Hunter Legacy 5 Hail the Hero (17 page)

“Only if it’s done badly. There’s no
reason why anyone should know anyone is wearing a suit belt. When used with
clothes, you simply have the belt appear as a belt, one which goes with the
outfit being worn. Do you wear one yourself?”

“No, fleet hasn’t yet addressed the
issue. However, I’m pushing it given what happened to Darius and Chet recently.
As I understand it, casualties would have been a lot lighter had everyone been
wearing a suit belt.”

Get it done.

“Sir… James, it strikes me as the two
biggest targets here at the moment, are the Queen, and yourself. Both of you
should be wearing suit belts. Let me arrange them for you now.”

“Are you sure no one will be able to
tell?”

“No-one can, at least not to casual
inspection. If they get close enough to touch, the difference should be
obvious, but neither of you should be allowing people close enough for that.
The first anyone should know is when they shift to full defense mode in
reaction to the proximity of a weapon, or some other threat.”

“Okay. How long will it take to get
them?”

“Should be here before we finish
lunch.” He nodded.

I pinged the local ‘tool man’, and ordered eight
new belts, with three boosters each, to be delivered unpacked as two combined
belts of three, and two of two. I asked for immediate delivery to BigMother.
The invoice came back immediately, and I paid it.

We sat down to lunch, Alison joining us,
with rank put aside.

Jeeves came in with the new belts as we
were finishing eating. Once again, I’d failed to eat very much.

I gave one of the two belts to Alison and
told her to merge them.

“Why Jon?” she asked. “I
already have a fully boosted suit.”

“You and Annabelle are the most
vulnerable of the team on the ground, since you rarely wear combat suits.
Annabelle nearly bought it on Azgard, with what you have now. While I was
getting new belts, I thought I’d give you both the same protection I
have.”

She nodded, and we watched as her belts
merged into one. Being seen in her underwear by the Marshall for a few moments,
didn’t seem to faze her. I gave her the second two, to give to Annabelle before
the medal ceremony.

I passed the first of the three’s to James,
and we talked him through the setup process. Once complete, I pulsed him
chameleon mode in case either of them had to hide at some time. I also talked
him through scanning uniforms, so he could make his own suit fatigues. For now
though, all he really needed was the combat protection mode, and I made sure he
changed the suit to hair trigger activation.

I gave him the remaining three belt for the
Queen, and had him promise to have her wearing it as soon as he could get her
alone before the ceremony. He felt sure this was possible. Lastly, I showed him
where the menus of clothes and accessories were, so the Queen could easily
choose how she looked.

Now nearly one, we headed for the
Marshall’s gig, to return to the Palace.

By one forty five, I was standing to the
left of Bigglesworth, on an ornate podium in a room obviously designed for
award ceremonies. When I say standing, I was still on my scooter, as there was
no way my left leg could have taken my weight at all, without me passing out.
All the same, I was beginning to regret being here. Up until now, I’d not
really simply stood around in the same place. I’d been moving from place to
place, at each end of which I’d been seated. But for the first time, I now had
to stand in one place. As the minutes passed, I was feeling less and less well.
It’s funny how pain has a way of making itself felt, when you move the least.

Those due for awards were lined up in ranks
in the middle of the room, lowest rank at the front to highest at the back.
Susan Bentley would be last. Local dignitaries and British Flag Officers, were
seated on the right side, from my perspective, and all others on the left,
including my entire team.

Generals Price and Harriman were standing
on the other side of where the Queen would stand. I pondered why, but didn’t
come up with anything beyond they were there for the same reason I was.

Precisely at two, the Queen was ushered in
with all due pomp and ceremony. Marshall Bigglesworth welcomed everyone, and
said some words about the campaign, and the role of the British forces in it. I
wasn’t really listening.

A military aide to the Queen passed her the
first citation and called out the first name. The recipient marched forwards,
and braced to attention before the Queen. She read the citation, had the medal
passed to her, and passed it over with a few words to the recipient. After
bowing to the Queen, he moved to face Marshall Bigglesworth, they shook,
saluted, and moved in front of me for the same.

This was duplicated dozens of times, with
my part being automatic. I used my left hand to hold me upright, and my right
for shaking and saluting.

By two thirty, the knuckles on my left hand
were white, and I now bitterly regretted not getting an early pain shot. But
there was nothing for it, I had to stand there and function as if nothing was
wrong.

Susan Bentley marched forwards on the quiet
chime of three, to receive her Distinguished Service Order. By this time I was
needing my right hand to hold me up, and removing it was becoming increasingly
difficult. I was glad this was the last award and I’d be able to sit down soon.
Susan bowed to the Queen, shook and saluted with Bigglesworth, and moved to
stand in front of me. Her eyes narrowed in alarm as she took in my condition
and she shot a rapid glance at Bigglesworth to see if he’d noticed. Apparently
he hadn’t, for which I was glad. We shook rapidly, and her body in front of
mine hid how desperately my right hand returned to holding me up, after our
salute.

She marched away, and I waited to be
dismissed.

Instead, John Slice was called. He startled
where he sat in the middle of my team, rose, and marched forwards. He braced as
all the others before him had. The aide passed the Queen another citation.

“Wing Commander Slice,” she said,
“volunteered to defend Avon, was called back to service, and seconded to
the Sci-Fi Space Force, where he distinguished himself at the battle of Avon,
and went on to play key roles as the fighter force commander for the
multi-sector fleet. Wing Commander, you are promoted to the rank of Group
Captain, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and retired once again from
the British Fleet, with our gratitude and thanks.”

They shared a few words as his medal and
new rank insignia were passed over. He bowed, and was about to step back when
General Price spoke.

“Group Captain,” he said. Slice
turned to face him. “The Sci-Fi sector thanks you for your service, and
awards you our Distinguished Flying Cross as well.”

He was passed another medal, they shook,
and saluted, which he repeated with Bigglesworth and myself, before returning
to his seat.

The Queen’ aide called Eric Neilson next. A
look of shock on his face as he stood, dressed in Hunter Dress, was replaced
with passive calm by the time he braced before the Queen.

“Lieutenant Commander,” she said,
“it’s our understanding that you neither volunteered to fight at any time
during the recent war, nor were asked to serve, drafted to serve, or in any way
required to serve. You simply fought. When Marshall Bigglesworth became aware
of your presence and contributions at Avon, you were recalled to official
service. We understand you have been accepted into Hunter Security, and
promoted. Your promotion to Lieutenant Commander is officially recognized now
by the British Fleet, and at the end of this ceremony you will be replaced on
the inactive list. You are awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.”

She passed him his British insignia and
medal, they shared a few words, and he bowed and prepared to return to his
seat.

“Lieutenant Commander,” said
General Price. “The Sci-Fi sector also awards you the Distinguished Flying
Cross.”

Eric repeated the whole process Slice had
just done before him, and returned to his seat.

I was in serious trouble by now. My entire
left side was aflame. I’d almost missed getting my right hand back on the
scooter in time to keep me from falling off. I hung on like grim death, hoping
no one was noticing.

266 Squadron were called next. They were
also informed they had been recalled to active service with the British Fleet
when they arrived at the Midnight Cobol jump point to form the blockade there.
Their promotions within Hunter Security were officially recognized, and they
were each also awarded the DFC. Lacey was also awarded the Distinguished
Service Order for his leadership and successful defense of the Australian
sector.

This time it was General Harriman who
stopped them leaving, duplicating their British awards with the Australian equivalents.

Lacey was the last to shake my hand, and he
was visibly shocked by how I looked. He saluted me first instead of after the
handshake, making it as quick as he could. Our handshake lasted longer than
normal as his strength guided my hand back to the scooter. He returned to his
seat, and I stood there waiting for the final dismissal.

The next name I heard was Brigadier General
Smith. I startled, not expecting any of my team to be called, lost my grip on
the scooter, and blacked out.

I woke up on a bed, with Jane and Jeeves
standing over me. Marshall Bigglesworth was behind them, with the Queen
standing next to him. I was relatively pain free, so I assumed Jeeves had given
me the long overdue pain shot.

“How long?” I asked.

“Only a few minutes,” said Jane.

“You blacked out,” said
Bigglesworth, “but Colonel Jane caught you before you reached the floor. Why
didn’t you say something to me, or ping me you needed a break? We could have
interrupted things after Susan Bentley.”

I looked at him. It hadn’t occurred to me.

“I’m sorry,” said the Queen. I
must have looked shocked at the whole concept of a Queen saying sorry, as she
smiled. “We should’ve taken your condition into account, and built in a
break in the proceedings to allow you to sit for a while. The ceremony has been
paused, and we’ll resume when you’re able. Your official presence is no longer
required, so you can sit out the remainder comfortably.”

“Why do we need to resume at
all?” I asked. “I thought we were finished. I guess I didn’t say
anything because I was expecting to be dismissed at any second.”

“Not finished just yet, Admiral,”
said Bigglesworth with a grin.

Jane left the room, and returned with a
grav chair very similar to my own. She looked a question at me, and I nodded.
She plucked me from the bed and sat me down on the chair, without giving my leg
as much as a twinge. Thanks be to pain meds.

The Queen and Bigglesworth left, and Jane
pushed me back into the Ceremony room, through the general entrance. A lot of
anxious faces smiled as I was pushed in, obviously looking better.

Bigglesworth entered and recalled the room
for the Queen’s entrance. She came in, and returned to where she’d been before.

The whole team were called as a group, in
order of rank beginning with Brigadier General Smith. They were all surprised
to be called, and as a group, formed a line according to rank across the room,
in front of the Queen.

She thanked them for their service, and
stepped back to allow General Price to continue the proceedings.

“Smith’s Alpha-team,” he began,
“were in the wrong place, at the wrong time, when they literally dropped
into the beginning of the Midgard war. They were merely going home, after
helping to end the Pompeii civil war. At first, they had no choice being there,
and simply fought to survive. But as I understand it, when choice was offered,
the response was, ‘We go in at the shit end’!”

There was general light laughter across the
room. The Queen even smiled. I wondered how he’d found that out.

“And so they did. It’s a rarity to
find a Mercenary Unit more professional than sector Marines, but Smith’s
Alpha-team is just that. They formed the core of a fighting force which
successfully defended a station from boarding, and retook key stations from the
enemy during the advance back to Midgard. Each member of the team is awarded
the Meritorious Service Cross. Brigadier General Smith, you are further awarded
the Distinguished Service Order. Congratulations.”

He passed out the medals in rank order from
lowest to highest. They saluted him as a group, bowed to the Queen, and forming
up facing me, saluted me as well. I saluted them in return, and shared the
pride they all showed. They filed back to their seats.

Annette Bronson was the next to be called.
The Queen also thanked her for her service, as did General Price, before she
was passed to General Harriman, who awarded her the DFC.

George was next. He was thanked by the
Queen, and awarded the DFC by General Price.

I sighed in relief. That was everyone. I
could get some sleep now.

Jane was called, by the rank of Colonel,
which her insignia showed her to be if you didn’t know her actual rank.

The Queen thanked her for her service, and
passed her on to General Price.

“Colonel Jane is a special case.
Without her, the defense of Avon would have failed. Without her, our offensive
would have fallen at the first hurdle. Without her, Sci-Fi, American, and
Australian sectors, would have fallen to the Midgard forces.”

The room was silent, and looking puzzled.

“Colonel Jane was the key to solving a
technical issue, which I’m informed, literally pushed the balance of the war in
our favour. Admiral Hunter made the intuitive leap which enabled us to perfect
a true anti-missile missile system. But it’s Colonel Jane who makes it
work.”

He smiled around the room, enjoying the
confused looks he was seeing. I grinned at him.

“Your Majesty, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Colonel Jane is an Artificial Intelligence, perhaps uniquely the first to, we
believe, achieve sentience, and the lynchpin in the defense of all our
sectors.”

The bombshell dropped into a shocked
audience.

“Hunter Security has recognized her
with rank. The Americans rewarded her with a Unit Citation, but the Sci-Fi
sector awards her the Distinguished Service Order in her own right.”

I clapped this announcement loudly with a
huge grin on my face, and a few seconds later, my team followed my lead
enthusiastically. After a brief hesitation, the Americans joined in, and soon
the whole room was clapping her.

General Price handed her the medal, they
shook and saluted, and she returned to stand behind my chair.

Now I can get some sleep, I thought.

The Queen’s aide called my name.

Jane pushed a shaken me before her, and
left me there. The Queen smiled at me again, obviously seeing confusion on my face.

“Admiral Hunter. We’re aware that the
American Space Force promoted you to full Admiral before retiring you. Were you
a British citizen, and in the British Fleet, we would also be promoting you.
Alas, you aren’t. However, we respect this rank and regardless of any other
rank you hold, any future role you hold where British Forces are within your
command, will have those forces acknowledge you as a full Admiral.”

She paused and looked first at me, then the
room as a whole.

“While the British sector no longer
has close ties with the Australian sector, the ties once forged when Australia,
back on old Earth, was part of the British Commonwealth, have never been
abrogated. Consequently, I am able to award a member of the Australian sector
military forces with British gallantry awards. Admiral Hunter, you are awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross for combat achievements unheard of before. You
are further awarded the Distinguished Service Order for outstanding leadership
and bravery under fire.”

She paused again, and her grin widened,
obviously reacting to my look of complete non-comprehension. Her aide handed
her another citation. I looked at it stupidly, wondering what else was even
possible.

“Admiral Hunter, for your actions at
the second battle for Avon, where you evacuated all personnel from your
station, and flew it into battle solo; ensuring that British Forces also
present were kept away from the primary danger; and for your total disregard of
your own safety in what has been described as an insane act of courage in
preventing the enemy from reaching Avon; you are awarded the first Victoria
Cross in over one hundred years. Congratulations Admiral.”

The room went crazy as she held out her
hand for me to shake it. I was having trouble breathing she could see, such was
my complete and total shock.

As she passed me the three medals, she
leaned over towards me, and said quietly, “Hold it together for just a
little longer, and then you can sleep until dinner time.”

I bowed my head as low as I could, seated as
I was. She returned to standing where she’d been, while Marshal Bigglesworth
regained control of the room.

General Price stepped forward, and Jane
appeared behind me and eased my chair around to face him. She remained standing
behind me now, as an aide normally would.

“Vice Admiral Hunter, you are promoted
to the rank of Admiral and placed on the inactive list, effective immediately.
You are awarded the Sci-Fi sector Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished
Flying Cross, and the Meritorious Service Cross. Congratulations.”

He held out his hand and I shook it.

“Admiral, Sci-Fi sector consider the
single decisive factor in winning the Midgard war, was your leadership of the
campaign, where you put your own safety below the safety of those under your command.
The Avon system is in your debt. We believe the promotions and medals you have
received are insufficient recognition for your actions and achievements. To
this end, with the agreement of the Australian sector, ownership of the Midnight
system is transferred to you, without sector obligations.
Congratulations.”

My jaw fell open in total shock. The room
went crazy behind me again. It took Bigglesworth several minutes to regain
control.

General Price stepped back, after handing
me the medals and the ownership plaque, and once again shaking hands.

General Harriman stepped forward, and Jane
moved my chair slightly.

“Vice Admiral Hunter, you are promoted
to the rank of Admiral, and retired from the Australian Militia, effective
immediately.”

He grinned at me, knowing I’d never been
comfortable with him drafting me in the first place.

“Since you weren’t present at the
Midgard blockade, and were not formally active with the Australian Militia
during the war, the Australian sector is unable to duplicate the medals you
have just received. However, since the forces which were at the core of the
defense of the Australian sector in the Midnight system were yours, freely
offered without being asked, and being your personal assets put at risk for the
safety of the sector, the Australian sector has been looking for a suitable
reward for your selfless acts. With the agreement of the Sci-Fi sector,
ownership of the Bad Wolf system is transferred to you, without sector
obligations. Ownership of the Nexus 618 system is also transferred to you
without sector obligations, with three conditions, which require your agreement
before the transfer can be finalized. Congratulations.”

The room was dead silent now, everyone as
stunned as I was. Harriman handed me two ownership plaques and shook my hand.
The room burst into applause.

When the room settled down again, the Queen
had the last word.

“All hail the hero of the Midgard war.”

There were three loud cheers, the last of
which threatened to tear the ceiling loose. Or so it seemed to me. The walls
did seem to bulge outward as well. But maybe I wasn’t seeing very well.

Bigglesworth dismissed the gathering, and I
was mobbed by my team and Miriam.

Walter accompanied Jane and I back to my
suite, where the rest of the team were politely turned away.

“Well Jon,” he said when we were
settled in lounge chairs, “it wasn’t easy, but I got you what you
wanted.”

I shook my head, not believing what I’d
just been through.

“What are the conditions for
Nexus?” I asked.

“Australian sector retains ownership
of the third asteroid ring, which is currently being mined for the sector. We
rely on a lot of the specific minerals found there, which aren’t available in
such quantity elsewhere. You agree to unrestricted access to the third ring by
Australian sector ships, both government and private.” I nodded. “You
also agree to unrestricted and untaxed access to all Australian sector jump
points for ships of all kinds, subject to the third condition.”

“Untaxed?”

“Yes Jon. With the exception of
activity in the third ring, you can impose what taxes you wish in your space.
Without sector obligations means you owe no tax to the Australian or Sci-Fi
sectors of any kind. Nor are you bound by either sector’s laws within your own
space. Effectively, you now own your own mini sector. It doesn’t contain a
habitable planet, but you’ll have two large stations in it, and the beginning
of your own industry with your shipyard. You’ll need to organize a sector like
structure for your space, including its own laws. Do you want to be King?”
He laughed as I sat there stunned. “You agree you won’t tax access to the
jump points, nor impose any restrictions on access to the Australian systems.
You also need to agree to provide adequate security for your space, given
Australian sector security is at stake if you fail to.”

“I can agree to all of that.”

“Good. When we return to Sydney, there’ll
be an official ceremony where the agreement for Nexus is signed. I’ll inform
them of your agreement to the conditions, so everything will be ready when we
get there. You should also think about things like non-aggression pacts and
sector alliances. You’ll be returning with a fleet which is capable of
destroying the whole sector, and a lot of people will want you bound with
treaties to ensure you remain a good friend of the Australian sector.”

“I can’t see any problem there. Beyond
having a place for a base, I had no other ambitions.”

“One other thing, and I’ll let you
have a nap before dinner. I still want to move my HQ to your new station, once
it’s ready for habitation. Will that still be possible?”