by Sam Schall
Shaw closed her eyes and drew a long, shaky breath. Tremayne waited, knowing her companion was carefully weighing her words. That alone told her more than she’d known a few moments before. Shaw was used to her every movement, every word being monitored and used against her. It was no wonder she’d learned how to exercise such careful control over herself. What hell it must be to know that anything you did or said, no matter how minute or inconsequential, could be used against you or those you cared about.
“Ma’am, let’s just say that life at the prison has been something of a nightmare. I never really thought of myself as a social animal but I’ve learned to value any human contact, no matter how brief. I’ve also learned that it’s not wise to ask questions or to speak without first being given permission.” She opened her eyes and reached up to lightly touch the scar cutting across her cheek. “I got this during a lesson in proper attitude. I’d questioned why I was being held in solitary and wanted to know if my people were being treated the same way. The hell of it was I didn’t ask anyone. I’d simply voiced the question in my cell. I was alone and the security door shut. I thought I was safe from being overheard. I was wrong. The next morning, I was taken to the commandant’s office where he personally administered my lesson in proper prisoner behavior. I spent three days in the infirmary after that.”
Tremayne’s anger spiked again as Shaw spoke. No wonder the young woman found it so hard to trust any of them.
Damn it!
“Ash, I promise we’re doing everything we can to not only bring your people home but to get pardons for them.” And sooner, rather than later. “I’ll need a full report from you, when you know they’re safe, about everything that’s been going on at the prison.”
“Understood.” She paused for a moment and Tremayne waited, hoping she was about to ask another question. Anything that kept Shaw talking was good at this point. “Ma’am, what about Sorkowski and O’Brien? What’s happened to them?”
Now the senator smiled. She’d not only approved of the action taken against the two when President Harper took office, she had been the one to recommend it. It hadn’t been enough, not by a long shot, but it had been a start. Hopefully Shaw would agree.
“Alec Sorkowski was one of a number of senior officers forced into retirement almost immediately after President Harper was sworn into office. The President and Linden Klingsbury, the new Secretary of Defense, have cleaned house in all branches of the military. As for Thomas O’Brien, General Okafor was even less forgiving than Secretary Klingsbury was with Sorkowski and his cronies. The general, who is now Commandant of the Marine Corps, brought O’Brien back to the capital and he’s been assigned to escort the children of diplomats other dignitaries around the city.”
That brought a smile to Shaw’s lips, a smile Tremayne echoed. No Marine wanted that duty. The fact that someone of O’Brien’s rank had been was a sure sign of the Corps’ disapproval. Hopefully that would help Shaw understand that things really had changed.
Tremayne knew there was more to why Shaw smiled. Early in her career, Shaw had served under then Colonel Okafor. Over dinner one evening before Shaw reported to her new assignment, Tremayne had told her that Okafor accepted nothing but the best from her Marines and wouldn’t hesitate to bounce anyone out of the Corps if she thought they were slacking. Shaw later told Tremayne that she’d quickly learned Okafor was a dedicated officer who asked nothing of those under her command she wasn’t willing to do herself. The fact that Okafor was now Marine Corps Commandant meant Shaw could at least hope her beloved Corps was returning to the greatness it once held.
“Ashlyn, I’m not going to push. I know you have to be sure your people are safely away from that hellhole. But I do need to know the answer to my question. If we manage to get them freed and pardons issued, will you accept your commission back?”
“Ma’am – Miranda, I want to say yes. But I can’t. Not yet.” Now it was her time to hold up a hand to prevent interruptions. She once more climbed to her feet and started pacing. Tremayne waited, worried by how troubled the younger woman’s expression had become. “You have to understand that this is almost more than I can take in. For more than two years, from the time I was first informed of the charges being laid against me, I’ve been cut off from the Corps, from friends and officers I respected. Since being sent to Tarsus, I haven’t had any contact with the outside. No visitors and no messages. I don’t even know how my family is. Hell, I don’t even know where they are.”
Once again, the younger woman’s voice broke and it was all Tremayne could do not to curse. She’d known Shaw’s parents had gone to the prison and had been forbidden the opportunity to see their daughter. The excuse had been that Shaw was ill and unable to see anyone. Neither her parents nor Tremayne, when she found out what happened, believed it. That had been the final deciding factor in Tremayne’s decision to resign her commission and run for office.
But to hear Shaw had been denied all messages from home as well . . . .
“Ashlyn, they’re fine. Believe me. I would never lie to you, especially not about this. Your parents are here in the capital and they’ve been instrumental in leading the campaign to not only vote out the old guard but to find whatever evidence we could to free you and the others.” She moved to where Shaw stood, wishing there was more she could do or say to reassure the younger woman. “I’ll make sure you see them before the day is out. I promise. The only reason I haven’t already done so is because I’ve been working to gather all the evidence the President needs to sign your pardon.”
“Thank you.” Shaw’s voice was so soft Tremayne could barely hear her.
Before Tremayne could say anything, her comm-link beeped. She pulled it from her pocket and studied the small display. As she did, relief filled her. Finally, all the hard work and sacrifice had paid off. More than that, she had good news for Shaw, news that would, hopefully, help the younger woman make up her mind.
Without a word, she led Shaw back to the table. Then she took her seat. She waited as Shaw followed suit. A moment later, she typed in a quick command and watched as the holo-display came to life above the ‘link.
“Ashlyn, you need to read this.” She pushed her ‘link with its holo-display across the table. Then she leaned back, waiting.
Dear God, please let her realize this is no trick.
“Ma’am – Miranda – please.” So much hope, and so much pain, filled her voice. “Is this true?”
“It is, Ash. The pardons for your people are now official and the Breitman is being dispatched to pick them up as we speak.” She paused to give Shaw time to digest what she’d said. “So I have to ask again, will you accept a full pardon, complete with all references to the court-martial being expunged from your record, no hits being taken regarding time in grade, back pay being credited to you, and will you return to duty?”
“I—”
Shaw paused, a look of concern crossing her expression. As she did, a sudden shower of dust cascaded down on them from the ceiling. The floor vibrated beneath their feet and the water in their glasses sloshed slightly. As the overhead lights flickered, went out and then returned, Tremayne pushed her chair away from the table. Fear was quickly replaced by determination as the instincts honed by years of command kicked in.
One corner of the senator’s mind wondered if the capital had just been rocked by an earthquake. To be felt this far up in the in the security complex, it had to have been a major quake. That meant damage and casualties. It also meant aftershocks that could cause even more damage.
But that didn’t make sense. There hadn’t been a quake in this region for more than a century. Besides, the geological service would have issued a warning, wouldn’t it? Wasn’t that what it was for?
So, if this wasn’t a quake, what was it?
Before she could voice her concern, a muted rumble reached them. There could be no mistaking it. The building rocked on its foundations. Bits of ceiling broke free and fell, filling the room with dust. T
remayne’s stomach rolled and she grabbed the edge of the table for support. Then she was being dragged under the table, Shaw’s hold on her preventing her from crawling out.
“Stay still, damn it!” Shaw rasped.
Tremayne winced as her earbud came to life and chatter from a number of different sources assailed her. Ignoring Shaw’s protests, she rolled out from under the table. Her eyes searched for her comm-link. For the first time since retiring, she missed the communications implant that would have tied her instantly into both the military and government comm-nets.
“Say that again!” she barked over her ‘link a moment later as Shaw joined her.
The building rocked once more. This time there was no mistaking the sounds of an explosion. From the chatter coming through her earbud, it was obvious someone had attacked the building. Whether it was a full-scale attack on the capital or just an isolated incident, she didn’t know and, frankly, she didn’t care. Either way, they had to get out of the room and down to the ground floor. If the building should start to collapse before they did . . . .
“This is Tremayne. Secure the immediate area and get fighters in the air now!” she ordered. She didn’t care that she no longer had the actual authority to issue the orders. All that mattered was launching a counter-strike to turn back the attackers. “And find Major Santiago!”
Even as she barked out orders, Tremayne watched Shaw race to the door. She pounded on it, ordering the guards to open up, reminding them they had a member of the Senate inside. It was their duty to get her to safety.
“Admiral, we have to get you out of here!” Shaw said, turning to face her.
“Ashlyn, give me your answer. Now!”
“Yes. Now let’s get you out of here.”
Tremayne was aware of sounds beyond the door but she had no time to worry about it. Instead, she reached for the terminal on the table and quickly input a series of commands. Then she grabbed Shaw by the arm and drew her close. Even as the guards yelled something about standing back from the door, she told Shaw to read what was on the screen. There was no time to lose and, damn it, she wanted Shaw in the position to act if necessary.
“All right. Now let’s get the hell out of here!” Shaw said as she “signed” the pardon and added her thumbprint via the gen-lock next to the terminal.
Evan Moreau watched from her table by the window of the restaurant. The last thing she wanted to do was to call attention to herself. But it was hard not to lean forward, expression intent, as she watched the first of several young men approaching the main entrance to the security complex. There was nothing about them to raise any alarms. At least she hoped not. If this part of the plan failed, she’d have no choice but to go to her backup plan and get off-planet just as quickly as possible. No, to the plan would work. It had to.
All around her, men and women went about their business, unaware that in a few short moments their lives would change dramatically, perhaps even end. She didn’t care. They were all expendable, pawns in the greater game she played at every day of her life. A few deaths and the ensuing panic were what she needed just then.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel more nervous than usual. Most jobs she handled herself. She didn’t like relying on others, but this was one of those rare exceptions where she had no choice. She’d worked hard, and in record time, to set this up. If she played her cards right, not only would she manage to appease Kannady, but she’d manage to make sure Shaw never bothered her again and no one would ever be able to trace what happened back to her.
So much rested on whether or not everything went off as planned. She had put plans into motion that hadn’t been set to occur for months yet. She knew there were problems with moving the timetable up without proper preparation. But she had no choice. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had any particular loyalty to Kannady and his “partners”. If this failed, she had no doubt Kannady would turn on her just to save his own skin. What he didn’t know, and never would, was that she’d planned for that contingency as well. She had disappeared before and she could do so again. Except this time, she would return to settle the score – with Kannady and with Shaw.
Hopefully, however, those plans would not become necessary. For now, all she could do was watch and wait.
Another glance at the time and she finished her coffee. She couldn’t stay there any longer. There was no need to risk getting caught in the panic that was about to happen. Still, it would be so satisfying to see her plans finally come to fruition.
There!
She almost missed the signal between the young man she’d been watching and the two others she knew were with him. It had been nothing more than a quick flash of a hand signal and then a nod. It was time. If she didn’t leave now, it would be too late.
She tossed a handful of credits onto the table before climbing to her feet. Anyone looking in her direction would see just another businesswoman hurrying to get back to work. No one would remember her in the aftermath of what was to come.
A quick look to the east as she stepped outside and a slight smile touched her lips. She picked up her pace and turned the corner. If her estimate was right, she had less than two minutes before all hell broke loose. That was enough time to be safely away.
Another corner turned, more distance between her and the security complex. Just another few moments and she’d be safe.
An explosion sounded in the distance and she quickened her pace, smiling gaily as she did. Damn but she loved it when a plan worked.
« Chapter 4 »
The building seemed to rock on its very foundations. Dust fell from the ceiling, drifting down like snowflakes. Ashlyn reached out and steadied herself against the table. The windows, reinforced to prevent anyone from breaking them– or anyone in an aircar from shooting them out – suddenly sprouted spider web-like cracks. This was no earthquake. No, someone had attacked the building. Terrorism or an all-out attack? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered beyond getting out of there before the building came down around their ears. She hadn’t struggled to survive the hell of the penal colony only to die within days of coming home.
“Admiral, we have to get you out of here!”
“Ashlyn, give me your answer. Now!” Tremayne barked.
“Yes. Now let’s get you out of here.”
The door slowly slid open, stopping after only a few inches. Tremayne ignored it. Instead, she worked quickly at the terminal on the table. Biting back a curse of frustration as Tremayne told her to read the display, Shaw did as the woman instructed. She quickly scanned the document that appeared on the screen, the pardon she had prayed so long for. But she didn’t have time to really register all it said, much less relish the moment. Instead, she picked up the stylus and scrawled her name at the bottom of the document and pressed her right thumb against the gen-lock beside the terminal. Then she turned her attention back to the senator, determined to get her out of there before either of them were hurt – or worse.
“Admiral – Miranda, you’ve got to get out of here. NOW!” she said as the building rocked yet again.
No matter what had happened over the last two years, this was still the woman who had watched her grow up, who had been her mother’s best friend and her own mentor. She was also one of the sharpest military minds alive. There was no way could they risk her now.
That sense of duty Ashlyn had done her best to bury since her court-martial kicked in full force. Frustrated because the guards had yet to open the door, Shaw rushed to the window and looked out. They were too high to see what was going on in the streets below. But she could see the strikeships streaming to and from the spaceport not that far away. Her pulse quickened and she recognized the movement in the sky as a dogfight.
Holy hell, was the capital actually under attack?
For several long moments she stood riveted as she watched the battle in the skies over the city. Then, as two fighters broke away from the pack and bore down on the building, she turned. Her pulse pounded as she raced across the ro
om, upending the table as she did. Before Tremayne could react, much less ask what was happening, she’d shoved the table against the far wall and pulled the woman down behind the meager protection it offered. Then she threw herself on top of the senator, holding her down even as the sounds of rounds striking the side of the building filled the room.
Ashlyn’s ears rang from the sounds of the window cracking and the fighters veering off just before impact. But she couldn’t think about that any more than she could think about how scared she was. She had to get Tremayne out of there before the fighters made a second pass. They wouldn’t survive another assault like the last one and she was damned if she’d just lay down and die. Not when she finally had her freedom.
“Come on!”.
Ashlyn’s hand closed around the senator’s arm and dragged her out from behind the table. The door was open. That meant they could finally get out of this deathtrap. Instinct kicked in. Scrambling to her feet, she dragged Tremayne up after her. There was no time to lose. She turned and took a step toward the door. As she did, she came face to face with one of the guards.
Without warning, the guard slammed his rifle butt into her side. Before she could react, her head snapped back as a second blow landed, a solid strike to her cheek. Pain exploded, thrusting her momentarily back to the hell she had known on Tarsus. Darkness swam before her eyes and her stomach pitched dangerously. A third blow, followed almost instantly by the unmistakable sound of her nose breaking, threatened to send her under. She fought to stay conscious, to stay on her feet. She couldn’t black out now. Not if she wanted to live.
Moaning, she climbed to her knees, unaware of the fact she’d fallen. Her stomach pitched and she tasted blood. She hurt so badly that she knew they had broken several ribs as well as her nose. Damn, but she thought she had left this sort of thing behind her on Tarsus.