were other
wives and children, other husbands like himself. All had lives, and
all deserved to live them freely.

He resolved then and there to request a larger command, to speak to
Liebenstein, and take it from there. He refused to allow the anguish
and death of the battle just three days prior. . .to amount to nothing
more than another senseless tragedy. His comrades had fought too long
and too hard, and too many died. . .for that. And the fire that burned
suddenly, inexorably inside him, consumed all doubt.

*

The next morning he asked for, and received, command of a light cruiser
whose Captain had been severely wounded, along with such escort as
could be assembled from the decimated ranks of other destroyer groups
such as his own. He then went to speak to Col. Liebenstein, who upon
the death of Gen. Tarkanean had become Fleet Commander. He found the
man seated at his desk.

The Colonel, a decent man but with many concerns, heard what he had to
say, listening darkly and looking up at him with an ever deeper frown
of discontent. But whether this frown was directed at the Soviets, the
result of his own feelings of regret, or anger at the willful young
Captain, it became harder and harder to discern. Brunner grew more
reluctant to lay out his full intentions before him, and finally
stopped altogether. Liebenstein looked hard at him for what seemed a
long time, then spoke.

"What, exactly, are you proposing we do?" The younger man's intent,
suffering eyes did have a way of making one feel uncomfortable.

"Resist them. Delay, object. For Christ's sake, the Dutch will be
here in ninety-six---"

"NO."

Brunner lowered his face, red with rage and shame. "But how can we
just....." He could not finish for the lump in his throat.
Liebenstein became angry.

"I said, NO. And if you disobey me in this, or follow up with any
scheme of your own, your next command will be of a cell-block. Do you
understand?"

"Yes, sir." Brunner saluted brusquely, and started to leave. The
Colonel called him back.

"You have something more you want to say to me? You are still one of
my officers; I won't have it festering inside."

"Yes, Colonel." His hesitated, his voice shaking with emotion. "I
have to write nearly two hundred letters to next of kin. When I
contact the families of the deceased. . .what the hell am I supposed to
say they died for?" Without waiting for an answer he stalked out of
the ro