“Loco, if Major Laboe hasn’t sent a detail to the flag bridge, do so. I want a Devil Dog with the Admiral at all times until this – whatever this is – is over.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He touched her arm and led her several steps away from the others. “Did you have a chance?”
Even though he didn’t finish his question, she knew what he meant. “No. We went to alert status before I could.”
He nodded and then turned, signaling to Connery. “You’re with Angel, Brigit. Don’t let her try to shake you.”
“Understood, Loco.” She looked at Ash and shrugged, a slight smile touching her lips. “Sorry, Angel. You might be our CO and all but the Master Guns scares me more.”
“I guess I’ll have to work on that then.” She grinned slightly and took one last look around the staging area. “All right, Loco. The company is yours. I’ll update you as soon as I know something.”
With that, she turned and made her way toward the lift, Connery on her heels.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Tremayne began less than ten minutes later. As she spoke, she made eye contact with the four in the Ready Room with her and then with the ship’s commanders taking part in the brief via comm. “We have received preliminary instructions from FleetCom. Their analysis of the data confirms our own. Specifically, there is an as yet unidentified force on the edges of the system. They feel the force is closer to taskforce size than fleet size, which works in our favor. They also agree, initially at least, with our analysis that at least some of the ship signatures match those from the invasion of the Cassius System.”
She reached out and tapped in a command using her virtual keyboard and the holo display came to life over the table. From where she sat at the middle of the table, Ashlyn studied the holo. The home system was displayed. Different colored lights indicated various ships, merchant and military. Blue flashing lights marked the defense platforms. At the northern apex of the system, green lights indicated Second Fleet’s position. Beyond it, mere inches on the display but hundreds of kilometers – or more – red lights indicated the unknown taskforce.
“As you can see, First Fleet is slowly moving into a close defensive position around the home system’s center, especially Fuercon.” Tremayne highlighted the change in positions. Someone, possibly Captain Montgomery, murmured approval. “They are being careful with it so they don’t let the intruders know their intent.”
“Reinforcements?”
Ash glanced at the screen inset into the table in front of her. A slight smile touched her lips as she recognized the speaker. Captain Rafe Thrasher. He had been first officer on the Atlantia, an aging battle cruiser, during the last war. Two years before the mission that had ended to badly, she and her platoon had been assigned to the Atlantia. In that time, she had found Thrasher to be more than capable. Better yet, he had a respect for the Marines lacking in some Navy officers.
“We are on our own, at least for the moment,” Tremayne answered. “FleetCom remembers the attack on the Capital not that long ago. We know now that attack had been nothing more than a feint. This may be much the same or it could be a distraction, designed to pull our defenses out of position.” She shipped from a white mug and grimaced slightly. “Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, we don’t know what this is. These ships may be no threat at all or they may be surveilling the system. That, as I am sure you realize, is the problem.”
“Our orders, Ma’am?” Captain Vilhjalmsson asked.
“Most of Second will hold position here. The Birkenhead, Challenger and Nagato are to proceed toward the ships and challenge them. Captain Thrasher, you are in command of this makeshift strike group.”
“Ma’am, if I may.” Ash waited until Tremayne looked at her and nodded. “Instead of Challenger, I recommend sending the Scimitar. That will give Captain Thrasher LAC support and might make whoever is in command of those ships think twice before doing something foolish.”
“Captain Thrasher?”
“I admit that the presence of LACs would be helpful, Admiral.”
“Agreed.” She turned her attention back to Ash. “Colonel Shaw, how do you see using the Devil Dogs?”
Instead of answering immediately, Ashlyn quickly input a series of commands and watched as the latest reports from her company commanders came up on her datapad. A second set of commands followed the first and she looked at the Marine complements assigned to the three ships. A slight frown tugged at the corners of her mouth as she considered her options.
“The Scimitar’s Marine contingent is solid, especially with the addition of the LACs and their support teams from the Devil Dogs. Major Laboe has done a standout job with his Marines but Second Fleet’s Marine contingent is light, too light for my liking – meaning no disrespect to either the Major or to you, Admiral. I know both of you would have liked more of us jarheads onboard to do the heavy lifting.” She grinned as the others laughed softly. Good. She had hoped to take some of the edge off.
“My recommendation is to shift Alpha Company’s Second Platoon to the Nagato. Lieutenant Lashay is the CO. I’ll send Master Gunnery Sergeant Talbot along as well. As for the Birkenhead, Third Platoon, Delta Company should be a good fit.”
“Agreed, but with modification,” Tremayne said after a moment’s though. “Major Laboe, you become interim Marine CO for the Phoenix. Master Guns Talbot will remain onboard to assist you and to ask as liaison with the Devil Dogs. Colonel Shaw, you will accompany Second Platoon to the Nagato. Captain Thrasher, is that acceptable?”
“Aye, Ma’am, quite acceptable.” The man’s blue eyes sparkled and Ashlyn shook her head. Once again, Tremayne had outflanked her.
“Ash.” Tremayne waited until Ashlyn looked up from her datapad. “I want your eyes and ears out there as well as your experience. I can’t help feeling this is more than a simply surveillance mission.”
For a moment, the Admiral looked at some point beyond the table. Ash waited, recognizing Tremayne’s expression and guessing its cause. Unless she missed her guess, the Admiral was about to read in the others on their mission and the suspicions behind it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, what I am about to tell you is not to be discussed with anyone except your XOs until you are told differently.”
Tremayne waited, giving those attending via comm to make sure no one could overhear. Once they had signaled they were ready, she continued, explaining the mission to the Drakkana System and why FleetCom had decided to hold Second Fleet back until the remainder of the Devil Dogs could rendezvous with them. Now, looking at the icons for the unidentified ships resting at the System boundary, Ashlyn thanked whatever officer or deity or whatever had made the decision.
“There is a need to maintain secrecy about our mission, ladies and gentlemen,” Tremayne continued. “And if it weren’t for the Devil Dogs and First Fleet, we might not know – or we might not know until it was too late – that one of our allies has turned against us.”
“What?” Captain Montgomery leaned forward, his expression a mixture of anger and surprise. A quick glance around the table, and then at the comm screen, showed the others felt the same. “Who?”
“Each of you know how FleetCom has been troubled by the change in tactics we’ve seen from the enemy since President Harper declared the truce null and void.” Heads nodded. “And then there has been the question of how they managed to upgrade their weapons and, in some instances, managed to get new ships.” More nods.
“Colonel Shaw?” Tremayne looked to Ash and she nodded in return.
“When we managed to retake the Cassius System, we discovered something that surprised not only Admiral Collins but Fleet Intel and FleetCom as well. The Callusians had withdrawn the bulk of their ships before we arrived in-system. Instead of finding the taskforce that had invaded, we found defense platforms and only a few ships. Dirtside, there were some troops but the Devil Dogs made fairly quick work of the main resistance. Our AARs should be available for your review as soon as the briefing is concluded.
>
“What we found once we recaptured the capital was that the Callusian ships had downloaded their data, including video records of the invasion, to dirtside servers. We seized all the data and it was brought back to FleetCom. Colonel Santiago and his team have been working on decoding it all.”
She glanced at Tremayne who, as if reading her mind, nodded once. Taking that as all the permission she needed, Ash called up the image of the Midlothian officer on the Callusian bridge.
“This image was taken from that record.” She gave everyone time to study the image she had sent to their screens. “It has been analyzed and there is nothing to indicate it has, in any way, been doctored. As you can see, it shows an officer in the Midlothian Space Navy. There is no evidence he is there by anything but choice. Our preliminary ID on him is that of Captain Barnard Hughes.”
Silence filled the Ready Room. It wouldn’t last. As soon as those studying the image overcame their initial shock, the questions and demands for answers would come. All she could do was wait.
And wish she had the answers.
“Do we know if he is still on active duty?” Montgomery asked.
“No.” Ashlyn held up a hand to prevent anyone from interrupting. “And that is what makes this problematic and interesting. Colonel Santiago has had to move very carefully in the research into Hughes. Because of the possibility the Midlothian government not only knows about his actions but approves, FleetCom can’t just send a request for information about the man. What little they have found speaks volumes, at least to me.”
She typed in another command sequence and the information Santiago had sent her about Hughes flashed onto the holo screen. As it did, the tactical display shrank and moved to the lower right corner. That let them keep an eye on it in case there was a change in status but they could concentrate on the data as she discussed it.
“Bernard Hughes was a decorated officer in the last war. Unlike many – most – of the Midlothian officers we dealt with, he had no qualms about being in the midst of the fighting when necessary. His official battle history is appended to the report. I won’t take time to go over it right now as it isn’t really pertinent to the current situation.
“After the war, there are a few mentions of him in the Midlothian media and one or two entries in his official record. However, a little over a year ago, he seemed to simply disappear. No more mention of him in the media and no official entries into his record. Colonel Santiago and his people are still trying to find confirmation but their read on it is he was pulled into an assignment that had to be off-the-books, at least for a while.”
“Our assignment, once we reach the Drakkana System is to prevent the Callusians from moving in. More importantly, if we do encounter the enemy, we are to do everything possible to confirm the presence – or absence – of any Midlothian equipment or personnel. We have the added imperative of capturing at least one ship intact. That is part of why the Devil Dogs are with us,” Tremayne said. “As with the information about our target system, you are not to discuss this with anyone except your XOs until further notice. Questions?”
When there were none, she nodded. “Captain Thrasher, get with the others in your strike group and formulate your approach vector and course of action. I expect your report in half an hour. Colonel Shaw, how long do you need to transfer your people to the Nagato?”
“Half an hour, Ma’am. I need time to brief Major Laboe and my staff.”
“Then I’ll let you and the good Major get to work. Report when you are ready to depart.”
“Aye, Ma’am.” She pushed back her chair and stood, bracing quickly to attention before leaving the Ready Room, Laboe and Connery on her heels.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“STATUS?” DORESCU ASKED as he entered the bridge.
Kovacz turned from where he stood studying the tactical holo. Dorescu studied his first officer, noting his puzzled expression. Then he turned his attention to the holo. Kovacz might be puzzled about something but he did not feel it serious. Otherwise, he would have sent for Dorescu. At least he would have if he wanted to continue living. Even so, Dorescu knew better than to make assumptions, especially considering where they happened to be.
As he moved to Kovacz’s side, he looked at the holo. Nothing much had changed since he’d last checked it half an hour before. Ships they assumed to be part of First Fleet still sat between them and Fuercon. The defense platforms located closer to the planet still appeared to be in passive mode.
The fools. They should have learned from the last war that they needed to have defense platforms closer to the system’s edge. Not that he was complaining. Their current location suited him just fine.
“The ships are still unaware of our presence, sir,” Kovacz said. “There has been some shuttle activity between several of them but nothing else.”
“Comms chatter?”
“Nothing we have been able to pick up using passive scans.”
Dorescu frowned at the holo. Everything was as he’d expected. So why did he feel he was missing something?
He turned and made his way to the command chair. As he did, he pushed down his concerns. The Fuerconese had no idea the ships sitting so patiently, so peacefully on the edge of their system were anything but peaceful. They had to believe it. Why else had they yet to challenge him?
Calm, Anton, calm. He breathed deeply, his expression still. He would not let his concern show.
There was nothing to worry about. He knew it. Just as he knew the source of his doubts – Hughes.
The Midlothian had confronted him – oh-so-respectfully, of course – in his quarters not an hour ago. Dorescu had almost laughed at the advisor’s outrage. They had their orders and those orders in no way included being anywhere close to Fuerconese space. So why, in the name of all that was holy, was the Anubis and the rest of the taskforce not only close to Fuercon but actually in-system?
Dorescu had let him have his say. The only reason Hughes still lived was the fact he had shown enough restraint to being his “concerns” to Dorescu privately. One thing he could say for the man, Hughes had learned very quickly how to survive on the Anubis. Not that it would do him any good for long. He had outlived his usefulness and soon Dorescu would deal with him just as he had the other so-called advisors.
The look on Hughes’ face when he saw the orders instructing them to head to Fuerconese space had been priceless. For a moment, the man went still. Dorescu wasn’t sure he even breathed. Then all color drained from his face. He swallowed hard. His hands fisted at his sides. It had not been difficult to guess what was running through his mind. Hughes’s first comment when he finally regained the ability to speak confirmed it. He thought Dorescu and his Callusian superiors had lost their minds. The danger of this mission could not be justified, especially considering the possibility of the Fuerconese learning of the Midlothian involvement.
That break in discipline pleased Dorescu. It gave him the justification he needed to drive home a lesson too long denied. Without warning, he’d struck. His fist caught the Midlothian squarely across the jaw. Hughes stumbled back, blood pouring from his mouth. Before he could recover, Dorescu struck again and again. Soon Hughes lay on the decksole, curled into the fetal position in a futile attempt to protect his ribs.
“This is your only warning, Advisor,” he’d snarled. “Question me or my superiors again and it will be your last act of insubordination.” He’d followed the threat with a savage kick to the man’s ribs. Then he’d ordered his security team to take Hughes back to his cabin. If they happened to remind the man who commanded the Anubis, all the better.
“Sir, three ships are breaking away from the main body,” the scanners tech reported.
“Course?”
“CIC says they are on a direct approach vector,” Kovacz answered a few moments later.
“It seems their commander has gotten curious.” He closed his eyes and considered his options. As tempting as it was to open fire on the three ships, he would rath
er not give the other ships a chance to either counter his attack or send word back to Fuercon for reinforcements.
“Signal all ships to hold position. Prepare for battle but weapons are not to power up until I give the order. Let’s not give them reason to suspect we present any danger.” He turned in his chair to face the communications officer. “Prepare to squawk the merchant ship ID if they hail us. Let’s see what they want.”
“Our LACs?”
“Have the crews ready to launch.” He turned his attention back to the tactical display. “Designate the oncoming ships as Target Alpha. Rear guard is Target Beta.”
“Designations made,” Tactical replied.
“Now let’s see if they will fall for the bait.”
* * *
“Colonel, there’s a message coming in for you from Admiral Tremayne,” the shuttle pilot reported.
Less than ten minutes earlier, the shuttle had left the Phoenix Rising. A quick check showed they were less than fifteen minutes away from the Nagato. In the time since leaving Tremayne’s ready room, she had been busy. She’d briefed Talbot on their current situation and even managed a minute alone with Laboe to ask if he wanted to transfer to the Devil Dogs. His reaction had brought a smile to her lips. After a moment’s surprise, he had braced to attention and formally accepted her offer. Even though she had not had time to issue her request for his transfer to her command, she had informed the Devil Dogs. That would, she hoped, keep any problems from arising should he find himself in the position of issuing orders in her stead.
At least Miranda will make sure the transfer goes through if anything happens to me.
Honor from Ashes (Honor and Duty Book 3) Page 17