All Enemies Foreign and Domestic (Kelly Blake series) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Rodney Smith
current status on the embassy?”
Mo laughed, “Okay, Candy, the embassy delivery is delayed another day. It was some problem with the final inspection they needed to work out, but they only lost one day. The contractor will be sending their CEO through our mini-ring tomorrow to talk with his on-site supervisor and make sure all is ready for the delivery. Oh, by the way, your husband will be accompanying him. I thought you’d like to know.”
Candy literally jumped for joy at the news. “When were you going to tell me this? Mo, I oughta brain you.”
Moe faked cringing behind his desk.
“I just found out before you walked in my door. I told you as soon as I could.”
Candy thanked him, totally forgetting why she came in to see him, and skipped down the hallway to her office.
Chapter Two
The five shadow unified force commanders had been summoned in the middle of the night, ordered to put on their dress uniforms and report to headquarters. The first tentative glow of dawn was appearing in the eastern sky when they gathered on the front steps of the headquarters building, where they were told to wait. Their fogged breath was carried off in the brisk, early morning breeze. Impatience had grown into annoyance when they were finally led inside the building and to the main conference room.
Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Land Forces Marshall (Baron) T’Kana met them in the conference room and told them to sit in the five chairs arranged at the head table. He directed Shadow Unified Force Commander M’Juna to the middle chair.
“Gentlemen, the beginning of our return to greatness is upon us. You have been summoned here this morning to pass judgment on the first of those called to account for the debacle that befell us. He has just recently been brought into our custody, and your decision as to his guilt or innocence must be determined in the next six hours. He has been advised of the charges brought against him and has legal counsel.”
“I will leave you to study the charge packets in front of you and prepare your questions. You may begin whenever you are ready. I will retire to my office until you reach a decision. Come to me with your decision and rationale in five hours time, no later. Irrespective of any rash prior comments I may have made, I do not presuppose guilt or innocence. I expect you to use your own experiences as combat commanders to determine if Baron G’Rof did all he could to defeat the Human/A’Ngarii coalition.” Baron T’Kana spun on his heel and left them to their deliberations.
Shadow Unified Force Commander M’Juna ordered the room cleared of admin staff as the five commanders reviewed the packets’ summary sheets. After fifteen minutes, he called a break and addressed his fellow commanders. “Gentlemen, I will not provide you guidance on how to proceed. I will only tell you how I will conduct myself. I do not care about Baron T’Kana’s comments of yesterday or of this morning. We have a specific list of charges. These charges have specific elements of proof. As I said yesterday, it is very easy to judge after the battle is over and you have time to think and ponder, but quite different when your warriors are dying around you or are about to. I consider myself an honorable K’Rang and will do my duty as honor prescribes. I expect you will, too. Call everyone back in and let us begin.”
* * * * *
Lieutenant Colonel Angie Shappelle and Commander Tammie Nielson were to meet in the Galactic War College cafeteria to catch up on the latest happenings. Both officers had been picked below the zone of consideration for promotion to the next higher grade – Angie to colonel and Tammy to captain. Their promotion dates were still some
Mo laughed, “Okay, Candy, the embassy delivery is delayed another day. It was some problem with the final inspection they needed to work out, but they only lost one day. The contractor will be sending their CEO through our mini-ring tomorrow to talk with his on-site supervisor and make sure all is ready for the delivery. Oh, by the way, your husband will be accompanying him. I thought you’d like to know.”
Candy literally jumped for joy at the news. “When were you going to tell me this? Mo, I oughta brain you.”
Moe faked cringing behind his desk.
“I just found out before you walked in my door. I told you as soon as I could.”
Candy thanked him, totally forgetting why she came in to see him, and skipped down the hallway to her office.
Chapter Two
The five shadow unified force commanders had been summoned in the middle of the night, ordered to put on their dress uniforms and report to headquarters. The first tentative glow of dawn was appearing in the eastern sky when they gathered on the front steps of the headquarters building, where they were told to wait. Their fogged breath was carried off in the brisk, early morning breeze. Impatience had grown into annoyance when they were finally led inside the building and to the main conference room.
Chief of the Imperial General Staff and Land Forces Marshall (Baron) T’Kana met them in the conference room and told them to sit in the five chairs arranged at the head table. He directed Shadow Unified Force Commander M’Juna to the middle chair.
“Gentlemen, the beginning of our return to greatness is upon us. You have been summoned here this morning to pass judgment on the first of those called to account for the debacle that befell us. He has just recently been brought into our custody, and your decision as to his guilt or innocence must be determined in the next six hours. He has been advised of the charges brought against him and has legal counsel.”
“I will leave you to study the charge packets in front of you and prepare your questions. You may begin whenever you are ready. I will retire to my office until you reach a decision. Come to me with your decision and rationale in five hours time, no later. Irrespective of any rash prior comments I may have made, I do not presuppose guilt or innocence. I expect you to use your own experiences as combat commanders to determine if Baron G’Rof did all he could to defeat the Human/A’Ngarii coalition.” Baron T’Kana spun on his heel and left them to their deliberations.
Shadow Unified Force Commander M’Juna ordered the room cleared of admin staff as the five commanders reviewed the packets’ summary sheets. After fifteen minutes, he called a break and addressed his fellow commanders. “Gentlemen, I will not provide you guidance on how to proceed. I will only tell you how I will conduct myself. I do not care about Baron T’Kana’s comments of yesterday or of this morning. We have a specific list of charges. These charges have specific elements of proof. As I said yesterday, it is very easy to judge after the battle is over and you have time to think and ponder, but quite different when your warriors are dying around you or are about to. I consider myself an honorable K’Rang and will do my duty as honor prescribes. I expect you will, too. Call everyone back in and let us begin.”
* * * * *
Lieutenant Colonel Angie Shappelle and Commander Tammie Nielson were to meet in the Galactic War College cafeteria to catch up on the latest happenings. Both officers had been picked below the zone of consideration for promotion to the next higher grade – Angie to colonel and Tammy to captain. Their promotion dates were still some
Readers choose
Diane J. Reed
Lily Harper Hart
Travis Lyle
Debbie Cassidy
A.J. Colby
Sarah Beth Durst
Emma Mills
Tania Anne Crosse
Ali Smith
Vernon W. Baumann