Retribution by Dave O'Connor Page B

took another sip of his wine. “Do you still dance?”
    Mary looked a little surprised. “When I get the opportunity.”
    “Well” said Frank with a smile on his face “would you like to come dancing with me tomorrow evening?”
    “Oh I’m not sure what Julie’s up to.”
    “I have other plans” came the voice from the kitchen.
    Mary laughed and Frank joined in. “Then it’s settled then. I can pick you up at seven… that’s 1900 for you military types.”
    “You always were a smooth operator Frank.”
    “I try” said Frank with smile on his face.

Chapter 21. Nova Vista 2100, 3 June
    Dave and Rihan arrived back at their apartment after a lovely time at Renata’s. He sank back into his lounge chair and reflected on the lovely meal they had just had.
    The patron, Tony Sparetti, had been at his charming best. He had given them the table in the far corner where they would not attract too much attention. Tony had understood all too well how Dave wanted to avoid any media and their exploits had been all over the media since the victory on Beta Phi had been reported. Dave was thankful for Tony’s efforts and those of Phil for not publicly announcing the return of the Resolute.
    Eighteen floors above, in his own apartment Phil was also in his lounge chair and he too was in a reflective mood. He recalled how he had to come the heavy with Public Relations over the news blackout on the return of the Resolute. For them he wielded the security stick but he knew that it was just as valid to ensure the crew got a chance to unwind on their leave without any media intervention.
    Then he thought about his meeting with Vice Admiral Rudi Holland, who was responsible for operations in the Polaris sector. They were both so concerned at the rogan knowledge and intelligence of their operations that Rudi had recently begun a series of counter surveillance measures. Right now a sweep was being conducted of all planetary and orbiting bodies within the Polaris system.
    Despite the fact that Special Operations Command ran independently of Polaris HQ, Phil had made a point of developing cordial relations with Rudi. They were separate but co-located organisations. Special Operations Command had originally been based on Earth but Phil had convinced the Combined Chiefs to move his HQ to Polaris where he would be closer to the action.
    Alas Phil was still trying to relocate staff from Earth to Polaris but the war had placed a heavy demand on good staff officers. He was currently piggy backing off Rudi’s staff. Now that the operational workload had picked up in the Polaris system Rudi had recently asked Phil when his own staff resources would be arriving.
    Captain Alex Peebody had been his only dedicated staff officer in Polaris for the last twelve months. Of the other six he had had back on Earth, two were now commanding ships, one was tied up on a judicial enquiry, one was in hospital and the other two had been seconded to the Fleet Admiral’s staff and he knew they would not be coming back any day soon.
    Alex used to be his S1 responsible for Personnel and Manpower but he had been jack of all trades since he got here. Phil recognised that poor Alex was overloaded in the extreme. He could certainly employ Rihan Kabel as his operations officer but he needed to confirm that his current S3, who was recovering from some tropical disease that he could not remember the name of, would not be fit for duty anytime soon.
    So for the second time today Phil crafted a message as tactfully as he could and sent it off to his current S3. He had asked for a reply within the week. He knew it meant asking a loyal subordinate to step aside, but for what he was planning, he needed an ops officer on deck here in Polaris.
    Phil rubbed his eyes and leant back in his chair. His mind turned to the other message he had sent earlier, the one to VAdm Rose McCubbin, recently recalled back to Earth from command of the Orion sector. He knew she was now the new S3 to