Page 7 of Clan and Command

Piras mused over the proposition. He could do that with little problem. Once a decoy location was prepared, it wouldn’t be hard to send information on it to the enemy. The hard part was making the decoy look like a real objective, one worth taking.

However, it could be done. Kila might even be able to tell Piras what low-risk targets would interest Maf. “It sounds straightforward enough.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But it’s not quite so cut and dry as you’d think.” His glower got even more intense. “We need to meet outside of here so I can give you all the details.”

“You’re hiding something,” Piras accused.

Kila considered him for a moment. “Another reason I suggested you for the mission was because of your reputation as a genuine hard ass. You do what has to be done, even when the cost is high. Including any cost to yourself. You can be merciless when it comes to pursuing such a goal. That’s the man we need dealing face to face with Maf and Copeland.”

“It almost sounds like you want me to assassinate them. I was under the impression I was to try to fuck up their fleet, not look for the chance to kill them.”

“You don’t want to cut those bastards’ throats? For shame, Piras.”

The Basma had set Kalquorians against Kalquorians. Numerous people were already dead because of his revolt. Piras knew the best route to stopping the madness was to destroy Maf. He hadn’t killed many enemies in personal encounters, but as Kila said, he could do what had to be done. “Don’t be an asshole. I’ll do the job set before me. No one should doubt that. When it comes to Maf, I’d be honored to murder the asshole for Kalquor.”

“That’s nice to hear. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the opportunity. But you’re right, assassination is not your primary assignment.”

“So stop pussyfooting around about the mission, already. Tell me the end and I’ll supply the means.”

“You’ve never had a job like this one, Piras. I guarantee you that. You don’t want to hear about it here.” Kila seemed determined to press the seriousness of the situation, as if Piras had ever hesitated in his duties before.

The admiral rolled his eyes at the overdone display. “Fine. Where do you want to meet?”

The leering grin returned, making Kila look as devilish as an Earther demon. It was an expression that made Piras squirm inside.

Rather than answer, the Nobek rose and turned the sound blocker off. He tucked the device in one of the pouches attached to his belt. As he headed for the door, he said, “Your place for dinner will be fine, Admiral. I’ll bring a bottle of bohut. I like my ronka steak rare, by the way. Just show it a flame and leave it at that.”

With a laugh and a confident swagger that set Piras’s teeth on edge, Kila ordered the door open and left. It took several seconds before Piras could summon the sense to figure out what had happened. Once again, Kila had knocked him off balance.

Dinner tonight? With Kila? At his home? “Fuck,” Piras breathed.

Chapter 3

Kila stepped off the shuttle, coming into the destroyer’s bay. Sure, it was only a space to dock smaller vehicles, but he looked at it with pride. It was part of his ship, after all, and therefore a source of gratification. Everything about the destroyer fulfilled him.

The bay was well-ordered, as always. Shuttles lined up with precision in the well-lit space. Even the few offloaded shipments of food and other supplies the destroyer needed for its next assignment were in perfect order as they waited to go to their assigned places elsewhere. Those of his crew not enjoying well-earned shore leave worked at computer stations or on the shuttles themselves. They didn’t stint when it came to keeping everything perfectly maintained, and not because he would personally pound their heads in if they didn’t. They took the same satisfaction in the vessel’s well-being that Kila did. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be a part of his crew.

It was glorious, this little bay, a microcosm of the greater whole he commanded. The sights, sounds, and smells of productivity made Kila feel a curious sense of peace.

He didn’t stop to enjoy it for more than a couple of seconds. He had a lot of work to do, and he wanted to clear out as much of it as possible before meeting that evening with Piras.

Heading for the door that would take him out of the shuttle bay, Kila’s thoughts turned to the admiral. Once more, he wondered if he’d made a mistake recommending Piras for the dangerous mission ahead.

As a fleet officer, Piras seemed the perfect choice. As an admiral, the man was all Dramok – a capable if hard leader who tasked himself as severely as he did his underlings. He accepted no excuses for slipshod work, least of all from himself.

His personal matters – well, that was another issue.

Kila’s one sexual encounter with the temperamental admiral had brought up some worrisome questions. Worrisome enough that he’d investigated Piras’s past thoroughly. Illegally, even. But Kila had to be sure Piras was up to the challenges ahead. If he faltered at the wrong time, things could get royally fucked up in a hurry.

That one night of intimacy had brought up too many concerns. Kila needed answers. Hell, he wanted answers too, and not only because of the upcoming operation. He especially wanted to know everything when it came to one particular man from Piras’s past, a Nobek named Lidon.

Kila could have thought of Piras all day…hell, he’d have enjoyed nothing more than ruminating on the elegant, long-limbed Dramok until he was hard and aching. As he neared the exit from the vast shuttle bay however, his thoughts were derailed by the sight of his weapons commander entering the area.

Nobek Mostar veered to meet him. Kila suppressed a sigh. Mostar had apparently come looking for him. The narrow-faced man always wore a suspicious look. Kila had learned that expression had more to do with how his brows hung heavy over his eyes and the tight set of his lips rather than actual mistrust.

Mostar halted and bowed. Hoping nothing was amiss, Kila stopped before him and asked, “Are you lost, Weapons Commander?”

Mostar never responded to Kila’s sarcastic humor. Looking as skeptical as always, he answered. “No, Captain. I thought you might like to know Chief Engineer Byrcla has left.”

---