Garrick was in the medical bay of the Phoenix Rises when Admiral Jansen came for him. She stormed through the door and headed straight for his bed. "Out." She jerked her thumb towards the door.

Resigned, Garrick got up to follow, but the doctor cried out from where she stood by Ramsey's bed. "Admiral, I must insist--"

"Doctor." Jansen glared at her. That was all she had to say for the doctor to sulk off.

Garrick followed Jansen down the corridor. He struggled to keep up with the frantic pace she set without breaking into a jog. People kept stopping and staring at the dressing on his wounded shoulder.

They made it to her office and Jansen opened the door to let him in. Garrick cast his gaze around her office. Jansen was a decorated officer, having de-fused a range of conflicts over her long career. The accolades from these successes adorned her office, with a picture of her shaking the hands of Secretary General Martinez taking the central position on her desk. In his first meeting with her got the impression of someone who coasted on past achievements, which matched what he saw here.

"Explain," she said, no warmth in her eyes.

Garrick stood tall and proud. "I carried out a justifiable response to Captain Hennessey's refusal to facilitate our inspection and her outright admission she is working against the Alliance."

"Two of my crew are dead, the Captain of this ship is lying in the morgue for God's sake. I'll ask you once more--explain."

Garrick bit back a furious retort. "Hennessey pulled a gun on me when I pushed her about her involvement in a conspiracy, and she shot me. Captain Peterborough died saving my life. I shot Hennessey in self defence and incapacitated Pierce."

She folded her arms. "Where's your proof?"

"Check the video from my suit's recorder."

Jansen made a note on her pad. "I've spoken to your unit. They say you told them to leave Peterborough to die... Is this true?"

"I decided the greater strategic benefit lay in keeping Hennessey alive to get the information she knew," Garrick replied without hesitation.

"Goddammit!" She slammed her fist on the table. "Hennessey is dead. Captain Peterborough is dead, which might have been avoided had you done your job."

"Admiral, it was the correct decision." His temper swelled within him. "Sacrifice one life to save many more, how can you not see that?"

"Only it didn't work like that, did it Commander? Fabian, from your own unit, is also dead. And you flushed half the crew of the Ezekiel out of an air lock. Never in all my years have I seen an operation this barbaric. It's a goddamn travesty."

"Admiral, I can tell you're upset--"

"I'm not upset, Commander, I'm furious. And I asked you a question. What do we have to show for the deaths of over thirty people, including one of my oldest friends?"

"We have Pierce, and a ship that will now consent to being searched."

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"Not good enough. If you think you're going anywhere near that ship--"

"Admiral, give me 48 hours to interrogate Pierce and go through the Ezekiel. I can give you evidence someone is undermining the Alliance."

Jansen shook her head. "Commander, this operation was a disaster. You were meant to investigate the ship, instead you've left behind a blood bath I will have to explain to the Secretary General's office."

"Admiral--"

"Do not interrupt me again! As of this moment, I strip you of the operation to find the leak in the Alliance military, and I will be returning you to Admiral Allison. Until then, once the doctor discharges you, you're confined to quarters--you're lucky I don't throw you in the brig."

Garrick seethed, but held his tongue. How dare she?

"Get out of my sight, and Commander... I won't forget what you did to Peterborough."

And I won't forget this. Garrick got up and stormed out.

#

Garrick stalked down the corridor back to the medical bay. He had expected Jansen to understand the bigger picture, but she was too narrow minded and unwilling to sacrifice for the greater good. He hoped she would have the guts to report him to the Secretary General--maybe they would even send a mediator. Yes, he thought, a mediator would fix a lot of things here.

He burst into the bay and went straight for his bed. His shoulder ached, and his head pounded from his dressing down by Jansen. "Doctor! I need painkillers."

The doctor hurried over. "I'm sorry Commander, you had your last dose not too long ago--"

Garrick swore, got up and pushed past her to find her supervisor, but stopped when he saw Ramsey and Okoro. They were both in tears, Ramsey with his arm around Okoro.

"Okoro, Ramsey, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean what's wrong?" Ramsey said.

Garrick stared at them. He didn't understand.

"Fabian?" Ramsey's face contorted with rage. "You forgot they killed him?"

He had, but he couldn't admit it. That wouldn't do much for squad morale. "No, of course not."

"Then why ask?" Ramsey took a step towards him.

"I wanted to make sure nothing else had happened." It was a weak excuse.

"Right." Ramsey rolled his eyes. "Haven't you got another meeting to go to?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"You weren't there when we tended to Fabian's body, you have spent no time with us while we've been on the Phoenix Rises. There's always something more important." Ramsey's expression read 'and now you forgot Fabian died.'

"Ramsey, I'm sorry about Fabian, but he died a good death. He died defending the Alliance, and in an operation trying to protect the lives of billions."

"A good death?" Okoro said. "He still died, commander. We still have to cope with the fact he was here, and now he's not. A--a part of us is missing," her voice cracked.

Garrick had never thought about it like that. It wasn't how he saw death; there was honour in how Fabian died. He cleared his throat. "Fabian would want you to remember that he died doing his duty."

Okoro sniffed. "Commander, I know you're trying to help, but I just want to be alone now."

"Do you want me here?" Ramsey said.

She smiled. "You've been a real help Ramsey, but I could do with some space."

He nodded and got up from her bed. Okoro pulled the curtains to give at least the illusion of privacy.

Garrick turned to face Ramsey. "Do you need to talk?" Ramsey kept his eyes to the floor. Garrick could see his face was reddening. "Are you all right?"

Ramsey didn't respond. He was about to leave it and walk back to his bed when Ramsey turned to face him. "Did you care so little about him?"

"What do you mean?" Garrick forgave his lapse in respecting his rank.

"You didn't even remember he died for god's sake. You left his body, you left him on the ship as you went off with that Ezekiel officer."

"I needed to make sure I secured her."

"But couldn't you wait five minutes to pay your respects? He served with you for years, and you didn't pay him a second thought."

What was wrong with that? "Ramsey, I cared a great deal about Fabian--I care a great deal about all of you."

"Piss off Garrick." He walked away.

"You're out of line, Ramsey," Garrick said.

"Just leave me alone."

Garrick watched as Ramsey hit the door release and walked out of the medical bay. He thought about going after him, but there was no sense talking to Ramsey now, not in this mood. He would come round, and if he didn't, Garrick would find someone who understood the honour in sacrifice.