Until then, she worked closely with the crew as they checked and rechecked all systems and functions of the vessel.

The process became tedious and she quickly felt their superiors were merely stalling for time. Some of them were playing a political game, waiting for the right moment to announce their achievement but in so doing, they delayed the project. The sooner they got the ship into space, the sooner exploration could begin.

And had they not wasted so much time in the first place, we might’ve been in a position to intercept this thing before it became a problem.

Years spent flying combat missions engrained in her a sense of getting things done as efficiently and quickly as possible. Once she transitioned into an administrative role, she cut a lot of fat from response times and helped streamline the processes put in place to acquire equipment as well.

Joining the Agency helped her personal life somewhat as well. Victoria married a marine, a lieutenant in a forced recon unit. He had been on countless combat missions and always came home … until he didn’t. It would be wrong to say she blamed the military but part of her heart struggled with continuing to serve.

Her new post was different enough that she was able to walk away from the past, to lose herself in an environment where the primary goal was getting into space. Exploration and the advancement of mankind’s efforts to colonize the stars felt like a far nobler ambition than having a sole purpose of sending people to fight.

Her husband, Paul, would’ve wanted her to find some way to move on, to find some happiness wherever she could. He’d been a selfless man, which ultimately got him killed. During a particularly brutal battle in the middle of enemy territory, he saved ten lives, including a number of civilians.

The final act of bravery earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor. When she received it, she found the piece of metal to be of small comfort. After a lifetime of serving the military, of putting her own life on the line, she couldn’t help but be proud of him. Though the war took her husband from her, his final acts distinguished him in a way few epitaphs could have.

Victoria met Warren Miller in the military and they briefly served in the same unit. He handpicked her for his first officer and her record did the rest of the work for her. No one argued about giving her the assignment and a few months after a brief conversation with Jacks, she received her transfer orders.

Since then, she’d developed a positive relationship with the various section heads and many of the researchers. They appreciated how she could dissect a process and help them make it better. It ingratiated her to everyone on the base and it ultimately made the whole Agency look good to the council.

Victoria stepped aside as two technicians nearly ran her down, peering into the reflective glass in front of her. She wore her light brown hair cropped above her shoulders to keep it out of the way. Blue eyes looked exhausted, despite the fact she slept fine. Pale features didn’t get out much, especially with how much work there was to do.

How the hell did Miller justify leave? Victoria envied him on one hand but on the other, she didn’t really have anywhere to go. Her friends were all deployed and her family was scattered all over the US. Besides, in her mind, the end of the project would provide a bigger reward than any vacation. What would I do anyway? Drink wine and sleep?

Jacks stepped out of a conference room just as Victoria arrived and she grabbed his arm before he could storm off. “Colonel,” she said, “we really need to talk.”

“I’m a little busy right now, Serling,” Jacks replied. He looked at her hand. “Meyers said we have a huge problem I need to tend to in control. Make it quick.”

Victoria let him go. “I get that. I’d like to have some authorization to be busy as well. I need your permission to prep the Leviathan for launch.