He waited as the call lights winked out.
“There has been an explosion of unknown origin on board the Scorpion,” he announced. “We can only assume there are no survivors.”
He paused for a moment to allow the message to sink in.
“First officers are to assume command of their vessels immediately,” he ordered. “You are to take the rest of the day for whatever services you wish to perform for the lost personnel. Starting at 0800 hours tomorrow, I will contact each of you individually to assist in reorganizing your crews as well as to issue specific orders and assignments. Those ships closest to the Scorpion have one hour to conduct a damage inspection of their ships. After that, they are to call me with a status report. Acknowledge receipt of message by responding with an amber call.”
He watched as the board lit up again. This time the lights were all amber-all but one. The Scorpion would never call in again.
“Tambu out.”
The fleet secure, Tambu slumped back in his chair as the enormity of his deed washed over him.
Gone! All of them. Ramona, Egor, A.C., Jelly…all of them wiped out when he pressed a single button on his console.
In his shock-dulled mind, he realized he had lost his personal battle. When pressured, it was Tambu who controlled his actions, and Tambu had ended his last hope of retirement. He couldn’t leave the fleet now. With the captains gone, there would be no one to pass control to. He would have to stay on, working with the new captains, reorganizing…
He had lost. He was Tambu.