Duty, Honour, Love
chapter 26

Kathleen was worried about her fate in the light of Karasena’s determination to call in a higher up. Karasena was on her comms before she could raise an objection. She gave Laura a look as if to say ‘this is all your fault’. Laura smiled back unconcerned Kathleen wasn’t worried she’d sensed both Karasena and Mark’s thoughts. Although she wasn’t a full telepath she could feel the connection between the four of them. But if things went sour she’d protect Kathleen. She had an ace up her sleeve she knew that Lieutenant Dareia was a full telepath a secret that Karasena was hiding from those outside her command.

“Ino,” Karasena commed. “I need a direct comms to Admiral Katares. Patch it through to Kathleen Morin’s comms terminal.”

“On it ma’am,” Ino replied. “Patching it through now.”

Karasena waited growing increasing anxious waiting for the call to be placed. “What’s taking so long?”

“Have patience,” Laura assured her. “He’s probably in bed sleeping.”

Ino appeared on the comms terminal. “Sorry it’s taking so long ma’am someone is trying to block our comms access. Wenasi is working on it. I’ve had to go through a tertiary system. Patching you through now.”

“Captain Karasena, there a problem?” Admiral Katares said as his image appeared on the comms.

“Someone is trying to block our comms,” Karasena told him.

“I’ll get my people to check it out this side.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Now I don’t think that was you wanted to comm me about?”

“No sir,” Karasena replied. She went on to tell Katares about Kathleen’s revelation and it’s implications. “I’ve been assured by the Terran that they hadn’t sent any reports to Central Command.” Karasena had avoided naming Kathleen even going so far as to make her genderless. She also told Katares about ‘Breaking Dawn’.

“One,” Katares said thoughtfully.

“Sir?” Karasena looked around at the others in the room confused.

“There is only one Terran agent on Erikino. I give you full reign to do what you feel is right with this ‘agent’.”

“Sir?” Karasena repeated. “How can you be so sure?”

“I make it my business to know these things,” Katares said.

Kathleen winced wishing she had known that before her big reveal. It was too late to put that particular cat back in the bag.

Katares continued. “It appears these Ulkoi are desperate to hide their presence.” He paused to let the import of his words register. “I’m afraid you’ll have to prepare for the worst. I can’t even start to guess how much time you have to prepare. I wish I could have sent General Pitney and Admiral Prmi to you but they’ve been sent on an important mission.” Katares ran his hand through his hair. “I’m beginning to think it’s linked to you present problems.”

“The mission?” Karasena asked.

“I can’t divulge that. I’m afraid security must be maintained.”

“Yes sir,” Karasena replied.

“In the meantime cut all comms with Com Ops. I’ll speak to Admiral Jerome. All your general reports and re-supply orders will be routed through Spec Ops.” Katares leaned forward and typed something on his terminal. “Sending you the address codes.” He stared directly at the screen. “I’m authorising you to use all and any resources you can in case the Ulkoi make an appearance.”

“What about back up?” Karasena asked acutely aware how lacking in Planetary Defences they were.

“I can’t spare any ships at the moment. We’re still embroiled in keeping the Terrans off our back. The earliest will be eleven weeks away.”

“Yes sir,” Karasena feeling a lump of fear in her throat. They were helpless that had no defences and no hope of relief. She felt sick if I hadn’t been for Mark lending his support in not letting go of her hand she would have thrown up.

“Katares out!” Katares said and the screen went blank.

“Well?” Karasena asked the room.

“Damn it all, I could have avoided this shit had I known,” Kathleen grouched.

Laura looked at her. “What is done is done,” she said simply. She turned to regard Karasena her eyes seeming to pierce Karasena to her soul. “Now Captain Karasena there will be no retaliation to Kathleen. The hospital needs her.”

“There won’t be from me,” Karasena replied. She had no idea how to deal with Kathleen. Laura was correct in one respect she was better looking after the interests of the hospital than in some cell. “Mark?” she asked unsure how he was processing all this. It helped that he still held her hand.

“There’s enough danger without alienating any allies,” he remarked thoughtfully.

“Well said Captain Stillway,” Laura told him.

“I’d still like to see my wounded crew?”

“The critical are still in the Cell Stitchers. I know you might object but it was the best way we could heal them. We have a private ward for the rest.” Kathleen said relieved to be on safer territory. This was stuff she could easily deal with.

“Thank you,” Mark said. He was happy with that but one thing bothered him. “Olivia de Cigales?”

“Olivia stays I want to get her qualified as a doctor as soon as I can. She has a lot of potential I rather not see it wasted. If what Admiral Katares says is correct we’ll need all the qualified medtechs we can get.” She addressed the last part to Karasena.

“About that what are we going to do?” She winced at her words she hadn’t wanted this but now she was stuck with it.

“It will be no good if we panic everyone?” Laura said. “They’ll only make things difficult. People being people will take their fears out on our guests. We keep this low key inform only who you think are necessary to make this go smoothly.”

“Captain Karasena, Captain Stillway are we in agreement?” Kathleen asked the two directly. There was much she had to do the hospital didn’t run itself.

“I’ll do what Kara… I mean Captain Karasena does. We as you call it are her guests here. We’ll will try and do what we can to help.”

Karasena rose for her chair breaking her grip on Mark’s hand an instant regret. “Captain Stillway we must talk but first we talk to your crew.”

Mark stood. “Thank you I must see to my crew.”

Kathleen and Laura what them leave.

“That went well,” Laura commented. “That was interesting in more ways than I thought.”

“What?” Kathleen was still unsure if it had been wise to expose herself like that she had a feeling it could all backfire on her. She couldn’t believe Laura was making light of it.

“Karasena and Mark, they make an interesting couple. A pity that they are on the opposite sides of this war.”

“What are you on about?” Kathleen demanded then said. “Oh I see.” She had seen how close the two were but she had been to busy with her own problems to take too much note of it.

“With them on our side we’ll weather this and come through stronger.”

“Our side?”

“Erikino that’s what we are the people of Erikino, ‘united we are free’.”

Kathleen thought it an odd quote from someone not fully T’Arni but it seemed appropriate. “United we are free.”

“Good Administrator,” Laura said picking up her empty mug. “Guess what comes next.”

Kathleen sighed and reached for the pot. It was going to be long dry season without good coffee to soothe through the bumps.