The Voyage of the Star Wolf by David Gerrold

Author:David Gerrold [Gerrold, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781935251514
Publisher: BenBella Books, Inc.

Decisions

Korie stepped into Hardesty’s cabin and stood rigidly before the captain’s desk. Hardesty didn’t even glance up; he was studying something on his desk screen.

“First of all,” he began without preamble, “I know what you’ve been through. I read your file. I know the craziness that drives you. It’s ripping you apart. You haven’t healed yet. Maybe you never will. It’s left you confused. You don’t know if you should be a ruthless bastard or a compassionate healer—well, neither one of those roles is right for a starship officer; although, I will tell you, ruthless bastard does have some advantages.” Hardesty gestured. “Sit down.”

Korie sat.

“Lesson One: You’re going to have to learn to control your temper. Hide your feelings from the crew. The crew is a sponge. Whatever you put out, they will soak up—and they will give it back to you amplified a thousand times over. That’s what’s wrong with this ship right now. Your crew doesn’t know who you are, so they don’t know who they’re supposed to be. That’s the first thing we have to fix.

“Lesson Two: This is not a democracy. No warship ever is. But you’ve been running this ship as if your crew gets to vote on every decision. Your chief engineer, for example, argues every order, so every damn crewmember on this ship thinks his opinion means something too. Bullshit. Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and they’re all full of shit. You—Mr. Korie—stop worrying about being popular. If a crew likes an officer, he isn’t doing his job. Your only job is to produce results, nothing else. If the crew isn’t doing their job, you’re not doing yours. Am I getting through to you?”

Korie swallowed. His throat hurt with the pressure of all he was holding back. “Yes, sir.”

“But you don’t like it.”

“I don’t have to like it, sir. As you say, my feelings on the matter are irrelevant.”

Hardesty grunted. “Good answer. You’re learning. I don’t think you believe it yet, but I don’t care. You can start by learning the language. The understanding will come later.” He reached for a folder and opened it. “All right,” he said, turning to the first sheet of paper inside. “We’re not playing Good Cop/Bad Cop here. Do you know that game?”

“Yes, sir. Some captains delegate all the unpopular orders to their exec so he can take the heat.”

“Right. Well, I don’t believe in that. If an unpopular order has to be given, the captain should take responsibility for it himself. Also”—he tapped the right side of his head, the metal-plated prosthesis—“this particular handicap makes me a lot less likable, so if we were to play that game, you’d have to be the good cop, I’d have to be the bad cop. I can’t run a ship that way either. For obvious reasons.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s the other reason why you have to stop being popular. You understand? Because like it or not, we’re already halfway into a game of Good Cop/Bad Cop and I won’t have it.

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