We Have Met the Enemy by Felicia Watson

Author:Felicia Watson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: family drama, revenge, space opera, space odyssey, future scifi, aliens wars
Publisher: DX Varos Publishing

***

Lindstrom heard his office door chime at precisely 0600. “Come in.”

Evidently, Decker knew to be prompt and to leave the dog behind. She entered and assumed perfect parade rest. He would be impressed if it weren’t for the fact that he suspected her very correct demeanor resulted from having issued similar apologies to other superior officers. “Commander, with your permission, I’d like to offer an apology for my behavior yesterday.”

“Proceed.”

“My behavior was inexcusable, insubordinate, and unbecoming an officer.”

“Correct on all counts, Lieutenant. Your service record will be noted to reflect this reprimand.”

“I accept your reprimand, sir.”

She was obviously waiting to be dismissed but showed no impatience when he hesitated. “How many times have you done this?”

“Request clarification of inquiry, sir.”

Nils looked at the set of her jaw and realized he wasn’t going to get through to her this way. He had promised the captain that he’d try. “At ease, Decker. And have a seat.” She sat down without a word and studied him dispassionately. He gave it a few moments of silence and she waited with no change of expression. “Do you play chess?”

“No, sir.”

“Too bad. I think you’d be magnificent at it.” She just looked at him. “No response?”

“I didn’t realize you were looking for one.”

“I am, though. I’m looking for some response that shows you really know what you did wrong yesterday.”

“Sir, if my apology was insuffici—”

“Stop it. You know as well as I do, it was stultifying in its correctness. I actually believe you’re sorry that you said those things. What I don’t believe is that you’re sorry you thought them.”

“You want an apology for my thoughts, Commander? That I cannot offer.”

“I know.” He steepled his hands in front of him. “Did you know that I never wanted you onboard the Lovelace?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I suppose Kennedy told you?”

“Commander, with all due respect, no one had to tell me that.”

Lindstrom felt a sharp stab of shame. Decker was right; he hadn’t exactly hidden his opinion of her, had he? Suddenly he wondered how much of her behavior was nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Well, I might have been wrong about you.” Ah, some small note of surprise at last. “I have on occasion seen signs of the officer you could be, the one Kennedy raved about, the one who…who we need on the Lovelace.” Now she was watching him closely, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nils let it drop. “But that officer is so buried under undisciplined anger and bitterness that I fear she may suffocate.” Decker shifted her gaze to the side but remained silent. “Get your head out of your ass, Lieutenant. You’re not the only one who’s lost someone; you’re not the only one who’s suffered. I’ve been fighting this war for over twenty years. Do you really think that I haven’t lost friends…family?”

Decker asked in a faltering voice, “You’ve lost family, sir?”

“Yes, my younger sister. At the Battle of Yanzu.”

“I’m very sorry, Commander. That must have been…unbelievably difficult.”

“Yes, it was…and still is. And while I know how rough it must have been to lose your mother—”

“I’m afraid you don’t.

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