct answer was that any of Greenfeld's folks that had done that shooting and dying had done so where it was best not documented.

Satisfied, Kris offered Jack her arm, he rested it on his, and they headed for the elevator. ''Mind the store,'' Kris shouted at Chief Beni as they passed the Command Center.

''They throw a party for us poor, overworked sailors, and I get stuck with the duty. Where's the fairness in that?''

''Nobody mentioned fairness in my commissioning papers,'' Jack said, eyeing Kris.

''Nor mine,'' Kris pointed out. ''But there's bound to be a party tomorrow night. I'll try to bust you loose.''

''I'm going to remind you. Nelly, you remember her,'' Beni shouted as they opened the locked door and entered the elevator foyer. There were two big strapping boys taking delight in Marilyn's company.

''Enjoy one of those dances for me,'' she called as she checked the elevator, found it empty, and opened the door.

On Deck 1, Kris pointed her team at Pier 1's landing, Jack on her right, Penny on her left. ''Jack, you going to try to talk me out of this one more time?''

''Nope,'' the Marine said. ''I'm all gussied up and looking forward to the show.'' He patted Kris's waist at the back. ''No weapon. Are you actually going unarmed tonight?''

''Abby showed me a better place for it. Don't want to be dancing with a guy and him patting my hold-out gun.''

''Especially Hank,'' Penny said.

''Please let me know before you start shooting.''

''I will, Jack. I know it's embarrassing when I get the best of the bad guys and you get left with the second string,'' she said through a smile.

''It's not fair to say things like that when we're coming up on our target and I have to smile,'' he growled through his smile.

''I'm sure you'll get even,'' Kris said.

They took the escalator down to the landing. Penny crossed the brow first, saluting the Officer of the Deck, then the flag painted on the left wall of the quarterdeck. Jack followed, doing the same. Kris, playing regal to the hilt, and not being in uniform, crossed the gangplank, and presented her hand to the OOD to kiss. Apparently, this was not covered in the young lieutenant's brief, but, what with Kris's hand almost smacking him in the mouth, he got the idea that maybe he should kiss it.

Shamelessly, Kris used that effort, once begun, to get him into chasing her hand lower until he was half bowing. Nice to know that Greenfeld sailors are educable, Kris thought through a most Noble smile.

''Your commodore offered us the benefit of his barge for a ride down to the party. Are you going to show us the way?''

''That is my honor and duty,'' said a calm, low voice. Kris turned to find herself facing an older Naval officer in formal blues, four strips on his sleeve. His trim mustache was gray, as were enough of the hairs at his temple to give him a most distinguished appearance. Kris offered her hand, he bowed very professionally and kissed it. ''I am Captain Merv Slovo, of the Incredible. Commodore Smythe-Peterwald's flagship.''

''Is Hank styling himself that formally these days,'' Kris asked, airy as any debutante.

''His father is the President of over ninety planets. Some formality does seem apropos.''

Kris did not argue the planet count and introduced Penny. The woman followed Kris's lead; rather than saluting her senior, she offered her hand. Captain Slovo did it honor, but his bow brought his eyes level with the young lieutenant's medals, and Kris noticed that the captain's nostrils flared as he read the service record of the woman before him.

This was something Kris found very intriguing about the Navy Way. She'd learned early to have Nelly subscribe to Who's Who on Wardhaven, and then expanded it to Who's Who in All Human Space. Politicians, scientists, civilians in general, could be found quickly, and their stories revealed for the thoughtful application of a young girl politician-in-training.

The Navy Way was different. It was all out there on the chest to observe and mark. And, if appropriate, be warned by.

Take Captain Slovo. The Good Conduct Medal with four oak-leaf clusters on it was in his long row of miniature medals. It was proof not only of his good and faithful service but told Kris that he had completed twenty years active duty but had not been retired. His other medals included a Meritorious Service Award for his performance, likely in a staff billet. There was also a Distinguished Service Award, probably for a previous command. He sported an unusual ribbon for a Greenfeld sailor. Most of their ships stayed close to port; he wore the space-dark ribbon with the four white stars that identified one who'd made a four-month cruise. Oh, and his sharpshooter medal said he was highly qualified with five individual or crew-served weapons.

Kris double-checked that row of medals against the latest update Nelly had found on net. No, he had not been involved in any of the officially recognized Defense Campaigns that Peterwald had declared following some of his more heavy-handed acquisitions. Unless Captain Slovo was holding back on Kris, he was not a veteran of the more egregious blood and thunder bits of Greenfeld gunboat diplomacy.

While Kris was evaluating the man in front of Penny, he was doing the same to Kris's subordinate. Penny had the usual ''Beer Swilling and Party Games medal'' that had been awarded to all who attended the formal and final hauling down of the flag of the Society of Humanity at the Paris system. She also wore the Turantic Medical Expedition and the generic Naval Expeditionary Medal for the assistance she and others had provided Hikila during its recent terrorist outbreak. What was unusual, at least for the Turantic Medal, was that it also showed a V for valor. While others had just gone to Turantic to deliver medical supplies and reestablish communications, Penny had earned hers the hard way—in a fight.

Proudly in last place was the Wardhaven Defense Medal. There was no V authorized for that medal. No one earned it who wasn't on the line—fighting for their life.

At the other end of Penny's medals, in pride of place, was the Meritorious Service Award. She'd probably earned that for her inquisition of Kris's shipmates on the Typhoon, something that still irked Kris. But Tommy had asked her not to hold it against Penny. ''She was only doing her job.'' And falling in love with Tommy… and Tommy with her.

So Kris forgave her that. Still, it burned Kris. All the scrapes she'd pulled herself and Wardhaven out of and all she got were the basic ribbons for being there. Being the Prime Minister's daughter and the King's great-granddaughter was not turning out to be all that the fairy tales promised.

Captain Slovo finished his assessment of Penny and turned to Jack. They exchanged salutes. Jack's ''tourist'' credentials were the same as Penny's, though his started at Turantic. The two men's eyes got that hard look around the edges that two men often get when they're making the determination as to who the Alpha male is in this dog run… and not at all sure how to call it.

They broke eye contact so close to the same time that only Nelly could have determined the winner.

''May I offer you an arm,'' the captain said to Kris. ''The commodore's barge is this way.'' All so civil. All so proper. Kris took the offered arm and let him lead her. Jack and Penny trailed them. Despite all the ancient trappings of warriors and killers, tonight we party. Who knows what we'll do to each other tomorrow. But tonight, we drink, and dance, and ignore the obvious. Like hell we do, Kris reminded herself.

Captain Slovo led her through his ship with clear pride of ownership. In an elevator taking them down, he turned to Kris. ''Is that the Earth Order of the Wounded Lion you are wearing?''

''It is,'' Kris agreed.

''Little girls don't often find them in a box of cracker jacks?''

''I'm not aware that any little girl ever has.''

''No,'' he said, ''No, they have not. So, there must be quite a story behind it. There always is, I'm told.''

''Yes,'' Kris agreed, but gave no story.

The pause grew long. ''You're not going to tell me.''

''Certainly you've been briefed on me.''

The captain adjusted the tight collar of his shirt as the elevator came to a halt. ''Actually, I have no brief on you at all. We left Greenfeld space a month ago and have been paying calls on Confederacy planets since. Four, five, one loses count,'' he fibbed. And Kris found herself suppressing a frown. Why are you telling me this? Was he trying merely to pass the time, or was this his excuse for the blundering around the station? Or was he letting her know that he and his commodore were having to make this up as they went along? Hmm.

Kris reviewed the whole of his statement and chose to respond to his first remark. ''Well, your commodore has surely shared his experiences of me with you,'' Kris said as they walked across the shuttle bay. Around her, files of sailors and Marines in dress uniforms were loading aboard liberty launches, but the area around the barge was clear of activity.

''He has said a few words, nothing of major import.'' The captain's serious face suddenly took on a puzzled smile. ''He is rather definite that you and your associates are not to be allowed near the bridge of any of our ships or the controls of any of our craft. No explanation. Leaves me wondering.''

''Well, if Hank considers that to be top secret, far be it from me to spill the beans,'' Kris said lightly.

Without orders, but in accordance with protocol, Jack and Penny boarded the launch first, then stepping aft to give Kris and Captain Slovo freedom to enter. The Captain handed Kris aboard, boarded himself and came to attention facing forward.

Henry Smythe-Peterwald the Thirteenth in full military regalia stood beside the front seat. Long formal frock coat was topped by a hat that could have been stolen from the captain of a sailing ship, gold fringed and rising high in the middle as it tapered fore and aft. On his chest was a fistful of medals, Distinguished this. Meritorious that. Kris wondered if the poor fellow who approved all of them had actually written up some fiction, or just stamped them. To Keep the Boss's Brat Happy.

And why didn't anyone on Wardhaven ever worry about what might make the Prime Minister's brat a bit happier. Oh well.

Captain Slovo announced most formally, ''Her Highness, Princess Kristine of the United Sentients.''

Hank took one look at Kris and let his perfect face slip into a perfect pout. Was the Commodore just a bit upset not to have a lowly lieutenant to lord it over? Kris thought, and suppressed the grin she felt at her first victory of the night.

Hank whirled to put his back to Kris and sat down, much like a child's balloon losing air. And got entangled in the sword he wore on his left. He should have taken the right-hand seat, but that would not have given him the direct line of sight he wanted. Oh yes, I've totally messed up his little show.

Beside Kris, Captain Slovo coughed softly. ''I believe the last seat is reserved for you, farthest from the controls.''

And I believe you blew it when you announced me, but I'm glad you did. And you only walked into the trap I set for you. I'm sorry, Captain, you deserve a better master, Kris thought as she went where she was directed.

Penny took the seat beside her. Jack settled into the one ahead of her, his cake slicer out of his way and his service automatic in easy reach. Kris automatically arranged her skirt so her own automatic, now holstered above her right knee, was easily in reach. Then she relaxed. The battle tonight would not be fought with bullets. At least not at first.

Hank made his initial play and fell flat. Kris awaited his next move, which turned out to be part of his first. Five captains tromped aboard. Apparently, Hank wanted all his skippers to witness the humiliation of the Commander, Wardhaven's Naval District 41. Unfortunately, all they saw was their own boss in a huff and Kris, smiling regally from aft as they came on board.

Certainly, that had not been in Hank's Plan of the Day.

And Kris was getting a good look at the men who called the shots on his ships. Three quickly settled around their young commodore. As a group, they were young and, Kris suspected, new to their jobs. Seated amidships with the flag captain were two others, older as well. While the forward bunch quickly found themselves something to laugh about… or at… the older captains buckled themselves in, giving quick measured glances forward, and furtive ones aft. Captain Slovo leaned forward and the other two put their heads together, but only for a moment. With solemn loyalty to their superior, they frowned at Kris and settled back into their seats, their faces Navy bland.

Kris leaned over toward Penny. ''Can you get me info on these ships and officers?''

''Yes, Your Highness. They're brand-new and not in my database. I sent off a priority query, but nothing's back yet.''

The ride down went smoothly; Kris could not have done it better. A glance out the window showed Last Chance's airport was not as sleepy as usual. The flight line was crowded with liberty launches; people lined the perimeter fence. Lots of people had turned out for the show. The politician in Kris wondered what they expected, and if they'd be happy with what they got.

Today, the commodore's barge was quickly towed to a spot for all to see. Sailors and Marines lined up in ranks and a brass band in Greenfeld's colors played their anthem. Kris stayed seated when the hatch opened. A stairway with a top landing big enough for a stage rolled up to the door. Hank led his captains onto it, not giving Kris a glance.

For her part, Kris gave him a friendly nod. It might have been lost on Hank, but not on Captain Slovo, or the other two following in his wake. The last one actually nodded and touched his hat. The campaign is joined and yielding some results.

On the stage/stairway, Hank talked into a powerful mike that carried his words across the flight line to the waiting crowd. His crew was at attention, so silence was expected from them. Through the door, Kris could see a portion of the fence line. They stood quietly as Hank announced that ''Space unites us all'' and went on to praise the prosperity that the recent years had brought to everyone ''smart enough to know which way the wind was blowing.'' He ended with the firm hope that the people of Chance would take every advantage that came to people who ''got on the winning bandwagon early and helped it over the top.''

Some chief must have dismissed the sailors from attention, because they provided their commodore with a rousing cheer.

The fence was just as quiet as it had been through the entire spiel.

Hank muttered something to his young captains. Kris could just make out his words. ''They'll learn. We'll show them.''

Kris did not stand until Hank and team were down the stairs and Penny reported they had boarded limos and were leaving. Protocol requires the senior to lead. And while Penny and she were both lieutenants, Penny had Kris beaten by over a year in rank. Still, with a smile, Penny deferred. Jack stepped to the door, took a long look for snipers, grenadiers, others who might ruin his yet untarnished record of keeping alive human space's most available target, and nodded Kris forward.

Kris stepped onto the landing, smiled at everyone in sight, gave a wave as she'd been taught, and started to head down the stairs, ignored by all but the last few media hounds who hadn't yet followed Hank into town.

''Hey, there's our princess,'' someone shouted.

And a cheer went up. Kris found herself waving at a fence line of people. Kids, women, men, waved back at her and gave her the cheers that had somehow eluded Hank's little sales pitch.

She stood there for a long minute waving back and feeling the roar wash over her. There were a few shouts for ''Speech, Speech,'' but they never caught on… to Kris's relief. Hank would be an easy act to follow, but she'd rather not have to play in the muddy waters he'd left. Let the full impact of his words sink in… and her humble quiet and friendly smile.

The crowd was still waving and cheering when Kris made her way slowly down the steps. A limo stopped at the foot of the stairs. Surprise, surprise, Steve Jr. was driving.

''Jack, would you please inform this young Kamikaze pilot that we do not have a schedule that requires us to be anywhere anytime soon and that he can drive us slowly into town.''

''Dad said to set a new record for the drive,'' Steve Jr. beamed.

''He did, did he?'' Jack said, sliding into the front seat.

''Yep, longest time to cover the distance,'' the boy said. ''Which is gonna be hard to do, cause Tanona is driving that kid admiral, and she's the slowest driver on this planet.''

Kris waved at the crowd as Steve headed for the gate. Most were walking to their cars, but one little girl was waving hard enough that Kris feared her arm might fall off. Kris gave her a big smile and hearty wave. As they stopped briefly at the gate, the six-year-old turned, and Kris caught the eager exchange.

‘'Mommy, Mommy, the princess waved at me. Just at me.''

''I'm sure she did,'' her mommy answered without looking up from strapping a younger sibling into a car seat.

''No Mommy, she really, really waved at me.''

The mother turned, picked up her little treasure, and saw that Kris really was close. ''I hope you waved back.''

''I did, Mommy,'' the girl shouted excitedly, waving back some more, just in case Kris had forgotten her earlier effort.

Kris smiled at the two and waved. There was one vote for joining Grampa Ray's association. Of course, the whole issue would be settled long before that girl ever got to vote. And if it went the wrong way, she might never cast a vote in her life.

Kris turned to face front, and waved at others walking along the side of the road. It was all about that little girl and other little girls and boys like her. They were the reason Chance was what it was and had to remain that way. Kris gritted her teeth and swore that she would not forget little girls.

Beside her, Penny wiped a tear away. ''It would have been wonderful to have a little girl like that. One that looked a bit like me and a bit like Tommy.''

Kris reached across with the hand she was not waving to rest it on Penny's knee. ''Yes it would have.''

Penny eyed the cars ahead of them. ''That son of a bitch. It's all a game of smoke and power puffs to him.''

''And you and I and Tommy have made them fall flat on their faces,'' Kris said through her smile.

''But it wasn't any skin off their noses. They never said so much as ‘ouch.' ''

''Now is the time to smile and wave, Penny,'' Kris said as gently as she could.

Penny waved, tears running down her cheek. ''Sorry, Kris, I should have stayed on the station. I didn't know it would hit me like this.'' Kris kicked herself. Why hadn't she thought of it.

Because you were so busy figuring out how to pop Hank's bubble that you didn't remember how badly the Peterwalds had popped Penny's life hopes. Damn it, Longknife, but you can be so focused on ‘them' that you forget everything else.

''Steve, is there a service station ahead?'' Kris asked.

''Yes, but it would be a bit of a detour.''

''I have a sudden need to powder my nose. Take us there.''

''No, Kris. No.''

Steve Jr. looked over his shoulder at the two women. ''I command here,'' Kris snapped. ''Make the detour.''

Steve did. No cars followed them; there was only one car in the station when they pulled in. Fortunately, the essential rooms were on the right outside wall and weren't even locked. Penny disappeared into the ladies room. Jack got out to do a thorough inspection of their surroundings leaving Kris to answer Steve's ''did I do something wrong?''

''No.''

Steve Jr.'s teenaged helplessness at the soft sobs coming from the ladies' room left Kris no option but to fill the broken silence with words. ''Penny loved a friend of mine. They were married and, three days later, Tommy died fighting off a Peterwald invasion fleet trying to flatten my home planet.''

The youngster didn't seem any more enlightened. ''But that was a Peterwald talking to us. Why aren't you at war with him?''

''When the fight was over, there was no proof of where the ships came from, no survivors from the invasion fleet.''

''That's not possible.''

''Not accidentally,'' Kris agreed.

''Good lord, what a mess,'' the young man said with brilliance that often evaded those many times his age.

''Yes, what a mess.''

A few moments later Penny emerged, her face washed but now devoid of make-up. She settled into the backseat. ''I'm sorry to be such a blubberer, Kris. I didn't see this coming.''

''I know,'' Kris said gently.

''Do you want to send me back to the station?'' Penny asked.

''Not unless you want to go.''

Penny considered the matter, then nodded. ''I can't trust myself around Hank. I could collapse at the wrong time. Let Steve take me back to the port after he drops you off. I can catch a work shuttle back up. Hey…'' She brightened a bit. ''I could relieve the chief, let him have some fun tonight.''

''Yes you could,'' Kris agreed. She'd wanted Penny along to show the flag. More importantly, to show battle medals without Kris having to wear a lieutenant's uniform and take the flak Hank had planned. In truth, she'd abused Penny, but in defense, neither Kris nor Penny had expected one of them to have such a visceral reaction to the sight of the boy-man.

''We'll do that,'' Kris agreed softly. The glance Jack threw Kris was hard to gauge. If he felt Kris was out of line toward Penny, he didn't let it show. Then again, he'd been around Longknifes so long, he might be just as coldhearted a user of people as they were. Tommy would have called Kris on that.

She missed Tommy.

The rest of the drive was quiet. Downtown, Steve pulled over. ''You ready for me to drive you in?''

''Let me out here,'' Penny said. ''Then come back for me.''

Kris agreed. That would keep Penny out of the lights, keep her from questions being raised about why she stayed in the limo.

Penny got out, then held on to the door. ''Kris, this is not your fault. I figured out what you were using me and Jack for. That you wanted that bunch of rear echelon commandos to see what a team of killers looked like. I wanted to spit in Hank's eye,'' she said, looking away. ''So to speak. I had my anger to keep me strong. And it did, Kris. It did, right up until I saw that little girl waving at you. And then I lost it. For Hank I could be hard as nails. But that little girl. She's the reason we do what we do. She has to be the only reason we do these things.

''But the moment I looked into her eyes all I saw was what Tommy and I have lost, and I lost it. Don't worry, I'm not going to start bawling again,'' Penny said, closing the door. ''You go give Hank hell and I'll free the chief to drink a couple of dozen Greenfeld chiefs under the table.''

''Plan B will work just as well as Plan A,'' Kris assured her. Steve Jr. drove off, leaving one Navy lieutenant to pace the sidewalk until he got back. Kris wondered if Penny would be safe, then measured the set of her subordinate's jaw and decided anyone who gave that woman grief tonight was in for a whole world of hurt.

''For what it's worth, I didn't see that coming, either.''

''Thanks, Jack. Strange, we're ready for our enemies and the hard-fought campaigns. But it's the love and grace that brings us to our knees in tears.''

''How else could it be. You okay?''

Kris did a gut check, found it riled but willing, checked her face and found it solid. ''I'm good to go.''

''Then we're on,'' Jack said as Steve Jr. came to a stop in a covered driveway in front of a towering hotel. Jack was out of the car in a second, opening Kris's door.

She descended from the limo in the most regal of fashions. There was a crowd and newsies. Kris smiled and waved. She spotted a teenaged boy waving, and blew him a kiss. He looked ready to die from the embarrassment and was the immediate envy of all his peers who had been too cool to wave.

Kris took Jack's arm, and leaning properly on it, passed into the hotel. Inside, a man directed them to the ballroom. Kris paused long enough to have Jack check the wrap Abby had equipped her with ''in case the night is cooler than advertised or you want to show less skin.'' Kris measured her dress against what other women were wearing and found it far from scandalous. She also noted that others were handing over invitations. The man at the metal detector turned it off as he waved them through.

''We're getting the royal treatment all the way,'' Jack said.

''Just means we are not getting a choice between steak, chicken, or fish. We'll get whatever they've got left over,'' Kris assured him from experience.

It was showtime. With a smile and a flourish, two girls in white bow ties and tails opened the tall, gold-and-glass doors into the ballroom and Kris passed within.