by Sam Schall
“We’ve got movement behind the enemy, Abe. It looks like friendlies, but we’re holding station until we’re sure.”
“Excellent, Marc. We are doing the same at the rear.” He raced through the apartment and into the hall. He wanted to see for himself. The door across the hall stood open and he moved quickly into the apartment that was a mirror to his own. “Keep an eye out for any reaction from the attacking force. If we do finally have reinforcements on-site, the enemy may decide they have nothing to lose.”
“Understood.”
“Keep me informed.”
“Captain, you will stay behind me,” Talbot said seriously as they neared the doorway.
“Gunny,” she growled.
“I mean it, Captain.” He looked down at her. His expression, what she could see of it through the visor of his battle helmet, was serious. “Ma’am, please. You heard Major Santiago. We need you. Besides, Major Pawlak will skin me alive if anything happens to you on my watch. Then I’d have to face Admiral Tremayne. Believe me, they scare me more than you do.”
“Only because you don’t know me, Gunny.” She held up a hand to prevent him from interrupting. “I’m not the same officer you served with, Talbot. But I’ll try not to get you in trouble. However, you’d best remember that I am in command of this squad and you will do what I say. If I give you an order, your only response is ‘yes, ma’am’. I’m not going to risk a repeat of what happened on Artarus. Is that understood?”
God, she’d order a full retreat before allowing that to happen again. Too many of her people died needlessly on that last mission. Then, when she ordered the survivors to withdraw while she lay down cover fire, they’d refused. They would all retreat or no one would.
“Yes, ma’am. However, you need to remember that you are our CO. That means we’re tasked with keeping you safe even as we carry out our orders.”
Ashlyn drew a deep breath and then exhaled. They could stand here and argue for the next hour and she’d never get Talbot to back down. She’d seen him like this before – on more than one occasion. So she knew he had a stubborn streak a kilometer wide. Besides, she had no doubt Pawlak was on a secure com-channel even as they spoke, telling the gunny to make sure she didn’t do anything foolish. Well, she could play nice – for the moment.
“All right, Gunny.”
He looked at her for a moment and she knew he was trying to decide if she meant it or not. Then he shook his head and stepped in front of her. As he did, two members of the squad took up positions behind them, their weapons at the ready. Talbot nodded to the point men and they began moving slowly toward the rear entrance of the building.
Ashlyn raised her right fist and her squad halted. Dropping to her right knee, assault rifle snugged against her shoulder, she focused on the door. The security panel to the right of the doorway showed signs of tampering. Perhaps the attackers had tried to bypass security to make entry. Obviously, they’d failed. Just as obvious, at least to Ash, was the fact that Callusian-trained troops wouldn’t have worried about bypassing security unless they were trying for a silent entry. That begged the question of why, when they hadn’t taken precautions not to be seen from the building, they would want to try for a silent entry. Had the plan been for the enemy troopers at the front of the building to make enough of a distraction that they could enter, grab their target was and leave before being discovered? If so, they’d failed and they were now extremely dead – the usual result of stupidity on the battlefield.
Ashlyn motioned the point men forward. Sweat pricked out on her forehead and she fought the urge to remove her helmet to wipe her brow. But seeing how Sievers had made quick work of the attackers, easier because of their carelessness in not being fully armored, she decided not to repeat their stupidity. Instead, she concentrated on keeping her breathing even, her attention focused on the doorway.
Most of all, she did her best not to compare this mission with that last disastrous one on Arterus. But it was so hard. Then, like now, they’d been fighting in the middle of a city. They’d been tasked with taking out the enemy without causing unreasonable collateral damage. At least this time they didn’t seem to be up against an enemy willing to kill hundreds, even thousands, of innocents.
Swallowing hard, Ashlyn fought against the demons of her past. It didn’t help that the squad was exposed, easy targets if the enemy decided to start fighting smart. But these were some of the best of the Devil Dogs. They’d keep a sharp watch out for enemy movement. She knew it. All she had to do was trust them.
When the door slid open a few moments later, she tensed. Her finger twitched toward the trigger guard. Then Marino and Dumont appeared, Marino signaling for the rest of the squad to move forward.
“Report,” Talbot said.
“Open area just beyond the door. There’s a second door at the northwest corner which leads into a corridor. The corridor, according to our schematics, leads to the elevator banks, stairs and then on to the front of the building. It’s not a straight shot. There’s a ninety degree turn about ten meters past the door. The building occupants have set up a series of barricades,” Marino reported.
“Did you make contact?”
“No, Cap. We figured it might be best for you or the gunny to assess the situation first.” This from Dumont.
“Reason?” Ashlyn asked.
“Ma’am, the way we see it, we’ve got ourselves some very nervous civilians around that corner. They’re going to react better to rank than to us, even if some of them are former military.”
“All right.” As she spoke, she could almost feel the gunnery sergeant fidgeting at her side. He’d know Dumont was right but he wouldn’t like it. He wouldn’t like it because, knowing his captain, he’d know she meant to be the one to make first contact with the civilians. Well, too bad. It was her job to do just that.
She reached up and removed her helmet. Before Talbot could protest, Marino took it from her. Ashlyn nodded in appreciation, glad to be rid of it. She’d never admit to any of them just how much it had shaken her when she’d first secured the helmet in place. Something that had once been such a normal part of her life now reminded her too much of all those times she’d been hooded by the guards on Tarsus before being taken to the commandant for her latest lesson. There’d been a moment of panic, of memories best forgotten, before she’d gotten herself under control. Hopefully, it would get better. It had to get better. But, for now, she was glad to be rid of the helmet.
“Gunny, I trust you to have my back,” she said softly before approaching the door.
“Your back and I’ll have your head if you do anything foolish, Cap,” he replied just as softly.
A smile touched her lips, not that she’d let him see it. Then she nodded to Dumont and waited as the door slid open. With a deep breath, she stepped inside, wondering what she’d find when she rounded the corner ahead.
« Chapter 7 »
“Someone’s coming.”
The comment, given in what could best be described as a stage whisper, was unnecessary. She’d been monitoring the vid-feed from the rear entrance since her arrival at the makeshift barricade almost five minutes earlier. Part of her had been surprised the Marines – if that’s what they really were – hadn’t already made entry. But another part of her, the Marine in her, knew that was a good sign. It meant they were well-trained and even better disciplined than the attackers. It also meant the squad probably was what it appeared – Marines – and not poor copies meant to trick the defenders into lowering their guard.
Not that she was going to let any of the five men and women manning the barricade with her do that. Instead, she opened her comm-link, knowing her husband was listening in, ready to send reinforcements if necessary. Then she lifted her rifle into position. She held it ready, her grip firm but loose enough to let her adjust her aim as needed. If these really were Marines, they wouldn’t come waltzing around the corner. Unless, of course, they were as stupid as the attackers had proven to be. If they
were, well, they weren’t Marines. At least not their Marines.
If they weren’t their Marines . . . Well, she’d make sure they quickly learned how foolish they’d been to attack the complex. If the current Marine commandant didn’t approve, to hell with her. Elizabeth wasn’t going to let her people, her friends and neighbors, down.
“Stand ready but do not – I repeat, do not – fire unless I give the order,” she said softly, glancing at each of her companions to be sure they understood.
“Liz?” Abe’s voice, as it came through her earbud, sounded worried and she frowned. He knew better than to distract her. She needed her full attention on the corridor ahead of the barricade.
“Not now, Abe,” she snapped. “I’ll leave the link open so you can listen in.”
She pictured him grinding his teeth in frustration. She’d make it up to him later. But this wasn’t the time for spousal concern. Not when so much could go wrong if they weren’t careful. Hell, it could go wrong even if they were careful and they both knew it.
The seconds stretched out at an agonizingly slow pace. It had been years, too many years, since she’d had to man such a post. Doing it with nothing more than an assault rifle, her combat knives, two pistols and five men and women she’d never fought with before and who were armed with hunting rifles or old service weapons didn’t help. Nor did the knowledge of what would happen if the approaching squad was the enemy. She’d had friends die before. She’d held them in her arms as it happened. But that had been before she’d been promoted out of the field. Those men and women had been brothers-in-arms, not her neighbors, many of whom had never seen combat.
“Stand ready,” she said as the vid-feed showed the Marines in their battle armor nearing the corner. A few more steps and they’d be visible from the barricade.
Her heart beat faster and she drew a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. It would soon be over, whatever “it” was. All she could do was wait.
Ashlyn signaled for the squad to come to a halt. Less than two meters ahead was the bend in the corridor. Just beyond that lay the barricade. She hoped the residents manning it were former military. That gave the squad at least a chance of making it around the corner before one of the civilians did something exceptionally stupid like open fire on them.
Talbot stopped next to her and slid his rifle into the scabbard on his back. “May I make a suggestion, ma’am?” he asked softly.
“Of course.”
“Let me announce our presence. Once I have, I’ll advance with Dumont. As soon as we’re sure no one is going to do anything foolish, you can join us.”
Ashlyn shook her head. She’d been waiting to see how the gunny would try to keep her from being the first to make entry. As they’d slowly progressed to this point in the building, she’d felt his frustration growing. He no more approved of her being at the head of the squad now, when they were fairly sure there was no danger, than he did of her being the first to show herself to those behind the barricade.
“You can call out, Gunny, but I’ll be the first to appear. Dumont was right about that. They need to see an officer.” She held up a hand to cut off his protest. “You’ll be right there with me, watching my back. But I need to do this.” For more reasons than she would ever admit.
She waited, watching closely as he processed what she said. He didn’t like it. She didn’t need to see his expression turn thunderous to know that. But he also seemed to understand. He nodded once and then turned to the rest of the squad.
“You heard the captain. The two of us take point. Marino, Puckett, you’ll be right behind us. The rest of you after them. Let’s do this by the numbers. Marino, you have one duty. If this goes south on us, you are to get the captain out of here and to safety. If anything happens to her, you will answer first to me, then to Major Pawlak, then to Admiral Tremayne and then to the rest of the Devil Dogs.” Now it was his turn to hold up a hand to keep Ashlyn from speaking. “Captain, you know I’m right.”
She tried to stare him down and lost. Damn it, he was right, but she didn’t have to like it. Instead of speaking, she nodded and reached up to remove the helmet she’d put back on once inside the building.
“Captain!”
“They need to see us, Gunny, us and not just the armor. Quit acting like my nanny and think. You know I’m right.”
“I swear to God, ma’am, if you get yourself killed, I will find a way to resurrect you just so I can kill you myself.”
It wouldn’t surprise her if he managed to do just that. So she’d have to make sure she didn’t get herself killed.
Besides, she still had a few things she needed to do before Death finally found her. There were some people who needed to pay for what had happened to her and her command back on Arterus.
“Then let’s do this. Stow your helmets but keep your weapons ready.” As the others complied, she moved closer to the bend in the corridor, Talbot on her heels. “All right, Gunny. Let them know we’re here.”
“Attention at the barricade. This is Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Talbot, First Marine Division, Devil Dogs. Stow your weapons. I repeat. Stow your weapons. We’re moving forward.”
Ashlyn waited long enough to hope the civilians heeded what the gunny said. Then she nodded. With Talbot all but glued to her and radiating his displeasure, she moved forward. One step at a time. That’s all it took. Let the civilians see they were who they claimed and then she could figure out how to get everyone to safety.
Still, as she neared the corner, she drew a deep breath. Her fingers itched to pull the pistol at her right thigh. She knew how dangerous her actions were. All it would take was one overly nervous civilian pulling the trigger and either she or Talbot could pay the ultimate price. The problem was she didn’t see any other way. These might be some of those residents who were ex-military. But she couldn’t count on it. That meant they had to see for themselves that the squad was friendly, not part of those who’d been trying to kill them.
“We’re coming out!” she called.
Elizabeth Shaw’s head snapped up and her eyes went wide. No! It couldn’t be. Damn it, this was a trick after all. There was no way, absolutely no way, the person she’d heard could be there. Lips pulling back in a snarl, she signaled for her companions to stand ready. She’d damn well show those bastards that they’d screwed with the wrong woman.
The sound of a step focused her attention on the corner. Her rifle snugged against her shoulder. Her finger rested next to the trigger, she waited. If this was a trick. . . .
It had to be a trick. There was no other explanation.
It would also be the last trick those responsible ever played. She’d make sure of it.
But if it wasn’t. . . .
She couldn’t think about that now. She couldn’t let hope make her sloppy. Others, too many others, were relying on her to protect them.
Breathing deeply once, twice, she steadied her nerves. It might have been years since she had seen action, but she hadn’t forgotten her training. She knew exactly what she had to do.
“Stand ready,” she said softly. “Be prepared for anything, but do not fire unless I give the command.”
Ashlyn paused and listened to the sounds coming from around the corner. Was she doing the right thing? She knew Talbot wasn’t the only member of the squad unhappy with her orders. Unhappy? That was putting it mildly. They were pissed and, if she were honest with herself, she would be too if their places were reversed. The CO wasn’t supposed to expose herself to danger, not like this. But this was one situation where she had to. Surely, they understood that?
The problem was she didn’t need to do it, at least not tactically speaking. She could easily send Talbot in as her second. Once he was sure the situation was secure, he’d stand down in her favor. That’s what she ought to do. That’s what Pawlak would tell her to do if consulted. But she couldn’t. Maybe she was being foolish but, after what happened on Arterus, she wasn’t letting anyone take chances for her, at least not
if she could help it.
She exhaled, drew another deep breath to steady her nerves and stepped forward. As she did, she forced her fingers to relax the grip they’d taken around the butt of her pistol. Holding her hands out from her body, she moved around the corner, her eyes sweeping from side to side. So far, so good. No one had taken a pot shot at her and nothing had gone boom.
That had to be a good sign, right?
Then her eyes focused on a tall, slender woman with brunette hair sprinkled with gray and she came to an abrupt halt. In that moment, nothing existed except the woman in light battle armor, rifle snugged to her shoulder, crouching behind the barrier. Of all the shocks she’d been dealt over the last few days, this one rocked her the most. Yet one small part of her brain told her she should have expected it, especially after what Pawlak had said earlier.
Shaking her head, trying to still her emotions, Ashlyn prayed this wasn’t a dream from which she’d soon awake.
All thought of safety and protocol suddenly forgotten, she took a quick step away from the gunnery sergeant. His hissed protest fell on deaf ears. Her entire focus was on the woman slowly rising to her feet, disbelief and even anger reflected on her expression.
“Mom?”
Tears filling her eyes, Ashlyn took another step forward. Then the world exploded and all went dark.
“Hold your fire!” Elizabeth yelled. “Goddamn it, hold your fire!”
Without thinking, she slid her rifle into place across her back and vaulted over the barricade. She felt her implants kicking in, giving her added speed even as they released high doses of gamma amino butyric acid to stop the panic rising in her. Her heart pounded and fear rose in her throat as she raced to where the young woman had fallen. As she dropped to her knees at the captain’s side, the gunnery sergeant knelt opposite her. Her eyes went wide with recognition. Then she flinched under his withering look as he barked out for someone to find a medic. Before she could open her mouth to say they had a doctor, he glared at her again and she clamped her jaws shut.