Chapter 3 from The SSMC Reluctant

Commodore Don Harr was a fast healer. 

The docs were expecting that it would run at least a week before he was fully ready to roll out; but when Harr heard that Rear Admiral Parfait had left the station and wouldn’t be back until the end of the week, he had a sudden interest in doubling up his meds and tripling work in his physical therapy sessions.

At current, he was standing at space dock, in a private room, talking via video with Parfait—which was a far better situation than being in a room with the man.

“You’re looking tip-top, Lieutenant Murphy,” Parfait said with a stern nod.

“It’s Commodore Harr, sir,” Harr reminded the Rear Admiral.

“Indeed it is! I was just testing your mental reflexes. There will be many a person out there that will try to trip you up, Murphy … erm, Harr.”

The abomination that Harr had become made the likelihood that anyone would ever associate him with Orion Murphy asinine. Even the slight reflection he could see on the vid panel made him shudder. He looked like a superhero. Everything except for the thin nose, and the lack of anything resembling a cape. Still, even he had to admit that the tan idea wasn’t so bad—he had always been too pale in his own estimation. He’d also noticed a fair bit more heft in his groin region than he remembered, though he couldn’t see the purpose in that alteration.

“Yes, sir.”

“I wish I could be there to give you a firm handshake and possibly even a long, drawn-out hug.”

“No, thank you, sir.”

“Again,” Parfait said with a cough, “just trying to keep you on your toes.”

“Good one, sir.”

“You have your crew notes, Commodore?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It’s going to be an interesting group of soldiers, you know? They’ve all, uh, been washed out of one crew or another. Yes, that’s right. And it could be that a few have even spent time as prisoners of war! You never know.” Parfait got that faraway look again and said, “A POW is a tough thing to be, Commodore. I was one back in the War of Wektrahd. Prison can change a man, Lieutenant. You start out scared, of course, and then they throw you in a cell with one or two other men. It isn’t long before things get a little … physical …”

“Sir?” Harr said as the familiar clank-clank-clank sounded in the station. “My ship has just arrived.”

“Hmmm? Oh, yes, of course. Well, good luck to you, Commodore. I will expect a full briefing—or debriefing, if you’re game?”

“No, sir.”

“Again, keeping you on your toes. Seriously, though, if you have the need to talk at any point, especially during the evenings, feel free to contact my private line.”

“Thank you, sir,” Harr said, and then shut down the connection, shuddered, and walked to his transport.

He returned the salute of the pilot as he entered the vessel. It was a light transport with only a few other soldiers aboard. Each stood at full attention as he sat down. He looked back to find them still saluting.

The entire ordeal made him feel odd. 

In his mind he was still a Lieutenant.

“At ease,” he called out, uneasily. 

Great, he thought, now I’m going to be that asshole that everyone hates. 

Sadly, that’s exactly what he would be, true or not. Soldiers may respect his rank, but they’d double-guess him as a commander until he could prove himself. Until then, he’d have to push his own agenda and act the part.

The golden rule of command, according to the perspective of the SSMC, was that you stood your ground and made sure that everyone in your unit knew who was boss. He’d taken this advice to heart over his years in the corps, and he’d had a number of soldiers at his beck and call throughout his tenure, but there was something altogether different between being a Lieutenant and being a Commodore. 

“Sir?” the Pilot was looking at him.

“Yes?”

“We’re ready to depart, sir.”

“Okay?”

“With your permission, sir.”

“Oh, yes,” Harr coughed. “Of course, yes. Depart straightaway. Lots to do and missions to begin and things like that.”

“Yes, sir.”

For a moment, Harr felt like the idiot that Rear Admiral Parfait was.

If this is your kind of humor and you want more, all you have to do is pick your poison…

Box Sets

Individual Books

Click the book cover for more information on the book, or click an icon to jump to the corresponding purchase page!

Ebook	Paperback	Audiobook

John P. Logsdon and Crimson Myth Press are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.