Breach

fiction by michael werneburg

2002.07.26

"Five."

"Sorry?"

"It's us, plus the security officer, Lieutenant Chrissy Xin, and Chief Engineer David Eisberg."

"Oh! Oh yes, what did you call them, first shift?"

She gave him an appraising look. He had been working with the other two on first shift only the day before, relatively speaking. They couldn't possibly have slipped his mind? "Your Highness, an intervention requires everyone aboard."

"Of course."

"Also, we'll have to watch for whoever Headquarters sends to assist, evaluate, or instruct us."

The Prince winced. "I've had quite enough of being evaluated. You know what, you do your preparations, I'll have to check some things." With that, he headed back to his cabin. Marl wondered what was going on in his mind. The situation on the planet looked too serious for less than absolute adherence to protocol.

When Xin and Eisberg presented themselves, both were still only partially in uniform, just as Marl had been. Marl and Hiram were warming up the sled and going through the pre-landing checklist. Xin was towing a sled that was loaded with weapons. "Packed up and ready to roll?" she asked.

"Good morning," Hiram greeted them.

"Good morning, Ensign!" Xin said with a smile. "I just saw the Prince, he said he 'likes me better without make-up and out of uniform.' Would you agree?"

The Ensign took in the woman's athletic form in her underwear. "I don't know if that's appropriate for me –"

"Hiram, don't bother," Eisberg told the young man. "The Prince is a pig, but that doesn't excuse Chrissy's advances."

"Advances! You are no fun at all, David," Xin told him.

"I would be happy to co-sign a complaint against the Prince as witness."

"Of course; and I do appreciate your interest in doing the right thing." Her tone was gently mocking. But then she turned to Marl. "How would you describe the security situation on the planet, Ilyana?"

"In a word; dire. I believe protocol is clear. When we touch down, you should take lead."

"That's what I thought. You can do all the boring stuff of getting us to the site, though."

"Why, thank you!" Marl said, throwing the filthy rag she'd just used to wipe down the sled at the other woman.

###

They were standing on the planet's surface, unloading the largest of the ship's sleds to make the rest of the journey.

"Why haven't we landed closer to the site itself," asked Hiram.

"There's an active fire-fight," Xin told him, loading weapons onto the sled.

"You ever handle a rifle like these?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She gave him a displeased look.

"I mean, yes, Lieutenant."

Marl called into the ship. "Prince Tensom, we're ready to start. Can you please join us?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Lieutenant," he called back down.

Marl closed her eyes. He'd insisted on coming, seemed almost driven. Now this? She looked at Xin, who shrugged.