After pleasantries and chitchat had been dispensed with, MacIntosh got down to business. “As I’m sure everyone here is acutely aware, our new alliance brings with it many logistical concerns. Not the least of which is how we tightly integrate two separate militaries.”
“Not unlike the issues the Terran Coalition had fully integrating most nation-state militaries into the Coalition Defense Force at the outbreak of hostilities with the League,” David said.
“Exactly, Colonel. Only this is harder because we’re two separate species who do things very differently.”
President Spencer gestured between David and Aibek. “The reason you two are here, Colonel Cohen and Colonel Aibek… is we want you to set the standard for integration between the Terran Coalition and the Saurian Empire. To help set that standard, Colonel Aibek is being assigned as the XO for the Lion of Judah.”
David nodded. “Yes, sir.” Well, I was right about that part, at least. Hope this guy is a good officer who will integrate well into the crew and work seamlessly with me.
MacIntosh stared at David and Aibek, seeming to bore into David’s mind. “I want to be perfectly clear here. This has to work—for the sake of both our nations. We’re going to have one chance and one chance only to push the League back before they send their own reinforcements. The only thing in our favor right now is that our supply lines are far shorter than theirs. As the first Saurian serving on a CDF capital ship, Colonel Aibek, it’s your duty to show the way.”
Aibek replied with a crisp “Yes, sir.”
Sherazi leaned forward. “If the two of you can work effectively together, it will show all the others it can be done. We are all counting on you.”
David and Aibek exchanged glances before David spoke. “Sirs, I think I speak for myself and for Colonel Aibek when I say that we’re going to make this work. The League is an evil that needs to be pushed back and defeated. With our combined strength, that goal is within reach. It will not be derailed because of personality conflicts.” He wondered if he’d been too forward. “I hope that wasn’t too direct, Colonel.”
“Not at all, Colonel. I’m certain I can adjust to your command style, whatever it may be. And if we have any issues… I would welcome a sparring match to clear the air in any human martial art form you would care to choose.”
David wasn’t sure what to make of his statement.
Aibek, on seeing his reaction, tried to clear up the confusion. “I jest, Colonel.”
David cracked a smile. “Noted.”
MacIntosh looked somewhat amused himself. “That settles it, then. We’re going to make this work. Then we’re going to kick the League’s ass back to Earth and take out those communist bastards once and for all.”
“Now that’s a sentiment I can get behind, despite the language, Andrew,” President Spencer said, smiling. “Andrew, Chief Minister, any final thoughts?”
Sherazi shook his head. “None. I have confidence the right officers are assigned to this ship.”
President Spencer stood, quickly followed by everyone else. The meeting was close to being adjourned. “Colonel, I wish you good luck and Godspeed. Carry on.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” David replied. “Perhaps Colonel Aibek could stay behind. I’d be happy to show him around some other areas of the ship, like the mess.”
“Excellent idea, Colonel. I’ll show our guests back to the shuttle. Godspeed to you both,” MacIntosh said.
After the two heads of state and General MacIntosh had left, David turned to Aibek. “I realize we don’t know each other well. To summarize how I do things… I am tough but fair. I want the best of this crew and this ship, and most of all, I want to defeat the League so that someday, perhaps we won’t have to get up every morning and kill our fellow man.”
Aibek seemed lost in thought before responding to David. “That is a burden I do not relish, Colonel Cohen. I hope my presence here can be positive, and I will strive to the best of my ability to serve well as your executive officer.”
David resolved to take Aibek at his word. After all, MacIntosh wouldn’t have assigned him if he had any question about the Saurian’s abilities or effectiveness. “I have no doubt of that, Colonel. Now, if you’d follow me, let me show you some things about this ship that aren’t on the main tour.”
Aibek smiled and walked around the table. “Lead on, sir.”
* * *
Sometime later, President Spencer called MacIntosh into his private office in the shuttle, which was designated Coalition Defense Force One while Spencer was aboard. It was outfitted with the latest defensive technology that centered around stealth. The craft also carried enough communications and command and control gear to run the war if required.
MacIntosh strode through the door and brought himself to attention before the desk. “General MacIntosh reporting as ordered, sir.”
“Andrew, when are you going to relax with that?” Spencer asked, smiling. “Or have you forgotten when we were both young captains serving together?”
“Mr. President, it’s a matter of habit. Respect for the office. Even if we are old friends.”
“I understand.” Spencer stood up and walked around the desk, gesturing at the two chairs in front. “Please, have a seat.”
MacIntosh sat in the chair farthest from Spencer, and Spencer slid into the other.
“What’s on your mind, sir?” MacIntosh asked.
“I wanted to ask you about our young Colonel Cohen. I’ve heard some disturbing reports regarding his mental stability.”
MacIntosh looked away. “I can’t begin to know how he or many other soldiers continue to function in this war, sir. He seemed fine to me today.”
“I’ll agree that today he seemed fine, but he was not fine earlier this week.”
“You realize that probably every member of the space corps who’s seen battle has some form of PTSD, sir?”
Spencer leaned back in the chair. “Sometimes I still wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. Usually after failing once again to save one of my comrades from the Red Tails.”
“If it makes you feel any better, sir, so do I.” MacIntosh sucked in a breath. “We all do.”
“God, it was so long ago, but it feels like yesterday, doesn’t it?”
MacIntosh nodded. “Where did the years go, I wonder sometimes.”
“Andrew, while I sympathize with Cohen’s predicament, this is the biggest, best ship in our fleet. We can’t afford any screw-ups. Is he battle ready?”
The discussion forced MacIntosh to confront a reality he didn’t want to face. David Cohen was the best man for the job. He was sure of it. His emotional state was another question. “I’m not sure, sir.”
“I want you to figure that out. Talk to him. If he is, then fine. God knows that young man has earned his stripes, and by any measure, he’s a hero. I know what those look like, because I served with a carrier full of them. I can think of no one else I’d rather have leading us into battle with that wondrous new ship. But if he’s not emotionally stable, then we’re going to have to quietly make sure he gets the help he needs and put another CO in place. Quickly. An unstable man will squander all our hard-won gains.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Andrew, please know that’s the last thing I want.”
MacIntosh nodded. “Yes, sir. I don’t think we can win without Colonel Cohen commanding the Lion of Judah. What that ship did to Seville and the Destruction will inspire fear in the League, and that fear will be worth more than fifty starships as reinforcements.”
“You put a lot of stock in morale.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve seen men and women accomplish things that no flesh-and-blood human had any right to, simply because they had belief in their cause and that they could do what needed to be done. That kind of esprit de corps comes from good leadership, strong morale, and an unshakeable sense of duty.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the effect of morale. We certainly had it back on
the Zvika Greengold. Our pilots thought they could beat anything.”
MacIntosh snickered. “You mean when we pulled off attacking Sol, even with the ship’s reactor half-destroyed?” He shook his head. “That was all the convincing I needed that God existed. None of us should’ve gotten out of that mission alive.”
“Funny you put it like that.” Spencer stared into the void through a portal. “That was when I started down the path to believing in God too.” He sucked in a breath. “For all our sakes, I hope Colonel Cohen is ready for the task in front of him. Would you care to pray with me about this?”
MacIntosh nodded and bowed his head. While he hadn’t said it, sometimes he wasn’t sure God bothered to listen anymore. With all the strife, bloodshed, and horror in the universe that they contended with daily, it was easy to believe that God no longer controlled what happened. He hoped he was wrong as he closed his eyes and waited for Spencer to pray.
43
David was ordered to report to General MacIntosh’s office at 0800 for a meeting. The suddenness of the order, and what David knew had been erratic, emotional behavior on his part the last few days, had him questioning what the subject matter would be. Since his dream, he had begun to resolve his emotions and focus on the fight. The road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was looking forward to it.
After greeting Major Roberts, David was shown back to the familiar office of General MacIntosh. “Colonel David Cohen reporting as ordered, sir,” he said, bracing to attention.
MacIntosh looked up from his tablet. “Take a seat, Colonel.”
As David sat, MacIntosh put his tablet aside and stared directly into his eyes. “I’ll cut to the chase, Colonel. I need to know your head is in the game.”
David returned the stare. “It is, sir. I’m ready to go.”
MacIntosh leaned back. “Really? Did that start before or after you nearly assaulted an enlisted man for following procedures regarding repatriation of our war dead?”
David winced. I guess somebody reported that. “Sir, I wanted the contractors who perished to be treated with honor and respect. They earned it. If not for them, I wouldn’t be here, nor would my ship.”
“I see. You were also observed crying uncontrollably at Major Thompson’s funeral.”
David continued to stare straight ahead. “With respect, sir, I lost my best friend. I believe that an emotional reaction was warranted.”
MacIntosh frowned. “I didn’t say it wasn’t, Colonel. But considering these and other reports… I have reservations as to whether you’re in the right state of mind to get back into the war.”
“I’ve been able to put most of it behind me the last few days, sir.”
“Have you seen a counselor?”
“No, sir.”
“Then how have you been able to put it behind you in a couple of days?”
“Sir, that is a personal matter,” David said.
“Not good enough, Colonel. If you want back into space without a full mental health workup, I want details.”
David gulped and sighed. “Very well, sir.” How do I explain this without sounding insane? “Several nights ago, I had a dream that was vividly real. It felt like something that actually happened as opposed to simply being a dream.”
As David spoke, MacIntosh stared at him with an inscrutable expression.
“In it, I had a long conversation with Sheila. She told me why she did what she did, and she assured me that there was a better place after all this.” He decided to leave out the part about her leaving the video for him or their discussions regarding their love for each other.
“When I woke up the next morning, it was as if something dark had been lifted off me. I visited Dr. Tural to discuss the matter with him.”
MacIntosh’s right eyebrow shot up. “And?”
“He told me that he found evidence in a scan of my brain that showed increased mental activity consistent with a fresh memory, but there was no scientific evidence that was conclusive either way.”
“An interesting story, Colonel. What do you think happened?”
“I think that somehow, some way, Sheila reached out to me from what we think of as heaven. I realize that sounds a bit insane, sir. But I think she wanted me to get my head screwed back on straight. I also… I also think that maybe God led her to do it.” He waited for a response, unsure of his fate.
“I see, Colonel,” MacIntosh replied then stood and walked around his desk to sit in the chair next to David. “I don’t mention my faith too much. I’m a practicing Catholic.” He cracked a smile. “Which in my family is a bit different. Causes debates at reunions.
“When I was still a young man, I served as an engineering officer on a light cruiser called the Pericles. I’ll never forget something that happened on that ship. During a battle, one of our primary coolant lines ruptured, and a damage-control team tried to seal it. Radiation levels got high enough that the computer system automatically sealed the compartment. We desperately tried to get the door open to get those men out before they died, but every tool we had broke down, and we couldn’t get in.”
MacIntosh paused as he relived the memory. “The chaplain on the Pericles was an old Catholic priest. Father Rafferty. He happened to be assigned to a damage-control team in the engineering spaces, and he came up to us while we were swearing, banging on the door, and trying to cut it with a plasma cutter or anything else we could get our hands on. He asked us to let him pray with us.”
David listened intently as MacIntosh continued.
“We all held hands with him, and I will never forget the feeling that washed over me as this priest asked God to help us. I heard him say we would become calm, our tools would begin to function, and we would rescue those men. A feeling of peace came over me that I have never felt before or since. After he was done, we tried again. We had those men out in less than five minutes, and every last one of them survived.”
MacIntosh had become emotional as he spoke of the memory. “I’m sure that some people would tell me it was just random chance, and we got lucky. But I know with every fiber of my being that somehow, through Father Rafferty, God helped us save those men. If you believe that God helped you by letting your best friend explain something to you from beyond the grave… then I’ll back that one hundred fifty percent.”
“Thank you, sir.”
MacIntosh put his hand on David’s shoulder. “You’re a fine officer, Colonel Cohen. You have a lot left to give to this fight, and I need you in it. All of you.”
“I’m in it, sir. To the end, regardless of where that takes us,” David replied, his voice filled with confidence.
“Then get your ship ready to get back out there. We need to fly the flag for a few more days, but after that… you will be back on the front.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed, Colonel.”
David came to attention before leaving the room, looking at MacIntosh in an entirely different light.
* * *
David had a meeting with Dr. Hayworth in his office set for 1400 hours. Looking at the clock on his tablet, he wondered whether Hayworth was just one of those people who were always late or if he was doing it on purpose to spite him.
Fifteen minutes after the hour, the door chime buzzed.
“Come,” David said, annoyed.
The hatch swung open, and Dr. Hayworth strode in and plopped into one of the chairs in front of David’s desk. “Greetings, Colonel. How are you today?” he asked cheerfully.
“I’m well, Doctor. Thank you for asking.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Major Merriweather and I have been assigned to the Lion of Judah for the foreseeable future.”
“I have,” David said, failing to hide the irritation in his voice. He figured that Hayworth would have been disappointed by the news, but for whatever reason, the doctor seemed to relish it.
“Oh, come now, Colonel. This will be fun.”
“I don’t follow, Doctor. I don�
�t like being responsible for civilians who haven’t served and don’t know how to handle themselves on a military vessel. I remind you… we’re at war.”
Hayworth just smiled. “I’m what you would call a force multiplier, Colonel. I’ll ensure you get the best technology and the newest equipment.”
David suppressed the desire to roll his eyes. The man got under his skin. “Well, anything to make this ship more effective than it already is, Doctor.”
“Was that a compliment, Colonel?”
“To your technical abilities.” David forced a thin smile.
“Which are magically bestowed on us by God, eh? Or is it that you just can’t stand anyone who doesn’t share your superstitions?”
David took a breath. “I think HaShem gives us the abilities. We choose what to make of them. I’m glad you’re on our side.”
Hayworth leaned forward. “There is no God. I’m just a freak of nature with a high intelligence quotient. Thank me, not your imaginary man in the sky.”
David stared at Hayworth, unwilling to back down. “Only a fool says there is no God, Doctor.”
“Ah, yes. Psalms.”
“Have you read the Torah?”
Hayworth’s expression hardened. “My wife was a Christian. I’ve never had faith in anything but science, but she asked me to read the Bible, and I agreed. Know your enemy, after all. She believed God not only existed but also actually cared about her. Little good it did her when she got sick and died. Where was that magical God then? He doesn’t exist. Do yourself a favor and accept that, Colonel. You’re a smart man. You shouldn’t concern yourself with fairy tales to keep the children behaving.”
“Doctor, you will never shake my faith. People die. Everyone dies, sooner or later.”
“Why did your God let Major Thompson die so soon, then?”
Hayworth’s argument sting, but he stuck to his guns. “We have free will. She made a choice to do what she believed in.”
Hayworth smirked. “Ah, religious people try to have it both ways. Which is it? Do we have free will, or does God have a plan and pull our strings?”
Coalition Defense Force Boxed Set: First to Fight Page 54
