Rebel by Mike Resnick

flame, and became a white-hot ball of destruction. The ships, which were not visible on the screen, couldn't have fired for more than two or three seconds, but the planet was still glowing an hour later.
    "They did it!" said Briggs in shocked tones. "They really did it."
    "What do you expect?" said Sharon's voice. "They're the Navy."
    "They killed two million innocent beings, just like that!" continued Briggs.
    "They couldn't find us, and they were determined to kill somebody," said Sharon.
    "It's . . . it's . . ." Briggs was so furious he couldn't find the words.
    "And the worst part of it is that no one's going to lift a finger," said Sharon. "We're the Inner Frontier. The goddamned Navy comes and goes where its wants and kills who it wants. And those bastards are going to get away with it, just like they always do."
    Cole stared at the glowing ember that just moments ago had been a thriving world, his face an emotionless mask.
    "No they're not," he said grimly. "Not this time."

 
    Cole decided it was time to have a conversation with the Platinum Duke. He half-expected the Duke would be in bed, but the Duke was up and trying half a dozen different types of hangover cures, each of them so noxious-looking that Cole felt they could scare a man off liquor for life.
    "You've been out here a long time," said Cole. "You know most of your clientele."
    "My regulars, yes."
    "That's what I mean," replied Cole. "And you have no love for the Navy. I assume you've shared that sentiment with some of them?"
    "Of course."
    "I want a list of those who agree, or at least will listen with some sympathy."
    The Duke's human eyes stared out at Cole from his platinum face. "You're really serious about this, aren't you? I mean, it's not going to be one or two attacks for payback and then out, is it?"
    "No, it's not. This isn't the Republic I was brought up to honor, and it's not the Navy I was sworn to serve."
    "It never was," said the Duke.
    "Perhaps," agreed Cole. "But if we don't keep them out of the Frontier, eventually they'll destroy another dozen planetary populations looking for us, and two dozen more because we have the temerity to defend ourselves. Someone had to stand up and say 'enough is enough.'"
    "Nobody has yet."
    "There hasn't been a Navy ship and crew taking up permanent residence here yet," Cole responded.
    "I admire you, Wilson," said the Duke. "You remind me of all the reasons I want to see Susan Garcia dead. I wonder if she's still the Fleet Admiral."
    "She was three and a half years ago," said Cole.
    "You think she knows about Braccio II?"
    Cole shook his head. "Not a chance. She's busy fighting a war. This is a sideshow."
    "Damn!" said the Duke. "I wish I could blame her."
    "You can."
    "But you said—"
    "I said she almost certainly doesn't know about Braccio," said Cole. "That doesn't mean that she hasn't set a tone that encourages such things."
    "So she encourages slaughters, and then jails you for refusing to destroy a populated Republic world. Okay, I feel good about hating her again."
    Cole smiled. "I'm glad I could bring a little sunshine into your day. But in all honesty, she's just another victim. They replaced four admirals over the years for not winning the war, and now it's her turn: she wins or she gets fired, though of course they'll come up with a more palatable word for it. She's under so much pressure to win this thing that I suspect there's nothing she won't do, and that kind of attitude filters down."
    "You're too generous."
    "Just realistic," he said. "The circumstances of her leadership don't make her any less my enemy." He paused. "I need a meeting place for all the members of my fleet."
    "I've got a little theater I can let you use," said the Duke. "Six hundred seats."
    "That'll do. I think we number about five hundred forty," said Cole. "I also need to talk finances with you."
    "I was waiting for this," said the Duke ironically.
    "You're the richest man I know," said Cole. "You're going to have to