by Rod Carstens
"Fuck you and the horse you rode in on, motherfucker!" Mai saw Berk raise his one good hand and give the middle finger, a universal insult.
Many in the room cheered. Sand’s face never changed.
"Get some, Berk!" a Marine officer shouted.
The Xotoli raised the sword high before bringing it down in a powerful blow that killed Berk. She was startled by this act. The Xotoli only killed quickly those who they felt worthy of a swift death. It was rare. She should know. She longed to tell everyone in the room that Berk had died a warrior's death by the Xotoli code, yet she couldn’t. It would give her away as what she really was: one of the hated hybrids.
"Look! They had to help the guy who fought Berk. He fucked it up!" someone in the room observed.
The room remained silent for some time. Most stared at the last visual of the Xotoli being helped away by its comrades.
"He was a brawler and a drunk and a real pain in the ass, but he sure knew how to die," a Marine said, putting her head down.
"Were his suit communications damaged?" General Sand asked.
One of the technicians at a display ran through several screens and found the display that would tell him the status of Berk's suit.
"Yes, sir. His comm was down, and he had no situational displays. He was essentially blind to where he was and without any comm." The tech's voice was quiet as he thought of what that must have been like – to be in the middle of an alien occupied planet all alone.
"Note this in the battle log and put Berk in for the Confederation Medal of Honor. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was too far away to escape and evade back to our lines, and he knew how important this information was to the Confederation. He knew his suit would automatically upload the data, even if he couldn't. But he had to die to do it."
The image flickered and went blank. Then an image reappeared. The armor system was still trying to remain online. In the distance, they could see a door open in what appeared to be an outcropping. Light suddenly flooded the snowy windswept plain. The Xotoli helped the wounded alien down what appeared to be stairs leading to an underground facility.
"Do you have coordinates on that site?" Sand suddenly snapped.
"Yes, sir."
"Do we have a SOC capable of a drop?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do we have any troops on board who can make a drop?"
"Yes, sir. We have your security contingent and a few others."
"Have them meet me in the armory and armor up. Get that SOC ready to fly. We’re going after some Xotoli," Sand yelled as he turned and hurried out of the room.
Mai and the rest of the men and women could only stare after him. He was going to make a drop with a few stragglers and go after the Xotoli! He must’ve been bat-shit crazy!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Xotoli Outpost
Exoplanet 1123.567
Von Fleet Planet 703
Combat Patrol 4
It had been a long couple of hours for the men and women of Combat Patrol 4. They had finally reached the sensor horizon and were about to slip over into the unknown.
"All right, boys and girls. Let’s shut down our engines and all active sensors. We’re gonna glide across the horizon and see what we can see. Set your passive sensors on their most sensitive settings in three, two, one, now."
Lieutenant Maxwell Steiner shut down his engine and let his ship glide across the horizon. The horizon showed as a red line on his situation screen. The red line was the limit of the picket sensors that had been launched by the destroyers. Steiner and the patrol were still in range of the last secure laser comm buoy. After Rift, the Navy had come up with the laser buoys that would provide secure transmission throughout a task force. They were laid with the sensors and gave all the ships secure speed of light comm. They were almost at the edge of good comm and any help would still take eight minutes to reach them if they needed assistance. Steiner had the patrol spread out to the limit of their ship-to-ship communications and to cover as much of the quadrant as they could. It was very lonely out here with no back up nearby, but Steiner was banking on the fact they were dark and would have the jump on anyone looking for fighters.
Steiner had been trying to decide what to do if they did detect ships. If whatever was triggering the sensor had its own combat patrol out, they might have to fight Steiner’s patrol. If they didn't, he knew he could get a good solution on their position from the electronic emissions, but as soon as they fired, the Xotoli would also have a firing solution on them. It always worked both ways. They couldn’t take on much of a force by themselves. So the better part of valor seemed to be run like hell unless his hand was forced. Now all he could do was wait. But how long and how would he determine what was long enough?
They glided past the sensor horizon and continued into unscanned space. He didn’t want to get too far away from the laser buoy or the early warning would turn into one that wasn’t so early.
"Honey Badger to Steiny Man."
"Honey Badger, go."
"I'm picking up some active offensive sensors on the most sensitive setting of my sensors."
"Roger. Network with the rest of us and let's see what you've got."
Honey Badger synced his sensors with the patrol members with a heading and a distance. He was right. It was so faint it could just be noise in the system, but Steiner didn't want to dismiss it too soon. It was on a heading that would take it to 703. So he decided to just wait. Smallboy had the most sensitive sensors. Maybe he was getting a better picture.
"Smallboy, this is Steiny Man. Are you showing anything?"
"Yeah. It’s definitely something, not background. I’ll need a few more minutes. If I could creep forward a few thousand miles, I’m sure I could get a better picture."
"Negative. Our ass is hanging out far enough."
The signal began to get stronger and stronger as time went on. The heading was straight for 703 and the task force. Steiner was going to have to report something soon, but he needed more data than “there’s something out there coming your way.” He needed more precise data.
"Batman, anything?"
"Wait, wait."
Batman slipped closer.
"Goddamn it! Get back here," Steiner snapped.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Batman said. "I have a Xotoli task force inbound for 703. It has at least two destroyers, two cruisers, and five troop carriers, and I haven't even seen the whole thing yet! They got a bone in their teeth, and they’re hauling ass. It's like they know we're here! "
"Get your ass back here!"
When Batman was back with the patrol, they turned and began to run for the sensor picket line. When they passed it, Steiner said, "Batman, you ready for a flash message back to the task force?"
"Roger that and be advised the Xotoli are spinning down to begin their approach to 703. They’re going to be in orbit in about four hours."
"Shit! That doesn't leave us long. Those Marines are still on the ground."
"Send it secure laser comm and as soon as you do, we’re going near light back home."
#
Lieutenant Commander Zula Temesgen was pacing back and forth in front of the main display. Von Fleet planet 703, with its dark gray and white cloud cover, was his background. He could feel the damned aliens. He knew they were coming. He stopped and stared at the planet. Through the cloud cover, he could see flashes of orange and red light. The battle was still in full swing down there. He didn't like the knot that was forming in his stomach for no reason other than his hunch.
"CIC to bridge."
"Go ahead, CIC."
"Sir, we just received a flash comm message from Combat Patrol Four. They’re reporting an alien task force inbound to our position with at least two destroyers, two cruisers, and several troop carrying ships."
All Temesgen could think was shit! That was a bigger task force than their own. The Pollux, Castor, and Tokyo were trapped up against this planet, protecting the landing force.
The
news only made him pace faster. Captain Grogen didn’t have many choices, and none of them were good. If she took the two destroyers and the Tokyo to try and intercept the incoming Xotoli force, she was leaving the Marines and the Tarawa unprotected. If she stayed with them, they would be pinned against 703 with little room to maneuver. Protecting the Marines and the landing force was their primary mission. They couldn't take on a larger task force and risk the Marines and the only ship in the fleet capable of landing them. They would need time to extract those Marines and allow the Tarawa to leave the system. How could they buy time? Captain Grogen had always told him to think outside of the box and to throw away the book when things were at their worst. This was certainly one of those times, and it wasn’t just his ass hanging out in the wind. Those Marines’ lives depended on the Navy protecting their backs.
Think, Temesgen thought to himself. He had to figure this one out. They had new weapons and new capabilities. The new Long Lance torpedoes had a much longer range than the old ones, almost enough to make it to the sensor picket line, but he didn’t have a target solution for them. Then he remembered their seek nearest target setting.
"Bridge to CIC."
"CIC."
"Who knows the new Long Lance’s capabilities the best down there?"
There was a pause before the CIC answered.
"Chief Abert is our best man. He practically sleeps with them."
"Get him for me."
A couple of minutes later, Chief Abert reported to the bridge.
"Sir."
Zula looked at the old chief. He had the feeling the man had falsified his personnel jacket to stay in for the war. He looked way too old to be on a ship. As Captain Grogen had taught him, the old chiefs keep the Navy running. Trust them and you can't go wrong.
"Chief, we have a situation. A combat patrol just reported a Xotoli task force headed for our location. We can't leave the Marines, and we can't fight another task force with them needing our protection, but maybe we could slow them down or even the odds up a bit."
The old creased face looked puzzled.
"What can I do, sir?"
"The new Long Lance torpedoes. They have a 'seek nearest target' setting, do they not?"
"Yes, sir. It’s meant to be used in situations like Rift, when they have multiple targets. They check with other Long Lances in the area and, unless we preset them not to, they’ll choose different targets or they concentrate on the single largest target in the area, depending on their firing settings. That way, we get the biggest bang for our buck depending on the situation."
"Could we tweak them so we could fire them out to a certain distance and then wait for a target of opportunity?"
"You mean use them like smart mines?"
"Yeah. What if we fired a spread on the reverse heading of the Xotoli so the torpedoes would reach a certain distance, then shut down and wait?"
"Then when the Xotoli showed up, they would find targets and...." the chief said, thinking out loud.
"Yeah. Make them think they had been ambushed. It would take time to clear the area, and we might get lucky and cripple one or two of them."
The old chief was silent for several long moments as he thought through the problem.
"I could rig it up, sir. I'd have to hack into the system and do some reprogramming, but nothing I haven't done before. I could use the sensor pickets for solutions. As soon as those pickets pick up the Xotoli, then we change the programming so the Long Lances network with the sensors. They could use those directions and headings as their solutions. That would work, sir. If this is going to work, we would need the Castor's Long Lances with ours. That would give them quite a welcoming party, even for a task force."
"Good. Make it so," Zula ordered.
"Aye, aye, sir," the chief replied. Then, he gave a sidelong glance as he turned to leave.
The old chief and the young captain exchanged a look of respect.
"Thanks, Chief."
After the chief had left the bridge, Zula said, "Get me Captain Grogen on comm."
Well, here we go, he thought.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sol
Planet Earth
City State of New York
Confederation Senate Building
Armed Forces Oversight Committee
Rift Investigation Committee
"If there are no more questions, then I’m going to call this session of the Armed Forces Oversight Committee at an end. Before I do, though, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Admiral Raurk," Senator de Bolton began.
Carroll kept glancing at his watch. He knew the attack was planned, but he wasn’t sure when. Ms. White wouldn’t tell him how or exactly when the attack would occur, only that he needed to leave as soon as possible after the end of the session.
"Admiral Raurk has faced a series of tough questions and answered them with professionalism and candor. Given the tragic nature of this event, she has given us answers that will certainly add to our understanding of this horrible attack. As the Confederation faces this threat, I feel I speak for all on the committee when I say that I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that Admiral Raurk is at the head of our forces. Her cool control under the most difficult of circumstances stands as an example for other commanders today and in the future. Her actions will be studied for generations to come as a guide to future commanders."
Carroll squirmed in his seat. He glanced at the ceiling and then at the doors that led out to the anteroom just outside the committee room. He began to think of attack scenarios. Would the attack come from the anteroom or would it come from behind him, from the committee's offices? Would they know he wasn’t to be harmed? Or was Ms. White finished with him? All of these fears rolled around in Carroll's head as de Bolton droned on.
"So I think I speak for the entire committee when I say thank you for your testimony today and for your service to the Confederation."
Carroll almost stood, but instead, Admiral Raurk began to speak.
"Thank you, Senator. It has been my privilege to appear before the committee and have the opportunity to get on record the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Navy and legion. Their devotion to duty was above and beyond anything that could have been asked of them, yet they stayed at their posts and saved the Confederation."
Carroll could no longer sit still. He glanced at his watch again. Each minute seemed like an hour. Each sudden sound or the scraping of a chair across the floor made him almost come out of his skin. It couldn't be much longer. They had to begin soon.
"Thank you, Admiral. Now, unless there are any other senators who wish to be on record, I think I can officially say that this hearing of the Armed Forces Oversight Committee is adjourned."
Senator de Bolton banged the gavel loudly on the table and everyone stood. Carroll bolted out of his chair and turned to leave through the private entrances behind the committee, but an attractive young woman was suddenly in his path. She was smiling and looking up at him expectantly.
"Senator, if I could just have a moment of your time. I would so appreciate it."
He looked at her blankly. All he could think about was the door and getting out of the room.
"I'm sorry. You probably don't remember me. We met in your office earlier. Senator Katte had sent me over with some material for this meeting. I'm Monica Johnson."
Suddenly, it dawned on him who she was and how Ms. White had reacted to her. If he didn’t take the time to make sure he didn’t offend her, Ms. White would be angry.
"Oh, of course I remember you, Ms. Johnson. What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to say what a pleasure it was meeting you and your wife. She has quite a reputation in the building as an administrative powerhouse. I was wondering if you thought she would mind if I contacted her with a few questions? I really want to eventually become an administrative associate like her."
Ms. White always amazed him. This girl was hooked with one handshake.
"Not at al
l. Simply call my office. I’m sure she would be glad to sit down with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment waiting."
Monica beamed as Carroll stepped around her. He glanced back in time to see the admiral talking to Senator Xvat at the witness desk. Time was running out. He had almost reached the door when Senator de Bolton stepped in front of him. Carroll almost pushed past him in his panic to leave.
"Colbert, I want a moment before you leave."
"Of course, Senator."
"Jan, please."
"Jan then." Carroll kept glancing at Raurk. She was shaking Xvat's hand. There was no one else waiting to talk to her. It wouldn’t be long now.
"Colbert, I do hope you understand that I had to let Kago have his say. He’s the military expert on the committee and I thought it was important that he be able to question the admiral, even during your time."
"Of course, of course. No harm done. If you’ll excuse me, I do have an appointment I’m late for. Thank you, Jan."
Carroll turned and walked away from de Bolton, hurrying through the door. Just before he closed it, he glanced back to see the admiral begin to walk toward the doors leading to the anteroom. Any second now, Carroll thought. He almost ran through the offices and out the door, into the private hallway leading to his office.
#
Istas sat in the anteroom just outside the committee chamber. She, along with staffers and press from every system in the Confederation, waited for the meeting to end. Two Marines flanked her as she sat waiting. Her disguise had worked until now. She had transformed herself into a Sol fashionista. Her hair had been infused with real gold and combed straight back from her perfect face. She wore gold amulets on both arms and a large gold ring on each finger. She could have posed for a fashion spread, but she wasn’t who, or what, she appeared to be. She was an Anjin, one of the most dangerous assassins in the known worlds. Yet her job was not to take life. Instead, her assignment was to protect a life, one life, the life of Admiral Raurk. The Mother of all Anjin had given her the assignment when she had entered into a Bayrz Time agreement with the Admiral on Rift. The words literally meant two stones being forged together by very powerful outside forces. To ask for Bayrz meant both sides recognized that any further distrust or subterfuge between them could lead to the defeat of both and thereby help a common enemy. The person asking for Bayrz Time would always be in the debt of the one asked. The admiral had asked for the partnership after Istas had saved her life from a hybrid attack at Rift. After agreeing to Bayrz Time, the admiral had asked Istas as a contact to the Anjins and as a bodyguard. Istas hadn’t left Usiche’s side since that day.