Part 3

Two weeks later

The Fourth turned off the SI drives when they reached the Sol system. The three enormous battleships and the hundred cruisers in their trail found themselves facing the First, or home fleet. When both sides made equally sure that this is not some elaborate trap, the Fourth began to move forward to the stellar docks near Jupiter. It was out of question that any of the battleships land on Earth, they wouldn't support their own weight. Even AG (anti-gravity) suspensors would make only a temporary solution. There was just too much armor on them. While the three moiras moved into their own "dry docks," the rest of the fleet scattered into various naval yards throughout the solar system. There were two inhabited planets and 5 colonized moons, thus making it the largest settlement of mankind, but it could only host two fleets at the same time, and one of them was always the home fleet. Its sole purpose was to defend Earth, Mars, and the neighborhood of the Sun. The Second protected all the other planets, it was scattered throughout the galaxy, always on the move. The Third was the reserve fleet, usually orbiting Alpha and New Earth, the second largest colonies, ready to be called to battle if the need arose.

The Fourth was the offensive fleet, it was spending ninety percent of operative time outside the borders of humanity, conquering and destroying alien civilizations.

The Fifth was the scout and scientific fleet. It was a fleet only in its name, it had no true battleships, and only nominal central command. The explorer ships were mapping distant stars, making contact with aliens, examining them, and then reporting their whereabouts to the Fourth.

The Sixth was the oldest fleet, practically junk now, but it could be called to battle too. It was usually orbiting one of the industrial planets where it was continuously being upgraded.

While the fleet was undergoing major repairs and weapon upgrades, the crew got shore time. Those who were from around here could visit their family, while the others used the two months of peace and quiet to blow off some steam. About one-tenth of the fifty thousand people retired, got reassigned or otherwise left the fleet, and fresh cadets took up their work. And all the tasks crashed down on the Admiral. Idiotic messengers from the Council, demanding reports and explanations for expenses, the handling of reassignment requests, the decisions between the new kinds of weaponry researched in the meantime, and attending meetings and formal occasions with various parts of the elite. Six months' work for two.

And all the calls and visits to the admiral's office only met an increasingly grumpy Alexander Whitman, who informed everyone, that sadly, the Admiral Parker is nowhere to be found. Yes, there is the expense budget. No, we really want the B-type gauss cannon, not the A, and no, we don't need a live presentation. We've already seen it on vid and that was convincing enough. And finally, the admiral is unlikely to be attending any social events, but please be so kind to leave your number here, and you'll be the first to be called if she changes her mind. So, to cut a long story short, much to the annoyance of the bureaucrats, the most eccentric officer of the fleet performed her famous disappearing trick iagain /i, and just like any other time, without a percent drop in efficiency.

Liz

'Okay Alex, I owe you a barrel of single malt. Fine, fine two. I can't thank you enough. So, what else turned up apart from the expected things?' I am calling him in my own office from his own flat. We had begged, cried, made puppy eyes, and when none of the above worked, bribed him into giving us the keys and covering for us. Of course, I can't allow my intense dislike for bureaucracy to influence the fleet, but thank god, the five hours meeting about the health of the crew, when all the reports, requests and plans had been prepared months ago is truly unnecessary. There'll be a few times when I need to appear, at least once before the Council, once before the crowds (I hate that one already. There is nothing worse than seeing an endless sea of people hailing you for slaughtering a completely defenseless civilization.) and a few technical demonstrations. Plus I'll need to mop the floor with Admiral Houston in a simulated battle, but I don't really understand why he feels that a rematch is necessary. The last time the Fourth destroyed Earth without losing a moira, while he had all the defensive battle stations under his command beside his fleet. No one has ever seen so many big shots kicked out of the defense ministry, like when I had proven that all of their precious Starforts are worth nothing.

Houston kept his job though. I don't really understand why, it was clear that the guy can't think under stress, but that's not my problem. He claimed that I'd cheated. Well, it was never written down that I couldn't send over a commando team in a cloaked asteroid who were to drill his ship's hull and take control of the reactor chamber. He claimed that he didn't dare to send his men down, because unlike in a real war, he couldn't kill them. I countered by saying that in a real war he wouldn't have had to send his people over, because instead of the commando team, a tactical nuke would've been sent down to the reactor chamber, and I didn't need to finish the sentence. The jury examining his protest was convinced and I walked away laughing.

He'll have a lot of good plans ready this time also. I bet he spent the last two years preparing for this, but once I surprise him, he'll lose all control again. It's a tough game, pal, and even inferior forces can win when they face an enemy who is clueless at what to do. The best part was when I had a few of his officers "approached" after the defeat, offering them a ireal/i chance to show their skills. Mysteriously, fourteen high ranking officers and another hundred of their underlings requested reassignment the day after, and it was just dumb luck that I'd kicked out fourteen of my ship-commanders and tactical officers along with their staff that morning... Once it leaked out (and I made sure it leaked out), the whole Earth was laughing at Houston. I heard he didn't take it well. So he'll be desperate to win, and once things start to slip out of his hands, he'll panic, and then I'll crush him. The fact that I'll know his every decision a good minute before he makes them will be a bit of help too...

But for now, I just finish the conversation with Alex, giving him a few orders about various issues, and when he finally hangs up, I go back to my cheri. Alex has a magnificent house. We're in the southern part of what used to be the Greece. The villa is overlooking the Mediterranean, about five kilometers from the outskirts of Athens. I guess, being the right hand of one of the six admirals has its perks. I don't own anything like this. To be exact, I don't own anything apart from my clothes. I must have huge amounts of money, though I've no idea how rich I am. I don't even know how much is my salary. I spend only half as much as Maria does, and even she has a nice sum set aside! And she is a lieutenant, while I'm... well, you get the picture.

My parents are from New Roswell, Alpha. It was christened New Roswell because one of our ships has crashed there. The real Roswell was (or still is?) on Earth, and supposedly aliens visited it regularly. That's bullshit. We've never met any race resembling the descriptions. We've never met even remotely humanoid races at all. There are just too many possible shapes, too many roads for evolution to take, to expect anything like us. Anyways, they own a small restaurant there. I've never been home in the last three years. We send each other cards regularly, but it's not the same. I wonder how they are doing?

We came here with Kyle. Shame on him, his father is working his heart out while his son is vacationing on one of the most beautiful beaches of Earth. I love standing on the balcony, looking at the stars. They look so different from down here! They seem to hold some mystery, the promise of eternity. I know that their winking is caused by atmospheric disturbances, but I can't help to be awed by their glory. Down here, they are your friends. Their beauty is eternal. They've inspired so many of our greatest poets! I too feel, the silent pull at my heart, whispering to me that I'm not alone, that they'll show me the way. Since we walk among the stars, we have lost the ability to marvel at their wonder.

Out there... out there they are only huge balls of fire indicating the locations of possible enemies. I've come to hate the stars. They are signals of new planets, new crimes to be committed, new lives to be extinguished. It's a the saddest thing there is. Hating the stars.

I'm snapped out of my stargazing by Maria.

'Come on, Liz, you can't just sit there, getting drunk all alone and depressed.'

'Excuse me, I'm not getting drunk. ' I try to put as much life and indignation into my voice as I can. I try to steer her away from the alone and depressed part.

'That's your third cheri. You are sixty-two kilos. This means that after the tenth you'll be out cold.' That's the problem when your best friend is a doctor, even if she majored in exo-biology.

'All she needs is a good lay, ' Kyle chimes in. This time I don't have to feign indignation.

'Excuse me?'

'Come on, Liz, when were you last with a man? You know, male homo sapiens.'

'That's none of your business.'

'Maria, help me here. Tell her that she needs some sex, and we are going to get it for her.' Maria is watching me with a thoughtful expression. Please, please, don't tell me, that you are seriously considering this.

'Kyle, now you mentioned it, it just might be the solution I've been looking for. Chica, we need to go partying, and you are not going to sleep alone tonight.'

'Wait, wait, wait. You can't just sell me out to the highest bidder! I thought you were my friends.'

'Exactly. We are your friends. That's why you and me are going to go upstairs right now and choose a dress for you, and after that we're going to Athens and find you some nice guy. And don't try to protest. There are two of us against you.' It's hopeless to resist, if I play along I might escape later, before she hooks me up with someone. Don't get me wrong, I've no objections against guys - in general. But I can't start a relationship with one of my officers and I don't have time for anything once ashore. I'm a little too old-fashioned, I like to know at least the guy's name before I bed him. I like to meet the prey on my on turf. So, I haven't been with anyone for years now. Not that I really miss it... Hell, who am I lying to? Even I deserve a good night's fun once in a while.

'Okay, but let's lay down a few ground rules. I'll go as Liz, not Elizabeth Parker and definitely not as Admiral Parker. If anyone as so much mentions my rank, we are out of there. I don't want to be on the front pages. Second. No military, no government official, no bureaucrat. Some women are impressed by uniforms, somehow, I don't find them so irresistible. Third, if I don't like him, you'll help me to lose him. I don't want any psychos or stalkers. Agreed?' I know I'm making the wrong decision as I see them nod; they are grinning devilishly. What have I gotten myself into?