I could almost feel my face going red; but Director Chisomo's reaction was more friendly than what I had in mind.
"Most of our diplomats share the same opinion, Commander." he said. "However, we will still try our best to make a deal."
"Well..."
"Oh, uhm..." the Grand Admiral wanted to say something. "Commander Kagan will be happy to join the diplomatic convoy as soon as possible, but, we have a few Navy issues to solve before he can leave."
"Huh." Director Chisomo said. "I understand. Well, in that case, I will be leaving now. It was nice to meet you, Commander." He stood up to leave. I stood up as well.
"Thank you, Mr. Chisomo." After a firm handshake, he left the Grand Admiral's room. I sat back down and faced Grand Admiral Rashid.
He stared into my eyes without saying anything. Was he... trying to imply something?
"Admiral..."
"You have a lot to explain, Commander." he said.
Uh-oh.
After all, it looked like I wasn't going to escape the lecture I have been waiting for...
"I'm loyal to the people of Mars, Admiral." I said.
"About that one, there is no doubt." he said. "But unfortunately, your mindless actions have earned you quite a bad reputation. Almost... What were you up to?"
"Sir, there was a radiation leak, and we had to leave the spacedock per safety protocols." I said.
Grand Admiral kept staring at me with no reply. I did the same to him.
"Come on." he said. "That is, of course, the official report; but I know this was not the case. I worked so hard down here to keep your name clear, do you know that? You have a natural talent, and the Navy can't afford losing someone like you especially during a personnel shortage; but you are a Navy officer. You are bound to rules and orders. No commander, including me, can take a warship for sightseeing. And, you know, this is partly the reason why I had to pull you back from Lodos' command."
"It wasn't a sightseeing cruise." I replied.
"Then tell me. I deserve that much, don't you think... Commander?" he said. There was a strange emphasis on the word 'Commander'.
I gave up.
"I have received intelligence from our missing Rear Admiral." I said. "Firsthand."
"Tachibana. It was him?"
"Yes." I replied. "He had infiltrated the Mars Freedom Front leadership, and gave me an opportunity to capture them. We could put an end to the civil war!"
"Or it could be that... Tachibana had really changed sides, and he was simply trying to deceive you to move your severly damaged ship out of port." Grand Admiral said.
"I knew you would say that." I said. At this point, I wasn't scared of the reaction I would get. "And that's why I had to use tricks to get Lodos back in flight status."
"Even though there is a chance that the intelligence would be legit..." Grand Admiral kept pushing. "...by undocking a severly damaged warship, you risked the lives of countless men, as well one of the logistic back-bones of the Martian Navy. No matter how good the opportunity was, there are some things that you simply can not do. This is why we have rules and procedure, and this is why our commanders follow them to the letter!"
"We will lose this war, Admiral." I said. "You won't be talking this way once the president starts scraping the barrels and stretching every rule possible."
Grand Admiral grumpled, and didn't answer this for a while. He knew I was right.
"But it is not today." he said. "Until it comes to that... You will do as the high command says." He wasn't even trying to deny my statement. This was a lost cause from the start.
He knew it.
"Aye, sir." I said. I didn't want to keep the argument heated.
"Dismissed." he gestured me to get out of the room.
"Sir, there is something else I want to know." I said.
"Huh?"
"What is the reason for headquarters' call of Lodos to Obsidian Platform?" I asked.
"You are aware of that, aren't you?" Admiral said. "Well... Long story short, the president has a plan that could bring us a strategic victory. Even if we lose the war in the field, he thinks we can force the Federation to stand back."
"And... What exactly is the plan?" I asked.
"It is a secret." Admiral said.
"But I was a part of the crew when Lodos received the message." I said. "I have the right to know."
"Why didn't you read the following messages then?" Admiral asked. "Oh, of course, you were relieved of your duty... Commander."
I didn't push further.
"Keeping our path to victory as a secret is disturbing. But I am not going to ask for more trouble." I said.
"Not victory, but more like a stalemate." Admiral said. I didn't understand him. Was he trying to keep a secret or tell me the details he was choosing?
"Either way... I will be leaving now, preparing to leave to Earth." I said.
"Good." Admiral said. "Although the Federation doesn't attack diplomats, keep your eyes open once you are close."
"Understood."
"Godspeed. A deal with the Alliance may be our only chance... Dismissed."
I got out of the room to prepare for the flight.
In the nearby starport, sitting on pads, there were two civilian passenger transports and a small escort fleet of six fighters. Those fighters didn't have a long range, and would only provide cover until we left Mars' gravitational sphere of influence. It was a war crime to attack civilians, and it was an even worse war crime to attack envoys; so, in theory, we would be fine even without the escorts. But, as a security officer myself, it was my duty to be a bit paranoid.
I got on the landing pads the inspect the spaceships. From landing legs to windows, atmospheric control surfaces to lights, I inspected everything. Nothing seemed to be out of order.
At that time, I encountered someone, who was incidentally doing the very same thing. We saw each other and I approached him.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Oh, I am the pilot of Flight 09. And... you are from the Navy?"
"Yes." I said. "I will be the head of security during the diplomatic mission."
"Oh, well... Then let me introduce myself properly. My name is Tom, I am the pilot of... Oh, I already said that part."
"I am Commander Kagan of the Martian Navy. Nice to meet you."
I saw a group of people walking towards the spaceships.
"Oh, Commander, we were almost late. If you hop in, we will be going in no time." Tom said and boarded the ship.
I waited for the group to arrive. The group split up into two. One party boarded the other ship, while the rest came to board Flight 09. The group stopped, and someone from the crowd came up to me. Apparently, she was the envoy... She was wearing the traditional clothes of ancient Chinese culture, and had a hand fan. Her hair was made pretty well into a difficult shape, and she had ornaments all around. Sending a Chinese descendant to China as an envoy... The government was surely trying everything to please the Alliance nations.
"Nice to meet you... uhh..."
"Nuan Qing." the envoy introduced herself. "And, I suppose you will be my guard, and military advisor?"
"Yes, ma'am." I said.
Everything else was okay, but... military advisor? That was the job of the government itself, why would she need a military advisor!?