In July's "75 Word Challenge" I wrote a story in the Honorverse. I found it fun and enlarged it. I offer it here for your reading pleasure, and hopefully to inspire some other people to write a story in the Honorverse for our combined pleasure.
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“How did I get into this?” thought Captain Honor Harrington; not for the first time. It had only been 2 weeks since she shared her thoughts about the Admiral Hemphill’s Gravity Lance. It had been good fun to see her and her cronies turn a lovely shade of puce. Such fun that a week later Honor had still been grinning.
Unfortunately, one did not make one’s superiors look like a “stilty” dunce without repercussions. On the two week anniversary of her command performance for Hemphill and her syncophants, Honor got the invitation which read: “Admiral Hemphill requests your presence tonight for an evening of Texas Hold’em.” Honor knew that a “request” from an Admiral was merely a polite order, so she arrived prepared for anything. She soon discovered that more than her newly enlarged bank account was in jeopardy.
With a look that could have scoured the paint off a battle cruiser Hemphill stated the ground rules for this little duel. The buy in would be a $5000. Nimitz would not be welcome. And if Honor should lose she would have to “request” that Bu-Ships install a grav lance on her next command.
The night went poorly from the beginning. If they had been playing 5 card stud, Honor would have ditched her hand more times than not. On the other hand, Hemphill seemed to always have an Ace or a King.
As the night neared its close, desperation was knocking. Honor had $2700 left and Hemphill was playing “big stack bully” like a champ. It was time for desperate measures. She looked at her cards, 3 and 7 of clubs. Internally she sighed and thought; “Junk again.” It was time to roll the dice.
The dealer turned a king of spades, a jack of diamonds, and a 5 of clubs. Honor made her play. She took a second look at her cards and bet $500. Hemphill called. A 4 of diamonds was turned. She bet another $700. Hemphill called again. An 8 of spades was turned. Honor slightly raised an eyebrow, “All in.” Hemphill caught the tell: “Fold.” The tide had turned.
Two hours later the Honor left counting her cash and contemplating the advantages of planting false information into enemy hands.
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An Honorable Deception
“How did I get into this?” thought Captain Honor Harrington; not for the first time. It had only been 2 weeks since she shared her thoughts about the Admiral Hemphill’s Gravity Lance. It had been good fun to see her and her cronies turn a lovely shade of puce. Such fun that a week later Honor had still been grinning.
Unfortunately, one did not make one’s superiors look like a “stilty” dunce without repercussions. On the two week anniversary of her command performance for Hemphill and her syncophants, Honor got the invitation which read: “Admiral Hemphill requests your presence tonight for an evening of Texas Hold’em.” Honor knew that a “request” from an Admiral was merely a polite order, so she arrived prepared for anything. She soon discovered that more than her newly enlarged bank account was in jeopardy.
With a look that could have scoured the paint off a battle cruiser Hemphill stated the ground rules for this little duel. The buy in would be a $5000. Nimitz would not be welcome. And if Honor should lose she would have to “request” that Bu-Ships install a grav lance on her next command.
The night went poorly from the beginning. If they had been playing 5 card stud, Honor would have ditched her hand more times than not. On the other hand, Hemphill seemed to always have an Ace or a King.
As the night neared its close, desperation was knocking. Honor had $2700 left and Hemphill was playing “big stack bully” like a champ. It was time for desperate measures. She looked at her cards, 3 and 7 of clubs. Internally she sighed and thought; “Junk again.” It was time to roll the dice.
The dealer turned a king of spades, a jack of diamonds, and a 5 of clubs. Honor made her play. She took a second look at her cards and bet $500. Hemphill called. A 4 of diamonds was turned. She bet another $700. Hemphill called again. An 8 of spades was turned. Honor slightly raised an eyebrow, “All in.” Hemphill caught the tell: “Fold.” The tide had turned.
Two hours later the Honor left counting her cash and contemplating the advantages of planting false information into enemy hands.
.
