by J. L. Curtis
She picked them up, “Dismissed, Mac.” After he walked out, she turned on him, “How the hell did you…”
Fargo held up his hands in defense, “I didn’t do anything. I just passed the design up the chain. And he stands to make a lot more off the royalties than he does the original agreement.”
“You think so?”
“GalPat has how many dets? I know GalScouts have over a thousand teams. One unit per team is two hundred k credits. And if you add in the diplos, and who knows who else in dot gov.”
“Damn, he’s… going to be truly rich. And the point two percent for the software, I think… I don’t even know how many sonics units there are out there.”
“Thousands, tens of thousands? Who knows?”
Jace interrupted their musings, “So, I understand I have a contract to carry part of your company and accompany a destroyer somewhere?”
They spent the next div hashing out the details, and Fargo was surprised when both Jace and the major were amenable to OneSvel coming along as a backup medic. And I hope to hell he doesn’t have to blow his cover and do any major surgery. I wonder if… He was always talking to DenAfr when we came back. Could he be a sifter too? I wonder if they all are?
He took the runabout back to the clinic and told OneSvel that the major had invited him to accompany the company on their tasking, and explained to Doc Grant that the invite was more in the vein of an order, especially since OneSvel was a former GalScout. Doc shrugged and took it fairly well, looking at them and saying, “As long as I see you back here in thirty-five or forty days. Langdon’s system isn’t that far away.”
Fargo looked at him sharply, “I never said anything about where we…”
Doc laughed. “Not hard to figure out. Where have you been for the last three months? You come back for a week, do secret squirrel shit, and boom, you’re gone again.”
Sighing, Fargo asked, “Please don’t extrapolate any further. And keep it to yourself.”
Doc bristled, “I did my time. I know the rules. I don’t know what kind of game you two are playing, but I’m not a dumbass. You’ve got some kind of lone ranger mission out here, and this one,” jerking a thumb at OneSvel, “is your Tonto.”
Fargo looked at him, puzzled, and OneSvel’s GalTrans twittered, “Tonto?”
Doc laughed again, “Go figure it out. Now get out of here, I’ve got patients to see.”
***
Fargo sent the animals back to their respective packs, and buttoned up the cabin as the BIT check ran on the liteflyer. Once it was finished, he double checked that his trunk was secured in the cargo area, and climbed in. I gotta tell Luann, she’s going to throw a fit, but I can’t lie to her. I just hope Mikhail hasn’t already let it slip, since I had to use his shuttle to go get my armor. I’ll spend the night on the ship, since she grounded this morning, that way I’m away from both Luann and Nicole.
Mikhail picked him up at the parking area, “Your armor is already aboard. You want to drop your trunk now or later?”
“Now, if you don’t mind. I need to go by and see Nicole too.”
Mikhail chuckled. “She’s at the store. Luann asked her to help cook dinner, and to stay for dinner.”
“Damn. That is not what I planned,” he shrugged. “I guess it’s going to get interesting.”
After they dropped his trunk off with Klang, who assured him it would be placed in his cabin, and that his and OneSvel’s armor was onboard, along with the two platoons of company armor, they watched a combat shuttle blast off, and Mikhail said, “That’s the third trip today. I thought combat shuttles could take a platoon at a time.”
“Normally they do, but I’m guessing they’re also taking extra supplies, and probably some admin stuff up too.” He glanced at his wrist comp, “Guess it’s time to go beard the lions in their den.”
A div later, as they sat down to dinner, he still hadn’t figured out how or when to tell Luann, when she looked directly at him, “You’re leaving again, aren’t you?”
He glanced at Nicole, then faced Luann squarely, “Yes, but I’m support only. And we should only be gone a little over a month.”
She nodded. “Okay.” And started serving the kid’s plates.
Oh shit. She’s pissed. Now what do I do? I… He felt a gentle pressure on her knee, and saw Nicole shake her head quickly, mouthing, “Not now!”
The dinner was excellent, and Luann was actually cheerful, even showing patience with Ian when he didn’t want to eat his greens. Fargo complimented her, and she smiled tentatively. “Thank you, but Nicole helped, in more ways than one. You and Mikhail get out of here while we clear the dishes, then we’ll have coffee and dessert. I made a nearapple pie for you.” She looked at the kids, “Ian, Inga, kiss your uncle good night and upstairs with you.”
He crouched and Ian tried to bear hug him, whispering, “I love you, Unka. Bring me something back, okay?”
He kissed him back, and whispered, “I’ll try, but no promises.”
Inga hugged and kissed him quickly, “Love you,” then darted for the stairs.
He and Mikhail walked out onto the back deck, standing under the infrared heater to stay warm, “I don’t understand. I thought sure she would blow up at me.”
Mikhail cocked his head. “Unless Nicole said something, but I’m not about to ask.”
“No, me neither.”
Nicole dilated the hatch, “Dessert.”
They trooped back in, and Luann served coffee in real mugs, along with the pie. “I suppose you’re going to stay on that ship tonight?”
He nodded. “It’s an early go in the morning, and I know how much you like to let the kids sleep when you can.”
“And it’s because you don’t want to deal with a crying wreck in the morning, right?”
He winced. “Lu, it’s not that. It’s…”
Luann laid a hand on Nicole’s arm, “No, I understand now. She explained it to me. I was… being selfish. If I try to control you, all I’ll do is drive you away. So finish your dessert and go.”
He got up, walked around the table and hugged her, kissing the top of her head, “Thank you, Lu. I don’t ever want to hurt you, but I’ve got… responsibilities.”
She sobbed once, then grabbed his arm, “I know, I don’t like it, but I know now. I love you, Ethan. And I have to love you enough to let you go.”
Fargo looked at Mikhail, and nodded toward the door. He nodded, and got up. “I’ll run him out there and be back in a few.”
Nicole got up and came to him, as he reached out for her mind, “I love you. Thank you for whatever you did. I’ll see you in a month or so.”
“I just told her the truth. It takes special people to put up with military personnel. I love you too. I’ll see you in a bit.” She kissed him fiercely, then pushed him away and turned back to the table.
At the ramp, Fargo shook Mikhail’s hand, “Thanks for the ride. I hope Luann won’t take this out on you. And if Nicole needs anything…”
“Don’t worry on either count. I’ll handle it.”
Fargo walked out to the Hyderabad, looked back, but Mikhail was already gone. Coming aboard, he was stopped by a young GalPat trooper, “Sir, who are you?”
Fargo produced his data chip, “Spare cargo. I’m your liaison with Endine.”
“Yes, sir. You’re on the manifest. You know where your cabin is?”
“I do, Corporal.”
The corporal saluted, and Fargo weaved around the armor and up to the crew’s mess, looked in and didn’t see anyone, so he went to his cabin. Unpacking, he got settled in, and was drifting off to sleep when the hatch dilated and Nicole came in.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Nicole dropped the robe she was wearing, “Going with you. Now scoot over.”
***
Sixteen days later, Fargo, Nicole, Captain Garibaldi, Sergeant Major Aphrodite, the two platoon lieutenants, and Captain Jace sat in the crew’s mess, looking at the vid screens sho
wing the battle watch center in the Lincoln, on tight beam laser. Major Culverhouse completed the final briefing. “So, one more time. The attack shuttles will launch from here, drop on the extraction unit on the surface, and return to Hyderabad, load out, and drop the third platoon on the vent. Fourth platoon will be reserve and security. We are,” she glanced over her shoulder, “Twelve divs out. Everyone should be in EMCON until we’re engaged. Captain Fargo, Chief Sergeant Levesque, I’d like for you two to maintain this link for the duration.”
Fargo glanced at Captain Jace, who nodded. “We will, Major. Any specific tasking?”
“I’d like the chief sergeant’s take on any changes she sees from the previous data collection. That data is now about two months old, and we all know intel ages out quickly. Anything you note, pass it in the clear to the watch officer. We don’t have time to do in depth analysis.”
Nicole nodded. “Will do, Major. Direct report to the battle watch. Will your unit be linking their sensors via this beam?”
“Standby one.” The major stepped out of the camera view, coming back moments later, obviously frustrated. “The CO says he can’t share classified data with a civilian ship.”
Nicole pinched her nose, “Okay, we’ll do what we can with what we have. Are you sending any intel personnel down?”
“Not on the original drop. When we do the sweepers, we’ll send one or two down.”
Captain Jace interrupted, “Major, we will be up on your frequencies, as a reminder for your shuttle pilots, our callsign is Limit. Our beacon will be channel twenty-nine when activated, which will also give you our range and bearing from Lincoln.”
Culverhouse looked off to the side, “Shuttle ops you got that?” She nodded and turned back to the camera, “They roger up for it. I’m squirting specific platoon assignments now, same as what we worked up, CSM, Captain, do your final briefs and put everybody down for at least five divs. I want everybody ready to mount up in ten divs. We’re done unless there are any further questions?”
They looked at each other, and Fargo saw nothing but head shakes, “We’re good on this end, Major.”
The captain, CSM, and platoon lieutenants data comps all pinged nearly simultaneously, as she said, “Okay, we’re out here. We will stand up the battle watch in eight divs.” With that, the screen went to the Lincoln’s logo, and a data stream across the bottom of the vid.
Fargo looked at Garibaldi, “What can we do to help you?”
“Nothing right now. We’ll go brief the platoons again, put them down, and gear up to be ready to go at ten.”
“Alright. I’m going to go check with OneSvel and see if they have the sick bay ready to go.” He got up, and Nicole came with him as Garibaldi and the lieutenants headed back to the lounge the platoons were using.
Jace turned toward the bridge, “If you need me, just yell.”
Nicole laughed. “Yell at you, or the AI?”
“Either, or.”
They found OneSvel pseudopods deep in the medbox and Fargo asked worriedly, “Is there a problem?”
“Not really, just preventive maintenance.”
Fargo interrupted, “We need to go down for a few divs. The captain wants everyone in armor at ten.”
“We will be ready. I have this sick bay and the secondary sick bay prepped.”
“Secondary sick bay?”
“There is a ten bed sick bay at compartment three-zero-five three hotel.”
“Oh, okay. I’m going to rest. I’d suggest you do the same.”
“We will.”
Fargo and Nicole left the sick bay, with Fargo mumbling, “What else is hidden on here?”
Nicole shook her head. “This ship is… odd… isn’t it?”
“More than you know,” he sighed.
Fight’s on
Fargo, Nicole, and OneSvel’s armor were against the bulkhead, forcing them to weave among the rows of armor, with Fargo following appreciatively behind Nicole. She caught him looking and said, “Really? You’re watching my butt now, of all times?”
He shrugged. “Men are visual, and your visuals are nice.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, then stopped in front of her armor. She grabbed him and quickly kissed him, then climbed in before he could do anything. Laughing, he climbed in as OneSvel began the laborious process of folding themselves into their specially constructed armor. DenAfr hated their armor with a passion. They always said they felt cut off when they were in it.
Fargo powered up, and felt the frisson of the armor closing around him as the AI snapped into sync with his neural lace, “Good morning, Captain. I sense we are aboard a ship in transit.”
“We are Cindy. Combat BIT please. Two point oh divs to depressure and operations.”
“BIT commenced. Would you like to run any sims?”
“Once we are up, that would be a good idea. When you complete the comms portion, connect with the ship net and display data on the right HUD please.”
“Will do, Captain. Two segs to comms complete.”
After the comms checks, Fargo checked in with Garibaldi, Jace, Nicole and OneSvel. Tonguing over to a private channel, he asked Jace and Nicole, “Who is watching the vids?”
Nicole came back, “I have them on my HUDs now. We’re a little far out, but it looks like the plant is in a slightly different position relative to the vent than the last time.”
Jace chimed in, “It is, it’s closer. They must move it when they reach the extension on the cutters. I’m not sure what the Lincoln is doing. It is not on a tactical approach, it is cruising in without any attempts to minimize signature. I am going to drop back and down, putting the plant down on an event horizon, allowing us to maneuver as required to minimize our signature.”
The hair stood up on the back of Fargo’s neck when Jace said that, and his command node started pinging tactics at him. Stop that, he thought, I’m not in charge. “Cindy, display TACSIT on left HUD. Display combat armor down to sergeant level center HUD, maintain display on right HUD.”
“Completed, sims, Captain?”
“Reduce available manpower to two platoons. Start from scattered in landing spots on surface.”
“Level of alert?”
He sighed, “High.”
Cindy’s dulcet voice said, “Starting in three, two, one…”
The HUDs changed violently, now showing from ground level, so to speak, the plant five miles away, with one platoon engaged by heavily armed defenders, and the platoon he was with standing around staring at the vent, weapons up. He started sweating as he ‘listened’ to the incoming attacks, and watched combat armor go from green to yellow to red with startling quickness. He let it play out, and ten segs later, they were all dead.
“Reset. Move third platoon off axis from the plant entry. Add fourth platoon squads one and two to assault. Squad three is reserve, squad four is vent guard. Begin.”
Three more iterations, three more losses, and he slumped against the straps. Well, shit. If this truly goes sideways, this could get ugly.
His questioning was interrupted by Jace, “It appears the Lincoln is going for Geosync. That will put them less than one hundred miles above the surface, and she has just launched both shuttles.”
Startled, Fargo looked at the countdown clock, “Copy all. Nicole?”
“No changes, other than plant is definitely moved. It appears their cutter range is around… Shit! Hot spots! I see three, no four, um… Break, break, Lincoln be aware possible self-defense modules activating planetary north of plant.”
They felt the ship dip suddenly enough that they lifted in the straps as Hyderabad maneuvered violently. Captain Jace came on, “Lincoln, Vampires, vampires, vampires. Estimate two four launched. I say again two four launched.”
Fargo was thrown violently to the side, then pressed back into the harness as more violent maneuvers happened, he heard the ship groaning and wondered how many Gs they were taking. Captain Garibaldi asked quietly, “What’s going on, Captain?”
Jace answered smoothly, “Evasive maneuvers. Twenty-four vampires launched and I was not going to take any chances of them locking on us. We are now below the event horizon for the plant and maneuvering to come over the local horizon orthogonal to our original track. Increasing speed, will maneuver as required. We will have comms back in one four segs. Lincoln has not come up on broadcast.”
“So we’re out of touch with higher?”
“Completely.”
Fargo heard a sigh, then Garibaldi asked, “Captain, what would you do in these circumstances?” When he didn’t answer, Garibaldi asked, “Captain Fargo? Are you up?”
Fargo shook his head, not that anyone could see it, as his command neural lace kicked in and time seemed to slow. Thinking back to the sims, he answered, “I’d assume no help, and what you see is what you have. I would scatter deploy around the plant away from the entry or hangar, with everyone except one squad and I would put them on the vent. I’d go in hot, shoot first and ask questions of the survivors.”
“But that exceeds our ROE, we’re supposed to give…”
“ROE be damned, you’ve already been fired on, this is now a combat situation, and combat ROE is kill the enemy.”
He heard a click, and CSM Aphrodite said, “I agree with Captain Fargo, sir. We need to go in hot and fast. We don’t know if anyone else made it down, and we’ve… possibly lost half the company. Captain Fargo, are you planning to disembark?”
He looked at the top of his helmet, sighed, and keyed up, “I can. I will go with the squad to the vent, if that is acceptable.”
Garibaldi answered, “Please. And can you ping your plan to me? What do you think of our chances of success?”
“Fifty-fifty,” he answered brutally. “Against trained, well equipped troops, nil. So I hope they are slackers that got dumped out here on a punishment tour.”
Aphrodite’s laugh rang across the circuit and she said, “Deity, I love honest officers!”
Eleven segs later, they crossed the Lincoln’s horizon, and Nicole said, “Lincoln is turning away, I’m seeing one shuttle returning to it, and I’ve got a distress beacon from the other shuttle. No comms with Lincoln at this time.”
