Page 55 of Clan and Command

Piras gaped at him. “Damn it, are they that stupid? It’s a wonder we haven’t destroyed them yet.” As Kila eyed him, waiting patiently, Piras threw his hands in the air. The answer was so obvious to him, it never occurred to him that no one else would figure out what was to be done. “I guess I have to run the whole revolt for them? It means a distraction, dimwit. Maf needs to stage a diversion that will cause the majority of the Empire’s fleet to go the wrong way. Then his attack force hauls ass to Laro while our ships are occupied.”

Having made the matter clear, Piras picked up his knife to deal with the remainder of his breakfast and discovered he’d already eaten it all. Muttering about idiots who couldn’t see the noses on their own faces, he dropped the knife on the table, enjoying the clatter. Lokmi’s snickers at the sullen look on Kila’s face made Piras feel better.

The Nobek recovered, his demeanor becoming one of wounded dignity. “I’m only the messenger. I thought a diversion was also the apparent answer. However, I wanted to know if you’d come up with anything they could use, and thus endear yourself to our glorious revolution.”

Piras rolled his eyes. “Of course I have ideas. Since I’m apparently the sole owner of a brain, I will draw up the plan. I will spell out, in rudimentary steps any witless idiot can follow, a diversion that will allow Maf’s vessels to get to Laro before Fleet Command notices.”

“Ah, Piras. Why did I ever doubt you?”

“Because you’re an asshole.”

Lokmi laughed hard at that. His enjoyment of Kila being put in his place was so infectious that Piras joined him in the hilarity. Kila gave them both a deadly look that promised pain and suffering.

Maybe Piras should have been worried, but it only made him laugh harder.

Lokmi recovered and switched subjects. “Admiral – Piras? May I call you by name for off-duty conversations?”

Piras felt a flicker of warmth at the request. “Please do.”

“All the ship models in your home. You built those?”

“It’s my hobby. I do them all from scratch. They are accurate to the smallest detail.” Piras wasn’t trying to brag, but he was proud of his craftsmanship. He worked hard on his miniatures.

Lokmi seemed impressed. “I couldn’t help but admire them. Where did you learn to do such complex work?”

“My fathers are builders. They do large-scale projects like buildings and structures. My Dramok father always insisted that a project be both sound in its functionality and a delight to look upon. His designs are intricate. Artistic, really.”

“I assume you were trained to some degree by your parents? How did you go from architecture to model ships?”

“I wanted to join the fleet from an early age. The quiet of space appealed to me. Building models was an expression of that wish.”

Kila crooked a brow. “Quiet was your impetus to become a fleet officer? Did you have loud Nobek brothers or something?”

Piras’s face heated. Pre-emptive anger disrupted his happy feelings as he guessed how a full explanation would be received. “No, the noise came from elsewhere.”

Kila waited, his brow still raised. Piras did not want his judgment but felt compelled to explain. “My mother is an anxious person.”

Kila maintained his expectant silence. It was Lokmi who prodded him. “In what way?”

He gave them both a warning look. “Constantly asking questions, second-guessing things, fretting and worrying. She can’t even wait for answers to her questions, because she’s already on to the next concern.”

Kila nodded. “Space was your escape. You joined the fleet to get away from your mother.”

Piras glowered. “Do not for one second think that I do not hold her in the highest of regard. She is a wonderful person who cares deeply for everyone around her.”

Lokmi’s tone was textbook diplomacy. “But the amount of worrying she does is taxing to you.”

“Her love for you drives her to behave in a way that demands you find some distance.” Kila nodded. “That does not make her a bad person. As a Dramok who likes to command the parts of life she would know about—” his eyes twinkled evilly “—not being able to control such a level of anxiety would drive you crazy.”

They understood and believed him. Piras relaxed. “She can barely sleep a full night for all the agonizing she does. I can’t keep her from doing it. Being in space meant I could escape some of that, that I could control the amount of upset she felt she needed to share with me.”

“Does she live near here?”

“No. I was able to use Fleet Headquarters location as a good reason to not live on the Esofu Continent near my parents.”

Kila sighed. “Mothers and fathers. They are a demanding lot, though they do it out of love.”

Piras regarded him. “Your parent clan is legendary. Were their demands the reason you didn’t remain in shuttle racing?”

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