‘I outrank you, Captain,’ said the voice. ‘You’ll moderate your tone, and address me as “sir”.’
I’d been standing there like a nardle, utterly shocked by the unexpected attack. Now I forced myself to turn around and saw an unknown man in a Major’s uniform. He outranked Fian, and the poor lieutenant behind the desk certainly couldn’t do anything, so it was up to me. I tried to match the quiet dignity of Professor Chan.
‘I’m sure you don’t realize how disrespectful your comments were to a fellow officer.’
‘Just let me flatten him,’ said Fian.
This was a nice idea in theory, but the exo Major was a bulky man, with the advantage of a dozen years in age and Military training in unarmed combat. I could imagine what would happen if Fian tried to hit him, and it wasn’t a nice picture.
‘Apes don’t deserve respect,’ said the Major. ‘Get out of here, and don’t make the mistake of kissing humans in public again.’
‘I’m your equal in rank so you can’t give me orders.’
He shook his head. ‘I earned my rank, throwback. I wasn’t just tossed it out of favouritism. I’ve been a Major for three years so I have seniority.’
The dignified diplomatic approach had just given the Major the chance to point out I had no real right to the insignia on my sleeve, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I considered what chance Fian and I would have in a combined physical attack. I’d done some civilian unarmed combat training, but that …
The sound of a cheerful voice made everyone turn and look towards the door.
‘I think you’ll find I’m the most senior officer present,’ said Drago Tell Dramis. ‘Jarra, Fian, you can leave me to handle this.’
‘It’s none of your business, Drago,’ said the Major.
‘Don’t address me by my first name, Major Maven,’ said Drago. ‘I’m speaking to you formally in my capacity as Commander Stone’s deputy and your senior officer in the chain of command.’
‘All right, Major Tell Dramis, sir! You’re my current chain of command, but my opinion of apes isn’t a command concern. I’m entitled to think what I like.’
‘Entirely wrong.’ Drago tapped the lookup on his left forearm. ‘Nia, it’s Drago. Code black in the parcel room. It seems Major Maven objects to Captain Eklund Twoing with one of the Handicapped.’
‘On my way.’ Nia Stone’s brisk voice was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Major Maven was looking far less confident now. ‘What’s going on?’
Drago grinned. ‘You’ll soon find out.’
I’d dragged Fian back to the doorway of the room, to make sure he didn’t try hitting Maven, but there was no way either of us were going to leave. It was less than two minutes before we had to scamper out of the way to allow Commander Stone into the room. She spoke instantly.
‘Major Maven, you are relieved from command of Attack shift 6. A detachment from Military Security will escort you to your quarters to pack your things. You will then transfer to Military Base 43 Lima in Kappa sector, and remain there until further notice.’
Major Maven obviously didn’t believe this. ‘Because I called Major Tell Morrath an ape? I know she’s the Colonel’s pet, but this is ridiculous.’
I didn’t believe this either. ‘This really isn’t necessary, Commander Stone. I can cope with the odd insult, and you need an Attack shift leader more than you need me.’
Nia Stone shook her head. ‘Major Tell Morrath, the last thing that I or humanity need is Major Maven sitting in a fighter with his weapons aimed at the sphere. If he can’t control his prejudice against a Handicapped member of his own species, how can we trust him in a position where he can start a war with an alien race?’
‘Oh.’ I was utterly grazzed. ‘Yes. Yes, I see that.’
I had to dodge out of the way again at this point, because Military Security had arrived to remove Major Maven. Their highest rank was a Captain, but the Major wasn’t fool enough to argue seniority with people who’d answer him politely while physically dragging him away.
‘I’m afraid we’ve been using you to hunt for security risks in the Attack team, Jarra,’ continued Nia Stone. ‘My apologies, but the stakes here are very high. I didn’t explain what was going on, because I hoped and believed the men and women under my command were all clean and there would be no problems. I deeply regret I was wrong.’
I suddenly had a whole new understanding of the situation. Colonel Torrek had wanted to call in someone Handicapped to test his officers for prejudice, and he’d naturally thought of me. He’d known my grandmother, met me at her Honour Ceremony, and again after the Solar 5 crash. I was probably the only one of the Handicapped he personally knew and I was ideal for the job he needed me to do. If he made me Military, then any bigots wouldn’t just be furious at an ape parading around the base wearing a uniform, they’d have to constantly suffer seeing the Artemis medal on the throwback’s shoulder as well. To add the final touch of offensiveness, I even had a norm boyfriend.