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Chapter 21[]
State of the Union[]
Canaveral City, Galax
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
9 June 3063
"The Marshal will see you now."
Jon Davion thanked the aide solemnly and placed his uniform cap beneath his arm before entering the office. The room behind was about the same size as his own office, albeit with a slightly better view of the base parade ground where one of the regimental bands was currently practicing. The furnishings - mainly an expansive desk and office chair - were perhaps of fractionally better quality and the flags of the Federated Suns and the Davion Guards were on stands to one side.
Jon paused a moment to look at the first flag. For almost his entire career the flag there had been the Fist and Sunburst of the Federated Commonwealth. The reversion to the Sword and Sunburst, along with the green AFFS uniform he wore, left him feeling a little off-balance.
Ann Adelmana had left her seat as he entered. "Jon, come in," she greeted him warmly. "Take a seat."
"Thank you for finding time for me." he returned the greeting and accepted the chair facing her desk.
Considerately, the Marshal adjusted the blinds so that she wasn't a silhouette against the bright sun outside. "How can I help you?" she asked as she sank back into her seat.
He'd thought through how to start but hesitated before beginning. "I was wondering if I should be preparing my brigade for movement offworld, Marshal."
Adelmana leant back in her chair. "We don't have any movement orders, General Davion." The earlier intimacy had vanished when he used her rank. "I would have shared them if I did."
"And if I may ask, have there been no suggestions from New Avalon that orders may be forthcoming."
A shake of the head. "Nothing of that sort. In or out of confidence. Were you expecting something of the sort? Some back-channel through your cousin Jackson?"
"I haven't heard anything recently from him." he confirmed. As Marshal of Armies, Jackson Davion answered only to their distant cousin Katrina, who had begun to style herself the Archon-Princess. "My concern is prompted by the arrival of the Remagen CrMM." He pronounced the last acronym 'cream' - it stood for Crucis March Militia. It was rare for a March Militia to leave the region or defense zone they were stationed in and though Remagen was a world within New Avalon combat region, the March Militia named for it was actually based in the adjacent Nunivak region as a result of historical boundary changes.
The Marshal shrugged with indifference that wasn't entirely authentic to Jon's eyes. "General Sheller isn't bringing his troops here to replace us, if that's what you're getting at."
"No sir. I had a brief message from Lucy Davion, who commands their armored brigade." She was also a close cousin of he and Jackson, part of the admittedly sprawling branch of House Davion that counted the world of Victoria as their home.
"And what did this cousin have to say?" she asked
"Nothing we aren't both cleared for." Jon assured the Marshal. "But I'm aware that the Remagen CrMM are being called in to reinforce New Avalon's defenses. They've been travelling almost a month and they'll need another jump to reach the capital."
"Go on." she beckoned him.
"We're only one jump away and meaning no disrespect to our comrades in arms within the CrMM... the Heavy Guards are a far larger and more capable force. If the capital is in danger, why call on them and not on us?"
"I would assume - having not been consulted - that Galax is also potentially at risk. And we are, after all, protecting a very important industrial world. Losing Nunivak, were it to be attacked, would be far less damaging than seeing the shipyards here fall into the wrong hands." the Marshall commented.
Jon nodded slowly. "However, New Avalon is an even higher priority. If it appears that the capital is about to fall, I would expect the Heavy Guards to be called on; and with some urgency."
"A reasonable expectation, yes." Adelmana folded her hands. "Unfortunately, we have no jumpships assigned to us at the moment so it would be rather difficult for us to respond."
Jon lent forwards. "It seems to me that it might be wise to see what could be done to remedy that. If transport command isn't in a position to restore our flotilla, there are civilian jumpships that could be commandeered."
She nodded. "That, at the moment, would exceed my authority. If the situation changes and Katrina Steiner calls for us, rest assured that I will respond appropriately."
Damn. She wasn't buying it. "I see, sir. My apologies for..." he began to say
Adelmana waved her hand dismissively. "Not at all, Jon. I appreciate you bringing me your concerns." She smiled crookedly. "Since have the time to worry, perhaps you could make more productive use of it by assisting the Department of the Quartermaster. We've had a request for assistance in evaluating Federated-Boeing's new troop transport and it seems to me that the Third Huron Panzers would be ideal as the armored component of the tests." The Huron Panzers weren't just part of Jon's brigade, they were his direct command.
"The new... Conquerors?" he asked
"Conquistadors," she corrected him. "I was considering assigning the job to Colonel Iglar since one of her infantry battalions is participating, but a Major General would be able to take a broader view."
"Of course, sir. I'll contact Federated-Boeing directly and arrange matters." Jon agreed promptly. He'd not done an evaluation like this before but, he could guess already that it would be time consuming and involve a lot of paperwork.
"Thank you, Jon." Adelmana steepled her hands. "And do remind your cousin that just because it isn't specifically prohibited to inform officers with the right security clearance of your unit's movements, nor is it authorized. Need to know is a principle as well as a security classification."
Jon dipped his head and, accepting the mild reprimand as a dismissal, rose. As he left the room he turned his head and saw that his commander was standing again, looking out of the window.
Did someone get to her? he wondered. Katherine is a Davion by blood, but not by much else, while Victor led us to victory against the Smoke Jaguars. If something's happening here, in the heartlands of the Federated Suns... what side is the Marshal on?
For that matter - and a chill went down his spine - what side are Jackson and Lucy on? Jackson's claimed so far that Katherine's the legitimate authority... and Lucy's unit has been called in, meaning that Katherine counts them as reliable.
Am I going to have to do what Victor's doing? Fight against my own family?