WITH THE LIGHTNINGS(139)

"Well, I'd like for that to be true, boy," Kryshevski said. He was handling the business like a gentleman of breeding rather than snarling in fury at the way he'd been trapped. "I guess I know now how you were able to give the Alliance such fits."

He chuckled again, shaking his head. His face sobered and he went on, "The Princess Cecile'll put a small fortune in your prize account when the Navy Board buys her into service, as I'm sure they will; but you won't be breveted `commanding' to take her back to Cinnabar. That'll go to a more senior lieutenant. And let's face it, boy, to a lieutenant who's got more interest than you do."

"Yes, sir," Daniel said. "I know that, and I wouldn't waste your time discussing the matter."

Interest was a reality of all walks of life, not just the RCN. You helped those who could help you. To object would be as silly as objecting to sex or to the necessity of breathing.

That didn't mean that senior officers found promotion opportunities for incompetents: no sane admiral wanted to be saddled with a band of protégés who were unable to carry out his orders effectively. It did mean that of two qualified persons, the one whose connections could most benefit the officer making the decision would get the promotion.

Daniel couldn't imagine living under a system in which the person making the decision didn't feel personally responsible for his choice. He wouldn't want to live in a world without interest. Unfortunately, until Daniel got enough reputation that some senior officer took him under a wing despite the possibility of Speaker Leary's wrath, he was very much without interest himself.

"I just wanted to see that the paperwork for my crew was processed correctly for distribution of the prize money," he said. "In particular I'd like to check on my first officer, Ms. Mundy, whom I breveted lieutenant from her former rank."

"You what?" said Kryshevski, dumbfounded.

"It's unusual for a junior lieutenant to grant brevet rank, I know," Daniel said calmly. "But as you're aware the Kostroma mission was an admiral's slot, and I was the senior officer surviving at the time I granted the commission. That Lieutenant Mundy was critical to the success of the operation is of course obvious after the fact."

"But good God, boy!" the captain said. "You can't brevet a civilian."

"Ms. Mundy had the rank of sergeant in the Officer Training Corps of her school," Daniel said. He had no idea of whether or not that was true, but it was likely enough for a Mundy of Chatsworth. "I think under the circumstances that should cover the legalities."

Kryshevski looked at him sharply. " `Under the circumstances,' " he repeated. "The circumstances being that you won't make a fuss about command of the Princess Cecile going to somebody else. That's what you're saying, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't want to put it that way, sir," said Daniel. "But you can assure Admiral Ingreit that I have no intention of objecting to his choice of officers for any ship under his command. The Princess Cecile included, of course."

"You are a smart little bugger, aren't you?" Kryshevski said. There was admiration in his tone. "Well, I guess I shouldn't wonder that Speaker Leary's son knows that politics is the art of the possible."

Daniel smiled without real humor. "The driver is my old servant," he said. "He taught me to play cards, among other things. And he certainly taught me not to overplay my hand."

"I'll see what I can do," Kryshevski said. "Between us, I don't think your friend needs to worry about her share. They'll rescind the grant on Cinnabar, but it'll be valid for the period in question."

He sighed. "There's a school of thought," he went on, looking toward the compartment's blank front panel, "that says an officer clever enough to capture a corvette is likely clever enough to command her. Especially when he's already been clever enough to destroy an Alliance cruiser."

"The Bremse was Ms. Mundy's doing, not mine," Daniel said quietly. "I was very lucky to have her under my command."

Kryshevski shook his head. "Speaker Leary's son and a Mundy of Chatsworth," he said. "He'll have kittens when he finds out, won't he?"

"I don't see my father very often these days, sir," Daniel said in what was for him a cold tone. "I don't think he has much opinion on naval matters, and my relations with Ms. Mundy are entirely a naval matter."

The jitney stopped. Hogg opened the door on Kryshevski's side.

Kryshevski paused. "It wouldn't be to your advantage if word that you met me got out," he said.

"I'm aware of that, sir," Daniel said. "I don't think there's any chance of that occurring."