by Sam Schall
The building rocked once more. This time there was no mistaking the sounds of an explosion. From the chatter coming through her earbud, it was obvious someone had attacked the building. Whether it was a full-scale attack on the capital or just an isolated incident, she didn’t know and, frankly, she didn’t care. Either way, they had to get out of the room and down to the ground floor. If the building should start to collapse before they did . . . .
“This is Tremayne. Secure the immediate area and get fighters in the air now!” she ordered. She didn’t care that she no longer had the actual authority to issue the orders. All that mattered was launching a counter-strike to turn back the attackers. “And find Major Santiago!”
Even as she barked out orders, Tremayne watched Shaw race to the door. She pounded on it, ordering the guards to open up, reminding them they had a member of the Senate inside. It was their duty to get her to safety.
“Admiral, we have to get you out of here!” Shaw said, turning to face her.
“Ashlyn, give me your answer. Now!”
“Yes. Now let’s get you out of here.”
Tremayne was aware of sounds beyond the door but she had no time to worry about it. Instead, she reached for the terminal on the table and quickly input a series of commands. Then she grabbed Shaw by the arm and drew her close. Even as the guards yelled something about standing back from the door, she told Shaw to read what was on the screen. There was no time to lose and, damn it, she wanted Shaw in the position to act if necessary.
“All right. Now let’s get the hell out of here!” Shaw said as she “signed” the pardon and added her thumbprint via the gen-lock next to the terminal.
* * *
Evan Moreau watched from her table by the window of the restaurant. The last thing she wanted to do was to call attention to herself. But it was hard not to lean forward, expression intent, as she watched the first of several young men approaching the main entrance to the security complex. There was nothing about them to raise any alarms. At least she hoped not. If this part of the plan failed, she’d have no choice but to go to her backup plan and get off-planet just as quickly as possible. No, this had to work. It just had to.
All around her, men and women went about their business, unaware that in a few short moments their lives would change dramatically, perhaps even end. She didn’t care. They were all expendable, pawns in the greater game she played at every day of her life. A few deaths and the ensuing panic were what she needed just then.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel more nervous than usual. Most jobs she handled herself. She didn’t like relying on others, but this was an exception. She’d worked hard, and in record time, to set this up. If she’d played her cards right, not only would she manage to appease Kannady, but she’d manage to make sure Shaw never bothered her again and that no one would ever be able to trace what happened back to her.
So much rested on whether or not everything went off as planned. She’d put events into motion that hadn’t been set to occur for months yet. She knew there were problems with moving the timetable up so quickly. But she hadn’t had a choice. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had any particular loyalty to Kannady and his “partners”. If this failed and Kannady turned on her, she’d be gone before he ever knew it. More importantly, it wouldn’t take long to find another employer. Her particular set of skills were always in demand.
Another glance at the time and she finished her coffee. She couldn’t stay there any longer. There was no need to risk getting caught in the panic that was about to happen. Still, it would be so satisfying to see her plans finally come to fruition.
There!
She almost missed the signal between the young man she’d been watching and the two others she knew were with him. It had been nothing more than a quick flash of a hand signal and then a nod. It was time. If she didn’t leave now, it would be too late.
She tossed a handful of credits onto the table before climbing to her feet. Anyone looking in her direction would see just another businesswoman hurrying to get back to work. No one would remember her in the aftermath of what was to come.
A quick look to the east as she stepped outside and a slight smile touched her lips. She picked up her pace and turned the corner. If her estimate was right, she had less than two minutes before all hell broke loose. That was enough time to be safely away.
Another corner turned, more distance between her and the security complex. Just another few moments and she’d be safe.
An explosion sounded in the distance and she quickened her pace, smiling gaily as she did. Damn but she loved it when a plan worked.
Chapter Four
The building seemed to rock on its very foundations. Dust fell from the ceiling, drifting down like snowflakes. Ashlyn reached out and steadied herself against the table. The windows, reinforced to prevent anyone from breaking them out – or anyone in an aircar from shooting them out – suddenly sprouted spider web-like cracks. This was no earthquake. No, someone had attacked the building. Terrorism or an all-out attack? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered beyond getting out of there before the building came down around their ears.
“Admiral, we have to get you out of here!”
“Ashlyn, give me your answer. Now!” Tremayne barked.
“Yes. Now let’s get you out of here.”
The door slowly slid open, stopping after only a few inches. Termayne ignored it. Instead, she worked quickly at the terminal on the table. Biting back a curse of frustration as Tremayne told her to read the display, Shaw did as the woman instructed. She quickly scanned the document that appeared on the screen, the pardon she’d prayed for for so long. But she didn’t have time to really register all it said, much less relish the moment. Instead, she picked up the stylus and scrawled her name at the bottom of the document and pressed her right thumb against the gen-lock beside the terminal. Then she turned her attention back to the senator, determined to get her out of there before either of them were hurt – or worse.
“Admiral – Miranda, you’ve got to get out of here. NOW!” she said as the building was rocked yet again.
No matter what had happened over the last two years, this was still the woman who had watched her grow up, who had been her mother’s best friend and her own mentor. She was also one of the sharpest military minds alive. There was no way could they risk her now.
That sense of duty Ashlyn had done her best to bury since her court martial kicked in full force. Frustrated because the guards had yet to get the door open, Shaw rushed to the window and looked out. They were too high to see what was going on in the streets below. But she could see the strikeships streaming to and from the spaceport not that far away. Her pulse quickened and she recognized the movement in the sky as a dogfight.
Holy hell, was the capital actually under attack?
For several long moments she stood riveted as she watched the battle in the skies over the city. Then, as two fighters broke away from the pack and bore down on the building, she turned. Her pulse pounded as she raced across the room, upending the table as she did. Before Tremayne could react, much less ask what was happening, she’d shoved the table against the far wall and pulled the woman down behind the meager protection it offered. Then she threw herself on top of the senator, holding her down even as the sounds of rounds striking the side of the building filled the room.
Ashlyn’s ears rang from the sounds of the window cracking and the fighters veering off just before impact. But she couldn’t think about that any more than she could think about how scared she was. She had to get Tremayne out of there before the fighters made another pass. They wouldn’t survive another assault like the last one and she was damned if she’d just lay down and die. Not when she finally had her freedom.
“Come on,” she said as the door finally slid open and the guards rushed inside.
Ashlyn’s hand closed around the senator’s arm and dragged her out from behind the table. The door was open. That meant they could get out of thi
s deathtrap. Instinct kicked in. Scrambling to her feet, she dragged Tremayne up after her. There was no time to lose. She turned and took a step toward the door and came face to face with one of the guards.
Pain exploded as a rifle butt slammed into her side. Her head snapped back as a second blow landed. Darkness swam before her eyes and she fought to remain conscious. She couldn’t black out now, not if she wanted to stay alive.
Moaning, she climbed to her knees, unaware of the fact she’d fallen. Her stomach pitched and she tasted blood. She hurt so badly that she knew they’d broken her nose and probably several ribs. Damn, but she thought she’d left this sort of thing behind her on Tarsus.
“Stand down!” someone ordered. Tremayne? “Goddamn it, stand down!”
This time Tremayne pulled her to her feet instead of the other way around. Fury suffused the senator’s face as she quickly checked to be sure Ashlyn was all right. Then, to Ash’s surprise, the woman reached out and grabbed the nearest guard’s sidearm and handed it to her. Ashlyn took it with her right hand even as she used her left to wipe tears and blood from her face.
“Captain Shaw has received a full pardon from the President and she has been returned to duty. Touch her again and I’ll see you up on charges,” Tremayne said quickly, before the other guard could react. “Now get us the hell out of here.”
That was all the encouragement Ashlyn needed. By God, she’d get Tremayne out of there somehow. She could ignore the pain and blood. After all, she’d had lots of practice doing just that on Tarsus. Besides, the guards would help, at least until they had to report to their own stations. Once she was sure Tremayne was safe, she’d slip away. She’d make sure her family was all right. She’d make sure her people really were on the way home. Then she’d make those responsible for the last two years of hell pay and pay dearly.
But that had to wait until they were out of this grave just waiting to happen.
For a moment, she thought the guards would protest. Instead, the first one merely nodded. Then he motioned for his companion to take the lead. As they started off down the corridor, the first guard fell in at the rear. Ashlyn did her best to ignore the unease she felt having him behind her. Hopefully, he wouldn’t try anything with Tremayne present. She had to trust in that.
But it was hard.
At the end of the corridor, the point guard motioned for them to wait as he checked ahead. Eyes alert, her fingers tightening around the butt of the pistol, Ashlyn stood ready. She wasn’t even aware of the fact she’d moved forward slightly, positioning herself between the corner and Tremayne, until the redhead gently reached out and pulled her back. Before she could protest, Tremayne simply shook her head and lifted the gun she’d produced from somewhere.
A moment later the guard returned, one hand to his ear as he listened to his comm-link. He nodded once and turned to face Tremayne. As he did, his discomfort was clear. Stiffening, knowing trouble lay ahead, Ashlyn waited.
“Senator, I’ve been ordered to make sure you get to safety. My partner will take care of Shaw.”
Fury, cold and hard, raced through her. She had no doubt how the guard was supposed to “take care of” her. She was damned if she just stand there and let them kill her. Not when freedom was so close. Not when she’d believed Tremayne and had finally allowed herself to hope.
Before she could act, Tremayne did. Her pistol was suddenly aimed squarely at the guard’s chest. His partner, caught off-guard, was slow to bring his weapon to bear. Instinct kicked in again and Ashlyn knocked his arm to one side. Her left hand closed over his gun and she quickly disarmed him. Then she waited, her finger tightening on the trigger. She didn’t want to kill him, but she would if she had to.
“Stand easy, kid. I’m not about to leave you. Nor am I about to let anything else happen to you,” Tremayne assured her before addressing the guards. “I’m only going to say this once. President Harper has pardoned Captain Shaw. She is no longer a prisoner and she most certainly is no longer in your custody. So you can either continue to stand in our way and get us all killed or you can help us get out of this hellhole to safety. I will handle whomever issued your orders to ‘deal’ with Captain Shaw as soon as this is over.”
Ashlyn waited, knowing how precarious their position was. Time was running out. If they didn’t move soon, before another attack run against the building, they’d be dead. But did the guards realize it or were they so scared of disobeying orders they’d risk everything, even their lives, over this?
“Aye, ma’am,” the first guard replied and then, much to Ashlyn’s surprise, he snapped to attention and saluted. “Captain Shaw, I’m counting on you to help keep the senator safe.” With that, he turned and started off around the corner, yelling back to them that he’d clear a path and to keep up.
There wasn’t time to think or to feel. It was as though the last two years had never happened. Once more she was fighting for her life and the life of another. One corridor at a time, one corner to be taken carefully to make sure they weren’t running headlong into a trap. All the while they made their way closer to the ground before the building collapsed on top of them.
The sounds of fighting were like memories of the nightmares that had plagued her for so long. Weapons firing, people screaming, orders being shouted out even as cries for help filled the air. She’d done everything she could then to save her unit but so many had died. More had been injured and she’d been unable to do anything about it. She’d lived with the dying screams of her people for two long years. Would she ever be able to put them behind her?
She couldn’t think about it, couldn’t let herself remember that last battle and what happened afterwards. Not now. Not until she was sure Tremayne was safe. Then she could begin figuring out how to get vengeance for her people.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, they reached the ground floor. Marines were doing their best to make sure all non-essential personnel were moved out of the fire zone. They couldn’t stay there, not as long as there was fighting going on. But where were they going? Was anywhere safe just then?
Damn it, she wished she knew what was going on.
“Admiral Tremayne,” a Marine in light armor slid to a halt before them and sketched a quick salute. Even as he did, he checked to make sure they weren’t in the direct line of fire. “Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Talbot, ma’am. I’ve been assigned by Major Santiago to make sure you and Captain Shaw get to safety.”
“What’s the current situation, Gunny?” Tremayne asked. Gone was the senator. This was the admiral and Ashlyn hoped Talbot realized it.
“Ma’am, I can’t tell you much. Enemy short-range fighters have launched attacks against the security compound, the presidential palace and other governmental buildings. We have enemy boots on the ground and what appear to have been at least half a dozen suicide bombers at various points across the city. Our forces have scrambled to secure the capital and fighters are in the air.”
“First Fleet?”
“Is on station and scrambling LACs to make sure there are no enemy ships on approach. That’s about all I can tell you, ma’am. Communication to First Fleet is limited right now but FleetCom is working to restore full comms. As for groundside, we have snipers as well as assault troops trying to breach our defenses.”
“Who’s in command?” Ashlyn asked.
As she did, she fought down her emotions. Seeing Talbot was just another reminder of all the lives lost and all that had been taken from her. She’d served with the gunnery sergeant before her last assignment. He’d taught her more about battlefield tactics than any of her courses at the Academy and he’d pulled her ass out of the line of fire on more than one occasion. Of course, she’d returned the favor almost as many times. After all, that’s what Marines do.
“Major Santiago, ma’am, and his orders to me were quite clear. I am to make sure you and the admiral – sorry, ma’am, the senator – get safely out of here. If we get the all-clear, a shuttle will take you to rendezvous with First
Fleet’s flagship. Otherwise, I’m to get you to the FOB. The major assured me that he’d have my hide, literally, if I let anything happen to either of you.”
“Then you’d best lead the way, Gunny,” Tremayne said. “But, before you do, make sure these two are secured somewhere safe. I’m going to want to talk with them once this situation is under control.”
Talbot looked from the senator to the guards, concern momentarily clouding his expression. Then, glancing at Ashlyn, he nodded. Without asking for an explanation, he called another Marine over and suggested he escort the two to a secure location where they were to remain until further notice. Then he turned back to the guards.
“Corporal, you and your companion will hand your weapons over to Captain Shaw and then you’ll go with Corporal Henson.” The look he gave the corporal when the man balked brought a quick smile to Ashlyn’s lips. If they lived through this, she’d buy the gunny a drink. It was worth it to see the guard’s discomfort. Besides, she had a feeling Talbot would be more than happy to help her with her other plans. “Captain, I also have these for you,” he added after she’d taken their weapons and checked them.
Ashlyn’s right hand automatically reached out to catch the dogtags he tossed in her direction. Her chest tightened and she swallowed hard as she stared at them. How he’d gotten them, she didn’t know. They’d been taken from her when she’d been processed back into the brig after the court martial panel returned their guilty verdict.
“How?” she asked softly, staring at the dogtags nestled in the palm of her hand.
“Major Santiago had them. You’ll need to ask him where he got them.”
She nodded, unable to say anything just then.
“Welcome back, ma’am. You’ve been missed.”
“It’s good to be back, Gunny.” She slid the chain over her head, relishing the sound of the tags hitting against one another. Surprisingly, it was good to be back, at least it would be once she’d dealt with a few matters. “Now let’s get the senator out of here.”
