Fire from Ashes

by Sam Schall

  “But?” Captain Anson Underwood, O’Malley’s chief of staff, asked.

  “They also managed to confirm something FleetCom has suspected but had no solid evidence of until now.” Anger and something else burned in the admiral’s eyes. “Fuercon and others have been betrayed by one we thought of as an ally. Onboard one of the captured ships was a Midlothian Naval officer. He was there as an advisor to the Callusians.”

  Even though she’d known about the suspected connection between Midlothian and the Callusians, knowing they finally had proof of it turned Lucinda’s stomach. “Our response?” she asked simply.

  “President Harper has not yet made this information public.” He held up a hand before anyone could protest. “We know Midlothian had an advisor onboard the Callusian ship and we can now trace some of their weaponry and tactics back to Midlothian. What we can’t do, according to FleetCom, is tie it directly to the Midlothian government. I would remind you, as FleetCom is reminding its senior officers, that Midlothian has a long history of shadow governments. It could be this shadow government is the one pulling the strings. Before we declare war on a supposed ally and find ourselves in a multi-front war, let’s make sure we know all the facts. In the meantime, every ship and every Marine detachment is to do everything possible to not only defeat the Callusians but to determine how deep the cancer runs where Midlothian is concerned.”

  “Are we to tell our people?” Lieutenant Sebastian Cabell-Nesmith asked from down the table.

  “Not until either Colonel Ortega or I give you leave to do so.” O’Malley glanced at Lucinda and she nodded in understanding. The more people who knew, the greater the chances the information could be leaked to the wrong people. The last thing any of them wanted was to give the Midlothian conspirators time to cover their tracks. “Before we move on, I have one more thing to say on this topic. This information wasn’t unexpected. FleetCom has had reason for the last six months or more to suspect involvement from some element of the Midlothian government. It has played it very close to the vest where that information is concerned for obvious reasons. If I learn any of you have spoken about this without permission, you will find yourself brought up on charges so fast your head will spin. Is that understood?” Everyone answered in the affirmative and he seemed to relax.

  “Next topic and a most welcome one. We are being sent reinforcements. FleetCom is dispatching a second taskforce comprised of elements from First and Second Fleets to help us hold the system until replacements can arrive to take over system command.”

  “Finally,” someone murmured.

  Lucinda couldn’t help but agree.

  “Colonel, you’ll be relieved to know you’ll be getting Marine reinforcements, complete with LACs, as well.” Now O’Malley smiled at her. “The equivalent of two companies of the Devil Dogs will be part of the taskforce.”

  Lucinda blew out a relieved breath. Finally, some good news. She wasn’t even ashamed to admit she hoped Ashlyn commanded the companies. They needed the best just then, especially when she looked at her own casualty reports and Ash and the Devil Dogs were just that – the best.

  “When will they get here, sir?” Underwood asked.

  “Best guess right now is ten days or so. At the time of the dispatch, they had yet to leave the home system. However, if I know Admiral Tremayne, she has instructed them to make best speed here.”

  Lucinda ducked her head, hiding her smile. If she knew the admiral, Tremayne was leading the taskforce herself. That meant she wouldn’t waste any time getting there. It also meant she’d come ready to do battle. The Callusians wouldn’t know what hit them. All Taskforce Liberator had to do was survive long enough for the reinforcements to arrive.

  “Now, let’s see what we can do to hold on until those reinforcements get here,” O’Malley said and turned the discussion over to the taskforce’s current status.

  Two hours later, O’Malley dismissed everyone with instructions to let him know any changes in status. For a moment, Lucinda considered returning to her quarters for another hour or so of sack time. O’Malley even suggested it. Tempting as it was, she had too much to do. Her Marines were down by more than half. She’d suffered too many dead and even more wounded. Somehow, she had to find a way to continue doing the mission until the Devil Dogs arrived. How was the question and she didn’t have a good answer.

  “Well?” M. J. Anderson asked. “Please tell me there was some good news this time.”

  Lucinda looked up from her notes and smiled. The blonde master sergeant leaned against the doorframe, her expression serious.

  “For once, there is.” She motioned her senior NCO inside the office and waited as the hatch slid shut. It didn’t take long to fill her in on the highlights of the briefing.

  “Thank God.”

  Adamson scrubbed her face with her hands before looking up. In that brief moment, all her fear and uncertainty shone through. Understanding, Ortega nodded. She had a feeling she’d looked much the same when O’Malley announced reinforcements were finally coming.

  “That means we have to find a way to hold out long enough for them to get here. I don’t believe for one moment the enemy is going to simply leave us here without trying something. They fought too hard when we arrived to keep us out.”

  “Agreed.” Adamson reached into a pocket for her datapad. “Has there been any intel on where they are right now?”

  “Not yet. O’Malley has ordered more sensors laid throughout the system. Hopefully it will be enough to keep them from getting the jump on us.”

  “And dirtside?”

  “We are going to have to rely more on the locals than I like.” She shook her head before Adamson could say anything. “MJ, you know I’m right. We need to hold our people back as long as possible. We don’t have enough to simply have them sitting at potential targets, waiting to see if we guessed right about where the enemy would strike. I don’t like it any more than you do, but I don’t see any other way. If you’ve got an idea, I’m more than open to it.”

  Adamson frowned and shook her head. “You’re right. I just hope it doesn’t bite us in the ass.”

  “You and me both. You and me both.”

  “So we do whatever we can to make sure it doesn’t happen.” Adamson stood. In that moment, she looked like she ought to be on a recruiting advert for the Corps. “You finish going through that stack of reports I know is waiting for you. Then let’s sit down and figure out the best way to position our people so they can do the most good.”

  Relieved yet again that Ashlyn hadn’t objected when the powers-that-be said they wanted Adamson to report to the Warlords with her, Ortega nodded. They still faced an uphill battle they very well could lose, but at least now they had a glimmer of hope. All they had to do was hold out a little longer.

  6

  Glenn Space Port

  New Kilrain, Fuercon

  “No unnecessary risks, Ash. Promise me,” Elizabeth said as they watched the next to the last troop shuttle lifting off.

  “Don’t worry, Mom.” She smiled at the woman and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Far as I’m concerned, we’re there just long enough for FleetCom to get replacements sent out. Then we’re coming home.”

  Elizabeth smiled but that smile didn’t reach her eyes. Ashlyn saw and understood. They both knew how much could go wrong. One bad mistake, one lucky shot by the enemy and any of the Devil Dogs could return in a casket. Ash had no intention of letting that happen.

  “How long before the replacements will be sent?” she asked as they strolled toward the last shuttle. The rest of the Devil Dogs shipping out with her were already onboard, with the exception of Corporal Connery. Master Gunnery Sergeant Talbot stood next to the young woman, his expression showing just how unhappy he was to be left behind. “I think I’m in trouble.” Ash grinned and nodded in the shuttle’s direction.

  “The Master Guns can be a bit of a mother hen.” Elizabeth chuckled softly before turning serious. “I admit, I’d feel bett
er if he was going with you, but I understand why you’re leaving him here.”

  Ashlyn stopped and turned to face her mother. “Mom, if things go sour here.”

  “Don’t worry. Your father and sister will get Jake out of the capital if the enemy makes another attempt to attack the system.” She rested a hand on Ashlyn’s arm. “I swear, we will keep Jake safe.”

  Ash closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Then she nodded. Exhaling, she opened her eyes. It never got any easier to leave on a mission, knowing she might never see her son again. “I left a series of messages for him, Mom. Kate has a few gifts for him as well.”

  “Ash, don’t worry. He’s not going to forget you and he’ll never doubt your love for him.”

  All she could do was give a small shrug. Perhaps she was being foolish but, after the Arterus mission her time on Tarsus, she took little for granted, especially when it came to her family.

  “Any last instructions?” she asked to change the subject as they neared the shuttle.

  “No. O’Malley and Lucinda know you are coming. It will be up to O’Malley and Miranda to determine if your combined forces will be enough to hold the system until relief arrives or if your best course of action is to withdraw. Officially, it would be preferred if you held the system until replacement forces arrive – which should be in less than a month. Unofficially, we’d rather go in with a stronger force to retake the system than risk losing any more people than we already have.”

  “Understood.” She nodded to Connery and Talbot before turning back to her mother. “I’d best get onboard. Admiral Tremayne won’t thank me if I delay our departure.” She grinned, and Elizabeth chuckled softly. The both knew Tremayne wouldn’t say anything as long as the delay wasn’t too long. The admiral understood not only how but why is was still difficult for Ash to leave Fuercon.

  “Good hunting, Ash.” Elizabeth broke protocol long enough to give her daughter a hug. Then she stepped back and smiled as Ash braced to attention and saluted. She returned the salute and turned to leave but not before Ashlyn saw the concern in her eyes.

  Doing her best to hide her own worries, Ash turned to Connery and Talbot. “Tell the pilot we’ll be ready to lift in a minute,” she told the corporal.

  Connery acknowledged the order and disappeared inside the shuttle.

  “Loco?”

  “Ma’am, I understand why you have split the battalion the way you have but I don’t like it.” He frowned, and she knew he wanted to pace. “I’ll make sure things run smoothly here. Major Laboe is starting to settle in nicely.”

  “I know.” She motioned for him to step away from the shuttle with her. “Loco, he’s a good officer. He might even make a good XO for the Devil Dogs. But I need you to be honest when we get back. If he isn’t fitting in by then, I have to know. Unless I miss my guess, it isn’t going to be long before we take this war directly to the Callusians. When that happens, I plan to do everything I can to make sure the Devil Dogs are leading the charge. That means I have to be able to rely on my XO and not worry about what he’s going to do – or not do.”

  “Understood, Ma’am.” He looked over her shoulder in the direction of the shuttle and then looked back. “Angel, no unnecessary risks. The Devil Dogs need you and so does that little boy of yours.”

  She swallowed against the lump in her throat and dipped her head once. “Speaking of Jake.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be checking on him and I swear I will give my life if necessary to keep him safe.”

  “Thanks, but you know the priorities. The President, Okafor, my mother and then my son.” It broke her heart to say it, but the chain of command had to be preserved.

  “I know my duty, Angel.”

  She smiled slightly, understanding what he left unsaid. He knew his duty but that didn’t mean he’d follow it exactly. Hopefully, he wouldn’t find himself in the situation where he had to choose.

  “Take care of my Devil Dogs, Master Guns,” she said as Connery appeared in the hatch of the shuttle.

  “You do the same, Colonel.” He braced to attention and saluted. She returned it and then shook his hand. “Safe travels and good hunting, ma’am.”

  She turned and hurried across the tarmac to where the shuttle waited. Time was wasting, time she had a feeling the Warlords didn’t have to waste.

  Phoenix Rising, flagship

  Taskforce Sentinel

  Fuerconese System

  “Have a seat.”

  Admiral Miranda Tremayne stood at the head of the conference table in her Ready Room. For a moment, she let her gaze wander around the room. As she did, a slight smile touched her lips. All but one of the senior officers she’d summoned to the briefing sat at the table. The exception leaned against the far bulkhead where she not only had a view of the entire room but of the room’s only entrance. She might look relaxed but Tremayne knew differently. Colonel Ashlyn Shaw stood ready to meet any threat to her admiral and to their mission.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Taskforce Sentinel,” Tremayne said as she took her seat. “We have one mission with two possible outcomes. We are to transit to the Tenasic System and either help Taskforce Liberator hold the system until replacement forces arrive or evacuate the survivors of Liberator. It is an either or and the final decision rests with me. Is that understood?”

  Once again, she looked around the table. As she did, most nodded in response. She noted the questions reflected in the eyes of a couple. But it was Shaw whose response caught her attention. Not that anyone who didn’t know the younger woman very well would have caught it. However, having known Ashlyn most the young woman’s life, Tremayne saw her anger and her fear. Recognizing them, as well as the reason for them, she waited until she caught Shaw’s eye. Then she gave a slight nod. That was all but it was enough to let her goddaughter know she had every intention of doing whatever it took to insure they reached the Tenasic System before it was too late for Taskforce Liberator.

  “FleetCom has authorized us to proceed at full military speed. We will do that and more. I will not leave our people hanging one moment longer than necessary. If you have any objections to that, I will personally sign your transfer papers and escort you to the shuttle. You have exactly five minutes to let me know and to get yourself to the bay. After that, we are pulling out and there will be no turning back until we have fulfilled our mission. Any questions?”

  “No, Ma’am!” Ashlyn answered in full Marine-mode.

  Tremayne fought her smile. She had seen Ash do this before. It was the young woman’s way of not only reinforcing her role as taskforce commander but also of reminding everyone else they were still held to military discipline, something a few of them appeared to have forgotten.

  “With your permission, Admiral?”

  Tremayne inclined her head even as she lifted a brow in question. Instead of explaining, Ashlyn stepped away from the wall and moved smartly around the table until she stood next to the admiral’s chair. Tremayne watched as several of the others realized the import of what just happened. Ashlyn, who usually did her best to stay in the background, had claimed her position not only as the Marine contingent’s commanding officer but as the second highest ranking officer in the taskforce. She had come a long way from the uncertain young officer she’d been the first time she served on one of Tremayne’s ships.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, the Admiral is much nicer than I am. I’m a Marine and believe in direct action. Our people have been left too long alone in the Tenasic System without reinforcements or resupply. They have taken heavy casualties as a result. If we waste time making sure everyone is all right with the Admiral’s orders to get help to the taskforce as quickly as possible, we very well may be signing the death warrants of every member of Taskforce Liberator. I don’t know about you, but I have enough dead haunting my dreams as it is. Because of that, I suggest you listen up. If you think the Admiral is wrong in taking this action, do not wait for her to sign your papers. Get up and haul your ass down to th
e shuttle bay. My Marines will make sure you get off the ship and don’t delay our departure.” With that, she stepped into parade rest, her expression impassive.

  Tremayne fought the urge to laugh at the looks on the faces of some of the others around the table. Most simply nodded and looked as if they would help Ashlyn escort those opting out of the mission to a waiting shuttle, possibly by the scruff of the neck. The others, and she had no doubt they had never before served with her Marine CO, looked as if they didn’t know whether to brace to attention and prepare for a return to boot camp or if they ought to find the nearest JAG to report her. What they were about to learn was Tremayne had her back now and always.

  “For those of you who haven’t taken time to review your briefing packets, two things. This is the last time you had better come to a briefing without being prepared. If you had read your packet, you would learn this is not a typical mission. FleetCom, with the full support of President Harper and his advisors, is about to institute new measures to defeat the enemy once and for all. That means there will be changes, having Colonel Shaw as second in command of this mission is only one indication of what those changes will be.

  “Second, most of you have served with me long enough to understand that I will not tolerate anyone, no matter who they are, to fail to put forth their best effort. Part of that is setting the example for the rest of the crew. Some of you served on the last mission Colonel Shaw and I were one together. All of you should know what happened on that mission – and what could have happened if we hadn’t been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and if the colonel hadn’t been willing and able to think outside the box. You should know there was something different about what happened when I entered the Ready Room.” She paused, waiting to see if anyone spoke up. When no one did, she looked up at Ashlyn and nodded.