swearing, tardiness on station, and general goofiness…”
“Sir, I own up to all of it but I have
bettered my character and you will see those blemishes are from the past, my
recently history…”
“Perhaps you have changed or perhaps
your follies are not officially written up anymore because your friend VC
Raptor is your commanding officer now,” Carvyk said.
“Sir, I protest the insinuation of
favoritism,” Raptor said.
“Ah, Vice-Commodore Raptor, let’s take
a look at your record,” Carvyk shuffled the papers in his hand, “tardiness,
excessive leeway to your subordinates and subsequent reduction in discipline,
over generosity with furloughs, strange pranks and antics, unorthodox maneuvers
in space battle practice and excessive humor.”
“Excessive humor is a sin in Starfire
Army now?” Raptor laughed, “King Starryvk would be laughing from the great
beyond and so would be legendary Col. Sthykar.”
“Kings and War Heroes have privileges
that you don’t,” Carvyk said.
“I tell jokes, he just laughs at them,”
Tollvyk said.
“You two make a great team, don’t you?”
Carvyk asked.
They did not reply to this as they
weren’t sure whether he was being sarcastic or serious.
“Luckily for you two, I have an
assignment for which I need someone… mediocre,” Carvyk said, “and don’t feel
insulted because you are being promoted.”
“We don’t understand,” Raptor said.
“Our protectorate of Nestorian Republic
apparently has some trouble with strange aliens from the unexplored regions of
the galactic space,” Carvyk said, “And for all I know it could be they who are
dreaming of expansion and conquest. All virtues have downsides and talent and
ambition in army officers comes with foolhardiness and willingness to rush to
battle before judgment. I don’t want to send our best officers who would jump
at a chance of starting a war. I want someone like you two, who enjoy your
humor and your leisure.”
“I protest,” Tollvyk said, “I may not
be the best of the officers, but I am second to no one in my desire to fight
our enemies.”
“Whatever you say,” Carvyk said, “But I
want you to understand something. You are not going to fight a war, but to
investigate and try to broker peace. The name of Starfire Empire will be enough
to back off most aliens and if it is Nestorians and their conspiracy riddled
republic that is stirring up the trouble, then put them in their place.”
“Yes sir,” both of them answered
simultaneously.
“I have been harsh on you,” Carvyk got
up from the chair and both officers did likewise, “But I believe in second
chances and third chances. Men can get better, I hope you two do. I have
extended a two-week furlough to you till your new starship is fully tested and
ready. Here are your new commissions,” he handed both of them two metallic
cards with displays, “details of your mission will be available to you upon
boarding.”
“Thank you, sir,” they saluted him,
turned around and walked out of the room.
Few minutes later they were in a
rocketship being transported to their orbital Starship Victory. They hadn’t
looked at their commission yet but wanted to say good-bye to their Commodore,
their fellow officers and the crew and collect their bags and personal items.
“He is a straight speaking bastard but
bastard none the less,” Tollvyk said.
“He is not that bad,” Raptor said, “Can
you deny that our conduct was less than stellar in the past?”
“No, but I resent the insinuation that
because I love finer pleasures of life that I am a poor warrior,” Tollvyk said.
“He didn’t say that,” Raptor said.
“Fine not poor, but mediocre, his exact
words,” Tollvyk said, “let’s look at those commissions.”
Tollvyk put his thumb in a slot on
“Sir, I own up to all of it but I have
bettered my character and you will see those blemishes are from the past, my
recently history…”
“Perhaps you have changed or perhaps
your follies are not officially written up anymore because your friend VC
Raptor is your commanding officer now,” Carvyk said.
“Sir, I protest the insinuation of
favoritism,” Raptor said.
“Ah, Vice-Commodore Raptor, let’s take
a look at your record,” Carvyk shuffled the papers in his hand, “tardiness,
excessive leeway to your subordinates and subsequent reduction in discipline,
over generosity with furloughs, strange pranks and antics, unorthodox maneuvers
in space battle practice and excessive humor.”
“Excessive humor is a sin in Starfire
Army now?” Raptor laughed, “King Starryvk would be laughing from the great
beyond and so would be legendary Col. Sthykar.”
“Kings and War Heroes have privileges
that you don’t,” Carvyk said.
“I tell jokes, he just laughs at them,”
Tollvyk said.
“You two make a great team, don’t you?”
Carvyk asked.
They did not reply to this as they
weren’t sure whether he was being sarcastic or serious.
“Luckily for you two, I have an
assignment for which I need someone… mediocre,” Carvyk said, “and don’t feel
insulted because you are being promoted.”
“We don’t understand,” Raptor said.
“Our protectorate of Nestorian Republic
apparently has some trouble with strange aliens from the unexplored regions of
the galactic space,” Carvyk said, “And for all I know it could be they who are
dreaming of expansion and conquest. All virtues have downsides and talent and
ambition in army officers comes with foolhardiness and willingness to rush to
battle before judgment. I don’t want to send our best officers who would jump
at a chance of starting a war. I want someone like you two, who enjoy your
humor and your leisure.”
“I protest,” Tollvyk said, “I may not
be the best of the officers, but I am second to no one in my desire to fight
our enemies.”
“Whatever you say,” Carvyk said, “But I
want you to understand something. You are not going to fight a war, but to
investigate and try to broker peace. The name of Starfire Empire will be enough
to back off most aliens and if it is Nestorians and their conspiracy riddled
republic that is stirring up the trouble, then put them in their place.”
“Yes sir,” both of them answered
simultaneously.
“I have been harsh on you,” Carvyk got
up from the chair and both officers did likewise, “But I believe in second
chances and third chances. Men can get better, I hope you two do. I have
extended a two-week furlough to you till your new starship is fully tested and
ready. Here are your new commissions,” he handed both of them two metallic
cards with displays, “details of your mission will be available to you upon
boarding.”
“Thank you, sir,” they saluted him,
turned around and walked out of the room.
Few minutes later they were in a
rocketship being transported to their orbital Starship Victory. They hadn’t
looked at their commission yet but wanted to say good-bye to their Commodore,
their fellow officers and the crew and collect their bags and personal items.
“He is a straight speaking bastard but
bastard none the less,” Tollvyk said.
“He is not that bad,” Raptor said, “Can
you deny that our conduct was less than stellar in the past?”
“No, but I resent the insinuation that
because I love finer pleasures of life that I am a poor warrior,” Tollvyk said.
“He didn’t say that,” Raptor said.
“Fine not poor, but mediocre, his exact
words,” Tollvyk said, “let’s look at those commissions.”
Tollvyk put his thumb in a slot on
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