“That still didn’t answer Talbot’s question,” Ashlyn said.
For a moment, no one spoke. The looks that passed between Santiago and Elizabeth worried her. Obviously, they were worried about how she would take what they had to say. That was bad, very bad.
“Rear Admiral Jonathan Lawrence,” Quintana said.
Ash hissed out a breath and bared her teeth. Lawrence! She still had nightmares about him. He had made no attempt to hide his opinion of Marines, including the fact he did not feel the hallowed halls of the Academy should not be sullied with their presence. For one full year, she had been forced to endure his insults and open attempts to flunk her out. The fact he had failed, first in an astrogation class and later in naval tactics, only seemed to spur him on. She received more write-ups and demerits from him than she had from her other instructors combined.
Now, years later, he was back, doing his best to ruin her career and, in the process, causing the deaths of some of those under her command. She had no doubt about that. Nor did she have any doubt he would pay, one way or another, for what he had done. She would see to it, even if it was the last thing she did.
Damn him!
“You’re sure?”
“We are. We now have the transmissions between him and Sorkowski. Those led us to other records, enough to convict him on many of the same charges that Sorkowski and O’Brien face.”
There was so much she wanted to say but this was neither the time nor the place. Later, when she and Talbot were alone, she could ask him what he knew. Until then, she had to trust the JAG officers and the others to make sure Lawrence paid for what he had done. Still, there was one question she could ask, one she wanted them to make the man answer before he would be allowed to plead out.
“Why? I want to know why he targeted me and my people. There is more to it than simply trying to cover his ass.” She probably shouldn’t curse but she didn’t care. Her words were mild compared to what she was thinking. “He targeted me in the Academy. Back then, I figured it was just because he hated Marines.”
“I’ve already told them to find out,” Elizabeth said. “Lawrence always had a hard-on for Marines. I had the misfortune of being stationed on one of his ships. It was sheer hell, probably the worst assignment I’ve ever had. If we had actually seen battle and not just a few pirates, I have no doubt more than a few Marines – not to mention his own people – would have considered resorting to friendly fire to deal with him.”
“I assure both of you that we will find out what his motivations were and act accordingly,” Quintana said.
Ashlyn nodded. She had to trust the JAG. She did trust it, at least these two members of it. Both of them, and especially Liu, had worked hard to not only prove the charges against her and her people had been false but to also bring to justice those behind them. Because of that, she would give them time to find the answers she needed.
Besides, much as she would like to deal with Sorkowski and O’Brien – and now Lawrence – on her own, she would not risk being brought up on charges again. She wouldn’t do that to her family, especially her son, and she wouldn’t let Fuercon down at a time when it faced a war unlike any it had known before.
“There is one more thing before we take our leave, Colonel Shaw.”
Quintana reached for something resting on Elizabeth’s desk. Seeing the official looking folder, Ashlyn waited, barely daring to breathe. What now?
“Colonel, I have been in contact with the judge as well as the defense attorneys for the upcoming courts martial. The arrest of Sorensen, as well as Sorkowski’s agreement to plead guilty to all charges against him, have changed the tenor of the upcoming trials. The presiding judge has agreed that you may leave a recorded statement about what happened leading up to you and your people being court martialed as well as detailing your time at the penal colony. The defense attorneys have until tomorrow morning to present any questions they wish you to answer. You will not be required to remain on-planet for the trials.”
Ashlyn leaned back, not sure what she felt. News that she was no longer grounded was as welcome as it was unexpected. She stammered out her appreciation before the JAG officers requested permission to be dismissed. Ash was still trying to take in what Quintana said when the woman stopped next to her chair and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Colonel, Lieutenant Liu will forward everything we have learned. Until then, know you have my thanks for all you and your Devil Dogs have done to assist us. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had turned your back on us. My office failed you once. I plan to make sure those responsible pay and, hopefully, your faith in JAG will be restored.”
Ashlyn climbed to her feet and extended her hand. “Captain, you and Lieutenant Liu have more than done that. You have my thanks and the thanks of the Devil Dogs for helping avenge our fallen brothers and sisters.” After shaking Quintana’s hand, she did the same with Liu. “Thank you.”
“My turn now,” Santiago said as the door closed behind the JAG officers. “My team is taking over the investigation into the Midlothian tie to what’s been going on. We have eyes on Paulus. An informant in the embassy says there is a new assistant counsel – spy or assassin in other words – expected. They haven’t been able to find out who or exactly when. So we are keeping an eye on all incoming personnel. The President is very determined to find out how deep the Midlothian connection to the Callusians run. Once we have enough proof to act on, we will.”
Ash nodded. She did not want to think about going to war with the Midlothians but knew they would have little choice if the proof showed the government had authorized the betrayal. Because of that, she hoped Santiago’s investigation showed the enemy to be nothing more than a faction working against both the best interests of Fuercon and Midlothian. If that were the case, they could bring the Midlothian government in to deal with it.
“I understand, Rico. I also promise not to do anything that might compromise your investigation.”
“Then on that happy note, I will be on my way. I want to brief my team. One of them will observe the interrogation of Sorensen and Lawrence. I’ll keep each of you posted.” He stood, braced briefly to attention and then left the office.
Ash sat back, wondering what else they were going to spring on her that morning. She had a feeling the surprises weren’t yet over.
“Master Guns, you’re dismissed,” Okafor said as she moved to sit behind Elizabeth’s desk. “I promise we aren’t going to eat your Colonel,” she added with a grin when Tolbert hesitated.
“Colonel?”
“Go on. I’ll touch base when I’m done here. In the meantime, why don’t you lead morning PT?”
He nodded, braced to attention and left the office. Once alone with her mother and Okafor, Ashlyn waited. She had a feeling they were about to discuss new orders for the Devil Dogs. Still, after everything that had happened, she wouldn’t take book on it.
“Ashlyn, since you have been released from the need to testify at the upcoming courts martial, you and your battalion will be joining the fighting. We all understand why the President has wanted to keep the Devil Dogs here but you are our elite SpecOps battalion. It is time we put you to work,” Okafor began. “You will receive your official orders later today but the gist of it is you and the Devil Dogs will be shipping out sooner, rather than later.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. As you said, we belong in the fight, not dirtside in the home system.” News that they were shipping out would help morale. “When do we ship out?”
“Before I answer, let me explain what I have in mind for you and your people.” She waited until Ash nodded. “You will not be shipping out to the front, at least not immediately. Our latest intelligence indicates that the Callusians will soon be moving against the Drakkana System. The system has become increasingly important not only because of its location on the shipping route to Ramadian but also for its agriculture production. That is something the Callusians lack, as you know. If they can take control of the system
, they not only interrupt the supply chain to several of our allied systems but they gain resources necessary to keep their war effort going.”
“General, I’m not questioning your reasoning or the need to protect the system, but is that the best use of the Devil Dogs?”
“Ashlyn, intel leads us to believe the Callusian taskforce heading that way is the same one that attacked Cassius Prime.”
She exhaled and leaned back. One corner of her mouth lifted in a slight smile. If Okafor was correct and if the Devil Dogs managed to help hold the system and if they also managed to capture intact at least one of the enemy ships, they might actually get the confirmation they needed to prove Midlothian involvement with the enemy. It was a lot of ifs and she knew it. But the potential payoff would be worth it.
Assuming, of course, that the intel was accurate and the ships her Devil Dogs were assigned to were up to the task.
“Very much worth it, Ma’am. Any objections I might have had are withdrawn.”
“I thought you might feel that way.” Now Okafor grinned. “I have one question for you. Your battalion is currently under-strength. I will be issuing orders for Delta and Gamma Companies to return to the fold. But you know as well as I do that it will take time. Are you comfortable shipping out with your current companies and having Delta and Gamma catch up with you as soon as possible?”
“I am, Ma’am. I would rather be in place, even under-strength, before the enemy arrives in-system.”
“Excellent.” Okafor looked at her in approval. Then she glanced at Elizabeth and Ashlyn’s stomach did a slow roll. There was something they had yet to tell her and she had a feeling she knew what it was.
Damn it.
“I’m going to be losing Captain Ortega, aren’t I?”
“You are,” Okafor confirmed. “I’m tapping her to replace Pawlak as CO of the Warlords.”
“As much as I hate losing her, she deserves the command, Ma’am. My only recommendation is that she have a strong senior non-com, one who will work well with her and who will accept no nonsense from either the enlisted or the junior officers.”
“I agree with you, Ashlyn, but I’m worried you might come across the desk and throttle me.”
She tried not to groan. “You want Anderson.”
“Yes.”
“You are stripping me of two of my best people, but I won’t object – too loudly, at least. It happens I agree with you. I would recommend you bring the Warlords back in-system.” She thought hard for a moment, trying to remember where the different SpecOp forces were deployed. “The Red Dragons can take their place until the Warlords are ready to return to the front.”
“Why the Dragons instead of the Fighting Devils?” Elizabeth asked.
“The Devils are more a ground pounding battalion. That is their forte. Give them a target to secure dirtside, and they will get it done. They do some of the best pinpoint strikes, minimizing collateral damage of any of the SpecOp forces except the Devil Dogs. The Dragons have proven themselves more adept at space battles and I would kill to get some of their pilots assigned to the Devil Dogs. They are experts at boarding as well as at taking over orbital platforms.”
“I told you.” Okafor grinned up at Elizabeth. “I bet your mother dinner at Falzo’s that would be your recommendation and why.”
Grinning, Ashlyn shook her head. “You two are incorrigible – Ma’am.”
“Now, you will receive a full briefing packet later this morning. Can you be ready to ship out by the end of the week?”
It wasn’t much time but they were Devil Dogs. They would be ready. The hardest part would be saying goodbye to their families. But, as she learned during the last war, it was better to get it over quickly. Drawing it out only made the eventual departure all the harder for everyone involved.
“Excellent.” Okafor nodded once. “Admiral Tremayne will be in contact. You will be shipping out with Second Fleet. First Fleet will remain in-system as originally planned.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“You will be Marine CO, not only for the Devil Dogs but for those already stationed with the fleet, Ash. Tremayne will inform the current Marine CO.”
“Ma’am?”
“Ash, the current CO is young and inexperienced, at least for the sort of mission you are looking at. Tremayne has assured me he will not have any problems stepping aside. My recommendation is that you take him under your wing. Let him learn from you and your people.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Very well, Colonel. You have a great deal to accomplish before you ship out.”
“Ma’am, you are a master of the understatement.” Ashlyn stood, her thoughts already going to what needed to be done before the Devil Dogs shipped out.
“Get with me this afternoon, Ash. We’ll go over what you’ll need for the mission. Be prepared to discuss personnel needs at that time,” Elizabeth told her.
“Understood, Ma’am.” She prepared to leave but stopped and turned back. “With your permission, I am not going to tell my people our destination. It’s not that I distrust any of them but you know what it’s like. Someone will slip up and say something, whether it is to a spouse or parent or friend and then that someone will slip and tell someone else. I’m assuming you would prefer word of our mission not get out.”
“Agreed, Colonel. Good call,” Okafor said.
“Ma’am, one more thing. I know this isn’t my call and I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but I recommend Captain Ortega be promoted upon her return here. The Warlords deserve it and she most certainly does.”
“It is already in the works.”
“Thank you.” Ashlyn would make sure to leave a set of her own rank insignia with her mother along with instructions to offer them to Ortega when she was promoted. “With her permission then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Dismissed, Colonel.”
Ashlyn braced to attention and turned to leave the office. As she thought about all she had to do to get the Devil Dogs ready to ship out, she wondered if it might not have been easier to have stayed on-planet to testify against Sorkowski and the others.
ON THE MARCH
CHAPTER TWELVE
“TEN-HUT!”
Talbot’s order rang out as Ashlyn stepped off the lift. She paused, not only to give those gathered time to brace to attention but to take stock of her surroundings. Less than a day ago, the Devil Dogs had marched aboard shuttles that would take them to where Second Fleet waited on the outer edges of the system. There had been no fanfare and no public send-off. Anyone curious enough about the sudden departure had been told FirstDivSecBat was about to take part in an extended training mission. As far as the public knew, the Devil Dogs were still in-system and would stay there.
It was also what the battalion believed. Only Ashlyn and Talbot knew the truth. Now it was time to let the other Devil Dogs in on the mission brief. In less than an hour, Second Fleet would leave Fuerconese space. Admiral Tremayne had notified Ashlyn of their departure less than half an hour ago. After a brief consultation, they agreed it was time to let everyone know what they had been tasked to do.
Even then, it would not be a full brief. That would wait until they were closer to their target. In the meantime, however, there were sims to run, duty stations to become familiar with and physical training to complete. Then there was equipment to check and maintain. Such was the life of a Marine.
Ooh-Rah!
“Master Guns, is the Company ready for inspection?” She fought to keep from smiling at the groans that greeted her question. No Marine enjoyed inspections, at least no sane Marine, and that was especially true immediately after shipping out. She knew they were still checking their equipment to make sure nothing had been damaged.
“No one gave you permission to talk!” Talbot snapped. “If the Colonel wants to conduct an inspection, she will conduct and inspection and you will, by God, do me proud or I will make sure each and every one of you spends the next week scrubbing decks with noth
ing but soap, water and your toothbrush. Am I making myself clear?”
“Yes, Master Gunnery Sergeant!”
“Don’t worry.” Ash did smile now. “No inspection – today. I would rather you finish making sure all our equipment and gear made it onboard without damage. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the near future.”
“Ma’am, yes, Ma’am!”
“Admiral Tremayne has given us permission to continue using this bay as we finish checking our equipment. Master Guns, I expect all personal weapons and gear to be properly stowed by chow time. You have until morning to secure everything else. Let me know what, if anything, was damaged during transport and repair status.”
“Understood, Colonel.”
“Very well.” She held the Company at attention. She had no doubt that on other ships in the fleet, her other Companies stood just as straight and still, held there by their company commanders. “At ease!”
The sounds of boots sliding across the decksole reminded her so many earlier missions. Pride filled her as the members of Alpha Company moved in almost perfect unison in response to her order. She could let them get back to what they had been doing – she knew from experience they would hear everything she said even as they checked their weapons – but she wanted their undivided attention.
“Companies, sound off!” she ordered. As she did, she nodded slightly as the voice of Tremayne’s comms officer came over her earbud, letting her know ‘links with the other companies had been established. She listened as each one reported in. The absence of Delta and Gamma Companies was obvious. With luck, they would rendezvous with the battalion before Second Fleet reached its destination.
Honor from Ashes (Honor and Duty Book 3) Page 12
