Karadon by S J MacDonald

Author:S J MacDonald [MacDonald, S J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1479131881
Published: 2012-09-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“Captain.” Alex shook hands with the Queen of Cartasay’s captain, a distinguished-looking woman in a white uniform overloaded with gold and glittery stuff. Any hope he might have had of just being allowed to go aboard the liner quietly and have a private lunch with his friend had been futile, of course. Captain Giscard had insisted on him having cocktails with her and “a few select guests”. Quill had called to warn him, too, to expect a formal reception at the airlock. The formal reception involved the captain and several officers who were standing in line to greet him. It also involved a hideously embarrassing fanfare and an official holographer taking pictures.

Alex was looking pretty stunning, it had to be said. Even if he’d been coming aboard privately for lunch he would probably have changed into the rather smarter uniform worn groundside and for things like meetings off the ship. It had been put to him, however, that it would be very much appreciated if he could wear dress uniform for cocktails with the captain.

Alex had sighed a little, but obliged. Way back on Chartsey, in the middle of everything else he’d been dealing with, the Senate’s Fleet Sub-Committee had decided that the Fourth should have their own uniform. Dix Harangay had given Alex a say in that. They’d discussed it briefly in the First Lord’s office. Alex had agreed at once that they should have just the same kit as the regular Fleet but in a different colour. He’d chosen grey because no other service used it, it was smart, and he didn’t want to get stuck with something like the horrible garish mustard colour that the Third Irregulars had to wear. When Dix had asked about dress uniform, traditionally a darker colour than ordinary Fleet blues, Alex had said he didn’t mind, he’d leave it to him. Dix, therefore, had written “black” on the form. Neither of them had thought any more of it till the order was delivered.

The Fourth, it was generally agreed, had the best dress rig going. It was hard not to look stylish in a midnight black tunic with an upright collar, matching narrow pants and high gloss boots. Silver insignia gleamed. Alex was also wearing a gold signet ring. Jewellery was not normally allowed with dress rig but the Fleet made one exception to that. The top cadet every year was presented with a ring which they were then required to wear as an honour with their dress rig for the rest of their Fleet careers. Alex disliked wearing his so much that he’d “lost” more than ten of them so far. Buzz, however, seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of replacements. He’d turned up with one just as Alex had been about to leave, smiling innocently as he presented it to the skipper. It felt heavy and awkward on his finger, and he saw the Captain look at it, too, as they shook hands. She made no comment, however, but presented her officers to him.

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