“Yes. Tell me what you need.” My tone was soft but undeniable.
“Damned crazy, man. If I see a normal battle plan once in this outfit I'll be surprised.” He laughed before becoming serious again. “You're not going to like it, but I need Takahashi,” Henry said.
I became annoyed. The man's heart had been in the right place, but the way that he had manipulated Yasu was something I couldn't get over yet. “Why?” I couldn’t hide the edge in my voice.
“I know your feelings about the man, but he can get people trained faster than any other person I know. His people on Chaleel were the best group that I had. Combine him with Yasu and I think we might be able to get something that could do some damage.”
“I don't need them to damage; I need them to be able to put the ship back together. This battle's going to be one of ships, not Commandos.
“Still, he can do it.”
I thought on it for a second, but I didn't have a choice. I had picked Henry because of my faith in his abilities. If he said he needed Takahashi, he needed Takahashi. “Shit, alright do it, Yasu will be his commander.”
“Yes, sir, thank you, I know how hard this is for you.”
“I trust your judgment, Henry, and when needs must, we put everything on the table.”
“Seems that it happens all too often.”
“That it does, that it does.”
“Good luck!” he said.
“I should start buying stock of Wake Up,” I grumbled, Henry laughing as he cut the connection.
“Combined Arms, inform Heston that he is to be the last line of defense for Earth, and as such he will be a missile net for the planet.”
I didn't need a reply as I checked my data pad for what else needed to be done.
***
A now formally retired Captain Connolly was sitting on a shuttle as it headed to Hachiro. He had no idea where the rest of his men were going or who else was trying to infiltrate the Free Fleet. He was completely alone and amongst the very people he might have to turn on.
His thoughts were interrupted as the speakers crackled to life and there was a slight sideways movement.
“We're now headed to the Resilient. Syndicate forces have been detected entering the system.” That was all the pilot said as the speakers went dead.
So what the heck are we doing going to the ships? We don't know anything of use yet. Connolly thought as many of the people in the room reflected the same thought audibly.
It was some time until the shuttle seemed to slow and then connect with something. While still moving, five Commandos walked in through the exit doors, one of them yelling as they entered.
“We are your training cadre. Regardless of your rank, you are now nothing. This is space. It is nothing like you have encountered before. We are to turn your sorry fucking asses into something that is worthy to be called a member of the Free Fleet and can put us back together. You fuck up and it's Earth that's getting hit.” Their tone made it clear that the trainees were nothing until they proved themselves, and for now they were just taking up their precious time.
It reminded Connolly of his first gunnery sergeant.
This is going to suck, Connolly thought as he doubted he was going to enjoy the next three days at all.
The shuttles stopped moving altogether as the Commandos moved outside except for the one barking orders.
“Get moving, junk! Shuttles weigh three hundred tons, and they will not stop landing because there is some junk in the way!” They were ushered through corridors to a massive medical bay where screams could be heard.
“Since you have enlisted into the Free Fleet, you will all receive basic implants and nerve ports. It is not pleasant, but you will need it to be of use. I will remind you, you signed up for them in your contract.
“Two ranks either side of the door. Move, junk! Or you will fucking die!”
Connolly was hustled into the med bay and quickly strapped down to a chair, which turned into a bed, as a woman stared at him with clinical eyes before typing in something and Connolly passed out. He awoke to pain and being pulled out of the chair/ bed contraption. His spine was sensitive as was his hand and neck.
He looked around the med bay and he saw limbs darting into peoples arms and backs as if they were lambs at a slaughter house. Then he saw another person wake up as the arms were done mangling his back and ushered out as he was. Dull metallic ports visible in his back.
He was ushered out as another person came in, yelling as she saw his back.
Connolly felt his back, finding those same ports as a Commando pushed him out of the room. Outside of the room, there were mirrors which showed him his back with the new ports.
Everyone was ushered into the room, Commandos pulling people out from the stream coming from the med bay. Connolly was no exception as he was herded into a group of people he didn't recognize.
He looked around, realizing he was in the shuttle bay he had assaulted through.
Commandos wearing Mechas went through the ranks, studying them individually, silently. Some flinched away, some stared back or did a variety of things.
The Commandos didn't seem to care.
Connolly remembered the Mecha that stood in front of all the groups. It was Salchar. Behind him was his entire protection detail, Krom, Shreesht, Calerd, Dave, and Janice. Connolly had memorized every piece of information about the man. He doubted the United States would want the man alive when they assumed control.
Two other Commandos stood with him. One was slightly smaller and, from it's armor plating, Connolly thought it to be a woman instead of a man. The other looked to be a man. Both of them had a lot more scarring on their Mechas than Salchar did.
It was some time before everyone was done being processed through the med bay.
As the doors shut, Salchar took off his helmet.
“There is a Sarenmenti fleet heading towards us and Earth.” He let this sink in as his eyes seemed to weigh the quality of the people in front of him without coming to a clear decision.
“As such, the Free Fleet is mobilizing to meet them. As you may have heard, the Free Fleet is understaffed. As such, Commandos will be taking over roles as ship personnel, and you as well will be taught how to keep Resilient's systems running and us in the fight in order to give these bastards a world of hurt.
“Now, I know that you might be upset with the quick way that we put the most recent of you trainees through implant's. For that I am sorry, but we don't have much time. Yasu Cook, and Takahashi will be in charge of getting you ready to be of use to us in the oncoming battle. It's going to be quick and fast. Learn as fast as possible, and if you don't understand something, ask. There will be no time when we are engaged in battle.” He looked over them all again, his red eyes eerie.
“I wish you good luck. Now, let’s show these Syndicate bastards what happens when we're on a level playing field.” He nodded, replacing his helmet as he marched off the elevated platform. Yasu and Takahashi walked forward as they took off their helmets.
Takahashi spoke first.
“My name is Stone Warrior. I have the displeasure of teaching you in three days the finer points of being a Mecha user and how to keep this ship running as she is damaged in battle.
There is no option to fail. Otherwise, Earth and everything you know so far will be destroyed.” Takahashi's face was emotionless as he looked over everyone.
“Every Commando is above you; you are junk. You will not be with Commandos when they have to enter ships; you will be the fix up crew. You will have Mechas only because all Free Fleet personnel are to have them because of the rules imposed upon us. You will be damage control; you will patch holes and the like. Thankfully, we have many holes for you to patch!” He looked over the group, his eyes judging them as unworthy.
“This is Yasu Cook. She and I will be so far up your asses you can taste it. Shrift?” A large insectoid with mandibles came out from behind a shuttle. Everyone stared. It was the first time they’d s
een an alien. Not many of them had realized that most of the Commandos they’d seen thus far had been Sarenmenti. Connolly knew how to tell the race of the Commando by the Mecha they were wearing.
“My name is Shrift. I’m the guy that makes your Mechas. You put a scratch on them and I will have your asses. I will also be the one walking you through how to fix the ship with some other engineers. Listen, and listen well; we don't have much time. Takahashi.”
“Thank you. Commandos, split them up, get them battle suits, Mechas, and start going over basic controls. I want them knowing how to use a Mecha by the end of a day, on a one to one power ratio. Don’t worry, trainees, you won’t need sleep; you’ll be issued Wake Up to that effect.”
Commandos took control of groups. Connolly's group was led off to metal closets. There was one piece clothing waiting there and the leader picked it up.
“My names is Commander George Everez. You will each get one of these battle suits.” He threw them out.
“Where do we get changed?” someone asked.
“Don't worry, you're going to see enough naked assess running around that it doesn't matter.”
“Are you some kind of pervert?” a woman asked as George took off his helmet.
“Lady, if anyone's the pervert here, it's you. I'm nine years old.” That got a few shocked looks.
“Then why are we learning from you?” a man asked as George held his hand up to a Kuruvian that was moving inwards to the trainees.
“I was the with first round of recruits. Thankfully, I had the pleasure of serving with Commander Salchar. He kept me and everyone here alive. One thing you have to learn in the Free Fleet, we do not care what you are; we care how well you can do a job. Age, sex, race, religion, all of that doesn't count for anything here. Here, we strive to survive.
I survived Parnmal with injuries. I then led a squad on Chaleel, and I am also a squad commander, taking Syndicate ships that used to be in orbit of Earth. I know how to use every weapon system this fleet has, from my rail gun to the rail cannons mounted on the Resilient herself. Now, if you think the knowledge that I have is not of use to you, well, that's your issue cause we're leaving Hachiro in a matter of minutes. Now, get dressed. The battle suit doubles as a space suit, use it.”
Not many moved and George shook his head. He unsealed his Mecha and stood out of it.
He was a massive man now, despite his age. He pulled off his battle suit without blinking. Scars covered his body.
“Now, you put it on like this,” he said, putting it back on and pressing the tab so it sealed.
Those that hadn't been wearing it were embarrassed into putting theirs on.
“I am not here to embarrass you. I'm here to get you ready to keep this ship in the fight. If that means I have to resort to treating you like the children that I'm supposed to be, then I will.” Connolly knew George meant it. The man nodded to himself before he continued talking.
“You are each going through a simulation of the mark four Mecha armor. Use it wrong, and you will break your bones and kill yourself in the real thing. That was how I was trained, the simulator will not kill you, just cause discomfort.
“We'll begin with walking then we’ll work with different issues we might have in battle.”
***
Henry looked over the rosters of the new trainees; Salchar, Eddie, Shrift, Yasu and Rick were there in person while all of the captains and commanders of the ships Commandos were there in holograms.
“Henry?” He was broken out of his reverie as he looked up.
“Commander Salchar, it’s a shit show. I just hope they’re of more use than they are the trouble.”
“If it helps in anyway, I don’t care.” Salchar nodded. They'd had the new trainees on board for about an hour and there were already a ton of issues coming up.
“I agree, sir, just I’ve never seen anything like this. Even we had time to train before we met the enemy,” Henry said with a sweep of his arm, as if encompassing the entire fleet.
“Yes, but we need them, we don’t have the people to keep the ships moving and patch them up,” Shrift said as Eddie looked like he wanted to argue the point.
“For now we just need to focus on getting us in fighting trim for battle. Repairs are something to worry about when we're done with all this.” Salchar looked around the room as the commanders nodded in agreement.
Henry nodded his agreement as well. Salchar looked around the people in the room, real or holographic.
“Might as well get started. Prepare to undock from Hachiro and take up formation Charlie niner. Ten minute warning order.” Everyone saluted and James returned it as holograms disappeared, readying their people.
Henry remained. It had been a grim review of how much the fleet was in disrepair and unprepared for this battle.
“What issues are we having with the trainees and the Commandos?” Salchar asked relaxing minutely.
“Our people came from diversity and just sheer horrific training. These people haven't, as such they think that the Free Fleet personnel are being hard on them.”
“Show them a video of Parnmal.” Salchar looked into the table for a few minutes as Henry too dealt with his ghosts.
“I'll see to it,” Henry said, his voice harsh with sad memories.
“God, I wish we could rest for once,” Salchar said, leaning into his hands.
“That should be the motto of the Free Fleet.”
Salchar laughed hollowly. “Yes, I guess it should.” He physically gathered himself, pulling his head from his hands. “Well, I better get to work then.”
“Good luck, James.”
“You too, brother, you too.” In the time it took them to stand, James the individual disappeared, and Salchar the leader was ready to do what needed to be done.
Chapter Surprises
I took my seat on the bridge.
“Comms, do we have the holographic projection ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, let's test it. Then we'll send a message to the other fleet.”
“Intelligence Commander?” I said. I caught the Commander's eye as he came over to me.
“Sir?”
“Do we know if Welick knew an of these ships captains?”
“I can't be sure, Commander.”
I rested my head in my hand. “Very well, thank you.” He drifted back to his station as Comms announced that the holographic projection was ready. I checked it on one of my screens, seeing Welick and his couch, as well as the finery that had decorated the inside of what he'd called the Golden Refuge, cover my own command chair.
“Open a channel,” I said. After some time an Orvunut, a large blockish alien with four limbs it used in its high gravity world to move, it's head like a hammerhead shark's.
“Hello, Captain, I have been sent to escort your package into Sol System. You may return to whatever you were doing,” I said in a dismissive tone which came out as Welick's with some filters.
The Orvunut let out a snort, which, when taking into account that the race did nothing unless it was warranted, meant he was royally pissed.
“Fairgate send. We to look after yard. Not you.”
Yard? My sensor pits were still trying to figure out what the object was, but with our current and still ciphered information, we had no idea what the massive object was.
“Jorsht got a message from her. She says that she wants you back in the home system.”
“Why?”
“I don't know why. I don't question the Lady Fairgate. Are you?”
“I do not question her. I question you.”
“But I'm giving you her orders.”
“I will protect the yard till she tells me not to.” I allowed annoyance to fill my voice. Damned stubborn bastard.
“She already has. Why did you move station?”
“Felt it was best to put it close to easier resources.” I shrugged and Welick's hologram did the equivalent.
“Good for yard.” He seemed to c
alm down, already moving past the issue of Fairgate's orders. Shit. I mentally cursed myself. I'd been hoping to maybe pull one over on these guys and get whatever the strange object that they were guarding was, and not have to come to battle.
“Fairgate ordered me to guide the yard in, so that is what I will do,” I said as the Orvunut grunted.
“Do as you shall. I need Mechas.”
“How many?” I asked, using the tone that I would when I was buying groceries from street vendors in Korea.
“Sarenmenti dying off, ninth generation. I will need all new stock.”
“Ten million credits.”
Comms forwarded me a message they'd received from the other captain.
I, Lady Fairgate, give Captain Orvunut and his fleet a full compliment of Commandos upon their arrival in the third slave races system.
It was signed with a fancy electronic signature saying it originated from the carrier Elshurvum.
I let my tone sink in defeat as I nodded.
“Very well. I'll take your old stock.”
“One million. Good stock, twelve years fighting at least.”
“What are you going to do with them otherwise? Clot your ships?”
“Space.” The one word made me want to blow the smug Orvunut's face off. He was going to kill a million troops because he simply wanted to turn a profit.
“Five hundred thousand,” I said and he grunted.
“Eight hundred, plus gear.”
“Five-fifty.” While I hated myself for putting a price on people, no pirate was going to take the first offer.
“Seven-eighty,” he said. Finally, we agreed on six seventy, plus all of their gear and he said he would dock at Hachiro. I said I would accompany him and his fleet with their mysterious yard. I had an idea, but I thought it was my imagination getting the best of me as such a resource would not be put in a system the furthest from the pirates center of power.
I had also told him that getting his ship in first would make it so that he got the best pick of them all, which hopefully meant that my Commandos could pull off what they had at Parnmal, and we could get the dreadnought out of the fight. The rest of the ships were hard, and with them docked we could take some of them out too. Though, I was planning to have to fight them, just in case.
Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2) Page 18
