by Sam Schall
At the hearse, they carefully loaded the casket into the back. The others stepped back, giving their CO one last moment with her best friend, Academy roommate and former XO. Ashlyn stood there, head bowed, one hand resting on the cool metal of the casket lid. She had lost other friends in battle before, but none had hurt like this. It went beyond their friendship and the fact they had been sisters in all but blood. It was the senselessness of it all. If only the Warlords had gotten reinforcements when Lucinda first requested them . . ..
Ash drew a deep, bracing breath and turned. The rest of the escort team fell in behind her as she moved to where Lucinda’s family waited. As one, they braced to attention and saluted, their hands slowly coming down in unison on Ashlyn’s order. Ash reached inside a pocket. Her fingers closed around the dog tags she had carried for the last several weeks. Swallowing hard, she extended them to her best friend’s mother.
“There are no words.” Her throat tightened, and she paused, blinking back her tears. “Lucinda died a hero. She was my friend, my sister, and I’m going to miss her. My life and the lives of every Marine who served with her are better for having known her.” She pressed the dog tags into Mrs. Ortega’s hand, closing her own hand over the woman’s as she did. “She asked me not long ago to tell you she loved you. I hope you know how much she cared for each of you and how badly she wanted to come home.”
“Thank you.”
Alejandro Ortega slipped an arm around his wife’s waist and held her close as they looked down at the dog tags resting on her upraised palm. Then, when Maria Ortega looked up at him, he nodded once. Ash watched, her brow furrowed, as Lucinda’s mother carefully removed one of the two tags from the chain. When she pressed the newly freed tag into Ashlyn’s hand, tears burned Ash’s eyes and she no longer tried to hold them back.
“You were her friend, the sister of her heart. Through her, you became our daughter in all but blood. We would be honored if you’d take this, Ashlyn,” Mrs. Ortega said softly. “Please.”
“I will wear it proudly.” She pulled her own dog tags from beneath her uniform and carefully fitted Lucinda’s tag onto the chain. “May I come see you?” There was so much she wanted to say, that she needed to say, but this was not the time.
“Please. You’re as much ours as you were hers,” Mr. Ortega said. He reached out and rested a hand on her arm. “We will mourn our Lucia together and we will celebrate her life.”
“Thank you.”
“Ashlyn, we know you have other duties to see to now. But will you and your family sit with us at the funeral?” Mrs. Ortega asked.
“It would be our honor.” She bent and hugged the woman before doing the same to her husband. “I will speak with you later today, I promise. Please, if you need me before then for anything, anything at all, comm me.”
They promised to do so. Ash hugged them one last time and then nodded to the rest of the escort team. With the exception of Connery who would remain behind with Ashlyn, the team would escort the Ortegas as they followed the hearse to the funeral home. Members of both the Devil Dogs and the Warlords would be with the family until Lucinda’s funeral. After that, Ash meant to make sure the Devil Dogs would always be there for their fallen comrade’s family.
For the next hour, Ashlyn spoke with the families of each of the fallen who had been brought home on the shuttle. It didn’t matter that they had belonged to the Warlords and not the Devil Dogs. They were Marines and, as far as she was concerned, that made them hers. Until the Warlords had a new CO, she would do everything possible to help them recover, physically and emotionally from the loss of their last two commanders. She also planned to make those responsible for not only Lucinda’s death but Colonel Pawlak’s as well paid and paid dearly.
“My office in fifteen, Colonel,” General Okafor said softly as she stepped up to Ashlyn’s side as the last of the hearses drove off. “I won’t keep you long, but I need your AAR.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Corporal Connery, you are to accompany your colonel,” Okafor added before walking off, Elizabeth following her.
“Ma’am?” Connery waited until Ashlyn turned to face her.
“Once we’ve finished reporting to the Commandant, you’re free until day after tomorrow. Spread the word to the rest of the combined battalion. The Warlords especially need the time to mourn their dead now that we’re home.” Ashlyn heard how flat her voice sounded but that was nothing compared to how she felt.
“Are you taking the time, Ma’am?” Connery asked.
Ashlyn almost smiled. In the corporal’s short time as her aide, she’d come to know her CO very well. This time, however, Connery had nothing to worry about. As soon as she finished briefing Okafor, Ashlyn planned to go home and see her son. Once Jake had gone to bed, she planned on drinking herself blind. Maybe then she wouldn’t hurt so much.
“I do. I want to spend time with my family and I want to be there for Lucinda’s family should they need me.”
Then she planned on having a chat with Brigadier General Hale. SecDiv’s commanding officer was going to become very well acquainted with how he had failed his people and cost their lives, even if it was the last thing Ashlyn did as a Marine. She owed that much to Lucinda and the other Marines who died in the Tenasic System.
“Sit, both of you,” Okafor said the moment Ashlyn and Connery were shown into her office.
Before they could respond, Elizabeth was there, handing them each a glass of whiskey. Then she nodded to the two chairs in front of the Commandant’s desk. Ashlyn gave Connery a shrug and a nod before doing as they were told. As Connery followed suit, Elizabeth moved to stand next to Okafor’s chair behind the woman’s desk.
Sipping her whiskey, Ashlyn waited. This was not how she expected her debrief to begin. Then, seeing the compassion reflected in both Okafor’s and Elizabeth’s eyes, she understood. They understood how badly the mission had hit her. More than that, they knew what Lucinda’s death meant to her. Then, as she looked at the two, she saw the toll it had taken on them. Not that she’d doubted they would feel the loss any less than she. This was the first time since hostilities officially resumed with the Callusians that Fuercon and its allies had been forced to withdraw from the battlefield. That hurt, especially in light of the reasons why.
“Let me begin by saying how sorry I am, Ash. I know you and Colonel Ortega were as close as your mother and I are.” Okafor spoke softly, her expression filled with compassion.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“I’ve reviewed your reports, as well as the reports from Admiral O’Malley before his injury. I have several things to tell you before I let you go. First, neither Colonel Ortega nor Admiral O’Malley did anything wrong. Given the circumstances, we’re lucky our losses weren’t much worse. In fact, your recognition of how serious the situation was with the remainder of Taskforce Liberator and your recommendation – the only reasonable recommendation in my opinion – that we withdraw from the system prevented it from potentially turning into a complete disaster.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Even though she knew she’d made the right recommendation, it had galled her to know they were giving up the system, even if only temporarily. “I wish we could have gotten there sooner.”
And that was something she would have to live with for the rest of her life. She had not been there for Lucinda and the others, not when they most needed her and her Devil Dogs. Three hours. Three fucking hours too late. By the time Taskforce Sentinel arrived, Lucinda was dead, or close to it, and MJ Anderson seriously wounded. Most of the Warlords were dead or injured. At least Taskforce Sentinel had been there in time to finish the fight and defeat the Callusians. Even so, with Taskforce Liberator’s remaining ships badly damaged, they’d had no choice but to leave the system.
Not that she was going to complain. That withdrawal had saved Fuerconese lives.
“As do we all, Ashlyn, but wishes don’t help at this point. We need to learn from what happened and make sure it i
s never again repeated.” Okafor held her gaze until Ash nodded.
“The second thing I want the two of you to know is that you, as well as the rest of the Marines returning home, are on leave until after you lay our people to rest. There may be a few briefings for you to attend but, other than that, you are to take time to heal. Is that understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ash and Connery answered in unison.
“The last point is simple. I have reviewed all the reports that have come in, as has Liz here and Rico Santiago, among others. It would be easy to say Taskforce Liberator had been betrayed but there is no evidence of it. FleetCom kept the taskforce’s orders under wraps until it was well on its way to its destination. No Midlothians or anyone with ties to Midlothian were involved in the formulation of the battleplan. Our best guess is the enemy simply happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
She held up a hand to forestall any interruptions. “Think about it for a moment. The taskforce apparently had the misfortune of running up against one of the Callusians’ more innovative commanders who happened to have equipment and training that, given time, we will trace back to the Midlothians. I promise you that.
“As for our having to withdraw from the Tenasic System, you know as well as I that there are times you leave the field of battle to save your people. You do so in order to be able to fight again in the future. I assure you, FleetCom is already preparing to send enough ships back in to retake the system. We will avenge the deaths of our people.
“In the meantime, we will go over the data Colonel Ortega secured before her death. I know Colonel Santiago is already putting people on it and I will be as well. If there’s anything there to help make the connection between the Callusians and the Midlothians, we will find it and we will act on it. Lucinda’s death, and the deaths of all the others, will not be in vain.”
Ashlyn took another sip of her whiskey. “If I may?” She waited until Okafor inclined her head slightly before she continued. “We will all eventually accept what you say is true, ma’am. However, there’s no denying the fact the taskforce would never have been in that situation had it received the reinforcements requested not only by Admiral O’Malley but also by Lucinda. The delay in supporting the taskforce because those requests were ignored caused the deaths of our people just as surely as the Callusians did.” She made no attempt to keep the anger from her voice. “Please tell me something is going to be done about that failure.”
For a moment, Okafor didn’t respond. Then, when she started to say something, Elizabeth reached out and lightly touched the Commandant’s arm. Okafor glanced up and Elizabeth simply shook her head. Surprised, even worried, Ashlyn waited, not sure what to make of her mother stopping Okafor from speaking.
“Ash, you’ll be fully briefed on that after we lay our people to rest. Just know those responsible will never be in the position of causing this sort of harm again,” Elizabeth said.
“Not good enough, Mom.” She shook her head and tossed back the rest of her whiskey. Then she stood. As she paced the office, she didn’t think about how she might be breaking military protocol. Nor did she think about how her actions could be seen as a sign of weakness. All that mattered was getting her temper under control to the degree she could speak rationally about what happened.
She stopped before one of the windows and looked outside. Without turning back to the others, she continued. “I need to be able to tell the Warlords their sacrifices weren’t in vain. The Devil Dogs need to know why they were held back as long as they were and why our fellow Marines were basically sacrificed by their division CO. The Corps deserves to know officers willing to sacrifice our own for no good reason will not be tolerated.”
For a long moment, no one said a word. Silence, broken only by the sound of someone pouring another drink, filled the office. Then Okafor stood next to her. The general pressed a glass into her hand before gently urging her back to her chair.
“Your mother and I agree completely, Ashlyn.” Okafor dropped to one knee and waited until Ash looked at her. “And steps are being taken even as we speak. It’s not happening as quickly as any of us would like because we are doing everything we can to make sure those responsible aren’t left with loopholes that can allow them back into command positions in the future. But I assure you this will be dealt with, if not before Lucinda and the others are laid to rest then soon after. You have my word on that not only as the Commandant of the Corps but as your friend.”
Ashlyn wanted to believe her. But her own history of being betrayed by those in command made it difficult. Perhaps that was why Okafor had Elizabeth present. The Commandant knew them well enough to understand Ash would trust her mother not to lie, especially not about something like this. Still, it would be nice to hear what steps had been taken to deal with Hale and any others involved in withholding reinforcements for the taskforce.
“Ma’am, I do trust you.” She did. She might not trust some of the others involved, but she did trust Okafor.
“Good.” The general lightly patted Ashlyn’s knee and then stood. “We will have an official debrief tomorrow. I wish it could wait, but it can’t. But that, both of you, is the only time you are on duty tomorrow except for the first of the funerals. If I have to make it an official order, I will.” She looked from Ashlyn to Connery and back. Both young women shook their heads.
“Tonight, the bar at the Memorial Club has been reserved for your people. The first round is on me. Spread the word. Remember your friends, celebrate their lives. I promise that soon you will have the chance to avenge their deaths.”
Ashlyn knocked back her whiskey, wincing slightly as it burned going down. Then she stood. The moment she did, Connery climbed to her feet. They braced to attention and waited.
“Dismissed, Corporal. Let the others know about tonight,” Okafor said. She waited as the young woman left the office. Then she turned her attention to Ashlyn. “I have one favor to ask of you, Ash. Will you let me know if Lucinda’s family needs anything?”
She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you going there now?” Elizabeth asked.
She shook her head. “I’m going home. I need to see Jake.” She needed to hold her son close and remember life still went on. Then, somehow, she had to find a way to tell him “Aunt Lucinda” would never come home again.
How the hell was she supposed to tell him that and not leave him scared that every time she left on a mission she might not return?
Ashlyn stepped out of the aircar and told the driver he could leave. For a long moment, she stood there, looking around. The sun had set more than an hour earlier. Most offices in this part of the capital had closed hours ago. Elsewhere, families gathered together for an evening meal. Life continued, no matter how badly she hurt or how fiercely the need for revenge burned deep within her.
Before her was the Memorial Club. Marines gathered there as they had for the last century and more. No one knew exactly when or how the club became the unofficial sending off point for the Marines. All Ashlyn knew was she had spent too many evenings at the club in the special room set aside for such send offs over the course of her career and none of them hurt as much as this one did.
A short time later, she paused outside the old wooden doors deep inside the building and drew a deep breath. She had delayed her arrival until most of those coming would be there. Unlike the other occasions, she wouldn’t stay the evening. Her Marines didn’t need “the Old Lady” there, putting a damper on the night. She didn’t want to burden them with her own sorrow. But she had to make an appearance. She owed it to them and to their fallen.
She blew out a breath and pushed open the doors. As she did, those gathered turned in her direction. Before anyone could fall back on protocol, she shook her head. Not tonight. Tonight wasn’t about her or even about them. Tonight was about their fallen comrades.
She stepped up to the bar and ordered a beer. One drink. She’d promised herself
one drink with the men and women of the Warlords and the Devil Dogs and then she’d leave. They needed time together and she needed time with her family.
“Mr. Yasui.” She nodded to the bar manager as he brought her beer. “Tonight’s on me. You should have my information on file.”
Yasui, a small, pale man who had managed the bar for as long as Ashlyn remembered, shook his head. “Tonight’s tab has already been taken care of, Colonel.”
She looked at him in question. “Okafor?”
“No, ma’am, although she did send word the first round was on her. President Harper is taking care of the tab. He said to tell you it is the least he can do for Marines willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for Fuercon.”
She nodded, unsurprised. Harper continued to prove how different he was from his predecessors.
“He also left instructions not to spread the word.”
Again, that was so like the man. “I understand.” She sipped her beer and glanced around the private barroom. “Mr. Yasui, we’re all hurting, and you know that means some of us will over-indulge.” She left the rest unsaid, knowing he would understand.
“No worries, Colonel. Arrangements are already in place to make sure your Marines are well cared for.”
She smiled and thanked him. Then she watched as he moved down the bar, making sure the other bartenders were keeping up with their orders.
A few minutes later, she tapped the top of her mug, indicating she was ready for the second drink she hadn’t planned on having. When Yasui delivered it to her at her place at the near end of the bar, she thanked him. Then, mug in hand, she moved to the center of the room. It was time.
