The Lost Fleet – Dauntless

“Orion’s shuttle is still a half hour out from Arrogant.”

“Thank you, Captain Desjani. Has Arrogant sent any messages to the shuttle?”

“No, sir. As far as we can tell, Arrogant hasn’t acknowledged the shuttle at all.”

Geary drummed his fingers on his chair arm, pondering what options he had if Vebos continued to act like an idiot. There were several, but he didn’t want the situation to escalate any worse than it absolutely had to. Reaching a decision, he tapped in a communications address that was becoming all too familiar. “Colonel Carabali, I have a shuttle en route to Arrogant from Orion.”

“Yes, sir.” Carabali eyed him, obviously curious as to why she should care.

“The shuttle carries Commander Hatherian to relieve Commander Vebos as commanding officer of Arrogant. Commander Vebos has orders to report to Orion as that ship’s new weapons officer.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re familiar with the fleet tradition of sideboys, Colonel Carabali?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It occurs to me that it would be a nice gesture if your detachment of Marines onboard Arrogant were to give the departing commanding officer a ceremonial send off.”

Carabali, who’d doubtless spent a career dealing with odd requests from superior officers, managed to keep from looking startled. “Sir?”

“Yes.” Geary smiled in what he hoped was a benign manner. “Like sideboys. I think it would be a good thing if your Marines onboard Arrogant reported to Commander Vebos and informed him that they were there to escort him to the shuttle.”

Colonel Carabali nodded slowly. “All of my Marines on Arrogant? You want them to find Commander Vebos and tell him they’re…sort of an honor guard.”

“Yes. Exactly. An honor guard. To escort him off the ship.”

“And if Commander Vebos declines to avail himself of that honor? What should my Marines do then?”

“Should that happen,” Geary stated, “have them maintain position around Command Vebos while they contact you and you contact me. We’ll decide on the proper way to persuade Commander Vebos to accept the honor based on the exact situation.”

“Yes, sir. I will issue the necessary orders, sir. I assume there’s no chance of weapons-release authority being given?”

Geary tried hard not to smile. Colonel Carabali hadn’t forgotten that it had been Vebos who had ordered the bombardment of her troops. “No weapons, Colonel. If we have to, we’ll frog-march him off the Arrogant. But I think even Commander Vebos will realize his options are limited when he’s surrounded by Marines. Besides, he’s going to Orion.”

Carabali’s face lit with understanding. “I see. Yes. That should help. I’ll keep you informed, Captain Geary.” Carabali saluted, and her image vanished.

Geary leaned back to see Desjani watching him and trying not to smile. “An honor guard?” she wondered.

“Yes,” Geary replied with all the dignity he could muster.

“Why to Orion, if I may ask?”

Geary looked around to make sure no one could hear and lowered his voice. “It seemed one way to minimize the number of places I need to keep my eye on. Besides, it gives Numos the opportunity to work with Vebos. And vice versa.”

“I understand. They deserve each other. Orion’s shuttle is on final approach. Arrogant still hasn’t acknowledged it.”

Arrogant, being smaller than Orion, didn’t have a shuttle dock. Instead, the shuttle swung close to Arrogant’s main airlock, extended a mating tube and moored to the outside of Arrogant.

“According to our remote readings, Arrogant’s airlock hasn’t opened yet.”

Geary checked the time. “I haven’t heard anything from Colonel Carabali. Let’s give it a few minutes.”

Five minutes later, Colonel Carabali called in, her expression carefully composed. “Commander Vebos and his honor guard are enroute to the airlock on Arrogant.”

Geary nodded back solemnly. “Any problems?”

“Nothing that a dozen Marines in full dress uniform couldn’t overawe. Though I must admit that the deciding factor was probably that Arrogant’s crew appeared unresponsive to Commander Vebos’s orders regarding the matter.”

“Naturally. They know Commander Hatherian has been appointed their new commanding officer. Commander Vebos no longer has command authority over them.”

“Yes, sir,” the Colonel agreed. “They don’t appear to be in great distress over losing Commander Vebos.”

“Somehow that doesn’t come as a great shock to me, Colonel.”

Geary glanced over at Desjani as she interjected. “Arrogant’s airlock has opened,” Desjani reported. “Commander Hatherian is exiting. Commander Vebos is being marched-Excuse me, Commander Vebos is being escorted aboard the shuttle by his honor guard.” Several moments passed. “The honor guard is leaving the shuttle. Arrogant’s airlock is closing.”

Geary nodded to Carabali’s image. “Thank you for the services of your Marines, Colonel.”

Carabali saluted. “It was our pleasure, sir.”