“Has the vid been verified?” Collins asked in return.
“And how did we get it?” The question was out before Ash could stop it.
“To answer your question, Richard, yes, the video has been verified. Rico Santiago and his people have been working on it and other intel non-stop for the last month. They assured us this particular vid is an accurate record of what went on onboard the Anubis just prior to and during the attack on Cassius Prime. They found nothing to indicate the feed had been altered in any manner.”
Ash studied the Secretary of Defense, her expression thoughtful. One month, he’d said. Approximately the length of time First Fleet and the Devil Dogs had been back in the home system after their last assignment. It could be a coincidence but she doubted it. So what did it mean?
“As for how we obtained the feed, we have you and your people to thank for it,” Okafor took up. “It was among the data you recovered on your last mission. From what we’ve been able to tell so far, the Anubis downloaded the ship’s logs as well as other data before leaving the system with most of the other ships that had been stationed there. Apparently, the Callusians hadn’t expected us to make an attempt to liberate the system.”
Ashlyn nodded, her mind racing as she thought back to when she first received orders for the Devil dogs to retake the Cassius System. Now that she thought about it, she had been surprised the operation had been Fuerconese only. At the time, she had decided it was because Fuercon and its allies were still ramping up to full mobilization with the resumption of hostilities with the Callusians. She also remembered from the last war how some of their allies felt it more important to protect their home systems than it was to take the battle to the enemy. Now she wondered if there had been more to it than that.
Much more.
“General, I assume you and the other senior officers have been over this frame by frame.” It wasn’t a question even if she tried to frame it as such.
“We have.”
Ashe typed in a command and, a moment later, the image she had stopped the feed on appeared on the main holo screen.
“I also assume I’m not dreaming or imaging this.” She pointed to the image. As she did, she found herself almost hoping they did tell her she had imagined it. That would be much easier to deal with than the alternative.
“Unfortunately, Ash, it is very real.” Okafor sounded as worried as she felt. Before Ash could say anything else, Okafor looked at Klingsbury who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “For the moment, let’s leave rank and all that behind us. Linden and I want to hear your honest opinions about what you’ve just seen and how you think we should respond. That includes you, Richard.”
“It’s simple really,” Collins said and there could be no mistaking his anger. “We rally our forces, deal with the Callusians once and for all and then we deal with this betrayal.” He jabbed a finger in the direction of the frozen image.
“I wish it were that simple,” Klingsbury said.
“If I may?” Ash waited for the others to nod before continuing. “Assuming there is no subterfuge with regard to the uniform he is wearing, it is clear this advisor is a member of the Midlothian Naval Defense Force.”
Another nod from both Klingsbury and Okafor.
“From my security briefings, Midlothian has maintained its allied status with Fuercon but has not committed much in the way of material, ordinance or manpower to the war effort as of yet.”
“All true but not unexpected. It didn’t do all that much in the last war, Ash. Its key importance then was in keeping the trade routes open in that sector of space and making sure our ships were free from attack.”
Now Collins nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Do we have an ID on this advisor?”
“A tentative one,” Okafor said. “Santiago didn’t want to search too deeply and risk tipping our hand to the Midlothians in case our suspicions are correct.”
Suspicions? Ash almost snorted. She had no suspicions. She knew the Midlothians were involved. But how deeply and to what extent still had to be determined.
“Based on what Rico and his people found, we are reasonably certain the man in the vid is one Commander Bernard Hughes. He was one of their few squadron commanders in the last war who actually engaged the enemy when he had the chance. Afterwards, he fell off the screen and it was assumed he had left the Navy. Obviously, we were wrong,” Okafor said.
“It seems safe to assume at least part of the Midlothian Navy is involved.” Ash thought for a moment. “I will leave it to Rico and his people to figure out how deep the betrayal runs. I will say this. I think we now know why the Callusians suddenly changed tactics after so long and how they have managed to get their hands on newer ships and weapons.”
One question answered and a hell of a lot more suddenly there to take its place.
“I understand why you would prefer us to not ask the questions we’ve been asking, at least not outside of these walls.” Collins’ voice turned hard and Ash waited, wondering how the others would answer.
“Yes, but not for the reasons you might think.” Klingsbury held up a hand before either Collins or Ash could say anything. “Richard, Ashlyn, we aren’t asking you to ignore this. Nor are we asking for any sort of cover up. Far from it, in fact.”
Before anything more could be said, Okafor motioned for silence. She listened closely to something coming in over her comm link. Then she glanced at Klingsbury. The look that passed between them was enough to warn Ash that another bombshell of some sort was about to drop.
A moment later, the door slid open. As it did, Okafor came to her feet. “Atten-shun!” she barked.
“Stand easy, everyone,” President Derek Harper said as he stepped inside. The door slid shut behind him. “Please, sit.”
Habit, born from her years as a Marine as well as growing up with Marine parents, kicked in. Ashlyn sat with her spine ramrod straight, her booted feet flat on the floor. One simply did not slouch in the presence of the President, especially not when he had been instrumental in clearing her and her people of the false charges leveled against them.
“I take it they reacted as we expected?” Harper took his place at the table and shook his head when Okafor lifted the coffee carafe in question.
“Yes, sir,” Klingsbury replied. “Admiral Collins had just asked why they were being read into this.”
“Then my timing is perfect.” He nodded to them, his expression serious. “As I’m sure Linden and Helen assured you, we aren’t asking you to forget your suspicions or to quit asking questions. Quite the contrary, in fact. The two of you, along with a few others, have been saying from the beginning – hell, let’s be honest. You raised questions during the last war and were ignored. I’m not foolish enough to make the same mistakes my predecessor did. You’ve asked if there wasn’t more to what’s been going on than we knew or suspected. The recording you just saw, as well as other material you will be read in on, confirms that there is.
“What I am requesting, as your president, is that you review the materials and then give us your honest opinions of what our next course of action should be. We will meet tomorrow to discuss your recommendations. I’d prefer today, to be honest, but I can’t and won’t ask you to alter your schedules in any way that might alert anyone that we are on to our so-called allies. That means, I’m afraid, no deviation from your schedules once you leave here.”
“We understand, sir,” Collins said and Ash nodded in agreement.
“The only others who have been read into this so far are Lt. Colonel Santiago and his team, Brigadier General Shaw and Admiral Tremayne. You may confer with them if need be. We will meet again in the morning to discuss your impressions and recommendations.”
“I would request permission to brief our XOs about this, Mr. President,” Collins said.
“Not yet, Admiral. We need to make sure we are on the same page before we read anyone else into this,” Harper replied.
“For the moment, both First Fleet and the
Devil Dogs will remain in the home system. It is being put out to our allies that some of your ships are in for repairs and refitting, Richard. Ashlyn, your excuse is simpler and has the expediency of being the truth. You and your Devil Dogs are here until the trials of Sorkowski, O’Brien and the others are concluded. The reality is that I want our best Marines in-system in case the enemy decides to try to attack here.”
“As you wish, sir.” She agreed the Devil Dogs were the best to defend the planet’s surface in case of attack but she did not look forward to the upcoming trials.
Harper glanced at his wrist unit and grimaced slightly. “It’s time to wrap this up before your staffs – and mine – start asking where we are. Richard, Ashlyn, we wouldn’t know what we’re potentially facing if it weren’t for what you and your people did that last mission. Thank you.”
With that, he stood and, before they could brace to attention, he was gone. As the door slid shut, Ash blew out a breath. Then she once again turned her attention to the others.
“Everything we have so far is on these.” Okafor handed Ash a data chip while Klingsbury gave one to Collins. “These are classified, needless to say.”
“Aye, ma’am.” Ash’s fingers closed over the data chip. She thought for a moment and then reached inside her collar with her unencumbered hand. A moment later she pulled her dog tags over her head. Okafor watched as she carefully slid the data chip into a small notch in one of the tags, embedding it there until she released it. As she slid the dog tags back on, Okafor nodded in approval.
“Dismissed, Colonel. I know you have morning PT scheduled with Alpha Company. Let’s not have them wondering why you aren’t there.” The general’s grin told Ash all she needed to know Okafor approved of her doing PT with her Marines.
“Ma’am, Admiral.” She braced to attention, executed a perfect about face and left the room.
She had a lot to think about and somehow she had to get through the day without letting on to those who knew her best that there might be anything wrong.
CHAPTER TWO
“CARE TO TELL ME what’s been bothering you all day, Ma’am?”
Ashlyn looked up from the report she had been reading and frowned slightly to see her executive officer leaning against the doorframe. For one moment, she fought the urge to tell Captain Lucinda Ortega nothing was wrong. Tempting as that might be, she knew better. Ortega had held her tongue through PT as well as the series of briefings that had followed. Then there was the simple fact they had known one another too long for Ortega to fall for the lie. Besides, Ashlyn had been expecting – and dreading, if she were to be honest – the question. More than once during the morning, she had caught her XO watching her, her expression troubled. What surprised her was that it had taken Ortega so long to ask.
“It’s just been a long day already, Luce,” she hedged. She hoped her friend would let it drop but one look at her former roommate’s expression told her the likelihood of that happening was about the same as her suddenly sprouting wings and taking flight.
“Ash, don’t give me that.”
Ortega moved further into the small office and waited for the door to slide shut behind her. As she did, Ashlyn didn’t try to hide her sigh. One thing all her officers knew was that she kept an open door policy. If the door was shut, it meant something serious was taking place behind it. That Ortega now closed the door told her the XO meant to find out what was going on.
“I’m not giving you anything.” A hint of frustration colored her voice as she motioned Ortega to a seat. “It has been a long day. It started with me not sleeping well and it’s gone steadily downhill from there.” That much was the truth.
Ortega studied her for a moment, her expression no longer as stubborn as it had been. “The trial?” she asked simply.
Ashlyn nodded. Then she leaned forward, elbows on the desk and her chin resting on her fists. “Let’s just say the nightmares are a bit closer to the surface than they have been lately.” Which was an understatement. The memories of her time at the Tarsus penal colony, as well as of the farce of a court martial that sent her and the others there, haunted her. The courts martial of those responsible couldn’t get there soon enough.
“What does Liu say?”
“He tells me there’s nothing to worry about.”
A slight smile touched her lips as she remembered her last discussion with Lieutenant Jianyu Liu. The JAG officer had all but rubbed his hands together and licked his lips in anticipation. Over the last few months, Ash had come to realize he hated the corrupt officers who had set her up as much as she did. Liu valued duty and honor almost as much as Ashlyn did. Neither of them doubted that Sorkowski and O’Brien had tarnished both through their actions. The only questions left unanswered were if they had been solely motivated by profit or if they had turned traitor to Fuercon and, after the meeting that morning, Ashlyn couldn’t help wondering if that might not be the case.
Not that she could say anything about it to Liu or to anyone else – yet.
“You know he’s right. He’s built an airtight case against those bastards, Ash.” Ortega’s eyes flashed and Ashlyn nodded.
“I know but, after what happened the last time, I won’t be able to rest easy until the verdicts are read and those sons of bitches are on their way to Tarsus or one of the other penal colonies.” Even then, it would take time for her to forgive those who had turned a blind eye to what had happened. At least they were no longer in positions where they could betray her, or anyone else, ever again.
“What’s the timeline now?”
Ashlyn didn’t smile, not quite. Ortega knew exactly when each of her pre-trail meetings with Liu or one of his co-counsels were scheduled. That was part of her XO’s job description. It went beyond that, however. Not only did Ortega go above and beyond when it came to her work as the battalion’s XO, she had also been trained as an intelligence officer. So she had more than a passing understanding of what had been done to build the cases against Rear Admiral Alec Sorkowski (ret.) and Major Thomas O’Brien.
Besides, Ortega had been one of those who had worked behind the scenes, risking her own career, in an effort to discover exactly what had happened on that last mission. The information she dug up had been used to help free Ash and the others.
“Nothing’s changed, at least not as far as I know. I meet with Liu and his team one last time the first of next week. Their courts martial starts a week after that. If Sorkowski and O’Brien continue to fight the charges against them, Liu said he thinks it will take at least two weeks to present the evidence that’s been put together against them. He’s told the powers that be that I will not be able to leave the system for at least another month or two.” Now she did sigh. As much as she appreciated having time with her family, and especially with her son, Fuercon was at war. The Devil Dogs should not be held dirtside when they were needed on the front lines. “As Liu reminded me last week, even after the cases against Sorkowski and O’Brien are heard, there are at least two other trials he needs me here for. Any others that might follow, he will use my recorded statements and previous testimony.”
Ortega nodded. “Does he think there’s a chance any of them will plead out?”
“He doesn’t seem to think so.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “What would they gain by doing so? Liu and his superiors have made it clear they aren’t going to deal the charges down. From what they’ve told me, not to mention what they’ve told the Commandant and others higher up the chain of command, they want both Sorkowski and O’Brien to serve the maximum terms available– and that is assuming they aren’t found guilty of treason. If they are, they will be lucky to avoid the death penalty.”
Another nod from Ortega.
“Since you’re here, there is a change to my schedule you need to know about. I’ll be late coming in tomorrow.” Ash did her best to sound apologetic. “I promised Jake I’d take him to school. Besides, I need to talk with his teacher. Mr. Uzun sent a message last night that he’s been
having some problems with Jake.”
“Is he all right?” Ortega’s concern for her godson was obvious.
“He’s fine.” Ashlyn smiled a little ruefully. “My son has decided that he doesn’t need to go to school. He would much rather come to work with me and he has made that quite clear to anyone who will listen. He even tried sneaking away from campus when he thought no one was watching.”
Now it was Ortega’s turn to smile. “I think we all know why.”
Ashlyn nodded. As bad as the two years on Tarsus had been for her, in many ways they had been harder on her son. He had been too young to understand why his mother had been taken away and why he couldn’t see her or talk to her via comm-link. Since her return, he’d watched her leave twice more. Fortunately, both times had been relatively short missions and she had received leave once home. Now, however, he wanted to be with her as much as he could, even if it meant missing school.
“Not that it helps any.”
“I’m sure you will figure it out, Ash.”
Ortega might have sounded reassuring but Ashlyn saw the amusement in her eyes. Not that she blamed her friend. At least she could ask her parents to back her up when trying to convince Jake he had to go to school. She just hoped neither of them remembered how she had tried to pull the same thing when she was Davey’s age.
“Right.” She chuckled softly and then turned serious. “Since we are going to be stuck here for another couple of months, FleetCom has decided the Devil Dogs are to act as system security. We both know how boring that can be. So we need to keep our people on their toes.”
Ortega nodded and reached for her data pad. Ashlyn relaxed, relieved her XO had decided not to push any more about why she had been so preoccupied.
“It’s not the first time the DDs have been held back, Ash, and certainly won’t be the last.”
“I know. I don’t have to like it though.” Another shrug and a slight smile. She knew Ortega understood. “So, how did Bravo Company do on the latest proficiency tests?” She pulled up the training the schedule they had worked out the week before as she waited for Ortega to respond.
Honor from Ashes (Honor and Duty Book 3) Page 2
