Jagged Edge

by Dennis Young

  “Doesn’t count,” said Talice at the last. “I still don’t have intel from Jance, so we don’t know her involvement.”

  Mac reclined her hoverchair seat and rubbed her weary eyes. “We can’t go in and dig them out. We don’t have the firepower or manpower.”

  Talice glanced at the running replay of the mission. “I still think the strike that took out Rory was friendly fire. The program definitely has a glitch. The Marines won’t be firing that deep into the compound.”

  “Don’t bet on it. But it shows we need to go in earlier than expected. We need to be in position before the Marines launch their strike.” Mac looked at Talice. “So what now? Listen to the gripes first, or when we get back to Base?”

  “Let’s give everyone time to shower and get fed. I’ll tell Abie to lift in about half an hour. Then we can all get a brief rest to collect our thoughts before we start yelling at each other.”

  Mac shrugged, then nodded. “Fair enough.” She paused. “You’re getting pretty good at this TacOps stuff. Maybe I can finally retire.”

  “Oh? News from Northland Base infirmary?”

  Mac showed a slight smile. “They started a new culture before we left Theia. Found some details in my DNA they wanted to try. Said it’s looking good initially.”

  “Geez, Mac, that’s great news!” Talice looked away for a moment, then back. “We all need to get out of this business before we get killed for real. You get your new legs and you’ve got a deal. I want to see you dancing again, lady.”

  * * *

  Surprises awaited as Bird One landed. Three Marine turbocopters were parked at the far end of the training complex tarmac, and a perimeter of armed MPs deployed as they were being unloaded.

  Talice ordered Abie to descend on verti-jets closer to the hangars, then she and Mac hopped an ATV to the Marines, watching all the while.

  A tall, trim figure emerged from the lead turbocopter. Talice sat, wide-eyed. Mac only chuckled. “Fawkes. Guess you made an impression. So to speak.”

  Talice grinned salaciously and hopped out, walked quickly toward the waiting assemblage, and came to attention before him. “Welcome to the Hell-Hole, Colonel.” Then quieter. “Good to see you again.”

  He smiled. “We brought you some send-off gifts. And I want to brief your team, if you don’t mind.”

  “Gifts?”

  Fawkes nodded. “Emergency shelters, supplies, and medi-gear, as requested. If you have fifty or more people coming out, you’ll likely need them.”

  Talice watched as the equipment was quickly unloaded and placed on hover-sleds for transport to the hangar. “We’ll stow those in containers for hard-point attachment. What about retrieving afterward? We sure don’t have room for fifty on Bird One.”

  “I’ve authorized a Company-size transport. They’ll stand off in orbit until you’re ready for them.”

  Talice held her words for a long moment. “Colonel… I don’t know what to say. This means a lot. To all of us.”

  “Once the hostages are aboard the carrier, the Marines will use the ground facilities for our own wounded, prisoners… you know the drill.”

  “Yes, sir.” Talice smiled. “It really is good to see you again.” She paused, then smiled. “Staying the night?”

  Fawkes shook his head. “Briefing, then back home. But I wanted to see you before you lift for Crius.”

  They walked together toward the ATV, where Mac waited. “I’ve been advised by both Evans and Aya,” said Talice. “They agree Jance has made this personal for a reason. We just don’t know what it is… yet.”

  “Does it really matter? Maybe she just wants to keep you off-balance.”

  “We discussed that, and it’s a point I need to keep in mind. I can’t lose sight of the mission. This is going to be tough.”

  “Just be sure you come home… Captain.”

  She stopped and turned to him. “I will. And then we’ll talk about other things, I hope.”

  “That’s the plan.” He grinned as they came to the ATV. “Hello, Mac. Great to see you again. I hear there’s good news from the Base infirmary.”

  * * *

  They prepared a semi-home-cooked meal and sat in company with the Marines. It almost felt like a real mess hall with stories and laughter all around.

  Talice had arranged a head table for Fawkes, herself, and Mac. She frowned as she watched Evans and Aya sitting alone and to the side and joined them as the evening was winding down.

  “Not mingling with the troops?” Talice sat, offering a pitcher of cold spiced tea around.

  “We’re not really soldiers, Captain,” said Aya. “And it’s interesting in its own way to watch the interaction. Your team was all Marines, yes? And here we see them being Marines again.”

  “People-watching can be instructive,” added Evans. “It’s part of how we work.”

  Talice nodded, looking over her shoulder. “You see the camaraderie, the bond the Corps builds. We never forget it, never ignore it. It’s the only way we know how to be.”

  “And that’s an interesting point,” replied Evans. “How much of that is taught, hammered into you during your time in the Corps, and how much is your upbringing, even in your DNA? What makes a soldier a soldier?” He paused, then gave a serious look. “How much is ‘something in the water’, as they used to say? Maybe a bit of nudging? All the infusions, the Marine hormonal protocol both men and women take as part of the requirements?”

  Talice watched him carefully. “If you’re suggesting we’ve been drugged into becoming Marines, I’d argue that point strenuously.”

  “But that would be part of the… indoctrination, would it not?” asked Aya.

  Talice sat back, eyeing both of them. “I’m not sure I like where this is going. I can tell you for myself, I’ve always wanted to be a Marine. And most I’ve talked with agree.”

  Evans and Aya nodded together. “Yes, that brings you to them. After that…”

  “Is there a reason for this, Mr. Evans? Or are we just hypothesizing?”

  “No insult is intended, Captain,” said Aya, soothingly. “In our profession, we observe and extrapolate, to be what we must become. For you, you are only what you are. No pretense is necessary. For us, it’s the opposite.”

  Talice drank, thinking. Well, this isn’t exactly dinner table talk, is it? Oh, well…

  “Okay, I can see that.” She looked at Evans again. “You and I had this chat more than a year ago. Points taken.”

  “Captain, we’re only doing our jobs. Sometimes, that job is done in the most casual… and revealing, of circumstances.”

  Talice mused. “You can learn a lot about a person when they’re having a good time. See what makes them happy. How they celebrate with others.” She grimaced. “Learn what buttons to push.”

  Evans nodded. “Among other things.”

  Talice sat in silence for a few moments, then excused herself. Fucking spies. But damn, I never thought about what that sort of job is like. Is it really a job like ours? I guess to them, it is. But… damn. Subversion doesn’t even begin to describe what they really do.

  She glanced back for an instant. Aya’s head rested on Evans’s shoulder, their hands entwined. Yeah… I can see what they mean. All you really have to do is analyze the fuck out of it and it becomes a weapon. Is that what Jance did to me during our time in the Corps? Holy fuck!

  * * *

  Fawkes’s briefing took only an hour. He gave the basic mission parameters, talked about the planned assault, and took no questions.

  With Evans’s and Aya’s words in mind, Talice watched everyone but him. And with a senior Marine officer present, she knew this was different. Fawkes had taken this mission seriously in a much more personal way. She hoped a bit of it was on her account. But more, she hoped it was because he knew deep down inside, they were all still Marines.

  There was an air, an attitude during the briefing she hadn’t seen since leaving the Corps. Knew there was no way she could instill it li
ke this, no matter how she tried. But it caught her up, too. When he finished, she was damn near ready to cry or stand up and cheer. Maybe both.

  A half hour later, Talice saw him off with a few minutes alone.

  “Thanks for everything, Colonel. We’ll do our best.”

  “Stay in touch, Talice. I want to hear from you every day.”

  She showed a crooked grin. “Is that a personal request?”

  “Official.” Then he nodded. “And yes, personal. Of the highest sort. Take care of yourself and your team. We’ll celebrate when you get back.”

  He gave her a quick smile, then climbed aboard the turbocopter.

  Talice wanted to drag him back out and kiss him so badly, her lips hurt.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Checklist (Part Two)

  Not What We Were Hoping For

  “To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.”

  Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”

  Mission 284BRQQ - Code name: Hammer Down…

  After lifting off from Theia, Talice spent the better part of ten hours running simulations based on the latest Marine intel. Intel which wasn’t very good. A hasty conference with Mac followed, during which they both admitted they needed Jance’s information.

  Weary, and worried greatly her team was being led into an untenable situation, she finally retired to her hammock in the equipment bay. She retreated to the Head, stripped off her camis, checked her patch, and downed a quick bottle of S-H. Drained, and her mind still spinning with questions, she made way back to the equipment bay, and flopped into the hammock as the ship’s lights lowered for “night.” She was barely asleep when the intercom on the wall buzzed.

  “Captain, this is Abie. I’m receiving unauthorized comm from outside. Should I block it?”

  Shit! Jance! Talice groped for the reply button. “No, just hold on. I’m on my way.”

  She rolled out of the hammock carefully, slid back into her camis, and staggered through the corridor, only half-awake. She knocked on the cockpit door, and a moment later, Jamal allowed her through, then took his place at the Eng/Tactical board again. Will Thomas snored gently in his copilot’s seat, sleeping.

  Talice leaned over Abie’s seat. “Let’s see the header.”

  Abie lit the message screen and punched the “accept” button. “Hello, Talice. First, just to confirm this is authentic, here’s a pic of your little friend, taken yesterday.”

  Jance’s voice was unmistakable. Talice gasped as the picture of Babs appeared. A deep bruise covered nearly the entire left side of her face. Her eye was swollen, and there were finger marks on her neck.

  Jance’s voice continued. “Sorry about that. I killed the guy who did this. Yeah, seems he caught her in what passes for an infirmary here alone, and decided he’d sample the merchandise. Don’t worry, he didn’t violate her honor. I had a camera set up and saw the whole thing. I can pass that file to you if you want it. But on to more important things.”

  “Pause!” Talice nearly spat the word.

  Abie looked over her shoulder as she hit the button. “Who the hell…”

  Talice pulled out the jump seat and sat, face buried in her hands. Tears fell between her fingers. Damn you, Jance! Damn you! You and your fucking Nemesis buddies! Babs, I’m so sorry…

  “Captain…” Abie cleared her throat and spoke softly. “I can download the whole file and send it to TacOps. I’ll back it up here, too. I’ll take care of that for you right now.” She attended her controls.

  Jamal laid a gentle hand on Talice’s shoulder. “No te preocupes, Capitán. La encontraremos y la sacaremos.”

  Talice turned a tear-tracked face to Jamal.

  He smiled sheepishly. “I did that on purpose.” He gave her a tentative hug.

  Talice gave a dry chuckle and drew him closer. “Thanks. Yeah, I don’t know Olde Earth Spanish, but I’m sure it wasn’t suggestive.”

  They shared a quiet, close moment.

  Talice wiped her eyes and straightened, then stood behind Abie’s seat again. “Send that to Colonel Fawkes at Marine HQ immediately. I want him to see what we’re dealing with.”

  “Absolutely. Full encryption, tight beam, the works. Right?”

  “Right. Thanks.” Talice went through the door, her face a mask.

  * * *

  Mac found Talice asleep at TacOps six hours later, with the file running and images of the entire Nemesis compound bright and vivid.

  When she woke, Talice found a blanket draped about her shoulders, a pillow beneath her cheek, and a pot of tea waiting at the side-stand. Mac eased her hoverchair back as Talice raised her head, turned it side to side, and stretched.

  “Morning. You did good.”

  Talice yawned. “What…”

  “Looks like Jance did her job. These are vids of the complex, taken from drones, a map of the facility, and even underground storage and caves.” Mac shook her head. “This is a city, not some wretched hive of scum and villainy. We’ve got our work cut out for us. So do the Marines. Did you—”

  “Sent to Fawkes hours ago. What time is it?”

  “Coming up on 0800. Most of the team is in the ready room having breakfast. I’ve called a briefing for 1000 Hours.”

  “Bless you.” Talice rose, stretched, and bent to give Mac a hug. “I’m going to get a shower and a bite. 1000 Hours, sharp.”

  Mac held a hand. “First… let’s talk a bit. I saw the vid of Babs. I can’t imagine the nightmares you’ve just had.”

  “The fucking nightmare is Nemesis and Jance’s manipulation of this whole sordid mess. I don’t know which is worse.”

  “Sure you do. And Jance has given you exactly what we needed. She’s serious about this, Talice. It’s time you realized that and stopped making this all about you.”

  “Jance has made it all about me! I’m at the center of this, and I don’t even know why!”

  Mac studied her for a long moment. “And that makes you mad because…?”

  Talice sat again and drew the blanket around herself. “Why is the ship so cold?”

  “Abie said they’re having a bit of trouble with the enviro-system. Jamal is working on it.” Mac turned to Talice. “Back to the subject. Yes, Jance has made this about you, because she knows that’s how to get to us. How to take our attention. Talice, the Marine mission is to take out Nemesis, not save Babs, whether you like it or not. Our job is to do those little things to minimize the collateral damage and save as many hostages as we can, including Babs. Now that we have Jance’s intel, she’s an afterthought. You have to put that all aside. It’s not about you, or her, anymore.”

  Talice looked away. I’m gonna fucking explode if I don’t get my hands around Jance’s neck. If I can’t save Babs…

  She shrugged, then looked at Mac. “Fine. I’ll do that little thing. But if I find Jance —”

  “If you find Jance and it endangers the mission, that’s exactly what she wants! Don’t you understand yet? You’re smarter than this, Talice. You’re a Marine officer. Where is that cool head you used to have?”

  Fucking bugs ate it. Talice dropped her eyes and nodded at the last. “You’re right. I know it, but it’s hard to… hard to keep it together right now.” She raised her face again. “It’s like when you were under that rock with your legs crushed. There was no way I was going to let you die. And I won’t let Babs die, either.”

  Mac’s lips drew a hard line. “I understand. But if we don’t tend the mission first, Babs won’t live through it. And likely you won’t either. Jance has you both by the gonads, and you know it. You can’t let her do that anymore.” She tapped the TacOps console. “We’ve got her now, and nothing she does from this point on will stop us.”

  Talice sighed. “Hua, Sergeant. Mission first, as ordered.”

  They hugged for a long, heartfelt moment.

  * * *

  A quick shower and breakfast did wonders for Talice’s attitude.

  Mac took Talice through the vid-analyzer syst
em at TacOps. “We start with the overhead view, lay a grid on top of it, then break the grid into pieces.” She set up the program, did a three-by-three grid overlay, then separated them. The system enhanced each section. Mac numbered them, then dropped another grid on each one.

  “You’re going to letter each one of these, right?” Talice watched as Mac manipulated the pictures.

  “Right, so we’ll have One-A through One-J, skipping the letter I. Too much confusion between that and the number ‘one’.”

  “Better resolution, better detail. I like it.” Talice grinned, sipped tea, then watched again.

  “But I have to break these down into files I can send to your Headup HCS visors. The original is too large.”

  “And we can click through them as necessary. Good job.”

  Mac nodded, still watching the screen. “I’ll set them up in one folder per grid section. Let’s just see…” She hit the zoom-in button. Then again. The picture sharpened slowly. “Wow… we can actually pick up individuals.”

  “See Jance anywhere in there?” Talice chuckled.

  “I’m… not sure…” Mac zoomed in again. “What the…”

  A figure stood in the midst of a busy walkway, holding up what appeared to be a blank piece of something.”

  Mac shook her head. “Well, it’s a woman. Long reddish hair.”

  “Oh, come on, Mac, surely not!”

  They studied the picture together. Mac touched more controls, and the picture changed into a harsh vision. “Nothing in IR…” She clicked another button. The picture changed again. “UV, and… damn…”

  Plainly visible on the placard were the words “Hello, Talice.”

  “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Talice sat back, staring at the vid.

  “She painted it with UV paint. Wouldn’t show in normal daylight. This woman has balls, that’s for sure.” Mac pursed her lips and frowned. “Show this at the briefing. I’ll send a copy of this broken-up file to the colonel, but I’m sure his intel division is doing the same thing.”