him all to myself to day.”
Jonathan blushed.
Bethany moved aside, “Go on, you don’t want to keep the Provost waiting.”
Jonathan retreated into the shower closing the door behind him. Jonathan had a love of hot showers. They were a real luxury not often found on spacecraft. As the hot water cascaded over him, he closed his eyes and did his best not to bury his head into his hands.
‘Sleeping with your best friend's sister, Jonathan what are you doing,’ he thought to himself.
The thing was, he wasn't sorry he'd done it, not really. Mortally embarrassed yes, but sorry no. Bethany and he were both consenting adults after all, and it had been fun.
“Jonathan,” Bethany called over the sound of the shower “you need to see this.”
Jonathan turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Bethany was standing in front of the holo, which was tuned to The National News Network, 3N for short, one of Solaria’s leading Republic news services. On the holo images flashed, Jonathan instantly recognized the nose camera footage of an interceptor drone about to collide with a Colonial battleship, the image cut to what looked like CCTV security feed showing men in Solarian Navy utilities fighting hand to hand with Colonials in light vacuum armour.
“Now more of these images are coming in by the minute,” the news anchors voice said. “The Navy and Premier’s office are reviewing them and releasing them to us and other outlets. Some obviously need to be classified to protect military secrets, but if you are just joining us we can confirm that this is footage from a Colonial Confederacy attack into the Ozawa system. The battle is taking place at a small Navy base known only by its designation as Listening Post-115.”
“Oh god this is horrible,” Bethany said turning to see Jonathan buttoning the last button on his uniform and pulling on his cap.
Jonathan pulled her close and gave her a passionate kiss.
“Call your brother and tell him he needs to move up his wedding, I’ll be back.”
Bethany looked at him. There was something in her eyes. He realized it was fear, she was afraid for him, and for her brother.
“I’ll be here,” she said.
Jonathan gave her one last squeeze and then marched briskly out the door.
“Let's go boys,” he said to the Provost snagging a cup of coffee off the tray the concierge was bringing up. The Grand Horton was about three miles from the Admiralty. Fortunately, the Provost had brought their ground car. Normally, early morning on First Planting was devoid of traffic. Not today, cars were everywhere as were people. It was obvious to see why, from the news sheet hawkers on the corner crying out.
“Extra extra, Colonials commit act of war.”
“Premier recalls Quorum, Speaker does the same for Senate.”
The Colonial incursion into Republic territory had kicked the hornet's nest and the hornets were waking up. The whole massive infrastructure of the Republic’s military and civilian bureaucracy was coming alive to prepare for war. As they sped through traffic on First Street toward Parliament Hill, they passed a Civil Defense van driving slowly down the street with loudspeakers announcing,
“ALL RESERVISTS TO STAND BY..” The van might have seemed a bit of an anachronism considering the same alert was going out by e-message and broadcast, but better not to leave anything to chance.
The Mets were out in force. They passed at least three companies of police in red and white riot gear, setting up checkpoints at strategic positions. Jonathan noted most of those checkpoints guarded roads, which led to the Diplomatic quarter. He wasn’t surprised. One of the things that had started the Second Dominion war was a mob of angry citizens descending on the Thaos embassy, after a Dominion ship had destroyed a Solarian flagged merchantman. Clearly, the Government didn’t want a repeat. Parliament Hill was already becoming fortress hill. The Premier’s Own, a
Jonathan blushed.
Bethany moved aside, “Go on, you don’t want to keep the Provost waiting.”
Jonathan retreated into the shower closing the door behind him. Jonathan had a love of hot showers. They were a real luxury not often found on spacecraft. As the hot water cascaded over him, he closed his eyes and did his best not to bury his head into his hands.
‘Sleeping with your best friend's sister, Jonathan what are you doing,’ he thought to himself.
The thing was, he wasn't sorry he'd done it, not really. Mortally embarrassed yes, but sorry no. Bethany and he were both consenting adults after all, and it had been fun.
“Jonathan,” Bethany called over the sound of the shower “you need to see this.”
Jonathan turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Bethany was standing in front of the holo, which was tuned to The National News Network, 3N for short, one of Solaria’s leading Republic news services. On the holo images flashed, Jonathan instantly recognized the nose camera footage of an interceptor drone about to collide with a Colonial battleship, the image cut to what looked like CCTV security feed showing men in Solarian Navy utilities fighting hand to hand with Colonials in light vacuum armour.
“Now more of these images are coming in by the minute,” the news anchors voice said. “The Navy and Premier’s office are reviewing them and releasing them to us and other outlets. Some obviously need to be classified to protect military secrets, but if you are just joining us we can confirm that this is footage from a Colonial Confederacy attack into the Ozawa system. The battle is taking place at a small Navy base known only by its designation as Listening Post-115.”
“Oh god this is horrible,” Bethany said turning to see Jonathan buttoning the last button on his uniform and pulling on his cap.
Jonathan pulled her close and gave her a passionate kiss.
“Call your brother and tell him he needs to move up his wedding, I’ll be back.”
Bethany looked at him. There was something in her eyes. He realized it was fear, she was afraid for him, and for her brother.
“I’ll be here,” she said.
Jonathan gave her one last squeeze and then marched briskly out the door.
“Let's go boys,” he said to the Provost snagging a cup of coffee off the tray the concierge was bringing up. The Grand Horton was about three miles from the Admiralty. Fortunately, the Provost had brought their ground car. Normally, early morning on First Planting was devoid of traffic. Not today, cars were everywhere as were people. It was obvious to see why, from the news sheet hawkers on the corner crying out.
“Extra extra, Colonials commit act of war.”
“Premier recalls Quorum, Speaker does the same for Senate.”
The Colonial incursion into Republic territory had kicked the hornet's nest and the hornets were waking up. The whole massive infrastructure of the Republic’s military and civilian bureaucracy was coming alive to prepare for war. As they sped through traffic on First Street toward Parliament Hill, they passed a Civil Defense van driving slowly down the street with loudspeakers announcing,
“ALL RESERVISTS TO STAND BY..” The van might have seemed a bit of an anachronism considering the same alert was going out by e-message and broadcast, but better not to leave anything to chance.
The Mets were out in force. They passed at least three companies of police in red and white riot gear, setting up checkpoints at strategic positions. Jonathan noted most of those checkpoints guarded roads, which led to the Diplomatic quarter. He wasn’t surprised. One of the things that had started the Second Dominion war was a mob of angry citizens descending on the Thaos embassy, after a Dominion ship had destroyed a Solarian flagged merchantman. Clearly, the Government didn’t want a repeat. Parliament Hill was already becoming fortress hill. The Premier’s Own, a
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