by Chris Hechtl
He was something of a celebrity in his suit. The initial fear from the group had given way to awe and interest in the suit. Knowing he was there as their protector made a few people unwind a bit more, and he was amused by some of their antics.
He was wondering what he was going to do and if they'd get some off time when a cop wandered over to him. He watched through his helmet as the guy inspected the suit, then looked up and shook his head. “I want one,” the guy said with a gush, making Jasper snort.
“Join the Marines,” Jasper replied indifferently. “It'll take time, but you'll get a suit if you try for it.”
“I mean for SWAT here,” the cop said.
“You can't have one. But your government can talk to the president and see about buying police versions,” Jasper replied, suddenly amused by the concept.
“What about the pirate ones? Can't we keep those? Rebuild them?” the cop demanded, eying the Marine suit. The damn thing was big, a monster. The guy inside had to be huge.
“Those are being turned over to ONI the Office of Naval Intelligence. Most are shattered or destroyed,” Jasper said. He knew he was going aboveboard with his statement, but perhaps, he'd head a few inquiries off and save some people the trouble later.
“Oh. Damn. Then why do they want them?” the cop asked.
“You know, you ask a lot of questions you know that?” Jasper said, turning on the cop.
“Sorry, I can't help it. I'm an investigator,” the cop said with a shrug. “It's my job.”
“Okay, well, if you want to know, ask them,” Jasper said as he pointed to the spooks.
“Oh,” the cop said. “You know, maybe later,” he said when he saw the major's scowling face.
Jasper snorted. “Yeah, thought so,” he said under his breath.
Colonel Harley nodded to Jean Claude Debois. Governor Debois, she reminded herself mentally. The man had just been sworn in as temporary governor of the planet after a scratch election. Having him step up was like a weight off her shoulders and fulfilled one of her mission goals. Not having to deal with the civilian administration side except for interfacing was one headache she didn't have to deal with anymore so she could concentrate on her other duties. It looked like combat was wrapping up however. Having a civilian to dump the civilian admin side on was preferable to doing it herself. He'd have plenty of help from Hernandez and his group now that the ground was relatively safe and secure.
“Governor, so, what are you going to do first?”
“There is a list. A long list,” the newly and slightly stunned governor said as he shook his head. He had been practically ambushed in the government meeting by the colonel, the local mayors, and even his wife. He didn't know what to make of it all. “I think the list is getting longer by the second. If you've got ideas on how to prioritize it, I'm listening,” he said.
Dana snorted. She liked the guy. He was honest, patient, and most important of all, willing to listen. “Sure. Addressing your people should be up there near the top I think," she said. He nodded. "Plans for utilities, shelter, and food distribution and improvements should be up there near the top too. Transport, security, the planetary constitution, proper elections … your media … Somewhere on there you should have getting elections going and getting some delegates and senators elected so we can ship them off to Antigua,” she offered helpfully.
Jean Claude chuckled. “Thanks. I think,” he drawled with a shake of his head. His face sobered after a moment of reflection. “When are you going to have the funerals?” he asked.
The colonel's face sobered as well. She grimaced. “I'm not going to hold individual ones. We're going to have a memorial here for the fallen and then ship the bodies out to their families to have individual ceremonies later.”
“Ah. I see,” Governor Debois said with a nod. “Well, I'd like to be there, please. You folks spent a lot of time and blood freeing us. It is the least we can do.”
“Thank you, Governor,” Dana said with a nod and slight bow.
Dana noted a blinking alpha priority on her HUD. She clicked it, read the line, then nodded. She waited until she had gotten back to her office and was behind her desk before she tapped into her desk. “Access the ansible for priority incoming transmission,” the computer intoned. “Ansible connection complete, the president's office is on the line.”
Dana sat up straighter, eyes wide in surprise as Admiral Irons' image formed on her desk in her holographic projector field. It started as a full-sized image of him also behind his desk but then cut to a bust of him.
“Mister President, sir,” she said, lunging to her feet and coming to attention.
“At ease, Colonel,” the admiral said. She knew that the image was a simple representation of the admiral without vocal intonation or emotion, but it was still surprising to see him.
“I'd like to offer my congratulations, Colonel; your people have done an outstanding job,” the admiral said.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, but we didn't turn the tide until the Cadre came. They were what broke the stalemate and took the starch out of the enemy's drawers,” she said.
“I like that. Good one,” the admiral said with a nod. She could imagine him chuckling.
“Thank you, sir, I try,” Dana said smoothly. “I'll pass your congratulations on to the troops. I know they'll appreciate it, sir.”
“I know. I'll have a formal address to them and to the people of Destria in a day or so if I can keep on my schedule. No guarantees though,” the admiral said. “And I know there will be plenty of after action reports to wade through and medals and decorations to hand out.”
Dana grimaced but nodded. Her people deserved the accolades.
“Not to mention the promotions,” the admiral said. “And I also know the troops will be far more interested in leave time and getting drunk.”
“Which is normal. We're working on a safe zone here, sir. I don't think we're going to feel completely safe here for a while though,” Dana admitted.
“I know. Now that combat is wrapped up there, I think Captain Church will be able to handle it from there. He's due in within forty-eight hours,” Admiral Irons said.
“Yes sir. I'm pretty confident we've got this sown up.”
“Good. I'll discuss the situation with Colonel 1010111 and General Forth. By the way, the colonel is going to be promoted to Brigadier later today,”' the admiral said. "Jersey will get his second star in a month or so."
“Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to pass on my congratulations,” Dana said with a respectful nod. She'd read in her copy of the Military Times that Captain Yee had been promoted to the rank of major. Captain Church was most likely up for major soon. She'd heard a bit of the problems with the Army had been due to some of the passive aggressive crap he'd pulled with Yee. Technically Church should have been shown the door but apparently he'd reformed.
Hopefully, he wouldn't pull any of that crap when he was on Destria she thought.
She'd also read that Rear Admirals White and Subert were up for their second stars. White deserved it; he was on the frontlines. Subert though was something of a marionette. She wasn't certain he deserved it after the crap he'd pulled with the previous staff. But apparently Admiral Irons wasn't ready to get rid of him for some reason.
“Good. We need to keep your two branches working together smoothly. Once the captain arrives, you can start handing over the towns to him and to the locals. How are they?”
“Surprisingly good, sir. They are stepping up now that the worst of the shooting is over. They are a resilient people.”
“Good. Very good.”
“Governor Debois sends his regards, sir. He had a list and on it are the delegations and senators. He'll work on getting the elections going in the spring after the first planting is complete he said.”
“Understood. I'd like for them to come with your troops when the ships are unloaded, but if they aren't ready by then, we'll figure someth
ing else out.”
“Yes, sir. Are we planning to leave most of our equipment behind?”
“Some. You can work out the details with Captain Church, the governor, and General Forth.”
“Thank you, sir,” Dana said. “I think we can fit most of our people on the two ships then. It will be crowded, but I think we can swing it.”
“Good.”
“I heard there are problems in Bek, sir? Are we going there or …?”
“Already eager for another assignment, Colonel?” the admiral asked.
“No, sir. Not until we've gone through a refit cycle. But I am curious.”
“It is a mess. Horatio is doing his best but he is only one man. I recently issued orders for him to cut off the head and get the matter sorted out. Hopefully, the matter is over … but something tells me it isn't.”
“Damn.”
“I know. No, your people won't be going there. I am not sure where yet. That is a matter for General Forth and the future. Perhaps with the Eastern Front, I don't know at this point.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The prisoners … any problems with the locals?”
“No, sir. A few have made noises about having them tried for war crimes. Most of the officers we've caught were not involved in that however. I know one officer, a Lieutenant Kinoshita, who was involved in some slave labor allegations. Lieutenant Liu is sorting fact from fiction or at least trying to do so now, sir.”
“Ugly business that. Some do not like the idea of war crimes tribunals. I don't care what some soldiers say, if they went overboard then the guilty should be punished.”
Dana could hear the thunder and clash of anger in that simple statement. After seeing the death camps and hearing some of the horror stories, she heartily agreed. There was no excuse for it, no hiding behind following orders or any bull crap like that. An illegal unethical order throwing away one's humanity to another being had to be dealt with. They had to set an example. “Agreed, sir.”
“I'm glad that is covered. If Governor Debois has an issue with ONI hanging onto anyone in particular, let me know.”
“Yes, sir.” Dana grimaced. “Sir, ONI also had a flag on a deceased Horathian female.”
“A flag?”
“Yes, sir. I don't know what it was about. The tag is classified. Lieutenant Liu has preserved the body for transport in a stasis pod. I thought the matter was resolved, but ONI wants the body. No one said where however.”
“I'll ask Monty to look into it or Yorgi if he comes around first. Did you get anywhere with that private?”
It was Dana's turn to grimace in distaste. “I've watched the videos and heard his account as well as the witness accounts. We've run him through the ringer, sir. According to the NCIS investigator, JAG attorney, and Lieutenant Liu he's not a Guild member, just a trigger happy idiot who screwed up.”
“Seriously screwed up,” the admiral said. “We're going to run him through it all over again when you get him back to Pyrax.”
“Yes, sir. I'm expecting him to be court martialed or dishonorably discharged at the least,” the colonel replied.
“Agreed. Discharged at the very least, something like that … I know people can be on edge, but he wasn't even involved in the fighting.”
“No, sir. No, he wasn't.”
“And Jethro?”
Captain Church and his Alpha and Beta companies, along with the Marine reinforcements arrived nearly two days to the minute after Admiral Irons' conversation with Colonel Harley.
“What'd we miss?” Captain Church asked as he stepped off the shuttle.
“Well, better late than never I suppose,” Major N'v'll said.
“Aw, don't tell me we missed the party!” Captain Church drawled as his troops unloaded from the shuttle.
“A day late and a credit short I'm afraid. But you are just in time to take up where we left off,” the major said. “Don't feel bad, you'll get your chance.”
“Right,” the human captain drawled, clearly annoyed at missing out on the action.
Kiki felt better as she walked down the corridors of the Colonel Harper with some of her former grace. She still wasn't back to 100 percent, but she was getting there one step at a time.
She came to a room in the critical care ward. Two sentry robots were there but she flashed her credentials. One stepped aside and let her pass.
She went into the room and looked around. It was the usual room, gray and green walls, white wainscot trim at her head height, a bed, TV mounted in the ceiling, a small bathroom off to one side with a door, and equipment around the bed. It had about as much equipment as she'd had when she'd first woken up she judged.
“That human spook said I should stop by and talk to you. I don't get why, he didn't say,” the small black cat said to the being on the bed. There was no smell beyond the hospital disinfectant. That was odd she thought. As she got closer, her eyes widened as she recognized a cat like her, but much, much bigger. He had his head back and eyes closed though.
“I can, um, come back,” she said turning away.
“No,” a voice croaked out. She turned back.
“Seriously, it's no hurry and all,” Kiki said.
“Why are you here again?” the cat asked, opening his eyes to look at her. He reached for a cup with a straw but his arm was weak.
“Here, let me get that for you,” she said. She got the cup and maneuvered the straw to his mouth. He took a couple of sips, then pushed the straw out and waved the cup away weakly. She set it back down on the tray. “You are really banged up,” she said.
“I should be dead,” the cat said weakly.
“I bet. Well, they are miracle workers here,” Kiki said as she took a step back. Her head was barely above the bed. She'd had to really reach to get the cup to the cat's head. Her shoulder ached a little. She rolled it a few times.
“Why'd you say you are here again?” the cat said wearily. “I don't want to be rude but …,” his eyes drooped.
“I'm … look, I can do this. He said to show you,” she said. She held still, closed her eyes and concentrated. Slowly she faded out.
The cat in the bed blinked, then his eyes opened as she decloaked. “Huh,” he said.
“That's it?” Kiki demanded. “That's the best you've got? I do a magician trick of the century and you just say huh?”
Jethro snorted as Bast rolled her eyes. “I've seen it before. What did you say your name was?” he asked.
“Kiki.”
“Okay Kiki, I've got a proposal for you. You are a special person, one like me. You are of the blood as some people say,” he said.
A few hours and a nap later, Jethro was still struggling with his paperwork and the letters to the families of his dead when another visitor came by. Colonel Harley smiled at him. “I heard you are awake,” she said softly. “You almost didn't make it.”
“It was close. I've got good friends,” Jethro said. That was definitely true. The other Cadre members had used their nanites to patch up the worst of his internal bleeding with Bast until help could arrive. Bast was now using their nanites to help his body to recover faster.
“I know. You can count me among them, Jethro. I'm proud of you,” Dana said as she came over and squeezed his hand.
“Thank you, ma'am. Um, I'm sorry I'm not caught up on the paperwork. I'm working on it now,” Jethro said.
Dana snorted. “You've got a good excuse,” she said shaking her head. “Take your time. Delegate it. You'll be surprised what Bast and the other Cadre members have already sent.”
“Yes, ma'am, but some things I have to … have to do myself,” Jethro said, voice catching a little.
“Like what?” Dana asked.
“The letters,” Jethro ground out. “I'll never get over that part.”
“And you shouldn't. None of us should,” Dana said. She heaved a sigh. “Losing people is hard, but it is a part of the job,
part of being in command. I know you never wanted to be an officer or warrant. But I also know you dealt with it as a sergeant anyway.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Well, the good news is you are in for a long recovery. I've talked to Admiral Irons and Major Lyon, both have concurred. You are in for some downtime as you are shipped off. Not with us, but with your ship. Roy Boehm will drop you and a few of your people off for liberty on her way back to Antigua,” she said.
“On her way …”
“Of course. You've been granted three months to rest and recover on Kathy's World. So, you can look forward to being with your family soon, Jethro,” she said, taking his hand again and squeezing it before she patted it with her other hand.
“Thank you, ma'am. I don't know what to say,” he said roughly.
“I heard you've got kittens. I'll bet being with them a few months will make you wish you are back in combat,” she said with a smile.
He snorted. “Maybe. But I'm looking forward to finding out, ma'am.”
The End
Author Afterword
Before I get too involved here, I want to thank Thomas Burrows for a couple of his ideas that I shamelessly stole—Bast creating armor parts by copying parts of Jethro's armor and building suits piecemeal for others like Letanga, he told me that one back in April of 2015. He also supplied me with the gist of the bug story in chapter 47. :D
A lot of people bugged me to get this book done. I honestly was delaying it since my timeline had been written out very differently. Jethro and the Cadre were supposed to be invading Horath, not getting their toes wet in Destria, but things got moved up and I had to adapt.
Speaking of adapting, you may have noted I tweaked a few things in the snippets from PR and Retribution. Most noticeably, Dana went direct to Destria instead of stopping in Hidoshi's World as mentioned in PR chapter 54. (I first changed this in Retribution btw). I had her send a Liberty class with one of her companies to Hidoshi's World instead. (Brigade 2, Battalion 3, Company Gamma to be exact) What I meant in Chapter 54 was that their convoy had just jumped out of Agnosta on their journey.
