Risen From Ashes

by Sam Schall

“And find Watchman and kill that bastard before our allies.” He spat out the word. “Get their hands on him.”

  “Sir?”

  “You heard me, Major. Dismissed.” He waited until Waas finished her call. Then he arched one brow in question. “Secretary Nelms and party will be here within the hour.”

  “Good. I suggest we use the time to prepare a sufficiently apologetic statement for him. We are begging not only for our lives but for the lives of everyone in this system.”

  “What if he’s bluffing?” Yun Chin, head of their judiciary, asked.

  “Marc Nelms doesn’t bluff,” Waas said. “Check the drone feeds from near the Fuerconese embassy. Their shuttles are on standby, those that haven’t already left the planet. They have evacuated most of their staff and dependents. So have their allies. Trust me, their message is very clear. Either we play by their rules or we are on our own against the Callusians.”

  Vreman returned to his chair and sat. There was a great deal to do and not much time to do it before Nelms returned. God, life would be so much easier if Major Rudolph would find and deal—permanently and lethally—with Watchman before anything else happened.

  Stand and Fight

  15

  Atlantis Rising, flagship

  First Fleet, Fuerconese Navy

  Midlothian space

  Miranda Tremayne pushed the plate to one side and reached for her datapad. Part of her wished the fleet had left the system days ago. She shook her head, a frown pulling at the corners of her mouth. The truth was she wished they’d never come to the system. Even so, she understood why they had and why they were still there. One part of her even agreed with the decision. The last thing she wanted was the destruction of a system on her conscience. But she hated the waiting and the wondering of when—not if—the Callusians would strike.

  The last week had been non-stop. Nelms shuttled down to the surface each morning to meet with the Midlothian Administrative Bureau. Major Khan and his people assured her the Midlothians had finally opened their intelligence files on Watchman, holding little, if anything, back. The intelligence officer felt sure they were closing in on the former Intelligence Czar but they both knew they were fighting against time. If they didn’t find the man before the Callusians hit the system, they’d lose him in the confusion that followed.

  Worse, the reports coming in from FleetCom showed an increase in Callusian activity. If there was any good news, it was that there had been no further reports the enemy had deployed the biotoxin. Not that it reassure her. She operated under the assumption the Callusians planned on making an example of Midlothian. That meant using the biotoxin against the system. Worse, that meant her people could, and possibly would, fall victim as well.

  She reached for her comm and entered a quick code.

  “Yes, Admiral?” Captain Kohler said a moment later.

  “New orders. All ships are to go to Protocol Alpha. I repeat Protocol Alpha.” Sensors hadn’t reported the enemy presence yet, but her gut told her their time was up. “Activate the sensor arrays and bring the defense platforms online.”

  “Admiral?”

  “No, Raoul, I haven’t received information you don’t have. I’m playing a hunch. Better to be safe than sorry.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Protocol Alpha is active. I repeat, Protocol Alpha is active. Comms, pass the order on to all ships.”

  Tremayne listened as the comms officer did as instructed.

  “Next order,” Captain Kohler said. “Weapons, Sensors, bring defense and sensor arrays online. Inform Captain Middleton he has secondary command.”

  The orders were repeated.

  “Captain, send for the secondary bridge crew. Once all posts are covered, primary crew is dismissed to get into light armor. All on-duty and essential personnel are to be armored according to their assignments until further orders.” She stood and moved to her locker. “I’ll report to the flag bridge as soon as I’ve followed my own orders.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She ended the comm and began stripping out of her uniform. She tapped her earbud and requested a link to Ashlyn.

  “Shaw.”

  “Ash, what’s your situation?” She winced slightly as she finished the more unpleasant part of armoring up.

  “Status quo, Admiral.” The colonel spoke softly to someone and Tremayne listened as she moved away from whomever it had been. “Sorry, Admiral. Is there something I need to be aware of?”

  “Nothing on sensors but my gut is telling me things are about to get interesting.”

  “Orders?”

  “We’ve gone to Protocol Alpha and I’ve ordered defense and sensor arrays to go live.”

  Ash fell silent. “Miranda, I’m going to extract Nelms and Izaguirre from their meeting and throw them onboard a shuttle if necessary to get them back to the flagship.”

  “Good.” She opened her mouth to say something only to be cut off as red alert sounded. “Damn it!”

  “Admiral?” Concern filled Ashlyn’s voice.

  “One moment.” She muted the channel and activate her link to the battlenet. “Update.”

  “Outer sensors picking up engine signatures indicating a Callusian taskforce or fleet translating into the system,” Kohler said.

  “Notify the ships in-system. Shields up and weapons ready. Notify our other assets to stand ready but not to break cover until my order.”

  “Aye aye, Admiral.”

  “Ash, we’ve picked up readings that seem to indicate the Callusians are translating in-system.”

  “I’ll make sure the Marines are ready, ma’am.”

  “Colonel, get Nelms and Izaguirre to safety now!” she ordered as the battlenet came to life with a new wave of reports.

  “Do we have time to get them to the shuttle and back to the ship?”

  Tremayne didn’t answer right away. She listened to the reports and did some mental math. Protocol demanded their people stay dirtside. The danger of being caught in the middle of a firefight in a shuttle was too great. But she wanted Nelms onboard the flagship before the enemy attacked. The problem was she didn’t know how long they had. So she couldn’t risk Nelms making the trip—yet. But, if CIC felt there was time for Nelms to return to the ship, she would order it. She would also order Ashlyn to join him. She needed the younger woman onboard to coordinate the Marine arm of the attack.

  “Information is just now starting to come in, Ash. Get Nelms and his party back to the embassy. Once you have, I should have a better idea of what we’re facing.”

  “Understood. Admiral.” She paused and Tremayne pictured her making sure no one could overhear. “Miranda, don’t do anything foolish.”

  “You take your own advice. Now get moving. Let me know as soon as you’re back to the embassy.”

  “Aye, ma’am. Shaw out.”

  Tremayne turned her attention back to armoring up. As she did, she listened to the various reports coming in over the battlenet. Hopefully, the additional sensor arrays had sounded the alert early enough to give them time to prepare for anything the enemy had planned.

  She grabbed her sidearm and slid it into place at her right thigh. Then, with one last check of her armor, she left her office. This is what they’d prepared for and what she’d prayed wouldn’t happen. Now she needed to trust her people to do their duties and pray she had the wisdom and the cunning necessary to lead them to victory.

  Ash activated her link to the battlenet and listened to the reports coming in. For not the first time, she knew how lucky they were to have Tremayne in command of the mission. The admiral understood the enemy in a way very few in the Navy or FleetCom did. She also knew the importance of learning from her fellow officers. That was why she hadn’t hesitated to adopt and adapt the tactics Admiral Collins used in the Savitar VI System. She may have saved the fleet by doing so.

  Doing her best not to draw attention to herself, Ash moved to where Anisimova stood next to the door. The sergeant major had accompanied her that morning w
hen she escorted the Secretary of State dirtside. Now, as she approached, Anisimova’s eyes narrowed and concern flickered over her expression. It was so quick no one would have caught it unless they’d been looking for it.

  “We’re moving out now. Tie into the battlenet.” Ash spoke softly. “Once out of the conference room, you have the ambassador. Get him to the embassy no matter what. Understood?”

  The blonde nodded once. As she did, her hand dropped to the sidearm secured to her left thigh.

  Satisfied, Ash turned back to the room. Nelms sat at the far end of the table, Izaguirre next to him. They listened as Major Rudolph described the latest attempts to locate Watchman. She had to admit the intelligence officer was good, at least when it came to trying to sway the politicians. But she knew his tricks. Rico Santiago taught her to recognize them long ago.

  “Mr. Secretary.” She bent and spoke softly into Nelms’ ear. “Forward sensor arrays have picked up what Admiral Tremayne feels certain are the leading edges of a Callusian element. It’s time to go, sir.”

  He nodded, his expression never changing. Then he stood. Surprised, Izaguirre quickly followed suit. At Ashlyn’s signal, Anisimova stepped forward, taking her place next to the ambassador. Time was ticking and Ash knew they needed to move.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Admiral Tremayne just sent word that her sensors have picked up what appears to be the leading edges of a Callusian incursion into the system,” Nelms said.

  Someone down the table gasped. Several others cursed. But each of them paled as the seriousness of the situation struck them.

  “The admiral has brought the taskforce to alert status. I recommend you sound the alert and get your citizens to shelter.”

  “Mr. Secretary, we need to leave.”

  Ash took his arm and, not leaving him any choice, escorted him out of the room. The moment they entered the outer office, the rest of the escort team fell into place, surrounding the two diplomats. The Marines had secured their battle helmets in place. Ash lifted her left arm, the fingers of her right hand entering the command sequence on her armor’s control pad to activate her helmet. It slid up and over her head and she inhaled quickly as the faceplate slid into place. It was always a bit disorientating when the helmet sealed itself into place. Then the armor’s systems came online and her HUD began streaming data.

  “What’s going on?” Izaguirre asked as the Marines checked every corner before letting them to progress.

  “It looks like the Callusians are making their play.” Nelms looked at Ashlyn in surprise when she ordered them to bypass the elevators, taking the stairs instead.

  “Too dangerous if the enemy manages to break through our defenses, sir,” Anisimova said before Ash could explain. “Titan, Friar, take point. Ranger, Rider, you’ve got our six.”

  The four Marines peeled off and assumed their positions.

  “Let’s go.” Ash once again reached for Nelms’ arm, keeping him close to her side as they entered the stairwell. Until they were safely back to the embassy, she planned on keeping him within arm’s reach.

  “Transport’s waiting just outside the gates, Colonel,” Anisimova said as they emerged onto the ground floor.

  “Let’s move. Gentlemen, run!”

  The sight of the Marine detail escorting the two diplomats through the lobby and outside at a dead run brought everyone else to a stop. She spared them a moment’s thought. Then she guided Nelms outside. Four Marines waited for them next to a heavily armored transport. Ash shoved the Secretary of State inside and stepped away so Izaguirre could follow. Then she dove in after them, waiting as the rest of the Marines followed suit.

  “Reacher, get us back to the embassy and step on it,” Anismova ordered.

  “Colonel?”

  “Sir, Admiral Tremayne has brought the fleet to alert. Weapons and shields are live as are the sensor and defense arrays. My orders are to get the two of you safely back to the embassy. By then, the admiral will have a better handle on the situation. If she feels we can do so safely, you will then be removed to the flagship. Otherwise, you will be secured in the main saferoom until this is over.”

  “Our people?” Izaguirre asked.

  “Most everyone has already been transported shipboard. Unless I’m very much mistaken, the admiral has their ships in the middle of the formation in order to protect them during the attack.”

  “Colonel, we’re nearing the embassy,” the driver said.

  “Straight back to the shuttles. Everyone is to hold position until Admiral Tremayne confirms our orders.” She opened a comm to the flagship.

  “Status?” Tremayne asked.

  “We just cleared the embassy gates.”

  “Any trouble?”

  “Not so far. Secretary Nelms informed the Bureau members of the change in status and recommended they alert the public. So far, it doesn’t appear they’ve done so.”

  “Correction, Colonel. The alert is going out now,” Anisimova said.

  Ash nodded and passed on the information.

  “Things will start getting bad down there in fairly short order, Colonel. Button up the embassy and don’t take any chances.”

  “Understood, Admiral.” Ash glanced out of the transport as it braked to a stop near the waiting shuttles. “Do we bunker down or transport up?”

  “Bunker down. We’re still trying to get a handle on the situation here. Make sure the ambassador and Secretary Nelms are safe.”

  “Aye, Admiral.”

  “Update in half an hour, Colonel. Tremayne out.”

  Ashlyn turned to the driver. “Get us as close to the embassy as you can. Mr. Secretary, Ambassador, when I give the order, you are to move inside the building as quickly as you can. Don’t detour anywhere. Head straight down to the safe room. My people will make sure the remaining staff are “

  And heaven help them all if the Callusians use the biotoxin against the planet. They hadn’t had time to test the safeguards they’d put into place.

  “Durga,” she said as two of the Marines led Nelms and Izaguirre out of the transport. “We need to prepare for attempts to breach the perimeter. If the public realizes we have shuttles still groundside, there might be attempts to hijack them.”

  “Should we move the birds inside the hangar?”

  “See what the pilots think. If they feel they can hold the shuttles in readiness there and not delay our departure by doing so, then yes. Otherwise, use whatever means necessary to keep those birds safe. I need to make sure Nelms and Izaguirre are safely stowed.”

  Ten minutes later, Ash stood in the main safe room deep below the embassy. Fortunately for the fifteen men and women ranged around the room, Ambassador Izaguirre had taken the first warnings about the biotoxin to heart. He’d done all he could to implement the new protocols. Backup environmental systems that did not connect to the outside, or even to the upper floors of the embassy, would be turned on when she left the room, securing the door behind her. They had enough power, food and water to last a month. More if they were careful. That would be long enough for help to come if the worst happened.

  “Mr. Secretary, you will have an open comm link to me and to the flagship. Once I leave these rooms, you are all going to be sealed in. Do not try to break the seal until we give you the all-clear.”

  “Colonel, you and your people need to bunker down,” Nelms said.

  “Sir, our duty is to keep you, the ambassador and every man and woman in here with you safe. Our armor will protect us.” She hoped. So far, the best they had was seeing how the upgrades worked on Shennong. The biotoxin had several weeks to dissipate by then. She hoped they did as well with the chemical at full strength, assuming the Callusians managed to disperse on the capital.

  “You’re sure there’s not time to get us to the ships?” one of the ambassador’s aides asked from the back of the main room.

  “Admiral Tremayne feels we are all safer down here, sir.” Didn’t he understand she would much prefer being in space or with a boar
ding party? “However, she will re-evaluate the situation when she knows more. If there is a change in status, we’ll let Secretary Nelms know.”

  “We will do as you say, Colonel,” Nelms assured her.

  “Thank you, sir.” She listened as Anisimova reported on the status topside. “Corporal Stannis will remain here with you. If you have any questions or any concerns, let him know. For now, settle in. If we’re lucky, this is a feint by the enemy, and we’ll have all of you up to the fleet soon.”

  She shook hands with first Nelms and then Izaguirre. Then she had a last word with Stannis, reminding him not to let the civilians run roughshod over him.

  “Durga, I’m on my way topside.” She watched the reinforced door slide into place and entered the lockdown sequence on the keypad in the wall. “Status?”

  “The shuttles have been moved into the bay. Lt. Keneshaw assures me they can keep the engines on standby and it won’t delay our departure. Drones are up and all defenses are active. Spider is monitoring civilian comms. The government has finally issued a bunker in place order. Begging the colonel’s pardon but, for the most part, it looks like the warning is ignored.”

  Ash frowned and shook her head. That was the problem with civilians. They either panicked or they ignored the warning. Both reactions got people killed. While it wasn’t her concern just then, she mourned what she feared would happen when the attack finally came.

  “All right. New orders. If the embassy grounds are breached, all Marines are to regroup on the secure level. We will lock down the lifts and hold our ground there. Make sure everyone understands.”

  “Roger that.”

  “And, from this point forward, we go to call signs. Full battlefield protocol. Weapons hot.”

  “Call signs, full battlefield protocol and weapons hot, aye.”

  Satisfied, Ash stepped onto the lift and programmed it for the ground floor. As she did, she went over her mental checklist for situations like this one. They’d done all they could, at least until they knew more.