Read Commandant (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 8) for Free Online Page A

time.
    “But this shit sandwich, this is beyond me.  My little station—all of the Juliette Group, for that matter—we can’t stand up to the Federation, even if we wanted to.”
    Behind him, Ryck heard Plummer stir.
    I should have figured it’d come to this.  What the grubbing hell did I expect? Ryck asked himself, his face outwardly emotionless.  Their vaunted defenses can’t stand up to an entire fleet.
    “So for me and mine, we need you off the station.  Sorry, but your request for asylum is denied.”
    Well, that’s that .
    Ryck had a momentary thought of rushing the meister, of holding her hostage.  And judging from the sound of a step from behind him, either Plummer or Kawaa had the same thought.  But to what good?  The meister was only looking out for her people, and even if the three of them somehow managed to gain control through Henricks-Pata, then what?  There were still 42 Federation ships out there, and the Kravitch was a sitting duck while docked.
    No, it was better to sacrifice himself and others in the leadership and try and save as many of the Marines and crew as they could.
    “I understand, Meister.  Your hospitality has been appreciated, as has your consideration.  So, I’m sure you’ve been in contact with the fleet out there.  How is this supposed to work?”
    “General!” Captain Plummer said from behind him.
    Ryck held up one hand, stopping the captain.
    “Meister?”
    “Well, there are two officers in the next room waiting for you.  They would like to talk first.”
    Ryck gave the meister a curt nod, then spun around so quickly that he almost collided with Captain Plummer.
    Plummer’s eyes were wide, and he had that twitchy motion of someone about to swing into action.
    “Captain, we are guests here.  We will cooperate,” Ryck said, with as much authority in his voice as his 36 years of service could muster.
    This was a turning point.  Ryck’s mind was on the men waiting in the ships.  Plummer’s mind was undoubtedly on how to fight, how to extricate themselves from the situation. 
    He could have been a Marine , Ryck thought. 
    But there comes a time when no action at all is the correct choice.
    Plummer seemed to be at war with himself, but within moments, he calmed down.  He nodded, then turned around as the door opened. 
    Their guide stuck his head in.  “Gentlemen?”
    “Go with God,” Meister Henricks-Pata said as the three men left the office.
    “Not much chance of that, thanks to you,” Plummer muttered, too low for the meister to hear.
    Ryck sucked in a deep, calming breath as he followed their guide about 15 meters down the passageway to another door.  The muscle had disappeared, which seemed odd, given the circumstances.  But there were probably armed guards waiting inside the room.  For personal reasons, Ryck hoped they would be FCDC, not Marines.  He wasn’t sure he could take getting arrested by Marines.
    Their guide knocked several times on the door, a ratatatat that seemed too loud.  He turned the knob, pulled the door open, and motioned to the three men.
    Ryck took another deep breath, stood up straighter, and marched into the room. . .
    . . .to see General Hank Ukiah, the 91 st Commandant of the Marines, and Rear Admiral Lester Linney, alone and waiting for them.
    Ryck stopped dead, looking at the two men.  For a split second, he felt a surge of hope.  General Ukiah was his rabbi, [6] his mentor.  Rear Admiral Linney had been the CO of the FS Brandenburg while Ryck had been embarked, and the two men had formed a strong friendship over the ensuing years.
    That hope quickly turned to anger as he realized what was happening.  The Federation had sent two men, two friends, in the hope that Ryck wouldn’t fight back, that he’d go quietly.  For a moment, he wanted to fight back, to punch the Federation in the jaw one last time. 
    Ryck had sent his own brother-in-law on a suicide mission, so he’d absolutely fight his two friends if