Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) (61 page)

“You did just fine Obri. Fowlsit will hear nothing but good words from me and I know I can trust you to set things right here.” Dave extended his hand and Obri shook it.

Chapter 10. Audacity 2000, 14 November

Dave came back on the first lift leaving Chip and half his force to wait for the warthogs to return for the second lift. He had hoped to see Rihan’s face as he alighted but he did not. He hailed her and she told him that she was busy but would catch up with him later.

“Come on Art I’m starving” he said to Art who was also searching in vain for his wife. They hopped onto the walkway that would eventually lead them back to B deck and more specifically to the officers’ mess. “You did well today Art.”

“Thanks” said Art in a subdued tone. “Nick turned out to be quite handy.”

“Yes he did. So did Obri.”

“Mmm…Fowlsit was right about Elinth. I just hope the other commanders under Elinth don’t give Obri a hard time.”

“I wouldn’t worry. Obri can look after himself.”

“But we don’t have a sleth liaison anymore. Are you going to ask for another?”

“Probably won’t need to. We’ve only got a week to go anyway. But that reminds me. I need to send Fowlsit a report tonight.”

“The burden of command” observed Art.

“Indeed.”

It wasn’t until 2200 that Dave entered his cabin. Rihan was in her gown, seated at her desk typing on her console. “Why don’t you have a shower while I finish this off” suggested Rihan without making eye contact.

Dave did as she suggested and emerged in his shorts and tee twenty minutes later ready for bed. Rihan was still seated but she had turned to face him. Dave was confused by the expression on her face. It wasn’t what he expected. She seemed to be scrutinising him. If he didn’t know any better he would say she was judging him. “Are you all right honey?” he asked.

“No, not really” she said. “Is there something you want to say to me?”

“Oh, it all ended up well down there…well not for Elinth. But…”

“No, not about what happened today. I’ve already read the reports.”

There was no mistaking that she was annoyed about something. “What’s the matter honey?” asked Dave and he stepped towards her. But she brushed him away and pointed for him to take the seat at his desk. Dave did so warily. “Have I fucked something up?”

“Maybe. When where you planning on telling me that you were going to run for Chief Minister?”

Dave’s tired mind suddenly felt overwhelmed. “Who put that notion into your head?”

“Oh, don’t go there Dave. I saw the message Charles Chen sent to you.”

“What, you went through my personal mail?” said Dave with a hint of annoyance.

“It was on your screen when I went to fetch that document from Fowlsit.”

“And you just couldn’t help yourself” said Dave with more than a hint of annoyance. “You know it was marked personal for a reason.”

“I thought we agreed to share everything” said Rihan, raising her volume a notch, “and be completely open…especially about a decision as important as this.” She raised her volume a notch.

“I haven’t decided anything. I told Chen I couldn’t give him an answer one way or the other till this war was over. That’s the truth honey.”

“Then why didn’t you discuss this with me?” said Rihan, her volume going up another notch.

“Because I didn’t want to distract you” replied Dave lifting his voice now.

“Oh, so I’m the simpleton who can manage the Fleets biggest ship but can’t be trusted to consider such a life changing course of action.” Her eyes were sending daggers at Dave.

“I didn’t mean it like that” said Dave defensively.

“No, then why don’t you tell me the truth.”

“I just did” countered Dave, his annoyance rising again.

“Well that’s not good enough - not for me anyway.”

“Oh and what pray tell would be good enough for you then?”

Rihan stood up and, with her hands on her hips, almost yelled “What would be good enough is what I thought we agreed to when we got married, to be completely honest with each other, to share everything and to always think of the other.”

Dave stood up too. He was about to blurt out something but in that moment he remembered the four gates of speech and while what he was about to say was indeed the truth and it was necessary and the right time, it was not kind. He took a deep breath in and he tried to reach out and take her hands but she stepped back and tilted her head to warn him off trying to make physical contact. So instead Dave sat back in his chair and motioned with his hand for her to do likewise.

In the past she would not have obliged him. But she recognised that a shift had just occurred in Dave. He was trying to be conciliatory and so she took a deep breath in and decided to match him by sitting down. Even so, there was a half wary expression on her face.

“I’m sorry honey” he said sincerely. “I should have told you when he first raised the idea. It was only last month just before we headed here. I begged him off then but he’s been sending me weekly updates on political matters ever since. Believe me I have not told him I would run. I would never do that without first consulting you. I just didn’t want to have to focus on this matter while we’re supposed to be bringing this war to an end.”

She looked at his pleading blue eyes and her heart melted. Her light green eyes widened and her face softened. She nodded her head. “Now that wasn’t too difficult, was it” she said. She leaned forward and brushed his fringe back with her hand.

He reciprocated brushing her long curls away from her eyes. “I’ve had teeth pulled with less difficulty” he said with a gentle smile. He received a gentle slap on his cheek for his effort. But she followed that up with a smile of her own. It proved irresistible to Dave. He took her face between both hands and kissed her on the lips gently.

She opened her lips and flicked her tongue at his. He darted his tongue out to meet hers and then felt the back of his head being pulled towards her as she forced her tongue into his mouth. The move sent a spike of passion coursing through Dave’s body as she pulled him off his chair towards her. She broke from the kiss and leant back on her chair. He pulled off her nickers and she parted her legs wide as Dave, now on his knees, dived in.

Half an hour later Dave lay exhausted on the bed. He had already had his little death after their lovemaking but was being roused back into consciousness by Rihan’s tugging him on the shoulder. “What?” he asked with his eyes still closed.

“Do you want to run for Chief Minister?” asked Rihan.

“I knew it” he said forcing his eyes open.

“Knew what?”

“That you just couldn’t leave this alone.”

“Well how can you. You haven’t answered my question.”

“I don’t know. I don’t really want to think about this right now. I’ve just been responsible for killing two senior allied officers, Ivan’s in the middle of shit fight on Krinkuln and I haven’t heard back from Meg in Lenxl. These are real immediate issues for which I have responsibility and you want me to devote precious down time to considering the fanciful notion of running for political office.”

Rihan raised herself up onto her elbow and turned on her bedside light.

“Oh not now honey. I’m tired” pleaded Dave.

“I’m sorry. I can’t sleep until I know. This will be a complete change in our lives and it’s not just any political office. It’s the highest there is within the Federation. Come on Dave you must have a view on whether you want to or not. Even if it’s just a gut feeling.”

“You’re not going to let up are you?” Rihan shook her head. So Dave grabbed one of the pillows and put it behind him so that he was now sitting up in bed. Rihan did likewise and looked at him expectantly. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

“Well it’s not every day something like this comes your way.”

“True. I suppose… yes I’m interested. I’ve always had an interest in the big political issues” said Dave. Rihan nodded. “But there so much crap that comes with the politics. There’s all the media; nothings private; half the people hate you…”

“And the other half love you” interjected Rihan.

“Maybe, if you’re lucky. It never lasts anyway. There are things I would like to change…you know the things we’ve discussed.” Rihan nodded again. “But who’s to say that I could actually be effective in implementing those. I don’t know. I’d be a relative novice.”

“You could be the ‘breathe of fresh air’ the system needs Dave. I think you should go for it.”

“You do? I thought you’d be dead against it.”

Rihan smiled triumphantly. “It’s nice to know that I can still surprise you.”

“But what about starting a family?”

“Oh you won’t get out of that responsibility. I won’t be the first, First Lady to be pregnant. No, I think you should go for it. When does Charles expect an answer?”

“End of February.”

“Right then we’ve got some time to think about all the conditions we’ll insist on before we accept.”

“Ah, so we’ll be accepting, will we?” asked Dave emphasising the ‘we’ll’.

“Of course. We’re partners right?”

“Hum” chuckled Dave. Then a more serious expression came across his face. “We do need time to consider this. There’s probably a ton of factors we haven’t touched on and they may preclude acceptance.”

“Fair enough” said Rihan and she leaned over and gave a Dave a peck on his cheek. “I’m good now” she added and tossed the extra pillow and turned the light out.

“Well I’m glad that’s resolved to your satisfaction maam” said Dave as he too tossed his extra pillow. He cuddled into her back and fell almost instantly to sleep.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

The story continues.

Visit
www.warpdrivepublishing.com
for more details.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Call to Arms

Chapter 1. Resolute over Q2, 2340, 6 September 2513

Chapter 2. Kiev in warp to Q2 1200, 6 September

Chapter 3. Cornacopia to Polaris 1345, 6 September

Chapter 4. Kiev to Q2 1500, 6 September

Chapter 5. Cornucopia to Polaris 0400, 7 September

Chapter 6. Resolute over Q2 0610, 7 September

Chapter 7. Kiev to Q2 2100, 7 September

Chapter 8. Phantom over Cheklin 0400, 8 September

Chapter 9. LZ Alpha Cheklin 0510, 8 September

Chapter 10. Neeblo 0600, 8 September

Chapter 11. Cornucopia to Polaris 0730, 8 September

Chapter 12. Kiev to Q2 0800, 8 September

Chapter 13. Slidwon, Istridium 0830, 8 September

Chapter 14. Neeblo 0900, 8 September

Chapter 15. Phantom over Cheklin 1600, 8 September

Chapter 16. Neeblo 1615, 8 September

Chapter 17. Cornucopia 0700, 9 September

Chapter 18. Intikrus, Raidom 0900, 10 September

Chapter 19. Resolute over Q2 0930, 10 September

Chapter 20. Cornucopia to Polaris 0945, 10 September

Chapter 21. Washington DC 1000, 10 September

Chapter 22. Intikrus 1500, 10 September

Chapter 23. Resolute over Q2 2100, 10 September

Chapter 24. Cornucopia to Polaris 0815, 11 September

Chapter 25. IRS Batlasan to Qwantum 1100, 11 September

Chapter 26. Resolute over Q2 1600, 11 September

Chapter 27. Resolute over Q2 0630, 12 September

Chapter 28. Aspliar over Nilsun2 0800, 12 September

Chapter 29. Cornucopia to Polaris 0815, 12 September

Chapter 30. Neeblo, Cheklin 0900, 12 September

Chapter 31. Resolute over Q2 0930, 12 September

Chapter 32. Slidwon 1430, 12 September

Chapter 33. Slidwon 1630, 12 September

Chapter 34. Cornucopia 0815, 13 September

Chapter 35. Washington DC 0915, 13 September

Chapter 36. Slidwon 1600, 13 September

Chapter 37. Intikrus 1700, 13 September

Chapter 38. Neeblo 2000, 13 September

Chapter 39. Phantom over Cheklin 0520, 14 September

Chapter 40. Hopper to Neeblo 0530, 14 September

Chapter 41. Neeblo 0600, 14 September

Chapter 42. IRS Venlin over Cheklin 0630, 14 September