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The Admiral:
By Markus Thyme:
Previous episodes are in The Master’s Hand archive.
On the command deck of the Battleship Fallujah stood Admiral Fovea in full dress uniform. He was wearing he very best scowl as Colonel Pervez gave his report. The regent stood quietly by as did Major Kamil and Fatima Hamas.
“Eleven dead marines and one dead human,” growled Fovea. “Not a good exchange Colonel. How did you allow this to happen?”
Regent Maliki stepped forward.
“Admiral, it was I who was at fault, not Colonel Pervez. I seriously underestimated the risk and sent the men into an ambush.”
“So it would seem,” whispered Fovea. “So it would seem. Still, how could a trained and fully armed squad of marines be bested by primitive savages with primitive weapons? They did not get off one shot in that cave!”
“Sir, they were taken completely by surprise, as was I,” Said Maliki. “We expected to deal with frightened animals and we were met with organized resistance.”
“Organized resistance, organized resistance!” roared Fovea. “I have heard that several times now. Are these humans unconscious animals or are they sentient animals?”
“I wish not to believe that,” said Fovea.
“Yet, for the sake of decency, we must consider it, sir. We must seriously consider the evidence encountered by Major Kamil.”
“What of that, Kamil?” demanded the admiral.
Kamil was clearly uncomfortable, but he answered as truthfully as he could.
“Sir, we did find evidence of reasoning beings with some sense of community and a decent respect for our slain comrades. There was the cairn and the evidence or an organized culture in the caves.”
“Why did we not find evidence of intelligence in the domestic herd?” asked Fovea.
“Perhaps we did and simply looked the other
way,” answered
“Very well, then, Madam Hamas,” snapped Fovea. “We will consider your so-called evidence and we will acquire additional evidence. Colonel Pervez, I will return to this planet with you and you will bring me one of these wild humans alive. I will interrogate this sentient being to determine the truth.”
All three, Pervez, Kamil, and Regent Maliki began to look very uncomfortable.
“Do you find something troubling in my decision?” warned Fovea.
Both, Pervez and Kamil looked plaintively at Maliki. Technically, as the Emperors Regent, Maliki outranked the admiral. However, he was aboard the Admiral’s battleship, making it a touchy situation.
“Admiral, I am sure Colonel Pervez will carry out any orders you may issue,” said Maliki gently. “However, I do foresee some problems that will impede the effort.”
“Such as?” demanded Fovea.
“Sir, the only one we might have captured chose to avoid capture quite dramatically.”
“That is a tactical problem which I am sure the Major will work out,” smiled Fovea. “Anything else?”
“Even if we manage to find a human and capture him, our experience indicates there will be little if any cooperation. Then there is the language problem, Admiral. I am sure these wild ones will not be versed in Calanian as was the domestic herd.”
“All you have offered me are tactical problems, Regent,” smiled Fovea. “These are not reasons to dissuade me. They are merely obstacle to be overcome. Unless you have something else, let us delay no longer.”
There was a clear tone of warning in the Admiral’s voice and Maliki heeded it.
“I am at your service, sir,” replied Maliki.
“Let us go then,” said the Admiral. “I am sure you will want to be along, Madam Hamas.”
“Yes, sir. I very definitely want to see a wild human,” she replied readily.
A few hours later, the shuttle set down again on the landing
pad.
In Colonel Pervez’s office sat the Admiral, Maliki, Prevez, Kamil, Fovea, and Fatima Hamas.
“Where are we most likely to find one of these, allegedly sentient humans?” demanded Fovea.
“Sir, they would most likely be hiding in the caves north of where we first encountered them,” answered Kamil.
“Although,” interjected Maliki, “we can surmise, because of the slain farm workers, there were some of them right here.”
“Were is not an operative word, Regent,” replied Fovea. “The question is, where are they most likely to be now?”
“In or near those caves and pockets we discovered,” said Kamil, “but we are not likely to find just one. If we find them at all, we will find an organized group.” “Very well then. Colonel Pervez, it seems Major Kamil has the most complete experience with these human. Perhaps you should send him out with the entire battalion to search for and capture one human,” sneered Fovea. “Meanwhile, I will order down another battalion from my ship, should the worst occur and all of our marines are riddled with wooden shafts.”
“Pervez and Kamil both flushed.
“That was uncalled for, Admiral Fovea,” she snapped. “It is not in the interest of moral to humiliate the men in your command. These men encountered an unexpected adversary and were defeated. If anyone is to blame for that, it is the officers of the Abdul-Aziz packing company. It is they who made us believe these humans were docile animals.”
Fovea starred cold faced at
Fovea spoke in measured terms, “It is not in your interest to question my decisions or my authority Madam Hamas.”
“I will remain silent from now on, unless you consult
me,” said
In cold faced stares, she gave Fovea back as good as she got.
Suddenly, fovea laughed.
“You have a strong will, Madam Hamas,” he said. “I cannot help but admire it. And, your point is well taken.”
He turned to Pervez and Kamil and nodded.
“She is right. I owe both of you an apology. I should not second-guess you. You were in the field. I was not. Please accept my regrets.”
“Let us get past this,” offered Pervez. “It is more important to consider how we may best serve Calania. I think we might best capture at least one of these humans. Indeed, I believe we might want to take a few home with us for examination by people trained in these things.”
“Your point is well made, Colonel. Confrontation and heated harangues will not help us in that,” acknowledged Fovea.
“Sir,” said Kamil, “I would like to lead my company in a foray to flush out and capture some of these humans.”
“Your company, for certain,” added Pervez, “but with two extra platoons. We want to make sure of a capture with no undue risk.”
“I agree,” replied Kamil. “I believe with 6 platoons I can sweep from two directions and perhaps net a few of these humans.”
“What of the first cave?” asked Maliki. “Is it possible they have reoccupied it? If it was their home, they may not abandon it so easily.”
“We might try that first,” agreed Kamil. “I suspect it will still be empty, but we can save time if we find them.”
“Very well,” said Fovea. “Prepare your men for a departure in the morning. I will wait here with Madam Hamas.”
On the following morning,
“Mayhap I have brought doom to the folk through my acts of vengeance,” he whispered.
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