Last Measure of Devotion (TCOTU, Book 5) (This Corner of the Universe) (15 page)

“You
don’t have to cushion it.  I know I failed,” Vernay replied dejectedly.  “Don’t
tell me it’s all a coincidence that he’s getting away from the ship captain
that blew it in Sade.”  She dropped her face into her hands.  “I should have
never accepted command of a ship.  I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you.”

This
was his longest conversation with Vernay since before the battle.  He studied
the woman who had given him unequivocal backing since they first met.  She was
the perfect mixture of respect and companionship, acting as both the supportive
junior officer and trusted confidant during the times Heskan needed her most. 
Vernay’s misery was palpable and it surprised Heskan just how much it hurt him
to see her like this.  He waved away the attendant who was sweeping over the
back of his coat with her wand.  He approached Vernay and sat next to her.

“You
shouldn’t read too much into Brown’s transfer.  You know, just like I do, that
there are always bigger gears turning that we may not be aware of.”  Heskan’s
words sounded feeble even to himself.  He looked at the despondent woman and
the depth of his empathy for her struck at his core. 
She deserves more than
the usual platitudes, Garrett.
  “Stacy,” he said after swallowing.  “You’ve
never disappointed me.”  His mouth had gone dry.  He swallowed a second time. 
“You could never disappoint me and I care more about you than anybody I’ve ever—”

The
door rocked open and the boisterous voice of an IaCom scheduler announced,
“Captain Heskan, you’re on.”

The
attendants in the room parted before him, granting easy access to the door. 
Heskan looked into Vernay’s shimmering, sapphire eyes.  She seemed to be
trembling.

“Duty
calls,” she said miserably.

Heskan
smiled weakly and nodded.  An instant later, he was being escorted from the
waiting room and led down the narrow hallway toward the studio.  A hand grasped
his left arm to stop him at a red line on the floor just outside the stage. 
The attendant held out her hand in front of him and waited for the cue.

From
onstage, Chase Fuller’s voice carried the weight of a thousand sages upon it. 
“As promised, today we’ll talk with the man who’s at the center of this mass of
controversy.  The man, who some say, should resign his position for reasons
ranging from dereliction of duty to gross favoritism toward clearly incompetent
officers.”  Fuller cast a casual glance toward Heskan.  “Please help me welcome
the lightning rod of drama, the man who’s thrown the entire navy onto its very
head… Captain Garrett Heskan!”

Applause
sounded from the live audience as Fuller rose from his chair, waiting for
Heskan with a smug smile.

One
hand dropped from in front of Heskan; another provided a gentle push against
his back.  He stepped onto the stage and nervously looked at the audience.  It
was a packed house, as he expected it would be.  The last time he was here, he
had underestimated the impact the media played in the corporate worlds.  Today,
he was going in with eyes open.  He could play the game.  Heskan waved at the
audience as he stepped toward Fuller.  As he drew near, it almost seemed to be
a race for who could extend his hand faster for the handshake.

Once
seated, the applause died down, giving Fuller a chance to speak.  “Thank you
for coming back to us, Captain.  We’re thrilled to give you a chance to explain
all the controversy that’s spinning around you.”

Heskan
smiled despite himself.  “I think it’s important to note that there’s
absolutely no real controversy inside the ranks of the navy, Chase, just the fiction
that the media has created.”

Fuller
laughed good-naturedly but then smiled wickedly.  “That’s interesting,
Garrett.  Are you unaware of the grousing from down the ranks or are you saying
that you’re being kept unaware?”

Heskan
closed his eyes instead of rolling them and inhaled slowly. 
It’s a mistake
to ask him, ‘what grousing, Chase?’  Don’t step into his traps.
  “I’m in
almost daily contact with my ship captains, Chase.  I’m pretty sure I have a
more accurate pulse of those sailors than the dubious sources of some in the
media.”  He blinked innocently at Fuller and added, “Present company excluded,
of course.  In fact, I must express my gratitude to you for not delving into
some of the baser rumors that have been fabricated against the men and women in
uniform.”  He looked out into the audience and said, “The men and women
defending our very way of life.”  He returned his attention to Fuller and
complimented, “It’s refreshing to see someone in the media, like yourself, who
refuses to take advantage of these very human sailors who only wish to serve
the Seshafian cause the best they can.”

Fuller
paused a moment at the unanticipated accolade, allowing Heskan to seize the advantage
and drive the dagger in.  “Well, except of course when you spent that two-hour
exposé on the ugly rumor about one of my ship captains using feminine wiles to
advance her career.”

Fuller’s
face turned red.  He opened his mouth but Heskan cut him off.

“That
report was particularly devastating to morale across the navy as a whole.  It
hurt all of Seshafi.  In fact, in other governments, wild, unsupported
accusations like that could be construed as aid and comfort to the enemy but we
all know you have Seshafi’s best interests at heart, right?”  He emphasized the
last word to turn the statement into a question.

“Well,
I… of course I do.  I’m the most trusted, most reliable source of news in the whole
LMA.”  Fuller flashed a reassuring smile into the active camera but his eyes
darted away briefly to his stage director.

Heskan
sat back contentedly as he watched Fuller flick his index finger rapidly over
the computer screen inlaid into his desk. 
I’ve just robbed him of most of
his talking points.  He can’t make any of his ridiculous accusations posed as
questions without looking like he’s trying to weaken the entire corporation.

“Here,”
Fuller said as he found a suitable starting point.  “Much has been said of your
decision to command the fleet from a warship instead of your command, control
and communications ship.”  Fuller brought a hand up to his cheek and rested his
head upon it.  “If you don’t mind me asking, what was your thought process?”

Heskan
nodded.  “That’s a fair question, Chase.  I know that decision was contrary to
over a half-century of tradition but I promised the sailors under me that I’d
never ask them to take on a risk I wasn’t willing to accept myself.  I promised
that on your very show in fact.”  Once again, he looked into the ranks of the audience. 
“Contrary to some of the rumors, I’m not seeking glory or have some kind of
death wish.  However, I strongly believe that if I’m going to place your sons
and daughters into the line of fire, then I should be standing beside them.”

Applause
broke out over Heskan’s remarks, which Fuller did his best to stifle with a
quick follow-up question.  “What about showing respect to the members of the
media, Garrett?  Several dozens of reporters were aboard the C-Three ship
expecting to have access to you.”

“Their
needs will always take a backseat to the sailors risking their lives defending
Seshafi,” Heskan said bluntly.

The
naked honesty stunned Fuller into a brief silence.  After a moment, the newsman
leaned forward in anticipation of his own, decisive blow.  “So you openly admit
that you treat the esteemed members in the media outlets of all the corporate
systems like second-class citizens?”

“During
an actual battle?  Absolutely.”  Heskan mirrored Fuller’s movement to bring
himself even closer to the man.  “The media is present to find and tell a news
story.  My sailors are there to defend our way of life.”  He cast a hand toward
the audience.  “Ask them who they think should be my priority during those moments?”

Fuller’s
expression twisted slightly in frustration as he sat back.  It transformed almost
immediately as his voice grew several decibels louder in an attempt to sound
patronizing.  “My dear friend, perhaps if you treated the media with more
respect, those ‘ugly and base rumors’ you’ve complained about might not run as
rampant in the news cycles.”  He reached across the table to pat Heskan’s
forearm in a faux-consolatory manner.  “I understand you’re new to our ways,
being an outlander, and I’ve tried my best to act as your guide to media
relations but you certainly don’t make it easy!”  He sunk further into his
chair and laughed good-heartedly into the camera to defuse some of the tension.

“Well,
I can use all the help I can get,” Heskan admitted.  “I know I’ve ruffled some
feathers with my way of doing things, Chase, but I’m used to the media being
treated a little differently and it will take some adjustment for me to get
used to the change.”

“Since
you brought it up, Garrett, any chance you’ll give me an exclusive and tell us
what part of the Commonwealth you called home?”

“Sorry,
Chase,” Heskan said.  “That’s a taboo subject for now but I promise you that if
the time ever comes, I will do my best to give you the information first.”

Fuller’s
smile brightened even as Heskan felt his stomach pitch. 
Dammit, Garrett. 
You shouldn’t have promised that.  Any olive branch you extend to him will just
be fashioned into a dagger he’ll try to place in your back.

Fuller brought his
hand down onto his desk in triumph.  “There you have it, folks, when the news
breaks, it will break here first!”  He looked down at his inlaid monitor
again.  “Now let’s talk about the legal proceedings scheduled to take place on
Nessus.”

*  *  *

Heskan
rose from his interview chair with the applause of the audience.  The exchange
of thrusts and parries with Fuller took most of the show.  When the active
camera’s red light dimmed, Fuller’s friendly facade dropped completely and he looked
across the studio to a stagehand.  “Ed, if you ever again cast that shadow over
me while we’re live, I’ll make sure you never get work again.”  Ignoring the
incoming explanation, he looked down at his desktop and engrossed himself in
the preparation for his closing remarks.

I
guess he’s done with me,
Heskan thought as he looked around the studio blankly.  Off in the direction he
had walked on stage, the same attendant waved him anxiously toward her.

“You
did well,” she complimented quietly as he approached her.  She began to lead
him back to the holding room.  “Your belongings are waiting in your room,
Captain Heskan.  Will you need me to escort you out of the studio?”

“No,
that’s the one route I’m sure I can find.”

The
woman brought him to the threshold of his door and stopped.  She looked at
Heskan pensively before saying, “Don’t discount Mr. Fuller, Captain Heskan. 
Everyone in AmyraCorp is grateful for what you’ve done but please understand
that we Seshafians place a great deal of trust in the media.  Fuller may seem
like an ass most of the time but an independent media acts as a counterbalance
to the corporation and the military.”  She looked away shyly for a moment but
continued to speak.  “We need Chase Fuller just as much as we need you, sir. 
Otherwise, we might become just a mini-Brevic Republic.  It’s happening on
other corporate worlds… too much power without enough checks to balance it.”

The
statement surprised Heskan.  There was much truth to the insight.  “Thank you,
miss.  I’ll give that careful thought.”

The
woman smiled modestly and stepped away.

Would
things have turned out differently in Anthe if the media reported the truth
about how Isabella’s squadron gave up so much to get us home?  Would Brevic
citizens have insisted on her fair treatment?
  The likelihood of that seemed slim.  The average
Brevic’s hatred toward the Commonwealth was renowned and the war only
intensified those feelings. 
Would the public have changed its sentiment
given Isabella’s sacrifices?  Probably not,
Heskan surmised.  
But then,
they were never given the chance.

Heskan
opened the door to find Vernay still sitting on the couch.

She
looks so small.

Her
head lifted upon hearing the door.  A puffy redness had supplemented the
wrinkles around her eyes.  “I can’t do this any longer,” she confessed.

Heskan
felt panic course through his body.  “My God, what’s wrong?”

Vernay
launched herself from the couch as a determined look took hold of her.  “I’m
done, Captain.  I should have never accepted command of Ajax.  I’m not capable
of commanding her.”

Heskan
gawked briefly at her before composing himself.  “You’re a better ship captain
than I was when I took over Anelace, Stacy, and your potential is light-years wider
than mine.”

Vernay
shrugged as if in mild concession but then shook her head.  She burst into
motion toward the door.  “My mind is made up.  I’m done.  I’m not going to
jeopardize the lives of my shipmates because my heart isn’t in it.”

Heskan
reached out to catch her arm as she tried to maneuver by.  “You may feel like
your heart isn’t in it right now, but that can change.”  He looked at her anxiously. 
“Don’t you think that I wanted to quit after Derringer?  I understand the pain
you’re feeling but you’ve got to find a way to walk with it.  Don’t let it make
your decisions for you.”