Recruiting Drive: Jethro 4 (Jethro Goes to War)

by Chris Hechtl

  “No, I am a lieutenant. Captain D'lif'ther was a First Lieutenant so he outranked me.”

  “Ah,” Captain White Wolf stated. “Well, as it happens I'm an 0-5, captain senior grade of the Marines,” she said, voice swelling slightly. “I think I have you outranked,” she said.

  The Veraxin's mandibles went slack in surprise and then he recovered. He didn't have to check the rank chart; it had been drilled into him. She was correct. She was also the senior most ranking officer in the star system. “Yes, ma'am,” he said simply. He immediately reorganized his thoughts and speech to be less overbearing and more formal with her. He was instantly contrite. “Ma'am, I apologize for not calling you sir or ma'am earlier,” the Veraxin replied.

  “Ma'am will do. Good. I'm glad we've gotten that squared away. The service? For the dead?” Moira asked carefully.

  “We were getting squared away first, ma'am. We only have three bodies on hand. Lisbon was lost with all hands,” he said quietly.

  “Understood.”

  “Ma'am, as ranking officer are you going to come up and lead the service?”

  “I am ranking officer in the star system. Still am,” she mused. “That hadn't fully occurred to me until you pointed it out. Thanks for that,” she said, voice changing back to amusement. Then it dawned on her and the heavy weight of command went back on her shoulders once more. She sobered and nodded again. “Go ahead with the service at your convenience. I can't get away from the capital right now. Not until I clear my schedule and finish the last minute touches here.” she stated.

  “Aye aye, ma'am,” the Veraxin replied. “Farragut out.”

  <(>~^~<(>

  Jethro and the Marines had to drop everything and then scramble to get into their dress blues for the funeral. It was quick and appallingly unscheduled. He'd thought he was going to be going down, but a last minute reschedule had locked him on the ship and Tyler had taken his place.

  They gathered in the empty boat bay. When the ship's company was assembled, the ship linked into the communications network with the other ships. Screens had been set up in front of the assembly, but they weren't needed. Captain C'lax had chosen to broadcast the quick funeral directly to their implants.

  “Today we must mark a solemn day, a day of remembrance for our dearly departed friends and comrades. They died defending freedom. They died protecting their comrades. They died so others would not. They lived up to the best ideals of the service. WE can only hope to achieve the same someday.”

  A brass bell was rung slowly. It rung once for each of the twelve dead on Lisbon and then again four more times for the dead from Rose and Captain's Lady.

  Jethro felt alarm when he realized the Marines would be, should be doing a twenty-one gun salute. But apparently that was handled on Collier 108 by Lance Corporal Ferguson. It was a quick sobering service. Some winced at the sounds of the shots directly in their ears.

  Jethro winced as well, but he knew that their losses could have been a lot worse. He noted on his HUD that even Bast was in uniform and standing at attention. A judicious glance out of the corner of his eye allowed him to see some of the wounded there with them. He could see through the implants that everyone was in attendance, even the crew on Tweedle Dee and the militia ship.

  They watched the flags carefully taken off each coffin, folded neatly into a triangle, and then presented to Captain Otto one by one. He took them gravely. When the last flag was folded and presented, the captain signaled to Captain C'lax.

  “We give our honored dead to space. May their sleep be unmarred or broken until space gives back her dead. Fair well and spirit of space speed. We shall see you again,” the Veraxin stated.

  The brass bugle horn began to play out the taps song as one by one the gravity plates under the coffins shut off and allowed the coffins to drift. Then the airlock cycled open. Jethro could see the sparkle of her inner force field as it was tuned to allow the coffins to depart.

  Small kick impulse engines lit behind them, and one by one they slipped ever so quietly through the force field and then out into the outer darkness. They were not quite pointed to the gas giant. He wondered briefly if they would fall into orbit of the massive planet or fall into her depths. He tried to ignore such thoughts after a moment, put them aside, but a new thought arose within him. What would he leave behind? The friends yes, shipmates, fellow Marines … but what else? What legacy? Who would follow in his footsteps? It bothered him so much he didn't at first notice when the ceremony concluded.

  He overheard some of the crew murmur as they left to go about their work. Some of the crew half expected the destroyers to come back under stealth. Many of the crew seemed jumpy. He couldn't blame them he thought.

  He had five Marines left with him on the ship. Dez was the first to pat him on the back and shoulder. “Thanks for saving my bacon, Gunny. I'll buy you the first round when we get dirtside,” she said.

  “Me too,” Shaneka stated. “Pity we're in the same chain of command,” she said.

  “What? You'd do it with a cat?” Dez demanded, totally scandalized.

  “On second thought, no,” the Dalmatian mix said. She flicked her ears. “But I'd find someone ….”

  “Enough,” Jethro growled. It took him a moment to realize the two females were messing with him. “We've got to get Ashe back here. You two like playing with him more,” he said shaking his head.

  “He's on to us,” Dez said to Shaneka.

  “I told you he's quick,” the Dalmatian replied in amusement.

  “Get to work,” Jethro mock growled.

  “Ooh rah!” The two mutts said as they took off. He snorted when he caught Bast's expression. Apparently the byplay had amused the A.I. greatly. “What're you looking at,” he growled. “You can get back to work too you know. And if you can't find something to do, I'm sure I can,” he growled. She blinked and then flicked her ears and then pretended to work industriously at some files she conjured up. He snorted and then went about his business.

  <(>~^~<(>

  After the ceremony Captain C'lax remained on the line on a separate channel so he could talk with the senior officers and Captain White Wolf privately. “Captain, I don't mean to impose, but due to the severity of Rose's damage, I had planned to leave Rose behind with Tweedle Dee,” the Veraxin stated.

  Captain Crane winced.

  “We'll make her comfortable,” Captain McCartney said in sympathy as his eyes cut to Lieutenant Crane. “That is, if they can't get her repaired.”

  Lieutenant Crane shook his head. “My engineer isn't comfortable with the damage to our hyperdrive and shields to risk a flight—not without additional parts we don't seem to have.”

  “Funny how you always need what's not available. I thought we packed for everything?” Captain Otto quipped.

  “Apparently not,” Captain Shelton stated.

  “So, that leaves us no choice,” Captain White Wolf stated. She nodded to Lieutenant Crane's image. “Lieutenant, on behalf of the people of Kathy's World, we welcome you to the star system picket force.”

  “Ma'am, don't take any offense by this, but I hope our stay is a short one,” Lieutenant Crane stated.

  She flicked her ears back at him as all eyes turned to the marine captain. “Be that as it may, we'll keep you busy—if only running exercises with Tweedle Dee.”

  “We may be small, but we're feisty,” Captain McCartney said right on queue. “And bored to tears normally. That was just a bit too much excitement though. Even I know when we've got something too big to chew on our hands,” he said, shaking his head.

  “True. Surprising that you figured that out,” Captain Truex teased. Captain Truex's crew had fortunately gotten their ship's damage under control. She could jump but not hit the high gamma bands.

  “So what now?”

  “We continue unloading and dealing with things here. I'm doing my best to line up fuel for you since the refinery is tapped out momentarily. Unfortunately, the best I can arrange ground side
currently is hydrogen until the gas refinery refills its tanks. We don't have the processing systems groundside to make helium 3 or deuterium,” the Marine Neo stated.

  “Ah.”

  “I've got to cut this short. I have a brief meeting and then another with Lieutenant's Chaing and Queen. I'd like to see each of you if only for a face-to-face thank you for your services sometime in the future. Preferably before you go to Protodon.”

  “Yes, ma'am. We're all waiting now,” Lieutenant Crane stated.

  “I suppose so,” Moira replied. “But we'll find ways to keep you busy. Get your engineers on the repairs and send us a list of stuff you can't fix. I can put someone on checking our junk piles and stores to see if we've got anything you might be able to adapt or use.”

  “Thank you, ma'am,” Lieutenant Crane stated. He, like some of the other naval officers, weren't too comfortable with using junk parts. There was a reason why it was in a junk pile after all. But a bush fix was the best shot he had right now. At least until a collier showed up with parts or someone dropped a factory ship or industrial replicator in their laps. That made him brighten a bit.

  “Um, ma'am, did you by any chance get an industrial replicator?”

  “I haven't gone over the list of cargo yet,” the Marine replied dryly. “I've had a lot more on my mind,” she stated. “If we have one, I'll let you know.”

  “Yes, ma'am. I can send my engineer down, and he can see if he has the keys to make parts.”

  “Good to know,” Captain C'lax intervened smoothly.

  “Yes indeed,” the Marine Captain stated. “Now, I've gotten warehouses and a motel lined up for the cargo and people. Lieutenant Chaing is over there now checking them out. Can I interest you folks in something other than hydrogen? Say water or food for instance?”

  “We live on coffee, ma'am,” Captain Crane said with a tight lipped smile. “And I would love some fresh fruit if you've got it.”

  “Coffee and most fruits are normally tropical unfortunately,” the Neowolf said with an ear flick. “But we do have some other things. I've got a list together, I'm uploading it now. Let me know what you want and in what quantities, and we'll cross ship with the shuttles. It'll slow down their unloading, but we can take some time to service them while they are down here.”

  “Yes, ma'am. Sounds good,” C'lax stated.

  “Good. Now, about liberty ….”

  Chapter 14

  Jethro arrived groundside with four other marines on the third shuttle down. Initially the Marines were tasked with security, not just of the shuttle and cargo but also the personnel. He didn't have enough warm bodies though, so they deployed a pair of mechs as well as a pair of drones to help out.

  It was cold, colder than Agnosta but a brisk cold. It was spring so he hoped it improved. According to the intel he'd downloaded on the planet, it was in an ice age due to the slow reversal of the moon's terraforming. Without more intervention it would eventually freeze over totally and become uninhabitable.

  That would suck for the people on the planet. But, most likely it wouldn't happen for another century or so. With Admiral Irons in their corner, he could bet they'd get it sorted out. Right after the pirates were dealt with.

  He was briefly introduced to a Moreta Dragonheart, the lead Ranger on the planet. “I'm actually the XO. Well, one of two,” she admitted, holding her weapon and looking around. She seemed nervous.

  “Are you sure they are gone?” Moreta asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay,” she said relaxing ever so slightly. Jethro realized it was the pirates that bothered her, not the sight of the Neos. “Blizzard took your officers to meet Moira. Behave when you meet her. And don't stress her too much; she's old but not senile.”

  “Ma'am, Moira?”

  The young human woman turned to him and then away. “Oh, you don't know. President White Wolf.”

  “You mean Captain White Wolf, ma'am?” he asked.

  “The same,” she said in disgust. “Look I've got to go. Report to the capital building,” she said, pointing to the spaceport's buildings. “Get a ride on the bus there. It's a couple kilometers in, near the center of the city. Don't be late,” she said.

  “Yes, ma'am. I mean no, ma'am,” Jethro said, flicking his ears. She eyed him again and then turned and went about her business.

  “Tyler, watch the shuttle and gear. Let me know if there are any problems,” Jethro said over his radio link.

  “Roger that,” Tyler replied.

  The bus was a bit cramped with all the neos on board, and it smelled, but at least the trip was short. When he got off, a woman pointed to the capital building for him. He flicked his ears in thanks and then went about his business.

  The captain had apparently created her headquarters in the old capital building much to his surprise. He'd expected something more secure, not the whitewashed building. He had taken a note of the community; it seemed like they had recently put a lot more effort in turning the place around. Not only were they making regular repairs but also improving things. They had electricity, and most likely running water, though with the freezing temperatures at night that was in doubt.

  Bast caught his surprise and wordlessly put up an article stating that the captain had been elected president of the planet. He flicked his ears in acknowledgment as a young black Neotiger with electric blue stripes showed him in to the inner offices.

  According to Bast's homework, the government's cabinet was made up of an equal number of humans and Neos.

  Moira White Wolf was amused by the sight of the gunnery sergeant. He came in and saluted. She returned the salute, ears erect as she studied him. “Gunny, good to see you.”

  “Ma'am,” he replied, dropping to stand at attention.

  “At ease, Gunny,” she said. He seemed to relax slightly and place his hands behind his back.

  “I have to admit, I'm not at all sure what to do with you. I just finished reading the after action report, both yours and the naval officers.” She shook her head. The naval officers were already marginalizing the gunny's achievements.

  “I'm surprised you survived to even board the Nelson. The squids won't want to admit it, but you were the real reason the battle turned. It could have very easily have gone the other way.”

  “I just wish I could have finished the mission, ma'am,” he said. He knew Lieutenant C'lax considered his part a failure or at best a distraction.

  She eyed him for a long uncomfortable moment. Something passed there; he could see the sympathy in her eyes. She understood. Slowly she nodded. He returned the nod, in perfect accord. “None of us like leaving a battle half finished. But you got out of there alive to fight another day. Focus on that part of it. You'll get another chance.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  When she read his bio, she noted privately he was in Recon and was definitely cadre material. With his vast experience as a DI, she revised her estimates even further upward. But he seemed pretty wound up, wound tight. He needed to relax a bit. There was a bit in his classified file about keeping him moving. She frowned slightly, ears forward before she came to a decision. “Okay, I'm going to put you in charge of the recruiting and training of the militia recruits. Get your stuff squared away and then get on that.”

  “Ma'am?” Jethro blinked. “What about security?”

  “What about it?” She asked mildly, eying him. He straightened. “I've got that covered. I'm pairing Marines with the rangers and recruits. They can handle it.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” he said fighting to hide his dubious expression and tone of voice.

  “Relax, Gunny, we're all friends here,” Moira stated, sitting back. She'd had a bit of medical work done when the Admiral had passed through the star system. She felt ten years younger. She knew there was only so much that could be done for a Neo of her age, but she wasn't about to give up on life and go back to living in a cave. Not now, not when everything was starting to pick up again.

  Not when the future was lo
oking up. Speaking of which … “You've got two days to get squared away here, get the troops moving and then I'm putting you on a convoy to go walk about. You're going to visit the various towns on this continent initially. Call it a good will tour. I want you to show the flag, do some recon, and get a feel for the people.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” Jethro replied dutifully. He knew when to keep his mouth shut. And he knew better than to argue with a superior officer.

  “You'll be gone three weeks. Make the most of it.”

  “Lucky me. Why me again, ma'am?” Jethro asked, cocking his head and testing the waters a bit.

  “You'll see,” she said enigmatically with an ear flick. Her eyes cut back to the tablet in her lap.

  When she didn't say anything further, just turned to her paperwork he shrugged. “Aye aye, ma'am.”

  “Orders are in your inbox. Be at the Mounty's HQ by sunup. That's 0533. Dismissed,” she said, not even bothering to look up. She wanted to see how the two officers did without him. They'd built up all sorts of plans she noted, scrolling through Chaing's various contingency plans. Some had some good bits but most suffered from outdated intelligence or would have blown up in his face since he didn't know the players. No, she'd set them straight next.

  “Ma'am,” Jethro said, slapping his thighs slightly before he about-faced and left her office.

  <(>~^~<(>

  Jethro found out that the captain had taken charge of the gear and people right away. She had everything firmly in hand; she had crews unloading the shuttles and transporting the material to the warehouses she'd acquired for them. The shuttle he had landed in was already in the process of taxing to take off when he returned to the spaceport. He checked in with Tyler and nodded in approval when he noted a pair of people doing inventory on tablets. Good. He'd double check later. He had the original lists.

  “We've got our own place to park our stuff and our asses. I'd rather have a firebase but orders are orders,” Tyler said to him when he came over. “Lieutenant Chaing is checking it out now. Lieutenant Queen is checking out the recruits and liasoning with the Rangers.”