Address criticisms to [[email protected]]
 
******************************

Friday, 14 September 2266:

   “What purpose does this trip serve, Madam President,” asked Dillon Gordon, 
reporter for the ‘London Times’.

   “It gets me out of town for a day or so and gives me a chance to make up for 
a snub I did a few years ago, and I have a fund raiser dinner tonight in San 
Francisco.”

   “What snub might that be?”

   “When we commissioned the EAS Ares, on my orders, nothing was released to 
the press until after the commissioning was over and she was underway on her 
shakedown cruise. That cruise ended up lasting almost two years and cumulated 
in the saving of the Mars colony from destruction by the Drakh. We played that 
down as much as possible, but it got out to you members of the press anyway, 
thanks to the Mars colony government and the gaggle of reporters who were 
aboard the ship.”

   “Does any of this have anything to do with the fact that the second in 
command of the rebel forces that deposed Clark, Susan Ivanova, was the 
commanding officer assigned to the Ares?”

   “Yes. Captain Sheridan made a deal with me that precluded any retribution 
against any of the personnel who fought as a part of his rebel forces. That 
deal angered a great many of the then influential senior officers of the 
various service branches.”

   “In other words, they couldn’t get Sheridan or his supporters directly; so, 
they settled for what they could get.”

   “That’s what it amounts to, Dillon. I’m ashamed to admit that I went along 
with it to pacify them. Susan, General Wayne, has proven time and again that 
she was more faithful to her vows of allegiance to the Earth Alliance 
constitution than were many of those senior officers.”

   “How do you think she’ll react to your presence?”

   Luchenko hesitated; her husband didn’t.

   “She’s going to be very irritated, Mr. Dillon. Knowing how she and my wife 
behaved around one another the last time they were in the same room together, 
I’d suggest you have your cameraman be on his toes. I’m sure General Wayne is 
going to interpret this as just another attempt for the politicians to make 
photo ops, with their constituents voting in the upcoming elections in mind.”

   “Madam President?” asked Dillon. 

   “No. I’m not doing it for the photo op or the votes it may or may not 
garner, but I agree with Charles; that’s how she’ll probably interpret it. The 
real reason I’m going is to honor her for what she has accomplished during her 
career, in spite of the obstacles. Charles, show him. Also, I’m going to 
outline how the reorganization of Earthforce is going to be accomplished, or at 
least how it’s going to get started.”

   Charles Luchenko took a small box from his right coat pocket. He opened it 
and showed Dillon its contents, a complete set of collar devices for a 
lieutenant general.

   “That’s some heavy hardware,” he commented.

   “Not for the woman who’s going to be wearing them, considering what we 
expect her to accomplish,” replied the President.

   “I notice, Madam President, that we haven’t been provided with a copy of the 
speech you’re going to deliver at the ceremony.”

   “That’s because I’m still running it around in my mind. This isn’t going to 
be some canned speech that’s been carefully constructed by my staff to take 
advantage of the situation. I’m going to honor a fellow countryman, or in this 
case countrywoman. You fellows will hear it at the same time everyone else 
does.”

   “Fellow countrywoman, Madam President?” asked another reporter, whose ID 
badge identified him as John Porter, San Francisco Chronicle.

   “She and I were both born in Russia. I’m told my pessimism is only exceeded 
by hers.”

******************************

Elsewhere on the President’s plane:

   Senator Harold Mathers and a few other invited members of the legislature - 
along with selected members of the press - were occupying the aft portion of 
the President’s plane. Mathers was holding court with the reporters. In another 
part of the plane, Generals Leftcourt, Ames and - against his will - General 
Sanchez were having a discussion of their own. Major Brown had told Sanchez to 
stay the hell away from General Wayne. Leftcourt was determined to make him 
face Susan and get the truth, whatever that might, about the situation between 
them.

******************************

   “You members of the press have been supplied with copies of General Wayne’s 
outline for the reorganization of her corner of Earthforce. What you don’t know 
is that it may well be the outline for a complete reorganization of Earthforce 
itself. If you want to talk, my comrades and I would be glad to discuss that. 
After all, it has the possibility of affecting a great many of your readers,” 
said Mathers.

   Frank Morse of the Washington Post asked, “How do you feel about her plan 
Senator. I mean on first reading it seems that she is worried about how it’s 
going to affect the civilian community. That seems a bit odd for an officer.”

   “How do I feel about it? I have some misgivings, but not necessarily with 
her plan. My concerns center around the fact that the civilian leaders, the 
Senate, the House of Representatives, and the President, don’t have much if any 
input into the process because of recently passed statutes. I’m supposing that 
we could eventually modify or maybe even repeal some of them, but it would take 
a great deal of time. Unfortunately, the JCS gave her marching orders to get 
started ASAP. It’s most obvious, looking at her outline, that she has wasted no 
time in preparing to carry out her mandate. Hell, I’m told she has already 
started gathering the core of her committee in Stockton. Her candidates are so 
far all civil service personnel. Rumor has it that she’s asking people whom she 
trusts to submit names of military personnel for inclusion in the process. Like 
it or not, General Wayne isn’t wasting any time.”

   Morse asked, “I understand, senator, that you had a run-in with General 
Wayne just after the Drakh attack on Mars. What can you tell us about that?”

   “We had some words and she reminded me that she was the commanding officer 
of the Ares. She was correct. It was a bad time to... well... acting like...”

   “Like you normally act toward someone you consider your inferior, senator?” 
asked Jerry Neville, a reporter for the New York Times.

   “Something like that,” muttered Mathers.

   “Did she eventually apologize, senator?” continued Neville.

   “No. I never had the opportunity to speak to her after that,” replied 
Mathers. “The truth is I don’t think she even knew who I was.”

   “That’s not entirely true, Senator Mathers. If you remember, I introduced 
you and a whole group of VIPs to her when we first arrived onboard Ares,” said 
Walter Egan, secretary of defense, who had walked up to the group only a minute 
before Mather’s statement.

   “Now that you mention it, Walter, you did introduce the lot of us. I just 
didn’t think General Wayne paid much attention to us at that time and probably 
didn’t remember me later.”

   “Will you be speaking with her either before or after the change of command 
ceremony today?” asked Morse.

   “That remains to be seen Mr. Morse. I’d like to think that I can establish a 
better rapport with her today than I did on her ship.”

******************************

   Eagan continued walking forward in the aircraft until he came to the small 
area in which Generals Leftcourt, Ames, and Sanchez were sitting. 

   “Do you gentlemen mind if I join you?”

   “Have a seat, Walter,” said Leftcourt. “I think you’re just in time for some 
interesting revelations.”

   “Oh? How’s that?”

   “I had a very interesting conversation with General Wayne earlier this week. 
As a matter of fact, that’s why General Sanchez in accompanying us on this 
outing,” responded Leftcourt.

   Both Egan and Ames looked at the other two men expectantly. 

   “Just what is so interesting, Tom?” asked Ames.

   “Earlier this week, I got a call from Susan. She insisted that I make sure 
that her husband was present for her change of command ceremony.”

   “What’s so odd about that? I think it’s a perfectly reasonable request,” 
replied Egan. Then he continued, “Unless he was involved in something that was 
absolutely time sensitive.”

   “He wasn’t. That’s where the problem arises.”
   
   “I just know you’re going to enlighten us, Tom,” said Ames.

   General Sanchez was looking decidedly uncomfortable. “There was no reason to 
drag me all the way out here, Tom,” he complained.

   “I beg to differ, Manuel. Susan is on the warpath concerning her husband. 
She left no doubts that she wanted him there in good health. That makes me 
think I smell a rat. The only question is who is he?”

   Egan and Ames sat erect and became very attentive to what was transpiring 
between the two generals. 

   “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding, Tom,” said Sanchez.

   “Her exact words, if memory serves me right, were ‘Not over this circuit, 
general. I’ll be happy to tell you all about it, after I get my husband back. 
If I don’t, I’m going to become a very unhappy camper. I may even have to ask 
my friend Lyta to help me resolve it. I don’t think General Sanchez would 
appreciate that. Actually, I don’t think anyone in Earthforce intelligence 
would appreciate it’. Now you can tell me what the hell she meant now; or, you 
will be standing in front of me when she explains what she meant. You can bet 
that Susan will damn well tell me exactly what she means. Your presence won’t 
even cause her to hesitate. Her veiled threat tells me it’s damned serious, 
Manuel. So, what’s it to be? You tell me here, or she tells me there. I’m 
getting a gut feeling that your career may be over. Please, tell me I’m wrong.”

   Sanchez just sat and regarded the me sitting with him. He never answered 
Leftcourt’s question. After a few minutes, Sanchez asked, “What makes you think 
there is anything wrong, Tom. Certainly it can’t be garnered from what you say 
General Wayne said.”

   “No, Manuel. What sealed it for me was your lame attempts to keep from 
producing Charles Wayne. That really told me that Susan wasn’t just blowing 
smoke. The other thing was that you kept looking at someone who was there with 
you, but who was out of the video pickup’s range. Who was it, Major Brown?”

   “Regardless of what you think you know, Tom, it still doesn’t change 
anything. General Wayne is imagining things and so are you,” responded Sanchez, 
showing nothing in his facial expressions.

   “I’m glad to hear that. You’re going to be with me when Susan tells me what 
she believes. I’m anxious to see how that plays out. I’ve supported you for a 
number of years, Manuel, even when I had doubts about what you said you were 
doing. You are correct on one point though; I don’t have anything solid. I feel 
that situation may change very soon.”

   “I get the feeling that what General Wayne believes is going to shake things 
up. I want to be there when she talks to you two,” said Egan.

   “Not a problem, Walter,” replied Leftcourt. “Have you read Susan’s proposal 
for the reorganization?”

   “Yes I have. It seems to be well thought out. I’m glad I’m not doing it,” 
replied Egan.

   “Are you aware that she makes less than half as much as you do?”

   “I’m aware. She doesn’t need the money. I’ve heard rumors that she has a 
bank account that could fund the national debt of several smaller countries on 
Earth.”

   “Not only that, but Lyta Alexander offered her a job starting at something 
in the neighborhood of three million credits a year, not including perks,” 
offered Sanchez.

   Egan expressed shock at the statement. “Three million credits, not including 
perks?”

   “Yep. Hell, as a member of the IA forces she has her own assigned 
whitestar,” noted Leftcourt.

   “Maybe I’m in the wrong line of work,” replied Egan.

   “Maybe we all are,” added Ames. He added, “I’ve read her proposal, Tom. 
How’s she expect to keep the special interests at bay?” 

   “I haven’t the slightest idea, but I’m sure whatever it is it’ll work. 
Although, I’m sure those interests are going to scream bloody murder - not that 
it’ll do them any good.”

   “You seem pretty sure of her, Tom. You do know that she isn’t a magician,” 
said Sanchez.

   “The magician part remains to be seen, Manuel. She has a penchant for 
succeeding where others have - or would have - failed. I’m betting that she 
finds a way to turn their pressure tactics back on them. Remember, the special 
interests are accustomed to dealing with politicians.”

   “I’m thinking that those politicians will be how they put the pressure on 
her,” replied Sanchez.

   “She has access to an information network that is, arguably, probably better 
than yours, Manuel. Do you seriously think she’ll hesitate to use it? If there 
are skeletons in closets anywhere, I’m betting that her supporters find them.”

   “I have to agree with Tom, Manuel. She hasn’t hesitated in the past to use 
any means available to win an engagement. I’m quite sure she won’t stop now,” 
added Egan.

   That statement caused Sanchez to reflect on the fact that he was going to be 
facing Susan in only a few short hours. Considering how his last meeting with 
her had ended, he wondered if she would scan him this time. If she did, two 
things would happen. In the first place, he wouldn’t even be aware of it. In 
the second, she would become fully aware that Major Brown, with his blessing, 
was planning to kill her. He was in a bad situation and couldn’t see any way 
out of it. He would bet that Susan would say nothing to Leftcourt. She would 
want to deal with him and Major Brown personally. In his gut, he knew he 
shouldn’t have come with Leftcourt; even if it would have meant disobeying 
direct orders.

   Sanchez looked at Egan and asked, “Is it true that the President is going to 
pin a third star on her collar?”

   “It’s true, Manuel,” replied Leftcourt. “I know she was given a temporary 
promotion to major general earlier this week. I issued the orders at the behest 
of President Luchenko. It seems that the President is going to announce that 
the rank of the commander-in-chief of the Department of Design and Procurement 
has been upgraded to three stars. Since Susan is going to be its commander-in-
chief and since she is going to be spearheading the start of the planned 
restructuring of Earthforce, President Luchenko thinks it’s appropriate to give 
her a temporary promotion to lieutenant general. I, and a large number of 
senators and members of the legislature, agree with her assessment. The 
restructuring has to be done. We can’t afford to do things like we have in the 
past. There isn’t enough money to support that mode of operation.”

   Sanchez looked somewhat stunned at Leftcourt’s pronouncement. He had been 
aware that a lot was being expected of the young woman, but he never imagined 
this much was being expected. He was trying to imagine what would happen when 
Major Brown’s people killed her. There would be one hell of an outcry to find 
those responsible. He began to fear that he had allowed himself to be 
maneuvered into an untenable position by the good major. He had approved the 
murder of her husband and she damned well knew it. He was going to be facing 
her later today and he had no doubts that she would detect his complicity in 
the major’s plans for her. As he sat lost in his own thoughts he didn’t notice 
the looks that Leftcourt and Egan were giving him.

   “You know, Manuel, it’s a real awakening as to how deeply many seemingly 
innocent individuals were really full-scale active supporters of the Clark 
regime,” said Leftcourt. “Susan’s people have been doing a bang-up job of 
ferreting them out.”

   Sanchez looked thoughtfully at Leftcourt. “Is there some hidden meaning in 
that observation, Tom?” he asked.

   Leftcourt looked genuinely confused by the question. “No. I was simply 
saying that since Susan has been back on Earth, a fair number of people we 
originally thought were innocent bystanders during Clark’s reign of terror were 
really willing participants.”

   “Well, you never know what you’re going to uncover when you start turning 
over rocks,” replied Sanchez.

   Egan sat looking in Sanchez’s direction with a far away look in his eyes, 
obviously lost in thought. He was thinking about the entire conversation that 
had taken place while he was sitting here with the two generals. He was 
convinced that there was something wrong with the conversation. He just 
couldn’t figure out what it was, but he had a feeling that it concerned Susan 
Wayne. He didn’t know if that was good or bad.

   “You have a question, mister secretary?” asked Sanchez.

   Egan didn’t respond. He just sat there with that same ‘lost in thought’ look 
on his face.

   “Mister secretary?” asked Sanchez raising his voice.

   Finally, Egan looked directly at him. “You were saying something, general?”

   “Yes sir. I asked if you had a question.”

   “About what?” replied Egan.

   “You looked like you were lost in thought. I thought that maybe you had a 
question about the exchange between me and General Leftcourt.”

   Egan said, “No. No questions.”

   The men turned their thoughts to other things and Sanchez fastened his 
seatbelt and closed his eyes, saying, “Wake me when we land.”

******************************
 
0930 at the Stockton airport:
   
   Susan and Charles stood with General Zaleski watching the President’s plane 
taxi up to its parking spot on the tarmac. The mayor and vice-mayor of Stockton 
accompanied them. The President’s security detail with base security had the 
entire area covered. Their leader, Agent Francis Shaw, and two of her agents 
stood a few meters away in a position that would put her closer to the plane 
than either of the two local politicians or the two generals.

   Susan had her mental shields in place and was, with some curiosity, watching 
the aircraft taxi to a stop. Without warning someone’s thoughts tore their way 
through her shields. It took her a few moments to recognize the source of the 
very strong thoughts, General Manuel Sanchez; that identification also caused 
her to focus on those thoughts. As she did, Sanchez’s worst fears were realized.

******************************

   On the President’s plane, General Sanchez had been awakened from what could 
be described as a full-fledged nightmare. He opened his eyes slowly surveying 
his immediate surroundings and realized that the feelings and images of being 
tied on a spit and being roasted slowly on an open fire while Susan Wayne 
looked on and laughed a maniacal laugh wasn’t real. He had regained his inner 
composure and his traveling companions were none the wiser. As the plane came 
to a stop, he looked out the window and there she was; standing on the tarmac 
awaiting the arrival of President Luchenko. The fear the nightmare had 
engendered in him came sharply into focus, and he unwittingly ran through the 
thoughts about his and Major Brown’s complicity in the planned murders of Susan 
and Charles Wayne. These fears and thoughts were what Susan felt invade her 
mind as she waited for the plane to come to a stop.

******************************

   The plane had rolled to a stop. The ground crew rolled a stairway up to the 
door in the side of the aircraft. Two agents came out of the plane and looked 
down at Agent Francis Shaw. At her signal, one of them looked back into the 
aircraft and signaled someone there. A few seconds later, President Luchenko 
and her husband appeared in the aircraft doorway. The President stopped on the 
top of the stairway and slowly looked around at surrounding area; then she and 
her husband descended the stairs. At the bottom, she stopped and spoke with her 
chief of security, Agent Shaw. Shaking hands with the mayor and vice-mayor, she 
hesitated and exchanged some words. Moving on down the line she saluted Zaleski 
and then stopped in front of Susan. 

   Later it would be mentioned that the salute she rendered to Susan was 
unusually crisp and Susan responded in kind. 

   As Susan dropped her salute, President Luchenko asked, “Could I have a 
private word with you, General Wayne.” Susan followed Luchenko a few paces away 
from the others at the bottom of the stairs.

   President Luchenko looked at Susan and said, “I owe you an apology... No. I 
owe you a bunch of them.”

   Susan didn’t reply.

   The President continued, “I let my personal feelings cloud my better 
judgment in the past, general. I’m hoping to do better in the future... I noted 
in your record that you were born in the immediate suburbs of St. Petersburg, 
Russia – so was I; albeit a few years before you. I know it isn’t much, but it 
seems that two of us have done rather well with the cards fate has seen fit to 
deal us.”

   Susan wondered where the conversation was going, but she remained silent. 
She lowered her mental shields just enough to get a feeling of what the 
President was trying to convey. What she felt was guilt mixed with regret. She 
raised her shields back into place.

   “I not only didn’t send a representative to either the commissioning of the 
Zeus or the Ares, but I didn’t allow news about them to be released to the 
press until after the commissionings were over and done with,” said Luchenko.

   “Don’t give them a thought, Madam President. It never interfered with us 
getting our jobs done.”

   “That’s true, but it was a serious social gaff on my part.”

   Susan smiled. “In my career, if I received apologies for all the social 
gaffs that were visited upon me, I’d never live long enough to listen to all of 
them.”

   “On another subject, I’ve reviewed your presentation to the JCS. I must say 
you have a way with words. I like the method of approach you outlined to 
reorganize your new command. If it works, I intend to use it to reorganize the 
entire Earthforce. Guess who’s going to get that can of worms?”

   Susan kept her facial expression neutral. “I’m not sure I want to know the 
answer to that question. What you’re asking of me now is going to be tough 
enough.”

   “Your past record of dealing with difficult problems, situations and people 
is why you were assigned to this command. It’s easy enough to train someone to 
handle the supply side of things. I have no doubts you’ll do just fine there. 
It’s the other qualities you have that you can’t simply teach in a few weeks or 
months in a classroom. You already know what those qualities are; you’ve damned 
sure demonstrated them often enough in the past. I have no reason to not 
believe that you’ll continue to do so in the future.”

   “I’ll give it my best shot, Madam President. You know I’m going to be 
involved in a lot of turf fights before this is finished. I don’t take 
prisoners, unless I think they may have needed information. The up side is that 
my victims won’t suffer anything worse than an occasional paper cut while 
flipping through their notes.” 

   “I also understand that you are a full-fledged telepath now.”

   “Unfortunately that’s true, ma’am.”

   “You’re going to be dealing with some of the best professional liars in the 
business, General Wayne. They’ve never had to deal with someone who could tell 
that they were shading the truth before. I’m looking forward to the fireworks.”

   “Madam President, have you ever been aboard a whitestar before?”

   “No. I’ve never been aboard any Minbari ship before. Why?”

   “If you have the spare time after the ceremony, I’d like to offer you and 
your husband an escorted tour of my assigned whitestar.”

   “Your assigned whitestar?”

   “Yes ma’am. It’s assigned to me as my personal transport since I hold a 
commission in the IA Anla’shok.”

   “I’d like that, General Wayne.”

   The President and Susan rejoined the others waiting on the tarmac. 

   Just before she got into her limousine, the President looked back at Susan 
and said, “I heard that you are going to help provide the after ceremony 
entertainment.” 

   Susan looked at Zaleski as the limousine drove off a moment later, and 
asked, “What was that about?”

   “The EA symphony orchestra and your band are going to play a short concert 
for the President and the guests that have been invited to the ceremony. I 
thought you knew?”

   “No one thought to enlighten me, General Zaleski. As long as the band gets 
paid for it, I don’t have a problem, but what does that have to do with me?”

   “I understand they’ve been rehearsing a dozen or so of your favorite songs, 
or so I’m told.”

   “I’m going to rip my bandleader before this day is out.”

******************************

   It was 1100 hours and Susan had officially relieved Zaleski of command. 
Secretary of Defense Egan had made a short speech and remarks before the change 
of command had actually occurred. General Zaleski had also made a short speech 
about this being the crown of his career. Susan had kept silent, only speaking 
to actually assume command of her new department. There had followed a short 
retirement ceremony for General Zaleski and several guests had made short 
statements at that time.

   Senator Mathers stepped up to the microphone after being introduced by 
Colonel Audrey Keller who was serving as master of ceremonies.

   Mathers wasted no time getting into his prepared speech. Susan could only 
hope it wasn’t a long one. This was why she hated these things.

   Mathers started, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m quite honored to be here today. 
It isn’t often that I get to share a stage with the most accomplished killer in 
the Earthforce. I’m referring, of course, to General Susan Ivanova-Wayne. 
That’s not a slight toward General Wayne. Her proficiency at her job is what 
helped save Babylon 5 several months ago, resulted in the destruction of a 
major Drakh space station and half-dozen of their capital ships, and was 
instrumental in saving the Mars colony a few short months ago. She knows how to 
fight and win. That quality is what is most likely to permit her to complete a 
successful tour of duty at this command, especially considering the other 
assignment that President Luchenko is about to hand her. I’ll let the President 
tell you about that.

   I have a couple of confessions to make. The first is that several years ago, 
I led the fight to keep the Ares from being built. After General Wayne, then 
Captain Ivanova, convinced the President and designers to make major changes to 
the Ares, the price tag went completely out of sight. The ship cost us five 
billion credits before it was completed and sent out on its first mission, a 
mission that lasted almost twenty-two months. All during that time, my comrades 
in the Senate and House of Representatives and I used that expenditure to beat 
down President Luchenko. It’s part of our job description as the opposing 
party. If the tables were turned, I’m sure the President’s party would do the 
same to my party. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be doing their jobs. That being 
said, the events at Babylon 5, that Drakh space station, and the Mars colony 
have proven the extremely good foresight of General Wayne. I was on board the 
Ares during the Mars colony battle. If not for the General’s obstinacy about 
her recommended changes to the Ares, I wouldn’t be here and neither would 
Secretary Egan, President Luchenko and a number of our other leaders; the Mars 
colony would be history and a million or so bodies would be littering the 
Martian landscape.” 

   Mathers continued to talk for another fifteen minutes before ending by 
saying, “I’m going to fight General Wayne over her cuts and budgets starting at 
day one; but it won’t be anything personal – even if she did threaten to throw 
me into the Ares’ brig. Fortunately, as she has said before, in our battles, 
the worst bodily injury anyone is likely to suffer is a paper cut. Whatever my 
political position, I’m quite sure she is the right person for this job. Why? 
If for no other reason, she dislikes all politicians equally regardless of 
their political affiliation. Truthfully though, she brings a very unique set of 
job skills to this assignment. Skills and experiences no supply officer will 
ever have. I leave it to her and President Luchenko to elaborate on those 
subjects.” Mathers signaled for Colonel Keller to take the podium.

   Colonel Keller introduced President Luchenko and stepped away from the 
podium. Luchenko motioned for Susan to join her. Susan stepped up beside the 
President and assumed a stance of parade rest.

   “Ladies and gentlemen. This isn’t going to be a political speech. I’ll save 
that for the fundraiser dinner tonight in San Francisco. Instead, I want to 
explain how General Wayne came to be here in this position today. I’m impressed 
by the number of people who can’t possibly imagine why a highly decorated 
unrestricted line officer with an unsurpassed combat record would be assigned 
to command what is so obviously a very large supply outfit. Well, it’s simple 
really. This command is shifting its mode of operation starting today. In the 
past, the Department of Design and Procurement was just that. It functioned as 
a design review and approval unit and also as the approval arm of the 
procurement section. If we were continuing to do things as we have done in the 
past, no changes would be necessary; however, that’s no longer the case. After 
the recent civil war, we became an active member of the Interstellar Alliance. 
When we became a part of that organization, we immediately gained access to new 
technologies and markets for our products, both natural and manufactured. We 
also lost the control we had over our former colonies, but gained 
responsibilities in guaranteeing the safety of those colonies as well as other 
members of the IA. This is what has happened to all the signatory members of 
the IA. The IA is comprised of something in the neighborhood of two hundred 
races at last count. 

   Needless to say, but I’m going to say it anyway, we have to review how we do 
business in the military and foreign relations arenas. We can no longer look at 
something we want and go out and buy it. We have to be very aware of our 
responsibilities both domestic and foreign. Part of our military planning and 
spending has to take into account the changes I mentioned. Unfortunately, we 
don’t train our supply officers to be conversant with the idiosyncrasies of 
combat and foreign relations including the many treaties and trade agreements 
we have with members of the IA and some of the non-aligned worlds. In addition, 
they will need to know how to run a very large operation on a shoestring 
budget, if need be. Better yet, having experience running a large operation 
with no income at all will be considered a plus. You will have to reluctantly 
admit that finding someone who can fill that bill would be almost impossible. 
After we reviewed all of our requirements, we added one more. They must have 
demonstrated an unshakable fidelity to the Earth Alliance constitution. The 
foregoing items are why this command is being raised to three star status. When 
we factored all of that mess in, we came up with exactly two candidates. One 
has a prior commitment; the other was then Captain Susan Ivanova, now known as 
Major General Susan Ivanova-Wayne. She almost became unavailable recently. 
Fortunately, that did not happen. 

   We would be in a very bad position if she weren’t available, because it 
would take four or five senior staff officers to handle the functions that have 
been added to her position description. Make no mistake about it, she has 
assumed what can only be described as awesome responsibilities. No other 
general staff officer has ever been asked to do so much. If she is successful, 
this command will be upgraded to four-star status. The problem with that is 
that there’s not likely to be anyone with her unique qualifications around to 
relieve her when it comes time for her to move on to another assignment. If she 
manages to successfully complete her present assignment, she will be expected 
to direct the complete reorganization of the remainder of Earthforce. She now 
knows that the swamp is only going to get deeper and the alligators much larger.

   Some would say that General Wayne has lived a very exciting life and I count 
myself amongst them. I learned that we were both born in St. Petersburg, 
Russia, albeit a few years apart. I grew up there and attended all my schooling 
there before I went off to college. She didn’t have that luxury, and I wonder 
if she isn’t better for it in retrospect. She was born a latent telepath.” 
Looking around at the guests, she said “Yes. I said she was born a latent 
telepath. To protect her from the Psi Corps, her mother – who became a rogue 
telepath – kept moving her from city to city and country to country. Because of 
that, she became fluent in a number of languages. She also developed a highly 
reliable ability to read people and evaluate them without doing anything more 
than observing them as they engaged in conversation. Living her life in public 
and being a latent telepath must have been very nerve-racking. To know that in 
an instant someone will happily destroy your life and lock you up without your 
having any opportunity to defend yourself – and even worse, knowing nobody will 
give a tinker’s dam – has to cause one to be diligent to an unbelievable 
degree. To make a long story short - she is writing her autobiography, so you 
can get the long version there – she has used all those adversities to hers, 
the Earth Alliance’s and the Interstellar Alliance’s benefits. Since she was 
kind enough to do that, I’m going to be kind enough to pin her new collar 
devices on.” 

   Luchenko turned to face Susan, who came to attention and sharply turned to 
face the President. President Luchenko removed the major general collar devices 
from Susan’s shirt collar ends. Her husband stepped forward and opened the box 
containing the new lieutenant general collar devices. The President carefully 
attached them to Susan’s shirt collar ends. She then stepped back Saluted Susan 
and offered her hand. Susan smartly returned the salute, shook the President’s 
hand and came to rigid attention.

   “Susan Ivanova-Wayne it is with great pride that I, with the consent of the 
Senate, authorize your appointment to Lieutenant General. It is a temporary 
appointment. It will become permanent upon your successful completion of your 
present assignment. You will be receiving your appointment to permanent two 
star status sometime after the upcoming elections when the Senate reconvenes.”

   Keeping her expression completely neutral, Susan replied, “Thank you, Madam 
President.”

   The guests applauded the President’s speech and actions. Dillon Gordon 
smiled and clapped as he remembered that the President had said that this 
speech wouldn’t be political. She was as good as her word. He found himself 
thinking, after the latter part of the President’s speech and comments that he 
really wanted to read General Wayne’s autobiography. He had a feeling it would 
be damned interesting.

   On a whim, Dillon stood up and asked in a loud voice, “Madam President, who 
was the other candidate – the one with the prior commitment?”

   Without hesitation, she replied, “John Sheridan. It seems that he’s busy 
being the President of the Interstellar Alliance.”
    
   President Luchenko then stepped back and indicated that Susan should step 
forward and make any remarks she wished. Susan stepped up behind the podium and 
slowly looked at all the faces looking back at her. Then she turned and looked 
at the people seated on the stage behind her.

   Looking thoughtful, she said, “After giving it much thought, I have to 
differ with President Luchenko. There are a great many terms that one can use 
to describe my life; however, I personally would never include ‘exciting’ 
amongst that group of words. Hazardous, most definitely; dangerous, by all 
means; dull, far too much of the time; regretful, on too many occasions; 
downright drudgery, more than you might imagine; any of a great many other 
words, at one time or another – exciting, not a chance in hell. The reasoning 
behind this statement is going to be explored at length in my autobiography. 
That’s not a plug for the book or books; that’s plain fact. I’ve tried my best 
all my life to stay below the radar horizon of everyone’s awareness. When 
you’re hiding from an entity like the Psi Corps, the last thing you want to be 
is noticed. I understand that I was a child prodigy in music. The fact that I 
play a number of different instruments and could read and write music by the 
time I learned the alphabet seems to bear that out. I have endeavored to do my 
best at all of the various assignments that I have been tasked with over the 
years. I’m told that I’ve done a fair job of it. I’m considering my present 
assignment and have come to a few conclusions. The two major political parties 
don’t want to touch the reorganization of Earthforce with a thirty-meter 
flagpole. I believe that they absolutely do not want to deal with the flak this 
reorganization is going to generate in all sectors of the economy. 

   In the past, the legislature dreamed up committees to handle these political 
hot potatoes. The problem with that was that there was a paper trail of just 
who supported what. This still left the politicians to shoulder some of the 
responsibility for the perceived negatives results of these committees’ 
decisions. Now they have the perfect way to do the dirty work and escape all 
responsibility of its negative results. I’m quite sure that they will trumpet 
their intimate involvement, however tenuous it might be, in order to take 
credit for any positive results of that same dirty work. I get the job, and not 
being an elected official, all parties can deny any responsibility for whatever 
decisions I make as suits them for their own political purposes. That being 
said, I feel that I should make my position perfectly clear.” 

   Susan hesitated a few moments then continued, “In my honest opinion, our 
elected representatives have been bought and paid for by various special 
interest groups that feed heavily from the public trough. As I said to begin 
with, that is only my own honest opinion. I want to be sure that no one 
mistakes my position on politics as it is presently practiced within the Earth 
Alliance – keeping in mind that it is far superior to just about all the other 
types in the IA and non-aligned worlds – which is this; a career politician is 
someone who will haul a roll-away bed down to New York City’s Times Square and 
gladly pimp his or her mother/father/offspring/siblings/grandparents and anyone 
else necessary in order to stay in power and keep getting re-elected to office. 
Keep in mind that this only my own heartfelt opinion. Because of my opinion, I 
consider the assignment handed to me to be my declaration of war on the people 
who want to keep things the way they are. I consider it to be a ‘take-no-
prisoners’ war. As Senator Mathers said, the only physical injuries anyone is 
likely to suffer in this war are paper cuts. I can’t necessarily guarantee the 
same for their careers.”

   The silence that followed Susan’s statement was total. Only the light breeze 
could be heard blowing through the open ends of the hangar.

   President Luchenko stepped back up to the podium and said, “Like I said 
before, General Wayne is the right person for this assignment.” Smiling at 
Susan, the President continued, “I have it on good word that General Wayne is 
going to lead her band and the Earthforce orchestra in providing us with a very 
short concert for entertainment.”

   Without another word, Susan walked up the small set of stairs to the upper 
part of the stage where her band and the orchestra were waiting. Dave Eiser, 
her bandleader, handed her a sheet of real paper. 

   “These are what we have been rehearsing with the orchestra the last few 
days, Susan. We can play them in any order you wish.”

   Susan took off her uniform cap and removed the pins holding her hair in 
place. Shaking her hair down, she picked up the acoustic guitar and sat down on 
the stool that had been provided. She performed three songs straight out of the 
Celtic style music that she loved. Two were of her writing and the third was an 
old standard, “Bonny Portmore”. 

   Looking at her audience, she said, “It would be good if you put the hearing 
protection provided to its intended use. We’re about to crank up the volume a 
bit.” She signaled the control board operator to increase the volume of the 
sound. What followed was almost forty-five minutes of non-stop music. To say 
that the hangar rocked would be an understatement. Several orchestra members 
looked across the hangar and wondered if the badly shaking windows would still 
be there when the concert was over. 

   As the last of the sound reverberations slowly died out, President Luchenko 
got up and walked over to Susan. Removing her hearing protection she said, “I 
suppose that is what the youngsters call a rocking concert.”

   Dave Eiser said, “I hope you didn’t find it too offensive, Madam President.”

   “President Luchenko, may I introduce my bandleader, Dave Eiser?”

   “Your music wasn’t offensive, Mr. Eiser. It was, shall we say, a bit 
unexpected. I’ve never felt music quite like that before.”

   “Admit it, dear. You liked it,” commented her husband.

   “You would have had a hell of a musical career, General Wayne; if you’d been 
allowed to pursue it,” noted the President.

   “You sound much better live than on the recordings, Susan. There is 
something about your presence that the recordings don’t quite capture,” 
commented General Ames as he and Leftcourt approached. 

   Susan looked at the generals then at President Luchenko. “Are you ready for 
your tour, Madam President?”

   “Can they come along?” she asked pointing to the two generals.

   “Sure. As long as there is someone to keep General Sanchez from leaving 
before I get to talk with him.”

   “Let’s go talk with him first, Susan,” said Leftcourt. “You don’t mind if I 
borrow her for a few minutes do you, Madam President?”

   “You go do that, Tom. I want to have a few minutes with General Zaleski.”

******************************

   President Luchenko, trailed by her security guards, walked off to talk with 
General Zaleski while Susan, Leftcourt and Ames went to talk with Secretary 
Egan and General Sanchez.

   On the way, Leftcourt looked at Susan and said, “What you said about 
politicians up on that stage isn’t likely to win you too many friends in the 
legislature, Susan.”

   “It wasn’t meant to, General Leftcourt. I’m going to have to fight with 
every one of them; so, they might as well know where they stand with me to 
begin with.”

   “You do know most of them supported your assignment to the Department of 
Design and Procurement and your subsequent advancement, don’t you?” asked Ames.

   “General Ames, they supported me because it allows them to escape their 
responsibilities. You don’t really think I’m so naďve as to believe they 
supported me because of any belief in me, do you?”

   “No. Not at all. The President wanted you for what you bring to the job – a 
set of unmatched skills and you are as stubborn as she is.” 

   “Do you have any idea where you will be if you finish this assignment 
successfully, Susan?” asked Leftcourt.

   “In a deeper swamp and up to my ass in larger alligators if I heard her 
correctly.”

   “Yes, but where would you have to be to actually head up the complete 
reorganization of the remainder of Earthforce?”

   Susan looked him with a questioning look. “I have no idea, General 
Leftcourt.”

   “Tom’s looking forward to retirement in the next couple of years, Susan. 
Just as soon as he and Luchenko can find someone suitable to replace him,” 
commented Ames.

   “There must be several dozen senior general officers drooling over the 
prospect of that assignment,” she noted.

   “There are, but the President, the present JCS, and I want someone with the 
qualifications necessary to allow him or her to make sure we fit into our niche 
in the Interstellar Alliance. Someone who has experience working with both the 
military and civilian power brokers of other member races.”

   Susan suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at both men. Realization 
slowly overtook her thought patterns. “You’ll have an insurrection on your 
hands, General Leftcourt.”

   “I don’t think so. I expect that you and your anonymous supporters will have 
long ago dealt with those factions by the time my retirement rolls around. I’m 
sure they’ll either be canned or retired,” he responded.

   “You people seem to be putting a hell of a lot of faith in me and my 
anonymous supporters.”

   “We’re simply betting on your track record. To date that’s been rather 
impressive,” noted Ames.

******************************
  
   President Luchenko shook hands with General Zaleski and his wife. “I am 
sorry that your retirement ceremony was cut short, General Zaleski. Someone 
with your long record of service to the Earthforce deserves better.”

   “There is a small ceremony scheduled for my people at the Officers Club at 
1300 hours, Madam President. This morning was General Wayne’s moment in the 
sun. My chief of staff and I have been wondering exactly why she was ordered in 
as my replacement. You answered that question quite nicely.”

   “You do see why the status of your former command was upgraded.”

   “Of course. You’re asking more of her than we even imagined. You are correct 
in your assessment that no supply officer has the depth and breadth of 
experience for the tasks you have set down for her. I’m just glad that I don’t 
have to try and do them.”

   “Until this morning, even she had no real idea of exactly what we truly 
expect of her. Now that she knows, I’m betting she wishes she had resigned when 
she had the chance.”

   “Madam President. Was the entertainment this morning your doing?” asked 
Zaleski’s wife.

   “No, Mrs. Zaleski. It was Earthforce PAO Colonel Jake Carns’ idea. He thinks 
it can be used in future Earthforce recruitment efforts. We’re going to use 
General Wayne in the upcoming commercials.”

******************************

   Susan, Leftcourt, and Ames approached General Sanchez and Secretary Egan.

   “Good morning Secretary Egan, General Sanchez,” said Susan cordially. “It’s 
a pleasant surprise to see you here, General Sanchez. I’m so pleased that you 
cared enough to attend.”

   Susan shook hands with Egan and then said, “Gentlemen. I need to have a few 
minutes alone with General Sanchez. General Sanchez, I think we can use the 
back seat of that limousine over there.”

   Sanchez wanted to decline, but he couldn’t think of any way to do so without 
having to answer at least a dozen questions that he didn’t want to answer. 
Susan sent the limousine driver for a walk and she and Sanchez climbed into the 
back seat of the car.

   Inside the car with the door closed, Susan looked at Sanchez and the smile 
was gone from her face.

   “I don’t know what you expect to gain from this talk, Susan,” said Sanchez. 

   “Number one, you don’t ever use my first name again, you mealy-mouthed 
weasel bastard!” she spat.

   “I don’t give a damn how many stars they give you, you don’t speak to me 
like that!” he spat back.

   The crack of her backhanding him across the mouth stopped his response. His 
face hurt from his chin to his receding hairline. He used his tongue to check 
for loose or broken teeth.

   With fury showing on her face, Susan said through gritted teeth. “If I kill 
you right here and now, I have nothing to lose, you low down son-of-a-bitch. I 
know you authorized your lapdog, Major Brown, to arrange for my murder. If you 
try to deny it, I’ll rip your mind into shreds. I’m not telekinetic to the best 
of my knowledge, but I can still induce a massive stroke into your brain. Don’t 
give me the spiel that scanning you is illegal. Authorizing my murder is rather 
illegal.”

   “Nothing you know is admissible in a court of law,” he smiled.

   “You’re more stupid than I imagined, if you think I’m going to bother with 
the authorities and legalities. I don’t need anything but a few minutes with 
you to destroy your mind, and what do you know; here we are, all alone,” now 
she was smiling and there was no humor in it.

   “You wouldn’t.” he said, a tremor finding its way into his voice.

******************************

   Susan exited the car and talked with the driver, who immediately got into 
the vehicle and drove off. Susan walked back to where Leftcourt, Egan and Ames 
were waiting.

   “General Sanchez said he was feeling tired. The driver is taking him to the 
BOQ. We can talk with him after we return from touring my whitestar.”

   Her use of the phrase ‘my whitestar’, didn’t go unnoticed.

******************************

END PART 30

Chapter 31

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