by Lucas Marcum
There was a rumble and whine as the electric engines on the big trucks started back up, and the soldiers and sailors began to grimly prepare for another trip to the hospital.
Elizabeth turned to Sergeant Delgado and said, “How soon on those weapons, Sergeant?”
The Spaceborne sergeant checked his watch and looked at Yi, who shrugged and replied, “It’s three blocks, and I gave them the access codes to the store and the safes. Forty-five minutes, maybe an hour? Depends on if the dusties wanna fight for it.”
Sergeant Delgado shrugged and added, “I sent them about fifteen minutes ago, ma’am. Call it a couple hours at minimum.”
Elizabeth scowled, thinking, then turned to Chief Yamashita. “Chief, do we have comms with anyone yet? Can the hospital hold out that long?”
The big NCO shrugged. “No we don’t, and I don’t know, Colonel. From what that doctor told us it was already a near thing.”
Turning back to the two medics, Elizabeth said, “You two get to triage. We’ll call if we need you. Go.”
The two men nodded grimly and headed for the emergency triage module. Turning back to the Navy chief and the Spaceborne NCO, Elizabeth said, “Ok, fellas. We have a problem. The weapons won’t get here in time, so we have a decision to make.” She looked down at the reddish-brown of the motor pool concrete, then back up, and said, “One: We can send the trucks out again and get the rest of the survivors at the hospital. They’re going to take fire and probably heavy casualties.” Yamashita and Delgado frowned and traded a look. Elizabeth continued speaking, “Two: We wait for the guns and send them, and risk the hospital getting clobbered while we wait. They’re already in trouble, and it sounds like it’s damn tenuous as it is.” She held up three fingers and added in a low tone, “Three: We strip our defenses here, send as many people with guns as we can with the convoy, and risk the compound until their return.”
“Colonel Suarez?” a voice said from behind the small group. Elizabeth turned to see Fatima and Captain Naga approaching. Fatima had removed the bloodstained white lab coat and had washed her face. She looked exhausted but determined. The naval officer was carrying a small satchel and had an Army duty jacket on over her torn naval uniform.
Elizabeth frowned and said, “I thought I told you two to get some sleep.”
With a steady gaze in return, Fatima replied, “You did, but I don’t answer to you.” She gestured at the bullet-riddled trucks and the soldiers hurrying around them preparing for the next convoy, and remarked, “Plus, you need my help.”
Elizabeth shook her head and turned to Captain Naga. “I assume you’re of the same mindset?”
Naga shook her head and said, “I told Admiral Sanderson I’d advise you and keep you out of trouble, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
There was shouting from the front gate, and several more gunshots, then a short, sharp scream. Chief Yamashita gestured to the office and declared, “Command meeting inside. Let’s go.” The small group moved quickly to the thick-walled building and into the command post.
****
Inside the improvised command center, Elizabeth looked around the small room. There was a new face—a stocky man, with sandy hair, and a bruised and swollen face. He wore the dark blue of the Hellas City Police Department. He nodded in a brusque manner. Chief Yamashita, Chief Ikaika, and Staff Sergeant Delgado were there, as was Captain Naga. Major Carson was moving through the door, rubbing her eyes, with bright red lines of a pillow crease impressed in her face.
Moving to the table with the tactical display, Elizabeth took a moment to collect her thoughts, then said, “Ok. It’s time to get organized. Here’s the situation. We’re apparently the only organized military in Hellas City at the moment. Local government is trying to keep themselves from being overrun by these rioters, and mostly failing. Main power is out to the city, and one of the primary scrubber plants is offline.” She paused and looked around the room, meeting people’s eyes, and continued, “We have a defensible position here, medical facilities are set up, and we can, for now, defend our perimeter.” She tapped the map as she said, “Hellas General Hospital is overwhelmed, and at a critical position with supplies. Their situation is rapidly becoming untenable, so that’ll need addressed, too.” She pointed at the scrubber plant. “The plant is our priority. If we don’t get that online, most of Hellas City will slowly suffocate. We have two teams out right now, and we’ve lost contact with both. Secondary priority is getting the civilian medical staff out of Hellas General, and getting the patients out and into our hospital here.”
She pointed at Captain Naga. “For those of you who don’t know her, this is Captain Chioma Naga, UEA Navy. She’s going to be running plans and operations.” Elizabeth pointed at Major Carson and Chief Ikaika. “This is Major Karen Carson, and Chief Ikaika. He runs this depot and knows what’s stored here, and Major Carson is running the hospital units. They’ll handle supply and keep the hospital running.”
Speaking to the police officer, Elizabeth said, “Your name, sir?”
The man said in a thickly accented voice, “Detective-Sergeant Gregiory Ivanovitch, Hellas Police Department.”
Indicating the man’s face, she asked, “You need to see a medic? That looks bad.”
With a grimace the man replied dismissively, “Is nothing. I will tend it later.”
Elizabeth nodded and replied, “Well, welcome. I wish we had better circumstances to offer, but it is what it is. You’re going to be assisting with security, reporting to Staff Sergeant Delgado.” The Spaceborne sergeant nodded to the police officer.
Gesturing to Fatima, she added, “This is Dr. Fatima al-Tamimi. She’s our senior civilian physician, and she’ll be responsible for medical control of the civilian hospital staff. Her military counterpart, Colonel Sharp, is in the hospital treating patients and will be back briefed.” Looking back at the map, she paused, thinking, then said, “Ok, people. You’re aware of the security situation and priorities, as well as how tenuous a position we find ourselves in.”
There was a moment of silence broken only by the faint popping of the distant gunfire from the city around them, then Major Carson opened her mouth, then closed it. Seeing this, Elizabeth said, “Karen, whatever you’re thinking, let’s hear it. We need all ideas on the table.”
The plain-faced woman rubbed her chin and sighed, then said, “What if we’re approaching this all wrong? Maybe we need to shift the paradigm.” She pointed to the door and continued, “That out there is a fully functional combat hospital providing emergency care to the citizens of Hellas City.” She gestured at the map. “These Mars Firsters won’t want to burn down Hellas City; they live here. The hospital was probably burned by the actual rioters, not by whoever’s out there having a gunfight in the street.”
Detective Ivanovitch broke in heatedly, “If you think they can be reasoned with…”
Holding up a hand, Elizabeth said, “Let her finish, please.” The man lapsed into fuming silence.
Karen frowned, looked at the map, and declared, “All I’m saying is, if we’re a hospital full of noncombatants, we ought to identify as such.”
With a perplexed look at the Army officer, Naga said, “What do you mean, Major?”
The woman pointed at the map and said firmly, “Let’s make the assumption the UEA has lost effective control of Hellas City.” She smiled humorlessly and added, “I think the evidence supports that at the moment.”
Tapping the position of their current location, she continued, “This is us here, obviously part of the UEA, but noncombatants. These guys out here…” she swept her hand over the rest of the map, “don’t consider themselves part of the UEA, or at least there’s a significant number that don’t. They’re obviously attacking UEA assets in the city: City Hall, the police station, and attempting to seize control of infrastructure. The primary power plants, the scrubbers, and the hospital.” She looked up at the small group. “Again, these guys aren’t out to destroy the place. They live
here. We have to assume they want to do as little damage as possible and alienate the populace as little as possible.” She paused, then added quietly, “They probably just want to be left alone, but in order for that to happen, they have to chase us out.” Elizabeth stared at the woman for a moment, then back down at the map, thinking.
Fatima had been looking at the officer as she spoke. After a moment, the dark-eyed woman suddenly declared, “I think the Major is correct. Mars Firsters are troublemakers, but this is their home.” She paused, then said in a lower tone, “I may know some people who can carry a message to them to let them know we’re not a combatant force, and that we won’t interfere in their objectives as long as our people and facility aren’t attacked.”
With a hard glare, the detective declared in a hostile tone, “Colonel Suarez, this woman is a suspected sympathizer of the Green Mujahideen, has documented involvement in the insurgency on Andromeda Nine, and her husband is a local militia leader here in the city. She is not to be trusted.” He stared into the woman’s eyes and declared, “If we’d had our way, you’d have never been allowed to stay. We’d have shipped you back to your shithole world to live in the ashes of your failures.”
Her face darkened and Fatima said, “Detective Sergeant, without the assistance of the Sons of Al-Qahira, you’d have had this little uprising long ago. They are not a threat to your precious ‘Earth Alliance’.” Her voice dripped with contempt.
Fatima turned to Elizabeth and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “My husband is a leader in the local militia. They call themselves the ‘Sons of Al-Qahira’. It’s the ancient Arabic term for Mars.” She smiled slightly. “Most of them are shopkeepers, traders, and restaurateurs, with their military experience, if any, decades in the past. Their weapons are antiques, brought during the first wave of settlement or left over from the rebellions. They’re old, and most of them are overweight.” She looked back at the stone-faced policeman staring at her and continued, “They patrol areas where the police cannot, or will not, go and help keep order.” In a biting tone, she added, “They’re far more likely to sell you a rug or cup of coffee than cause any problems.”
The detective opened his mouth to speak, and Elizabeth broke in sharply, “Enough, Detective. We have enough problems at the moment without revisiting old conflicts. We work together for now, because if we don’t…” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off, looking at the two staring at each other.
The man stared at Fatima for a moment, then reluctantly nodded. After a pause, he looked down at the table and said, “I spoke in anger, Dr. Al-Tamimi. I apologize. This is my home,” he jutted his bruised jaw at the window, “and those animals are burning our city and killing my fellow police officers.” His eyes flared with anger.
Fatima nodded and replied in a gentle tone, “I understand. I live here, too.” She reached out and touched his hand. “Please. Call me Fatima.”
The big man smiled very slightly and replied, “Gregiory.” He looked at Elizabeth and said, “Our apologies, Colonel. Please, continue.”
Elizabeth took a breath, blew it out, and said, “Ok. Major Carson, I agree. We need to make sure the Mars First movement knows we’re not combatants and aren’t intending to interfere with them.” Looking up at Chief Yamashita, she said, “Let’s get some of the hospital markings on the gate and draped over each of the other walls.” She thought a moment, then added, “Mark the trucks, too. Maybe they’ll see what we’re doing and won’t shoot.” The big petty officer nodded silently.
Turning to Fatima, Elizabeth said, “Can you send a runner to the militia? Get them to reach out to Mars First? Tell them we’re a hospital, and we’d like to talk.”
Fatima nodded and replied, “Several of the emergency medical technicians who came with me in the convoy know people who can contact them. I can send them.”
With a nod, Elizabeth replied, “I’d appreciate that.” Turning to Captain Naga, she said, “I don’t think we can risk another convoy until we have protection. I think you were lucky the last time. Get everything ready to go, and when and if we make contact with these guys, we’ll see about another one.” The naval officer nodded silently. Looking at Fatima, Elizabeth added, “I’m sorry. We can’t risk it.”
Fatima replied quietly, “I understand.”
Turning to Ikaika, Elizabeth asked, “Any word from the teams that went to the scrubber plant?”
The usually cheerful man shook his head somberly, “No, ma’am. Nothing. I’ve had a sailor monitoring the channel since they left.”
Elizabeth sighed and nodded, then replied, “Ok, thanks. Let me know if anything comes in.”
Ikaika replied, “You’ll be the first to know.”
The door opened, and a young sailor burst in and said rapidly, “Chief, there’s a group of people at the front gate, and some of them are hurt. None of ‘em speak any language we understand. What should we do?”
Yamashita stood up and said, “Well, I guess that concludes this meeting for now. Doctor, Detective, will you accompany me? I need someone to identify troublemakers, and someone who speaks Chiam.” The two stood up and wordlessly followed the big petty officer out the door.
Elizabeth looked at the remaining people in the room and said, “Ok, the rest of you have jobs to do. We’ll link back up in six hours to reassess things.” She checked her watch and was startled to see how much time had passed. As people stood and left the room, Elizabeth said, “Major Carson, Captain Naga. A moment please.” The two women sat back down at the battered table. After the last people had left the room, Elizabeth blew out a breath and said, “Guys, are we doing the right thing here? Am I doing the right thing? I feel like I’m making things up as we go.”
The two women looked at each other, and then Naga said in a gentle voice, “Elizabeth, there is no training for this.” She smiled tightly and added, “There’s not even any precedent for this. Mars is supposed to be safe, in the best defended system in human space, and we’re noncombatants.” She shrugged, her lean body rippling under her torn and filthy naval duty uniform. She continued, “I think you’re doing the best you can, just like the rest of us.”
Major Carson added in a serious voice, “You’re doing fine, Liz. You’re keeping this place together.”
With a bitter laugh, Elizabeth replied, “It doesn’t feel like it! The civilians are at each other’s throats, the city is tearing itself to shit, and we don’t have any contact with anyone.” She looked at the two women and added, “This is not what an under-control situation looks like.”
In a practical tone, Karen replied, “We’re alive, and we’ve set up the hospital. We have security and a working chain of command. All things considered, that’s not too bad.” Naga nodded her head in silent agreement.
Elizabeth shook her head and stared silently at the map. After a moment, she said, “I think the teams we sent to the scrubber plant are dead.” She was silent for a moment, then added, “And I sent them there.”
Captain Naga leaned forward and said in a clear, hard voice, “Stop. I know where this goes. Stop.”
Suddenly furious, Elizabeth yelled, “I sent those men and women to their goddamn deaths! It was MY decision. It’s MY fault!” She struck the table with a fist, making the holographic map bounce slightly. The two women stared at her in silence.
After a moment Naga asked in an icy tone, “Are you done?”
Her eyes still flashing in anger, Elizabeth nodded silently. Naga continued in a hard, clear voice, “Good. Because let me tell you a story. March 17, 2245. I was on the bridge of the heavy cruiser Redemption doing my rotation as officer of the deck, when we took five Elai missiles in the initial surprise attack.” The naval officer’s tone was cold and matter of fact. “One of them hit the port side, frames thirty-two and thirty-three, decks five, six, and seven, and blew a thirty-meter hole in the hull.”
Elizabeth’s anger faded and she whispered, “What’s there?”
Naga replied, “Not much. Mostly dry storage, conferen
ce rooms, and administrative offices. Nothing vital to the starship and her function at all…except that Captain Vance and her command team were all in one of them for the monthly command staff meeting.” She looked into Elizabeth’s eyes and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “The Redemption lost six levels of command in less than half a second. As the senior officer on the bridge, I assumed command, fought through the ambush, and began damage control.”
She looked down at the holographic map of the city hanging motionlessly in the air, and then back up, and continued, “Engineering had taken several hits as well, and we were leaking radiation through the ship. The damage control teams could only slow it, not contain it.” The woman’s voice caught, then she continued, “I ordered the engineering compartments sealed and the crew to the lifeboats. While the crew evacuated, the damage control teams fought with the reactor to keep it from going critical. They stayed at their stations as I had ordered them to do.”
Looking at her hands, the slim woman continued in the same flat tone, “There were one hundred and thirty-six sailors in the engineering section, and they died because of orders I gave.” She looked back up at Elizabeth, her eyes hard and pitiless, “They died doing their jobs so their shipmates could get off, and they accomplished their mission. Because of what they did, one thousand, five hundred and six crewmen, including myself, made it off the Redemption that night.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and stated flatly, “I did what I had to, and I hate myself for it, but guess what? I’d do it again.” Her slender finger stabbed at the scrubber plant in the holo and declared, “Just like you will. That plant must come back online, and you and I and Karen and everyone else here knows it, even if it takes everything we have.” She looked down at the map again, then back up, “Do what you have to, Colonel. You have to be alive to grieve.”