First Comes Duty (The Hope Island Chronicles Book 2) by PJ Strebor Page A

Francorum.”
    Nathan’s wry smile finally made an appearance. “I have no great love for Francorum. You, better than most, know why, but I’m aware of my duty, Captain.” His smile turned lethal. “To do otherwise would be highly unprofessional of me, wouldn’t it? Besides, I can wait. It’s only a matter of time before Bretain and Francorum go to war, and unless history proves me wrong, Athens will be caught right in the middle of it.”
    “I cannot tell you how relieved I am,” Bradman said sardonically. “That’s all for now. You had better report to the” —he cleared his throat— “D-O, and get squared away. Then you can get back to that pretty wife and daughter of yours.”
    “Aye-aye, Captain.” He turned to the hatch, then Bradman recalled the protocol.
    “Oh, by the way, Mister Telford?”
    “Sir?”
    Bradman held out his hand. “Welcome aboard.”
    They exchanged a firm handshake before Telford left.
    Bradman remained standing for a minute, thinking about the brief meeting with his newest officer. The young man had the guts to stand up to his captain, but did he have the brains to know when to back off? His recklessly stubborn streak was something else Donny Waugh had mentioned. Bradman reengaged the briefing room pickups and thought about his next order of business.
    The corridor hatch chime sounded.
    “Ad-mit.”
    The boat’s fighter operations officer stepped into the briefing room, the threat of a snarl forming on her face. “We need to talk.” From her manner, this would not be a social visit.
    Bradman slumped into his chair with a bone-weary groan.
     

CHAPTER 16
     
    Date: 6 th February, 322 ASC.
    Position: Junior officers’ quarters (married), Sentinel Hector.
    Status: Farewells.
     
    Nathan, Livy and Ellen had arrived at Sentinel Hector two days earlier, and since then Livy had done wonders with the place. Junior officer married quarters were always basic, but here on the dead world of Thebes, with living space at an absolute premium, the challenges grew.
    The planet carried a minus-four T-class rating, making it officially incapable of sustaining human life. An airless rock useless for anything except its strategic location.
    Following an investment of billions of dollars and many years of painstaking excavation, life had once again returned to the dead world. Buried deep within a solid mountain range, Sentinel Hector represented an artificial environment within the planet, replacing the lost ecosystem that had once flourished on the surface.  
    The base mirrored the tight constrictions of a monitor attack boat. Though it was even smaller than their quarters on Minos, Nathan and Livy still loved their little nook in the ground, because the three of them were together. While Nathan went out on patrol, Livy would take up her position at the base school. Trained teachers were always in demand on monitor bases.
    Zero-five-hundred hours, and Nathan had been awake for an hour. Sleep had eluded him and restlessness drove him from their bed. He took a shower and partly changed into Class As, had a light breakfast and began to pack. His foot locker had been sent aboard yesterday. Nathan crammed an extra pair of socks into his duffel and glanced at the cylinder resting in the corner of the living room.
    How many lives had he taken with the bow? Ten? Twenty? It didn’t matter. They were only Pruessens, after all, and headhunters to boot. He placed the bow case beside his duffel, then glanced at the time. Still too early to report aboard.
    Nathan dropped onto the modest lounge. His mind wandered for moments before the demons returned to taunt him. They had not beset him in over a year, but chose now to burden him. Why now, after so long? The forthcoming deployment, perhaps? Nathan snapped awake, rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock. He had nodded off for an hour.  
    Beside him, Livy sat with Ellen cradled in her arms. “You seemed troubled, so I thought I better wake you,” she