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.Where there hadbeen bare stone walls and a few cushions thrown around a stone floor, therewere now carpets, bright wall-hangings and low tables.There were even fivecats, ranging from standard-sized tabbies up to a puma-sized "house lion."The tables and pillows had been moved out of the way for the afternoonexercise program and the girls were well into a serious aerobics workout.Thecats had had the sense to clear the area.She was mostly exempt from the "mandatory" workouts since she tended to keepherself in shape.But she often joined in and after stretching a bit she took a place at theback of the group and started jogging with them.As she did she scanned the girls, wondering what they would think if she evermanaged to bring her plans to fruition.The harem was a boring place, but assafe and well-supplied as was possible post-Fall.When she killed Paul, all the safety and security would go away in thatmoment.Most of them had known enough of the post-Fall life to be frightenedof leaving the harem.It was something that she kept in mind.Along with thefact that if any of them stayed, they were, effectively, doomed.She alsoworried about the women who had been taken away pregnant.She had no ideawhere the "confinement"quarters were.And any scenario that she envisioned, post-Paul, meant being onthe very ragged edge of disaster.Timing would be everything.Trying to findthe girls, to convince them to leave, might mean coming to blows with othercouncil members.Not to mention that she wasn't sure she could gain fullcontrol of Paul's power immediately.Many of the programs that had beenPage 56ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmluniversally available pre-Fall had been locked under passwords.There were thirteen women in the seraglio, including two new ones that Paulhad "recovered" in the last year.There were seven, somewhere, either awaitingbirth or with their children.What she should do was take the women from the seraglio and run like hell.ABC Amber Text Converter Trial version,http://www.thebeatlesforever.com/processtext/abctxt.htmlBut she didn't know if she could do that.* * *"Shar," Edmund said, taking the general's hand as he slid off the dragon."Admiral Talbot," Shar said then grinned."Coming up in the world?""I think more like.sideways," Edmund replied."Joanna, you look likehell."The dragon did look exhausted but she grinned nonetheless."If memory serves, you owe me a couple of barbequed cows," Joanna said.Edmund gestured to the rear of a building where smoke could be seen ascendinginto the air."Where there's smoke, there's fire.Where there is fire, there is barbeque.""I'm outta here," the dragon said, stretching her legs and then stumpingtowards the fire."I wish you could have brought Evan," Talbot said, gesturing towards thenearby temporary headquarters."Joanna was on the ragged edge of ability." Shar shrugged."Evan's not thatbig of a guy, but I didn't even bring a change of clothes.But I've broughtsome ideas of his we need to talk about.""The clothes we can get fixed," the duke said, looking at Van Krief."Clothes for the general," Van Krief said, noting it in her book."Aides?" Shar asked with a grin."Where's Herzer?""Putting the fear of Edmund into some supply personnel."* * *"Captain, we're working on it," the major said, looking over his desk atHerzer."I realize that the admiral isn't aware of all the logistical aspectsof this base, but.""I think the admiral is well aware of the 'logistical aspects' of this base,Major," Herzer replied, smiling."Which is why you are going to draw thesupplies requested and you are going to prepare, as ordered, for the arrivalof the Fleet.""Captain, the admiral can order all he would like," the major said, smilingfaintly and leaning back in his chair."But the materials he has requested areadministered by Navy Logistics Command, not by the local fleet commander or bythe base commander.They are for resupply of the Fleet and not for anyfrivolous 'welcome home' party your general seems to think is a good idea.Your general does not have the authority to order their release.Certainly notfor a nonoperational function.""Are there sufficient excess supplies for what the general has ordered?"Herzer asked, calmly."Whether there are or not is beside the point," the major said."And don'tthink that the 'admiral' can simply order me around.I don't work for him, Iwork for Naval Logistics.""Is that your final answer?" Herzer asked, grinning."Yes, it is," the major frowned."Okay, what we have here is a clear case of separation of operational andlogistic function," Herzer said, slipping into instructor mode."There havebeen repeated instances in historical record where this has occurred, alwaysto the detriment of the operational side.Given that fact, you leave me norecourse but to ensure you spend the rest of your military career as astevedore on the docks.""You don't have the authority for that," the major smiled, thinly."So youPage 57ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlmight as well take your threats out of my office.""Oh, I think I do," Herzer replied, laying a sheet of paper on the table."This is my authority, signed by Admiral Houser, releasing all stores in thisvicinity, and all logistics personnel, to the control of the base commander.And item one in my report is that you're a shit for brains that can't get hislard butt out of his office.""Let me see that," the major said, snatching up the paper.ABC Amber Text Converter Trial version,http://www.thebeatlesforever.com/processtext/abctxt.html"I'll note that this is a copy of the original.The distribution list on theoriginal included your office.So you're clearly such a lard ass you didn'teven bother to read your mail.Now get your ass up and get out of the chair.""I don't have to take that from you, Captain," the major snarled, throwing the sheet of paper on the desk and pointing tohis collar."I'm a major.You're a captain.And you don't talk to me that way!""I'm a captain sent by your commander passing on an order that you failed toobey," Herzer said, still smiling with a certain amount of strain."I thinkyou'd better wonder how many more minutes you're going to be a major.Or, youknow, you could get your ass in gear and start preparing for the arrival ofthe Fleet.Your choice.""We'll see about this," the major said."There are channels for the 'admiral'to forward a request such as that.And the use of that material fornonoperational purposes is still against regulations.You can tell the'admiral' that for me.Now get out of my office, Captain.You can consideryourself on report for insubordination.""What? Again?" Herzer said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]