by Sam Schall
“Understood, ma’am.” She assumed they would based on the few minutes she had with Anderson prior to reporting to the ready room. “Captain Anderson is setting it up as we speak. She’s had the prisoners placed in separate cells, far enough apart they can’t communicate with one another. There are some concerns, legitimate in my mind, about at least one of the prisoners attempting suicide. So I’ve ordered guards posted outside each cell and constant video monitoring.”
“Very good. Keep me informed.” Tremayne glanced at her notes. “Now, Colonel, I want to commend your Marines. They performed above and beyond during the battle. I know how difficult it was for you to be stuck dirtside. I’d have hated it had I been in your position. But you’ve trained them better than any Navy CO could hope for. I know they helped save lives.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll be sure to pass your compliments on to Captain Anderson. She did all the hard work.”
Tremayne chuckled and shook her head. “I know you, Ash. You had the hard job. Or maybe I should say Master Sergeant Anisimova did trying to keep you from grabbing a shuttle and hightailing it back here so you’d be in the middle of the action.”
Ash’s cheeks heated and she shrugged. What else could she do? Especially since she had considered doing just that more than once.
“There is one more thing before we begin the AARs.” Tremayne sipped her coffee before continuing. “We have received new orders. FleetCom has dispatched our relief. Once it is here, we are to return to Fuercon. In the meantime, we are to proceed with repairs and with making sure the Midlothians understand they have to become a true ally if they want our protection to continue. Ambassador Izaguirre and his staff will return to the surface to resume their duties. We are to transport any dependents and others who wish to return back to Fuercon.
“Once home, our prisoners will be removed into Fleet Intel’s custody. As soon as our repairs are finalized and replacement personnel and material are in place, we will leave the system. From there we will go at best military speed to rendezvous with the leading elements of the final push. President Harper has made it clear. We are ending this war and, to do so, we will take the fight straight to the Callusians.” Tremayne stood, her expression fierce.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in very short order, we are going to make the enemy pay for all it has done to us and to our allies. We will not let them hold the threat of the biotoxin over us or any other system.
“President Harper and FleetCom send their congratulations on a mission well done and ask us to do the same with our ultimate goal. The Callusian home system. What say you?”
Ash stood and said the only thing she could.
“Ooh-rah!”
Now they had the cleanup, something that had to be done before they could return home. At least reinforcements were coming. Hopefully, they’d be able to hold the system until then.
