Lieutenant Jacobs barked a, "Sir, yes Sir!" In reply.
The lecture continued as the battle footage played out. "It is currently a well-kept secret, but will not remain that way for much longer. Aurora's capabilities have been all but lost to us with the destruction of Starkindler. This includes her ability to compromise PDF satellites, hiding the presence of our Mech armor while simultaneously displaying enemy locations to us, and finally, the capable Intel gathering capabilities that she had brought to bear. Even though we believe the PDF are currently operating under the same constraints we are in regards to communication difficulties, we can no longer be certain that is the case. We should assume that yesterday’s skirmish was seen and relayed to the appropriate command as soon as possible. This means that the PDF will at some arbitrary point in the near future become aware that three new super advanced Mech armor have entered the stage, one of which is remarkably similar to Starkindler. We have a very limited window of time for those kids to get ready before all hell breaks loose, and you are going to see to it that they are ready when that happens.”
Commander Ultor paused, making sure that Lieutenant Jacobs was catching every point. He continued after a nervous, confirming nod from the LT. “This new chain of events will undoubtedly draw large amounts of attention towards our faction in particular, which we must now direct to our best interests. If I were the enemy commander, I would heavily reinforce security in this region, and likely, divert many of the mercenary units as well as the stronger new units coming off their assembly lines piloted by their most skilled veterans to ensure our pacification. Mikkhael showed them the strength of a single unit and the Earther’s just arrived with four more. Central PDF Command is going to shit bricks when they learn of this and send everything they have at us. On a side note, the Omnos squad members will almost certainly be seeking as much combat experience in the near future as possible in order to gain combat experience, playing into their hands.
He continued, “The good news is that we have a few cards left to play. The presence of the pilot named Kurtis and his Mech armor have not yet been revealed, and will not be for some time to come. Also unknown to the enemy, but likely suspected, is the program to rebuild Starkindler. They will believe the new Mech armor they saw was Starkindler, remodeled due to its recent destruction. This makes it all the more critical that we rebuild Starkindler and get Mikkhael back into the fight. The last unknown is the Mech armor simply referred to as Nemesis. At present, we cannot say when, or even if, it will be used in battle, what its capabilities are, or who will even pilot it. All I can say is that it scares the shit out of those kids, Mikkhael, and even Chief Engineer Thorsten for reasons no one can yet explain, and therefore we should develop a healthy respect for it by association. As these are the cards we have been dealt; we must seek to always maximize the impact each has on the overall play of events. We only harm ourselves in the end by revealing our capabilities too soon and I trust it will not happen again.
General Akari continued, “Your role is to support the Omnos squad in their missions and gaining combat experience in preparation for the large battles that are on the horizon. The basic interpretation of which is keeping them alive as long as possible by using your combat experience to make good judgment calls for them until they can take over themselves. Their job is to use their shiny toys to buy enough time for Mikkhael to recover while we rebuild Starkindler. Should we, or the Omnos squad fail in our missions, the only choice Mikkhael will then have left is whether or not to actually pilot Nemesis, something that is best left as a measure of last resort. Understood?"
A thoroughly chastened Lieutenant Jacobson barked a "Sir, yes Sir," sharply saluted, performed a perfect about face, and then precisely marched from the room. He had grown paler by the moment as more of the situation, and his role as facilitator in it all, revealed itself.
Commander Ultor sat heavily behind his desk, blandly attempting to rub away the headache forming between his temples. His inability to directly affect events like during his younger years was a constant wear. Another synthetic chiming sounded; the face displayed on the slate in front of him was of a different Lieutenant. This meeting was also expected with as much disappointment as the previous one. He toggled the door release.
A tall man, arrogantly thin, glided up to his desk. His reedy voice droned in the way that small men whose lives are dictated by the minutia of bureaucracy do. He wasted no time, "Concerning the successful recent combat experience of the Omnos squad, should we organize a celebration in the mess hall this evening, say 1900?
"No. The members of Omnos squad are to remain in their quarters or the adjacent hangar that houses their Mech armor for the evening. Meals are to be provided to them, nothing more. Round up a dozen security personnel and have them posted discreetly around the entrance to their wing. They are instructed to have our people remain as remote a distance from them as possible."
The Lieutenant raised his eyebrows, barely inclining his head as if giving Commander Ultor another chance to change his mind and agree with the Lieutenants proposal. After waiting a minute filled with awkward silence and no change of commands proved forthcoming, he inputted the data into the slate in his hands. Even without speaking, Reyk still managed to come off as a pompous ass, but he was highly effective at what he did. He was kept for his abilities, not his social skills.
Not accepting defeat so easily, Lieutenant Reyk continued fishing for more information. "Should the members of the Omnos squad seek to work on their Mech armor this evening, are the mechanics allowed access to the hangar?"
Gritting his teeth instead of striking out at the irritating man, Commander Ultor answered, "Yes, but only if the Earther’s remain civil. We have no idea how they will react after their first mission, if the mechanics are mistreated in any way, the Omnos squad pilots are to be immediately arrested and thrown in jail until such time as I see fit." Commander Ultor's voice rang with a gruff authority. His words were steel. It was clear he would brook no dissent.
"I have to ask in order to know how best to proceed. It seems you have made up your mind that the pilots represent a very real danger to us here?" Lieutenant Reyk said.
Commander Ultor chose his words carefully, lecturing him as much as explaining his actions in order to show his point, an irritatingly defensive measure but one that was necessary in order to walk the deliberate line needed for the near future. "It is more complicated than that. We have absolutely no idea who these people are. The fact that they are allies of Mikkhael's does not necessarily mean that they are our allies. Tonight is reminding them of their humanity, and giving them the opportunity to do so, not celebrating the piece of it they lost in battle. They will continue to lose more of what separates them from the rest of humanity the longer they continue fighting. They should not be told that it is a glorious thing; or whatever message would come from a celebration of their first kills. Instead, they should spend the night remembering the Mech armor they so eagerly destroyed and imagining the faces of pilots that died while inside of them.
Having more to say but unable to do so after such a direct dismissal of the matter, Lieutenant Reyk simply pursed his lips in disapproval. He was about to speak again when Commander Ultor interrupted him. “If they are true allies, it serves our needs the stronger they get. However, we should never encourage them to develop a bloodlust, and should shy away from any semblance of that. I sense in them a very real possibility that once we have won this war, they will be content with switching one tyrant with another in order to another wash their hands of our mess and leave with Mikkhael. We must diligently remind ourselves that their definition of victory is not the same as ours.”
He continued, “The one pilot, Kiryl, stood up to Mikkhael and publicly forced him to back down after physically confronting him. In this battle alone, he eliminated seven Mech armor, never once acting phased by the act of killing his fellow mankind. Alyona for her part made rookie mistakes that almost cost her life had Kiryl been any less e
ffective; even so, she was able to kill three PDF. Vera broke under fire, but was able to eliminate two Mech armor herself. These Earther’s are killers through and through. Mikkhael fought to protect our troops from the very beginning, only turning to fight when the other options were no longer viable. He also worked his way up to the highly efficient killing process they already exhibit. The only reason they are not already in jail is that I am well aware of the expectations they live in as allies of Mikkhael, and that Aurora’s shell would not keep them there. All that I see are a bunch of kids with new, incredibly lethal shiny new toys while the expectations that rest on their shoulders are likely too heavy for them to bear. In the end, if his friends intend to do this world any good, they need to follow in Mikkhael's example to the letter and the path they walk is therefore that much narrower for it.”
Lieutenant Reyk silently waited another minute before leaving, the Commander ignoring him as he stared absently out the faux window behind his desk, arms crossed behind his back. His job was concerned with letting the Commander vent when he needed to as much as it was with the million myriad details of running a base supporting thousands of people in the shadow of the greatest military power in human history. He put what Commander Ultor said out of his mind and then went back to his work; after all, there was bureaucracy to manage.
* * * * *
Barely thirty minutes passed before the hiss of Commander Ultor's door opening announced yet another guest. Only Division Officers held the clearance level needed to barge straight into the Commanders office without being stopped by the automated security; and only one of them took advantage of the privilege on a common basis.
Dr. Hesken whisked herself through the doorway with the self-confidence of the rooms’ owner, the fact that she was merely the occasional occupant, and an uninvited one at that, was completely lost upon her. Presumably, her presence portended a medical emergency. The reality was simply that the woman would go wherever she damn well pleased when it suited her, and that was just how it was.
Commander Ultor had been watching the battle footage of the Omnos task force when she entered unexpectedly, his back to the doorway. He turned sharply, his irritation at the sudden intrusion clearly flaring in his expression. He opened his mouth to dress her down, but Dr. Hesken cut him off before he could speak.
"What is this I hear about you telling Lieutenant Jacobson, only after the battle took place, that he is to pull rank based purely off his combat experience on the Omnos squad members? What are you up to Cyril? I know a scheme of yours when I see one. And, before you ask, the honor of the young man in question is not to be questioned. He may or may not have been in the process of treatment for wounds received in the line of duty, and he may or may not have intentionally been given a specific pain relieving medication that just so happens to have the nasty side effect of loosening one's tongue. It should also not be assumed that specific questions were not asked of him in this state, as that would mean that someone intentionally took advantage of his trust and vulnerability while in a muddled mental state under their care."
Dr. Hesken crossed her arms below her breasts as she finished, feet standing shoulder length apart, eyes looking down her nose upon which her glasses perched precariously, giving the effect that even though she was shorter than Commander Ultor, she was still somehow looking down at him. Her look practically begged him to dare calling her a liar or attempt disciplining her for her actions.
Commander Ultor threw his arms in the air in complete frustration; the wall behind him flickering in confusion as it attempted to render his movements into commands. He muttered under his breath, "(Something, something), lack of feminine charms," as he collapsed into the black leather chair behind his desk.
He removed his glasses, set them on the desk, and then closed his eyes, rubbing them quietly for a time, the good doctor wisely staying silent while he did so. After a minute passed with no sign of change, she moved to stand behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. She familiarly began to rub the tenseness from his shoulders and neck, physically molding him into what she needed as easily as she did while instructing him on what orders to give.
For his part, Commander Ultor made her continue for a few minutes before speaking, knowing that she was intentionally pumping him for information and that he had already made the decision to cave in. He waited as long as he could before speaking, taking advantage of the time to form his thoughts. That was until her hands began to grip his shoulders tighter, warning of her impatience.
"Lieutenant Jacobson was injured during combat? I was unaware. He seemed perfectly fine when I received his report." Commander Ultor asked, stalling for time.
Dr. Hesken worked her palm down his spine in one solid movement; even through the thick material of the military jacket he wore the pressure felt nice. "Don’t change the subject Cyril." Her chiding tone and casual use of his first name did a poor job of masking her pleasure of her imminent victory.
"I couldn’t say with certainty what would occur today when I sent the Omnos task force out on patrol, so I simply devised a set of plans for if they obeyed, or disobeyed a direct command from their superiors. If they had obeyed the order to refrain from fighting, I would have moved in a completely opposite direction from the one already set in motion," he admitted.
She moved her hands to the back of his neck, squeezing it gently, manipulating him as easily as clay. She could feel the stress flowing from him. His need for a friend and confidant had long ago placed his trust in her as such. "You would’ve been disappointed if they had refrained from combat though." She said, leaving the accusation hanging poignantly in the air.
He shook his head no, all the fight he could muster with his neck under the skillful control of her fingers. "Five years ago I would have agreed with you. Today however, I simply realized there were only two realities and made a plan based upon each. I will admit that it was a test, and one they failed. Although, I also expected events to unfold the way they did. By instructing them beforehand not to engage in combat, it was like telling a two-year-old not to touch something. In this instance, the only purpose my orders served was to make them seek out the specific outcome I told them to avoid. I actually doubt they would have engaged the PDF if I had not said anything before they left, especially without Kurtis accompanying them." Commander Ultor said.
"You played them then, why?" Dr. Hesken asked, accusing and curious at the same time.
"They came to me before they left, asking permission to escort a combat patrol as their first mission. They also notified me that Kurtis would be staying behind. As you well know, Aurora is operating the base off a shell consciousness and her core has not been seen since the destruction of Starkindler; and evidently because Kurtis created her, he might be able to fix her. The Earther’s had absolutely no access to the incredible intelligence gathering capabilities of Aurora or Kurtis and chose not to consider that factor when planning their first mission; a rookie mistake and one that they will have learned not to repeat again. I am sure that the PDF ambush will have left an indelible impression on them.” He said, pausing as she shifted the position of her hands to the sides of his neck, and therefore closer to his throat. “Also, by attacking the PDF with only three of their new units, it sets up the PDF for a powerful trap if we orchestrate events correctly. During a review of the battle by their High Command, one which the seeming re-appearance of Starkindler will mandate, the lapse of their intelligence gathering capabilities will become apparent. I wouldn’t be surprised if reinforcements to this region are already under way. They will flood this region in order to destroy what they believe to be Starkindler, as well as the two other advanced Earth types before word gets out. This will serve the dual purpose of giving the Omnos squad the combat experience they need as rapidly as possible, while continuing with the attrition of the local PDF.” As he finished speaking, Commander Ultor hung his head as if saying the words aloud made them a further weight that now bore down upon his shoulders.
/> Dr. Hesken retorted dryly. "Yeah, if the Earther’s don't die in the process."
"Drogdyn has informed me that Kurtis's abilities are not to be underestimated. He is most potent at manipulating events behind the scenes while enabling the others. Now, the Earther’s can choose to reveal his existence in battle whenever it best suits them; and when they finally do, spring a powerful trap against the PDF." Commander Ultor said.
"How much longer until Aurora’s core can be re-activated?" Dr. Hesken asked.
"I have no idea. Kurtis has not provided an update. From his description, her code will need to be drastically culled before once again becoming operational. Drogdyn and his team are assisting Kurtis with that process as we speak. The Aurora they will eventually activate has the potential to be a very different version than its predecessor." Commander Ultor said softly.
"That might not be such a bad thing in the end. I don’t envy the choices waiting for Mikkhael when he wakes up." Dr. Hesken whispered quietly to herself.
She continued to massage Commander Ultor, even as his quiet snores filled the room. After she was certain he was completely out and finally resting did she quietly leave, her gaze lingering over him before exiting. They had never been lovers; he remained true to his fallen wife all these years, a memory that she had never desired to compete against, and yet they were close in many ways, confidantes, and partners in more complicated ways. His age and the toll of command were catching up to him at a time when they would need his guiding hand more than ever. She reminded herself of the need to check in on him regularly.
* * * * *
Omnos squad landed in their assigned hangar without incident or fanfare, which suited their mood well. They were the first to return which suited their sullen mood just fine, too fragile to deal with the StormCrow’s querying eyes and piercing questions. Alyona was the first to land through the vertical chute that passed through the mountains layers. While they had been away, the technicians transferred Starkindler’s maintenance bay to their hangar. She docked quickly, exiting DawnsLight as rapidly as possible, needing to place as much distance between her and that confined space, in a machine that was dedicated to murder, as possible.
Nemesis (The MechaVerse Trilogy Book 2) Page 16
