“Which means because I went out there and risked my life getting video, you’re now telling me I can’t lead my squad out into the field for a bag-and-tag?”
Sparkes considered this. “Yeah…that’s about right.” He laughed and gently rubbed her back. “You’ve done enough, Alisha. You don’t have to participate in every part of the battle. You’re clearly MVP today. You can stop over-achieving for a moment.”
“But they’re my squad—”
“We’re only talking about two people, Alisha. Three of your squad is on the first line—an impressive achievement, by the way. I’m sure Logan, even at his age, can manage to lead two Ryders.”
Alisha jumped to her colonel’s defense. “My colonel can run circles around you any day.”
Sparkes laughed and held up his hands. “Sorry, I forgot you two….”
Alisha waited for him to finish his sentence so she could yell at him again, but he shut up instead.
They walked a good distance in silence before he spoke again. “It’s not obvious. I wouldn’t even know, except I was there when the general lectured him over the fact.”
“What business is it of the general’s?”
“Well, he’s Logan’s commander. He can make anything he wants his business.”
Now she saw the problem her colonel faced. Anna had made it sound like captains frequently partnered with their colonels, but obviously not colonels who reported to General Powell. “Well, just for the record, the colonel and I are not partnering. I just think he’s a great colonel, that’s all.”
Sparkes stopped and looked at her. “So you and Logan have never…?”
“The general’s intel, which no doubt came from DC, is wrong.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t see how this concerns you. If my partnering with the colonel would be unsuitable, I fail to see how you’d be more acceptable.”
Sparkes laughed. “That’s very astute of you. You’re absolutely right. The general wouldn’t be pleased at all.”
“Which is odd, given your reputation as a playboy.”
He grimaced, evidently finding his reputation annoying.
“So why doesn’t the general object to your dalliances?”
“Well, my excursions tend to be…”
“One nighters?” Alisha offered, since he struggled to find the word.
“Ouch! I am a colonel, you know. Is this how you treat Logan?”
Suddenly the kiss that had started her night of passion flashed before her eyes. Alisha knew she didn’t want to discuss how she treated her colonel.
“I apologize, Colonel Sparkes. I did, in fact, forget your superior rank.”
“That’s even worse. I can bear anything but impersonal politeness. Go back to insulting me.”
Alisha smiled. “How about I do neither?”
“That and calling me Jack would please me very much,” he replied as he placed his hand gently on the back of her neck.
***
Logan found his missing captain and the playboy behind the officers’ gear tent. Sparkes was intent on seduction, and from Alisha’s smile, he was making backwind.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Logan said in a tone that made it quite clear he didn’t care if he was interrupting something or not. “I’d like a few words in private with my captain.”
Sparkes shrugged. “Nothing going on that can’t be discussed at a later date.” He winked at Alisha. “When you’re finished talking with your colonel, join me in the general’s tent.”
The moment Sparkes was out of hearing range, Logan grabbed Alisha’s arm and turned her to face him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I know you’re probably mad at me—”
“Probably? I gave you a clear order to cut my crew out of your training. You assured me you would, and the next thing I know you’re arguing with the general as to why they deserve a spot on the line.”
“I know it must look like I went back on my word.”
Logan gripped her other arm and pushed her against a stack of crates. “There’s no misunderstanding. You betrayed me!”
“I tried to cut them.”
“No, you didn’t. If you had tried, they’d be cut!”
“I raised the bar. You said they lacked battle expertise, so I added marksmanship to the challenge, but it only filtered out Washington and Philly. The truth is, you’re wrong about their skills. The three remaining deserved to be on the line. They performed every bit as well as the general’s men. If I had cut them, I would’ve betrayed their trust.”
“The general would’ve cut them if you hadn’t stopped him.”
“He would have cut Jersey and Ginnie because they’re women. I shouldn’t have to defend myself for preventing that from happening. If you can’t understand that I will not cooperate in blatant sexual bias, then maybe I shouldn’t be your captain. I’m sure Colonel Sparkes would take me on.”
Logan released her. She was right. Ollie, Jersey, and Ginnie had proved they were just as battle-ready as the general’s best. Alisha had no justifiable reason to cut them. And allowing the general to exclude the women because of their sex would have been equally repugnant.
Her decisions had both been right on the mark. It was he who was out of line. Damn it all! She’d probably want a transfer after his outburst. Knowing he was too emotionally involved to discuss such a matter right now, he walked away from her before he did any further damage.
He had barely turned the corner before he ran into Sparkes.
“The general wants to see you right away,” Sparkes told him. “Is Alisha still back there?”
“Sparkes, I really need you to leave my captain alone. She’s new to the Corps and doesn’t need you screwing around with her head. She’s a good kid.”
“I agree. I think she’s incredible. I even understand why you’re so protective.”
“I may have to take those innuendoes from the general, but I sure as hell don’t have to take them from you!”
Sparkes backed away and held both hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean it that way. What I meant was that if she were under my command, I’d be just as protective. She’s the most extraordinary flyer the Corps has ever seen. And if it’s any consolation, I’ll do everything in my power to see she’s not taken advantage of.”
Logan stared at Sparkes as if he’d lost his mind. “I may be an old colonel stuck out in the Cully meadows…but believe it or not, your reputation as a heart-breaking playboy has even reached our sad little corner.”
“Well, as you’re discovering, not all rumors are true. My reputation seems to have a life of its own. It regularly has me simultaneously seducing twenty women at fifteen parties I never attended. I just ignore it. There’s nothing that can be done about it anyway. However, between you and me, I’m telling you it’s all bullshit. If it wasn’t, do you really think I’d still be on the general’s staff?”
Logan conceded Sparkes’ reputation might be exaggerated, but that didn’t change the fact that the all too young Colonel had clearly focused on Alisha. He’d seen Sparkes’ moves with his own eyes.
“It’s not just playboys who can break her heart and screw with her head. As far as I’m concerned, you’re still as great a danger to Alisha as I ever thought you were.”
“Well, the only way I can prove you wrong is with time. But right now I need to find her.”
“Why?”
“Because MAC just assigned you as the field commander in charge of this mission, and you’re going to be too busy to keep an eye on her.”
“She’s grounded.”
“Did you explicitly tell her that?” Sparkes asked.
“I didn’t need to. She knows the regs.”
“Well, that’s the problem. I looked at her scores—she knows the regs really well, which means she probably knows the exemptions to the weaponry clause are medics and videographers, who are allowed on the battlefield even if they haven’t passe
d their weapon tests. And while she’s not a medic…”
“She was clearly assigned the role of videographer this morning,” Logan concluded, and immediately turned to find her.
Sparkes grabbed his arm. “You don’t have time, Colonel. You need to get to the general before he has apoplexy. I’ll find Alisha and relay your direct order that she is grounded for this battle.”
“Thank you,” Logan replied. He wanted to dislike Sparkes, but the man kept doing honorable things.
***
Logan didn’t expect the general to be in a pleasant mood, and he wasn’t disappointed.
“It seems MAC wants you as field commander. I’ll be frank. I’d rather have you grounded and run it from here using my captains, but unfortunately my hands are tied—unless you can come up with a reason why you’re unfit for duty?”
“Sorry, sir, but I am willing and able to serve.”
“I figured as much,” grumbled the general. “Well then, Colonel, let’s go over the plan again, because I don’t want you screwing it up.”
Logan saw at once why MAC had assigned him as field commander. MAC had reviewed Alisha’s video and determined their communication devices were AJAX 5’s. If they had the full package, which they doubtlessly did, they could completely blast the higher wavelengths that Ryders used for long-range command communications. The battalion would have to go in with low frequency coms, which meant any leadership had to be in close proximity.
Once the general was satisfied Logan understood the plan, he rolled up the charts. “Time to get down to the strip. You realize they’ll be searching for you up there.”
Logan nodded. When the drug marketers discovered the Ryders communicated on low coms, they would try to locate and take out the commander to disrupt the attack.
“If something happens and you don’t come back, I just want you to know I’ll look after your girl for you.”
Logan sighed. “General, if you want to do me a favor, then just stop calling her ‘my girl’.”
“I wasn’t alluding to anything improper. It’s just you recruited a remarkable young woman, and you must realize how painful it is for me to say that.”
Logan wasn’t actually certain which objectionable bias made it painful: that the remarkable recruit was female, or that Logan had done something right.
The general sighed. “All I’m saying is if something happens to you, I’ll see she’s not lost in the ranks.”
The general really didn’t get it. Alisha could no more get lost in the ranks than a professional basketball player could go unnoticed at a dwarf convention. MAC will ensure she’s properly utilized, and nothing the general or anyone else might do can stop her success.
Still, the general had never offered him an olive branch before, and since he fully intended to return from this battle, he accepted it gracefully. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the thought.”
Chapter 40
Alisha had been certain the colonel would understand her actions once she explained them, but their conversation had gone south, and then she’d suggested a transfer she didn’t want.
What she wanted was for him to take her in his arms and tell her he wouldn’t allow that to happen, that he loved her too much to let her leave him. Instead he’d just walked off. As far as she knew, he could be writing up her transfer right this minute.
To distract her from her misery, she went in search of Philly. She would have sought out Ginnie, but her only friend was supposed to be resting before the attack. Finding Philly was easy enough. She just had to follow the scent of food.
Philly sat at the end of a crowded table, enjoying his meal while being declared the god of the video geeks. She’d never seen him happier. While he hadn’t made the final fifteen, his fellow videographers were mighty impressed that he’d stayed in for so long.
“You out-flew Hudson, and he’s the best flyer in our squad. You were just awesome,” exclaimed a small, red-headed flyer just as Alisha walked up. When they recognized her, all talking stopped, and they stared at her as if she were a magical creature appearing from thin air.
Alisha suddenly regretted trying to join them. She felt so awkward and out of place. They seemed to expect her to say something. After all, why would she have walked over unless she had something to say?
So say something.
“You were awesome!” she declared as she gave Philly a hug and sat down beside him on the bench.
Philly smiled proudly and passed her a soda while he introduced her to his friends.
Alisha shook hands with each of them, then looked down at her drink. “No beer, Philly?”
He sighed. “No beer until we win the battle.”
Alisha patted him on the back. “It’s a good rule. You need a steady arm to shoot video.”
“Speaking of which,” one young man said, “what did Philly tell you to do? That was good footage you took this morning.”
Alisha laughed at the warning look from Philly. “Sorry, fellas, that’s not my trade secret to share. I’ll gladly share my flying tricks, but you’ll have to get Philly to share his video secrets.”
“Not a chance,” Philly said.
Alisha sat back and enjoyed the semi-serious bribe offers thrown out trying to get Philly to reveal his trick.
Philly looked at his watch. “Man, look at the time. I gotta go, fellas. The front line calls.”
Alisha reached out and snared his arm. “Front line?” she asked in confusion.
Philly smiled proudly. “The general has assigned me to video first line.”
Alisha was not nearly as pleased as Philly about the assignment. She pulled him away from the others.
“It’s too dangerous. You’ll be unarmed!”
“I’ll have a rifle in my back sling. It’s all right,” he assured her. “He just wants a recording of the flight. He doesn’t need close-ups of the machinery. You gave him plenty of that this morning. I can hang at three hundred feet and get the footage I need.”
Alisha now understood the colonel’s feelings. Just because the general was willing to treat his videographers as replaceable non-critical resources didn’t mean she wanted to have a member of her own crew so treated.
“It’s an honor to be asked,” Philly explained. “The general didn’t even know my name until today.”
“Let me see your orders,” she demanded.
Philly pulled out a folded sheet of paper from his shirt pocket and carefully unfolded it before handing it to her. She suspected he intended to save the paper for his entire life.
“This order is signed by Colonel Sparkes.”
“He signs all the general’s orders.”
Not this time, he doesn’t, Alisha decided. Handing Philly back his orders, she stormed off in search of the colonel.
She decided Sparkes was purposely avoiding her, since everywhere she went, he had just left. Ironically, she finally found him right back at the carts behind the equipment tent. “I’ve been looking for you, colonel!”
“Alisha, thank God!” Sparkes said, clearly relieved at finding her. “Where have you been?”
“I have been walking all over this damn camp, looking for you!”
Sparkes laughed. “You’re kidding. Because I’ve been looking for you, and everywhere I went, you’d just left. We must have been going in circles.”
Alisha remained focused on her outrage. “I want you to withdraw Philly’s orders to video the first line.”
Sparkes stared at her, momentarily confused. “Why? He’s clearly the most qualified.”
“It’s not a matter of qualification. It’s of value. Why does the general need a video?”
“What are you so angry about?”
“There is no reason to risk Philly’s life so the general can have action video memoirs.”
He gripped the back of her neck. “Just calm down and lower your voice. The video isn’t for memoirs. We need to verify all targets have been taken out before we send in the second wave.”
&nbs
p; Alisha felt like an utter fool. Of course they would need video. What the hell had she been thinking? “You’re right,” she said, and frowned. The video was necessary, but how would the general have known to ask for Philly? He hadn’t been there when Philly remained in the competition. “It was your idea to send Philly, wasn’t it?”
Jack stopped massaging her neck but kept his hand firmly upon her shoulder. “Yes. I thought us damn lucky to have a videographer who could drop vertically.”
“Well, then you’re really lucky today because you’ve got two videographers who can do the job.”
“No.”
“Since you’re going on qualifications, I should be your first choice.”
“Alisha, no,” he repeated, now placing both hands on her shoulders and staring straight into her eyes. “You’ve done enough today. Let some of the other soldiers play.”
“This isn’t play!” she retorted, angry that he would treat her like a child.
“No, it’s not. It’s life and death. And every decision I make comes down to that. It’s not easy, and it’s not fun. The reason why I do it is because I do it better than anyone else, and that means more soldiers live with me in this job.”
“Then let me do my job!”
“I did,” he replied. “I let you fly out this morning and fly a hair’s breadth away from major artillery, knowing there was a very good chance I’d just sent a talented Ryder to her death. Given you were the only resource I had, you got the job. I don’t have to take that risk here. I have another resource perfectly qualified for the job.”
“This morning you didn’t know me. Now you do, and I think it’s affecting your decision.”
“Well, for the record, I liked you immensely from the moment you arrived and shot down my plan. Still, I do like you even more now. I can’t deny that. If you recall, Colonel Logan let you go out this morning; in fact, he put his career on the line promising the general that you would succeed if given the chance.”
“And he’d want me to take this run as well,” she said, knowing that might not be the case.
“Actually, the reason I was looking for you was to pass on his orders.”
Scavenger's Mission (The SkyRyders Book 1) Page 22