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Faith in the Service (Stardancer Book 5)

Faith in the Service (Stardancer Book 5)

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An internal threat aimed at derailing the debate about Fleet's future; an external one opening the way for the worst kind of outlaws in a new part of space. Alysha and Taylitha are on separate sides of the sector, holding down their ends of what's supposed to be a routine refit and officers' retreat… so naturally they're confronted with problems that play to their flaws, and without each other as back-up.

But Fleet is a family---one that bickers, but forms a united front in the face of adversity---and help can come from unexpected places. Will they face their challenges alone? And should they, when faith in their comrades is the glue that holds their organization together?

Genre (setting): space opera (Pelted)
Tags: adventure, battles, sticking together, team problem-solving
Rating: R for violence, mentions of abuse

Excerpt from Chapter 3

“They say this place is gorgeous.”

“Mm-hmm.” Alysha sealed her bag, resigned. Opening it and checking it for missing items would only delay the inevitable. Particularly since she knew she hadn’t left anything out.

“And we won’t be far. No farther than any of the captains on Chloris would be from the starbase. Closer, actually. I’m pretty sure. Anyway, anytime you need to come back, you could. Not that you’ll have to because everything here will be under control. It’s not like we need the refits. We’ll be lazing around, waiting for you to finish up. And the ensigns of course. They’re going to have it harder than you. Or at least, more grueling. I think they’re going to be in log cabins in some alpine meadow. Rugged mountain views, rippling creeks… the whole kit and caboodle. There’ll be great hiking. I wonder if they’ll organize hikes? I would organize hikes. Maybe one near sundown, so you could see the changing color in the sky…”

Alysha looked over her shoulder at Taylitha. “Maybe you should go.”

Taylitha laughed. “No, thanks. I had enough of hiking on our ensign’s retreat. Plenty of excitement to last me my lifetime in that regard. Particularly with that jerk who put himself in charge.”

“He wasn’t so bad,” Alysha said.

Taylitha snorted. “The only reason you can say that is because you see the potential in everyone, and you’re determined to liberate it. Some of us know a lost cause when we see it.”

“Says the woman in charge of personnel development.” Alysha smiled affectionately at the other woman. “You’re not as dismissive as you like to make yourself sound.”

“I also haven’t got your magical touch. Which is fine with me!” Taylitha held up her hands. “You’re about to object and tell me all about my wonderful qualities, and I know I have some. It’s all right that they’re not the same as yours.”

“I can’t argue that.” Alysha gave her quarters a final sweep and resigned herself to the future. “I guess that’s everything.”

A rising arpeggio distracted them both. Alysha said, “Yes?”

“Bridge. We’ve reached the Oasis system, sir.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Alysha waved the connection closed. “I’m for the shuttle, then.”

“I’ll walk you down.”

Alysha shouldered her bag and started after the first commander. She didn’t mind the escort; she’d miss Taylitha and the rest of her senior staff while she was away, more than she could bring herself to express given how few of them knew why she didn’t want to go.

Most people would be surprised to hear about her reluctance to take a much-needed break because the past few assignments had been rough ones, for all of them. First the incident on the colony world of Gledig, which had been far graver than they’d anticipated, and which had involved an ambush that had killed three of the crew and injured several others. Then the emotionally draining events on Amity, culminating in the simultaneous admission of a new alien species into the Alliance… and the death of another, after ages of dwindling. A break to sort out the disparate feelings of mourning and celebration would have been welcome to most people, and maybe Alysha would have wanted it herself… had she not also had a far more painful past she wanted to keep buried.

She didn’t even want to admit why. She’d peeked at the reason long enough to know she shouldn’t acknowledge it openly or she’d have no shortage of heartache. Best to move on, and hope no one insisted otherwise.

“It’ll be all right, sir,” Taylitha said quietly, as they walked the corridors. “Two and a half weeks and you’ll be back, and we can get on to the real business.”

“Yes,” Alysha said. “Thank you for the reminder.”

“It’s what I’m here for.” Taylitha brightened. “You’ll like your shuttle crew, too. They volunteered themselves.”

“Eager to get away from the refits?” Alysha said, smiling.

“Given how little work we’ll be doing, I doubt it. I certainly wouldn’t shut myself up in a shuttle if I could kick around a nice, big space station with more than one restaurant.” Taylitha grinned. “No, they’re going because they want to. I wish you luck with that…!”

Alysha chuckled quietly. “You’re more worried than I am, I think.” She stopped at the door to the shuttle bay and rested a hand on Taylitha’s shoulder. “You’re right, arii. It will be fine. And I’ll be back soon. Keep the ship in one piece while I’m gone, ah?”

“Of course!” Taylitha said. “What else?”

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