The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

“Specialist Cooper, the major’s initial report said you took a great many direct hits this morning but performed valiantly under complex circumstances.” Michael tensed as the room’s focus turned toward him. “These reports become familiar. Always taking the hits but killing the enemy with great efficiency. And yet …”

The commandant turned to Nilsson. “Major, outside of Cooper, what is the lowest rank on your team?”

“First lieutenant, sir.”

“And Cooper is only Class A Specialist? I was A-Spec my first day in the Guard. Forty-nine years ago, if you can believe that. Done this so long, I’ve gone mad. But not so mad as to know when a man deserves a battlefield promotion. What do you say, Major? I am thinking …” He grabbed his beard and studied Michael. “Third lieutenant. Say you?”

“Done.” Nilsson offered a side-nod. “Sir, may I introduce you to Third Lieutenant Michael Cooper.”

Instinct told him to swell with pride. Indeed, Michael stood tall in the moment. To be recognized for his sacrifice, even for a rank that would not matter for long, felt satisfying. He saluted his superiors.

Cabrise offered his hand and they shook, then Cabrise leaned in close and whispered.

“Consider this moment the highlight of your day, Michael. I’m afraid it’s not going to improve. At all.”

After dumping upon Michael’s prideful moment, he pulled away with a wide smile for all those present.

“Ranks,” he said. “Medals. Stripes. Nilsson, make sure Cooper receives his stripes.” He paced in the center of the office. “I was an admiral. Then I was not. Years later, I was again. Commanded the fleet around Tamarind. When I gave it up during the evac, the Admiralty said I was a fool and demoted me. Again. Just like they did after I lost Hiebimini. But down here, they don’t care if I grow a beard, so maybe I’m in a better place. Yes?”

Awkward smiles and suppressed chuckles. Cabrise laughed hardest.

Michael saw it in their eyes. They respected Cabrise’s rank, but not him. Michael didn’t blame them. The commandant served the Guard for too long. Why didn’t the Admiralty force him to retire?

“Maya, if you will,” Cabrise ordered, and Maya threw open a pair of holowindows that pivoted into position front and center. As Michael expected, Capt. Delano Forsythe and Col. Joseph Doltrice sat beside each other on the bridge of Praxis, while the other Presidium reps joined from the residential wing of the ship.

“Good morning, everyone,” Forsythe said. “We will not require too much of your time today, but the information we bring is vital to our future – both in the immediate and in the long term. First, I’d like to address our security issues in light of today’s heightened incursion against the base. Colonel, if you would?”

Michael tried to stay close to Col. Doltrice in the opening weeks of their mission, but spec-ops training filled his hours, and Joseph became consumed in his role as special advisor to Forsythe. When they arrived in orbit, Forsythe appointed Joseph head of planetary intelligence. His job was to reestablish relationships with former Tamarind allies and Chancellory sympathizers. If the major clans – Chinese or Mongol – decided to move en force against the base, Joseph was required to know it about in advance.

“Thank you, Captain,” Joseph said, taking center stage. “I’ll be direct. Our intel suggests the mountain Tuvaan who attacked on rifters have begun receiving support from agents within the Mandewatt Convocations. Yes, the Chinese. We have not identified whether they are supplying weapons and materiel, financial credits, or tactical training. Likely a combination. This would explain the Mongols’ more elevated strategy. These rogues by themselves have proven woefully inept in previous efforts.”

Nilsson interrupted. “What do the Chinese hope to gain?”

“A diversion. Their political underpinnings have become unstable. Several months ago, Mandewatt vowed allegiance to Bouchet and Salvation. However, their spiritual leader died last week. Zhang Wong’s approval for the alliance with Salvation tilted the balance. The new Master of the Convocations is skeptical of Bouchet.

“Our contacts believe a schism is inevitable. After that, civil war. Bouchet’s allies within Mandewatt hope the rogues will keep us distracted and at bay while they firm up their power within the Convocations. Remember, the Chinese promised Bouchet they would fight any Chancellor incursion on Tamarind.”

Alayna Rainier laughed. “A proxy war?” She drew everyone’s attention. “They might not want us here, but they’ve apparently learned well from us. The last few years of our civil war on Earth, we used mercenaries and Solomons as third parties to execute our nasty business.” She turned to Michael and offered a supportive nod. “We turned a servant class into spies and assassins.”

The other Presidium reps concurred, as if feeling the need to remind everyone of their shame. Michael wasn’t buying it. He didn’t think the comparison was apt. Solomons chose whether to fight for the movement – and many shied away altogether. Moreover, they were paid well to track down and kill high-value targets. These rogue Mongols, on the other hand, were wild animals set up for slaughter.

Cabrise jumped in. “Most Chinese are opportunists. The same day Mandewatt vowed loyalty to Salvation, we almost killed their leadership and Bouchet himself. I watched from the bridge of Newhouse. Saw the monsters meeting in Mandewatt. Dropped a pair of energy slews on them.” He tapped thumb and forefinger together. “This close to cutting off the head. But I reminded the Chinese of their place. If not for the evac, they’d be ours.”

“How serious is the threat of a direct assault?” Nilsson asked.

“For the time being, you should be safe,” Joseph said. “There are caveats, however. We have been receiving intel from our allies throughout the colonies. Salvation has been scrambling to shore up support wherever Bouchet established a foothold before realignment. We have reports of regular appearances by Bouchet