Islands of Rage and Hope (eARC) by John Ringo Page B

you two statements about Walker and that is all you're going to get. Along with an order. Just leave him be is the order. He's fine where he is at the moment. That's my decision and the under secretary's. Are we clear?"
    "Yes, ma'am," Steve said thoughtfully.
    "So here are the two facts. Fact one: he's former Special Forces. Fact two: He's retired. That's all you have the need to know.
    "He likes what he's doing, he's earned what is effectively downtime and there's no better hand at training a young officer. Personally, you want him right where he is. Professionally, while he'd be an asset in your shop, he'd more or less automatically boot you out if he returned at rank. And he made the point that for social politics reasons, that wouldn't work. When you create a splinter cell to go bootstrap the Pacific, the under secretary and I have already pegged him, notionally, as CINCPAC. He doesn't know that and he doesn't need to. It's late your time. Do you have any salient questions?"
    "No, ma'am," Steve said. "That pretty much covers it."
    "Steve, seriously, he's not a threat, quite the opposite, and I know him personally, not just professionally. He's a great guy. You're lucky to have him where he's at."
    "Sort of got that, ma'am," Steve said. "I can even see him wanting to play deckhand. I miss those days myself."
    "If you need someone that's 'next level,' he's there," Brice said. "But, notionally, we're looking at next stage. Get some sleep and don't worry about Night Walker."
    "Walker?" Stacey said worriedly.
    "Turns out I can now chase you around the cabin with my mind focused on that," Steve said. "Super-secret squirrel. As trustworthy as black ops gets I suppose."
    "I was a little worried," Stacey said, nodding. "That's good to hear."
    "Hmmm..." Steve said. "Now, you have exactly one second's head start, then I'm going to tickle the life out of you."
    "I'm just glad you think pregnant women are sexy..."

    "So, how was your away time?" Sophia asked, yawning. It was past midnight and she was ready for the rack. "And I see Olga didn't make it back. No surprise."
    "What they want for parts is crazy," Celementina said. "I found a new water pump for the engine but they want a case of good booze."
    "We kept back some cases," Sophia said, shrugging. "I wonder where it came from, though."
    "Like I say," Celementina said. "Nobody turn in all their stuff they find. They trade it. They only turn in the stuff they can't trade."
    "We still have the cases," Sophia said. "And we'll know better next time. Batari?"
    "Plenty of spices and condiments," Batari said. "Good stuff, too. Prices, not so bad. I can probably get all I need with some of the jewelry and a couple of bottles."
    "Works," Sophia said. "Okay, tomorrow, we'll go in shifts, get all the stuff we need we didn't get from Squadron. Walker, you want to go over tonight?"
    "I'll take the watch, ma'am," Walker said. "You get some sleep. I can run over tomorrow evening if I want to. Any other stuff we need to know or should know?"
    "We can sleep aboard?" Celementina said. "The Boadicea . There's cabins for us if we want them. Like a hotel. Might be where Olga is."
    "There's an internet, sort of," Batari said. "Really more like Spacebook. You can check on people in the squadron. Everybody has an account already set up. Oh, and you've got to see the night sky movie."
    "Blackness, I would think," Walker said. "At least if it's current imagery."
    "You need to see it," Celementina said, looking at Sophia with an odd expression. "I'm so glad we're doing this. All we see is the boat. I didn't really understand, you know? Just see it."
    "Okay," Sophia said. "On the agenda for tomorrow. We'll see if we get Olga back so some of us can go get some...I was going to say shore leave..."
    "Big boat leave?" Walker said. "Get some sleep, Skipper. I'll take the watch."

CHAPTER 5
    "...we ain't gonna give in to these fuckin' zombies..."
    From: Collected Radio Transmissions of The Fall
    University of the