Space Unicorn

Chapter 5

JGSS Chicxulub

High Jovian Orbit

Rear Admiral Margaret Skullnick, Commander in Chief, Jovian Fleet, was a tall, heavyset, imposing figure. Her regulation-length hair stood on end in microgravity, adding a full ten centimeters to her considerable height. Her cabin on the JGSS Chicxulub was spartan even by Space Force standards, the Rear Admiral having declined to personalize the various screens and smart-walls.

Commander Marco Ubaldo Diaz floated at attention, his feet firmly anchored to the magnetic strip on the floor, as Skullnick continued her tirade.

"...do you have any idea how much is at stake here? Twenty million of your fellow Pacificans live in the Jovian System, in fragile bubbles of rock, metal, ice and air. Out here, a single shot to a major life support subsystem means a slow death for hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Joint Government citizens! Decades of effort to bring Civilization to the Outer System down the drain! Billions of dollars of capital, labor, and stock values – gone! We are not seeking war, Commander Diaz, is that clear?"

Marco stiffly nodded, his face impassive. "Yes, admiral. I understand."

Admiral Skullnick paused, and broke into a wide grin. "Okay, that'll do for the politicians if they want to make nice with the barbarians. Excellent work, Commander Diaz! You handled your ship well, and won a toe-to-toe battle with a Japanese destroyer. You were pressing your luck a little by boarding that ship, but you knew an intelligence and propaganda coup when you saw one, didn't you, Commander?" Skullnick raised an eyebrow.

Marco grinned faintly, and nodded slowly, all the while wondering if enemy peace offerings were equally insincere.

Noting Marco's obvious discomfort, the Admiral floated closer, and patted his shoulder. "Relax, Diaz. The Japanese and Euros started this. You did nothing wrong. Like I said, we have too much blood and treasure riding on the Outer System to want a war out here. The Euros, Japanese, and East Afros, on the other hand – they don't have much to lose in the Outer System except Saturn's Helium-three. Keeping us tied up out here with a warm war helps them win the cold one on Earth."

Marco pinched his chin as he tried to evaluate the costs of the terrestrial cold war, proxy wars and all. Skullnick smiled.

"Thoughtful as always, Commander Diaz. You'll fit in perfectly with the other doctrine-writing eggheads at Warfare Development Command once you've punched your card out here."

Marco's ears turned red.

Skullnick chuckled. "You know, when Admiral Wong forced you on my fleet, I was pretty mad. You were obviously out here to sweeten up your service record, and babysitting that corporate science team – with some CEO's daughter onboard to boot - was pretty much the safest job imaginable out here. Plus, a Commander at your age – definitely a fast-tracker for staff work."

Marco gulped once, and frowned.

"Relax, Diaz. You're a good commander, and I'm actually going to miss you when you leave for another theater – or go back to Xi'an to write doctrine."

Much to his own surprise, Marco maintained his expression of displeasure. "Admiral, while I am not qualified to assess her work, my impression has been that Dr. Butterfly is a highly competent scientist leading a valuable, profitable research team. She is also my good friend."

Skullnick nodded, her expression inscrutable. "Of course, Commander Diaz. I stand corrected. And I like people who stand up for their friends."

Marco attempted to decipher Skullnick's even tone. Was she irritated that Diaz had challenged her? Had Marco caused her to lose face? Or did she really mean what she said?