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Issue Number 19
by Barry Boone
I arrive early for my interview with the military governor of Regina, Major General of Marines Viktor Androchev. The General’s aide shows me into a spare, small office. All that marks the man is an orderly pile of papers and a classic flat picture of a lovely young woman holding an infant leaning towards the camera with fascination. My musings are interrupted as the General storms into the room.
There is no anger in this abrupt entrance, just the controlled military efficiency this craggy former Non-Com carries with him like a second skin. His handshake is the controlled greeting of man at ease with his strength. He offers apologies for his tardiness, not the normal banalities of so many public figures but with real regret. Time is precious to this man, no doubt because he has seen time bought and paid for with the lives of young Marines for most of his adult life.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much of a story for you, sir.” Major General Androchev starts with a clipped, efficient tone. “I’m just holding this post until a Duke can be appointed for Regina.”
I ask if he thinks Corina Armstrong will be appointed. He gives a small shake of his head and replies “That is a decision far over my pay grade.”
Then there is a phone call from our hope Herself, and the Major General takes it. My end of the conversation is quiet. The General doesn’t say a dozen words until the end when he tells Her that he and his people will look into it. Then I realize that his people seem to consist of a pair of sergeants and three officers. Spare resources indeed to govern an unsettled planet. General Androchev seems to make a quick decision and invites me to his home to squeeze in the interview. I accept.
Squeeze is the correct term. A Varg’r Sergeant-Major, Androchev, a driver and myself crowd into a small command car for the trip to Level Three. I ask the Major General why he doesn’t take up residence in the Ducal Compound. “The Dukedome isn’t mine to occupy,” he states with conviction. “And it can get drafty.”
His answer reminds me that Viktor Androchev was once a fixture in the local mercenary world. His well known hatred of slavers, pirates, and other scum that plague the Marches is genuine. His desperate childhood, his long service in the Imperial Marines,and the pain of watching all the family he had ever known, his sister, convicted for the very crime he loathes seem to be etched into his face.
We pull up to a comfortable apartment block, different only in that it has a pair of Marine MPs outside the front door. As we pull up, an older woman with an armful l of groceries approaches. Androchev holds open the door and his driver helps the woman to her apartment with her load. It is a stark difference with the military pomp and security that surrounded the late Governor Collingwood.
The radiant mother from the flat picture on the Major General’s desk greets her husband with a kiss as she hands off the smiling child to the Sergeant Major. Katarina Androchev and her husband take a moment to themselves. It is at moments like these that this reporter feels that he has a window of understanding he can only hope to show his readers. The moments any couple have are few when one of them carries the responsibilities of command in his Imperial Majesty’s service. The Sergeant Major seems to know this and withdraws a pace, letting young Vasilli hold onto his ruff and making the baby squeak happily.
The General hands me off gently to his wife. He will see Corina about matters they hold close, matters historians will pore over no doubt. I am more interested in the man behind the official portrait, and for that I have a most charming guide. I can see why the rank and file simply call her “the General’s Lady” for she is one of those women for whom the sadly overused title “Lady” was truly coined.
Countess Androchev serves me tea in the old High Terran style with the grace and good manners of a bygone era on Regina. An era that may flower again with this lady by Androchev’s side. She is gracious and we speak of an afternoon together to flesh out the story behind this couple.
But that afternoon never takes place.
Days later Major General Viktor Androchev has gone to Jewell on the fastest Navy ship he could find, leaving his Sergeant Major promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and holding down the provisional post of Lieutenant Governor. I too had to go to Jewell and while there saw the newly promoted Marquis, now a Lieutenant General speaking quietly with members of the Imperial Congress of Nobles. (The Varg’r was there also, now seeming much happier with the rank of First Sergeant.) Countess Androchev was also there with small parties and quiet words. On the one time I was present when Corina and the General were at the same function it was obvious he was a steady champion of Her claim.
We all know what happened, how one vote carried the day for our Corina. It was not until after speaking with some off duty Naval officers, and realized how close Androchev came to destroying his career that I knew how much this quiet soldier had done for the people he had governed for weeks. However much more Viktor Androchev will do with his career, his soft campaign for Corina will for me be the greatest victory he has ever won. By winning that most desperate battle he should always be known as Regina’s, and the Hope of Regina’s, champion.