I had the privilege of interviewing Admiral Saahren, who has rocketed to prominence after his decisive victory over a Ptorix fleet threatening Forenisi, a mainly human planet at the edge of the Confederacy.
Saahren’s clerk escorts me into the admiral’s office. Saahren stands when I enter. Dressed in the Fleet’s black day uniform, he’s tall, dark and imposing, his lips curved into a brief smile of welcome. I stop myself from drooling as he waves me to a seat. “So kind of you to see me,” I manage.
He offers a head bow. “My pleasure. What can I tell you?”
I point at the decoration on his breast, a blue jewel surrounded by a spreading burst of silver rays. “Congratulations on the Confederacy star.”
He shrugs. “I’m honored, of course, but I was just doing my job. I see it as recognition of the valor and dedication of all the crews of all my ships.”
I get the feeling he means it. So often it’s false modesty. “Admiral Saahren, do you think we’re safe from the Ptorix, now?”
He considers. “Safe? We can hope. But there are many, many more Ptorix in the galaxy than humans, and although we coexist on some planets, we’re so very different. It’s inevitable we’ll clash. Especially with someone as ambitious as Lord Governor Anxhou in charge of the adjoining Ptorix sector.”
I ask him general questions about the battle itself, he explains what we already know, that he took the Ptorix fleet by surprise and eliminated some of their capital ships before they could be deployed. He’s happy to talk about the battle. I don’t really want to talk about politics, though. I want to know about him. I ask him why he moved from his home world to Malmos when he was twelve years old.
His demeanour has changed. He has become guarded. His eyes take on a faraway, introspective look. Eventually he says, “The planet had fallen into anarchy. Warlords had usurped power. My father was part of a revolt against the local tyrant. During the fighting my parents were killed and I was badly injured, but I was lucky enough to come under the care of a specialist doctor from Malmos. He took me back to the capital with him to finish my treatment, and then he became my foster father, you might say.”
“From there you went to the Fleet Academy.”
He nods. “Yes. It was an opportunity I would not have had if I’d remained on my home world.”
“You’ve never married?”
Again, that enigmatic half smile. “My career has always been important to me. I see that as a way of giving back, making life safer for millions of ordinary people. I don’t see myself as a family man.”
I throw the rumour out to see how he’ll react. “There have been suggestions you’re gay?”
He laughs. “I’ve also heard I’m impotent. Either way, they can think what they like.”
“Even your own officers and crews?”
The grin fades and one black eyebrow arches. “I don’t expect all my crews to like me. That’s impossible. As long as they obey orders what they think of me is their business, not mine. Is there anything else?”
That last is said very quietly. I have to stop myself from standing up and saluting. I toy with the idea of asking him out to dinner, but I think I’ll be wasting my time. He shakes my hand after I stand to leave. Warm, strong fingers gripping firmly, not one of those condescending limp fish offerings people like me get from too many ‘important’ men.
As the door closes behind me I wonder if Admiral Saahren will ever give himself the time to fall in love. I’ve met a few like that. They swear it’ll never happen… then they meet the right woman, and BAM.
Time will tell.
