SECTION 39
Ulnar issues orders to hold the squadron at St. Germaine. It is a solid, conservative plan, not flashy by any means, but by far the best way to keep the squadron intact and in a position to guard the base and geofractor link, the linchpins to the sector’s hope of survival.
But he reckons without one complicating factor: the hotheaded commander of the squadron’s recon wing, Commodore Nils Benbo. Benbo is a protégé of Admiral Merros and a popular leader among his wing’s destroyer captains. He and Ulnar have clashed before. Only minutes after Ulnar issues his orders, the commodore places an angry call to the admiral.
“What’s this nonsense about staying in port?” he demands without preamble as Ulnar accepts his call. As usual, he ignores every military courtesy, a habit he can afford to indulge in because of his patronage from Merros. “Endymion’s been destroyed. We have to take some kind of action!”
Wearily, Ulnar reminds his subordinate of the time lag involved. It’s been two days since Larno sent his message. It will take eighteen more days to get the squadron to Endymion. “Or would you rather we just chose a world at random and risked missing the Ka’slaq entirely?” he concludes, growing angry.
Benbo looks disgusted. “So you’ll write the campaign off just like that! An excuse to stay here, where it’s safe!”
“Another word, Commodore,” Ulnar says coldly. “Just one more word and even your patron won’t save you from a court-martial. You have my orders. They’re final.”
“Are they indeed, sir? Benbo responds with an unpleasant smile. “I’m getting ready to file a report with Admiral Merros. Are you sure you want to sit and do nothing? I’m sure the admiral would prefer that the squadron make some kind of attempt to stop the aliens. Baal’s our most important colony—I vote we shift the squadron there. It’s the only reasonable thing to do.”
“When this is a democracy,” Ulnar shoots back, “I’ll consider your vote.”
“Ah, but it is a democracy, Admiral. But Admiral Merros carries all the votes.” Benbo smiles again, even more unpleasantly than before.
Benbo’s threat, Ulnar realizes, is far from an idle one. He pauses for a long moment before replying, knowing that he is staking everything on his answer to the young commodore’s blackmail.
If Ulnar backs down and orders the squadron to go to Baal, word of Benbo’s manipulation of Ulnar circulates quickly. Ulnar’s reputation with his men suffers, reducing the Morale value of the squadron by 1 point. Go to section 82.
If Ulnar stands by his decision, turn to section 49.