“Thank you, uncle,” he said, sourly.  He couldn't escape the feeling of being used – without even being given a reward for his service.  “And ... can I avoid this from happening again?”

Uncle Winchester reached out and grabbed James’s shoulder.  “The family gives you an advantage over your less ... wellborn comrades,” he said.  “You have automatic entrance to places like Sandhurst or the Luna Academy, if you wish to take advantage of it.  But the price comes in upholding the system of government ... and serving as part of backchannel discussions, if necessary.  And if you fail the family, or refuse to pay your dues, the results will be unpleasant.”

James nodded.  Automatic entrance was one thing, automatic graduation was quite another.  There was no way he would be allowed to pass through the Academy without actually being qualified, something that Uncle Winchester – among others – had hammered into his head while he was still packing his first regulation suitcase.  It hadn't really dawned on him that there was another price for access to the Old Boys Network.  But the network had always been good at entangling people before it demanded payment.  Hell, one didn't even have to be an aristocrat to engage in a little mutual back-scratching.

He returned to the party and noted, to his relief, that nothing seemed to have gone spectacularly wrong.  Most of the drinks were being claimed by senior officers, he couldn't help noticing; the Captain, thankfully, had restricted himself to juice and water.  Absently, James wondered if he should tell the Captain what had happened, before deciding that it would be a bad idea.  No one would trust him if he did.  All he could do was watch his Captain’s back ...

... And pray to God that his faith in his CO was not misplaced.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

“I’ve told everyone at school that you’re a pilot and they’re dead excited.  How many BEMs did you kill?”

Kurt smiled at his son’s enthusiasm.  Percy had never quite believed that his father – his staid harassed investment banker father – was also a starfighter pilot, not until Kurt had been featured on the local news.  Kurt was privately rather annoyed by how easily the media had gotten access to his files – they’d even dug up a set of photos taken when he’d first served on a carrier – but it had definitely improved his relationship with his son.

“I killed seven enemy starfighters,” he said, shortly.  “Thirteen more and I will make ace.”

“That’s great,” Percy said, grinning from ear to ear.  “I ...”

He was pushed out of the screen by Penny, who looked sulky.  “Madam Cowpat is still being a pain,” she said.  “Why do I have to put up with her again?”