Robert Asprin – Tambu

The viewscreen went blank.

Tambu sat motionless, staring at the screen and trying to remember when, if ever, a captain had broken with him instead of vice versa.

INTERVIEW VII

“It sounds as if those yearly meetings were quite something,” Erickson commented.

“They still are,” Tambu said. “The captains’ meetings are still one of the high points on the fleet’s yearly calendar. Though they are usually much calmer than the episode I just mentioned, occasionally they can become as spirited and emotional as those conducted during our formative years.”

“Yet despite their emotional outbursts, they seem to be fairly levelheaded when it comes to advice or debate.”

“Never underestimate the abilities of a ship captain,” Tambu warned. “No matter how often I tell myself that, I still forget sometimes that just because someone dresses funny or doesn’t speak well doesn’t mean he is any less capable or intelligent. To survive as a ship captain, particularly a fighting ship captain, requires a wide range of skills and abilities. One must be a tactician, a diplomat, a father-confessor, a personnel manager, and an accountant all rolled into one. Then, on top of it all, no be a leader: one who can command and get respect and cooperation from a wide range of individuals.”

“I must admit that’s a different array of characteristics than has been displayed when one of your captains has been interviewed by the press,” Erickson observed, cautiously.

“Of course it is!” Tambu snapped. “When you interview someone, they’ll tell you what they think you want to hear. Not that they’ll lie to you, mind you-just change their priorities and emphasis a bit.”