The Lost Stars by Jack Campbell Page B

appeared before them, invisible to everyone else. Drakon had seen images of Black Jack Geary before. The famous hero of the Alliance did not look like a hero. He looked like a man doing his job, a man who didn’t think of himself as heroic. Drakon had liked that. At the moment, Black Jack didn’t look happy about annihilating most of the enigma armada. Instead, he spoke in somber tones. “This is Admiral Geary. We have done our best to eliminate the enigma force, but some ships have gotten past us, and some of those have launched a bombardment aimed at your inhabited planet. We will continue our pursuit of the enigma ships but cannot stop the incoming bombardment. I urge you to take any possible measures to ensure the safety of your people. To the honor of our ancestors, Geary,out.”
    Morgan’s scornful voice broke the silence following the message. “Was there anything in there that we didn’t already know? General, let’sgo.”
    â€œHe did everything he could,” Iceni replied with a fiery glance at Morgan.
    â€œYes,” Drakon agreed. “I can’t fault Black Jack.” But otherwise Morgan was right. It was past time to go. But he didn’t move, feeling as if his feet were fastened to the floor, and neither did Iceni. In his mind’s eye, Drakon saw the ranks of his soldiers, the men and women who had followed him for years in battles across a score of worlds, who had lost comrades on each of those worlds while carrying out his commands. He saw them standing firm to hold back panicked crowds while a shuttle carrying Drakon himself lifted to safety, leaving them to certain death. Beyond them he saw the white beaches of this world and the gentle slopes of its islands, he remembered the breezes off the wide waters and the setting of a sun whose particular size and tint had come to seem very familiar in a few years. To leave was one thing. To leave those soldiers and this world knowing that all would soon cease to exist was another and far harder thing.
    Even after all the years climbing the ranks of the Syndicate hierarchy, even after all that had required, there were still some things that General Artur Drakon found impossible todo.
    â€œGeneral,” Malin began again, though something in his tone conveyed his understanding that further pleas would be useless.
    Drakon shook his head. “Accompany the President when she goes off planet, Colonel Malin. She’ll need your advice and assistance.”
    Malin looked down, then back up at him. “I would rather stay, General.”
    â€œThat’s an order, Bran.”
    â€œI do not believe any punishment you threaten for disobeying orders would have much meaning under the circumstances,” Malin pointed out. “We might be able to ride it out in the headquarters complex.”
    â€œNot too damned likely,” Drakon grumbled. “All right, dammit. But get an escort set up to get President Iceni to the lift field. Make it strong. There’s going to be mass panic soon.”
    Morgan was standing nearby, her posture strangely uncertain. Uncharacteristically, she didn’t seem able to decide what to do, just watching Drakon with a fixed stare.
    â€œGo ahead, Colonel Morgan,” Drakon said. He looked over at Iceni, who herself was still standing, gazing across the command center, fists clenched at her sides. “You are to command the President’s escort and ensure she gets on a shuttle, help her commandeer a freighter in orbit, then remain with her and guard her wherever she goes. Get her out of here, get her to safety, whether she wants to go or not, and you get out safe,too.”
    â€œNo.” Morgan shook her head like someone coming out of a daze. “You—”
    â€œM-Madam President?” the supervisor called out. “Th-there’s something happening.”
    â€œ
What
is happening?” Iceni snapped, instantly focused on the situation