Major (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fun to see him put in his place.
    “I told you, CCB is good at what they do, especially with sweets.  This is Free States technology at its best.  Their new system counteracts the acid buildup in fabricators that, uh, it masks . . . uh, well you know.  I don’t know exactly how, but CCB fabricators are the best available,” Titus told the glowering attaché.  “And just because a macaroon is an old-timey French pastry doesn’t mean Greater France has a monopoly on it.  Just look at New Budapest wine.”
    Bill Csonka, the New Budpest military liaison, raised his glass of Pepsi in a mock toast as even Beignet had to nod.  The New Budapest vineyards were widely regarded as the best in human space even if Greater France clung to its historical emphasis on wine.
    Ryck took another of the macaroons, this one with a passionfruit filling.  It was pretty darn good, he had to admit, but if it was better than anything else that had been popped out of another fabricator, he wasn’t sure.  He just hoped the galley crew would be serving something a little more filling soon.
    The gathered diplomats were on a semi-annual observation exercise with the Confederation Navy.  The exercise itself was part of the normal training process, but twice a year, the foreign delegation was invited on board one of the capital ships to observe how the Confederation did things. 
    It wasn’t as if the Confederation was going to reveal anything useful, however.  The delegation had only been allowed on the bridge of the Path of Glory for a few short briefings.  Engineering and the weapons stations were completely off limits.   That left the CIC [2] (where a number of stations were hooded with black cloth when they were there), the main hangar deck, berthing, and the wardroom.  For the last two days, 80% of their time while not asleep was right here in the wardroom, discussing universe-shattering issues such as who made the best macaroons.
    When CDR Danielle Harper came into the wardroom, followed by RADM Forsythe, CAPT Franks, and CAPT Juanala (the military attaché from the Liberty Alliance), everyone swung around, glad that perhaps now they could actually observe something. 
    Ryck was still not used to women aboard combat vessels.  He knew the Federation was in the minority with regards to women in uniform, and he had no personal problem with the concept—Major Melissa “Missy” Walters, after all, had been one of only two people to earn two Federation Novas, back before women were banned from the service.  It just was odd to him to see a woman, in particular an attractive woman (not that attractiveness should matter, he admitted to himself), in a ship that could sail into harm’s way.
    “Gentlemen,” she said as the men turned their attention to her, “Exercise Valiant Shield has been suspended.”
    A low mutter sounded from the gathered men until she held up her hand to quiet them down. 
    “There has been an incident in this quadrant, and as we are the closest force, we will be responding.  The SOG has taken over the orbiting observatory Sisyphus and is demanding a ransom.  The Path of Glory , the Hanson Lake , and the CT-83 are going to respond.  The Commodore has already briefed Rear Admiral Forsythe, Captain Franks, and Captain Juanala and invited the entire delegation to sail with us.  Rear Admiral Forsythe and Captain Franks, after consultation with their embassies, have agreed to stay and observe.  The Liberty Alliance ambassador has declined, and the three Alliance personnel will be transferred to a packet and taken back to New Mumbai.  If anyone else wishes to debark, they will be placed on the same packet.”
    Most of the men shot glances to Hans Baker.  It had long been rumored that the Rottwilhelm Trust had some sort of arrangement with the SOG, much as the European powers had with the Barbary pirates back in the 19 th Century, Old Reckoning, back on Earth.
    Hans cleared his throat and said, “Commander,