Risen From Ashes

by Sam Schall

  “Well?” she asked, her voice cold as ice.

  “Th-th-there’s a data disc hidden in the duffle I had when you found me. It has everything you want.”

  Ashlyn glanced at Khan who already had the now empty duffle in his hands. The intelligence officer carefully ran his fingers along the seams, searching for anything they might have missed when they emptied the duffle once back at the embassy. Two very long minutes later, he looked up and nodded. Then he held a micro-disc between his fingers.

  “Throw him in the office next to the command center and seal the door,” she ordered Boomer and Zimm. “Then get your asses back here.”

  “On our way, Angel,” Boomer said. “Let’s go see your new quarters, you son of a bitch,” he muttered as he grabbed Watchman and dragged him out of the room.

  “Well?” Ash asked as she turned her attention back to Khan.

  “My bet is this was his insurance policy, Colonel. No encryption, at least nothing that would stop any decent hacker. But there’s a lot of information here. It’s going to take time to sort through it.”

  “We don’t have time, Major. Find anything that might help the fleet and send it straight to the Admiral.”

  “Roger that.” He motioned for the lieutenant to join him. A moment later, they sat shoulder to shoulder on the floor, their fingers flying over virtual keyboards as they worked to decrypt and search the disc.

  19

  Atlantis Rising, flagship

  First Fleet, Fuerconese Navy

  Midlothian space

  “Admiral, the Valhalla reports damage to their central core,” Kohler reported. “It has to fall back.”

  Tremayne nodded, her expression grim. The Callusian commander had been pressing the attack. He didn’t hesitate to sacrifice not only LACs and battle shuttles to damage her ships but his larger ships as well. At least so far none of the missiles that had gotten through their defenses carried the biotoxin. But that didn’t mean others wouldn’t.

  “Have the Faulkner and Tethis move in to screen it.” She studied the plot and prayed they could hold out another few minutes.

  “Aye, Admiral,” the comms officer replied. “Admiral, we’re intercepting another message from the enemy fleet to the surface. They are still trying to contact Watchman.”

  Well, that was one comm that wouldn’t go through.

  “Get me Captain Earhardt.”

  “Admiral?” Earhardt’s image appeared in the bottom left of her holo screen.

  “It’s time.” She didn’t say anything else.

  Earhardt nodded and turned to the helm. “Execute Operation Pincer,” he ordered. “Admiral, we’ll be knocking on their back door in just a few minutes.”

  “Good hunting, Captain.” She ended the comm. “All right, Raoul. Let’s keep the enemy focused on us. Execute Trojan Horse.”

  “Aye, ma’am.” He sent the signal to the rest of their ships. As he did. Tremayne wondered if it would be enough to turn the tide. If not, she’d at least make sure they took out as many of the enemy ships as they could.

  The ship rocked as several torpedoes struck the forward shields. Tremayne listened as damage reports came in. Her mouth firmed into a thin line as reports from the rest of the fleet followed. The Pournelle’s captain reported a direct hit to the Olympia’s bridge. Worse, preliminary reports from the Olympia indicated the missile had carried the biotoxin. Now they would see if the new protocols worked. Whether they did or not, Tremayne would make the Callusians pay for the ship and its crew.

  “Ma’am, we’re receiving a hail from the enemy force.”

  “Put it up.”

  She stood and waited. A moment later, the holo screen next to the plot came to life. The Callusian naval seal appeared and a computerized voice began. “This is your only chance. Cease fire, shut down your engines and drop your shields. If you fail to comply in the next ten minutes, we will focus our attack on your flagship and on the Midlothian capitol. You know what the biotoxin is capable of. Do not make the mistake of believing I will not use it against you.”

  “That’s it, Admiral. The message is on a loop.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Ma’am?” Kohler looked at her in question.

  “Which ship did the message originate from?”

  “I can narrow it down to three.” The comms officer highlighted them on the plot.

  “They’re bluffing.” She hoped. “Focus your fire on those three ships. First volley of standard warheads followed by a run by our LACs. Inform Captain Earhardt of the new targets. Then get me Colonel Shaw.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” her bridge crew said as they hurried to carry out her orders.

  “I have Admiral Tremayne for you, Angel,” Anisimova said.

  Frowning, Ashlyn opened the channel. An admiral calling in the middle of battle was never good. It was worse when you were stuck dirtside and unable to help. Praying this wasn’t the woman’s way of saying goodbye, she waited for Tremayne to respond.

  “Angel, status?”

  “Holding on, ma’am. So far, the embassy is still secure and our precautions have been unnecessary.”

  “Have you learned anything about the invaders?”

  “We’re working on that, ma’am. Watchman had a micro-disc Major Khan feels was his safety net. There’s a great deal of data on it. The major and his team are working on it now.”

  “Ask them to find out if there’s anything on the Callusian commander. Something’s not right here.”

  “On it.” She looked at Khan and nodded. “What’s your status, Admiral?”

  “You know how it is, Angel. The battle ebbs and flows.”

  Which told her nothing and everything. The battle wasn’t going as badly as it could but it wasn’t going well.

  Anything? she mouthed to Khan.

  He started to shake his head. Then he stopped when Zimm motioned for him to check something. A slow smile lifted the man’s lips as he read. Then he stood and moved to Ashlyn’s side, bringing his datapad with him as he did.

  “Admiral, Khan here.”

  “What have you got, Major?”

  “Sending you some data now. Not sure how much it will help, but it should give you at least a little help.”

  Ashlyn frowned as his fingers flew across as he input a series of commands. Then she waited, giving Tremayne time to study whatever he’d sent. Just when she was about to demand an explanation, Tremayne chuckled softly, her relief clear.

  “Are you sure about this, Major?”

  “No, ma’am. We haven’t had a chance to look for confirmation. But it can’t hurt.”

  “No, it can’t.” She paused and Ash listened as Tremayne instructed her flag captain and weapons officer to check the data. “Ash, hold on a bit longer. If this works and if we manage to implement Pincer, this fight will soon be over. Tremayne out.”

  “Care to share, Khan?” Ash asked as the link ended.

  “There was mention of the torpedoes used to carry the biotoxin, Angel. Seems there may be a way to reprogram them on the fly.”

  Ash looked at him for a moment and then smiled. If this worked, she knew exactly what Tremayne planned on doing. Still, she needed to plan for the worst just in case.

  “You and your people keep at it. And good work. Durga, make sure everyone’s had food and drink. We’re going to be doing a bit of cleanup before long if all goes as planned.”

  God, let this work.

  Commander Diogo Fryxell paced the bridge. As he did, he kept watch on the plot. The Fuerconese commander had been better than expected. He’d never believed the stories about Miranda Tremayne, putting them down to cowards who refused to risk their necks and their crews against the woman. Now he knew better and it had cost his taskforce dearly. But he’d make her pay. Even if she surrendered, he’d destroy her.

  Fortunately, she didn’t seem to realize how badly his ships had been hit. If he could keep up the illusion just a bit longer, he’d be victorious. Even now, the torpedoes carryin
g the biotoxin were being loaded into the guns. Once they had, they’d be sent on a trajectory to Tremayne’s ship. With her fleet crippled, he could then turn his attention to the traitors on Midlothian.

  “Commander, perimeter alert!” the scanners officer called out.

  “Report!”

  “CIC reports incoming missiles.”

  What? It didn’t make any sense. There was no way Tremayne’s missiles could be coming from that sector. Unless. . . .

  Damn it! She’d played him for the fool and held some of her ships back. Now he was caught between the two forces.

  “Target the flagship and fire all missiles. Then translate out of here.” He dropped onto his command chair and buckled in.

  “Course?” the helm asked.

  “Anywhere but here.”

  “Missiles away.”

  “Then get us out of here. We can come back later and deal with the Midlothians.”

  “Incoming!” the scanners officer called out again.

  The blood drained from Fryxell’s face as he looked at the plot. It was a sea of red ahead and behind his ships. Each red dot indicated missiles heading in his direction. There was no way his defenses could counter all of them. Hell, they couldn’t counter half of them. His ships would be decimated before they could translate out of the system. But at least the biotoxin would do its work. He could go to his death knowing that.

  “Sir, the weapons master is reporting a problem,” Comms said.

  “What?”

  “It’s the carrier missiles, sir.”

  Before he could ask for clarification, the one alarm he’d never expected to hear sounded. He leaned back, knowing there was nothing he could do. It was already too late. But he wouldn’t die screaming for help. He wouldn’t beg for assistance from the enemy. He wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

  His right hand moved forward and he punched in a command. Then he closed his eyes. This was supposed to be his chance to prove he deserved to take Dadd’s place in the naval hierarchy. Instead, he had failed as ignominiously as had the Navarch.

  Damn the Fuerconese.

  20

  Ashlyn watched as the prisoners were escorted off the shuttle. At least they’d quit their threats and, at least in Reyes’ case, pleas for mercy. They knew what waited for them if they remained on Midlothian. She’d made sure, with assistance from Admiral Tremayne and Secretary of State Nelms, that the remaining members of the government—not to mention the public—were well aware of their crimes against their home system. To remain in Caspian Bay or anywhere else in the system would be to sign their death warrants and they knew it.

  Now, under armed escort, Alexander Watchman and his co-conspirators from the Administrative Bureau were escorted across the bay. There would be no escape now. She’d make sure of it. They owed Fuercon and her allies for every death and injury suffered at the hands of the Callusians. Besides, she had a feeling Watchman had information she wanted. The only question was how to get it.

  No, she corrected. The question was how to get it without the powers that be making some sort of deal with him that would let him regain his freedom.

  “Glad to have you back onboard, Colonel,” Lt. Connery said as they stepped onto the lift a few moments later.

  “Glad to be back.” And she was. Never again did she want to be caught dirtside while the rest of her command fought overhead. At least not unless she was doing some fighting of her own. Cowering underneath the surface was not for her. “Report?”

  “Captain Adamson is waiting to brief you. But the basics are we took heavy losses to the LACs and battle shuttles. They bore the initial brunt of the enemy attack. Where we got lucky there is most of the losses are material and not human. You should have a full AAR from the flight captain in your queue.”

  Ashlyn nodded. She hated feeling relieved because any loss of life was too much. But it could have been worse, so much worse.

  “Give me the big picture, Faith.” The lift stopped and the door slid open. They stepped off. As they did, Ash frowned and her stomach did a slow roll. Even though damage control teams had been busy in this part of the ship, she saw the signs of damage and knew what it meant. “How bad?” she asked softly.

  “Not as bad as you’re afraid of, ma’am.” Connery pulled her data pad and handed it over to Ashlyn. “We did take a hit here, but it was late in the battle. Marine country was pretty much abandoned. The dozen or so who were here were armored up and managed to slap a temporary seal in place before the damage got worse.”

  “And?” She stopped and turned to the younger woman.

  “No biotoxin, ma’am. They stuck to protocol and kept the area sealed until the tests confirmed it.”

  Relief washed over Ashlyn and she blew out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “And you?” She indicated the bruising to the left side of her aide’s face and the nasty looking cut that ran along her jaw.

  For a moment, Connery remained silent. Then, realizing Ash wasn’t going to let her off the hook, she sighed. “I was down here when it happened.”

  Ashlyn shut her eyes, knowing how bad it must have been for the young man.

  “Angel, no.”

  Hearing something close to a rebuke in Connery’s voice, Ash looked at her, expression grim.

  “I went flying head over heels and knocked myself silly for a few minutes but that was all. This and Private Prejean’s broken arm were the worst of our injuries.”

  “And Reaper?”

  She’d never admit how worried she’d been about her executive officer. MJ Anderson had made a remarkable recovery since being injured so badly in the same battle that cost Lucinda Ortega her life. But this was her first time back on the front lines since the battle and she still wasn’t one hundred percent. The fact the captain hadn’t met her when her shuttle docked worried her.

  “She came through without a scratch.” Now Connery grinned and stepped aside so Ash could enter her quarters. “However, I’ll warn she is has promised to skin you alive if you ever get yourself stuck dirtside before a battle.”

  Ashlyn chuckled and handed Connery’s data pad back. “The admiral?”

  “Like most of us, a few bumps and bruises. You’re to report to her ready room as soon as you’ve freshened up.”

  “All right.” She thought for a moment. “Comm MJ and ask her to meet us here. The two of you can give me the lecture I know you’ve prepared while I change. Then I’ll report to the admiral. Afterwards, I want a meeting with the two of you and company commanders. Let’s see how we did and what we can do better next time.”

  Because there would be a next time and a time after that. This was wouldn’t end any time soon unless they quit playing a defensive game and finally went on the offensive.

  “Food?” Connery asked.

  “Coffee. I’d better not keep the admiral waiting.”

  “I’ll see to it.” She paused for a moment. “Captain Adamson will be here in a few minutes, ma’am. She’s making sure the prisoners are secured according to your orders.”

  Ash nodded, relieved. That explained why Adamson hadn’t been there to meet her. It was also exactly what she should have expected from the captain. But, just as the blonde was getting used to being an officer, Ash was getting used to her as XO.

  “Let the admiral know I’ll be there in fifteen. If she asks, remind her—respectfully, of course.” She grinned a little cheekily as Connery groaned softly. “That I’ve been in my battle armor for most of the last three days. A shower is very muchly needed.”

  “Why, Colonel, would I ever tell and admiral that my CO stinks?” She looked so innocent, except for that flash of devilment in her eyes.

  “Oh, you most definitely would,” Ashlyn countered. “Make the comms and I will get cleaned up.”

  Twenty minutes later, dressed in a clean uniform for the first time since before the fighting began, Ashlyn entered Admiral Tremayne’s ready room. As she did, she glanced at the conference table in the center
of the room. Half the seats were unoccupied, the officers usually sitting there either dead or injured. The battle may not have been prolonged, but the toll had been high. Almost too high. Even so, Ash knew it could have been much worse.

  “My apologies for being late, Admiral,” she said as she took her seat.

  “No need, Colonel, I understand.”

  Ash knew she did, which made it easier. At least in some ways.

  “Have a seat, Colonel. We’ve a great deal to cover.” Tremayne waited as Ashlyn complied. At the same time, several junior ratings poured coffee and set out plates of sandwiches for those who wanted them. The admiral waited until the three left the ready room and the hatch slid shut behind them before continuing.

  “Before we get into everyone’s after-action reports, I wanted to confirm what most of you have probably already heard. Colonel Shaw and her team not only managed to take Alexander Watchman into custody, but they also exposed several members of the Administrative Bureau and they have been arrested as well. Secretary of State Nelms and Ambassador Izaguirre worked with the Midlothian judiciary and secured orders turning each of the prisoners over to us for transport back to Fuercon. There they will be prosecuted for their crimes against our system. Then our allies will have a chance at them. When that is all done and their sentences served, assuming they don’t face execution for their crimes, they will be returned to Midlothian to face judgment there.

  “Major Khan and his people will continue questioning them. They will be appointed advocates to help protect their rights.” Tremayne shook her head, stopping any objections. “That is their right under our own laws. We will not sink to their levels, no matter how tempting it might be. Understood?” She waited until everyone gathered assured her that they did.

  “However, they are being considered enemy combatants because of their actions. That means their legal rights are limited. They won’t be harmed. They won’t be threatened, except with the possible penalties they face when convicted. Colonel Shaw, your Marines have the security duty.”