Usually calm before missions after a lifetime of preparation, the General’s sleep that night was fitful and he spent most of it staring at Daez’s relaxed face and listening to her nighttime noises. The soft cooing and whistling reminded him of simpler times, when they had none of the luxury and responsibility and he would sometimes watch her at night, still amazed that he had been able to win her heart and bring her back to Millez. He knew deep down that she had chosen him for reasons he did not fully comprehend. It was a topic he had pondered frequently in the early days, searching desperately for the part of himself that could have attracted a woman like this. He knew that was the part he needed to nurture and keep developing to ensure their relationship would be a lasting one. Too insecure to ask, he never did feel comfortable or satisfied with the answers he found on his own. It mattered less and less to him though as time went on. Whatever the source, he felt her love for him was strong and true and the fact that no one in their right mind becomes a Wander on a whim convinced him her feelings ran deep.
Rising early, he quietly dressed and ate, studying the plans and waiting for the time when he could go to the hangars and meet Arez. No point in showing up early. He would just disturb the soldier’s rhythms as they readied for the mission or, even worse, make them feel that something was wrong. He wondered what Jehz might be up to. Having finally received his assignment, he likely would have been at the hangars for hours already. This was a big step up for any “schoolie”, with an incredible amount of information to process in a short time. War games were one thing, but a mission by the mighty Given to add another planet to the ranks of the Protected was something altogether different.
Walking through the loading door #9 exactly on time, the General found Arez standing at attention, his planning computer tucked under his arm. The General felt his uneasiness pass into the adrenaline-filled rush of a mission almost underway. “Good morning, Arez, any overnight developments?”
“Morning, sir, nothing you would classify as major, I would imagine. Probes still picking up the abnormal power readings from Rising Sun. We are no closer to determining the source but there’s still no evidence they know we are coming.”
“Good, continue to keep an eye on the probe data. We’re still at go status.”
“I’ll relay that immediately, sir. Where shall we start, the Time Jumper?”
“Sure, we might as well get it out of the way, Arez” The Time Jumper was the only fleet ship not fully manned by military personnel. Responsible for opening the jump ports used by the Given to travel to different solar systems, they were largely manned by Illuta, the scientists’ kiln. Time Jumpers operated under a unique joint command structure that was an endless source of frustration for the military – the success of their missions and therefore the fate of the Given itself relied on these ships. To have to subjugate their military authority over this critical strategic resource to a group they considered mostly unfit for combat rankled all in the military kiln. Of course, they were told by their command it was part of the Balance. They were also reminded on a regular basis that they did not have the expertise to run the technology on their own and it would be a violation of Given law to have the Illuta operate under military authority. Still, it still felt like a painful and unwelcome intrusion into their world, one the Illuta commanders seemed to enjoy.
They arrived at the Time Jumper and were greeted and led on board by the Musa and Illuta commanders. Before they had a chance to take their seats at the meeting room table, the Illuta commander, in a clear breach of protocol began a review of the jump plan.
“The plan is to launch by midday and we should be in final position by nightfall. That should give us plenty of time to open the jump port based on current energy projections. Please look at the screen...”
The General stared hard at the Illuta officer “I don’t recall asking for the jump plan, Commander Fluxr.”
Fluxr frowned and tried to remember the Musa’s unwavering focus on process so he wouldn’t take the General’s comments personally. “Yes, sir, sorry, I just thought.”
“Thought you could predict what the stuffy General was going to ask because that’s what he asked first on the 4 other missions you were the Illuta commander of, and perhaps even had heard on the 3 before that when you were a 1st commander?’
“No, sir, of course not, just trying to be efficient.”, said Fluxr surprised that the General even remembered him as a 1st commander.
“Efficiency is about following a well-worn path, Fluxr. Well-worn because it is proven to bring you to the place you are going, reliably, while other paths remain rightfully abandoned or full of unknowns and uncertainties. It might seem like a small thing to you, but now is not the time to take even a single step off the path.” The General glanced around the room, briefly meeting the eyes of the Illuta present to send the clear message that regardless of what the official command structure was, he was the one with the power. The General then paused a moment to let the message sink in before continuing.
“Now, I trust you both have seen the energy readings coming in over the last few days from Rising Sun? We’d like to be conservative here and move the final jump zone back about 20 zeks if it’s not too late. It looks like there is plenty of open space and that would shield us behind the primary moon if we want to follow that orbit. Can you have your men start working on the coordinates immediately and report back to me on the feasibility – we need to know ASAP.”
The commander looked surprised and wondered if he should challenge the General given his initial faux pas and resulting criticism, but he was obligated to counter the General’s order. “It is late sir, but I will start the process. We’ll also need a risk assessment performed and a passing grade before we can proceed, of course. There’s no guarantee we can finish in time.”
“Yes, the risk assessment as well,” the General sighed. He actually liked Fluxr, even if he sometimes had a bit too much of the stereotypical Illuta personality. At least he was always reliable, without emotion or politics, and the General appreciated that. “Do your best and let me know as soon as you get the results,” he said already turning to leave, with Arez close behind.
“The Haaks next sir?” said Arez already knowing the answer and stepping on the transfer platform to enter the destination before hearing a response.
“Yes, of course,” said the General. The Haaks were the secondary attack ships in a Given battle formation. Staffed with a crew of 20,000 and 2,000 Telz fighters each, they were an able companion to the Saez Morta. Though not quite as powerful, they were more nimble in atmosphere and typically the first, and often the last ship seen in a Given invasion. While serving on the mother ship was considered a more prestigious post by most soldiers, the majority of the elite fighting units remained aboard Haaks. There they were more likely to see combat and earn the honor medals that increased both reputation and pay in the Musa ranks.
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The Haak hangers were buzzing with activity as the supply teams moved items aboard and the fighting squads prepped their gear, or if they were senior enough, stood watch over the junior officers. The General had begun his military career on a Haak and still remembered fondly his early days there. The energy and bravado of the Haak strike teams made them the heart of the Given attack groups. Their tendency to draw well outside the lines in battle and risk-taking culture made them a source of concern to many in the fleet as well, but to the General they were a welcome counterpoint to his sternly measured command and a strategic enhancement to the Given’s effectiveness.
“General, so glad you could make it” bellowed the Haack commander Maez as soon as he and Arez entered the bridge. “You always make time to visit your brothers and sisters on the Birds. Some think it’s a little annoying when the nosy mission chief shows up when we are trying to prep but I like that about you.” Maez was an old friend of the General and one of the most highly decorated officers in the Given ranks. He was fearless and his list of planets protected one of longest around which gave him license to be irreverent and avoid protocol even with the mission commanding general. The two soldiers greeted each other with the traditional two-handed handshake of the Birds crews, grabbing each other deep on the forearm.
“How are we looking, General? Or has all those years in the big chair made it impossible to tell?” No one else would dare attempt to speak to the General so bluntly, never mind get away with it. The General simply laughed.
“My eyes are everywhere, commander, I see what I need to see. And I know you’ve been cutting corners on your planning routines to chase that pretty major around I hear you’ve been spending time with. Am I right?”
Maez smiled broadly “You got me fair and square, General. After all this time, you wouldn’t want me messing with a winning formula, would you? Consistency and execution, isn’t that what you always say? Consistency and execution.”
“So I do,” nodded the General solemnly “And it doesn’t escape my notice that you have a funny habit of applying my ideas and orders in about every possible way than the one intended. It’s quite a gift.”
“Maybe so” said Maez rubbing his chin, “maybe so, but I follow the spirit of them and that is what the Birds are all about, right?”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” said the General. Maez’s lightheartedness in the face of the impending mission told him all he needed to know about the Haak’s mission readiness, and his worries eased a little knowing that box had could be checked off. Just as he began to relax though, he noticed tension in his friend’s face and a look of concern in his eyes. Something was on his mind.
“Since we’re having such a tender heart to heart discussion, General, maybe I bring up a somewhat sensitive topic of a personal nature?
“Of course.”
“Jehz’s orders.”
“C’mon, Maez, you not going to do this to me too, are you? You’ve looked at his file I’m sure. You know he deserves this.”
“Maybe. I won’t say he doesn’t but this is a steep road for a general’s kid, don’t you think? Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether something is right or not. What matters is if this could be twisted into something improper that could be used against you…or him. It’s a politician’s world at your level, General, you know that. I’m just trying to look out for you and the kid – why push the envelope on this? Jehz’s time will come, I’m sure of it, and I got a sweet little unit command in the Birds waiting for him, you just say the word. If he is anything like you, he could use a little exposure to our kick-ass spirit. It would do him good in more ways than one. What do 1y0ou think – let’s take the pressure down a few notches on both of you?
The General sighed and looked Maez in the eye. “I appreciate what you are trying to do Maez, I really do, but I’m comfortable I’m making the right decision here. I’m not going to sell Jehz short just to prove a point to the powers that be any more than I’m going promote him to a post he doesn’t deserve because he is my son. Can you honestly say I’m out of line?”
“It’s not my place to say, General. I’m just making sure you know what’s out there. What you do with it is your business and I’m with you all the way no matter what you decide – you know that, right?”
“Of course I do Maez, of course I do. But where is all this coming from, senior levels or in-line officers or what?
“Both I’m afraid. Look you know in your position you got a target on your back and this is just another way to try and get under your skin.”
“But what about Dilloz’s and Fearz’s sons? No one said a word about their posts if I remember.”
“I believe they did, but maybe just a little too quietly for you to hear from way up there on your command chair.” Maez smiled and pointed to the sky, but his expression faded quickly and turned solemn. “They were also not given the same rank as Jehz though close enough I suppose. In the end, this is different, you’re right about that. Jehz is not a prototype officer, General, you know…”
“You have to be kidding me Maez, now this? You’re not going to play the Wander card, are you? I really wouldn’t expect that coming from you.”
“It’s not that, General. I could care less if his mother was a whore from Butfa, no offense of course, you know me. It’s not like my background is full of good breeding either. All I care about is if a soldier can do his job. And you have to wonder looking at his scores and evaluations if maybe Jehz thinks too much, feels too much. Maybe thinks too much because he feels too much. There’s nothing wrong with that General, but that’s not the kind of officer you place aggressively, he might need a little time to grow into his role. You give him to me and I’ll have him following his wild impulses like a schoolie on shore leave in no time.”
“Your offer is noted and appreciated, Maez, but I am staying the course on this one. Anyone who has a problem with this can take it up with me personally or go jump off Mt. Tuka.”
“Ok General, but don’t say I didn’t try.” He slapped the General on the arm. “Gotta get busy, Boss. I see you in a couple days.” As his platform moved away, his call of “Tola Capi” could be heard rising above the din of the preparations.
“My god, is everyone against me on this, Arez?” He turned to his planner who looked at him with raised eyebrows, considering his response. “Don’t answer that. I think I’m going to cut the inspection short today and head back to the Morta to finish my work there. I’ll let you know if I need you.”
“Of course, sir” responded Arez, and he quickly moved off on his platform.
The General returned to the massive hanger housing the Morta and climbed the stairs to the upper observation deck. From there he could fully appreciate the grandeur of the mothership and the scale of the undertaking they would soon embark on. He watched as the soldiers scurried around the prepping floor and noticed his son Jehz standing alone at a planning terminal, reviewing the mission data from the battle units under his command.
The General thought Jehz looked serious and almost fatefully sad as he concentrated on his work. Hoping it was only the lighting or Jehz’s understandable nervousness about what lay ahead, the General tried to shake the negative thoughts from his mind. He wanted desperately for the mission to turn out well for Jehz and that it would be the start of a long and glorious career, one that surpassed even his. Should it come to pass, that would make him happier than anything he could imagine, the crowning achievement of the life he and Daez had built together. The General knew that soon this fuss over Jehz’s assignment would fade and be forgotten, as most political squabbles over mission roles do. In the end, Jehz’s future would emerge and overshadow all of it, brushing it away like dust.
Jehz suddenly looked up and noticed his father, the General, standing on the observation deck. He was nervous about the coming mission but had prepared well and was ready. All his senior officers said so. Jehz raised his arm and slowly waived to his father. For a few seconds the General thought he waving goodbye in the traditional Musa manner with his palm inwards and he stared quizzically wondering why Jehz would do that. Continuing to stare, he caught himself and realized he must be mistaken and returned the wave before turning toward the elevator that would take him to the Morta’s bridge. As he stepped on, he found himself almost unconsciously whispering a Musa prayer “Good luck, my son. May the spirit of Voz look over you and lift you up high above your enemies.”