Peacekeeper: A Major Ariane Kedros Novel by Laura E. Reeve

Author:Laura E. Reeve [Reeve, Laura E.]
Format: epub
Tags: Science fiction, General, Fiction, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction - General, High Tech, Space Opera, Adventure, Science Fiction And Fantasy, Imaginary wars and battles, Space warfare, Assassins, Revenge
ISBN: 9780451462459
Publisher: Roc
Published: 2008-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Contrary to Rayiz’s advice, she ended up butting heads with Lieutenant Colonel Voyage only thirty minutes after she recorded her statement.

Ariane checked with the maintenance squadron to ensure that the explosion hadn’t damaged any of the warhead storage bays. Karthage was required, per the treaty, to open all warhead storage bays so the inspectors could view the entire contents. That was when she found out that Jacinthe was intending to immediately move several TD warheads, mounted on Naga vehicles, to Hellas Daughter.

"You can’t move those warheads to Hellas Daughter,” Ariane said, as soon as she caught up with Jacinthe. This was something she had to explain face-to-face.

"They’re mine to move, Major.” Jacinthe was in squadron ops working with her schedulers. She was too busy to waste time on antagonism, so her words were dry and clipped.

"You’ll violate the TD weapons treaty.”

"I’ve read the treaty, Major. We’re allowed transit times of five days between deployment areas.”

Jacinthe didn’t bother to look at her.

"As of ten days after the signing of the treaty, we’re no longer allowed to store warheads at production facilities. Hellas Daughter is defined as a production facility in the Memorandum of Understanding.”

Jacinthe turned to face Ariane, crossing her arms. The schedulers, a captain and a master sergeant, stopped poking their slates and stared at Ariane.

"What would you suggest we do, Major?” Jacinthe’s voice was low, deceptively calm, and dangerous.

"We have a mission readiness commitment of launching ten Naga vehicles, fully crewed and with warheads, within ten minutes of launch notification. The explosion left seven of our launch ports without power, so we can’t meet that commitment. Our backup has always been to move mission-ready Naga vehicles to Hellas Daughter and have them stand alert from the old test launch facilities.”

"You’re not allowed to move the warheads through N-space for deployment, only maintenance, and there’s no other legal facilities in-system,” Ariane said. She knew the list of allowed deployment sites in the Memorandum of Understanding. Whoever drafted the memorandum hadn’t provided the flexibility of deploying weapons anywhere else in the Hellas system. There was only Karthage Point, and Karthage had been damaged.

"Surely there’s provisions in the treaty for emergencies,” Jacinthe said.

"I’m sorry, Colonel, but lowered readiness isn’t considered an emergency by the people who wrote this treaty.” Ariane left the rest unsaid. Combat readiness isn’t important because your weapons system is going away. Combat readiness isn’t important because your unit is being deactivated in two years—yet in the meantime, you’ll still be evaluated and your future careers may depend upon your readiness numbers.

She was sorry. These crew members prided themselves on doing their duty, and doing it well. The Thirty-second had the best readiness numbers, for four years running, throughout the six operational squadrons in the three Naga wings. That wasn’t going to happen this year.

"You’ll just have to report your reduced capability and readiness to Wing Operations.” She had become what she’d always despised: an illogical administrative barrier to getting the mission done. No apologies could erase that.

Her ear bug chimed with a high-priority message from Captain Rayiz.

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