Embracing Oblivion: Wolfpack Book 3

by Toby Neighbors

  “Sir, I don’t want to speak out of turn,” Dean said, standing up with the other officers, “but I wouldn’t send us out of system until you’ve secured the alien ship and done a proper sweep.”

  “Captain Blaze, you will stay behind,” RA Chancy said. “Our business is not yet finished.”

  “We’ll send a shuttle for you,” VA Duncan assured Dean, although it was little comfort.

  He had been excited to think of the long journey back to Earth with Esma. But he also knew Corporal Chancy was intent on ruining his career. Insane or not, the obstinate corporal had his father’s support and that fact didn’t give Dean much confidence. He looked at Esma, who knew everything about his problems with the irrational corporal, but there was nothing she or anyone else could do to help him. Dean was on his own and facing a very irate commander. He had no idea what Rear Admiral Chancy wanted him on board his flagship for, but he knew it wouldn’t be good.

  Chapter 3

  Dean watched everyone else march out of the room. Rear Admiral Chancy dismissed everyone but the two Recon officers, so that after a few moments there were only four people in the large room.

  “Captain Dean Blaze,” RA Chancy said, flicking on his data pad and looking at what Dean guessed was his service record. “You’re beginning to get a reputation as a rogue officer.”

  “That doesn’t reflect my feelings, sir,” Dean said.

  “It does, however, reflect your outlandish exploits. Acting contrary to explicit orders, a propensity to rush into danger, often at the expense of your platoon, and I might add, a bit of a glory hound.”

  “There is no place for insubordination in Recon,” growled the OWFR captain.

  “I would agree,” RA Chancy said. “You haven’t met my Recon officers. There are two platoons assigned to the Sparta, Captain Morris and Lieutenant Harding command them. Both are proven in the field, while you, I might say, are still wet behind the ears.”

  Dean wanted to argue but he knew it would do him no good. This wasn’t a debrief or a report about the aliens, it was a show of power, a bit of theater intended to show Dean his place.

  “I’ve been in EsDef longer than you’ve been alive,” the rear admiral went on. “And while you don’t know me very well, I assure you that I have friends in high places. Pissing me off is never a good idea.”

  “I had no intention of doing so, sir,” Dean said. “If I have, I apologize.”

  “You don’t think reprimanding me in front of other officers would piss me off?”

  “I didn’t mean anything I said as a reprimand.”

  “And yet you spoke as if you, a lowly Recon officer with almost no experience, knew better than me.”

  “That was not my intention.”

  “Ah, not your intention, the excuse of every insubordinate officer I have ever met. You do whatever you like and then fall back on the tried and true excuse of not intending to do anything wrong. I’m afraid that isn’t good enough for me. I require officers under my command to do what they are told and to mean what they say.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dean replied.

  Rear Admiral Chancy studied Dean for several moments before speaking again. The tension in the room was palpable, like high humidity on an August day.

  “My son is not mentally ill,” he finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “You will change your reports to reflect his exemplary service under your command. Recommend his promotion and give him the credit he is due for saving your platoon on Rome Three. In return, I will not destroy your career.”

  “Sir?” Dean said, his mind spinning from the obvious blackmail he was just threatened with. “I can’t do that.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “The reports from our mission on Rome Three have already been sent. And to be honest, I wouldn’t change them even if I could.”

  “I’ve seen your report,” RA Chancy said in a condescending tone. “Luckily for your sake, you did not disparage my son, or soil his reputation with your lies. I know it was his idea to cut the power in Vatican City, as well as capture the transport. He told me how he led the capture of the Pope. Yet in your report it excludes those facts entirely.”

  “I won’t argue with you, sir, but your son is lying to you.”

  “And you have proof of that I suppose?”

  “Yes,” Dean said, but didn’t say more. He didn’t know if it was possible for a rear admiral to erase the data banks of another ship, but he knew the only record of their actions on Rome Three were the vid footage from their battle armor, which Dean had already downloaded onto the Charlemagne’s databanks. Without that proof, the accusations that were being bandied about could only be countered by his own testimony.

  “Be that as it may, I would like you to file an amendment to your initial report.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but I won’t do that.”

  “Ah, that was what I was afraid of. Unfortunately, relieving you of command would seem circumspect at this stage. I will just have to find another way to ruin you, Captain. And believe me, I’ve destroyed the careers of men more intelligent and capable than you. I’m not the man you want as your enemy.”

  “No, sir,” Dean said.

  Captain Morris leaned over and whispered in his commander’s ear. Dean saw the older man’s eyelid twitch. He wasn’t sure if he was hearing an idea he liked or disliked, but it was the first time he’d ever noticed a person’s tell before. The involuntary eye twitch gave away the rear admiral’s intentions. Whatever he said next, Dean knew, he wouldn’t be able to trust that it wasn’t a trap.

  “We will recover the alien vessel, of course. And since your platoon has the most experience with these strange creatures, I’m assigning you the task of exploring the main section of their ship.”

  Dean didn’t see anything strange about the order. It was the first thing Rear Admiral Chancy had done that made sense to Dean. Then the older officer lowered the boom.

  “You still have non-lethals on board the Charlemagne I assume?”

  Dean’s heart dropped into his stomach. The last thing he wanted to do was to risk his platoon with non-lethal weapons. No one knew if the non-lethal ammunition would even stop the alien creatures.

  “We do, sir, but I don’t think-”

  “You aren’t paid to think, Captain. You are trained to obey. Recon may be the popular wing of EsDef, but in reality you’re just well-trained dogs. And a dog who doesn’t obey his master is beyond worthless. The only thing to do with an animal like that is to put it down. Do you take my meaning, Captain?”

  “Are you saying that if I don’t obey you’re going to kill me?”

  “Of course not,” RA Chancy said. “That would be criminal. What I’m saying is that you will prepare your platoon for combat armed with non-lethal weapons only. If you take so much as a razor blade into that alien ship I will strip the bars from your shoulders and launch you from the airlock personally. I want one of those creatures brought back alive.”

  “What if they’re already dead?” Dean asked.

  “Then I wouldn’t bother coming back, Captain.”

  RA Chancy and Captain Morris stood up together. Dean realized the meeting was over. He knew he was being fed to the wolves in the hopes that his entire platoon would be wiped out. It was the easiest fix for Rear Admiral Chancy’s problems. Having a mentally impaired child wouldn’t look good for his ambitions and it was obvious the commander had his eye on being the next Fleet Admiral in Charge of EsDef operations.

  “Lieutenant, see that Captain Blaze is taken to the shuttle bay,” RA Chancy said.

  “Yes, Commander,” Harding replied.

  The Rear Admiral and Lieutenant Morris left the room as Dean got slowly to his feet. He didn’t feel like talking, yet it was surprising to see Lieutenant Harding holding a finger over his lips. He waved for Dean to follow him and they walked in silence through the pristine corridors of the Sparta. Everything about the flagship seemed too large. The hatchways were too tall, the ro
oms too big. Not that ample space wasn’t welcome on a space craft, Dean had just never experienced such luxury on an EsDef ship or space base. Even the Alrakis Ship Yards seemed second rate in comparison.

  Dean’s evaluation of the Sparta was interrupted by his worry over the orders he’d just received. He knew that going into the alien ship would be dangerous. If there were beings alive on the ruined space craft, they would almost certainly be hostile. If there weren’t, he was facing a hostile rear admiral with two full platoons of Recon warriors ready to do his bidding. He was just calculating his odds of survival when Lieutenant Harding pulled Dean into a small maintenance enclosure.

  “Well, that was a real shit show,” Harding said.

  “I’m sorry?” Dean replied, not knowing what the lieutenant was referring to.

  “RA Chancy isn’t used to anyone denying him,” Harding went on. “And he wasn’t lying about ruining careers. He’s risen through the ranks by climbing over the carcasses of EsDef officers who didn’t support his ambitions.”

  “What was I supposed to do?” Dean said, not really asking the question. “I won’t lie. His son is delusional.”

  “No, you couldn't lie and a true Recon officer would never back away from a fight, especially when they have the high ground. But you need to be careful. Whatever proof you think you have about his son, you better make copies and keep it well hidden. You can bet he’s already got people working to destroy it.”

  “I guessed as much,” Dean said, doing his best not to let the stab of fear he felt at the thought of someone erasing the data storage on board the Charlemagne show on his face.

  “And watch your back. If the rear admiral can’t ruin you, he won’t hesitate to throw you to the wolves and hope you meet an unfortunate end.”

  “Like being sent into an alien ship with non-lethal ammo?”

  “Exactly. And you can bet your ass you won’t be going in alone. Morris is Chancy’s personal hit squad. If he’s with you, there’ll be no doubt that the commander is gunning for you.”

  “So why are you telling me all of this?” Dean asked. “If the rear admiral finds out…”

  “He won’t find out. He doesn’t own me. And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I let good Recon platoons get slaughtered just to promote his career ambitions.”

  “Well, thank you,” Dean said. “It’s nice to have an ally for a change.”

  “I doubt I can do anything else for you. I’m barely tolerated around here. I’m only a lieutenant and not in RA Chancy’s inner circle. Watch you back and take care of your platoon, Captain. That’s the limit of my help.”

  “It’s better than nothing,” Dean said, thinking that at least his worst fears had been confirmed in advance.

  Chapter 4

  “What the hell, Captain?” Chavez said. “Non-lethal ammo? Again?”

  “We’re being set up for failure,” Dean admitted. “The ranking officer is Corporal Chancy’s father.”

  “Oh, shit,” Chavez replied.

  “Oh, yes, and he’s spoken with his son, so we’re public enemy number one for the rear admiral. That’s why I need you to take this,” Dean said, handing his staff sergeant a micro memory card. “It’s the vid feed from my TCU during our mission on Rome Three.”

  Dean had been shuttled from the Sparta to the Charlemagne, arriving shortly after the rest of the officers from the sit-rep meeting which had turned into a witch hunt. The officers from the Roosevelt were still being assigned quarters on the much smaller ship, and Dean had no idea what Vice Admiral Duncan would do with the maintenance crew and operators from the ship that had fallen to the alien vessel. Still, he was more than happy to suggest that Captain Dante be assigned to his berth.

  Esma was angry with the treatment Admiral Holden had received on the Sparta, and frustrated that she had nothing to do. She followed Dean to his quarters and frowned when she saw the lone bunk. It was barely large enough for one person, but he quickly volunteered to sleep on the deck. Then he told her what Lieutenant Morris had warned him of, and she quickly went to work at his computer console. Dean gave her his password, so that she could access the Charlemagne’s databanks and it only took a few minutes to discover that the record from his mission on Rome Three had already been erased. Dean felt a stab of terror until Esma informed him that the redundant back-up was still intact. She made several copies of his vid feed and the mission information that had been recorded by his TCU.

  “You think he’s going to try and erase the proof of his insubordination?” the staff sergeant asked.

  “I think he’s been trying ever since we got back to the Charlemagne,” Dean said. “We thought he was having a mental break down, but it was all an act.”

  “That little rat bastard!” Chavez exclaimed.

  “He came pretty close, too,” Dean went on. “He had the main drive cracked, but VA Duncan keeps a back-up. Captain Dante discovered what Chancy’s been up to as soon as she got on board. She’s in my quarters now making more copies. You hide that one somewhere and don’t tell anyone about it.”

  “I can do that,” Chavez said.

  “Then get the platoon geared up, including Corporal Chancy. I don’t care if he’s clucking like a chicken. He’s going on this mission.”

  “Yes sir, Captain,” Chavez said.

  Dean ran his hand over his hair and realized he was due for a trim. He liked keeping his hair cut close to his scalp, but he hadn’t had time for much grooming since being assigned to the E.S.D.F. Charlemagne. Dean walked slowly down the rotating corridor of the aging ship. She was small and a bit old fashioned, but Dean thought she had more character than the flagship Sparta, even if she was smaller and slower.

  At his quarters Dean found Captain Esmerelda Dante hard at work on his computer console. She looked beautiful in the loose fitting naval fatigues. She kept her black hair short, which accented the oval shape of her face. Her brown skin and large eyes made Dean’s chest ache with longing. For three days before the Sparta and Rear Admiral Chaney’s armada of ships had arrived in the Alrakis system, they had been together. It had been three of the best days of Dean’s life, even though they hadn’t been intimate yet. He wanted to, and she certainly seemed eager when they had romantic encounters, but they never went beyond kissing. There was a hesitation on Esma’s part, and Dean had hoped that they would have time to overcome it. He wasn’t the kind of person to press his desires, in fact he felt like he’d won the lottery just getting to spend time with the exotic captain. And he was happy whenever they were together. She was the only person that he had ever felt like he could get lost with, as if no matter where they were or what they had to do, he would be happy.

  “What’s going on?” Dean asked.

  “I’ve got a link set up on your battle armor,” Esma said happily. “I’ll monitor you as much as possible, and when you get back the computer will automatically make multiple copies of your armor’s recordings. It should be enough to keep your rogue corporal from sabotaging your career.”

  “Wow! You’re a technical genius,” Dean said, leaning down over her chair.

  “Well, they don’t just teach us to fly drones in the O&A. We have to know how the computer systems work too.”

  “You saved my ass, Captain.”

  “Then we’re square, Captain,” she said just before Dean’s lips pressed lightly against hers. “I just wish I could run the shuttle that takes you over to the alien ship.”

  “Owens would let you I’m sure,” Dean said.

  “No, I can’t, it wouldn’t be proper. If he asked, I could step in, but this is his command, not mine. He’s ultimately responsible for the operations on board, and I know I’d be royally pissed if someone else pulled rank on me.”

  “That’s because you have such a big heart,” Dean said.

  He stood up and stretched. He didn’t want to leave Esma, but he was happy to be getting back into action. Three days of rest felt like a luxurious vacation to Dean, who always tried to keep busy, even dur
ing the long lulls of space travel. He was anxious to work up a sweat and test his limits again, even though he hoped there was nothing alive on the alien ship that might endanger his platoon.

  His platoon had been shuttled back to the ship from the space station and soon they would be flown out to the alien vessel, which was in two pieces. When last Dean checked, neither section had shown any signs of life. The rear part of the ship was one long, cylindrical vessel that was obviously cobbled together from dozens of space faring vehicles, none of which looked familiar to Dean. The front half was little more than the huge pincer arms which had hooked onto the Alrakis space station.

  “No,” Esma said, “it’s because I’ve been the junior officer micro managed by talentless rank climbers. There’s nothing worse than having your hard-earned skills cast aside as if they don’t mean anything.”

  “Well, LT Owens is a good guy. You should get to know him.”

  “Perhaps I will if you don’t come back.”

  “Hey, that’s not funny,” Dean said.

  “No, it isn’t. So don’t let it happen, Dean. I mean that. I know we’re still getting to know one another, but I don’t want to lose you.”

  “I don’t want to be lost,” Dean said. “And I don’t want my platoon to get hurt either. Hopefully all the creatures on that ship are dead.”

  “But don’t take any chances,” Esma urged him.

  “No, I won’t. I just wish I wasn’t getting stuck with non-lethal ammo. It almost got us killed on Rome Three.”

  “Do you wish you had been given live ammo to use on the colonists?” she asked.

  “I don’t want to harm anyone who doesn’t threaten me or the people I care about,” Dean said, winking at Esma, before his tone became more solemn. “But when you’re under heavy attack, it is not fun to know that you’re shooting tranquilizer darts back at the enemy.”

  “You can’t take something a little more powerful?” she asked.

  “That’s exactly what the rear admiral is hoping I’ll do. If I disobey his direct order he’ll use it to ruin my career.”