Jack grabbed the paper from his hand and looked back up. "You graduated top of your class, sir?"
"Damn straight. In any other country, I'd be close to the commanding officer right now instead of just a lowly commodore in some remote island posting."
"If you don't mind me asking, sir—why is that?"
"In one word: Bancroft."
Jack furrowed his brow in confusion. "Admiral Bancroft?"
"That's the only Bancroft I know. I don't think even that bastard has much of a family."
Jack didn't say anything further and remained silent until Lucas began to speak again.
"Anyway, did you know that Bancroft and I graduated from the academy in the same year? Bancroft was always a good student as well as a good sailor and he graduated in the number two spot. Just behind me."
"I'm sure that didn't make you very good friends," said Jack.
"Not at all. One of my only demerits at the academy came the night I socked Bancroft in the jaw for daring to hit on my girlfriend at the time. Right in front of me too, the son of a bitch." Lucas grimaced and rubbed at his chin.
"Anyway after that, he and I never stayed in the same room together if we could help it. My career showed a lot of promise from the start. I was promoted into command before Bancroft and at one point, we even served on the same ship for a few months. I could've squashed him then but I thought I'd let the bygones of the academy go by. Let sleeping dogs lie as they say. I commanded several battleships and even a squadron of them for a time until Bancroft got promoted over my head. From then on, I was the head of Quiller's Cove. No more prestigious commands and no more recognition from the emperor or the navy. And about as far away from Java as you can get."
"So Bancroft used his power to banish you. He put you just far enough away that you could still be useful but stay entirely out his way."
"Bingo, Jack. You're probably wondering why I'm telling you all of this? I've heard the rumors. I know that Bancroft is the reason for your rapid rise within the navy."
"About that, I—"
"Save it, Jack. It would just fall on deaf ears. After all, Admiral Percival Bancroft is the hero of the Javan navy. And you are his star disciple. What could I possible say to derail any of that?"
"I just want you to know that there is a malevolent side to the Admiral. For now you're on his good side and enjoy it while you can. Follow the promotions and make a name for yourself. But there will come a day when Bancroft sees you more as a threat than an asset. And he will look to neutralize you that day. Learn from my mistakes, Jack."
Lucas sat back in his chair and watched Jack for several moments as he processed his last statements. When Jack next hesitated a glance at the old commodore, a surprising smile appeared on his lips.
"But you and I both know that's not why you're here. You didn't come here to listen to an old fool talk about past mistakes. You came here for an important mission. Probably the most important mission in the whole damn navy. No doubt, it was made much more complicated as of this morning."
"About that, sir, do you have any more information of what happened? Why were we attacked?"
Lucas looked at him directly. "Because war is about to start, Jack. I know it as well as you do. Bancroft knows it. Even the emperor has been preparing for it for months now. What I want to figure out is what would make the Occitanians so crazy as to shell the only Javan naval base for thousands of miles."
"Has war been declared? Could we have just not gotten the news yet?"
Lucas shook his head. "The latest radio transmissions directly from the capitol in Belfort haven't mentioned any news of war yet. We are still technically at peace."
Jack frowned. "These two Occitanian cruisers had to be the same ones that were shadowing my squadron on the way out here."
"Most likely, Jack. I haven't had any other reports of enemy ships in the area, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are keeping tabs on this place. I just don't know why they are willing to behave so recklessly when a war could be sparked at any moment."
"Unless they've finally decided they're ready for war," said Jack.
"That very well could be. If that's the case, are we ready?"