*
“So you consider yourself a good pilot?” Colonel SaleuoOros, Sirion’s group commander, sat across the desk from Sirion, asking about her flying abilities. For twenty minutes he had pummeled her with questions, each one being more accusative than the last, nearly abusive in his responses to her answers, becoming increasingly sarcastic and deprecating with each reply. He gave the girl an icy stare as he waited for her answer.
The colonel, whose name meant ‘the one who shakes down mountains’ was no stranger to Sirion. He had been a senior staff officer aboard one of the ancient fleet carrier’s during the Two Hundred Years War. Saleuo, then a major, was influential in getting Sirion pulled from active duty after a collision with another fighter in her squadron which had killed her navigator. Although an investigation confirmed the accident was caused by mechanical failure, she was removed from active fighter duty for the remainder of the war, eventually becoming a hack driver, someone who delivered new, unarmed ships from the factories to the fitting and equipping depots.
Sirion never managed frontline fighter duty again. What she didn’t know was that Mihai had made personal request of her close friend, Saleuo, to keep her little sister from harm’s way. The accident provided a good excuse to do that. So here she sat, facing the man who ruined her opportunity to fly fighters in combat. As she sparred with him, a feeling grew inside that once again he was attempting the same, using the week’s malfunctions as proof of her inability to be a trusted pilot. Well, if he wanted her head, he'd have to take it by force! She wouldn’t just hand it over!
Ignoring her pained lip, Sirion boldly replied, “Sir, only a good pilot could fly a Dumb Toby!” a nickname her squadron had for the DTBs. “I am sure you are aware of my dismal record in the 17 simulation chamber. I admit my lack of experience with that machine, but I contest anyone questioning my abilities and skills regarding others. I have been flying military craft since the Megiddo Wars and was, as you might recall, a frontline fighter pilot during the Two Hundred Years War. I…”
She was interrupted by a knock on the commander’s door.
“I think you’ve made your point, Captain. Excuse me.” Colonel Saleuo pushed himself up from his desk and walked around it, past Sirion, to personally open the door.
“Please come in, Commander.” Saleuo’s voice had instantly warmed and carried a lilting note as he addressed their visitor.
Sirion turned to see who the stranger was.
“Thank you, Commander Saleuo, for taking time from your busy schedule to consider my request.” Terey stood in the doorway, wearing a crisp, new, white dress uniform that was trimmed in sky blue - colors for Navy pilots. In one hand she carried a small package and some rolled up papers. Looking past Saleuo, she added, “I see our guest has already arrived.” She made eye contact with Sirion, who sat there dumbfounded.
Saleuo returned the salutation and replied, “I requested the captain’s company earlier. Needed to settle some details in my mind before you arrived.” He took Terey’s hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek, after which offered her a chair next to Sirion. The colonel then returned to his place behind the desk.
Sirion’s confusion was obvious. She wanted to angrily shout that it had been more of an inquisition than an information-gathering session. She chose to say nothing, not wanting to give Saleuo any more excuse to pull her from active duty.
As soon as he and Terey were settled, Saleuo began, “Patch, allow me to assure you, I have always felt you to be a good pilot, better than average. And allow me this...there were reasons other than that accident for your removal from frontline service years ago - reasons I am not at liberty to divulge.” He looked over at Terey, who nodded in agreement.
Sirion wasn’t offered time to respond, partly because the growing color in her face reflected a rising anger. Saleuo hurried on. “Those days are past and must be put aside. I do not regret my part in what was done. And if you fully understood what had been at stake, I think your reaction might be more subdued.”
He waited for Sirion to respond. She began to realize there was less anger than frustration and perceived humiliation. Those feelings still cut deeply, but growing curiosity softened her reply. She still believed some explanation was in order. Mustering control, she calmly responded, “Colonel, for over twelve hundred years, I have carried a troubled heart from my removal from frontline duty. If it was not concerning my abilities or conduct, I feel some answer is deserved.”
Saleuo caught Terey’s eye. She nodded. “All right.” He sighed. “I shall provide what I can. Leadership is served in many ways. The outcome of a battle is not always limited to the results on the field. Clear minds and sound reasoning are also important things, oft times far more important than actual combat. If poor decisions are made because minds are needlessly distracted, the entire course of war may easily be altered. There were those who feared you a distraction.”
He raised his hand to silence Sirion. “You want to know. Allow me a little more. There have been many fingers in your pie over the past millennium. There were reasons - reasons we believe warranted our actions and reasons why you were not informed. You did more to serve the cause by staying in the background than you realize.”
He shook his head. “That’s all changed now. The issue has been resolved. If you wish to kill yourself in some mortal combat, thus sparing another that fate, we will not stand in your way. Be assured, this coming war will provide many opportunities for you to accomplish it, should that be your desire. As for the past, for the moment it must remain there. I hope what you have been informed of will suffice.”
Saleuo stood and began to slowly pace while he continued, hands clasped behind his back. “Captain Sirion, I don’t dislike you. In fact, I have always been fond of my little sister. You do not remember my visits to our mother when you were but a babe. They were peaceful days back then. We would often sit on a blanket in the sun, you making bubbles with your lips the way babies often do, and playing with my beard. I nicknamed you ‘Twinkles’ because of your beautiful, big, twinkling eyes. I loved you then and that feeling has not changed.”
He turned toward Sirion, placing his hands on the table, resting his weight on his arms. Looking her in the face, he explained, “War changes things - not feelings - but things. I have responsibility for the lives of many others I love as much as I do you. I have responsibility for the safety of this fleet. I do not take my job lightly.”
The colonel resumed his former stance, but turned away so as to face the back wall. “A good pilot is not necessarily a good leader. I know you to be a good pilot. You’re also an outstanding example of valor and loyalty. Why, I have even heard songs others have made regarding the things you’ve done.” He turned around. “That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t make you a good leader!”
Sirion was caught up speechless. What was the colonel driving at? She needn’t wait long. “Captain Sirion, the fleet is in a constant state of change. Readjustments are being made to prepare for coming war. Every day, new ships are being added to the growing battle groups. Slowly, very slowly, new and reconditioned fighters are finding their way into our hands. This permits us the ability to rearrange and enlarge our squadrons. It also offers opportunity to replace older ships.”
Saleuo paused and sat. “The Sophia has received some of the new TKR14’s, the T series. These, combined with a few reconditioned older models, bring us up to sufficient strength to allow the Dumb Tobys to be shipped back for refurbishing. You know they’re solid ships, but it has been decided that they just cannot be refitted to perform on a modern carrier. They will eventually be used as ground-based units and should do quite well under those circumstances.”
“Now for you, Captain...” Colonel Saleuo allowed Sirion to collect her thoughts. “Commander Terey has honored us with her presence aboard this ship. She, in my opinion, is an outstanding leader and one of the best fighter pilo
ts in the Empire. But things being as they are, Command had to wait for an opening before we could take more advantage of her outstanding skills.”
For Sirion’s benefit, Saleuo mentioned Terey’s long history of being one of Mihai’s chief lieutenants and counselors. He added that no one had expected her to leave that post after Mihai received the crown. When she appeared on Gabrielle’s doorstep, there were no positions fitting her qualifications available. Catching Terey’s eye, he added, “Her loss has been our great gain.” Then sadly shaking his head, he lamented, “I doubt such a skilled warrior and general shall remain in our company for long.”
An underlying tone of bitterness was carried on Terey’s reply. “Any position of service where a person is made to feel of value is an honorable place to be. I am grateful to you and the other commanders aboard this ship for offering me opportunity to feel useful.”
Saleuo slapped his hands flat on his desk and exclaimed, “No matter. It is I who am grateful for your company! Should I be given the choice, I would happily follow under your banner, having you issue your wise orders for me to obey.”
He now focused his attention on Sirion. “Two new squadrons are being added to the Sophia. One of these is being placed in my battle group, bringing up its strength to four squadrons. This fourth squadron will be made up of four flights, each with four fighters. The lead two flights, one being four TKR17’s pulled from other squadrons in my battle group and the other, four new TKR14T’s. Terey’s flight of 17’s has been chosen to make up the lead element of the new squadron. The remaining two flights are to be made up from eight of the refurbished 14’s and their crews will come mainly from the DTB squadrons.”
Colonel Saleuo offhandedly commented, “I concluded, of course, that any one-eyed pilot who could manage the controls of a Dumb Toby could fly a rebuilt 14.”
The corners of Sirion’s mouth broke into a smile. Saleuo stopped her. He raised his hand toward her, palm out. “That’s not why you’ve been requested here. Allow me to continue.”
Sirion’s smile vanished. The serious look on the colonel’s face secreted any coming information. Doubt began to grow in her heart. Was she merely to receive the assignment to collect the DTB’s and oversee their return to the reconditioning shops? In an instant, a painful fear of just such a thing erupted in her chest, constricting the muscles in her throat.
“Captain Sirion!” Saleuo’s stern address shook Sirion back to the moment. “These old 14’s still are a long way from frontline fighters, but we have no choice when it comes to their use. These are high-risk machines in combat situations, and casualties among their pilots will be high. Still, the more flies for the flyswatter to smash, the more flies that will make it to the pudding.”
The colonel rose and again turned away from Sirion. “Patch, I need an officer who is willing to lead such an inferior force into combat, no matter the odds nor the outcome - someone not taken by the emotion of the moment nor afraid of accepting the death of everyone in their charge, including him or herself.”
He became silent. Soon all Sirion could hear were the motors of the clock on the wall and the beating of her own heart.
“Captain,” Saleuo started. “I know you are a good pilot. I believe you will be a good leader. Will you accept my request to be senior officer over my two flights of old 14’s?”
Sirion was speechless. The colonel’s words were slowly sinking in. Senior officer over two flights in the squadron? That would place her third in command of that same squadron. She had hoped to be in the front lines, but to be in charge of two entire flights?
“Well?” The colonel asked, turning as he did so.
Sirion’s surprised grin faded from her face. A tear was running down the man’s cheek. The import struck her. Saleuo knew war was coming. He was fully aware of the powerful weapons the enemy possessed. In his mind, he had just asked Sirion to offer herself up to a future death and order it upon seven other pilots as well. She quietly reflected on what he just told her.
Grinning anew, Sirion jumped to her feet, extending her hand. “It will be my pleasure to accept such a command! Should I suffer such a fate as you feel has been cast upon me and others with me, I assure you, it will be with no small loss upon those who oppose us!”
Sadness did not disappear from the colonel’s eyes. “Thank you. You are a beautiful person. May the wings of Cherubs guide you toward your destiny.”
Terey made a sound as though she was clearing her throat. Both the colonel and Sirion looked at her. She stood and took hold of the girl, clutching her in an impassioned embrace. Finally letting go, she reached for a little package and, after opening it, pulled out a small golden pin made in the shape of two outstretched eagle’s wings. In the oval center there was an etched design of a planet’s rim with the sun breaking over it.
Terey mused, “I do so enjoy this picture...” pointing to the etching, “I drew this long ago and had it painted on my first fighter. Never have I seen a prettier sight than to watch the sun be reborn on a crystal clear morning.” She sighed, momentarily lost in some private vision. She shook her head as if clearing it of the wistful dream. “This is your senior pilot’s insignia.” Then reaching, again, into the package, she removed cloth insignias and handed them to Sirion. “These are to be sewn on the sleeves and shoulders of your uniform and flight suit. On the bottom of each insignia are runes that, when translated, say ‘Moon Chasers’. This is the name of our squadron. I hope you like it.”
Sirion grinned, teary-eyed, as she thanked both Terey and Saleuo for the privilege of becoming a frontline pilot. “My heart is filled with a desire to repay upon my foes the gifts they so generously bestowed upon me. Should I die, it will be with the knowledge that my blows have not been delivered in futility.”
Colonel Saleuo broke in. “May your dreams find fulfillment. Some unfinished business - in hangar twelve, on deck six, you will find the ships you’re to command. Pick one out for yourself so we can get it properly painted and fitted out.”
“No!” Sirion’s response startled both the colonel and Terey. The girl apologized. “I’m sorry, Colonel. I mean, may I request that the other pilots choose their fighters first? I will accept whichever one remains. And please, don’t tell them it has been done this way.”
“Very well...” Colonel Saleuo replied. “I will notify you when your ship is ready. In the meantime, there will be a meeting at 07:30 hours tomorrow, of all the group’s commanders, including senior pilots, after which your squadron commander will introduce you to your junior officers. You have three weeks to get them into shape. Then we’re moving east on war status.”
The colonel walked around from behind his desk and hugged Sirion. She kissed him on his bearded cheek. Stepping back, he took the girl by her shoulders. “There’s still a twinkle, you know. You make me proud.”
Sirion backed up and saluted, “To victory or a quick death! And may it be our enemy’s!”
Saleuo offered a sad sigh. “Yes. Yes. May it be our enemy’s...”