Admiral Stonefist pushed his chair back and stood up from his desk.

"It's time, Kinnit," he said. His face settled into a deep frown, and an air of disapproval radiated from him.

"Yes, sir," she said, collecting her things. She followed him out of the office.

It was time for Admiral Stonefist to start doing something he hadn't in far too long. He'd allowed years of discouragement to grind him down, shirking his duties.

Well, no more.

People in the hallway made themselves scarce as he came through, his glower scouring the halls. Word had already gone out to the entire fleet.

It was Inspection Day.

Kinnit had not seen Grimthorn in "inspection mode," but she'd gathered enough from the stories that floated around. She had an idea of how it usually went.

Admiral Stonefist could be exceedingly particular about how ships of the fleet were run.

It was fair, in a way-- Grimthorn held himself to an impossibly high standard, but he only had unrealistically high standards of everyone around him.

They marched down to one of the small docking bays under the ship. Kinnit nearly had to run to keep up. She could see Grimthorn's temper rising, and they weren't even off the ship yet.

"A calmer approach would be effective, sir," she said.

"What do you mean? I'm calm."

"You seem tense. This the first inspection in a while, maybe you could use a lighter touch?"

"They've had a light touch." He pinched his lips, and his voice quieted. "Three years since my last inspection. I hadn't realized it had been so long." He shook himself. "Well, let's see what a light touch has netted us so far. Who's our first ship?"

Kinnit looked at her scanner.

"The ISS Euphorion. It's a food service ship."

Grimthorn nodded.

"One of the most important ships in the fleet, then."

Kinnit quirked a half-smile, assuming it was a joke, but Grimthorn looked like he was in a decidedly un-joking mood.

"Sir? It's not a militarily significant vessel..."

Grimthorn raised an eyebrow at her.

"And how long do you think the fleet flies without food? I'd sooner run out of ion shells than biscuits. A soldier short on ammunition or support can come up with a creative solution. A hungry soldier can only think of one thing."

"Understood, sir."

They arrived at the docking bay. The pilot was already standing by.

Kinnit hurried over to her shuttle.

"Hi, Digger!" she said, patting the little shuttle.

"Dabrini, good to see you again," Grimthorn said, saluting the pilot. "You up for flying me around the fleet?"

"Always, sir!" Iluna Dabrini said with a smile. She could smile because she knew she wasn't up for inspection today.

They boarded. Admiral Stonefist and Kinnit took the comfortable seats in the back while Dabrini took her seat in the pilot's console.

"Let me know how the shuttle handles," Grimthorn said. "We've made some non-standard modifications on a utility frame. The handling may not be quite what you're used to."

"Understood, sir," said Dabrini.

"Don't listen to him, Digger, you're a good shuttle," Kinnit said quietly, patting the arm of the chair.

The bay cleared, the doors opened, and the little shuttle was vented out into space. Dabrini turned the nose deeper into the fleet, and the engines flared.

Kinnit relaxed back in the seat, smiling. She'd developed an affection for the little shuttle that had saved her life.

Grimthorn looked over at her and gave her a crooked smile.

"So, Kinnit, do you want to see one of the new features we added to Digger?"

Kinnit sat upright.

"Of course, Grimthorn!" She glanced at the pilot, remembering they weren't alone. "Um, sir."

Grimthorn punched a command on the armrest console and leaned back in his chair with a smug smile.

The walls of the shuttle flickered and vanished, exposing a glorious spray of stars. A nearby nebula loured, tall and proud and stern. They slid through the Ninth Fleet that surrounded them, ships appearing as bright pinpricks against the starry backdrop of the galaxy.

The interior of the shuttle-- walls and ceiling-- had been converted into one large portal. They appeared to be on a small platform floating in space. The only thing blocking the view was the pilot's console, their seats, and the floor.

Nobody would ever actually cut a hole in a ship just to look through, of course. That would be incredibly dangerous. But with a combination of powerful sensors and ultra-high density displays, one could create the illusion of a portal. Grimthorn had just had them turn the whole interior into a portal.

Kinnit gasped in wonder.

"Grimthorn, it's beautiful," Kinnit said, enraptured. She unconsciously laid her hand on his. She twisted around in her seat to look in every direction, her eyes happily glued to the galaxy.

"I'm glad you like it, Kinnit," he said softly, looking calm and relaxed for the first time that day. He gazed at her like she gazed at the galaxy.

Iluna Dabrini flicked an eye back at them, but mostly managed to keep her focus on her flying.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Kinnit stayed on the edge of her seat for the rest of the flight, taking in the stars.

----------------------------------------

They landed on the ISS Euphorion. After getting clearance, Dabrini settled the shuttle gently onto the landing dock.

Admiral Stonefist shut down the surrounding display, and his sour mood settled back onto his shoulders.

The hatch opened. Before Grimthorn stepped out, Kinnit laid a hand on his arm.

"Keep a positive attitude, sir," she said.

"I will," he growled. "I'm positive this is going to be a disaster." He stepped out of the shuttle.

Baxter Tarmin, Captain of the Euphorion, stood in the docking bay, his hands nervously clasping each other.

"Admiral! How wonderful to see you!" he said, scuttling forward.

Admiral Stonefist's eyes swept past the Captain.

"Cargo left in the docking bay. Gigged."

Kinnit nodded and added a note to her scanner.

"Ah, yes, well that's... just a temporary situation, Admiral," Tarmin said, sweating. "If we'd known you were coming, we'd have--"

"If you'd known I was coming, it wouldn't be a surprise inspection. Besides, it's not about what I like. It's about running a ship well. How long has that been there?"

"Ah... you know, I'm not sure..." Captain Tarmin was not willing to lie. He felt, somehow, that Admiral Stonefist would know if he tried to fib.

"Six months," Kinnit said as she scanned the crates and cross-referenced it with the log data. "Looks like reactor coolant and parts for Engineering."

"Poor inventory management. Gigged," Grimthorn said. "Dangerous compounds stored outside approved areas. Gigged."

"Oh, Admiral," Captain Tarmin said, "surely these minor oversights are not worth... uh..."

The Captain petered out as Admiral Stonefist turned a furious stare on him.

"Have you ever seen a coolant rupture, Captain? Do you have any idea what that would do to your landing bay? One clumsy shuttle pilot, and you'd be knee-deep in slime for a week." Admiral Stonefist turned away. "Perhaps you haven't read the Navy regs on dangerous materials handling and storage. I'll forward you a copy so you can read it. In depth."

"Ah... yes, sir," Tarmin said, wilting. "I... didn't know the crew had left it here."

Grimthorn sneered at the man.

"It's your ship, Captain. Your ship, your responsibility. Don't blame your subordinates. Make them better, or get rid of them. That's your duty."

Captain Tarmin hunched further into himself.

"Of... of course, Admiral."

"And stand up straight, for the Emperor's sake. You represent the Imperium! Or you should."

"Of-- of course, sir." Tarmin straightened.

"Now. I didn't come to look at your docking bay, I came to look at Engineering. Though I shudder to think what we'll find there."

Admiral Stonefist turned and walked toward Engineering.

Trying to keep his back straight, Captain Tarmin followed.

----------------------------------------

Several hours later, Admiral Stonefist stepped out of Engineering. His lips were pinched tightly in fury. Kinnit followed him, her scanner full of gigs.

"I understand now, sir," she said quietly. "Why you were-- irritable. I thought all the ships of the Ninth would be like the Swordheart. I didn't realize they would be so... so dangerously sloppy." She clenched her teeth. "Don't they realize they're risking people's lives with their sloth? Shouldn't they be doing the best work they can for the Imperium? Don't they know their duty is important?"

"They will," Grimthorn said.

Captain Tarmin came out of Engineering. He was pale, and looked as though he'd lost ten pounds since Admiral Stonefist had come on board.

Admiral Stonefist turned to him.

"I'm sorry, sir. That will be corrected. All of it. You're right. That's inexcusable."

"Captain, I understand that these are difficult circumstances. But they won't be made easier by ignoring them."

The beset Captain nodded miserably.

"We'll be engaging in active combat in a couple weeks. That reactor--"

Captain Tarmin held up his hand.

"I understand, Admiral. I... didn't know it was that bad. Which I should have," he said, forestalling Grimthorn's next comment. "I should have. I have no excuse. It's just-- it's been hard to make people care. Even myself."

Grimthorn laid a hand on the Captain's shoulder.

"I understand the lure of despair. I was-- caught up in that myself, until recently." Grimthorn's eyes cut over to Kinnit. "But we need to get this fleet combat-ready. Enemies of the Imperium are multiplying. We have work to do."

Captain Tarmin nodded.

"Cut as many crew as you need to," Grimthorn said. "Better to run on a skeleton crew than to keep freeloaders and dead weight. They're a drain on morale. Keep the ones who still have a heart for the Imperium."

"I understand."

"I'll be back in a few weeks to follow. I want you know that I'll support you in what you need to do. Get your ship back on track."

"Yes, sir, Admiral." A small fire lit in Tarmin's eyes. "I will make this ship worthy of the Ninth Fleet."

Tarmin straightened up and saluted.

"All hail the Imperium!" he cried.

Admiral Stonefist and Kinnit saluted back.

"All hail!" they responded.

----------------------------------------

Koro Melemann smiled, radiating trustworthiness. He was a Lutrin, an otter-shaped species. He oozed charm, his beady eyes glittering as though sharing a private joke with whoever he was speaking with.

He sat in a chair in CenCom, facing the Commander of the Imperial Navy.

"It's very kind of you to see me, Commander Ordren," Koro said, his whiskers quivering with sincerity. "I know you must be very busy, as head of Central Command here in Techterra."

"Of course, of course," Commander Ordren said, waving his hand. "It's no problem. Always happy to talk with our noble reporters of the Imperial Clarion."

"You're very kind, sir. I'm just a humble journalist." Koro spun up a document on his scanner. "Would you mind if I recorded our interview?"

"That's fine."

"Very good, sir. I'm happy to let you review my article and recording before we go to press."

"Excellent."

Koro looked at his notes.

"So the top concern on the minds of the Clarion's subscribers is about the troubles with our Subject Species."

"Naturally."

"Can you speak to the safety protocols in place here in the city?"

Commander Ordren shifted in his chair.

"Ah, that's primarily the purview of local law enforcement," he said.

"Of course, sir. But as a military center, certainly Central Command has an interest in the security of the city?"

"Naturally, yes. We are working with law enforcement to provide tactical and logistical support, along with some troops in strategic locations."

Koro visibly relaxed.

"Oh, that's very comforting news, sir. Our subscribers will be very relieved to know that the brave men and women of Central Command are protecting us from this threat. Are you able to elaborate any?"

"Well, I can't speak to specifics-- operational security, you understand."

"Of course, sir."

"But we're monitoring the activities of agitators closely. We have our intelligence apparatus gathering information about these groups, and it is only a matter of time until we capture their leaders and put them all out of business."

"That's wonderful to hear, sir. Many of our subscribers have expressed their fears of these SSes in Techterra, so close to our vital military minds."

"Yes, well, rest assured that none of these agitators has breached any of our military facilities."

"That's a relief," Koro said. "But what about the SSes that work for the Navy?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, the Navy employs many SSes, do you not?"

Commander Ordren grinned uncertainly.

"Oh. Of course."

"And SSes are prone to... misbehavior, of course. Otherwise they'd be full citizens of the Imperium, just like you and me."

"Yes, well... yes."

"Our subscribers are concerned about species, perhaps with split loyalties, in our important military facilities. SSes that are violent. SSes that don't share our love of the Imperium."

"Well, SSes are prevented from entering sensitive areas, of course. The collars, you see, keep them out of truly important areas. And those collars are managed by the Cryptographers. Not a single one has ever been cracked."

"Oh, that is comforting." Koro made some notes on his scanner. "Of course, I'm sure no SSes are in any positions of authority or importance in the military?"

"They--" Commander Ordren swallowed. "Of course not. In fact, in fact--" he paused. "In light of the recent violence, we're actually reviewing our policies about the positions of the SSes in our Navy."

"That is good news, Commander. Very good news. Our many subscribers will be so happy to hear that." Koro Melemann hopped down out of his chair. "It is a turbulent time, but in the midst of this chaos, it is calming to know that the best of the Imperium is keeping us safe." Koro held out his paw for a handshake. "I thank you for your time, Commander. It has been a real pleasure speaking with you."

"Of course, any time." The Commander shook Koro's paw.

Koro waddled out of the Commander's office. His shined his broad, trustworthy, genuine smile on passersby.

Koro knew Sehren Senn would be pleased.