Casserine

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  Chapter 9

  Bougainville

  “Hello Jake,” Risling said, as his image cleared on the screen in front of Jake. “I take it you have watched the little gem of a movie I scrounged up for your entertainment. If not for my having succumbed to this old video thing I picked up from you and Byers, I would never have stumbled on it. I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw it.”

  “General, have they moved on Bougainville?”

  “We have one of our Star Battleships, the Gallant, in orbit with five Marine regiments on board. They have everything we did not have on Omaha until the end: MAG50’s with special warheads, state of the art particle beam blasters, and a hell of a lot of surface craft that are impenetrable.”

  “So, we don’t plan to use the Marines as bait this time?”

  Risling laughed. “No Major, but we have an added fear this time. Our lab boys believe these things may have some sort of group consciousness, and they may be spread out all over this sector, because of the similarity of conditions on this range of planets in the Omaha quadrant. We have no idea when the Crystal deposits on Omaha will run out, and with the colony expansion plans we have in progress through the Jump Gate, our requirements for more fuel cells has jumped exponentially. The manufacturing and processing plants on Omaha have revolutionized our capabilities, not to mention our supply lines. They have even begun to have breakthroughs in atmospheric filtering, using the crystal technology.”

  “In other words,” Jake mused, “they think these things are native to the region, and they have some way to mentally stay in contact. Lastly, we can’t avoid them if we plan to continue mining.”

  “It sounds far fetched, but the Bugs should never have been able to get at the Bougainville colonists before they escaped off world. The survivors told us the Bugs attacked as if they knew the colony had an escape craft. They sealed off the escape ship with a horde of the things, while the rest attacked the colony. If not for the Marine detachment there, the colonists would never have broken through to the ship.”

  “How did they feed on so many before the grunts broke through,” Jake asked, his fists clenching in front of him. “I thought we were using a habitat technology, impervious to attacks by any kind of creature, since the Omaha experience.”

  Risling leaned back, and closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to figure how to explain the situation. He straightened once more and folded his hands in front of him. “The Bugs sent in sappers to infiltrate the quarters, and hold the hatches for the horde. Larsen saved the colony.”

  “Deke Larsen?” Jake exclaimed. “Deke and I are close.”

  “I’m sorry to tell you this Jake, but Larsen died at Bougainville. He saw the swarm, and managed to get his squad together while the Bugs were laying waste to everyone moving. His squad opened up with the particle beam blasters, and he set up a MAG50. Larsen knew their only hope was to reach the escape ship. He blew out the enclosure nearest the escape ship, where the horde had its densest swarm.”

  “With his squad vaporizing everything in sight,” Risling went on, his voice choked with emotion, “Larsen screamed, beat, and kicked colonists through his makeshift escape hatch. The Marines retreated around them, blasting as they went with every weapon in their arsenal.”

  “Jesus,” Jake whispered. “Deke went with me into the nest. We went through boot camp together, and the whole shit storm on Omaha.”

  “The Bugs covered the escape ship,” Risling went on. “All Larsen and what was left of his squad could do was use their hand held energy weapons to shoot their way into the ship without damaging it. They held the entry hatch until the colonists were able to get in. All but two of the squad died at the hatch, including Lieutenant Larsen. The colonists escaped the surface. The pilot flying the escape craft turned to, and annihilated the bastards with the ship’s pulse cannons, until they fled into the ground. One of the Marine’s had to beg him to leave the surface, using the wounded to convince him to go.”

  “Tea!” Jake said, striking the desktop in front of him. “Okay General, I know you didn’t lay this shit on me just for the hell of it. What’s the bottom line?”

  “We have another Star Battleship in route to Bougainville right now, where they will stay in orbit until further notice. You will proceed to Bougainville, and assume command of all Marine Regiments in orbit there, Colonel Matthews. I am giving you a field promotion, which will be permanent. I have permission from Command to promote you temporarily to Brigadier General for your arrival on the Gallant, to assume command of all forces on this mission. The Queen down there will have repopulated the planet in anticipation of another Omaha. I expect you to disappoint her.”

  “You got that right,” Jake said through clenched teeth. “The only thing she’ll see similar to Omaha is when I slice into her God Damn head with my Gear Knife.”

  “I meant for you to command this operation, Jake, not lead it.” Risling watched Jake’s features draw into a solemn mask, and his hands grip the desktop in front of him. Risling heard the desk material begin to crack.

  “Either I command this operation as I see fit, General,” Jake said fiercely, “or you may have my resignation immediately.”

  Risling nodded. “I would not send any other man to lead those Marines. Do so in any way you feel necessary.”

  “Then I’m your man,” Jake said quietly.

  “I will inform Major Stedman of all the details, and that she will be leaving as soon as you are ready.”

  “I’m ready now, General.”

  “Get some sleep, Jake, and say goodbye to Lieutenant Byers properly. Those Marines on the Gallant will not be moving until you say so.”

  “Aye, aye Sir,” Jake replied.

  “Good luck, Jake,” Risling said. “I will talk to you when you reach the Gallant. Risling out.”

  Jake watched the blank screen for a moment, as he calmed himself down, and turned off the com unit. He left faint impressions of his hands in the edges of the desk, with small spirals of cracks, emanating outward from where his hands had been in contact with the desk surface. He stood up stiffly, realizing his whole body had been tensed through the entire conversation with Risling. When he turned, Adrian stood at the doorway, tears streaming down her face.

  “You realize of course,” Jake said, as he walked over and took her into his arms, “this conversation was for my eyes only. Apparently, you have decided to ignore the Casserine command structure once again.”

  Adrian began to cry. Jake lifted her easily up into his arms, and carried her into their bedroom.

  Major Stedman walked up alongside Chief Tim Dougherty, as he watched from the viewing port in the hanger bay. Jake Matthews exited the Casserine living quarters with an equipment bag. Tim noticed his commanding officer, and began to jump to attention for a salute; but Stedman shook her head.

  “At ease, Chief,” Stedman said joining the Chief at the viewing port. “I see the General, but no farewell party.”

  “Jake. I mean Colonel Matthews, is probably in the doghouse,” Tim replied, chuckling. “I doubt Lieutenant Byers took the news very well.”

  “She must realize the gravity of the situation. General Matthews is a Marine, not a civilian.”

  “I like the Lieutenant a lot, Ma’am,” Tim explained, “but in the case of the newly promoted Commander of our task force, her priorities tend to get jumbled up.”

  Stedman nodded in agreement. “Understandable, but.”

  The Commander of the Tennyson paused as Jake made it to the gangplank and turned abruptly as if called. A scantily clad Lieutenant Byers came hurrying towards him from the steps of their shared quarters. Jake dropped his bag and met her halfway. Their passionate embrace caused a hurried turn about from the viewing port for the Chief and his Commander.

  “Well, that looked like a proper goodbye, Chief,” Stedman said, a knowing smile spreading slightly at her mouth.

  “And then some, Skipper,” Dougherty laughed, “and then some.”

  The two
of them walked over to the entry port, awaiting Jake’s progress through the gravitational and atmosphere locks. He stepped through the hatch moments later, setting his bag down, and snapping to with a stiff salute.

  “Permission to come aboard, Ma’am?”

  Stedman returned the salute briskly. “Permission granted, General.”

  She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Congratulations on you promotion, Sir. We are all pleased to have you on board for this mission.”

  Jake shook her hand, as he heard the ship readying to leave land dock. “Thank you, Jan. Would you excuse me for a moment.”

  “Of course, Sir,” Stedman replied, as Jake gave Chief Dougherty a playful shove. Tim had smilingly blocked Jake’s way to the viewing port.

  Jake hurried over to the viewing port as he felt the Tennyson begin to lift slowly. Below, Adrian had retreated to the porch of the living quarters, and stood with her arms folded over her chest in the chilly atmosphere. Dougherty walked up next to his friend, as Adrian saw Jake’s face in the port. She promptly spun around, and pulled up her negligee, bending forward slightly as she stuck out her bare bottom, mooning him.

  “Why you little… minx,” Jake exclaimed, placing his hand on the port surface, as Tim clapped both hands over his mouth to keep from laughing, and turned away again from the port.

  Adrian turned as she heard the Tennyson move away, giving Jake a small wave of her hand, and then held it out to him. Jake placed both of his hands on the port, as Adrian’s figure receded into the distance. Tim put his hand on Jake’s shoulder in commiseration with his friend.

  “She’s a hell of a woman, General.”

  Jake turned finally from the port, and with a curt nod of acknowledgement, he walked over and retrieved his equipment bag. Stedman had remained where she was, as her Executive Officer took the ship out into space to begin the journey to Bougainville.

  “The Chief will show you to your quarters, General,” Stedman said. “Please let me know if there is anything we will need to discuss before reaching the Gallant.”

  “I will get squared away, Major, and then come and see you,” Jake replied. “How many Drop Ships have you?”

  “Two of our own, and three we were ordered to transport, along with the cargo of fuel cells.”

  “Good,” Jake nodded, “because we will need all of them. I need access to all updated technology designed for mining, and anything we have on what they have come up with for tracking the Bug nest from what little information they saved from Omaha.”

  “I will put my Communications Officer on it right away, Sir, anything else?”

  “Not for now,” Jake answered. “If you think of anything in the course of this operation you think I may have overlooked, please call me on it. I value your input.”

  “Thank you, General,” Stedman replied. “One thing will have to be addressed. Captain Corey has been pretty shaken since seeing that movie. Could you talk to her? I had the Chief here try to have words with her, but he had no luck.”

  ‘Tea,” Tim acknowledged. “She’s got the heebie jeebies real bad, Sir. She wouldn’t talk to me or Chief Warrant Officer Russell.”

  “Very well,” Jake agreed. “I will have a talk with her. Thanks for the heads up.”

  “I don’t like shuffling off anyone under my command,” Stedman admitted. “Because of these special circumstances though, and the fact you know her so well, I thought you would be receptive to the idea of talking to her. She’s a fine pilot.”

  “I agree. We were all shaken after that movie with what’s happened on Bougainville, except for the Chief here, who doesn’t have the IQ to know when to be scared.”

  Stedman and Dougherty laughed in appreciation of the good-natured insult. Stedman gave them a little wave, and walked away to resume her duties. Tim gestured for Jake to come along.

  “Do you think Sara really is in bad shape, Tim?”

  “I don’t know for sure,” Dougherty admitted. “She’s stayed in her quarters since the movie. I was surprised when Major Stedman asked me to talk to her, because that would mean Sara had probably rebuffed an attempt by Stedman to talk. I gave her a call, asking if she wanted to talk, and she said no. Chief Russell gave it a shot with the same results. Maybe she just needs some time. Like you said, none of us felt real good after the news.”

  “She saw a lot of Marines go down at Omaha, right in front of her eyes. I’m sure she figured she would never have to see that shit again. I know I didn’t,” Jake added, as Tim stopped in front of a cabin located within the Officer’s section.

  “Amen, brother,” Dougherty replied fervently, gesturing Jake inside. “Say, will your leash stretch all the way from Casserine to the Gallant? I.”

  “Very funny,” Jake said, as Tim laughed at his send up of the Matthews’ and Byers’ relationship. “Get out of here, and I’ll hook up with you later after I talk to Sara.”

  “Aye, Aye, Sir,” Tim acknowledged, stiffening to attention with a smile. “You know of course you will not be proceeding to Bougainville without me, don’t you, Sir?”

  Jake nodded. “I will want the premier Drop Ship gunner on board the one planting me down there. Any suggestions?”

  “Ha, ha,” Dougherty retorted. “Not funny.”

  “Dismissed Chief, I’ll see you later.”

  Tim nodded, waving on his way out.

  Jake tapped on the outer hatch door of Captain Corey’s quarters.

  ‘Tea,” Corey answered on the intercom.

  “It’s Jake, Sara. Can I come in?”

  The hatch hissed open a moment later. Corey stood to the side of the entrance, and waved Jake in. “Have a seat, Sir. Congratulations on your promotion. Can I get you anything?”

  Jake nodded, and went over to sit on one of the two chairs in the quarters. Corey came over and sat down in the other one. Corey looked to Jake as if she had not slept since he had seen her last. “How are you Sara? I heard my little presentation hit you kind of hard.”

  “I never thought I’d ever see another one of those things, Jake,” Corey admitted. “To see those movie things appearing so close to the real thing, and then find out the ship I’m on is heading out to find them in person, well.”

  “I know,” Jake cut in. “I came here to tell you not to worry about it. You will not be flying a Drop Ship down to the surface at Bougainville. You did your time, I’ll.”

  “General,” Corey interrupted, “I’m not a coward. I know with what happened the first time we met up, you might have some doubts, but.”

  “I have no doubts, Sara. You have the option of acting in a teaching position until we hook up with the Gallant, and depending on how many Omaha Vets they have, you may continue on in an advisory type status. I need pilots to know what to expect, and how to react when they take Marines to the surface. Work with the others beginning right now, and then let me know later whether you want to pilot down or not. No pressure. Fair enough?”

  “More than fair, Sir,” Sara said gratefully. “Will this be like Omaha?”

  “Hell no,” Jake said emphatically. “We have a whole lot more going for us now than we did then. It would help to have a video record from Omaha, but there are enough of us survivors to get everyone else ready. We will be in orbit with the Gallant until I am satisfied with our readiness. They rushed us onto Omaha, and used us for bait. That will not happen again.”

  Jake stood up and held out his hand. Corey snapped to attention from her chair and saluted instead. Jake returned her salute formally. Corey completed her salute, and then awkwardly hugged Jake. He returned it, holding her tightly for a moment.

  “Byers is a lucky woman, Sir,” Cory told him, as she stepped away.

  Jake laughed suddenly, and explained how Adrian had said goodbye to him. He left Corey, still howling in laughter he could hear even as her hatch closed behind him. His next stop was the bridge, where he found Major Stedman going over navigational information, on asteroid fields along their course, with one of her flight
crew. Stedman saw Jake and held up a finger, indicating she needed one more moment. Jake nodded, and busied himself by peering over the Weapons Officer’s shoulder. For a transport, the Tennyson was heavily armed, due to the nature of the ship’s main duty: transporting fuel cells. The Weapons Officer, Lieutenant Richardson, smiled over his shoulder at Jake.

  “Hello General, congratulations.”

  “Thanks Nick. I never got a chance to thank you for leaving me that MAG50 on Casserine. It made all the difference.”

  “I knew they were underestimating the situation down there,” Richardson nodded. “Hell, what would an RP30 do against a ship with even minimum armor. I made out on the deal, Jake. You did all the work, and

  Risling gave me a commendation for pointing out the situation. I’m the man now, because you know how to work the tools.”

  “I heard the General made you the new Weapon’s Officer on the Tennyson. I didn’t know it had anything to do with leaving me something to defend myself with. I knew you snuck me the Fifty out from under Anderson’s nose.”

  “He busted me down at the base in front of Risling, just before you blew the shit out of that Pirate cruiser. Risling booted him into a desk job in inventory, and gave me his crib,” Richardson explained with satisfaction. “When in doubt, always back the Marines.”

  Jake laughed, clapping his hand on Richardson’s shoulder in appreciation. “Remember that when we get to Bougainville, Nick.”

  Richardson stood up and turned to face Jake. His mahogany color seemed even darker while wearing the bridge crew white uniform top. He looked into Jake’s eyes from the same level. “Anything you want, Jake, you ask. Hell, I’ll get you a planet killer. You can blow Bougainville off the star charts. We’ll tell Risling it was an accident.”

  “Thanks Nick, I appreciate that,” Jake smiled. “I would like your input on whether we can mount one of the MAG50’s on each of the Drop Ships in a turret. With those special warheads, we could clear an area real fast without landing.”

  “Great idea,” Nick said, turning to his console and calling up the diagrams on a Drop Ship. “Look here.”