Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2) (14 page)

“That is all,” he said as the speaker told us that the talks would have a recess till after lunch. I rolled over what the president had said in my mind. I too went on break with the rest of the assembly as the prime minister of Korea had suggested.

I was getting some food, there was some real stuff on Hachiro, but it was still rations unless you paid some credits, when the prime minister of Spain decided to get some fruit.

“So, Mr. Cook, how would you feel about taking a vacation. You have provided a wonderful service to the galaxy and Earth. We would like you to have a talk with Admiral Vasquez, an officer of impeccable record. We would also like to offer you a considerable retirement fund for you and your wife to live comfortably in Spain,” The prime minister of Spain said.

“I will think about it.” I said graciously as I googled the man on my implants, using the intelligence groups information as well.

Before I could read it, other leaders descended on me, each offering one or two of their head military officers to take my position.

Some leaders took me into private areas and we had a talk with their officers via webcam. Even the most upstanding officer I could see was nothing but a pawn. Their country would control them no matter what. No one was looking past getting power for themselves. They still thought in terms of countries, not as a race.

I kept up the pretense of looking for a replacement as I looked over the officers making an argument as to why I should remain in charge of the Free Fleet. The president of the United States even offered one of the joint chiefs to take my position. I could see right through it. The new chief was nothing but the president’s puppet and would do anything that the president said.

The break was extended three times until closing remarks, and I stood to speak.

“I thank all of you for your suggestions. Your military officers are of the highest caliber, and you are lucky to command such loyal and proud men.” I paused before continuing.

“That is the reason I cannot take them.” I rolled over the startled outbursts. My voice's subsonics causing them to be beaten into silence.
“The Free Fleet is a force that will defend planets, not countries. I cannot in good faith place one of your officers in command of the Free Fleet in fear that they will use that power to help their old countries. It is not their fault they have been trained amazingly to defend their country, not to defend the human race.”

“Again, we ask how you think you’re better suited for this job,” someone said.

“I have no affiliations with one government or another and I have done nothing but fight alongside people from other countries and aliens from different planets for a year and a half. As to me being violent, yes, I damned well am. I would be dead and my fleet destroyed if I wasn’t violent and ready to use force to destroy the enemy before they destroyed me.

“Do not kid yourselves, the universe is a terrible place. It is not for the weak of heart. I am also, through my gaming experience, better placed tactically and strategically to command the Free Fleet. I am able to work ground fights and space fights at the same time. You have admirals and generals. in the Free Fleet there is me. Certainly, I have a chief of staff and the commander of the Armored Marine Commandos, commanders and personnel that are amazing, but I need to know everything that’s going on and use my forces accordingly.

“Your people have been trained to be soldiers or pilots or captains. My people have been trained to be in multiple positions. They need to be adaptable. The Free Fleet is no place for someone that wants to just be a grunt. They’ll be a Commando, an engineer, damage control, armorers, and any number of hundreds of jobs.

“I thank you for the offers, but I am unable to accept them at this time. If they are able to think of the good of humanity, then I will accept them into my ranks, though they will go through the same training as my grunts and have to prove themselves. In the Free Fleet, officers are awarded on merit.”

“Not trying to be offensive, but what is your merit?” the president of the U.S. said.

“If my people didn’t want me leading them, then I wouldn't be the commander of the Free Fleet.”  My protection detail moved uncomfortably around me.

“If you want your officers to give it a shot, they must be released from your military and they may apply to the Free Fleet. The conditions for application to the Free Fleet are on the information site.” I saw more than one leader flinch from my words as the speaker ended the day and after a few obligatory farewells I was finally leaving the talks building and heading through the throngs of reporters to my awaiting shuttle.

I have the feeling it won't be the last time my abilities are called into question,
I thought as I remembered a time when I had not wanted to be responsible for anyone else than myself and Mecha Tail. The shuttle settled onto the ground, the ramp lowered and Yasu was waiting on the ramp.

“What are you doing here?” I muttered as everyone got on and the shuttle sealed.

“I think it’s about time you saw Korea. I know that Mecha Tail’s families want to see you,” she said as we picked up and weere already flying towards Korea. Thankfully, the reporters had learned from yesterday and were well back from the shuttle.

“Alright,” I said, knowing I’d lost. With a smile, she sat down beside me and we went to Korea. The shuttle parked on top of a multiplex parking lot nearby the apartment building Mecha Tail had called home. I walked to the building, my group garnering stares and pictures. I came out onto the floor where Mecha Tail had lived and breathed. I put in my code for the door which opened into a room of people training on simulators.

“Salchar!” I heard a cry from one of the promising newbies who had brought a Japanese sword for good luck, which I had attacked a grabbing arm with, getting half of it stuck in my shoulder. The room was a rush as people turned, realizing who I was and rushing over. My manager was among them. Family members, new members, and most of the newbies as well all gathered around me.

“Get back to training, people! This war isn’t going to win itself!” my manager yelled as he grabbed a new kid I didn’t even recognize.

“Get me eight Jjajang myun’s!” he said as he brought us into the kitchen, ordering us to sit as he went in the fridge, throwing energy shakes and bars at us. Without thinking, and from a lifetime of habit, I started eating them as fast as possible as if I was going to be playing another game at any minute. I was done before Janice was even trying her energy bar.

“They’re all good; eat them,” I said to my protection detail, who dutifully ate the food, at first hesitant and then rapidly. Ship food had gotten quite boring.

“Remind me to get a hold of the company that makes these bars. I think I have a proposition for them. It’s much better than the food I’ve had for the last year and a half.” My manager tsked as the new kid came in, carrying Jjajang myun. I couldn’t stop my eyes lighting up as he put it on the table. I grabbed chopsticks, not waiting for the others.

“You always knew my weaknesses,” I said, digging in, unable to see my managers face as I devoured the bowl of food.

“This tastes good,” Krom said as he similarly devoured a bowl. The manager gave me and the Avars two bowls apiece and the rest one. He was like a mind reader I’d swear.

“So, what has been going on with the rest of the Mecha Tail?” my manager asked as I finished off my second bowl, sitting back satisfied.

“I have Monk running a station which we’re using as our base. I sent Cheerleader off as a fleet commander to have a look around the area and to create alliances with more planets and make them aware of our existence. Bok Soo is in charge of a battalion of AMC. He loves being in the field too much, and there was no way any of them were going to take a desk job.”

“No, I suppose they wouldn’t,” he said with a knowing smile as he turned to Yasu.

“Though I didn’t think we would ever have the esteemed leader of the Samurai’s Revenge in this apartment! It is good to meet you, Yasu Masami Ono, or do you prefer Blade Mistress?”

“Yasu is fine,” Yasu said, a little color on her cheeks.

“Very well. So, I heard that you two are married,” he said, his voice light but his eyes serious.

“Yes, we’ve checked the records, we’re listed as married on Earth databases. It’s about as real as it can get,” I said Yasu, shooting me a cold glance as my manager smiled.

“Ah yes, and will you be remaining married? You two do make a lovely couple.” There was nothing but warmth in his voice.

“Uhh, well.”

“We’ll see what the future holds.” Yasu came to my rescue as I heard a knock at the door.

“Expecting guests?”

“Yes, I am,” He said with a smile

I heard “Joo Mi!” come from the hallway and a rush of feet. I rose from my chair, turning in shock to face the other members of Mecha Tail’s family members as they rushed to hug me in the enclosed space.

After a few minutes of heavy hugging, smiles, and greetings the women took Yasu and Janice, pushing the rest of us out of the kitchen and sending a few husbands to get ingredients as they set to making a feast. I talked to the fathers of the other members of Mecha Tail and the mothers listened in as they cooked. The whole place was quiet as even the gamers put down their gear and listened in as I talked about what we’d gone through.

As I finished, the meal was ready and we sat down in the main gaming room, the gamers being herded into seats by the women and told to eat to get bigger and stronger or there was no way they’d be able to join the Free Fleet. Yasu sat next to me, as the other couples did, and talked to the wives animatedly as I held my own conversations, eating my fill and talking well into the night.

The meal was cleared away and goodbyes said as the families loaded me and my protection detail up with food. They said goodbye to us as we ascended the shuttles ramp, which had gathered a crowd. They stepped back as we climbed into the sky and. for the first time in a long time. I smiled happily. Yasu took the food to our room as I took a few treats with me to the AMC quarters in Hachiro Station.

Bok Soo came to the door groggily.

“What is…” I put the kimchi in his mouth and he bit down on it and his eyes went wide.

“Amoni’s kimchi!”

“She sends her best, and I’m taking you down tomorrow morning before the talks with a shuttle dropping off the first Free Fleet visitors.” He started to make excuses around a mouth of Kimchi but I raised my hand. “Yes, James. Thank you, James. I will introduce my wife to her, James. Good night, James. Is what you where going to say? Right?”

“It is!” his wife said from inside the room and he shot her a dark look, turning back as I gave him an armful of foodstuffs.

“See you in the morning!” I said, turning and walking away.

“I guess you will,” Bok Soo said with a grin, turning back inside. I worked on the paperwork which was, as usual, piling up in the station commanders cabin. Rick had been doing brilliantly in my stead as I was at the negotiations. I’d asked for his recommendation for the station commander to take over as he worked with the people of the station more. The intelligence group was working through the information held in the Syndicate servers and had more than a bit of useful information, but there were limited few of them, and they were also picking up information from Earth to assist me in the talks, so information was limited. It was yet another area I had to work on expanding. The shrinks had helped put most of the recruits back on Earth. A few too far gone to return had been added to the ranks of the training Avar under the tutelage of the Sarenmenti special forces. It would allow them to learn how to use their anger, and after their training they would be able to quit. The Marines that had boarded the Resilient had disappeared off the grid as I had expected them too. I just hope they hadn’t seen too many of our secrets. The fleet was at seventy percent effective. Meaning they could fly and fire, but most of them needed quality time in a dock. The Resilient’s fusion power plants were sitting in her storage so the other ships could be put online again. Both me and Eddie wanted to get her back to Parnmal to effect the repairs, but Eddie and myself where painfully aware how defenseless she was, so we were going to try putting her plants in later when the crews had had some time to rest and we could dedicate more people to the project.

Before I knew it, Yasu was walking in the room with an unimpressed look.

“You stayed up all night again, didn’t you?”

“I guess I did,” I said as I slipped a capsule of Wake Up into my pocket. I had a feeling I’d need it.  She shook her head as I got up and walked to the shuttle that would drop off the visitors to Korea and then go to Canada.

Bok Soo was already aboard with his wife. I nodded to him. I took my own seat as the shuttle dropped down towards Earth. We made three stops in Korea before Bok Soo, who was getting dropped off in the same parking lot I’d dropped off the day before. The parents of Mecha Tail swarmed him and his wife, dragging them away and thanking me as I smiled, taking off again.

As we came closer to Japan, Yasu held my hand.

“I want to see it for myself,” she said, her face emotionless as her voice quivered.

“Are you sure?” I looked to her as she looked at the harness across from her.

“Yes.” Strength filled her voice.