Jethro: First to Fight

by Hechtl, Chris

  “How?" he demanded. “How could they even have that? We didn't have that until the admiral came along!”

  “I know, believe me I know. Well, it looks like a hack and slash. Stuff they yanked out of others. Maybe out of cadavers who knows. But I'm betting this is going to change.”

  “Oh?”

  “Now that I know the techniques I believe it wouldn't be a big stretch to create tech to do this outside of replicators and nanotech. crude, but effective.”

  “Really? How effective?”

  “I'd say some of it is eighty percent on the level with our information implants. A lot of the information processing is a problem though, but the basic linkage... not to mention tissue rejection...” Her face had a faraway look for a moment. She nodded as her eyes cleared. “Yes I'd say about eighty percent.”

  “But you said they lack information processing? And no enhancements?”

  “Yes, that's outside the person. And a part of that is training as well. From the looks of this it's simple information and command and control.”

  "Ah."

  "Did they have that? Extra processors on the hardware side?"

  She blinked. "I'm not sure. It's not my field after all. I'll have to check. I gather by the time we knew that they had implants half the captured ships had been rebuilt."

  "Oh," the Major frowned.

  "Which they may be getting a handle on. We don't have the intel."

  “Whoops,” the Major said, getting the memos from the Commander. His eyes canned the documents and then his lips pursed.

  “Problem Major?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes and no. Mostly the usual crap. I've got to bawl someone out that I'd rather pat on the back. And we're a go for the mission.”

  She nodded, eyes wise. “Ah,” she said. “The panther. Yes, He was done the service proud with what he said, he told it as it was. But that's not quite what people were ready to hear. I've heard some of the scuttlebutt,” she said.

  “So have I. I'm not happy about the other orders but we'll make it work. If you'll excuse me Commander I need to get a handle on this and pass it along.”

  She made a brushing motion as she nodded. “By all means. And pass my respects on to Jethro. The lad did good.”

  “Not that I can tell him that,” the Major said with a sigh. “But I am going to counsel him on keeping a lid on his temper.” He grimaced. “And a better lid on his mouth,” he said as he got up and headed for the door.

  “Yeah, that's a wise precaution,” the Commander nodded.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Ox had a meeting with the doctor and geneticists. Doctor Martel apologized for overlooking him. She took samples and put him on the endangered species list. He was not happy about the high distinction. Since he was such a rarity they discussed taking him off active duty and putting him on protected status. He gently refused the option. “I am a Marine. I don't know if there are more Taurens out there, if I'm the last so be it. I know it's a burden but I also know I can't sit around and study the walls ma'am. I'm an engineer and I'm a Marine. I intend to live my life to the fullest as my family would have wanted.”

  “That's...”

  “Short sighted I know doctor but I insist.”

  She held up a hand. “Let me finish. I was going to say that is commendable. I'll put it in the records son. I think we have all the samples we can take for now. I'd like to continue taking samples each time you have a physical if that is okay with you.”

  “Yes ma'am,” he said bobbing a nod with his massive head.

  “All right then,” she replied, pursing her lips. “Your next scheduled appointment is in a year. Please stay out of trouble until then,” she said.

  “I don't know about trouble ma'am,” he said getting off the gurney. It groaned as his massive mutltiton weight shifted off of it. “I am a Marine after all. But I'll do my very best not to get killed if only not to disappoint you,” he said dryly.

  She eyed him and then smiled a little. “You do that Corporal. Now, send in the next guinea pig I mean volunteer.”

  “Funny,” Ox snorted as he left.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jethro was called into Major Forth's office a few days after the interview. He knew what it was about, so he remained stoically at attention as he was reprimanded for the interview. It wasn't as bad as he'd thought it could have been. The Major was more resigned to what happened. The Major just didn't have his heart into it and from the subdued twinkle in his eye a lot of what Jethro had let slip had been on the Major's mind. April had been right, he'd been set up. But it was a reminder to keep a low profile and watch his mouth though.

  “No follow up interviews with the other networks Sergeant. I mean it. Any contact with a reporter clear it with the public office.”

  “Aye aye sir.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  April looked him up in a bar a few hours later. “So, Jersey finished reaming you a new one?” a familiar voice asked. Jethro turned. He'd tried to ignore the red head as she had stalked him across the bar, but now he couldn't avoid her without being impolite. He sent a text message to the public affairs office and then hit record with his sensors.

  “Just a bit ma'am,” he said with a shrug. “I stuck my foot in my mouth. I was fairly certain I would, it was only a matter of time. I am a Marine after all,” he said.

  “True,” she said laughing softly. “I'm off duty, this is off the record, so don't get bent out of shape,” she assured him. He nodded. She flicked her hair as she sat down, smiling as the bartender set a beer down in front of her on a coaster. “I see you've got a link open to public affairs. They're inquiring about this talk,” she said, grimacing.

  He blinked surprised. “You have implants ma'am?” he asked. She nodded, smiling before she took a pull of the long neck. “Yup,” she said after she set the beer down. She showed him the jack on her left hand and then brushed her hair aside so he could see an alpha jack at the base of her skull. “I received them when Doctor Thornby put me back together. I asked John a lot about his. Apparently he insisted I get my own.”

  “I see ma'am.”

  “They really come in handy. I'd love to do some undercover work with them, but I'm just too famous now. Someone would recognize me, even if I wore a wig,” she said, making a face.

  The panther nodded. “Most likely ma'am. And there's the danger too. People who know you were in a... relationship with the admiral might take their ire for him out on you,” Jethro said.

  “So, you're saying I need a body guard?” she asked, toying with the stem of her bottle. She smiled as he squirmed a little, twitching his tail. “Are you volunteering?” she asked, fluttering her eyes.

  He chuffed a laugh, flicking his ears. “Ma'am, I've got a job. I'd suggest getting some muscle if you feel uncomfortable, or sticking to safe areas. But you're a reporter, safe isn't really your thing is it?”

  “No,” she said coyly, taking another sip of beer. “Not really. And I was safe when that plasma breach happened,” she said sounding a little bitter. She shivered.

  “I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to disturb you,” Jethro said kindly.

  She shrugged after a long silent moment. “It's over and done with now. But something occurred to me after that interview. I never did ask you how you met John.”

  “It's not much of a story actually ma'am...” He related how he had met the admiral briefly in the infirmary. “He really impressed the hell out of me, coming in wearing his coveralls and cover. I mean, it would have blown me away had he worn his whites, but I'd seen some peacocks on the station, that um, guy, the tailor,” he waved a hand.

  She nodded.

  “So I wouldn't have taken him too seriously had he been in full uniform. His abilities did impress me though, me and others.”

  “I see.”

  “But really? It was the way he was. The way he just got things done. He rolled up his sleeves and made it work. That blew me away. I've wanted to be a Marine, dr
eamed of it since I was a kit. I'd learned the stories of my ancestor Tobias, I wanted a return to that. A return to honor and duty. Not scraping by, wondering when the power and air would run out, wondering where my next meal would come from and if I'd have to kill someone to get it.”

  He paused and took a long sip of beer, getting his emotions under control.

  “So, he touched you too huh,” she said softly, looking down and toying with her coaster.

  “I think he touched a lot of people. Good and bad. He woke us up. We've been sitting here, wringing our hands because no one was getting anything done. He taught us that if we wanted something done, we had to get it done ourselves. He gave us a kick in the pants and showed us what needed to get done.”

  “I know,” she murmured softly, then smiled. “He's a damn good man. Sometimes a little naive, I thought he was cracked when I first heard of him,” she said, looking over to Jethro. She smiled wryly at his expression and then explained to him a bit about what happened. He had heard that there had been a relationship, but hadn't realized how deep it had gone until he heard the soft sorrow and longing in her voice.

  “He left me a message. He's not coming back to Pyrax,” she said. “Never.”

  “But you could go to him,” Jethro said.

  She stared at him for a long moment. He shrugged. “That is if you could catch him long enough. I don't think he stays long in one place,” he teased.

  “True,” she laughed. She held up her bottle to him. He held up his. “To Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons. A great man and a great friend. Where ever you are, we support you.”

  “Here here ma'am,” Jethro said, clinking his bottle to hers as others around them echoed the toast.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  After talking with April Jethro felt a pang of guilt. He searched his feelings overnight, wrestling with his conscious and couldn't get a wink of sleep. He stared up at the ceiling counting tile until he finally came to a decision. That made he now wasn't sure who to take it too. Finally he decided to find and talk to the Gunny.

  “What's on your mind?” Schultz asked, shining his boots. Jethro nodded. The Gunny had taught them to take care of their gear. He was also good about leading by example.

  “Gunny, um, off the record.” He looked around and then closed the door. Fortunately as the senior noncom on the ship the Gunny had a small closet sized quarters of his very own next to the Marine barracks bays.

  “Sure. Pull up a stool,” the Doberman said, pointing the toe of his shoe toward the only stool in the room. Jethro glanced at it and hooked it with a foot to drag it out of the corner where he could sit on it. He adjusted his tail and sat.

  “Seriously off the record,” Jethro said.

  Schultz grunted. He sent an implant signal to cut the video and audio feeds to his quarters and then his own implants. It might raise some eyebrows with the busy body AI, but he'd handle it. Some things were best handled off the record and quietly. “Problem?” the Gunny asked, returning his attention to his boot.

  Jethro frowned. He wasn't sure where to begin. He also had to take it on faith that the recorders were off. Finally he decided to let his training take hold, just lay his cards out and see what the Gunny said. “Something of the sort. I've got to talk to someone, but I'm not sure if I should. It's important though.”

  “Really.” The Gunny's eyes cut to him then back to the boot. A minor blemish got a slight frown and a brushing.

  Jethro fought the incredible urge to squirm. “I... the problem is I'll be breaking an oath if I do,” Jethro squirmed.

  The Gunny's eyes shot to him and held there. “If this is about that matter on...”

  “No sir,” Jethro said immediately, hands up. His eyes dilated fully open despite the light level but his ears went flat.

  “Then what's it about?”

  “I... off the record Gunny?”

  “Sure. Sounds ominous though,” the Doberman touched a control and the privacy light came on. Most people didn't realize that the privacy light was just that, a light. The audio and video system continued to work even when you turned it on. The AI didn't care about prudish organics so ignored that sort of crap. “You've got five minutes. Start talking.”

  “I... I... I don't know where to begin,” Jethro said finally. “Wish I had a beer,” he sighed.

  “We can go get one in the pub. Firefly's tavern should be open right about now.” Firefly's bar and mess hall were no rank zones so both enlisted and officers could interact without fear of a charge of fraternization.

  “Too public sir. I can't talk about it in...”

  The dobies eyes narrowed again. “Spit it out son.”

  Jethro straightened instinctively. “I was talking with the reporter Miss O’Neill and well... Gunny, when I was a kit I was indoctrinated in the League of Shadows,” he gushed out, trying to get it out before his nerves failed. His claws flexed in and out in distress.

  “League of Shadows?” Schultz asked, cocking his head, ears flicking in amusement.

  Jethro really squirmed now. “It's an assassin guild sir. The assassin guild.”

  “I didn't know they really existed. Still existed,” the Gunny mused, setting his boot down. “Why are you telling me this?” he asked after a moment.

  “I... sir my father was a part of the guild. It was how he raised money for the pride. Well, one of the ways. I wasn't comfortable about it and well, I was still in my apprentice stage when the admiral showed up.”

  “So you don't know a lot about it?” Schultz asked.

  “Enough that it exists and that the members are out there. They look like ordinary people sir. Day to day you'd never know one was there, they hold down normal jobs and stuff. They blend in perfectly. But when they receive a contract they act on it.”

  “Where are you going... wait. Destiny?” The Doberman demanded, eyes flashing. Slowly Jethro nodded.

  The Doberman rubbed his jaw in thought. Jethro frowned, continuing. “The woman who did it... well, I heard from the reporter about some of the attacks. They aren't ordinary attacks.”

  Schultz nodded. “Too sophisticated in the time she had to set them up. And some were built into the ship. We assumed she had outside help.”

  “Yes Gunny.”

  “Interesting.”

  “The thing is sir, I didn't know much. I know contracts were handled by cut outs and dead drops but not a lot beyond that. Orders were passed down through a cast system but I'm not all that familiar with how it was set up and I don't know who the players were. I attended my initial interview and evaluation, and one ceremony when I was four but well...”

  “Are you worried about them?” Schultz finally asked.

  Jethro reluctantly nodded. “Just talking about them is an offense Gunny. For me to do so means I am breaking one of their sacred oaths. I, my family, and anyone I speak with are now targets. Also everyone they know.”

  The Gunny's ears went flat. “Oh wonderful. Thanks,” he growled, eyes glittering.

  Jethro shrugged helplessly. “Sorry Gunny. I thought about going to the Major...”

  “It's all right son, I get the idea,” the Gunny said sitting back. He thought for a moment.

  “I'm pretty sure this lady wasn't alone sir. Targets of high status were usually assigned to a team. Most masters had an apprentice with them. They called it the Sith rule of two. I'm not sure about the reference though.”

  “So you think she had a helper. The admiral speculated about that but they didn't have any proof to back it up,” the Gunny mused.

  “What were you trying to do with this information?” the Gunny asked as Jethro stared at a bulkhead uncomfortably.

  “I'd... I'm not really sure sir.”

  “Can you identify any of the others?” Schultz asked carefully. He wasn't sure if the lad would or not.

  Jethro didn't hesitate, he shrugged. “By scent maybe. It's been a while sir. Years so the scent and memories fade. Everyone was in black robes with hoods in the ceremony
of induction Gunny. I... they could have masked their scents with false ones. I don't know.” He spread his hands apart helplessly.

  “Ah. And if they were smart no doubt they didn't leave a trail,” he grimaced. “All right, I'll put a bug in the right ears discretely. We'll do a review of security and intelligence as well. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open and mouth shut. If you're contacted let me know though.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I doubt you will be though.”

  “I hope not.”

  “All right, get out of here. Go get ready for your shift. I've got a sneaking suspicion someone's in for a surprise inspection tour later,” Schultz said pointedly as he keyed the privacy light off and turned his audio and video system back on.

  “Ah yes Gunny, thanks,” Jethro said getting up.

  “Don't mention it,” the Gunny said with a snort as Jethro left.

  ACT II

  Chapter 20

  A courier was sent to Gaston two weeks before the Marines began to board the transports. Four Freighters, the factory ship Hephaestus, one modified yacht turned dispatch boat, Hecate, and Firefly were sent in a convoy to Agnosta. The freighters acted as transports, they were stuffed with Marines and the equipment and material needed to set up their new bases on the planet. Three of them were Clydesdales including the one that had taken the first Agnosta Marine expedition to the planet six months ago. One held over four thousand recruits in stasis. All told there were nearly twenty thousand personnel going, eight thousand Marines, two thousand naval personnel to man the navy side and the navy hospital, three thousand civilian contractors, and another three thousand dependents. A lot of Marines quipped that they'd rather ride in baggage like the recruits, at least they'd be able to have their own rack for the entire trip and could sleep.

  The Zanzibar class medium freighter Destiny was a last minute welcome addition to the expedition group. The spacebees, the Naval engineers were loaded onto the freighters last. They were the cream of the engineering teams, Marine and naval personnel along with some civilian contractors to liven things up. They had an incredible teamwork ability, and a get it done attitude. No project was too small for them, only small minds. Given enough time and resources they could rebuild a battle planetoid, or an entire planet. They would be invaluable setting up the base and then moving on to civilian projects all over the planet. The experience of working on a planet, with all its pitfalls would do them good. Of course it would probably inflate their egos beyond planetary orbit.