by Sam Schall
“Understood, ma’am.” Talbot sounded as stunned as he looked.
“Kevin – Loco.” She smiled as his lips turned up at the use of his call sign. “Same rules now as Hammer had. Meetings like this, when it is just the inner circle, so to speak, we’re informal. First names or call signs are fine.”
“It may take some time, ma’am – Angel—” He smiled as he corrected himself. “But I’ll do his best.”
“I’ll make sure he does,” Adamson added with a cheeky grin.
“Ash?” Ortega’s voice was soft, unsure.
“The rest of it, at least all they’ve let me in on so far—” She knew her frustration was clear but she also knew they would understand. – “is simple. Just before you arrived, I received notice of my own promotion to Major. I didn’t ask for the promotion nor do I think I deserve it.” Now she held up her hand to keep them from interrupting. “But I’m not going to argue because it does allow me to ask one thing. Lucinda, I’d like you to be my XO. I’ll understand if you’d prefer another assignment. After all, we’ve had the same time in grade. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve had more time in grade because of my little vacation.” She didn’t try to keep the bitterness out of her voice. Bitterness not at the fact her friend had been able to continue serving with the Devil Dogs while she’d been imprisoned but for the imprisonment itself, and the betrayal behind it.
“In fact, Hammer has said he’d gladly take you on as a member of his staff any time you say the word.”
For a moment, Ortega didn’t say anything. Then she grinned and got to her feet, reaching across the desk to shake Ashlyn’s hand. “I think the four of us have a thing or two we can show the other Devil Dogs,” she said. “And as for time in grade, as far as I’m concerned, you more than doubled it by managing to survive what those bastards Sarkowski and O’Brien did to you and the others and then surviving that hell of a prison they sent you to. Okafor knew what she was doing when she tapped you to take over for Hammer.”
“I’m not sure about that, but I do know the three of you are the best to help me make sure it never happens again to any of our people.”
“So, when do we get started?” Talbot asked.
“Unofficially, right now. Officially, once the announcement is made. Come morning, Lucinda and I have a meeting with our new division CO before my mother and I meet with the general and then stand with her as she announces the changes to the media.
“But, before we get started, let me tell you about my little encounter with a certain Thomas O’Brien today.”
She leaned back and smiled at the memory. Then she launched into an accurate, if slightly more dramatic recitation of the encounter than it really was, she wasn’t surprised to see the almost wicked glee reflected in her friends’ expressions. It might take time to get used to being back to duty. It would certainly take time to adjust to being in command of the DDs. But, with these three by her side, she had no doubts the Devil Dogs would continue to do their duty to protect Fuercon and its allies. If, along the way, they managed to get vengeance for their fallen brothers and sisters in arms, all the better.
Duty and honor. Corps and family. That was what mattered. It was all that mattered.
Author’s Note
Vengeance From Ashes is a book that’s been a long time in the works. The germs of the story were planted years ago, when I found a battered copy of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers in a closet at my grandmother’s. Another foray into that same closet, which looked like it was where my grandmother stored all the books and records my father and his five siblings had left at the family homestead, yielded more books by Heinlein, early copies of If and more. And I was hooked.
Vengeance turned into a book I had to write. It has had various other iterations. But the basic premise has always been the same – duty and honor and family. Family doesn’t necessarily begin and end with your blood relations. It can also be those men and women who are your brothers-at-arms.
This is the first of a three book story arc. There will probably be more books in the Vengeance universe after that. But the first three books will center on Ashlyn and her fight to do her duty as well as her need to get vengeance – and justice -- for the wrongs done to her people.
Table of Contents
DEDICATION
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Author’s Note
