Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [92]
Willis saw it as an example of 'kick the dog' syndrome. The Earth Defence Forces had severe issues of inadequacy. 'Like buying a souped-up space yacht to make up for a penis deficiency,' she muttered to herself on the command bridge. 'I haven't got a good feeling about this whole mission, Lieutenant Commander Brindle.' She looked over at her newly assigned executive officer. 'Not a good feeling at all.'
Conrad Brindle stood at attention. Because of his lifetime in the military, he always seemed to be at attention, even when standing at ease. She suspected that his pyjamas had straight creases and that he polished his exercise shoes. The man also looked as if he carried additional burdens since the end of the hydrogue war. His own son was a hero who had served with Willis herself, but she sensed there was friction between Robb and his father since the brave kid's rescue. Willis didn't ask about it. She was not a woman to meddle in personal problems unless it affected performance.
'We have nothing to worry about, Admiral.' Even in conversation Conrad sounded as if he were issuing a report. These ten Mantas are more than sufficient to stand against the defences I saw at Theroc. King Peter proved he was a coward by leaving Earth when he did, and now he's gathering other misfits around him. Our soldiers, on the other hand, are eager to make the Hansa strong again.'
'Right. And if we click our heels together and wish three times…' Willis said sarcastically. 'Mr Brindle, maybe you can explain to me how we're going to make the Hansa strong by attacking an unarmed planet whose independence has been acknowledged by the Chairman himself? Exactly which part of the law, or which terms of the Hansa Charter, does that follow?'
A dark cloud passed across Brindle's face. 'We cannot ignore an outside group that poses a threat to the Terran Hanseatic League.'
'Oh, I know all the on-paper reasons. That still doesn't mean they pass the smell test.' She saw the disturbed expression on Brindle's face. 'Don't you worry about me, Lieutenant Commander. I've got my orders and I intend to follow them. We'll squash that rebellion before they know what hit them. I'm just saying that I don't understand the politics here, or what went on behind the scenes in that pissing contest between King Peter and Chairman Wenceslas.'
She sat back and stared at the starry field ahead of them. Willis missed her own Juggernaut, and hoped that General Lanyan didn't end up damaging it. Since getting a bug up his butt about 'dealing harshly' with any antagonist, Lanyan had been even more gung-ho than the soldiers aboard these ten Mantas. Unfortunately, her 'temporary transfer' away from the Jupiter might well end up becoming permanent. When he was done with his mission, Lanyan wasn't likely to relinquish her ship.
Willis didn't agree with a lot of the things that had happened recently. While fighting the hydrogues, the enemy had been clear and indisputable. Humans had been battling for their very survival, and there was no possibility of a diplomatic solution. Here, though, she didn't know what response was truly warranted against King Peter.
Many times, Willis had studied her command manuals, any advisory memos released before this situation cropped up, and the official chain of command, trying to figure out the Chairman's defined place. She wasn't so naive as to believe that King Peter had really been in charge of everything, as the public was supposed to think; the Chairman and his cronies pulled the strings of government. However, in official documents, the King was listed right there in black and white as the EDF's commander-in-chief. Legally speaking, the Chairman had no role with respect to the Earth Defence Forces, yet Basil Wenceslas had assumed control and was issuing orders right and left.
Very troubling.
And now Willis found herself acting like one of those lockstep numbskulls who followed orders without