Apology
© 2026 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom


After two more sessions in the simulator, Varan felt that one more thing was necessary before she resumed command of the division-sized ‘fleet’ that would be giving her practical training. She requested a meeting with all the captains of the warships assigned to her.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said when the last one had arrived. “I wish to apologize to all of you. I was a poor leader, and I hope that subsequent training will correct my failure.”

“And those failures were?” her flagship’s captain asked.

Varan’s tail hung still. “I was slow to act, and didn’t give my planning or my orders to you enough flexibility to deal with changing conditions,” she explained.

One destroyer captain, older than her, gestured for attention. “If I may, Captain, this is training. Better to learn about and correct deficiencies here than to suffer real casualties,” he said with a smile that undercut the harshness of his words. “Do you plan on repeating your failure?”

“No, Captain, I don’t.”

He smiled. “Good. I received a new file of combat maneuvers before coming here, from you.” The other captains gestured that they had also received files.

“Yes,” Varan said with a smile. “I had a few ideas for new offensive and defensive options.” There was a brief stir as several of the officers pulled out their padds and accessed the file.

“This,” one vir said, staring at the display as her tongue clucked against the roof of her mouth in disbelief. “This is . . . you’re combining Ichoniik and Terran battle tactics?”

Varan’s smile broadened. “Yes.” She pulled a simple light pointer from a pocket. “Before I continue, I have apologized for my failing each of you. With your help I will not repeat my error.” The conference auditorium’s lights dimmed slightly as a holographic projection appeared. “This is what I plan . . . “