Chapter 25

[Time: 1900 hours. The day before Mars Base] 

I leaned against the door as I punched in my pass code, too tired to dig for my key card. <I think I'll get a full night's sleep before I try that again.> When the lock snapped open, I staggered through the door into my office and kicked it shut behind me. 

My terminal was still active, sliding a familiar cartoon face across its screen, but its colours were alternating between red and green. <Wonderful. I've got mail. I'm too tired for mail,> I thought as I slumped into my chair and tapped in my password and started my mail program. Fifteen messages from various people. <Who's 'Eve'? Hrmph. Next... What? A message from Eli-chan?> I brought up the message text and read the single line it contained: 'You've forgotten about the inspection tomorrow, haven't you? Naughty!' 

I slid my hand across my face. I had forgotten, and I hadn't even pressed my uniform yet. I couldn't show up for an inspection in a uniform more wrinkled than Marshall's. I killed my terminal and walked into my sleeping quarters, pulling down the other notes I'd left for myself. I don't quite know how I managed it, but I ironed my uniform and managed a functional polish on my boots and buckles before crashing into bed. 

[Time: 0530 hours] 

Once again, I woke up with the word 'Nevermore' on my lips. This time, however, it wasn't a nightmare. In fact, I'd been able to sleep fairly soundly for the last few weeks now. I crawled out of bed and double-checked my uniform to make sure I hadn't screwed it up the night before. It was fine, though I'd have to replace my epaulets. The gold threads were getting a bit frayed. I checked myself over, and realised I hadn't undressed the night before. <I'll get new ones after I get out of these clothes.>Twenty minutes later, I was jogging downtown to uniform supply, wishing that the Black Pegasus was on the way. It would have taken me an extra fifteen minutes to pass within sight of it, so I didn't make the extra effort. Besides, I'd have time later. When I got to the shop, I checked through the entire store to make sure no one in my squadron had procrastinated as far as I had before buying the epaulets. 

By 0645, I had fixed my uniform, showered, and added a little to the polishing. All I could do now was wait until eight, to give my pilots time to get in and get ready. I puttered around my office, picking up papers, reading them over, and putting them back. I was sorting idly through a stack of papers when Sergeant McArthur knocked on my door to let me know it was time. I checked my watch, took a deep breath, and stepped into the hallway. 

McArthur stepped into the briefing room and called out, "Squadron! 'TenSHUN!" before walking briskly to his own place on the far side of the room. I stepped in immediately after him and looked about. Then I realised I was still holding the paper work I'd been sorting, so I moved quickly to the podium at the front center of the room and set them down. I turned back to the squadron and looked at each of them in turn. Everyone was standing at perfect attention. 

The three flights were in front of me, with Alpha to my right, Theta to my left, and Delta immediately in front of me. Primary wings were in the front row, with secondaries standing behind. I thought to myself, <It may not be a good formation for lectures or briefings, and it may not even be a good use of available space, but it will make this inspection a hell of a lot easier.>I smiled and spoke, "Good morning, Nighthawks. I see you all received notice of today's inspection. It would be nice if you could maintain this level of quality all of the time, but that's too much to expect from any working squadron. I believe one of murphy's laws of combat states: 'No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection, and no inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.' If you spend all your time polishing your buttons, rather than polishing your technique, you won't survive on the battlefield." I allowed myself a quick smile and a glance over in Izabelle's direction, "Besides, we're only human." I paused for a moment and looked everyone over again. "Ah well. Enough chatter, let's get started." 

I stepped over to my right and started my inspection with Alpha wing. Corporals Perry and Walker both had a few small wrinkles and dangling threads, but McArthur's uniform was good enough for my tastes. 

Sergeant Nielsen's appearance, however, was somewhat lacking. His cuffs were wrinkled, his belt buckle was scratched, and his breast and pants' pockets were wrinkled and bulging. I remembered our bet from a few days before. In jest, I had said that even David Marshall would do better in inspection than he would. He had taken me seriously and put a hundred dollars on it. I was in a good mood, so I accepted rather than write him up. Now the day had come, and he'd obviously made a few other bets. I looked Nielsen in the eyes and tried to scowl, saying, "You've got a scratched buckle and your cuffs are wrinkled. And one point of advice, Sergeant... don't stuff cash into your pockets before an inspection." I heard some muffled chuckles and giggles and saw some movement in the corners of my eyes, but I didn't break my gaze from his. 

I worked my way down the front row, picking up small details and problems, but none that were too noteworthy. When I finished, I stepped back and worked my way back up the second row. These were, in general, better than the first row had been, especially when I reached Gamma's wing leader, Sergeant David Marshall. His uniform was perfectly pressed, and when I looked down at his boots, I had to fight to keep from fixing my hair in their reflection. I checked Marshall over more thoroughly than anyone else in the squadron, to make sure I didn't miss anything. I had to be honest in my bet with Nielsen. Still, I couldn't find anything wrong with Marshall's appearance, he'd even managed to get rid of his permanent 5 o'clock shadow. When I finally finished my lengthy inspection, I heard a snicker from my left. I scowled in that direction, and Sergeant Martuchi quickly snapped his gaze forward. 

Turning back to Marshall, I looked him in the eyes and tried to force my voice to as harsh a tone I could manage, but my words almost came out a chuckle. "Good job, Sergeant. Keep it up." 

He answered with a prompt, "Yes, sir!" 

I fought to keep my expression under control as I added, "Good shine on those boots, too." 

Marshall blinked, surprised, before answering quietly, "I aim to please, sir." 

The rest of the inspection went quickly, with no problems at all in Beta wing. I smiled at the shy Rasimus, trying to break through his extreme tension. I think it might have worked. When I was finished, I returned to my podium and looked at each of my pilots in turn. <These are all good people. Every last one of them. I almost regret the fact that I've come to know them so well, but then I wouldn't have so many great friends.> "Congratulations, people. You've all done an excellent job. There were a couple of things I could nit pick about, but that's all. Now we've all got work to do, and some of us are due out for patrol in about fifteen minutes, so... Dismissed." 

Everyone in the room, including myself, relaxed immediately. I had to lean against the podium to keep myself up, the release of tension was so great. The neat ranks broke into a crowd as wings and friends came together to talk, and the room filled with their voices. I was relieved that the silence had finally stopped. <I don't think I'll ever be able to do that again. It's too hard.> I started for the door, looking to get some more sleep, but Sergeant Nielsen fell into step with me. 

I smiled at him, "I got you on this one, Sergeant." He looked sheepish tried to smile back. I laughed and thumped him between the shoulder blades. "You should have more faith in your Flight mates, Nielsen. Marshall, for one, is bound to surprise you time and again. He surprises me, too. Now... about that bet-" 

He dug into his hip pockets and pulled out a handful of bills, but I waved them away as I continued, "No. I don't want it. What I do want is for you to keep your flight alive. Keep us all alive, especially yourself." 

We stepped into the hallway and he thanked me, stuffing the bills back into his pocket, and walked away. I turned and slipped into my office before anyone else could catch up with me, closing and locking the door before disappearing into my quarters and falling asleep in my dress uniform. 

[Time: 0805] 

I repeatedly smashed my alarm clock as hard as I could, but it wouldn't shut off, so I opened my eyes and realised it wasn't my alarm clock making the noise. It was the phone. I crawled out of bed and slapped the audio pickup button. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I screamed. 

There was a pause, and the timid voice of a confused male spoke. "Ummm. We're calling all the squadron commanders, Ma'am. We'll be landing at the Mars base shortly to resupply. Recon hasn't picked up anything, but Captain Gloval wants all the squadrons ready." 

"Is that it?" I growled. 

"Yes, Ma'am." 

"Good." I turned my voice sickly sweet, "Thank you very much for the call. Goodbye!" I cut the connection with an angry swipe. 

I pulled myself out of my wrinkled uniform and tossed it onto my desk while pulling on some sweats. I was about to crawl back into bed when someone knocked on my outer door. Growling like a bear, I stormed through my office and the door open, ready to bite the head off of 'He who might be stupid enough to disturb me'. 

It was Sergeant Martuchi. He looked too happy to kill outright, so I decided to let him explain himself. I growled, "What do you want?" 

His smile disappeared and he took a step back. "Is this a bad time? I can come back later if you'd like." 

<'Your violent behaviour is not appropriate at this time...'> I paused for a moment, then forced myself to calm down. "Oh no. I'm sorry, Martuchi. Come on in." I turned and walked back into my office. 

He followed, carefully. "I wanted to ask you a question, Ma'am. I... ah, was wondering about military regulations... er, in a certain area. I mean, about... ah..." 

I grabbed a fizzy from my bottom desk drawer and opened it as I sat on my desk. "What's wrong, Tony? Spit it out." Then I realised how hard he was trying not to stare. The force of this point nearly knocked me from the desk, and I remembered something I had forgotten. "Oh shit... Sorry." I blushed and apologised as I reached over, pulled the shirt from my crumpled uniform and put it on. 

He relaxed considerably after I buttoned it shut. "I have to ask you about Chris Rice... and regulations on combat relationships." 

I blinked. "You mean, you're asking me if it's all right for you to get involved with her? Tony, I don't know or care what the rules say. In fact, considering our situation, I'll even encourage it. Yes, Tony, it's all right for you to go out with Chris." I grinned at him, "In fact... Sergeant Marshall, I order you to take Sergeant Rice out to dinner tonight." 

He chuckled and beamed back at me, obviously relieved. "Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am." 

"And I want a copy of the receipt, too," I joked. "Dismissed." I tossed him a quick salute and watched him leave the room. I took a long swallow from my fizzy and leaned back, closing my eyes. 

I set the can down, stood up and started walking back to my quarters. I managed to reach the bed before someone came a-rapping upon my office door. I leaned against the wall and looked at my reflection in the mirror. <This is going to be a long day.> 

Forward to Chapter 26.
Back to Chapter 24. 

Return to the Kay Landers contents page.