Fire from Ashes

by Sam Schall

  “And her second request? Or how about requests three through six?” She punched in a series of commands using her virtual keyboard. When she did, each of Lucinda’s requests appeared on the holo screens before them. “Were they overreactions, even in light of the losses the taskforce had taken?” Now she brought up the casualty reports attached to each request as well as the lists of equipment lost in the fighting.

  This time, Hale didn’t answer. Not that she blamed him. What could he say that wouldn’t dig an even deeper hole for him?

  “Sergeant Major Anderson, since the general doesn’t seem to have an answer, I’ll ask you. Were Colonel Ortega’s requests for reinforcements unreasonable or the actions of an officer panicking in the face of the enemy?”

  Adamson’s face looked out at them from the main holo screen, her expression hard. “Negative, Colonel. They were the results of a seasoned Marine officer who took into account not only the actions of the enemy and their consequences but also our own orders from FleetCom.”

  “Another question, if you’re up to it, Sergeant Major.” She waited until Adamson nodded. Ash had a feeling there was little, if anything, that would keep the blonde from having her say about what happened. “Were you aware of the colonel’s requests at the time she made them?”

  “I was, and I was in full agreement with them.”

  “Thank you, Sergeant Major.” Ash turned her attention back to Hale. “I assume you aren’t going to insult any of the rest of us, much less the sergeant major, by suggesting she panicked and made unnecessary requests.” She didn’t wait for Hale’s response. Now she stood, leaning forward, her palms on the tabletop. For the first time, she let her anger and distaste for Hale show. “You are a Marine. General. You took the same oaths as each of us sitting at this table. How could you ignore not one, not two, but six requests for reinforcements? Why did you not forward those requests to Commandant Okafor if you felt your division was unable fulfill them? More importantly, why did you leave your people to die?” The pain of Lucinda’s death tore through her and she inhaled sharply. “My God, General, how in the hell do you expect any Marine to ever trust you to have their back and their best interests at heart after what you did to the Warlords?” She returned to her seat, her point made.

  “All very good questions and some I suggest you confer with legal counsel about,” Okafor said. “Until I decide whether or not to bring you up on charges of dereliction of duty, Brigadier General Hale, you are removed from command of Second Division. You will receive your new orders by end of day.”

  “You can’t!”

  “I not only can but I have,” Okafor countered. She stood and moved to the hatch. When it slid open, she signaled to someone. A moment later, Talbot and Sergeant Kuznetsov stepped inside. “Escort the brigadier general to his office. He may remove any personal items there. However, he is allowed to take nothing pertaining to the Corps or Fleet that is not personal. You are then escort him to his quarters. Once you have left him there, you are dismissed to return to your regular assignments.”

  The two crossed the room to stand on either side of Hale. Talbot gestured for him to lead the way. As Hale left the conference room, Talbot glanced at Ashlyn, a thousand questions in his eyes. Understanding, she inclined her head slightly. Hopefully, he understood she not only agreed with what happened but would fill him in soon.

  “Now,” Okafor said as the hatch once again slid shut. “Sergeant Major, I assure you your injured and dead will have justice. For now, get some rest and do everything the doctors tell you. I want you back to duty as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.”

  Okafor gave her a smile and ended the transmission. Then she turned to where Connery stood. “Corporal, you are dismissed as well.”

  Frowning, Ash looked down the table to where her mother sat. Elizabeth shook her head, her expression concerned. Wondering what other bomb shells the general had to drop on them, Ashlyn leaned back and waited. She had a feeling she would soon wish she’d been dismissed with the others.

  “Rico, you’re dismissed as well.”

  The intelligence officer stood and quickly left. As he did, Ashlyn’s stomach did a slow roll. She most definitely did not like where this was going. Not one bit.

  “Ash, I want a full report from you, detailing not only what you found when Taskforce Sentinel arrived on-station but also the information you received from Lucinda that started all this. Include what you learned when you investigated her concerns.” Now Okafor smiled and Ash felt herself chuckling. “I know you, Ashlyn Shaw. I know the moment you received Lucinda’s message, you started looking into the situation. I also know you looked at it from the viewpoint of a battalion commander and a Marine on the line. I need that information and your conclusions. Have it on my desk by morning.”

  “Understood.” Fortunately for her, she had already prepared much of what Okafor asked for.

  “That leaves SecDiv without a CO and the Warlords down most of their senior officers and senior non-coms,” Elizabeth commented.

  “And it brings up something I’d asked the two of you to consider and report on before Ash left on this last mission.” Okafor poured herself a fresh mug of coffee. “The Corps hasn’t had a major realignment in more than a century. It has operated under the rule of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, while it might not be broken, it can be made stronger.”

  “Ma’am?” Elizabeth looked at her in surprise.

  “With the changes in technology, not to mention the fact we apparently have been betrayed by someone we thought an ally, it is past time for us to adapt. Ashlyn, you have been part of that already.”

  Ash narrowed her eyes, wondering what Okafor meant.

  “When Miranda Tremayne left you in command of the Nagato, she broke with a long tradition of Marines never commanding anything more than an attack shuttle. You proved a Marine is more than capable of doing more.”

  “General,” she began, her mouth going dry as the possible implications hit her.

  Okafor laughed before continuing. “Don’t worry, Ash. I’m not going to try to make you into a space jockey. I have other plans for you.”

  Oh, she did not like the sound of that one bit.

  “To cut to the chase, I am going to be realigning the Corps. I have already discussed this with FleetCom and with the President and they all agree with what I have in mind.” Okafor waited, giving them time to accept that much of what she said. “The first change, and it goes into effect immediately, is that all SpecOps personnel will now be under one command. I’ve been aware for some time now that having the different companies and battalions assigned to different divisions wasn’t working as well as it should. There was a time when that was the optimal way of doing things but no more. With us once again at war, I plan to correct that mistake.”

  Ash glanced at her mother, worried how she might react to the news. Then she swallowed hard at the thought of someone besides Elizabeth being Division CO for the Devil Dogs.

  “The SpecOps forces will now become part of the newly designated 7th Marine Division. Liz, you will be the division CO. Your division will be comprised of three regiments: the 10th, the 14th and the 15th. The 10th Marine Regiment will include the HQ company as well as three battalions. Those battalions will be the Devil Dogs, the Warlords and the Panzers. Regimental CO will be you, Ash.”

  “W-what?” Not the most intelligent of responses but it was the best she could do, especially in light of the fact Okafor had just taken the command of the Devil Dogs away from her.

  “Don’t look so worried, kid.” The general smiled and leaned back, crossing her legs. “That gives you two battalions that will be very good fits to one another and a ground pounder. And, before you run out of here to resign your commission, you will still be in command of the DDs, at least until you have someone you feel capable of taking your place.”

  “But a regiment?” She still couldn’t believe it.

  “Yes, a
regiment,” Okafor confirmed. “We’ll get into the details later. Right now, you have two priorities. The first is finding replacements for those in the Warlords chain-of-command who either died or were seriously injured on this last mission. I won’t lie. It’s not going to be easy because you have to take into account not only the officers but the senior NCOs. However, you have resources you can look to for help, including MJ Anderson. It’s going to be months before she is able to return to duty but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick her brain.

  “The second priority is to evaluate each battalion under your command and determine what is needed where. I’d like the information tomorrow, but you have an even more pressing assignment from me already and I know it will take time for you to get up to speed on the rest of it. You have until the end of the week to get me your report. Sooner would be better.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She still felt shell shocked.

  “Liz, you will have a full briefing packet on the 7th in your inbox by the time you return to your office. Review it and let me know if you have any questions. I’ll have information on the other regiments to you by end of week.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  At least Elizabeth looked as stunned as Ash felt.

  “Ladies, this next is for your ears only.” Okafor waited until they assured her they understood. “The President and FleetCom have decided it is time to quite playing a defensive war. That is another reason for the realignment of our forces. The Navy will be doing much the same thing. For one, it insures we have the best possible people in command of our special forces and tactical units. For another, it gives us a reason not to include certain of our allies who have never had much to do with the actual fighting end of the war.”

  Ash nodded. That much, at least, made sense. The realignment would require time for the Fuerconese forces to get used to things. You wouldn’t want to muddy the waters, so to speak, with others from outside taking part and confusing things.

  “That said, as soon as possible, we are taking this fight straight to the enemy. No more following after them and forcing them out of systems they have already taken. No more waiting around, protecting systems they may or may not try to attack. The President has authorized the drawing up of plans to attack the major Callusian strongholds. We are going to take this war to them and end it, once and for all.”

  “And the Midlothians?” Ash asked, voice hard.

  “The President is only waiting for solid proof their government is involved. The moment he gets it, he will go public. Then, if they are lucky, they will find themselves facing the end of a number of trade agreements, not only with us but with our other allies. If, however, the treachery goes as deep as we fear, it may be war. That is why President Harper wants to end the current conflict as quickly as possible.”

  “And if we don’t get that confirmation?” Elizabeth asked.

  “He will have a message delivered to the Midlothian government detailing the dangers of continuing to harbor those who have actively worked for our destruction.” Okafor grinned but there was no humor in it. “Our president is tired of being played the fool. Soon, the enemy will find the sides have changed and they are the ones fighting for survival.”

  “Good.” That said it all. Ash knew she spoke for every Marine. This was what they had wanted for as long as she could remember.

  “The two of you will be busy over the next several weeks, possibly even months, as this comes together. Once you know what your regiment needs to come up to full strength, let me know, Ash. Liz, the same goes for you and the division. I’d like the two of you to confer on the rest of the division and its command structure. Present it to me for final approval. I’ll handle SecDef and FleetCom.”

  Even as one part of Ashlyn’s mind rebelled at the idea of being regimental CO, another part recognized the challenge it presented and reveled in it. She also had a few ideas about how to keep from being tied to a desk, now or in the future. She’d have to discuss it with her mother, but she had a feeling Elizabeth would understand. The challenge would be in convincing Okafor and FleetCom. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it. Hopefully, she’d do so with a plan they couldn’t help but approve.

  13

  “Ash, I didn’t imagine it all, did I?”

  M. J. Adamson carefully sat up and waited for the bed to adjust to her new position. As she did, Ashlyn pulled a chair next to the bed. Before sitting, she placed an old-fashioned folder on the bedside table. Then, with a smile of understanding, she sat and reached for her friend’s hand.

  “You didn’t imagine it.”

  Ashlyn grinned, her first real grin in too long, at the memory of the meeting. Helen Okafor proved yet again why she was one of the best, if not the best, commandant the Corps had ever had.

  “Then I didn’t hallucinate Okafor, not to mention you, ripping Hale a new one?”

  Ash tried not to laugh. She’d bet herself that would be the first thing Adamson asked when they saw one another. Not that she blamed the blonde. Between the drugs the doctors still had her on and the very fact it wasn’t often a senior officer, much less one of Okafor’s rank, took another senior officer to task in front of anyone, Ash had asked herself that very same question more than once over the last few hours. If she hadn’t been there to witness it, she’d have a hard time believing it. But it had happened and it had been a glorious thing to see.

  “You didn’t hallucinate that or the fact you’ve been promoted to sergeant major.” She watched as Adamson once again carefully shifted positions. There was an almost imperceptible hum as the bed adjusted to her new position. Once it had, the blonde sighed softly and leaned back. As she did, Ash reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. It would take time, but she had no doubt her friend would make a full recovery, at least physically. It was the emotional scars Adamson would bear that worried her. She knew that sense of anger and guilt all too well. “Not only did she rip Hale a new one, and more than once but, before she brought you in on things this morning, she put us through a full inspection, all of us, including Hale. Let’s say the brigadier general would never pass one of your inspections. You would have loved it, MJ. After Okafor conducted her inspection, she asked Connery if she’d missed anything.”

  For a moment, Adamson looked at her in disbelief. Then an almost evil grin lit her expression. “Please tell me the kid didn’t freeze up.”

  “Not only did she not freeze up, but she pointed out half a dozen problems Okafor didn’t note.” Ash chuckled at the memory. “I thought Hale was going to stroke out then, especially after Okafor had Connelly repeat the inspection on the rest of us before telling everyone that no one was safe from inspections and she was putting through orders that even the most senior officers were to stand for inspection on a regular basis.”

  “Damn, Ash, I’d give almost anything to have seen his reaction to that.”

  “Well,” she drawled and produced her datapad. “General Okafor thought it might do your recovery good to see the entire meeting, including the inspection.”

  “After you tell me what happened after the doctor came in and said I needed to rest.” Her frustration at not being able to take part in all of the meeting was obvious.

  “MJ, I know you wanted to take part. Okafor did as well. But you have to understand the most important thing right now is making sure you do everything you can to recover from your injuries.” She covered her friend’s hand with hers, waiting until the blonde nodded. “And, before you say anything, I know the most important thing as far as you’re concerned is making sure everyone responsible for what happens pay. So, I’ll remind you what you and so many others told me after the President pardoned me and those sent to Tarsus with me. Trust us to make sure those responsible for what happened to the taskforce pay. You know I’m not going to let this go. I can’t. I have to follow through for you, for Lucinda and for all the others.”

  Adamson swallowed hard and tears glistened in her good eye. Then she nodded, her expression har
d. Ashlyn understood. Hurt as she was, the blonde couldn’t be part of the hunt. At least she didn’t think she could. But Ash, as well as her mother and Okafor, thought otherwise and that was part of why Ash had come that afternoon.

  “Before I tell you what Okafor is going to do with Hale, let me tell you what’s going to happen with the Warlords as well as the Corps; other SpecOps units.”

  Adamson looked at her in surprise. When she did, Ash knew she had taken the right approach. Now she had the blonde’s attention and the sergeant major was thinking as a Marine and not as an angry friend who wanted nothing more than vengeance.

  “Very simply put, Okafor is making a major realignment of the Corps. It won’t be done overnight, with the exception of the SpecOps units. But, as she pointed out, the Corps is operating under the same basic command structure it has for more than a century. It is past time to realize that just because something worked before, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it will now. What happened with the Warlords is only one indication of the problem. Add to that the fact certain people know how we operate and she feels it is time to shake things up.

  “So, effective immediately, all SpecOps units are now part of 7th Marine Division. The units will keep their individual specializations, pending review by the commandant and the division CO. The Seventh will be split into three regiments to start. The one we are interested in, the 1oth, will be comprised of the Devil Dogs, the Warlords and the Panzers as well as the HQ company. The other SpecOps units will comprise the remaining two regiments.”

  For a moment, Adamson didn’t say anything. Then she smiled, her good eye gleaming. “Damn, I like it, but I bet there have been some howls of protest.”

  “I’m sure there will be once the plan is made public. But, as Okafor said, it takes a special sort of Marine to be a SpecOps CO, especially on the division and regimental level. Some of the problems we’ve faced during the last war, not to mention this one, have been the results of division COs not really knowing how best to utilize their SpecOps units because they were never a Devil Dog or Warlord, etc... This takes that potential problem away.”