voice said. She would have recognised Owen Ward’s voice anywhere. Her immediate superior had a remarkable gift for getting the best out of his reporters, even though he hadn't reported himself since before First Contact. “The Federation Navy just put in a request for embedded reporters.”
Adrienne smiled, even as she rubbed her tired face. Request was a little too much, at least in her view; the military believed that it had no obligation to bring reporters along into the front lines, or at least as close as they could without putting lives in serious danger. Adrienne had reported from Prince Sultan Air Base, currently held by a multinational force intent on securing the oil wells and ensuring that there were no further oil shocks. Oil might be less important with fusion power, but it was still important for many requirements and Arabia held one of the world’s largest sources.
“And they asked for me,” Adrienne said. It wasn't a question. Reporters who put soldiers in danger or reported lies tended not to be invited back, no matter how important they considered themselves to be. Adrienne considered that she’d done a good job, striking a balance between being inquisitive and respecting military security. “What’s so important that it couldn't wait until the afternoon?”
Ward coughed. “Apparently the Federation Navy is planning a major exercise, involving almost the entire fleet,” he said. “From what little I was told, they’re going to be rehearsing the plans for defending Earth against the Galactics. You’ll be told more when you reach the Naval HQ. If you want to go, of course…”
Adrienne snorted. “If they asked for me,” she said dryly, “should I refuse them?”
“We could always send Alicia in your place.” Ward said. “Market Research says that she’s very popular among young males – and the military is largely composed of young males.”
“Of course she is,” Adrienne said. “Every time she looks like she’s losing viewers, she takes a deep breath and pushes out her rack.”
“You said it, not me,” Ward said. He chuckled. “But Market Research thinks that she has what it takes to interview people in the military. If you don’t go, I’m afraid that she’s going to go in your place. That wouldn't be very patriotic, would it?”
“I suppose not,” Adrienne said. “But then, Alicia is a bimbo who never had an original thought in her life. All of her viewers pray for another wardrobe malfunction…”
“No doubt,” Ward agreed. He returned to business. “You’re expected at Naval HQ tomorrow, so take the shuttle from New York Spaceport to Armstrong City this afternoon. The Navy will assign someone to meet you and escort you into lockdown…”
“But…”
“No buts,” Ward said. “It was quietly, but firmly made clear to me that every reporter on this mad junket was going into lockdown, with no communications in or out until the military sees fit to lift the lockdown. You breathe one word without permission and your next boyfriend will be a horny prison guard. The rules haven’t changed just because you’re going into space.”
Adrienne nodded, reluctantly. She had been on an extra-solar voyage, something that most of the population of Earth couldn't claim, but the colony established on Edo had been on a drab rocky world circling a dying star. The Japanese were shipping thousands of settlers to Edo every month, intent on turning it into a second home for their people. Rumour had it that large bribes had secured Federation support for their scheme. Adrienne had investigated, but hadn't been able to turn up anything beyond the fact that Edo enjoyed a population density in its domes that few other cultures would likely have been able to tolerate.
“Besides, it’s not as if you have anyone on Earth waiting for you,” Ward added. “Your father died a long time ago and your mother disowned you.”
“Enough,” Adrienne snapped. “I’ll be
Adrienne smiled, even as she rubbed her tired face. Request was a little too much, at least in her view; the military believed that it had no obligation to bring reporters along into the front lines, or at least as close as they could without putting lives in serious danger. Adrienne had reported from Prince Sultan Air Base, currently held by a multinational force intent on securing the oil wells and ensuring that there were no further oil shocks. Oil might be less important with fusion power, but it was still important for many requirements and Arabia held one of the world’s largest sources.
“And they asked for me,” Adrienne said. It wasn't a question. Reporters who put soldiers in danger or reported lies tended not to be invited back, no matter how important they considered themselves to be. Adrienne considered that she’d done a good job, striking a balance between being inquisitive and respecting military security. “What’s so important that it couldn't wait until the afternoon?”
Ward coughed. “Apparently the Federation Navy is planning a major exercise, involving almost the entire fleet,” he said. “From what little I was told, they’re going to be rehearsing the plans for defending Earth against the Galactics. You’ll be told more when you reach the Naval HQ. If you want to go, of course…”
Adrienne snorted. “If they asked for me,” she said dryly, “should I refuse them?”
“We could always send Alicia in your place.” Ward said. “Market Research says that she’s very popular among young males – and the military is largely composed of young males.”
“Of course she is,” Adrienne said. “Every time she looks like she’s losing viewers, she takes a deep breath and pushes out her rack.”
“You said it, not me,” Ward said. He chuckled. “But Market Research thinks that she has what it takes to interview people in the military. If you don’t go, I’m afraid that she’s going to go in your place. That wouldn't be very patriotic, would it?”
“I suppose not,” Adrienne said. “But then, Alicia is a bimbo who never had an original thought in her life. All of her viewers pray for another wardrobe malfunction…”
“No doubt,” Ward agreed. He returned to business. “You’re expected at Naval HQ tomorrow, so take the shuttle from New York Spaceport to Armstrong City this afternoon. The Navy will assign someone to meet you and escort you into lockdown…”
“But…”
“No buts,” Ward said. “It was quietly, but firmly made clear to me that every reporter on this mad junket was going into lockdown, with no communications in or out until the military sees fit to lift the lockdown. You breathe one word without permission and your next boyfriend will be a horny prison guard. The rules haven’t changed just because you’re going into space.”
Adrienne nodded, reluctantly. She had been on an extra-solar voyage, something that most of the population of Earth couldn't claim, but the colony established on Edo had been on a drab rocky world circling a dying star. The Japanese were shipping thousands of settlers to Edo every month, intent on turning it into a second home for their people. Rumour had it that large bribes had secured Federation support for their scheme. Adrienne had investigated, but hadn't been able to turn up anything beyond the fact that Edo enjoyed a population density in its domes that few other cultures would likely have been able to tolerate.
“Besides, it’s not as if you have anyone on Earth waiting for you,” Ward added. “Your father died a long time ago and your mother disowned you.”
“Enough,” Adrienne snapped. “I’ll be
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