Federation Reborn 1: Battle Lines Read Online Free PDF

warehouses, but the ships were barely keeping ahead of the demand. Admiral Subert made a note to do something about that when he got to Pyrax.
    He was amused by the orbital training facilities for the marines. They had towed an asteroid into orbit and hollowed out caverns in it in order to use it as a space training facility. Airlocks and structures were attached to the surface in various places. It was crude but effective. He nodded in approval.
    ---<>---<>---
     
    “One of the best things I've liked about Admiral Irons is that he delegates. He tells us what he wants done and then leaves us to do it. This guy is cut from a different cloth entirely,” Lieutenant Colonel Jersey Forth said, leaning against a window frame to watch the marines marching in the parade ground off to his right.
    “Do you think it is going to be a problem, sir?” Major Pendeckle asked, shaking his head. He looked at Captain Myers and a few of the other officers and then back to the colonel.
    “I don't know. He's checking us out.”
    “So? He is going to be in Pyrax, right?”
    “He's a flag officer. He's used to getting his own way.”
    “He was recently promoted to flag rank, sir,” Captain Myers reminded him. “He was what, a commodore before he took the big sleep?”
    “I think … yes,” Major Pendeckle said checking his files. “Yes.”
    “Great. So now we have to worry about him feeling his way into the rank?”
    “The good news is he's got some training, some background. Our generation has been making it up and feeling things out as we go.”
    “It's going to take some adjustments,” Jersey said, turning back to his subordinates, “on all sides.”
    “Does the admiral plan to put an ansible in every star system?” the major asked.
    “Possibly,” the colonel replied with a shrug. He schooled his features as he took his seat again. “He's going to come down here; I've been expecting it. We'll need to lay out the red carpet—bands, the works. Make sure everything is spit shined. Get the maintenance people to do touch-ups where necessary. I want the guest BOQ to be spotless,” the colonel ordered, stabbing a finger into the desk top to show his meaning. “I don't want a single complaint from this guy. Spotless, everyone is to be on their best behavior. If anyone cuts up or gets out of line even if he isn't around, I'll have their ass.”
    His subordinates nodded and started to take notes.
    “Now, he'll want a tour, plus a meet and greet. I'm not sure about a formal officer's dinner but be prepared. I'm not thrilled about a damn ball. I'll draw the line there; we've got work to do,” he growled. The major snorted. Jersey eyed him and then shook his head slightly before looking away.
    “Are we going to get a chance to strut our stuff, sir?” Captain Myers asked hopefully.
    “I doubt it. But be prepared anyway. Most likely he'll take a tour. He's scheduled to be here in a day so get on it. I've got the list. Hit the high points, and get your people cracking now.”
    “Aye aye, sir.”
    ---<>---<>---
     
    Once they were in orbit and had transferred to the primary space station, they had another thirty-six hours of layover while the tender to Pyrax finished loading. Since she wasn't instantly ready, he took a tour of the ground base and facilities. During the shuttle flight down, he noted through the porthole and his implants that some things on the islands were rough. Typical marine bullshit about being hard-ass he thought as he studied the base from the shuttle. Others he recognized and approved of with a slight nod.
    He was amused when a marching band met his shuttle at the tarmac. Colonel Forth was on hand in uniform along with some of his senior officers. Apparently he'd gotten enough of a warning to anticipate the arrival and had planned on it. Good, Phil thought. He didn't want to give a speech however, so they waved to the crowd and assembled marines and then shook hands with some of the officers and senior