Isaac stood in General Chu's office his body locked stiffly into parade rest. Ostensibly he stood staring straight ahead at the Third Army shield that hung on the wall behind the general . While his head remained as still as humanly possible, his eyes searched the office unable to restrain the dangerous curiosity of a junior officer. Everyone was going to ask him what it was like anyway, so he might as well try and get some details.

The office itself smelled of jasmine and a strange orange mint. There were no pictures of family members, though there was one three dimensional image of a white husky sitting on green grass. The dog was magnificent and its image occasionally panted or made some quirky head motion. This must have been the general's dog. else why would he have kept a dynamic hologram of it? Isaac's grandmother kept dogs, but Isaac had never been close to any of them. He remembered preferring the company of her grey Turkish Angora cat Pilgrim. That cat was as detached as an animal could be without actually ascending to the angels in apathy or enlightenment.

Although scarce, the few pictures that did exist showed Chu with his soldiers. Isaac could let his eyes walk back through the general's battle history as it appeared he had managed to get images from most or all of his campaigns. One in particular caught his attention and Isaac dared move his head slightly to get a better look. The general was standing on an airfield of some sort, in the background were orange mountains and everyone was wearing windbreakers with orange and blue camo patterns. In the crowd of specialists and technicians one man stood out from the rest. The man in the picture was tall and thin in his body but the toothy grin was unmistakable; perfectly white teeth offset by the man's deep sable skin were all too familiar to Isaac. The thin ground cover of hair on his head was dark also, though the last time Isaac had seen him, it was getting quite grey.

Isaac eased back to his original position, no longer eager to survey the office of his superior. Instead his eyes rested on the man who sat working his holographic display. Chu had set it to be opaque on Isaac's side for security and privacy reasons, but the reflections of lights, words and images covered the general's hardened face. The general was not a big man by any stretch but his taught body and intense eyes made Isaac feel very small. Isaac had been acknowledged when he came in but for five full minutes he had been kept waiting while the general finished his business. The young officer wondered if Chu was doing it on purpose to make Isaac uncomfortable. If so it was certainly working.

At last the general pushed a button and the screen went away. The standard issue desk was clear except for a few pieces of laminate and the desk comp. Chu turned his attention to Isaac and coolly surveyed the lieutenant for what felt an eternity. Isaac licked his lips once, doing his best to avoid the almond eyes and their intense gaze.

“Lieutenant Thomas. You can relax, please.”

Isaac let his muscles relax just a little bit. He was not quite ready to relinquish his defenses just yet.

“Thank you, sir.”

Chu considered Isaac some more and then leaned back in his seat. Isaac realized every move the man was deliberate and calculated. It made him defensive and was keeping him off balance. What did the general want?

“Mr. Thomas, can you tell me how many survivors of the original Tau Ceti battle there are in the fleet and ground forces currently deployed?”

Isaac cocked his head. He had not expected that question at all and although he knew the answer easily, it eluded his tongue for a moment longer than he intended.

“Uhm... I believe I am the only one, sir.”

Chu pursed his lips. “My apologies I really should have been more specific. I was not talking strictly about colonists. I also meant the supporting military forces.”

Now Isaac was truly confused. He had never considered that in his own calculations. This was his battle and he just assumed everyone else who had been involved had gone about their business.

“I really cannot say, sir. I don't think I have that information.”

“You didn't consider all the variables, Mr. Thomas.”

It was not a question, but a cold stattment of fact and Isaac felt his jaw clench. What the hell was this old coot getting at?

“Yes sir, I suppose I did not.”

Chu gave the faintest smile and then stood up. He pointed at his right eye with his right index finger as he moved around the table. “I have been watching you, Mr. Thomas.” Chu closed to within an inch or so of Isaac. The man's intensity fairly flowed off of him and Isaac had the desire to take a step back, though he didn't dare.

“In fact there are three.” Chu paused for a heartbeat.”Actually two now.” Chu turned away and took a few steps towards the picture Isaac had been so fascinated with, staring at it and keeping his back to the young officer. “One of them died yesterday.” That statement was slightly less cold and Isaac sensed sadness and maybe something else. He really couldn't put a handle on the emotions. 

Chu sat on the corner of his desk in a fashion that caught Isaac as pecurliarly Norterran, though his native China was not a member of either the Norterran or Soterran block. Isaac wondered where he picked the habit up.

“I had no idea sir. I am sorry to hear about the loss.” In fact Isaac didn't know how he felt about it, but he knew he wanted to be out of this office as soon as possible. The sweat was building up on his body even though his gear was designed to prevent that.

“But you do not even know who it was do you?”

“No sir, I do not.”

Chu allowed silence to reign and Isaac could tell the general was sizing him up even more intently. Was this some kind of test?

“She was a captain then, commanding the cruiser Athens. Her task force jumped in on top of the Ch'yrrade and tore them apart. Seven of her own ships, including Athens were also lost. Many of the early battles were like that. Bloody affairs. Like yesterday.”

Isaac felt his mouth slowly drying as Chus spoke and a pit of poison in his gut told him he did know who the other person had been.

“Admiral Sol.” The name tasted like ash in his mouth.

Chu nodded. “Yes. Mongol was lost with almost all hands.”

“I thought there were no survivors?”

Shaking his head, Chu slid off the desk, its height almost too much for him to manage it as a smooth motion. “One life pod was found. It had two survivors in it. Do you know that there is only one life pod per ship that has dual life support capabilities?”

Isaac did. “The senior pod for the ship commander or flag officer.”

“The chief who was able to talk could barely contain her tears. She spoke of how Admiral Sol had told them to 'get in the fucking pod'. I suppose she knew the ship was doomed."

“Yes sir.” Isaac really had nothing else to say. His own emotions were screwing with his ability to participate in the conversation at this point.

“They say that when they found the admiral's body she was strapped into the main gunnery console couch. Apocryphal perhaps, but I would like to think it is true.”

“I would too, sir.”

After another moment of silence Chu genuinely smiled. “I have not brought you here to punish you Isaac.” He sat back in his chair, more relaxed than he had been. “Miranda Sol was a good friend. I remember well the first sight of her face when she commed me from orbit, telling me the transports could lift off.”

Isaac nodded, somehow expecting that piece of news. So Chu had been there too.

“Tau Ceti was my first major command. I was a new colonel then and the defense regiment was taking shape.”

“I remember.” Isaac almost said sir, but he felt they were beyond that right now. “Barely.”

“Your father was a good company commander. Also a good platoon leader. We served together several times before the attack. Of course you know he was with me after as well.”

Isaac nodded. “He spoke very highly of you.”

Chu allowed a wane smile to cross his face. “And a good man. Have you talked to him lately?”

Isaac had not spoken to his father in over a year at least not personally. They had sent a few letters but nothing visual.

“I have.” Chu answered his own question before Isaac could formulate a response. “He is well, but I think he is afraid Tau Ceti will destroy his son the way it destroyed his wife and daughter.”

Isaac had spent a lifetime hiding the wave of hurt that phrase in all its variations made him feel. It coursed through his body and threatened to paralyze him. He knew he couldn't afford that, not now and certainly not down on Tau Ceti. The pain would interfere too much.

“People die in war, sir.” It was cold and challenging but Isaac didn't care.

“You think I don't know that? You think I don't hear their screams? I lost a dear friend yesterday because she could not drive them from ears. Miranda Sol was haunted by seven dead ships and thousands of dead spacers and civilians.” Chu tilted his head to the right, examining Isaac as one might a child. "Just as I am. Just as you are."

Isaac was very close to losing control. The steam rose and fell inside of him in great waves and it took all training and practice with emotional distance to keep from lashing out. However personal Chu made it, Isaac had to keep his cool or risk losing his chance at vengeance.

“It isn't the same sir, with respect.” Isaac knew his own voice conveyed anything but respect, yet this was the only way vent he steam he could come up with.

“With respect, lieutenant, it is. You think this isn't personal for me? I lost Tau Ceti. I never could have held it, no matter what. We were too outnumbered but logic fails in the face of the tragedies we cannot control. I was in command then and I am in command now. This is no coincidence.”

No, Isaac imagined it was not nor was this meeting a coincidence.

“Its personal for me. We have never been able to communicate with the Ch'yrrade. We have tried. They have tried. We know they have tried but both sides are missing something. It makes no sense, we should stop fighting yes, to figure it all out?”

“No!” Isaac came close to shouting and his body took a step towards his general. It wasn't a threat, but it was fueled by a desperate fear that had dogged him for the last seventeen years. Any kind of peace would mean his vengeance be stillborn. 

Chu blinked his eyes. “You do not have to explain, Mr. Thomas. I feel it. Miranda Sol felt it. William Barret feels it. In some ways it is all he feels.”

Isaac steadied himself and managed to resume an at ease stance. “Who is William Barret, sir?”

“Billy. He managed to continue fighting for another ten years, retired as a warrant officer. Half his body was replaced by prosthetics and somehow he kept fighting. For your mother. Your sister. And yes, for you.”

Isaac had never seen Billy again after they had made it into space. He had never thought to ask his father about him either. Suddenly the feeling of Billy carrying Isaac to safety was very real.

“Why did you call me here, sir?”

“I don't know what your plan is down on Tau Ceti, Mr. Thomas. I know you have a mission and I know you have a command. These must come first, always. But I also know how personal this is.” Chu smiled widely this time, an act that nearly split his aged face in two. “I suppose I do not want to lose more friends to this world.”

“I will do my duty, sir. But I don't know that I can keep my personal feelings clear of this.”

“No.” Chu nodded. “Neither can I. But we must do out best, lieutenant.”

Chu stood up and walked over to Isaac, extending his right hand. Isaac found himself instinctively taking it with his own hand. Chu shook it once, looking directly at Isaac.

“Good luck, lieutenant. Dismissed.” The meeting was over.

“So what does his office look like?”

Isaac looked up and saw that it was Price, his driver who asked the question. Somehow Isaac managed to smile while shaking his head. Of course it would be Price. The specialist always had a knack for cutting the tension. Isaac realized he must have looked pretty tight when he came up on them. Price was just doing his job to keep the boss loose.

“Like an office. He had a dog holo and some souvenir pins from Ross 128. Is the Fokker loaded?”

“No Fokker like a Marty Fokker.” The gunner chimed in. Dish pulled a wrench out of one pack and put it in another. The wrench looked heavy and the pack she placed it into looked a lot like Price's. The hijinks were already beginning Isaac was pleased to see.

Price frowned at Dish. “I hate that joke. Anyway, yes sir she is loaded. Garcia and Ngo are loaded up.”

“Okay lets get inside. We drop in twenty.”

Isaac looked over and saw Nina and the XO talking. They seemed to be   having a laugh between them. Both women turned to look over at him almost as if they could feel him watching. The XO gave him a thumbs up and a nod, seeking to know that Isaac was good. He wasn't but she didn't need to know that. Isaac gave her a nod back and an answering thumbs up.

Nina on the other hand could tell her platoon leader was not right. Her face was a mixture of compassion and concern. She raised her thick eyebrow and Isaac winked back. Nina nodded and walked to her own vehicle though Isaac was sure she was still worried.  The noise and chaos of the Marties heading to their drop vehicles drowned out the senses and Isaac bathed momentarily in the anonymity. He wasn't alright, that was true. But he had a date with Tau Ceti and the Ch'yrrade that was seventeen years overdue. An hour from now he would be on the planet and destiny would have its day.

Calmer now, Isaac walked onto the drop vehicle leaving thoughts of General Chu and his father and Billy behind. He was ready though he was troubled that he could not quite shake the image of the Mongol's final moments from his mind.