Part 8 (2/2)
”Same here,” Medart said. ”He's not typical at all, from what Losinj told me. Most rebels are greedy, out for nothing but power--according to her, Thark's convinced the Order can rule better than we poor unTalented can, so it's his duty to take over. Naturally, I don't agree.”
Hobison snorted. ”Good intentions don't make up for treason. What's next?”
”That depends on what we learn from Losinj,” Medart replied. ”At the moment, I just don't know enough to make realistic plans. Too much depends on how powerful this Talent of the Order's is.”
Hobison nodded. ”That makes sense. But would you really ask her to join the Rangers? She's so tiny, so . . .”
”Pettable?” Medart came close to smiling. ”She looks it, yes, but you heard what she had to do to reach us. And you know size doesn't have anything to do with it. Sure I'll ask her, if I find she's qualified, even if I hate to wish this responsibility on anyone. His Majesty's right, we need a non-human Ranger badly. Especially now that we're integrating the Traiti.”
”Uh-huh. Good politics, if nothing else.”
Medart nodded. ”Since that d.a.m.n Firster backshot Steve in the Palace and Hovan took him, there's been sentiment growing for non-humans.
It's a good thing, and it makes this an ideal time for that breakthrough. It'd probably tickle Steve to know that she'd take his place. I'm just sorry this means no sh.o.r.e leave for Chang's crew.”
”So am I,” Hobison agreed. ”I could use a bit of vacation about now.
It can't be helped, though.”
”No.” Medart sighed, changed the subject. ”She might as well brief all of us at once; can you have the Command Crew here in, say, an hour?”
”Yes, sir. Do you want me to have her paged?”
”Don't bother.” Medart grinned. ”If I know our Sunbeam, she's found Losinj a cabin and taken her to Mess Three. I could use something to eat myself, so I'll go get her.”
Medart spotted Yamata and his new a.s.sistant almost as soon as he entered Mess Three. Spotted where they must be sitting, rather; that noisy group on the far side of the room. He punched in his order-- coffee and an egg salad sandwich--and when it slid from the dispenser, took it over to stand on the outskirts of the group.
”--like it's something you'd do every day before lunch!” a young Marine Lieutenant was saying. ”Dig out a plot, escape from three cops, fight an a.s.sa.s.sin, then say it was nothing. That's incredible!”
So they'd succeeded in worming part of the story out of her, Medart thought. Just the basics, most likely, so they'd let her eat, and there was no harm in that; everyone would find out soon enough.
”You can't shrug it off that lightly, 'Rina,” someone else said.
”That'd get one of us a medal. Should get you a knighthood, maybe a Life n.o.bility.”
Then Sunbeam spoke up, almost laughing. ”Take it easy! Can't you see you're embarra.s.sing her terribly?”
”Well, she should,” the other retorted. ”If I had enough rank, I'd call a Tribunal right now, and knight her.”
Not a bad idea at all, Medart thought. It probably would be best, considering Greggson's att.i.tude, for her to have that formal status when she met with the Command Crew. The man's competence as Security Chief couldn't be questioned, but Medart wondered at times how he'd ever pa.s.sed the psych tests to become an Imperial officer, with his near-xenophobia. Hmm, this was getting interesting--the anonymous young officer was going through with it, speaking the formula of knighthood as solemnly as if this were indeed a real Tribunal. All Medart could see of the Irschchan was her eartips, erect and quivering as her admirer finished on a note of triumph: ”--and do name you, Corina Losinj of Irschcha, a Knight of the Empire!”
”Confirmed,” Medart said, pitching his voice so the entire group would hear.
”Wha--” The officer turned, flus.h.i.+ng, as the group noticed the Ranger for the first time.
Medart smiled. ”I said 'confirmed', Ensign; you did that well enough I don't see any need to repeat the ceremony. Now may I join my a.s.sistant?”
”Uh . . . yes, sir. Of course.”
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