The young officer’s stomach fluttered, just a little bit. She’d been on the Kopus a bit less than a year, and she thought she had acquitted herself well. So she’d been a bit surprised when she’d been ordered to come up and see the DSO.

She’d met the DSO perhaps twice; generally speaking, she reported to the senior gunnery officer, maybe the deputy director. But the Director of Security Operations…she was fourth-most-senior on the ship, and it was said that they wanted to put her in command of all ground troops in Federation Province, which meant that it was only a matter of time before she was a Legatus.

Legatuses didn’t waste time meeting with JC3Cs unless something was going very well…or very poorly.

The door opened, and the woman poked her head out. “Come on in. Sorry for the wait, but…well, things are busy.”

“No…no problem, Induperator Tae. Ma’am.”

Derna Tae laughed. “Sit down, Ms. ColVanos. Don’t be nervous. Why, you’d think you weren’t ‘Ms. ColVanos.’”

“Ma’am…my father always told me that when I put this uniform on…he said the only title I held when I wore this uniform was Crewmate.”

“That sounds like Antero. Your father was a great man and a fine officer, Ms. ColVanos. I haven’t had a chance to express my condolences to you personally – but you have my deepest sympathies.”

“Ma’am, I appreciate that,” Vellamo said.

She did, up to a point, anyhow; she had grown very tired of the condolences and statements of respect. She missed her father, and none of it would bring him back. But because she was his daughter, she didn’t show any sign of this discomfort.

“Now,” Derna said, scrolling through her pad, “I didn’t call you down here just to express my condolences. I received a request from Gama Fleet for gunners. They’re still trying to fill in from the battle. Plan is for Beth Fleet to contribute five officers, one senior, four junior. They’ll serve a rotation on the Xifos, then be parceled out to the fleet. Now, Gama Fleet’s on the tip of the sword, and I don’t have to tell you that. This transfer will lead to a promotion in three months, which is about a year ahead of schedule. As such, while I’m trying not to give away all my best gunners…well, like I said, Gama’s the tip of the sword, and they need ‘em more than we do. And based on the reports from Senior Crewmate Lylyro and Decanus Krarrgg, your service and ability would make you an obvious candidate for transfer. But for one thing.”

“Ma’am?”

Derna Tae smiled, gently. “Crewmate, you say your father told you that when you put on that uniform, you’re just a crewmate, like anyone else. And from what I’ve seen, you’ve taken that to heart, just like Antero took it to heart. You’ve taken hard shifts, and swabbed decks, and when your father died you stuck with the fleet for the invasion of Federation Province even though you had a ticket home. But while you’ve done everything we could ask…you are still Princess Vellamo, and I’m putting you into harm’s way. We already lost your father. I wanted to let you know that you’re up for this, but before I recommend you to Navarchos Axeny….”

“Ma’am,” Vellamo said, “I took an oath to defend the Empire, same as my father. Navarchos Bass logged that he had a choice to stay on the Gyfjon, or drop on to Tau Ceti. He dropped. I’m a part of the Royal Family, ma’am, and…well, I know why my dad dropped. Because like he said…he was Centurium ColVanos, not Prince Antero, and that was his job. If you believe I’m capable, ma’am, then I’d be honored to do whatever you need me to.”

Derna smiled wistfully. “You sound just like him, you know. He and I were in the same class at the Academy. Everyone was gaga over him, of course. He was The Prince. Didn’t matter that he got betrothed to your mother our second year, half the men and women there had some crazy scheme to turn his head. Including me. My twin sister worked in a bar in Lordale, I was pretty sure she could set something remarkable up.

“He could have been a pompous ass, but he never was. And by the end of second year, I counted him as a good friend. We didn’t hang out together as much as we’d have liked after the academy, of course – this isn’t the job for that. But it was good to see him whenever we crossed paths, and I know he was damn proud of his kids. And I can see that he was right to be. Ms. ColVanos, congratulations; I’ll be passing your name to Navarchos Axeny, and I would expect you’ll be en route to Titan Station within the next week.”

Vellamo smiled. She was her father’s daughter, after all. And while she missed him, she would have a chance to do something she’d wanted to do since the moment she’d heard.

She would have her chance to avenge him.

* * *

Tiernan waited for everyone save his wife to filter out of the office, before turning to his son-in-law.

“How are you doing, Pierce?” Tiernan asked.

“Uh…quite well, Your Imperial Majesty. There’s still some hate mail, of course, but most of what we get is supportive.”

“That wasn’t exactly what I meant. I just meant…how are you? Personally? I saw, you’re planning to go back to visit Earth.”

“Well, assuming the Ministry of State clears it. I know I can’t just go charging in like, say, Nick Archer did, just wander around. I’d like to…but I represent the Empire.”

“You do,” Tiernan said. “And you do well at it.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“You even handled it well before you had the opportunity. Even when you went out on your own. Like the time you passed that information to the reporter on Earth.”

Pierce grinned sheepishly. “I am glad you forgave me for that.”

“Well, for one thing, my daughter and daughter-in-law have both admitted that they helped you, and convinced you to go ahead even when you weren’t sure you should. And for another…you were right. It had to be done. The Empire was thinking on Titan time scales, and Earth’s governments were hoping we’d move quickly; we needed a human to recognize that it wouldn’t hold together long enough.”

“I’m just glad it worked out,” Pierce said. “I’m still not sure whether it was the best idea I ever had, or the worst.”

“It worked, so I choose to view it as the best. And truly, I believe that had you not taken the initiative then, Earth and the Empire would not be on the good terms we are today.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Tiernan tented his fingers. “Pierce…why do you always call me ‘Your Imperial Majesty?’ Daz calls me Tiernan in family settings, Gunvjer calls me Tiernan – why don’t you?”

Pierce blinked. “I…didn’t know that it bothered you. I mean…you’re the Emperor, and Rhionne’s dad. I always thought…I mean…I wasn’t even legally a person. I was just grateful that you put up with me.”

Tiernan covered his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Pierce said. “I don’t mean….”

“Pierce, I have wronged you, badly. Both of us have. I hope….”

Tiernan took a deep breath. When he found he couldn’t speak, he looked to his wife.

“Pierce,” Rajenlief said, “I said before that this family puts the Empire ahead of all else, and we do. But unfortunately…that means we sometimes put it ahead of family. Even when we don’t want to.”

“I know that,” Pierce said. “Really. I’m not upset about anything you’ve done. Don’t know why you would think I was.”

Rajenlif smiled. “You know, that doesn’t quite come out like you aren’t upset.”

Pierce looked down. It’s intimidating enough to deal with your in-laws when they aren’t the head-of-state to fifty billion people and his consort, let alone 24 times taller than you.

“I won’t say I loved it,” Pierce allowed. “I won’t say it wasn’t hard. But I’m not upset with you. Really.”

Pierce paced, just a little. “Look…I understand why you weren’t introducing me as Prince Pierce back when Daz and I married your daughter. The Empire was not going to be accepting of a human prince. It would have hurt you, hurt the family, and hurt the Empire. It would have hurt Rhionne and Daz, more than anyone. You did the right thing.”

“The right thing for the Empire,” Tiernan said. “And the right thing for us. But I don’t really know as it was the right thing for Rhionne. She loves you a great deal, Pierce. And she would have been willing to take part of your hurt on herself.”

“I know she would,” Pierce said. “But I hope you know…I would never want her to do that.”

“Which is why we are proud to have you in our family,” Rajenlif said. “And why we, too, wish we could take some of the hurt on ourselves. To have been able to put our family ahead of the Empire.”

“But you did!” Pierce said. “You let me marry Rhionne. That wasn’t ‘putting the Empire first,’ it was finding a way to let us be happy while keeping the Empire from disaster. And that’s true of Daz, too. We all know that when Vasha…well, when Vasha was Vasha, you could have told Rhionne that she was no longer to marry the now-head of a disgraced house, or you could have told her that having a human husband was too risky – it created an opportunity for blackmail.”

“We would not have given into blackmail,” Tiernan said. “We would have simply introduced you.”

“Right, but…that would have been a problem. You kept our secret. You had to be a party to it, to defend us, because you needed to protect your daughter and her family. You hid me, and It stung that you had to…but not because you did. Because you had to.”

Pierce threw his arms wide. “You guys…of course I wanted to be known as Rhionne’s husband and Daz’s husband, not because I was Boyar, but because nothing has made me prouder than to be their partner. Husband and father are the titles that matter to me, you know, more than Boyar or Prince. But…like I told you, we’re still getting hate mail. You’re going to have to announce Vallero is your heir today to try to calm things down…because you let me marry your daughter and took the hurt on yourselves that you had to. It would have been exponentially worse if this had come out before the Zeramblin Act. And you would have taken it on had it come out. You were willing to stand up for me, for us. I will always be grateful for that.”

It was Pierce’s turn to wipe away tears. “I know I’m not who you pictured your daughter marrying. But you have never treated me as lesser. At worst, you were befuddled, and that was just when Rhionne drug me along to dinner that first time, without warning anyone. Wounded me? When your daughter introduced me, and claimed I was equal, you could have done what almost any other Titan family would have done back then, and laughed her off. You didn’t. You’ve shown me more respect than an okay artist from the sticks ever could have hoped for. I don’t call you Tiernan and Rajenlif…because it doesn’t seem like enough. I don’t know as I can ever live up to being worthy of how you’ve treated me.”

Tiernan smiled. “I told you before, Pierce, you are Boyar of Aement, and my daughter’s husband, and father to most of my grandchildren. You are a good and kind and decent man, and you have endured living in secret with grace. It’s true, you and Daz are not who I pictured my daughter marrying. But I cannot picture my daughter with anyone else, and certainly not with anyone more worthy.”

Pierce smiled warmly back. “Your…Tiernan,” he said, “what brought this on? I hope that it isn’t just me not using your name more, if it is, god, I feel like an idiot.”

“No, no…it’s me…it’s foolish, perhaps.”

Tiernan closed his eyes. “When I interrogated Syon Fand, she said something to me. I know, she meant to wound me. But then, she is no fool. I feel I got the better of our confrontation…but that does not mean that she did not make me wonder whether I have done right by you.”

“Damn it, what did that cunt say?”

Tiernan grinned a bit; he recognized the English profanity, and knew that where Pierce came from, it was about as horrible a thing as one could call a woman. He also knew that Pierce was generally careful about using profanity, even when he wasn’t in the Sovereign’s office.

So he truly appreciated that Pierce would use it now.

“She had found out about you. Sat on the information, but during the interrogation she threw it in my face. And she attacked me for not using my powers as Emperor to defend you sooner. She said that my anger about Antero…showed I cared for him more than for my daughters, or you.”

“Well, if you’re angrier about Antero than me, good,” Pierce said. “I am. Rhi is and Daz is. We all are. I’d stay hidden forever if it would bring him back, and wouldn’t complain for a second.”

“I know you would, Pierce,” Tiernan said. “I just wish things would have worked out that we could have given you the chance to be known as the man you are sooner than we did.”

“You did as soon as you could. I’ve been a part of this family longer than I ever expected to live. I’ve had a chance to learn what it is to put the Empire first, ahead of everything. Including yourself. That’s easy when it’s just you. Or at least…you can deal with it. But it’s harder when it’s people you love. It’s been harder on you, I think, than me. I’ve been able to be your daughter’s husband. That’s more than I could ever have wanted.”

“And more than we could have wanted,” Rajenlief said. “Never question that, Pierce.”

“I never will,” Pierce said.

* * *

There was a knock on the door of Pryvani’s room.

“We’ll be out in a minute,” she said, straightening a necklace.

“Yeah, okay.”

Pryvani paused. “Odin, what is it?”

“Oh, just…Manto wanted to talk to dad when you have a chance.”

“She already has our permission to ask you to marry her,” Pryvani teased.

“No, it’s…she has a question…yes, I know, we need to get you a vocal booster…she says she has a question for her C.O.”

“Ah,” Pryvani said. She checked her dresser; her husband was wearing Imperial dress blacks, as he had been for roughly the past hour of her getting ready. He didn’t complain, of course. He never did. Okay, sometimes he did…but far less than he had a right to.

She was grateful for Zhan’s patience. Pryvani knew that many people over the years had dreamed of marrying her. She was insanely rich, and…well, she’d figured out early that she was not unattractive. But she had known for much of that time that most people would be miserable with her. This was not self-pity or self-hatred; she was very clear on the things about her that would grate on others. Her partner would have to be extremely patient, and forgiving. Not of anything like cheating – she’d never sleep with someone else without asking, that was not something you did to your partner. Nor would he have reason to doubt she loved him, because she had decided, when she was young, that she would never do what her mother had done. She would never marry someone for a good alliance or a chance at riches. She would only ever marry for love.

No, what her husband had was the patience to deal with Sen. the Lady Pryvani Tarsuss, Grand Lady of All Undiscovered Black Holes, president of the Tarsuss Corporation, add as many postnomial letters as you care to list. She was perpetually overextended, and that would never change. She had needed a husband who would know that it might take her a month or two to get back to see him – and be able to accept it, and believe that she did not leave because she wanted to, but because duty called her away.

There were many on Avalon, and in the Empire, and on Earth, and pretty much everywhere, who thought Zhan had hit the jackpot when he married Pryvani. Including Zhan. But Pryvani…she knew that she was the one who had been lucky. Not one person out of a million would tolerate being a partner to the person she had to be, no matter the payout in the end. Not one in a million of them would have the bravery, wit, and intelligence of her husband.

She was so very, very lucky.

Zhan, for his part, sighed when he heard Odin relay Manto’s request. “I was hoping not to have to deal with the military until after the session,” he sighed.

“It’s not the military, it’s Manto,” Pryvani said.

“Yeah. I was hoping not to have this conversation…ever,” he said. “You look amazing, as always.”

“I look fine,” she said, “but I have to keep up. Imperial dress uniforms are much, much better than the Avalonian kind.”

“I’d be offended, but it’s so, so true,” Zhan said.

“Okay,” Pryvani said, opening the door, “we’ll give you two a bit, Zhan, let me know when you want us to come back.”

Odin gently set his girlfriend onto the dresser of his mother; this kind of thing had happened far too often for it to be remotely bizarre. Pryvani walked out of her bedroom with her son, and the two were alone.

“So, Manto, what do you want?” Zhan asked.

Manto willed herself to stand in place. She wanted to pace, so upset was she. “Sir,” she said, “I was checking over the list of Acolyte candidates that you were preparing to submit.”

Zhan took in a breath. “Opito, I know you’ve been acting as my adjutant, but I didn’t ask you to take a look at that file. It’s not complete.”

“My name’s not on it, sir,” Manto said.

“No, it isn’t.”

“Sir, the initial scores that came back…I know how I did in the sims. I know that my psych eval came back clean. My baseline reflexes…I’m a hybrid, they’re off the chart for humans. I know, physical strength’s always gonna be an issue, but gorram it, I was above the cutoff there too.”

“You are a very-well-qualified candidate, Opito Dande-Kramer. But I need you in Atlantis.”

“That’s bullshit, Zhan! There are a dozen officers who could play secretary better than I could. I have pilot experience, I already have cross-cultural experience from my time on Titan Station, this is not about….”

“Opito Dande-Kramer, as you were!”

Manto stopped cold. Zhan had stepped forward, and was staring her down. He was practically glowing with fury.

“Opito, I’m wearing two comets on my uniform. Did I miss an order promoting you to Praetor?”

“No, sir.”

“Were you appointed the Imperial Minister of Defense when I wasn’t looking?”

“No, sir.”

“Was I demoted at some point and not told?”

“No, sir.”

“Well then, Opito, is there any reason in any reality why you should ever address me the way you just did?”

Manto looked down. “No, sir.”

“Opito Dande-Kramer, just because you are the daughter of friends and dating my son, that does not give you the right to address me in the manner you did. I have half a mind to bust you down to Princeps, and believe me, Praetor-Imperator Nix would back me if I did.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now,” Zhan said, “to get to the gorram point, you want to be an Acolyte pilot and you’re fraked off that I didn’t put you on the list, yes?”

Manto blinked. “Sir…permission to speak freely?”

Zhan guffawed. “Don’t think you were waiting for permission, really. Proceed.”

“First…I’m sorry. I was way the frak out of line, sir. Zhan. If you decide to bust me, I deserve it.”

“Yes, you do, but I’m not going to,” Zhan said. “For one thing, the paperwork is annoying, and for another, I think I know what you’re about to say. You’re about to suggest – much more politely than you were originally going to – that I’ve been hesitant to name you to the Acolyte pilots training corps because I don’t want to put my future daughter-in-law into the cockpit of an Acolyte, especially after I got the chance to visit Ryan Carey a few days after Tau Ceti.”

“I…was. I’m sorry sir, that’s unfair of me.”

“No, it isn’t, Manto,” Zhan said. “Because it’s true.”

Manto looked up in shock.

He sighed. “Manto, you are a gorram good pilot, you would be an excellent Acolyte pilot, and an excellent CAAG. You would go to the front and you would be an unbelievable asset to the Imperial Military, the JTSF, and the Empire. And there’s a good chance you wouldn’t come back from that front.”

“Sir…I know that.”

“I know you do. You’re a good soldier, Manto. You’ve always understood the potential cost. But you’ve never served in battle, and I have, and….”

He sighed. “Opito Dande-Kramer, I have known you since you were born, and my son has loved you about as long as you’ve been alive. You and I both saw how your parents were during the battle, when we didn’t know if Joseph was okay…I don’t want to have to go to your parents and tell them that you’re gone. I definitely don’t want to tell it to my son. And that is weak of me, and wrong, but it is the truth.”

“Sir….” Manto swallowed hard. “Sir…I understand,” she said. “But if you don’t send me…you have to tell someone else’s family. And if I am better than them…maybe you have to tell more people. I talked to Joseph, you know, after the battle. He talked to Rixie, too…I’m not some fool who thinks there’s glory out there. There’s a lot of fighting and blood and death, and too many people won’t come back. But…somebody has to fight, and bleed, and die. Joseph did, and he wasn’t even military. And he could have died, and I would have cried for a week solid if he had, and then I would have been back asking you to put me in a cockpit. Not for glory, but because I’m half-Titan, and I want to protect the people I love from that horror. I’m not planning on dying, mind you. But if it happens…sir, please….”

Zhan rubbed his eyes. “Opito Dande-Kramer, I will be amending that list. Your name will be on the top of it, with my highest recommendation. Not that you’ll need it; the recommendation from Capt. Carey that I already have on file is enough.”

Manto blinked, and without thinking, threw her arms around Zhan. “Thank you,” she said.

Zhan hugged her, tight. “Manto…don’t you dare die. I don’t want to have to explain how I could have stopped you.”

“Odin will be okay, and so will my parents,” Manto said.

“I know. But Pryvani won’t be. And neither will I.”

Manto laughed. She stepped back, and saluted. “Sir, I will do you proud.”

“Opito,” Zhan said, “you always have, and always will.”