Address criticisms to [xazqrten@cox.net]


******************************

Somewhere in an Earthforce Intelligence office:

   Lt.Gen. Manuel Sanchez had thoroughly inspected the computer that the late 
Major Brown kept his truly secret files on. He had retrieved all the 
information he needed to anonymously hire Renaldo Carlucci to assassinate 
Lt.Gen. Susan Wayne, even though he didn’t know the name of the assassin. He 
knew killing her would not improve his present situation, a situation that was 
rapidly deteriorating. However, he wanted the satisfaction that would come 
from ensuring that she didn’t profit from his and the late major’s 
misadventures.

   It took only a few minutes and the deed was done. Sanchez had issued an 
assassination contract for Susan.
 
******************************

Monday 14 December 2266:

   Susan was just finishing up a meeting when she was notified that she had a 
visitor waiting for her in her office. She was told that he was part of a team 
investigating the crash at the TGS exercise area.

   Susan entered her office and sat down behind her desk, after refilling her 
coffee cup. She offered a cup to the colonel who was standing at 
attention. “What can I do for you, colonel?”

   Colonel Kirt Geller introduced himself, poured himself a cup of coffee, and 
said, “I’m leading the team investigating the loss of nine Earthforce aircraft 
that crashed inside the TGS exercise area. My information says you were there 
at the time. Also, do you mind if I record this conversation?”

   “Not at all. Is there any reason I should? Besides, as you can see there 
are monitoring devices installed in this office, compliments of my security 
detail. Yes, I was there,” admitted Susan, “but I only saw them as digital 
representations on my tracking system display.”

   “According to the newscasts, you were accompanied by President Luchenko.”

   “She flew out of here with me. She wanted to see the TGS students in 
action. I don’t see how her presence would be germane.”

    “It isn’t really, General Wayne; however, the sites of the aircraft 
wreckage are another matter.”

   “Oh?”

   “The lack of impact craters and the distribution of the wreckage on the 
ground tells us that eight of the aircraft exploded in midair. The ninth 
aircraft hit the ground so hard it left a crater thirty meters wide and twenty 
meters deep. So far, it looks like it was flown into the ground at more than 
seven hundred kilometers per hour.”

   “That’s an interesting observation, colonel.”

   “You said that you only saw the aircraft as symbols on a display screen. 
Was there anything odd about them?”

   “There was no annotating data attached to the symbols. It would seem to 
indicate that their identification beacons were not responding to the AWACS 
interrogations.”

   “We have spoken with the AWACS team and they confirmed as much. All 
aircraft, whether military or civilian – both commercial and private – are 
required to have working transponders, and they are supposed to be in 
operation anytime the aircraft engines are operating.”

   “Any theories as to why the transponders weren’t operational?”

   “I was going to ask you the same question.”

   “Honestly, yes, but it’s right out there in left field.”

   “Please, enlighten me, sir?”

   “The fact that I was carrying President Luchenko as my passenger was in the 
news; so, it wasn’t any secret.”

   “Are you implying what I think you are?”

   “You asked me, and I told you it was from out in left field.”

   “Still, it actually is a reasonable idea, all other things being equal. 
Even if we were to accept that as a working hypothesis, it still doesn’t 
explain the destroyed aircraft.”

   “I can tell you what I saw on my sensor display and you can draw your own 
conclusions. Hell, I can get you the recordings made by the recorders in my 
plane, if that’ll help.”

   “We have already obtained the original recordings, sir. But, I’d still like 
to hear your version of events.”

   “The trip down to the TGS operating area went as planned and so did the 
exercises. Just before I meant to leave returning to Stockton, the AWACS 
informed me that there were nine unidentified aircraft entering the op-area. I 
watched their approach on my sensor display and changed course to intercept 
them. Since my aircraft has excellent high-powered optics, I would have been 
able to see them well before they could launch an attack. As a matter of fact, 
the jammer aircraft was my idea. It has capabilities that could render an 
attacking aircraft’s tracking and targeting sensors useless. As I said, I 
observed the icons on my sensor display; as I approached to within twenty-five 
kilometers of the intruders, their video vanished from my sensor display. The 
remaining aircraft began flying a racetrack course and after about fifteen 
minutes of this bizarre behavior, it simply flew into the ground at high 
speed. I returned to Stockton and President Luchenko continued her on her 
itinerary. Is there anything else you want to know?”

   “Yes, sir. What if the intruders had attacked you?”

   “I’d have shot them down. Don’t be fooled, Colonel Geller. My plane has a 
thirty-millimeter cannon installed in it, and it isn’t the same as those 
installed in other aircraft.”

   “Really?”

   “It’s a working prototype. It’s been tested and it has a much greater range 
and much more punch than a standard issue thirty-millimeter weapon.”

   “I’ll take your word for it, sir.”

    “Anything else, colonel?”

   “Yes, sir, general. The Earthforce PAO put out the story that these 
aircraft were involved in unapproved maneuvers when they were involved in a 
tragic accident. From the data already available, this was no accident.”

   “That may depend upon your definition of accident, colonel.”

   Geller looked confused. “Exactly what do you mean by that statement, 
General Wayne?”

   “During the late twentieth century, a president of the then United States 
of America evaded being thrown out of office by arguing about what is really 
means. I believe he asked, “What is ‘is’?”

   “I’m not much of a historian, general, and that sounds most intriguing. 
What does it have to do with the present situation?”

   “I think we need to find a secure location to continue this conversation, 
Colonel Geller. Let me give you a guided tour of my transport.”

   As she finished speaking, Susan finished her coffee, stood up, and walked 
to the door of her office. “Follow me, Colonel Geller.”

   Geller gulped down the remainder of his coffee and followed her out of her 
office.

******************************

   Susan and Geller exited the headquarters building and almost knocked 
General Igor Gorski on his ass. Only a very quick sidestep allowed him to 
remain standing.

   “My apologies,” began Susan, then seeing who it was asked, “what are you 
doing here, sir?” Shaking her head, she continued, “I’m sorry, sir. What can I 
do for you?”

   Gorski was amused at her responses, but he showed nothing in his 
expression. It was obvious that she had been very deep in thought. He wondered 
what about. “We need to talk, Susan.”

   “Yes, sir. If you will come with Colonel Geller, and me, we can talk in 
private.” Then as an afterthought, she said, “General Gorski, I want you to 
meet Colonel Kirt Geller. He is heading up the team that is investigating the 
incident at the TGS, Friday morning. Colonel Geller, please say hello to 
General Igor Gorski, member of the JCS.”

   “Good morning, Colonel Geller. You lead, Susan. I’ll follow,” said Gorski.

   Less than ten minutes later, Susan led the two men aboard her shuttle and 
closed the entranceway. Walking quickly to the pilot’s cockpit, she 
said, “Take us to the whitestar. Inform Alyt Gregan that he has company.”

   Reentering the passenger compartment, she said, “Gents, please be seated 
and fasten your seatbelts. They aren’t really needed, but you never know 
what’s going to happen.”

   “Where are we going?” asked Gorski.

   “To my whitestar. There won’t be any prying eyes or recording devices 
there. When was the last time you visited the shipyards orbiting Jupiter, 
general?”

   “I don’t think I ever have, now that you mention it. How long are we going 
to be gone?”

   “How soon do you have to return to headquarters?”

   “I was going to fly back this afternoon your time.”

   “I’ll send your jet back as soon as we get to the ship, and I’ll return you 
to headquarters sooner than you would have gotten there in your plane.”

   “Do you ever ask anything before you do it?”

   “Most of the time, sir.”

   “Why did she hijack you, colonel?”

   “I honestly don’t know, sir. I suppose she’ll explain when the time is 
right.”

   “That I will gentlemen. There is more to discuss than either of you 
realize.”

   Gorski sat back and relaxed in his seat, thinking, [And I thought being on 
JCS would be a big bore.]

******************************

   Susan called the Stockton airport and issued orders for Gorski’s plane to 
return to EA Headquarters. She then ordered Alyt Gregan to break orbit and 
execute a hyperspace jump to the shipyards orbiting Jupiter.

   “What’s this all about, Susan?” asked Gorski.

   “Since the opportunity has presented itself, I have a few things that are 
bothering the hell out of me, sir.”

   Gorski looked at Geller then Susan. “Just what kind of questions do you 
have in mind?”

   “Without preamble, I’ve been informed that the overhaul of the Ares is 
being delayed. While the delay doesn’t bother me, the increase of estimated 
costs most certainly does. I want answers and I think I know how to get some 
of them.”

   “You’re going to put the commander of the shipyards on the spot.”

   “For starters. I want to know a great deal. Remember, I ran Babylon 5 for 
almost five years. John was the commanding officer, but I handled the nuts and 
bolts and everything that goes with them.”

   “What else do you want to know?”

   “How much do you know about Friday’s incident and the events leading up to 
it?”

   “Do you really want to discuss this in front of Colonel Geller. You could 
be putting him in an untenable position.”

   “He needs to know a certain amount in order to do his job.”

   Colonel Geller was all ears. He had a gut feeling that he was about to 
learn what actually happened last Friday. He wondered how much of it he would 
be allowed to use.

   “Good question, Colonel Geller,” said Susan. “You’re wondering how much of 
what we disclose you will be permitted to use. We’ll have to see.”

   “Tom showed us the recording you made when you took over your present 
command, Susan. He showed us some other material which included reports of 
what happened in Atlanta and some photographs and other data relating to Major 
Brown and the Friday incident.”

   “In short, you know as much as I do.”

   “Not really. I know you have means to get information that are not 
available to us.”

   “Us?” queried Geller.

   “The JCS, Colonel Geller,” said Susan. “How much do you want to know, 
colonel?”

   “Only what I need to do my job, General Wayne.”

   “Let’s go to the mess deck. We can have coffee, tea, or water and some 
snacks. I find snacks make discussing classified data a bit easier to do.”

******************************

   Gorski listened as Susan gave Geller an edited version of the data 
Leftcourt had made available to his colleagues. She had given the man quite a 
bit. More than he himself would have, but it was her show.

   “The bottom line, Colonel Geller, is that this whitestar under orders from 
me destroyed the eight aircraft that blew up in the air. I personally 
convinced Major Brown that flying his aircraft into the desert floor as he 
took a nap was an excellent idea. I could have done the same to all of those 
aircraft, but the whitestar was a much more efficient and reliable tool for 
the job.”

   “I wanted to know; now, I’m not so sure it was a good idea telling me.”

   “I can put in mental blocks that will keep anyone from learning how much 
you know, and at the same time it will prevent you from accidentally divulging 
anything I’m telling you here and now.”

   Geller looked at Gorski with apprehension written in his expression.

   “It’s your call, Colonel Geller,” said Gorski.

******************************

   “It’s stretching it a bit, but it’s the truth. These pilots were engaged in 
unapproved maneuvers and as a result they experienced disastrous results. I 
can work with it, General Wayne. I just have to make sure it spins correctly. 
I’ll work with JCS as to the identity of the pilots. I’m sure there is 
something to explain them that skirts close enough to the truth to pass 
ordinary scrutiny.”

   “I wouldn’t want to lie to the public, colonel, if it isn’t absolutely 
necessary,” replied Susan.

   “The two of you are a piece of work. I like it and I’m sure the other JCS 
members will too. I just hope it’ll pass muster with President Luchenko.”

   “It will, General Gorski. I can guarantee that,” said Susan.

****************************** 

In the main conference room of the orbital shipyard:

   “I realize that I’m not welcome here at this time, but you’ll just have to 
grin and bear it. First of all, this visit wasn’t planned. I had General 
Gorski and Colonel Geller onboard my whitestar and, for no good reason, I 
asked him if he had ever visited this shipyard. When he answered no, it 
occurred to me that you’re only a very short hyperspace hop from Earth; so, 
here we are – and since we’re here, I have a few questions for you and a few 
requests. To begin with, I want to see a flowchart of what ships are presently 
being worked on here. I want to know the present status of their work, and I 
want your best estimates of when they will be finished. I’m interested in any 
problems in parts acquisition and any other items you believe are adversely 
impacting your performance.”

   Brigadier General Wesley Allen was pissed off at Susan’s sudden appearance 
on his station. That she had a member of the JCS with her only incensed him 
further. He didn’t hesitate responding. “With all due respect, General Wayne, 
it will take us at least two days to get together all the information you are 
asking for. I’ve had to pull these men off their jobs for this meeting, and 
you by your own admission are only here on a whim.”

   Susan didn’t respond immediately. Instead she lowered her mental shields 
and concentrated on Allen. “What’s your mother’s favorite color, General 
Allen?”

   Her question caught everyone in the room by complete surprise. The attempts 
to muster coherent thoughts after the mental jarring the question elicited 
brought her almost more information than she could handle.

   Allen lost his composure. “What in hell does my mother’s favorite color 
have to do with anything?”

   “Everything, maybe nothing, General Allen. If you won’t tell me your 
mother’s favorite color, maybe you’ll be kind enough to tell me your father’s 
favorite food.”

   Allen looked at Gorski and his anger and frustration were all too evident. 
Gorski thought about what he knew of Susan’s interrogation of the men who had 
attempted to kill her at Stockton. He looked at her and immediately realized 
what she was doing. He wasn’t sure he liked it, but at the moment there was 
nothing he could do about it. He thought to himself, [I wonder what she is up 
to. Whatever it is, it can’t be good for Allen.]

   Allen looked at Susan in disgust and all but stomped out of the room. Susan 
waited until the door closed behind him, then she asked, “How long will it 
take you gents to get the data I requested?”

   A colonel, Kirt Haas, replied, “Most of it we can pull up on the computer 
in half an hour, General Wayne. While we are presenting that and answering 
your questions, one of my staff can retrieve the remainder. Will that suffice?”

   “Yes, Colonel Haas, it will. I’m open to any and all ideas for increasing 
this shipyard’s efficiency. We’re hurting for money. In fact, the Ares 
overhaul is being pushed back at least six months at an additional cost of at 
least half-billion credits. That’s too much money to waste gentlemen. I really 
want to know why it’s necessary to do things that way.”

   The colonels, commanders and their assistants filed out of the room. A few 
minutes later, only Susan, Gorski, and Geller were left. “What is this really 
all about, Susan?”

   “With all due respect, general, Allen is lying through his teeth. My stupid 
questions were intended to cause him to think very hard about what I wanted 
and how the questions fitted in. They don’t, but it caused him to focus on 
things he’d rather we, you and I, not know.”

   “Did you scan him?”

   “It wasn’t necessary. I could have heard his thoughts even if I were on the 
whitestar. Being in the room with him allowed me to focus on his stray 
thoughts. It’s the same as you focusing on someone talking in a roomful of 
people who are also conversing. Scanning someone is the mental equivalent of 
rape. Yes, I’ve done it. I later learned that what happened between me and the 
commander of that Minbari war cruiser was essentially scanning, even though I 
didn’t realize it at the time. Considering what that was all about, I’m not 
sorry about it.”

   “You scanned those pilots Friday, didn’t you?” asked Geller.

   “Yes. It was necessary, colonel. It confirmed that I wasn’t killing any 
innocent people.”

   “Point taken, sir.”

   Gorski looked at Susan and wondered, [What in god’s name do we have here?]

   “A penny for your thoughts, general?” asked Susan.

   “You can’t read them?”

   “I could, but it would be an invasion of your privacy. I have no legitimate 
reason for doing that.”

   Gorski thought about what seemed to be bothering Susan and decided it was 
her card game. He would simply be an observer. He had a feeling that Brigadier 
General Allen’s career was about to come to a screeching halt. 

******************************

   The briefing went off without a hitch and what Susan learned caused her no 
end of irritation. If she believed what she had just heard, there was nothing 
short of outright fraud going on and it was on a fairly large scale. She 
wondered how it could go on so long without anyone blowing the whistle. She 
had decided to let the Inspector General’s (IG) office handle it. It was one 
of their prime functions. Until the IG team could get onsite, she had the 
databases frozen and locked. No one would be making any changes until the IG 
inspection was completed.

******************************

   Sitting on one side of a table in the whitestar’s dining area and looking 
across it at General Gorski, Brigadier General Wesley Allen asked, “What gives 
her the power to relieve me on the spot?”

   “She’s your boss and you serve at her pleasure. Let’s just say she has lost 
confidence in you as a shipyard leader,” replied Gorski.

   “I’m not buying that General Gorski. I was a Clark supporter and there’s no 
way I’m going to believe that isn’t the real reason I’ve been fired.”

   “With all due respect, General Allen, maybe you should consider how you 
responded to her when she arrived on the station. You were very rude to her, 
you outright lied about how long it would take to muster-up a briefing, and 
you grossly exaggerated how much of your personnel’s time would be involved,” 
commented Colonel Geller.

   “Just what is your business here, colonel?” snapped Allen. 

   “Actually, general, I don’t have any business here, but is has turned out 
to be very educational, in ways I’d never have imagined. My real business with 
General Wayne is that I’m heading up a team that’s investigating the loss of 
nine fighter aircraft at the TGS exercise range,” replied Geller.

   “Then keep you comments to yourself,” snapped Allen again.

   “If I were you, General Allen, I’d not try and run roughshod over Colonel 
Geller. If you continue, I’ll be your real worry, and I can damn sure do 
something about it.”

   “I’m sorry, sir.”

   “Don’t apologize to him, General Allen. Apologize to Colonel Geller,” 
ordered Susan, who has approached the table, unnoticed.

   Allen all but jumped out of his seat. He glowered at Susan. Without another 
word, Susan removed her collar devices and handed them to General Gorski.

   “You can either apologize to Colonel Geller right now or you can come with 
me, General Allen. I promise it will be much less painful if you do the 
apology. If I don’t believe you mean it, I’ll kick your arrogant ass all over 
this ship.”

   “I want to file charges against her,” said Allen.

   “For what? She directed you to apologize to Colonel Geller for behaving 
like an arrogant ass toward him. If you won’t follow her orders, it’s her 
prerogative as to what would be proper punishment for your refusal to carry 
out a lawful order. She has taken off her rank insignia, so I believe she is 
going to spank you, or whatever the adult equivalent. I don’t see a problem. 
Do you see a problem, colonel?”

   “No sir, general,” replied Geller.

   “I’m a telepath, General Allen. I’ll know if your apology is an honest 
one,” said Susan.

   Allen thought about the situation and knew it was a lost cause. There was 
no way he would apologize to Geller. “No! I won’t do it. You can assault me if 
you wish, but I won’t apologize!” snapped Allen.

   “Spoken like a true anal orifice, General Allen. I thank you for giving me 
something I can use to bust you out of Earthforce; furthermore, I humbly thank 
you for doing it in front of a member of the JCS,” said Susan in an even 
tone. “If I might have my collar devices back, General Gorski.”

   Gorski returned her collar devices and marveled at how easily she had 
managed to get Allen to do something for which he could be court martialed. 
Allen had been right about one thing. His being a Clark supporter didn’t set 
well with Susan, but his activities were the reason he was being fired. He had 
a suspicion that Susan believed Allen was involved in fraud, she just didn’t 
know exactly how. If he was correct, the IG would find whatever there was to 
support her beliefs.

   Susan walked out of the mess hall, heading back toward the bridge.

   “I like her,” said Geller.

   “We all do,” added Gorski.

   “No we don’t,” complained Allen.

   “Perfectly understandable, General Allen,” replied Gorski.

******************************

On the whitestar’s bridge:

   “General Gorski, what can I do for you, sir?” queried Susan.

   “I wanted to discuss your appearance in front of the Senate/House Military 
Financial Oversight Committee.”

   “Oh?”

   “Yes. General Leftcourt and the remainder of us JCS members were very 
pleased with your performance.”

   “Odd. I never think of it as a performance. More of a confrontation, I’d 
say.”

   “Your wordplay with Congressman Mason Wills was a hit. We are wondering 
just what you have decided to do to the small installations in his district 
and the two adjacent ones. You said they had already been taken care of.”

   “Yes, I did. Didn’t I?”

   “What did you mean?”

   “Actually nothing. I said it to get a response from him and put him on the 
defensive. It worked wonderfully. He’ll waste effort trying to pin down 
exactly what I meant and then even more trying to cover all contingencies. 
Because of his personality, he’ll be his own worst enemy.”

   “You are downright vicious and nasty.”

   “Thank you, sir.”

   Alyt Gregan, overhearing the conversation, smiled to himself.

   “Just be careful, Susan. He and his supporters will become your enemies.”

   Susan didn’t respond for almost a minute, even then, she was thoughtful as 
she spoke. “With all due respect, General Gorski, the Shadows were enemies, 
the Drakh are enemies, Clark and his regime were an enemy; however, 
Congressman Wills and his supporters are minor irritants in the overall scheme 
of things. If he doesn’t get reelected, he goes away.”

   Gorski thought about her response for a few moments, then replied, “My 
apologies for misunderstanding the situation. I completely forgot that your 
past experiences cause you to view situations from a radically different 
perspective as compared to the average senior officer or the elected/appointed 
government officials with which you will be dealing.”

   “Their greatest weakness, general, is that they will consistently 
underestimate what I can do and particularly what extents I will go to in 
order to accomplish a task. Until you have been tortured - and I have – 
knowing that you are going to be killed; until you have had your fighter shot 
out from under you numerous times; until you have had your command shot out 
from under you in an alien ambush; until you have gone to war with your own 
government and had a price, dead or alive, on your head; until you have had 
someone literally give you his life essence after you have been mortally 
wounded; until you have had to live your life knowing there are people who 
would happily kill you or turn you in - if the were given the chance; or, 
until you have destroyed an elite force of thirty ships and their crews while 
commanding a much smaller force, I don’t think you or anyone else has a 
snowball’s chance in hell, on a hot summer day, of understanding me, my 
motivations, or my objectives. Sir.” 

   Gorski was silent for a full minute. Turning to face Susan he made a one-
word reply, “True.”

   After Gorski left the bridge, Alyt Gregan looked at Susan. “Doesn’t 
anything frighten you, General Wayne?”

   “What’s left for me to be afraid of?”

   “Point taken, sir.”

******************************

Earthforce Headquarters landing pad:

   Susan walked Gorski to the waiting staff car. “What are you going to do 
with General Allen, Susan?”

   “I don’t know yet. I’ll find something for him to do, while I wait for the 
results of the IG inquiry. If they find anything wrong, I’ll give him a letter 
of reprimand for his comments and refusal to follow orders and hand him over 
to the JAG. If the IG gives him a clean bill of health, he can command one of 
my lesser commands. I’d rather return him to command the shipyard, but in the 
interest of good discipline, because of his behavior toward me, I can’t do 
that. Honestly, I don’t understand his attitude, sir.”

   “You don’t have to, you’re his boss. It’s his responsibility to get along 
with you. I noted that Colonel Geller doesn’t seem to remember the 
conversations we had on your shuttle concerning your explanations about what 
happened at the TGS exercise area. You didn’t damage him, did you? The rest of 
the boys won’t stand for that sort of thing.”

   “I put in a few neural blocks. When the information becomes available from 
another source, the blocks will fade away and he’ll have access to those 
memories. I didn’t remove anything from his mind. Remember, if necessary, I 
have no hesitation about revealing the truth of the situation. I only want it 
kept secret until I have a chance to destroy General Sanchez and his goons.”

   “The boys and I would appreciate being kept in the loop about anything that 
you learn in that area.”

   “I promise that I’ll let you know before the fireworks begin, sir.”

   “Thanks for the ride home. I look forward to our next chat.”

******************************

   The remainder of Susan’s trip was uneventful. She directed General Allen to 
the BOQ and Colonel Geller went back to his headquarters. Susan was both 
pleased and disappointed with the events of the day. On the one hand, she 
found problems with the shipyard and its functions, but lost a possibly good 
commander. She hadn’t wanted to put mental blocks into Colonel Geller’s mind, 
but it had been necessary. All in all, she was not the proverbial happy camper.

******************************

   General Gorski poured himself a cup of coffee and selected a bagel with 
cream cheese before taking his seat. “Sorry to be late, Tom, but I got in very 
late last night.”

   “I read the CDO log. You were delivered to headquarters by a Minbari 
shuttle.”

   “General Wayne gave me a ride home. I went to visit her yesterday and ended 
up taking a shortcut home via the Jupiter Shipyards.”

   “What was out there that you needed to see?”

   “Nothing. I was just along for the ride.”

   “What happened yesterday?”

   Gorski proceeded to give his associates on the JCS a detailed account of 
the events of the previous day.

   General Mendleson griped, “How long do we let this go on, Tom?”

   “Until the President indicates that she wants it to stop. Susan is doing 
what we tasked her to do. She’s doing what we either won’t, because of the 
political fallout, or can’t because some of it would finish our careers in the 
military and destroy our plans for a civilian career after we retire. If you 
want to take her on, be my guest – but don’t you come crying to the rest of us 
when she disembowels you - and I promise you, she’ll do exactly that. She has 
two insurmountable advantages, Gabe. She doesn’t care about her military 
career, and she has enough money to hire someone who’ll happily bury you, 
metaphorically speaking.”

   “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you people are afraid of her.”

   “I’m here to tell you, Gabe, I, for one, am afraid of her. I’m afraid of 
anyone who won’t hesitate to put it all on the line without giving it a first 
thought, much less a second. Those kinds of people are inherently dangerous 
and completely unpredictable,” said Gorski, flatly.

   There were murmurs of agreement of the other JCS members, even Leftcourt.

   “We’ll wait for Colonel Geller and his people to finish their work and make 
their report to us. Then we’ll decide what to tell the press,” said 
Leftcourt. “Also, we need to know what the story is on the pilots involved 
with the aircraft mishap.” As he thought about the IG inspections Susan was 
ordering and her other activities to date, he couldn’t help but appreciate the 
fact that he wasn’t in her line of fire – yet.

******************************

   Susan had just finished explaining to the IG representative, she was 
talking with on the videophone, what she wanted with respect to the Jupiter 
Shipyard. During the conversation, the IG representative, Colonel Karl Janen, 
suggested that if she were going to investigate one of her shipyards, maybe 
she should investigate all of them. After considering it for a minute, she 
agreed. She also agreed to transport the investigators to the shipyards when 
she made her official visits, with the exception of the Jupiter shipyard. She 
would drop those investigators off first.

   She took a drink of coffee and was buzzed by her secretary. General Allen 
was waiting to see her. She had him sent in.

   “Fix yourself a cup of coffee, General Allen, and have a seat.”

   Allen fixed a cup of coffee, tasted it, and sat down in the chair on the 
other side of Susan’s desk. “What are you going to do to me, General Wayne?”

   “For the moment, nothing. I’m putting you on administrative leave until the 
IG completes an inspection of your command and makes his findings available to 
me.”

   “You say, ‘my command’, but you have already relieved me of that duty.”

   “That’s a temporary measure, General Allen. If the IG gives you a clean 
bill of health, I’ll have the option of sending you back there; however, there 
will be some changes that I will enumerate when the time is right. Obviously, 
if the IG finds anything negative that will change the picture. My question to 
you is, ‘is he going to find anything during his investigation’?”

   Allen nursed his coffee and thought about it for several minutes before 
responding, “I don’t think so…”

   “Do I detect a ‘but’ in there?”

   “We’ve had our backs against a wall ever since I took command out there. 
I’ll readily admit we’ve bent some rules pretty badly in order to get the jobs 
done. If there is a financial problem somewhere, it isn’t out there. We order 
materials and sometimes we don’t get what we order, then we have to reorder 
the item and end up paying for it two or three times. All we get from supply 
back here on Earth is a runaround. I hope you extend your investigation to 
include them.”

   “Since I’m the default big cheese in one of Earthforce’s major supply 
sections, I have already done that. I’m sure that before it’s all over there 
are going to be some supply officers viewing many sunrises and sunsets from 
behind bars.”

   “So what do you want me to do while I’m waiting? I don’t mind the leave, 
but it is a waste of my time.”

   “I’m going to assign you to some classes in leadership and management. You 
have some rough edges that I really don’t like. After that, we’ll see. As for 
your attitude toward me, if you are clean, the first thing you’ll do is stand 
in the main auditorium of the shipyard in front of the whole command and make 
a detailed apology to me and Colonel Geller for your behavior during my recent 
visit.”

   Allen sipped his coffee and thought about it.

   “It’s either that, General Allen, or your career is over. I won’t negotiate 
on that point. The question for you is, ‘is my career worth admitting to my 
command that I behaved like a real anal orifice toward a senior officer and 
abused lower ranked personnel?’ Only you can answer that.”

   “I suppose I should be appreciative of the fact that my career is in my 
hands. You’ve made it clear what the cost is going to be, all other things 
being equal. I’m not accustomed to dealing with anyone on those terms. 
Usually, in the military, you simply do as you’re told. It’s different.”

   “As a matter of curiosity, General Allen, exactly how were you a Clark 
supporter? Your answers won’t change anything I’ve already said.”

   Allen hesitated, and then got another cup of coffee. 

   “I’m what has been labeled a xenophobe. I don’t like it that we are mixing 
with other species of aliens. To be honest I didn’t even vote in the election 
that brought Santiago into office. At the time, I didn’t like the available 
choices.”

   “I didn’t like the choices either, but I voted for his opponent.”

   “When President Santiago was killed, at the time we didn’t know about it 
being an assassination, I was ambivalent. I’ll admit I was pleased when Clark 
came out against cooperation with the alien races. It looked like we would be 
pulling back and minding our own business.”

   “Appearances can be deceptive.”

   “You can say that again. I was already assigned to be the new commanding 
officer of the Jupiter shipyard, just before Clark took office. I guess my 
real feelings toward aliens were the kind of thing Clark’s people were looking 
for; so, I remained in charge of the shipyard, even after Clark was deposed. 
Don’t get me wrong, General Wayne. I may be a xenophobe, but I had no stomach 
for what Clark and his people were doing, after they established what amounted 
to a dictatorship; I’m kind of fond of our present style of government.”

   “In the future, you as commander of the shipyard may find yourself having 
to deal with various aliens. Will you be able to handle it?”

   “I may not want to marry one, but yes, I can work with them. I’ve had to 
work for and with people I detested during my career; the aliens couldn’t be 
any worse than some of them.”

   “After the IG does his job, we’ll see what we have. Until then, leave your 
contact number with my secretary. She’ll let you know if there is anything 
scheduled that requires your presence. Other than that, you’re on 
administrative leave. Have a nice vacation, General Allen.”

******************************   

   The remainder of the week and the weekend came and went very quickly. It 
was Monday morning and Susan was about to board her shuttle. The IG teams had 
already been transported to the whitestar. Against her better judgment, she 
had allowed her steward Mary to have musical instruments and some sound 
equipment loaded onto the starship, in addition to her uniforms, and a few 
outfits of civilian clothing. 

   Susan had protested that they would only be gone for about a month, but 
Mary had doggedly prevailed. She had successfully argued that Susan had need 
of something she could use for distraction and stress relief.

   Whitestar 172 dropped the Jupiter shipyard IG team off and jumped to 
hyperspace. Three days later they jumped back into normal space, and Susan 
found herself looking out the front view ports at Babylon 5.

   “Alyt Gregan, what are we doing here?”

   “We’re scheduled to meet Whitestar 215 for transfer of cargo. We’re a few 
hours early. Since we’re here, why don’t you drop in on Captain Lochley?”

   “I’m not sure she’d appreciate having a three-star general just drop in. 
It’s not keeping with protocol.”

   “You can call her first.”

   Susan looked annoyed. “You said a few hours?”

   “Yes, sir.”

   Susan stepped up to the communications station and put on a 
headset. “Babylon 5 Command and Control, this is Whitestar 172.”

   “Go ahead, Whitestar 172.”

   “Is Captain Lochley available?”

   “This is C&C, wait out.”

******************************

   Lochley looked up from the report she was reading when she heard her office 
door open. “What can I do for you lieutenant?”

   “Whitestar 172 is asking for you, sir?’’

   Lochley thought for a moment. “They didn’t say who it was on their end?”

   “No, sir. We don’t have a video connection either?”

   Getting up from her desk, “Let’s see who‘s looking for me.”

   “Whitestar 172, this is Captain Lochley. How may I help you?”

   The Babcom logo on the view screen disappeared as incoming video was 
displayed.

   “Hello, Elizabeth. I’m sorry for not notifying you sooner, but I didn’t 
know we would be stopping here until about five minutes ago.”

   A surprised Lochley looked at the image of General Susan Wayne. “What 
brings you out here? I thought you were supposed to be touring some shipyard 
facilities.”

   “We’re rendezvousing with Whitestar 215 for cargo transfer and we’re a few 
hours early. Yes, I’m in the process of visiting my shipyards. Sounds a bit 
odd when I say it like that.”

   “It’ll be lunch before too long. Come on over and I’ll buy you lunch – none 
of that drivel the mess hall passes off for edible food.”

   “I accept the invitation. I’ll be over shortly. Alyt Gregan, I’m going to 
need a shuttle.”

******************************
 
   Susan, dressed in her khakis, walked down the steps of the shuttle 
accompanied by Elaine Perry. Captain Lochley was waiting for her. “Hello, 
Elizabeth. How’s the old girl doing? I’d like you to meet, Elaine Perry. She’s 
using notes I’m providing to write my autobiography for me.”

   “Same as always, never a dull moment. There’s always someone getting cut, 
shot, or stabbed – or in some cases all of the above, General Wayne. I see 
you’ve picked up some more hardware,” she said, referencing the three-star 
rank insignia on Susan’s collars. Looking at Perry she said, “Is this going to 
be another of those dry books. The ones that read like sawdust tastes?”

   “Not at all, captain,” replied Perry.

   Susan replied, “They’re only temporary. I only get to keep them if I get my 
command reorganized and save a few billion credits doing it.”

   “I’m sure you’ll manage, no matter how much bloodletting it takes, sir.”

   “Now, now, Elizabeth. Be nice; after all, I’m a guest.”

   “Follow me, sir?”

******************************

   The lunch was delicious and Susan was in no hurry to finish. “How are 
things between you and Larry Evans?”

   “Very well. I’m pregnant.”

   “Does headquarters know?”

   “Yes. They left it up to me when I want to leave. They left no doubts that 
they expect me to retire when the pregnancy starts to interfere with my 
ability to do my job.”

   “Bastards.”

   “Not really. I think it’s their way of easing me out, since I never fought 
against Clarke. I was one of those who didn’t support him, but I didn’t oppose 
him either. I knew this day would come. It’s just not any way I could have 
imagined.”

   “Do you think I might have a few minutes of your time, Captain Lochley? I’m 
interviewing the people General Wayne has served with over the years in order 
to get some more in-depth perspective of her story.”

   Lochley looked at Susan. “Seems like a good idea to me, Elizabeth. Tell her 
the unvarnished truth, as you know it. I promise, this book will not read like 
eating sawdust. More like a habanera, I should think.”

   “Just say when,” replied Lochley.

   “How about after we finish lunch?” 

   “You got it.”

   “I’m thinking that a short tour of the station will help Elaine develop a 
better perspective of this portion of my career. I’ll show her the important 
places,” said Susan.

   “I’ll accompany you, if you don’t mind. I might learn something new, sir,” 
replied Lochley. “By the way, I thought you were pregnant when you left here a 
few months ago?”

   “I was and I am, but not with the same fetus.”

   Lochley looked at her, a questioning expression on her face.

   “I’ll pull up a newscast from a while back and it’ll be self-explanatory; 
however, my uniforms are beginning to get a bit tight.”

   “So far, I’d say it’s to good advantage, Susan,” injected Elaine.

   “Fortunately, I’ll be returning to Earth before the weight gain becomes a 
uniform problem.”

******************************

   LtGen Sanchez checked his bags at the Kennedy spaceport in New York City. 
Having put out a contract on Susan, he wanted to be in a position where he 
could account for every minute of his time and every call he made, when Susan 
was assassinated. 

******************************

On Whitestar 172:

   Susan and Elaine debarked from her shuttle. Waiting for them were Charles 
Wayne and Alyt Gregan.

   Charles looked at Susan and said, “You don’t seem too pleased.”

   “I don’t like surprises. What are you doing here?”

   “Delenn thought sending me along with the new trainees Alyt Gregan is 
getting would be a pleasant surprise.”

   “She did. You might as well meet my partner in crime from an 
autobiographical perspective. Elaine Perry, meet my husband Charles Wayne, 
former psi cop.”

   Elaine nodded slightly. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Charles.”

   “Just call him Charley. I do.” Turning to Alyt Gregan, Susan 
said, “Whenever you’re ready, Alyt Gregan.”

   Alyt Gregan spoke in a low voice. “Get us underway. Resume our course for 
Proxima Three.”

   An almost imperceptible vibration in the deck was the only indication that 
the ship had moved away from Babylon 5 and jumped to hyperspace.

   Charles thought Susan was angry with him, but the look in her eyes was 
anything but anger. “I’d like to have a drink and catch up on what you’ve been 
doing these last couple of months.”

   After Susan and Charley had walked away, Elaine looked at Alyt Gregan and 
posed, “I wonder what they will talk about?”

   “She hasn’t seen him in several months. Do the math,” replied Gregan.

   “Yeah. I see what you mean,” replied Elaine. “Why don’t you buy me some 
tea?”

   Gregan turned and began walking away. “What kind do you like?”

******************************

END PART 40

(link to part 41)

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