All Enemies Foreign and Domestic (Kelly Blake series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

months away.
    Many flagships in the 2nd Combined Fleet under Admiral Levi, were destroyed or took heavy senior crew losses at the battle of G’Durin.   The losses incurred, especially in command positions and higher staffs, meant promotion numbers were dramatically up.
          In addition, attendance at the prestigious War College on Gagarin, normally reserved for captains and colonels, was granted for the time being to promotable officers at the lieutenant colonel and commander level who had distinguished themselves in combat command.   Both Angie and Tammy easily met those qualifications.
          Angie was first to arrive, got coffee, and waited for Tammy amid the clamor of several hundred simultaneous conversations as student officers took their only break of the day.   With the critical need for qualified senior officers, in addition to increasing the attendance levels, they had shortened the normally six-month course to four, but not the course requirements.   Class was in session six days a week and nine hours per day, with only an hour break at midday for lunch.
          Tammy rushed up in her normal flurry of activity and dropped her backpack on the table.   Her pocket tablet and several memory disks scattered across the tabletop and onto the floor.   Giving an exasperated sigh, she gathered her belongings and sat down, looking exhausted.
          “Do you have Colonel Benson for ground tactics?   He has us reading three historical tactical studies per night.   Last night was Cannae, Thermopylae, and Operation Overlord.   He thinks he’s the only professor we have.   Overlord was easily 80 screens.   I was up until 0200 reading.   I’m exhausted.”
          Angie smiled, passed Tammy two disks she’d missed, and said, “Tammy, it’s not nearly as exhausting as combat.   Let’s eat!”
          They made a quick dash through the buffet line and came back with salad and fresh baked bread, making short work of their lunch.
          Finished, Tammy took a sip of her tea and asked Angie, “Have you heard from Kelly or Candy lately?”
          Angie grinned and said, “Candy and Kelly both sent me birthday greetings last month.   She’s on G’Durin and he’s in Geneva completing the attaché course.   That’s gotta suck with her pregnant.   When is she due?”
          Tammy fiddled with a piece of romaine in her bowl, then said, “Six months, June here time.   I don’t know what that translates to on G’Durin.   Do you know if she is going to have the baby there or come back here for the birth?”
          “I think she said she wanted it to be the first human born on G’Durin.   The embassy has a well-staffed and equipped medical suite.   Kelly told me they could handle most major trauma there or stabilize and transport back here through the gate, if need be.”
          Angie abruptly changed subjects.   “Have you heard when the assignments people are coming through?   I bet they try and stick me on a flag staff.   That would be okay, I guess.   It would give me a chance to wind down a little after squadron command and here.   What are you hoping for?”
          Tammy crinkled her nose and said, “I don’t know.   I was looking forward to commanding the flight detachment at Antares, but now I’m promotable and they won’t let that job go to a captain.   I don’t know what I want.   Maybe I’ll get a Fleet Staff job in Geneva.   That would be sweet.”
          Angie started.   “Hey!   Look at the time!   I’ve got military geography with Lieutenant General Chong in fifteen and it’s clear across campus.   He loves lecturing you after class if you’re late.   Gotta go.   Later.”
             Tammie watched her friend rush off.   She packed up her own gear, looked under the table to see if she missed anything, and headed off to her next class, profiles in leadership.   “One more month until