“Eleven hours,” Rick said.
“Good.”
“CAMC and Bok Soo are in the conference room waiting for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll go see what they want.” CAMC was another acronym, standing for Commander of the Armored Marine Commandos. Rick was loving using all the damned acronyms he could find, and I had a feeling he would be for some time, unfortunately.
I got out of my seat and went to the adjoining conference room. “Henry, Bok Soo.” I entered and relaxed as I slumped in a seat.
“Have you slept yet?” Henry asked.
I looked up at him with a look that asked him “What-do-you-think?”
“I would suggest getting some sleep soon, sir. We’re going to need you for this upcoming battle,” he said in a gruff manner as he looked to me like a dad would to a boy the night before school.
“Listen to Henry. You’re working yourself to the nub, James.” Bok Soo’s voice was gentle for a man who nearly had as many as scars as me. A man I considered my brother, just like I considered Henry. His words made me bite back the quick response I had ready for Henry as I sighed and sat back in my seat.
“I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep until we’re in the Wolf system, with it fully scanned.”
Bok Soo nodded in sad understanding. Henry spoke, clearly trying to steer away from my personal issues.
“Krom wants me to increase your protection detail and I agree. Though, I think you need to talk to Yasu. I think there’s more to the situation than meets the eye. She knows that the Avarian would be honor bound to kill her if she was to kill you, being their battle mistress or not.”
The rumors about gossip spreading faster than light across starships seemed to hold true once again. I looked sourly at a corner in the room. “I know.” I really did need to talk to her but I didn’t have the time and I was too sleep-deprived to trust my own judgment.
“For now, we need to work with the hole that’s in our AMC structure. I can’t have someone who attacked my protection detail—and from what I pieced together, inspired this conflict—as my battalion leader,” I continued, switching to the issue of Takahashi’s involvement.
“Agreed.” Henry’s face took on a hard edge, mimicking mine and Bok Soo’s as well.
“He was one of the best commanders by far and deserved the post on merit, but he’ll have lost the respect of most of his troops in this move,” Bok Soo said, annoyance on his face.
“So who’s going to replace him?” I asked.
I was pretty sure who it was going to be already, and on such an important mission the final decision would come down to me, but I valued both of their opinions because they were commanders in the AMC. Technically, I was too. But recently, because of my duties as CFF, I’d been doing so much more I had no time to stop in on the AMC. Though I knew Henry and Bok Soo had no illusions that when the AMC went into battle, me and my protection detail would be there if at all possible. As much as they griped about me being in the front, something that I’d cut down after their repeated requests, they too—like me—led from the front. The Free Fleet would not be run by some armchair generals the way I’d heard some of the Earth military people among my ranks.
“Santos,” Henry said without hesitation. Bok Soo nodded his head as well. Santos was Takahashi’s second-in-command, but it was clear to anyone that he was loyal to the fleet. Before the Recruitment, he’d been a gang leader, his whole family dead in one way or another. He hadn’t cared about giving until he was recruited. He had people who were willing to die for him, and he found himself wishing that he died for those who did so.
“I agree, though we also need to figure out what to do with Takahashi. We can’t just leave him in the brig. James, you’re too close to this. Let me take it over so it can be done right and not be pulled into question later,” Henry said.
“Agreed.” I sighed. A small weight lifted from my shoulders, and both of them visibly relaxed.
“All right, well, if that’s all, I’m going to the armories.” I stood. Both of them tapped their fingers to their foreheads before dropping them lazily as I did the same and left, going to one of the few places I knew I’d find solitude.
***
“What in the fuck was Takahashi thinking?” Bok Soo demanded, slamming his fist into the table. Henry’s grin was replaced with a grim look. Both of them were counted as members of Mecha Tail and the most trusted members of the Free Fleet by James, a naturally paranoid and suspicious man. Takahashi and Yasu’s betrayal would only further his paranoia.
I wish I knew, Henry thought.
Both Bok Soo and Henry knew that James was going for a month and a half on three-ish hours of sleep, and he wasn’t going to get anymore for some time now.
“I have no idea, but I intend to find out.” Henry’s voice was harsh as he rose. I’ll get an answer from Takahashi. His fist tightened as he thought of the betrayal.
“I’m coming with you.” Bok Soo saw Henry was about to question him as he kept talking. “James is as much of a brother to me as he is to you.”
“All right, let’s go.” Henry nodded.
Bok Soo rose and followed Henry. Bok Soo’s face was hard as he thumped along behind Henry. Weighing over a hundred and twenty kilograms, he was one of the biggest humans on the ship and rumored to be one of the only people to fight Avarians without being in a Mecha—the others being James and Henry, though Henry always found himself losing.
They walked through the ship and into the brig. No one tried to stop them and everyone moved out of their way at their thunderous looks.
“We’re here for him,” Henry said.
A look of disgust crossed the jailer’s face as he knew who he was talking about. “Yes, sir.” He saluted and opened the armored doors. Inside, there was one door guarded by two Avarians. They came to attention and one opened the door to the cell.
Bok Soo walked in first.
“So, he sends his dog.” Takahashi had a smirk on his face.
Bok Soo crossed the room in one step.
“Stop,” Henry hissed.
Bok Soo backed up and leaned against a wall, anger on his face as he crossed his muscled arms.
Henry opened up his private communicator and connected with Santos. “Come to the brig.”
“Right away, sir.”
“So, when can I get out of here and back to my battalion?”
“You don’t understand, do you?” Henry said. “Even if I wanted to have you as a commander, which I don’t, no one would listen to you. You’ve lost the respect of the fleet.”
The armored doors opened as Santos ran in. “CAMC!” He saluted Henry without even glancing at Takahashi.
“At ease.” Henry returned the salute.
“Santos Barrera, you are now in command of the second battalion.”
Santos didn’t even pause in replying. “Yes, sir!”
“Do you know why your old commanding officer attacked the CFF?”
“No, sir, I do not.” Anger rang through his voice as Takahashi flinched.
“Would you accept commands from him?”
“No, sir. If we were in battle, I would probably frag him, good soldier or no.”
“Santos, as your commanding—” Takahashi’s face turned to anger.
“You are no commander of mine.” Santos’s fists turned white as he clenched them with rage.
“That is all, Commander. Go and get sorted out with your troops,” Henry said briskly.
“Yes, sir,” Santos said as they saluted each other again.
Henry turned to Takahashi as Santos stormed away. “Now you may realize the impact of your actions. The majority of the fleet is calling for your head. I might be inclined to give it to them.”
Realization dawned on Takahashi’s face. James hadn’t been bluffing. There were limited few who would support him over James, which changed as soon as he attacked.
“You will remain in the brig until we reach Parnmal station and judgment can be
rendered. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
Takahashi took a breath before talking to the floor. “I manipulated Yasu. After Chaleel, I didn’t believe there was any way that he could be a commander. Looking to how he had gotten so many people killed at Parnmal, I didn’t want my people to die for his mistakes.”
“Did you look at the video footage?” Henry growled. He’d lost too many good people there.
“Yes, but I thought it was faked, or made to seem as if the battle was bigger than it was.”
“It was different in one way. It was much, much prettier than being there.” Henry’s voice took on a hard tone. His eyes made Takahashi continue looking to the floor.
“I wanted to show that he couldn’t keep his marriage, so why should he be a commander. I wanted Yasu to kill him and allow the position to be open. I just wanted my people safe.”
“So you would kill our leader.”
“I’ve killed many people.” Takahashi looked to Henry and Bok Soo. They were all veterans; although they didn’t like taking lives, they knew they could do it.
“Here’s something else to think on. Your stunt to get into power and look after your people didn’t just hurt you—it hurt Yasu and him. James believes in marriage. She’s his wife and he’s faithful to her. But now, well, now I don’t know if he wants anything to do with it, or Yasu,” Bok Soo said.
“That man, who controls the fate of everyone in this fleet, will trust people even less than before. You better hope that me and Henry can fix it before he wraps himself with the security he finds in isolation,” Bok Soo continued. An angry light filled his eyes.
Henry put a restraining hand on Bok Soo’s chest.
“If you had simply told him your issue, he would have listened and you could’ve kept your commandership. Idiot. I fought with you on Chaleel, but I didn’t know you were this stupid.” Henry signaled for the jailer to close the cell. “I will take into account your statement,” he said as the door shut
“Will I be on the assault to free Earth?” Takahashi asked, his voice tight.
“No, you’ll remain in your cell for the duration.” Henry’s voice was unyielding. “I don’t want a backstabber in my ranks.”
Henry barely heard Takahashi’s parting remarks.
“It looks like I made the wrong decision. He’s much stronger than I thought.”
***
I spent seven hours in the armories, fixing up my armor and helping Eddie.
“Commander, we’re about to meet up with the fleet.”
“On my way, Rick.” I queued another Wake-Up and all of my fatigue was washed away. I sighed as I stood from my chair. “The luxuries of command.”
Eddie nodded at me knowingly before I left, walking back to my captain’s quarters. My four-man protection detail helped me into my Mecha. I powered it up, feeling the systems come to life as the familiar HUD came into detail. My four-man detail stayed with me as I entered the bridge
“All right, Rick, let’s get those materials sorted out.” I mostly watched as the reactors fed power into the hyper jump generators while shuttles madly rushed between the ships of my original fleet and those that had come from Parnmal.
“Shift into formation entry four,” I said to Rick as he sent commands to the new ships. Those that had been part of the original force moved into position.
I looked at the roster on my personal screen. We had one barely functioning battle cruiser. Its commander, Bregend, and his chief engineer Rous, had driven their crew to get it into battle-ready condition. We had a fresher battle cruiser from Parnmal, but more than half of its weapons were out and its structure was shaky.
Then there was the Resilient, two destroyers, three cruisers, and eight corvettes, all with problems—though with at least three-quarters of their weapons online and most armor plating fixed or patched in some way. Most were missing power plants or had issues with their critical systems, and all of them had two-fifths of a full crew—if they were lucky.
The two troop transports we had were actually converted merchant freighters. We’d slapped more armor onto them and personnel defense. They would carry more AMC and personnel than all of my other ships combined and were nestled behind the umbrella-looking formation of the rest of the fleet.
“All shuttles recovered and ready for worm jump,” the combined arms officer said. They communicated between me, a team that was working with mostly the shuttles, and the AMC, as well as the limited air fighters we had picked up from Chaleel.
“I want those missiles and ordinance being moved the entire time. Get the AMC to help out in their Mechas. Bring everyone to full alert and administer Wake-Up as needed,” I said.
Marleen turned my words into action as she rode Tactical, getting the combined arms officer to move the AMC.
Twenty minutes later, a blue light and siren signaling hyper jump in thirty seconds sounded.
I had already checked the navigation, which had locked in our jump point, as well as the rest of the ships. We were all linked in together, ready to make the jump as one body with a backup jump point already plotted.
“Secure all weaponry and personnel!” Marleen yelled. The communications officer passed this on to everyone in the fleet.
The hum that had been building for the past ten hours reached its crescendo. I could feel my teeth vibrating. Then there was nothing.
“Adjusting shield configuration!”
“Scanning immediate area.”
“All weapon systems are green. Continue moving that ordinance!”
“Close vicinity clear.”
I watched as my team worked through the sequence of emergence protocols we’d made.
“Emergence of all shield forces confirmed,” Rick said.
“Troop transports have arrived. First fleet is all accounted for and all ships are green.”
“Thank you, COS. Sensors?”
“Nothing detected in two light-minutes.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At least now we would get two minutes of warning before someone hit us.
The miniature hologram beside me, as well as the main one in the middle of the bridge, began overlaying what scans had picked up with the last saved scan of the system.
“Take the fleet into the system. I want everything scanned before we move into Sol system.”
Ships sensor commanders were communicating with one another, breaking up the system into grids for their people to search and relaying the information to everyone else as the map populated with images.
I had taken off my helmet, which sat on a rack beside my chair. I had once jumped into a new system when not in a Mecha and I’d had my leg cut off—which was not a pleasant experience, let me tell you. Eddie made me new armor, my third since training with scrap Mechas, to enhance my new strength and abilities. It was a scaled-down version of the ones the Avarian used. I still had my sword and my rail gun mixed with a pistol. Limited flight thrusters had been added after the space acrobatics the AMC had been called on to perform.
My battle computer synced with the ship, throwing up information in the projected HUD with my helmet being off.
In a half hour, the system was declared clear.
“Tactical, I want to know the minute all of the ordinance is secured in the correct place. Comms, signal the fleet down to twenty-five percent. Navigation, plot us a course to the Sol jump point. Helm, as that’s plotted and the other ships are in sync, take us there.”
I opened a channel to Eddie. “All right, Eddie, do what you can. I want the priorities on—”
“Weapons, armor, and propulsion, I know. We’ve been over it enough times,” he said in an exasperated tone.
“Then I’ll let you get to it.” I smiled.
“Thank ye, sir!” he said, his tone eliciting a small laugh from me.
Rick called me on a private channel. “It’s Commander Hoi’s watch. Should we get some food while he takes over and switch off some of the personnel who have been up for the ma
jority? We’re going to need our first-line crew.”
“Understood. Marleen is to let people go at her own discretion as I don’t want another group coming in and not knowing what the hell’s going on.”
“I concur.”
Commander Hoi sat at one of the VIP chairs along the wall, which could serve as any one of the stations in the “pit,” as we called it. The lowered areas on either side of a catwalk in front of my chair split into vital areas. At the front was the helm and navigation, side by side. In the right pit, there was communications, tactical, and sensors. In the left, there was the combined arms, engineering, damage control officers, and the science division. Their job basically was to find an answer to any problem while constantly brainstorming ideas.
The view screens made it seem as if we were on top of the curving hull of the ship, but in actuality we were buried in the center of the ovaloid vessel.
“Commander Hoi, you have command.” I got up from my seat.
Rick was finishing up talking to the people in the pit with private channels and he stood up too.
“Thank you, sir!” Commander Hoi jumped from his seat as we exchanged two-finger salutes, mine more of a general point in my Mecha.
I grabbed my helmet, following Rick out of the bridge and to the nearest mess. Rick made me sit as he got the food. I was already dozy when he came back with the trays.
“Sir, you need to get some sleep.”
“Not damned well likely right now.”
“I have to insist. The doctor said that your body can’t take anymore Wake-Up. It could kill you.”
“Everything’s trying to kill me.”
“Oh shut up and eat.”
“I don’t want to break the cutlery.”
“Don’t be stupid. You’re the best handler of a Mecha. You could pick up a fly without crushing it.”
With a half grin, I slurped down some of the greenish soup we’d been having since we began training and some chewy meal supplement we’d added to the bland meal. I’d gotten used to it, having eaten it for so long. My last solid meal was made from a food compiler on Parnmal.
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