by Sam Schall
“Captain, they need to get some rest now,” the medic said as she helped Baldwin to one of the flight couches. “You can talk with them again in a couple of hours.”
“But—” O’Malley protested.
“He’s right, Mick.” She carefully stood. “I’ll have some fresh uniforms for you when you wake. We’ll talk more then.”
“Cap, just one more question.” Baldwin waved back the medic and sat up. “What about Sorkowski and that rat bastard O’Brien?”
Now Ashlyn could smile, especially at the thought of their former Marine CO.
“Sorkowski has been forcibly retired and, before you ask, General Okafor has assured me that she wants him brought up on any and all charges they can find. Same for O’Brien with one difference. They didn’t let him retire. Our beloved Corps Commandant has an evil sense of justice. She had him assigned to escort duty around the capital – escort duty for the children and relatives of VIPs.”
For a moment, no one said anything. Ash had no doubt they were too stunned to. Then O’Malley threw his head back and laughed. Soon Harston and Baldwin joined him. Relieved, Ashe smiled and turned her attention to the medic.
“Take good care of them and make sure I have a copy of your report as well as Major Pawlak.”
“The Old Man’s here?” Baldwin’s humor turned to surprise.
“He is. He’ll be in to see you soon.” She smiled again, relieved to know that these three, at least, would soon be going home. “Now do as the medic does before she decides to sedate all of us. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
“Well?” Talbot asked as she emerged from the shuttle.
“I think they’re going to be all right.” At least she hoped so. “The medic wants them to rest for a bit before anything else.”
“That’s probably for the best, ma’am. I know you want to be with them. Hell, Cap, we all want to be with them. But they need time to adjust to what is going on.”
She nodded, remembering her own suspicions and doubts. At least she knew what they were going through and could, hopefully, help ease some of their concerns.
“Gunny, we need to secure fresh uniforms for them and, if possible, their dogtags,” she said as they moved across the landing area in the direction of a second shuttle.
“I’ll see to the uniforms, ma’am. As for their dogtags, the Major said to tell you they are with your kit in the shuttle. He thought you’d like to be able to return them to our people.”
Ashlyn nodded and made a mental note to thank the Major.
“He also left orders for you to get some rest. You’re to take a solid four down. I’m to make sure of it. To quote the Major, I’m to sit on you if I have to and, if that doesn’t work, I’m to have the medic sedate you.”
For a moment she just looked at him, eyes narrowed. Then she nodded. She had no doubt Pawlak had left orders for her to take some down time. Nor did she doubt Talbot had added the part about sitting on her. So she’d agree, at least to “resting”. She doubted she’d be able to sleep but the downtime would give her a chance to review the JAG’s report of his interrogation of Coreal as well as check the prison records for her people. Hopefully, by the time the prescribed four hours were up, Pawlak would have news from the strike teams about the others sent there with her.
* * *
Ashlyn once again stood just inside the shuttle that had become the mobile medbay for the Devil Dogs. This time, the shuttle was filled with Marines needing treatment. Her jaw clinched and she watched as the medics moved between their patients, doing everything they could for them. Fortunately, most of their injuries were non-life threatening.
Most being the operative word. Several of the Marines in the team trying to make entry into The Residence had been seriously injured. The occupants inside had rigged the entrance with explosive devices meant to maim as well as kill. Probably fortunately for those residents, none of them survived the initial battle. Fortunate because Ashlyn would have seen them dead for what they’d done to the prisoners who had been taken there and not just Corporal Navarro.
Navarro.
The thought of the young woman had Ashlyn glancing around the shuttle. Her mouth drew tight to see the medics still working on the corporal. They worked quickly and almost silently, something Ash knew was a bad sign. Much as she wanted to go over and demand an update on the woman’s condition, she wouldn’t. She didn’t dare. She’d not risk her teammate’s life that way.
Nearby, the others of her team waited. The two who had been rescued from the mining operation were in worse shape than the three who’d been left at the main compound, but they’d recover. Fortunately.
Without a word, Ashlyn signaled for Talbot to hand out the uniforms he’d secured for their teammates. As he did, she followed. Almost reverently, she handed each one his dogtags. As she did, she remembered what she’d felt like when Talbot had tossed her her own tags in the middle of the attack on the capital. Hopefully, having them on again would help her people as much as it had helped her.
Moving carefully amongst the injured, she made her way to where Navarro was being treated. Without a word, she placed the woman’s dogtags on the cot next to her. Then, after getting an encouraging nod from the nearest medic, she gently wrapped the chain for the tags around Narvarro’s hand. She wanted the corporal to know they’d been returned to her the moment she regained consciousness.
“Captain, we need to get her and several others back to the Magellan once we have them stabilized,” the medic nearest her said.
“All right. I’ll let the Major know.”
She took one last look at Navarro before turning away. As she did, she swallowed hard and fought down her anger. Those responsible – well, most of them – for what happened to the younger woman were dead. The Devil Dogs had made certain of it.
“Cap?” O’Malley’s voice was soft, his concern clear.
“They’re doing all they can for her.” She just hoped it would be enough. “I need to report to the Major and then see if we can’t get off this rock once and for all.”
“God, that sounds good, Cap,” Baldwin admitted. The others nodded in agreement.
“Agreed.” She nodded to Talbot. “Gunny’s going to escort you to another shuttle where you can clean up and change. I should be back from meeting with the Major by then.”
“Ma’am, are we really free?” Lance Corporal Odell Vickers asked?
“We are, Vickers, and all charges against us have been expunged from our records.” She motioned to Talbot who produced his datapad and keyed in a command sequence. Then he handed it to Vickers. “You’ll each find copies of all pertinent documents waiting for you. I promise we’ll get you kitted out once we’ve returned to the Magellan.”
“Your word’s enough for us, ma’am,” Harston assured her. “Now, with the Captain’s permission, can we get the hell out of here?”
Laughing, Ashlyn nodded and watched as the five carefully climbed to their feet. She knew she didn’t need to tell Talbot to report in after they reached the second shuttle. So, trusting him to look after their teammates, she left the shuttle and once again made her way across the landing area in the direction of the administration building.
“Captain, the Major is in with Lieutenant Liu,” Tank said as she stepped entered the anteroom of what had been Coreal’s office.
“And the prisoners?” She had no doubt that he’d know exactly who she meant.
“They are secure in their cells. We have constant eyes on them.”
“Good.” And if it was wrong to feel more than a hint of satisfaction to know what Coreal now inhabited the cell she had lived in for so long, she didn’t care.
She knocked at the door to the inner office and waited until Pawlak called for her to enter. A moment later, the door slid open. As she stepped inside, she was a little surprised to see the JAG seated behind the desk and Pawlak sprawled in one of the chairs situated before it. Then she realized it made a kind of sense. The JAG had been using the office
to conduct his investigation. The other member of the JAG Corps had traveled to the mining facility as well as The Residence. From what she’d been told by their Devil Dog escorts, the two weren’t missing anything that could be used to build a case against Coreal and the guards.
“Ah, good.” Pawlak motioned for Ashlyn to join them. “The LT and I were just going over what he’s found so far.”
“And?” Ashlyn took the seat next to Pawlak and waited.
“Let’s just say it will surprise me if either Coreal or Haritos manage to avoid the death penalty, Captain,” Liu said grimly. “And I have a feeling a number of the guards here will be joining them.”
Ashlyn closed her eyes, not sure whether she should feel relieved or not.
“Ash, it’s worse than I think even you imagined,” Pawlak took up. “It’s going to take months for Liu and his people to sort through all the evidence and talk to all the potential witnesses.”
Ashlyn’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard. Surely Liu wouldn’t want her and the others to stay here that long. They couldn’t. All of them, herself included, needed to get off-planet and the sooner, the better.
“Don’t worry, Captain,” Liu began as if reading her thoughts. “You and your people can return to the Magellan as soon as Captain Carlisle gives the go ahead. You can each dictate your statements and file them from the ship.”
“Thank you.”
“How are they, Ash?” Pawlak asked.
“Pretty much like I was those first few days, sir. The best thing will be to get them away from here. Seeing the video feeds of Coreal and Haritos in custody helped. But, as I know from personal experience, being away from this hellhole is going to be the best medicine.”
“Then I’ll issue the orders to get Shuttle Two ready to return to the Magellan. As soon as the medics have Navarro ready to move, be prepared to leave.”
“Understood, sir, and thank you.”
“I’ll have my preliminary report as well as the evidence we’ve seized so far ready to transport up, Captain. If you’ll ask Gunnery Sergeant Talbot to hand it over to Captain Carlisle for transmittal to FleetCom, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course, Lieutenant.”
“Go be with your people, Ash. I’ll touch base before you lift.”
“Aye, sir.” She stood, glad to know that soon she’d be away from that hellhole and hoping she never had to return.
Chapter Fourteen
Ashlyn rolled onto her side and cursed softly. She’d gone to bed less than four hours earlier. Whoever was on the other end of the comm-call had better have a darned good reason for waking her. Then, as several possibly explanations – none of them good – hit her, she reached out activated the comm unit for voice only.
“Shaw,” she said as she sat up.
“Sorry to disturb you, Captain Shaw,” Captain Carlisle began. Something about his voice warned her she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“What can I do for you, sir?” Much as she wanted him to get to the point, she couldn’t. One simply didn’t order a ship’s captain to do anything, at least not if she wanted to see another promotion.
“We’ve had a change in status. Report to my ready room in ten.”
“Aye, sir. Shaw out.”
Worried, Ash climbed out of bed and headed into the small head adjoining her quarters. A much too quick shower would clear her head even if it wouldn’t answer any of her questions. A change of status could mean almost anything. The only thing she was sure of was that they weren’t in imminent danger. If they were, Carlisle would have brought the ship to General Quarters. But that still left a number of other scenarios.
God, he could have at least given her a hint about what was going on.
She’d just finished dressing when a soft knock sounded at the door. A moment later, Gunnery Sergeant Talbot stepped inside. Ash shook her head and one corner of her mouth lifted in a wry smile to see him. How could he look more rested than she felt? She knew he’d gotten no more sleep than she had because they’d been talking until she was ready for bed. Yet he looked like he had managed a good eight hours down.
“Captain?”
“You know as much as I do right now, Gunny.”
She turned to the mirror and quickly checked her appearance. As she did, drew a deep breath, stilling her emotions. She couldn’t let her mind jump to conclusions. She didn’t have enough information about what was going on. But with Major Pawlak, as well as most of the Devil Dogs, still on the surface, she was ranking Marine officer onboard. So she had to act the part, at least until Pawlak could catch a shuttle back to the ship.
“All I know, Gunny, is that I’m to report to the Captain’s ready room. He said we’ve had a change in status,” she said as she turned away from the mirror. “What are you doing here?”
“The XO sent instructions that I was to accompany you and await any orders you might have after the briefing. Seems I’m senior non-com right now.”
Ash smiled slightly. He sounded as disgruntled about the role as she felt about being ranking Marine onboard.
“By any chance has Major Pawlak reported in since we called it a night?”
“Negative, ma’am.”
Ashe blew out a breath. She’d hoped their CO had been able to give them at least a hint about what was going on. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to try to contact him either. Not when she was already in danger of being late reporting to Carlisle’s ready room.
“We’d better go, Gunny. Hopefully, whatever’s going on isn’t going to kick us in the teeth.”
“Roger that, ma’am.”
Barely more than ten minutes after being awakened by Carlisle’s comm, Ashlyn entered the ready room off the bridge, Talbot on her heels. She nodded to those already gathered. Then she took the seat Carlisle indicated. As she did, the communications chief brought up a live freed from the surface. It didn’t surprise Ash to see both Pawlak and Lieutenant Liu on the screen.
Once his steward had passed around coffee, Carlisle took his place at the head of the table. As he did, Ashlyn frowned slightly. Worry was reflected on the captain’s expression and that, in turn, worried her. Ash had seen that expression before, including in her own mirror before every combat mission she’d led. It was the look of an officer who knew death was on the horizon.
But that didn’t make sense. The ship wasn’t at GQ and there was nothing about Pawlak and Liu to indicate there’d been any trouble on the surface. Then another explanation dawned on her and she swallowed hard. Had the capital been attacked again?
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Carlisle began. “Approximately fifteen minutes ago we received an encrypted message from FleetCom. All ships in the fleet are to go to alert status. This is not a drill.” He paused, sipping his mug of coffee. Ashe wondered if he was giving them time to accept what he’d just said.
“According to the message, word has reached the capital that Cassius Prime has been attacked. One of our courier ships entered the system while the attack was taking place and managed to get off a transmission, complete with sensor and video data. Unfortunately, FleetCom has since lost contact with it. Even more troubling is the fact that there have been no transmissions or traffic intercepted from the system.”
Ash sat back and blew out a long breath. Carlisle didn’t need to tell her who the invaders were. She knew the answer. The invasion, breakdown of communications followed by what could only be a picket was exactly how the Callusians operated. They’d sweep into a system, target the major defense platforms and, after destroying them, lay siege to the capital or one of the larger population centers. No warning and no demands. Just wholesale slaughter. Then, after causing as much terror and destruction as they could, they’d demand the system government’s surrender. Failure meant more bombardment from space, followed closely by ground forces with the sole purpose of securing the target and causing the most terror and destruction possible.
What made the attack on Cassius Prime worse was its close p
roximity to Fuercon. Never before had the Callusians struck so close to home. Now the attack on the capital made more sense. It kept the Fuerconese military focused on the home system while the Callusians moved into position to take over Cassius Prime.
“FleetCom is attempting to confirm what happened to our courier ship as well as trying to obtain more intelligence about the attack on Cassius Prime. In the meantime, all ships are to return their assigned sectors, including this one. We will be leaving orbit as soon as we have personnel shifted between ship and surface to maintain control of the penal colony until reinforcements can be sent out from the home system.”
“And the truce?” the XO asked.
“Officially, there is no change. However, FleetCom has said that it expects the President to declare the truce over and to issue a formal Declaration of War just as soon as we have secondary confirmation of what happened and who is responsible.”
A ripple of reaction ran around the table. From her place to Carlisle’s left, Ashlyn watched the others. Most wore expressions that ran the gamut from surprise to satisfaction. But it was Pawlak’s expression that had her wondering what else Carlisle might have to say. There was something about her CO that warned her there was more, much more to what was happening than they knew so far.
“Captain, you mentioned that we would be breaking orbit as soon as we shifted some personnel. Can you elaborate?” the XO asked from her seat opposite Ashlyn.
“Major Pawlak?”
“Yes, sir.” Pawlak looked down and Ashe wondered if he was consulting notes. “FleetCom ncluded orders for the Devil Dogs with their orders for Captain Carlisle. The DDs are to return to the capital with the Magellan. Lieutenant Marshall and his marines will transfer planetside to relieve the DDs down here. When reinforcements arrive from the home system, the lieutenant and his people will return to the Magellan.”
“Lieutenant Marshall and his people are preparing to transfer down as we speak,” Carlisle took up. “Shuttles should be dropping within the half hour, Major.”
