Read Online Ice and Peace by Clare Dargin - Free Book Online Page A

came before him. He knew whatever the Corps asked of him, he was ready to meet the challenge.
    What if the challenge involved his wife? Threads of doubt spread throughout his mind. His life had been a mixed bag of blessings since they’d first met. When awakened from her cryo stasis, Caitlin had been tempestuous, headstrong, and annoying on more than one occasion. However, something in her caused him to see life through a different lens. One filled with family, love, and hope. And she gave that to him. They had each been married before, but both of their marriages had ended in tragedy. It made it easier for her to understand his pain. And he, hers. Though he, for the most part, did not desire to hear about her married life before him, on occasion, he’d listen and learn a bit more about her. It deepened his love for her and strengthened their marriage. What they had he kept deep within his heart. It was not to be share with the world.
    Shaking his head slightly, he focused his thoughts on the task at hand. He was not at home, but aboard ship. And the crew needed a leader whose head was actually here, not somewhere pining over his wife. He went over his notes in his mind. As usual, they were sketchy. They always were when it came to VIPs who were specially transported in.
    The hatch to the room slammed shut.
    “Sir, Commander Ryan Gadison reporting.”
    Approximately Keegan’s age and height, Gadison wore a dark blue double-breasted Navy uniform. In combination with his short, light brown hair and freshly shaven face, he looked like a man who had never done a hard day’s work in his life. A weary note of caution flickered in his mind. He’d seen him before. But where?
    “It’s a pleasure, Commander,” he replied, shaking Gadison’s hand and pushing his reluctance aside. Keegan offered him a seat closest to the front of the room.
    “Thank you. But first, I believe congratulations are in order. You are the CO now.” Gadison gestured around him. “That’s pretty amazing.”
    It’s not that big a miracle .
    Though he appreciated the sentiment, he frowned at the implication of not being qualified. He’d served for over twenty years, was a four star-rated carrier qualified pilot, naval postgraduate school and held more commands than he could count, so giving him the Blanchard wasn’t exactly a gimme despite what he’d done with Cate.
    Deciding to play it cool, he bit back the sour taste on his tongue. “I am grateful, though it was through no fault of my own, I can assure you.”
    “Couldn’t have happened to a better man.”
    “I understand you have a guest accompanying you?” Keegan changed the subject. Why couldn’t he pinpoint where he’d met Gadison before?
    “Yes, she is in medical.”
    “Medical? Why?”
    “Several species of unknown origin have attacked three of our installations,” Gadison explained.
    “Which installations?”
    “Kodiak, Argo Navis, and Potanus. Two are military installations and one is a research colony.”
    Keegan stilled. Kodiak . Now he knew why Caitlin had been so silent about her last assignment. It hadn’t been a simple training mission. They were attacked. He clenched his fists. Why hadn’t she told him? Why hadn’t she come to him? But he stopped. Confidentiality was part of their job. Even though she’d been right not have confided in him, he couldn’t stop his worry.
    “Our guess, and we think it’s a good one, is they were after the technology to make cryos.”
    Keegan folded his arms across his chest. “Cryos? What led you to this conclusion?”
    “Frankly, it was the targets. Especially the last one. They directed their actions at facilities used for cold weather warfare. But for the most part, no real damage was done. Potanus on the other hand, we’re not so sure.”
    “What’s their status?”
    “Unknown. But them hitting there was our biggest clue. Potanus is where we perfect the technology for cryo transformation.”
    Sighing, Keegan calmed