Jack knew it was not an option. He would have to attend the final test. At least he would get to see Reyes again.
7
Jack found a quiet cantina where he grabbed a bite to eat. He found a washroom and doused his body with warm water. It was a brief moment of luxury in the weeks and months of near constant work and war. While he washed the last residue of the synthesized Chitin slime from his skin, he wondered how Reyes would make it adhere to the hull of a spacecraft. He realized she would know how to do it, and then he realized he was only thinking about her.
Soon his communicator burst to life with the voice of Agent Visser. The final test was about to begin. Jack made his way to a landing pad on the roof level of the massive Fleet complex.
Jack stepped out into the cool breeze on the high landing pad. A single fighter was sitting on the pad, with Reyes busily running around it. She directed a drone work detail as it sprayed a coating of chemical cloak over the fighter. He stood to one side of the landing pad next to Rear Admiral Tel Jackman.
“This must work,” Jackman said under his breath.
“It’ll work, sir,” Jack said.
Jackman replied with an unconvinced grunt.
A pilot from the Fleet Fighter Corps was checking and double-checking the spray coating. He ducked under the nose section of the fighter. Jack noticed the markings alongside the cockpit. They seemed familiar.
The pilot stepped up alongside Reyes as she worked. He laughed and joked with her. She looked to be enjoying the attention of the flamboyant pilot.
“Excuse me, sir,” Jack said to the rear admiral before walking over to the fighter craft.
Jack spoke as he stepped forward. “The cloak works. I have tested it myself. You are in good hands, Commander.”
Commander Scherer looked at Reyes with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m happy to be in your hands any time, Sarah.”
Sarah laughed lightly and carried on with her work.
Jack stepped in front of Commander Scherer, placing himself between the pilot and Reyes. “You look familiar, Commander,” Jack said.
“And she looks…” Scherer looked past Jack at Reyes hard at work.
Jack felt the jealousy rise in him. This flyboy was interested in Reyes, and he didn’t like it. Then, feeling foolish for his stupid attack of jealousy, Jack held out his hand to the pilot. “Good luck, Commander.” Jack knew he meant it.
“If she is as good they say, I won’t need luck.” Scherer looked at Reyes as she climbed a ladder to stand on top of the drive assembly at the rear of the cockpit.
“She is that good,” Jack said. “We’ve known each other a long time.”
Scherer looked at Jack, and a smile crept across his face along with the sudden realization that he was treading on Jack’s toes by looking at and admiring Reyes. Scherer straightened and looked at Jack with a cheeky grin. “Understood, Major. I can see why you would want to take care of her. I hope she can take care of me with this chemical cloak. If it doesn’t work, those Chits will vaporize me, or worse.”
Reyes stepped away from the fighter. The pack of drones flew away, and the fighter was fully prepared.
Rear Admiral Jackman stepped toward Commander Scherer. The pilot snapped to attention and delivered a crisp salute. Jack saw the serious Fleet pilot beneath the playful exterior as he respectfully met the rear admiral.
Returning the salute, Jackman stepped forward and offered his hand to Scherer. “Good luck, Commander. We’ll be watching closely. Fly true.”
Scherer shook the admiral’s hand and nodded. “Fly true, sir. Copy that.”
Jack stepped away from the fighter as the drone ground crew finalized the ship for launch. Reyes stepped alongside Jack.
Jack touched Reyes’s hand secretively. She returned his touch.
“We are good together, Sarah,” Jack said.
Reyes nodded.
“I want you to have something,” Jack said. He put his hand into his pocket.
Sarah smiled expectantly.
“It’s not much, but it is mine and I want you to have it.” Jack held out his clenched fist. He opened it. Sitting on his palm was his family watch in the black composite case Reyes had made for it.
Sarah smiled and took the watch. “You sure you want me to have it?” she asked, looking at the watch held delicately in her hand. “It must be valuable.”
“It reminds me of family,” Jack said. “I want it to remind you of me.”
Reyes nodded and put the watch in her pocket. Then she looked over to the fighter as Commander Scherer climbed into the cockpit.
“I hope he’ll be okay,” she said, looking at Scherer and the fighter with its experimental chemical cloak.
“Let’s go and find out,” Jack said, and he walked off with Reyes at his side.
The operation center at Fleet Command and Control was vast but similar in design to the command deck on battleships. Jack had spent enough time on the command deck of the Scorpio to recognize the various stations.
At the center of it all, was the holostage. The image currently displayed was that of the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters on Eros. A sprawling complex of buildings, shipyards, hangars, barracks, shopping malls, and gardens. It was a city in its own right, a city dedicated to one thing: the management of the Eros System Fleet.
Jack was invited to stand at the holostage by Rear Admiral Jackman. Reyes stepped up next to him. Across the large holostage from Jack was another rear admiral that Jack recognized from the briefing he had attended in the huge conference hall. It was the rear admiral of Fleet Command, the man responsible for all fleet materials, from the carrier-class vessels down to the last round of ammunition for the fleet’s hail cannons. Rear Admiral Victor Orlov was here today to watch the single fighter fly out to the very edge of the Eros System, right into the face of the enemy armada.
Jackman was clearly running the operation. He called out for the image on the holostage to show the fighter’s progress. The small red blip of Commander Scherer’s Blade appeared on the image of the Eros System. It had already passed the distant gas giant and home world of the Chitins and was racing toward the sphere of Chitin ships still surrounding the system.
A voice from one of the stations called out.
“Target will be in range of the Chitins in five minutes.”
Jack watched the painfully slow progress as the Blade raced at maximum speed toward the wall of Chitin craft. Then the moment of truth came.
The image of the fighter pulsed, its marker light on the holoimage growing and shrinking.
“In range of the Chitin ships now,” Jackman said. “Focus on the fighter and increase zoom.”
The image zoomed in on the fighter. The marker dot on the holoimage was replaced by an image of the ship relayed back from the micro drones that the fleet had scattered throughout the system.
The fighter moved closer to the wall of Chitin craft. Then the image of the first Chitin craft appeared on the edge of the holoimage. Jack could tell even from the small part of the craft to be shown that it was a Leviathan, its long, tentacle-like structures stretching forward of the massive warship.
The fighter slowed as it approached the Leviathan and moved in closer. Then the fighter drifted alongside the Leviathan, maneuvering to within a few hundred meters of the massive ship.
After a breathless few minutes for Jack and Sarah, Commander Scherer flew past the Leviathan and beyond. Jack turned to Reyes. He realized he was holding her hand. They let their hands slip away from each other.
“It worked,” Jack said.
Reyes looked up at him, smiling. “It worked,” she said.
The fighter turned around and raced back toward the inner system. The data relayed from the fighter’s sensor nodes showed the spaceward side of the Chitin wall. The huge Leviathan hung in space, seemingly inert. Dead. Surrounding the Leviathan were Hydras and Krakens. All seemingly dead in space.
A new signal appeared on the holostage, racing out from the in
ner system and following the path Commander Scherer had taken.
“Here comes our control ship now,” Rear Admiral Jackman said.
Rear Admiral Orlov leaned in. “I wish we hadn’t sent a fighter for this test, Tel,” Orlov said. “We could have just sent a drone. I can’t afford to lose a fighter at this stage. I need every ship.”
“We need to test them with proper ships.” Jackman stared intently at the holoimage. “The Chits have ignored drones in the past. This is the only way to be sure.”
The image of the new fighter pulsed as Scherer’s fighter had done before it.
Jack looked at Reyes. “It’s coming into range of the Chitins now,” Jack said.
“Is that ship on autopilot?” Reyes asked. She looked at Rear Admiral Jackman. Receiving no reply, she spoke up again, more anxiously. “Is that fighter unmanned?”
Jackman looked at the holoimage. A plasma arc leapt out from the Leviathan and slammed into the fighter. The fighter exploded and vanished from the image, leaving only a holofile on the image with details of the ship that had just been destroyed.
With the second test fighter destroyed, the first fighter, piloted by the commander of the Orphan Blades Squadron, began its flight back to Eros. It moved slowly past the Leviathan and lingered in range of the plasma arc weapon. The Leviathan did not react to the fighter. Reyes’s chemical cloak worked.
“We did it,” Jackman said. He turned away from the holostage and looked about the vast operation center. The operators were standing at their stations. They cheered and punched the air. Jackman repeated, “We did it. Operation Cloak is a success.”
Victor Orlov called for calm. “We still have work to do. Prepare the transports. I want every transport cloaked and ready to fly. Time is critical. Let’s get to it.”
Reyes looked at Jack. “I hope that was an unmanned ship,” she said.
Jack had no way of knowing, but he suspected that the fleet would not have trusted a test on an unmanned ship. It was cruel and ruthless. It was war.
A pair of Fleet Intelligence enforcers stepped up beside Reyes and took hold of her.
Jack felt fury build in him. He grabbed one enforcer and pulled his hand off Reyes. The other pulled out a tazer baton. The baton fizzed into life and the enforcer moved it toward Jack.
“Major Forge,” Rear Admiral Jackman shouted. “Control yourself, man.” Jack let go of the enforcer. The enforcers quickly escorted Reyes away. Jack began to follow. Reyes looked back over her shoulder.
“I’ve got work to do, Jack. They’ll need me if we are going to produce enough of the chemical cloak for all the transport ships. I’ll see you when it’s done.”
A Fleet Intelligence agent stepped in front of Jack. He placed a black-gloved hand on Jack’s chest and fixed Jack with a stare. “You need to return to your ship, Major. You will have instructions. We all have our jobs to do.”
Jack brushed past the agent and marched out of the operation center. He opened a channel to Torent on the Scorpio.
“Send a tac boat down, Sam. I’m returning to the Scorpio immediately.”
8
Jack assembled his battalion on the Marine deck. The orders had come through from Fleet Headquarters, from Marine General Wallace himself. The Scorpio Battalion was to manage the boarding of the transport ships at the capital dockyard on Eros. No sooner had Jack returned to the Scorpio than he was preparing to depart again.
The battalion was kitted out for a police and security operation. The Marines wore their standard shipboard operational dress, with packs that contained rations and supplies for a long duration deployment on their backs and pulse rifles in their hands. A beret with battalion insignia topped off the outfit.
The three commanders stood in front of their companies, checking with squad leaders that every Marine, team, and squad of their company was ready for deployment. Jack stood back and surveyed his battalion. This was the first time he had been responsible for the entire Scorpio Battalion on an actual operation. This was not combat, which Jack was experienced in. This was a security operation around civilians in the capital of Eros. There was a whole other set of priorities here, but Jack knew there was one thing that never changed—the battalion would have to be disciplined. Ultimately, that was his responsibility.
The company commanders would have their part to play in the smooth and disciplined running of the operation, and these company commanders were Jack’s people. He had appointed them and given them the positions himself. If they failed to maintain their company’s good order, it would be his fault for selecting the wrong people for the job.
But he had confidence in his three commanders.
The Marine squad leaders would be a most vital link in the chain of command. Jack had been squad leader himself and he knew the responsibility these Marines had in managing their squads of twelve Marines. It seemed like such a short time ago that Jack was squad leader. Now he was a battalion major. It was a sobering thought, and it filled him with determination to do the job well.
Jack walked over to Commander Bevan. She turned and saluted Jack.
“Adder Company ready for inspection,” she said. She was loud and keen. Jack returned the salute and walked between the squads of Adder Company. The Marines of Adder looked calm and ready. The team was well presented, and the Marines looked disciplined. Jack stopped in front of the squad leader of 8th squad.
“You ready, Squad Leader?” Jack said.
“Sir. Yes sir,” the squad leader said with confidence and enthusiasm.
Jack recognized the Marine. “I know you, don’t I?” Jack said.
“Yes, sir,” the Marine said proudly. “We fought through the trenches at the Battle of Drydock, sir. I earned promotion that day and was moved to eighth squad, Adder Company. I tell my Marines if they fight half as well as our battalion major, we will never lose. Sir.”
Jack remembered the man now and how they had attacked a Chitin spitz gun and cleared the trench at the defenses around the massive drydock.
“I’ll try not to let you down,” Jack said.
The squad leader saluted again, and Jack walked on to the next squad, receiving and returning salutes from the squad leaders of each of Adder’s twelve squads. Once he’d finished, he returned to Erin Bevan.
“They are a good company, Commander. Trust them, respect them, and they will do you proud.”
Bevan saluted Jack and returned to her position in front of her company.
Stuart Laidlaw welcomed Jack with a salute. Laidlaw had commanded Boa Company at the Battle of Brecon Moon when he defended the southern planetary defense cannon. Laidlaw was clever and brave, but more importantly, he was experienced. Right now, he was Jack’s most experienced company commander. He needed to rely on Laidlaw and trusted that he wouldn’t let him down.
“Boa Company ready for inspection, sir,” Laidlaw said, saluting.
“Good to see you, Stuart,” Jack said. “Anything you need?”
“We have everything we need. We are all eager to deploy, sir.”
Jack nodded. He walked through the squads. Some of Boa Company’s Marines were fresh-faced rookies, but some were familiar old faces. Jack stopped in front of a Marine in 3rd squad.
“Did we fight together when the Chitins boarded the Scorpio?” Jack asked.
“Sir. Yes, sir,” the Marine said. “We held them at the entrance to the command deck.”
“Glad to have you with us, Marine,” Jack said.
The man saluted sharply. “Thank you, sir. Glad to serve with the best battalion major in the Fleet Marines, sir.”
Laidlaw walked alongside Jack. “They are a good company, sir,” Laidlaw said, excusing the Marine’s complimentary outburst. “They are enthusiastic is all, and glad to have you in command.”
Jack nodded. He hadn’t realized how much the battalion thought of him. He kept a stiff expression and walked over to Cobra Company.
Torent saluted his friend with a casual and exaggerated salute.
&nb
sp; “Sir. Cobra ready.”
Jack smiled. Sam Torent was boisterous and impertinent, but he was respected and had a natural authority and roguish charisma.
He walked through the ranks of Cobra Company. This had been his company; he had been one of these Marines. He knew Cobra better than any company in the battalion, and he struggled not to feel affection for it.
Jack stopped in front of the squad leader of 6th squad. That had been his squad. He had known the squad leader since day one in training.
“At ease, Osho,” Jack said as the squad leader saluted him. “How are you finding the pressure of command?”
“Terrible, sir,” Osho said, “but as long as I discharge my duties as squad leader better than you did, I’ll be happy.”
Jack sensed the unease from the Marines in 6th squad that their squad leader would talk so casually and informally to the battalion major, but Jack knew Osho. They had fought together more times than Jack cared to remember. They were not just former squad-mates, Jack considered her a friend.
“I’m sure we can all learn a thing or two from you, Osho,” Jack said and then with a tip of his head at 6th squad, he added, “Make sure you look after my squad.”
“Your squad?” Osho said. “You look after the battalion and I’ll look after my squad, sir.”
Jack saluted Osho and walked off smiling. Torent fell in beside Jack as he walked to the small podium in front of the battalion. Torent spoke quietly so only Jack could hear.
“So, Jack, we going now or what?”
Jack patted Torent on the shoulder. “Yes, we’re going, but remember, Sam, this is a security operation, not a combat one. Keep Cobra under control. There will be distractions. Most of these Marines haven’t seen Eros in months. Make sure you keep them on task. Clear?”
“You got it, boss,” Torent said, then returned to his position in front of Cobra Company.
Jack stepped up onto the small podium. This podium also had a sturdy holostage built in so the battalion major would be able to address the battalion via a hololink from the comfort of his office. Jack had vowed never to be so distant. These Marines were his responsibility and he would always give them the respect of sending them on deployment in person.
Forging a Trap Page 7
