Chapter 13:

Adams was looking at his tablet in the command chair. Most of his access had been revoked. He understood that he was still a fleet admiral, but not of this fleet. Not that he ever really felt like he was. He had no access to long-range communication, and he was locked out of the system without the ability to send an encrypted message. Any significant order he could make had to be approved by the high admiral or by Greyback. He was trying to create a workaround, but he had to stay on the bridge until Mihajlovich returned. He needed to somehow access a direct console and try to send a message to the admiralty that Mihajlovich may have gone rogue, as well as the crews of the present ships, maybe the whole fleet. As he was trying to figure out a solution, he heard the voice behind him speak.

"Don't bother."

He looked to his right. Commander Usui was looking at him coldly. If there was someone that freaked Adams out more than Mihajlovich, it was Usui. The woman never laughed, smiled, or hardly talked. All she had was that dead stare. The woman hardly even blinked. Though she addressed him by rank and followed all of his orders until now without any objection, he always felt uneasy when she was around. That's why most of the time he put her in command during his resting hours, just to avoid the woman. But that stare and the way she spoke out... he thought that for six years he never heard her tone of voice change. But this time it did. Her “don't bother” sounded more like a “Fuck you,” not something he was expecting.

"I beg your pardon, Commander?"

Usui looked at him for a few seconds and then spoke with a sharp and cold tone, like she was about to bite his head off.

"The High Admiral is in charge now. I suggest you take his advice and sit down, shut up, and await his orders. Just try to interfere with the ship's systems, and I will escort you to the brig myself."

The insolence.

"Commander, there is no way to speak to a superior officer. I am still an admiral!"

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Adams raised his voice. Usui looked unfazed.

"Well, Admiral,"

She said with a mocking tone.

"That blue uniform sure stands out. I never saw you wearing the fleet's black and gray, and there is no skull under your rank. You may be an Admiral, but not of this fleet, definitely not when my admiral has returned."

He couldn't believe it. Anywhere else, this would be insubordination. But she was right. He needed to play it safe. The whole bridge heard that argument, and by now, he knew whose side they were on. He was chosen to take command because he was levelheaded and close to the rank of high admiral, but there were only four of those, and one needed to die for him to take their place. Since Mihajlovich was no longer fully reliable, they put him here. Not that he would ever want to be in charge of this fleet. And did she say “My Admiral”? No, it made no sense. As far as he knew Mihajlovich, even before his breakdown, she wasn't his type, nor did he imagine she could be involved with him in such a way. She was known as the “Ice queen,” but that's because of her cold persona. She was either doing her job or in her quarters. He never saw her even mention or visit Mihajlovich during the time he was there, not that he knew of. No, this is loyalty, the fanatic kind. But he still needed to defuse the situation and maintain at least some illusion of authority.

"I will have to report your behavior to High Admiral Mihajlovich when he returns, Commander. You may feel like you have the freedom to speak to me in that manner, but High Admiral Mihajlovich respects the uniform. I don't think that he would approve of your tone."

Usui’s eyes went wide. She did not expect that response, and Adams knew he had something. She actually had a reaction to that, like a normal human being. Who would have known? But it's not uncommon for fanatics to react that way. They would do anything not to disappoint the object of their obsession. It was Mihajlovich in her case. She leaned back in her chair and faced forward.

"I understand."

Is all she said.