Tanya Huff - The Better Part of Valor (Confederation)

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The Better Part of Valor

By

Tanya Huff

Table of Contents

Tanya Huff

THE

BETTER PART OF VALOR

DAW BOOKS, INC.

DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, FOUNDER

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

ELIZABETH R. WOLLHEIM

SHEILA E. GILBERT

PUBLISHERS

www.dawbooks.com

Copyright 2002 by Tanya Huff.

Cover art by Paul Youll.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1217.

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Putnam Inc.

First Printing, March 2002

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED

U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

MARCA REGISTRADA.

HECHO EN U.S.A.

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

The worst of times bring out the best of people.

This is for the rescue workers who died going up the stairs.

Chapter One

AND the moral of the story: never call a two star general a bastard to his face.

Stretching out his regenerated leg, Captain Rose leaned away from his desk and drummed his fingers against the inert plastic trim. Im a little surprised you didnt already know that.

You and me both, sir. Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr stared down at the generals orders on her slate. You and me both.

Still, I suppose you could consider it a compliment that General Morris wants you on this reconnaissance mission.

Yes, sir, but somehow when I think of an unidentified alien vessel drifting dead in space the word that tends to stick is dead. And Ive barely recovered from the last time the general took a personal interest. Before looking up, she cleared her screen with more emphasis than was strictly necessary. Considering how the diplomatic part of the last mission got redefined as getting our asses kicked, I just hope I can survive what he considers recon.

The captain smiled, pale skin creasing at the corners of both eyes. You kicked some ass yourself, Staff.

Yes, sir, I did. Although I admit I had help from a platoon of Marines and Lieutenant Jarret. Both of which, she added, I wouldnt mind having with me this time.

Should I authorize an armored unit as well?

I wish you could, sir. Hooking her slate onto her belt, Torin drew in a deep breath and accepted the inevitable.

Shed made herself memorable to the top brass and would have to live with the consequencesalthough the little information she had made survive the consequences seem more accurate. He wants me on the next coreward shuttle. Therell be transportation arranged once I reach MidSector but he doesnt actually say where Im going.

Hes a general, Staff. He doesnt have to say. Ours is not to question why.

Yes, sir. The next shuttle leaves in just under two hours. Unless the generals arranged for me to skip decontamination, Ill have to hurry.

The captain nodded, agreement and dismissal combined. See that you hurry back, Staff Sergeant.

Ive got a new First, and hes got a shitload of new recruits he could use your help with. This is a lousy time for you to go gallivanting around the galaxy.

Ill be sure to mention that to the general, sir.

Im hoping youre smarter than that, Staff.

Yes, sir.

Staff?

She paused, just outside the doors proximity sensor.

General Morris parentage aside, its entirely possible he recommended you for this mission because youre the best person for the job.

General Morris parentage aside, sir, I never doubted that.

And it started out as such a good day, Torin growled silently as she walked to the nearest vertical. Admin had finally cleared the files sending Binti Mashona to sniper school, Corporal Hollice was getting a well-deserved promotion to sergeant, a number of the new recruits actually seemed to have arrived with half their brains functioning, and, thanks to the situation on Silsviss, Shquo Company was so far down on the rotation that the Others would have to overrun the entire sector before they were sent back out. I should have known something would happen to fuck it up.

* Report to shuttle bay twelve for decontamination in forty-six minutes.*

Years of practice kept her from visibly reacting to her implants sudden announcement. It hadnt taken Captain Rose long to post her orders to the station system.

A quick glance up and down the vertical showed a cluster of people descending but a clear fall below them all the way to C deck. With every intention of using General Morris name not only in vain but in any way possible should the necessity arise, Torin dove headfirst down the shaft. The turn in mid-fall slowed her slightly, but she was still moving fast enough to set off the safety protocols when she grabbed the strap and swung out onto the deck.

* Please exercise more caution in the verticals. This is a level one warning.*

Torin tongued in an acknowledgment without breaking stride. She could live with a level one. It took three in a Tenday before the station reported them and shed be gone long enough that this particular warning would have been wiped by the time she returned.

Unhooking her slate, she began locking down her desk as she walkedsealing her personal folders and encrypting the rest to Sergeant Chous access codes.

Anne Chou would be senior noncom for the platoon while she was gone and would at least give Lieutenant Jarret someone hed already

Is it true, Staff?

She looked down at the Krai private whod suddenly appeared beside her. Given their difference in height, all she could see was the mottled top of his hairless head which gave no clue at all to the meaning of his question. Is what true, Ressk?

That instead of a promotion and comfy tour at Ventris Station teaching diritics how to survive, General Morris has detoured you to a Recon mission.

Im impressed; those orders have been on system for less than ten minutes.

Ressk lengthened his stride to keep up, bare feet slapping against the floor. I guess once you pull somebodys brass out of the fire they expect you to keep doing it.

That is the way the universe tends to function. At the lock leading to SRQ, she paused. You got a reason to be on this level, Ressk?

Sergeant Aman wants to see me, Staff. And when I saw you, I thought Id say

The pause lengthened.

Private?

His nose ridges flushed. Could you talk to the general, Staff? Exploring an unidentified alien vessel floating dead in spacethats always been my dream!

Torin blinked. Youre kidding?

No, Staff, Im not. You know there isnt a sys-op I cant get into. I could be useful on this kind of a mission.

I dont doubt that, but Im sure therell be specialists

Im faster. If its a matter of life and death, youre not going to want some specialist The word emerged somewhere between an insult and profanity. taking their time, doing everything by the book.

Ressk

I havent even read the book!

* Report to shuttle bay twelve for decontamination in thirty minutes.*

If I can, Ill talk to Captain Rose before I go.

Thanks, Staff. Youre a real chirtric.

It wasnt every day she was called a delicacy, Torin reflected as she continued toward her quarters, but even if she managed to talk to Captain Rose hed have no time to speak to the general before the shuttle left the station.

The captains Admin clerk agreed to pass the message along. You do know that captains arent in the habit of paging two star generals and suggesting they should make use of personnel with what amounts to illegal computing skills, dont you, Staff?

Not my problem. Torin thumbed her kit bag closed. I told him Id try to talk to Captain Rose. The captain was unavailable, I spoke to you. My conscience is clear. Her slate made a noise somewhere between a snort and a snicker. You have something to add, Corporal?