Sam tapped away at the navigational console then he moved to the drive systems console.
“Course set. Engaging drive now. We’re underway.”
Jack pushed himself away from the holostage. He went to the communication console and opened a ship-wide address. His heart sunk.
“This is Major Jack Forge, temporarily in command of this ship. We are heading back to the fleet. Remain where you are. The outer hull is compromised. Rescue parties will be with you as soon as possible. Forge out.”
Jack slumped down the console to the deck. Sam walked over to him.
“You saved a lot of people here today, Jack,” Sam said.
Jack looked at Bren, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at the image of the cooling fireball on the holostage.
“One too few,” Jack said. He stood up and placed an arm around Bren’s shoulders and led her away.
“Let’s find somewhere safe for you, Miss Henson.”
“It’s not your fault, Jack,” Sam called after him.
“Put out a ship-wide call to any Fleet officers or crew,” Jack said. “We could use some help on the command deck.”
16
The Blades came alongside the civilian transport, the lead pilot sending a message to the command deck.
“This is Commander Scherer of the Blades. Respond, civilian transport vessel.”
Jack opened the channel.
“Major Forge in command. Returning from a rescue mission on the orders of Admiral Henson.”
“Major Forge? Jack Forge? I haven’t seen you since before the evacuation.”
Jack remembered Scherer. He was flashy and had been flirting with his friend, Sarah Reyes.
“Hello, Commander. Good to see you.” Jack said. “Do you have orders for me?”
“Copy that. Hold position. Message coming in from the flagship now.”
Jack waited. He expanded the view on the holostage to show the fleet. The Scepter sat in position at the rear of the formation. Destroyer and supporting attack ships were positioned around the perimeter and within the protective perimeter sat dozens of huge civilian transports.
“Orders from the flagship. A tac boat is coming out from the Scepter to collect you and two passengers. A relief command crew will transfer over to the transport. Copy?”
“Copy that. Send a request for a repair and rescue team. We have significant outer hull damage.”
“Message sent,” Scherer said. “Welcome back to the fleet, Jack.”
Jack sat in one of the tac boat passenger seats, with Bren Henson between him and Sam. The boat entered one of the carrier’s landing pads and touched down lightly.
The pilot turned in his seat.
“Back aboard the flagship, Major,” the pilot said with a salute. “Well done, sir.”
The congratulations rang hollow. Jack knew he had only half-succeeded.
“Thank you, pilot,” Jack said. He stood and stepped over to the boarding ramp as it lowered. Bren stood at his side, Sam just behind.
The landing pad of the Scepter was neat and clean and ordered, with a line of officials waiting. There was Admiral Henson flanked by a pair of Fleet Marines. Fleet Intelligence Special Agent Mallet and the Scepter’s captain stood there also.
Bren ran over to her father the moment she saw him. The dusty old admiral rubbed his daughter’s head but failed to show any emotion. He looked past Jack and Sam as they walked over.
“Riya?” Henson said.
Jack stepped up to the admiral and gave a smart salute.
Tanaka returned the salute and instructed Jack and Sam to stand at ease.
Henson pulled Bren closer and looked at Jack with an imploring expression. He spoke quietly.
“Riya?”
“Sir,” Jack began, “we found both your daughters. Riya returned to the Devex ship after we escaped. She wanted to save more people, sir.”
“Where is she?” Henson said.
Special Agent Mallet stepped forward. “He never found her, I’ll bet. It was a mistake to send this Marine on this mission. He cannot be trusted. I will conduct an investigation and find the truth of how this Marine failed you, sir.”
Henson looked at Mallet and then back to Jack.
“Full report by end of watch, clear, Major?”
Jack saluted. “Yes, sir. Can I just say, she was very brave and selfless. An example to us all, sir.”
Henson nodded.
He took Bren by the hand. He looked into the open tac boat, and Jack could see the hope still on his face that his first daughter would yet step out of that boat.
“She was too much like her mother,” Henson said, and then he walked away, wrapping his arm around Bren’s shoulders.
“I will have you for this, Forge,” Mallet said.
Tanaka stepped up and stood in front of Mallet. “Major Forge,” Tanaka said, “you and commander Torent will transfer back to the Scorpio at the top of the next watch rotation. I’ll have an office prepared for you here on the Scepter so you can compile your report, as soon as you’ve had a chance to get cleaned up, that is.”
Jack nodded and thanked Tanaka, who then walked away.
Jack saw the cruel stare from Mallet. He had no idea how or why he had angered this agent so much. He avoided her stare and walked off.
“She hates you, Jack,” Sam said as he walked alongside him.
“I have a feeling she hates a lot of people. She’s just made me her project for now.”
“If you need any help with that report…” Sam said.
“Thanks, but you go and rest. I’ll meet you back on the Scorpio.”
Sam stopped and faced Jack. He delivered a sharp salute, his Mech hand lightly touching his forehead.
“Yes, sir,” Sam said.
Jack returned the salute and then placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. There were no words to express how he felt. He simply patted Sam firmly and then walked off. There was work to do. There was always work.
A rogue planet hurtled across interstellar space. It moved at terrific speeds, thrown out of the system of its parent star eons ago. A dark night sky rotated swiftly overhead, stars wheeling about as the planet spun rapidly.
The rocky surface was smooth and glassy, blackened by constant exposure to stellar winds from all quarters of the galaxy.
There was no life here, nor had there ever been. There were no artificial structures. There was very little hope.
Suddenly, a small group of Devex warriors materialized on the black, glassy surface. There was a moment of disorientation.
Then Riya gathered the Devex warriors around her.
“First, we identify our location,” she said to her fellow Devex, “then we will link our communication systems. We might generate a strong enough signal to reach a friendly ship.”
The Devex followed Riya’s instructions and began to link their systems. She looked up. Somewhere out there was her sister, her father, and Jack Forge. She hoped she would see them all again.
And far above the surface of the rogue planet, hidden by the black of space, a Mech ship watched.
Thank You For Reading
Just when they thought they had a chance against the Devex— and even that was a slim one—a new and more powerful enemy has emerged. What can Jack and the rest of the fleet do to save humanity this time?
The next story in the series is called Alliance. Humanity is forced to choose from the lesser of two evils, and hope that it doesn’t end in total annihilation.
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And if you would like to know about the events that led to Jack and Sam being stranded in space, check out the Jack Forge, Fleet Marine series where Jack goes from unwilling Marine to savior of humanity.
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New Enemy (Jack Forge, Lost Marine Book 4) Page 10