Tipping Point in the Alliance War Read Free

briefings.”
    “Oh,
good,” says Captain Niles.  “You could implement that policy right now if
you would like.  Give your Second a call.  We can chat about the war
effort, while we wait for your officer.”
    ***
    Major
Dawkins calls Captain Baarg and orders her to report to
the Command Conference Room, with ‘all deliberate speed’. 
    (Marine
‘captains’ and Navy ‘captains’ have the same title,
but it is universally understood that the Navy captain outranks the Marine
captain.  The Navy ‘captain’ is equivalent to a ‘bird colonel’ in the
Marines. )
    ***
    The
wait gives Captain Niles opportunity to thank Major Dawkins, for her glowing
report complementing the ship’s officers and crew.  Then, the three
officers trade their thoughts on the war and each of them speaks briefly, about
their homes and families.  It’s good for people who are preparing to enter
battle together to have a personal relationship, as well as a professional one.
    That
is especially true for Lieutenant Znnu who is a new
member of the Courageous crew.  She is replacing First Officer Tan, who
was killed in the recent Gomolus Empire
conflict.  As a member of the androditin species, Lieutenant Znnu is part of a small minority
aboard the Courageous, and she probably can use some personal relationships to
make her feel more at home. 
    Captain
Niles already knows some of Lieutenant Znnu’s personal history, from previous discussions.  One thing that he didn’t
know, is that Lieutenant Znnu is going to request a
‘personal leave’, when this voyage is complete.  It is time for her to
‘mate’, so she is going to return to the androditin home planet, in order to search for a suitable partner. 
    ( Androditins don’t usually marry or stay together in a
monogamous relationship.  The purpose of the mating is to produce an
offspring, and after mating the individuals usually go their separate ways.)
    The
human and androditin species are both bipedal
humanoids, with some minor differences.  Androditins are cat-like in appearance and have a soft fur coat.  They have six
fingers on each hand, with an opposable thumb, and six toes on each foot, with
an opposable toe.  Also, the androditins have a
tail.
    Androditin and
human environments are similar, which enables members of both species to
coexist in the same ship environment, without the use of special survival
equipment.  That is not usually the case among the sentient species in the
Alliance.
    Alliance
fleets usually include ships with differing habitats, which are suited for a
particular species but are toxic to others.  That is all well and good,
until there is an emergency which requires assistance from other species. 
In order to compensate for this weakness, each Alliance vessel has habitat
sections, which can be quickly configured for use by the other member species.
    ***
    Major
Dawkins, who is human, is probably not well acquainted with the androditin species, because androditin are rare in the Marine Corps - probably because they tend to be smaller than
humans.  The physical strength requirement for Space Marine Corps
personnel is much greater than the requirement for Navy personnel. 
    Then
the Captain observes, to himself, that Major Dawkins looks surprisingly small
for a Marine.  “She must be packed solid with muscle,” thinks the Captain.
    When
the Major gives a little thumbnail sketch of her personal life, she highlights
the fact that she has a male child, who is 7 years old.  Her child’s name
is Nevin and her husband’s name is Zack.  Her
husband is a stay-at-home-father who is raising the child, and they follow the
Major from place to place, as her assignments change.  She has holograms –
and shows them off like a proud parent and wife.
    ***
    “Enter,”
the Captain says, at the sound of the knock.
    “Captain Baarg reporting as ordered, sir.”
    Captain Baarg almost growls the words, as she leaps from the
doorway to a position of attention in