Fiction: The Girassian Debacle Chapter 10: Everything We Abhor

Previous Chapter 9: In a Numb Haze: https://onthebeachatnightalone.com/2023/02/17/fiction-the-girassian-debacle-chapter-9-in-a-numb-haze/

Lund Uric sat across from Rance Yeoman in a diner booth and helped himself to two soft-boiled eggs, carefully spooning them out of the family-style serving bowl. “Your charge against that marine for using unnecessary force is going to cause us problems,” he said. “We must make sure the video of him hitting you is not leaked to the public. Charging him runs the risk of making the event public. The evidence will at least be described in the media. Worse will be if the video itself is leaked.” A napkin tucked into the collar of his starched white shirt protected it from toast crumbs. His features were accentuated by slicked back black hair that sharpened his receding hairline. 

“We can have some asset eliminate the video,” he continued. Uric moved his hash browns away from the eggs that had broken open with the runoff yolk threatening to encroach on the potatoes. He used a piece of toast to form a barrier to the yolk runoff, paying attention to his plate as if he were working with chemicals that needed to be kept apart.

“I don’t worry about it becoming public. I already have a strategy to deal with that,” Rance Yeoman said. 

Uric noticed flakes of dandruff on the table near his plate. He picked up the plate and moved it to the side out of the way of possible contaminants. 

“How is that possible?” Uric said, holding a forkful of hash browns in midair. “You did not help anyone. Trying to close the door might have killed a lot of people.”

“I anticipated things before anyone else. I reacted. I did not freeze in fear. Immediately acted to protect the Station. I was already safe. I would have protected many people on the Station not expecting a sudden decompression.”

“Don’t you think many might see your actions in a different light?” Uric started to eat again after moving over in the booth so that he was not across from Yeoman. 

“Those cynics are not the people I need. I need people who demand action. Change. Now.”

Uric looked doubtful. “Regardless of your strategy, I’m going to work to have that video destroyed. Anyway, you must be worried the disaster of the ‘Flyby’ could ruin your plans? If the Task Force does not join the Emissaries, Captain Maureau will not be put in the position you and Vastatis want him to be in.” 

Yeoman was on his third cup of coffee. He raised the coffee carafe and waved it at the server, then set it down hard on the table. “If we speak about disaster, it was you who lost control of your people on the Station. How is it that they thought that a collision would be a good thing?”

Uric flinched and looked around. He whispered, “Rance! quiet. What if we’re heard?”

Yeoman looked around at the nearby tables in the diner. “No one heard us.” The background noise in the room was nearly loud enough to make the conversation between him and Uric difficult across the table.

“We are becoming well-known. People may be interested in our conversation,” Uric said turning around and glancing at the adjoining booth.

“Back to the point I was making. How did you lose control of them? Why would they think a collision was a good idea?”

“As you just said, we want people who act,” Uric said, grinning. “They took things into their own hands. How were they to know we would not want something like that to happen?”

“Because you control your people. I need you to control your people.”

“That disastrous collision could have been perfect beyond your dreams,” Uric said. “Taking care of things perfectly. Maureau might have ended up getting killed.” 

“Except for his damned XO’s action. They both are so reckless. Her action took my life for granted! The lives of everyone on the Station.” 

“Did you dream about him again afterwards?”

A cloud moved to cover the sun, the light in the room dimming. “Of course I had another damn dream. Especially last night. He will continue to haunt me until he is removed from the Star Force. He is always there supporting his father.”

“Vastatis’s plan to get him assigned to the Girassian Mission will take care of his career,” Uric said.  “His mission will put him in an impossible position.” 

Yeoman clenched and unclenched his hand. “Lund, nothing is a sure thing. You must remember that. For example, the actions of Song apparently have not hurt Maureau at all. He has remained Captain of the London and Rankin, so far, has even allowed this Song to stay on the London. She should have immediately been relieved of duty and put under court martial.” Yeoman shoved his own plate to the side. “I cannot be confident that the mission will take care of him.”

“I do remember that nothing is for certain. That is why I will get the tape destroyed, despite your strategy to respond.” Uric looked down and soaked up liquid yolk onto his piece of toast. He took a bite making sure not to besmear his fingers. “You need to put that event behind you. She’ll never command a ship.”

“She is everything we abhor,” Yeoman spit out. “Acting “heroically” by taking an unacceptable risk to rescue one person! That is what they think she did. There will be those who admire her. It brings bile into my throat!”

Uric looked up at Yeoman. His head was trembling, dandruff accumulating on the shoulders of his drab gray jacket. “You need to do something about your hair, Rance. There are anti-shed lotions you can shower with that would help you.”

Yeoman ignored Uric. “People like Song should not be in Star Force. In fact, her Union of Europe should not even have ships in Star Force. They set us back by their collaboration with the Emissaries. I don’t know who is worse, the Emissaries or the traitorous Europeans.”

Uric continued eating. “Ah, when you are Prime Minister you can relegate them to be under the CSA. Better yet, have the Union removed from the Star Force!.”

Yeoman sighed. “That’s a long ways off. But one day we will have the power to change things.” 

Go to Chapter 11: No Turning Back