Fire from Ashes

by Sam Schall

  “How long until your people are ready, Ashlyn?”

  She glanced at her wrist unit and then smiled. “They are by now, ma’am. They’re just waiting for their orders.”

  “Then go get them ready. Things should get interesting in another couple of hours.”

  Ashlyn stood and saluted. A moment later, she left the ready room. As the hatch slid shut behind her, she heard her mother and Tremayne beginning to discuss how best to handle the different ways the enemy might respond to the attack.

  Hammer of God, Flagship

  Callusian Naval Attack Force Infidel’s Woe

  Alpha Rhogana System

  “What is going on?”

  Commander Jan Kacper tossed back the sheet and sat up. The signal for battle stations blared over the comms system, each repetition seeming to sync with the pounding in his head. Cursing, he called for lights and climbed to his feet.

  If this was someone’s idea of a joke. . ..

  “Sir, scanners picked up readings you need to see,” his first officer said.

  “Erycsson,” he growled.

  “Sir, you’re needed on the bridge now,” Simon Erycsson said.

  Without another word, Kacper reached for his uniform where he’d tossed it over a chair mere hours before. As he pulled on his boots, he began thinking of ever more inventive ways of dealing with whoever was responsible for misreading the sensor hits. The defense platforms would have warned them of any ships attempting to enter the system without permission. Beyond that, the Fuerconese and their allies were too cowardly to bring the battle to him.

  “Turn off that damned alarm,” he ordered as he stepped onto the bridge ten minutes later.

  Because he was so sure someone had made a mistake, he hadn’t hurried. He didn’t want his crew to see him worried for no reason. That would be a weakness and he had no desire for someone to decide now was the time to slide a knife between his ribs so they could move up the promotions chain.

  Erycsson, a small, wiry man in his middle years, motioned to the holo plot. A moment later, Kacper’s mouth went dry. His heart seemed to skip a beat and his stomach did a slow roll. For a moment, he studied the plot, trying to make sense of it. But he couldn’t. What he saw went against everything he knew of the enemy. Worse, it meant they had managed to find a way past his preliminary defenses and were now within weapons range.

  “Order all ships to battle stations. Weapons and shields are to go hot. Form up the battle group. LACs are to launch as soon as they are ready,” he ordered. “How the hell did they manage to get this far in-system without you noticing?” He pinned Erycsson with a gaze that had the older man flinching.

  “No explanation, Commander,” his first officer said. “We were monitoring the taskforce’s departure from the system. It was there and then, without warning, it was gone, destroyed. By the time our scanners cleared and reset, the enemy ships were here. My best guess is they came in cloaked and managed to avoid out sensor arrays.”

  Kacper ground his teeth before moving to the command chair. He had to think. No matter what he did, he was going to lose ships. At least he knew his men would die in glory, taking as many of the enemy with them as they could. But it wasn’t enough to atone for this insult. Who had the audacity to bring the fight straight to them? It was an insult. But it was also a stroke of genius. None of their leaders expected Fuercon or its allies to do anything like this. Worse, he hadn’t expected it and he’d not kept his ships at battle ready. Because of that, they were about to be torn apart by an enemy he had underestimated.

  “Comms, send a message to groundside command. We will hold the enemy as long as we can. Gods be with us, we may be able to turn them back. But we need groundside to take control of system defense platforms.”

  And that would take time, time he feared they didn’t have. But he would make them pay. The Fuerconese would learn how foolish it had been to come against a Callusian stronghold. If he died that day, he would do so with honor and glory, taking as many of the enemy with him as possible.

  “Status?” Tremayne asked as she watched the holo plot update once again.

  Icons flashed and disappeared. This was the part of battle she hated. The leading elements of the attack force had met the enemy. While the ships, along with their LAC support, appeared to be making short work of the enemy force, it wasn’t without cost. Admiral Xing had lost one ship from his taskforce. Another was damaged badly enough it had fallen back to be screened by the following battle element. Their LACs had dealt the enemy a great deal of damage but their lighter shielding resulted in more than two dozen had been destroyed in the initial confrontation. That number had risen but their pilots continued to harass the enemy, giving the battle group time to get into position.

  “Admiral Xing sends his respects and reports the departing taskforce has been destroyed. He has one squad of LACs flying SAR patterns in case there are any survivors. His taskforce continues to push forward. Commodore Marcello recommends we activate Attack Plan Medusa,” Captain Montgomery reported.

  “Our Marines?” Tremayne looked to where Elizabeth stood next to her command chair.

  “Ready for the order to move out,” she answered. “Colonel Shaw has the 1oth standing by. The rest of the Marines are backing up naval personnel until they are needed elsewhere.”

  Tremayne nodded. She saw the slight strain around her friend’s eyes and understood. It was caused by more than the battle. This was the first time mother and daughter had been on the same ship and it was the first time Elizabeth had faced the possibility of neither of them returning home. Not that Elizabeth feared for herself. She worried for her daughter, as any mother would.

  “Very good. Send the colonel my regards and tell her to have her Marines standing by. I have a feeling they’re going to get into the fight soon.”

  “Admiral, we are receiving a message from dirtside,” the comms officer said.

  Tremayne looked at Elizabeth and arched one brow. Interesting. She hadn’t expected them to attempt to make contact quite so soon. Not only was it unexpected, she had no doubt it was meant to distract her. If that was the case, they were about to learn how foolish that maneuver had been.

  “Justin, send a message to Admiral Xing. Let him know what’s happening and tell him to be prepared. My gut tells me this is a trap.” She thought for a moment. Then she nodded once. “Then contact Commander Paulus. The rear elements are to form up. I want his LACs patrolling to the rear. Have them drop sensor arrays. I want to make sure the enemy doesn’t have the chance to slip in behind us. Once you have, spread the word that we are going to follow Commodore Marcello’s suggestion. On my command, we will go to Attack Plan Medusa.”

  “Aye, ma’am.”

  “Comms, once he’s done that, put the dirtside message through.”

  “Admiral, whenever you’re ready,” Comms said a few minutes later.

  “CIC, keep an eye on their defense platforms,” she ordered as she leaned back in her chair and did her best to look relaxed. Once she was ready, she nodded to the communications officer. Then she turned her attention to the holo screen to her right. A moment later, the ship’s wallpaper faded away and a man’s pale face appeared.

  “This is Anselm Harris, Occupational Governor for the Alpha Rhogana System. You have violated our space and attacked our ships without provocation. Ceasefire now and we will let you withdraw without further incident.”

  Tremayne glanced up at Elizabeth and grinned. Did he really think he held the upper hand?

  “Governor Harris, I have a counter-offer for you,” Tremayne said. “My name is Admiral Miranda Tremayne, commanding officer of the Combined Allied Attack Force. We have already destroyed the taskforce you were sending to the Tenasic System. We have destroyed most of the ships you had in place for system defense. You will order the remaining ships to stand down and take their shields and weapons off-line. The crews will abandon those ships without scrubbing the databases or setting the ships to self-destruct. You have t
en minutes to issue those orders. If you fail to do so, we will finish the task we began and destroy them as easily as we destroyed your departing taskforce.”

  She paused, presenting a relaxed and confident exterior in direct contracts to the fear she saw in his eyes. “You will also abandon your weapons platforms, industrial platforms and all military installations both in space and on the ground. You have three hours to do so. At the end of that time, I will order my ships to open fire. Any deaths occurring after that will be on your head.”

  “You have no right!”

  “I have every right,” she countered firmly. “I am giving you the chance to save your people. Frankly, I don’t give a damn if you do or not. I will destroy every military target in this system. Every industrial target capable of creating military tech or machinery will be destroyed as well. Do not make the mistake of thinking I am bluffing.”

  “Admiral, incoming missiles!”

  “Governor Harris, I wish I could say you disappoint me, but I can’t. I anticipated this.” She looked at Montgomery and nodded. Her aide quickly issued the order to the attack group’s leading elements to launch counter-measures. Then they were to focus their fire on the remaining Callusian ships. “Fuercon and its allies will no longer sit back and wait for your government to decide what system to target next. We are bringing the battle to you. Surrender the system defenses now or face our wrath. You have ten minutes to decide.”

  She signaled for the feed to be cut. Then she leaned forward, her eyes on the plot. “General, I believe it is time for the Devil Dogs to get into the action. Inform Colonel Shaw that I want her Marines ready to launch in ten minutes. I don’t want to waste any time if Harris is foolish enough to try to call my bluff.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Signal all ships. Be prepared to execute Attack Plan Medusa in ten minutes. They are to wait on my command.”

  With that, she leaned back and glanced at the chrono. Nine minutes.

  Nine minutes until either sanity or all-out war.

  That is a job for the Devil Dogs. They send for Ash, along with the senior NCOs. Depending on what they had to say, they’d know whether the mission risks were acceptable or not.

  20

  Ashlyn steadied herself as the attack shuttle rocked. In the cabin behind her, came the sounds of grumbling from the vets and a few concerned comments from the newer members of the company. She listened as Connery assured the newest Devil Dogs not to worry, the Old Lady knew what she was doing. Besides, they had the enemy on the ropes. This was going to be a walk in the park compared to some of the battles she’d seen.

  Smiling, proud of the young woman, Ash ducked inside the small cockpit. As she rested a hand on the pilot’s shoulder, he glanced up. Then he nodded toward the plot. She watched, her expression grim, as icons light up and then disappeared all around them. At least the LACs were doing their jobs. They were keeping the shuttles safe.

  “Shields holding, Angel,” he said as the shuttle rocked once again. “Their targeting is getting a little better.” As he spoke, several LACs raced ahead, their lasers effectively dealing with several enemy missiles headed in their direction. “The boots doing okay?”

  She chuckled and shook her head. “They aren’t boots, Talon.”

  Not technically at least. Each of the newest members of the regiment had been in the Corps at least three years. That had been one thing she’d insisted on. She wanted the 10th manned by experienced Marines, even if they weren’t necessarily experienced SpecOps members.

  “Close enough,” he said as the sounds of someone puking as the shuttle lurched once more reached them. “ETA in three, Angel,” he added a moment later.

  “Very good. Inform the flag.” Leaving him to do so, she returned to the cabin. As she did, she nodded in satisfaction. Talbot and Connery moved through the cabin, checking on each of their people. Trusting them to let her know if there was anything she should be aware of, she activated her helmet and opened a private comm channel to her mother.

  “We’re three minutes from target,” she reported. “Any update to our orders?”

  “Negative. Download the information in the databanks on the platform and then set the destruct sequence. Do not take time to search for anyone left onboard.”

  “Understood. Download data, set charges and get the hell out of there,” she confirmed.

  “Ash, don’t take unnecessary chances,” Elizabeth said. “I know they’ve been putting up a fight but it still feels like this has been too easy.”

  Even though she knew her mother couldn’t see, Ash nodded. She’d been worrying about the same thing. The fact her mother had the same concerns didn’t reassure her. it did, however, confirm she’d been right to make sure several heavy armored Devil Dogs were on the shuttle.

  “Understood. You and the admiral keep that in mind as well,” she said. She did not want to risk losing either her mother or her godmother, not have losing Lucinda not that long ago. “We’ll send heavy armor in first.”

  “Keep your link open, Ash.”

  “Understood.” She paused and nodded to Talbot as the pilot announced they were beginning their approach to the defense platform. “Got to go, Mom. We’re about to hit the target.”

  “Ash.” That was all.

  “I know, Mom. See you soon.” She closed her eyes for a moment and said a quick prayer that nothing went wrong and she managed to bring all her people home after this mission. Then, as she opened them, she moved to stand next to the main hatch. “Listen up! We have one minute. Heavy armor out first. Secure the bay. Then we get to work. Questions?”

  “Ma’am, no, ma’am!”

  “Then let’s get to it.”

  “Angel, Red Witch.”

  “Go, Red.” She waited for the LAC commander to respond. “Enemy is trying to seal the bay.”

  Ash shook her head. She would never understand the enemy. Instead of surrendering and living, and possibly fighting another day, they would rather die. Well, if they were that determined to die, who was she to stop them?

  “Blast us a whole, Red,” she ordered.

  “Roger that, Angel. Blasting a hole.”

  Ashlyn turned to the cockpit and watched their approach. The LACs flew ahead, weapons firing. The large defense platform shuddered as they hammered at the bay doors. Debris filled the space around the bay, a testament to the success of the LACs. One challenge met. How many more to go?

  “Weapons hot, Ace,” she said.

  “Already done, Angel,” he assured her. “Platform is venting atmosphere, ma’am.”

  Once again, she stepped into the cockpit. As she studied the readings from the platform, her mouth firmed. They needed to move fast, before the enemy managed to get reinforcements to the bay or the platform blew.

  “Tell the other shuttles to hang back,” she ordered. “It’s clear the enemy is still onboard the platform. Let’s not risk any more of our people than we have to.”

  “Roger that.”

  “Then take us in, Ace.”

  Connery looked at the scene before her and smiled slightly. Ashlyn warned her to be ready for anything. She knew the colonel hadn’t been happy that she couldn’t send Talbot with her. A few of the new members of the 10th didn’t know her or her history. All they saw was a brand new lieutenant, one they didn’t know had seen more battle than most of them. At least Talbot had backed her when she suggested she lead the third group of Marines securing the defense platform’s databanks. As the master gunnery sergeant noted, three teams increased their chances for success.

  But this. . . this was not what she’d expected.

  “Tank.” She looked at the heavily armored Marine and his four prisoners. “Would you mind telling me where you found the strays?”

  “Didn’t find them, Artemis,” he said, humor in his deep voice. “Then walked right up to Hound and me and said they wanted to make all friendly like.”

  “Really?”

  She turned her attention to the four men
. Then youngest she guessed to be about the colonel’s age. The oldest, complete with thinning hair and, unless she missed her guess, more wrinkles than he’d had twelve hours ago, looked to be older than Admiral Tremayne by at least a decade. Each of them wore dark trousers and tunics. To the untrained eye, they looked like civilians. But she recognized the discipline in the way they stood and the wariness in their gazes. Unless she missed her guess, her squad had just found something even more valuable than the contents of the enemy database.

  “Just how friendly did they try to be?” she asked, noting the scorching on Hound’s armor.

  “Well, one of them did have a bit of an itchy finger, Artemis,” Hound answered.

  “I see.” She took a step forward, eyeing the prisoners closely. “Secure them. Then strip them and search them.” When one of the four, the oldest and, unless she missed her guess, the one with the rank, opened his mouth to protest, she cut him off. “You opened fire on my men. You will stand down and do was instructed or I will order you spaced right now.”

  “Y-you can’t!”

  Now she smiled, a predatory smile that would have done Ashlyn proud. “I can and I will. And thank you for confirming my suspicions. That accent comes from only one system and it proves you have been conspiring with our enemies. Tank, Hound, you have your orders. Make our Midlothian guests a bit more uncomfortable.”

  “With pleasure, Artemis,” Tank said and nodded to the rest of the squad to do as she ordered.

  Leaving them to follow orders, she stepped away and signaled Ashlyn. As she waited for Ash to respond, she watched as Tank and Hound cuffed the man before letting the others begin stripping them. It didn’t surprise her to see dog tags hanging around each man’s neck or the various weapons her Marines located on them.