by Sam Schall
“They’re not guards. At least none that I recognize. My guess is they are members of Coreal’s staff and some of his friends.”
From the way Ash all but spat out the word, Lucinda knew she’d be asking her about these friends once this mission was over.
“Is there any way to gas the room?”
“Not that we’ve found, Angel. Looks like the only way in is through a door down the corridor from our current position. There has to be a secondary exit somewhere but we haven’t found it yet. I’ll be honest, we were damned lucky to find this one.”
“Did you find any shuttles or other means of transport?”
“Aye. A single shuttle hidden behind the building.”
“The exit will be close to it. However, from the way they’re gathered, they either don’t have a pilot or they don’t think they can get to it.” Ashlyn paused for a moment. “You cut their video feeds?”
“We did.”
“Then they probably think you are waiting for them there and have decided to make a stand there. My guess is they want to try to bargain. If they are anything like Coreal and Haritos, they won’t hesitate to kill one or more of the prisoners to try to make their point. Navarro won’t be the first. They’ll keep her as their bargaining chip. But they will hurt her. Just as they will the others.”
Just as they did you? Lucinda wondered. She knew there was much her friend had not yet told her about her time on Tarsus.
“All right.” Now it was Lucinda’s time to think. “We’re going in hot. Boomer will blow the door. Tank will go in first. His job will be to get to Navarro. We’ll save as many of them as we can, Angel. I promise.”
“Don’t unnecessarily risk the squad to do it.”
“We’re going silent now, Angel. I’ll report in once we’ve made entry. Sorceress out.”
She tapped the side of her battle helmet and waited for the faceplate to turn clear again. She had seen enough. Besides, Singer would continue monitoring the situation inside and would warn her if anything changed.
“Delta, Sorceress.”
“Delta here. Go ahead, Sorceress.”
“Take up positions near the shuttle you found. There may be a secondary exit the targets will head for. Do not, I repeat, do NOT let them board that shuttle.”
“Roger that.”
“Alpha, prepare to move on my command. Boomer, I want a controlled blast with lots of smoke on the door. Make a hole big enough for Tank to get through. Tank, you’ll be first in. If you can, secure Navarro. Then lay down cover while we take down the targets.” She waited, watching as the squad took one last look at the video feed before continuing. “Any questions?”
“Only one, Sorceress,” the heavy armor specialist said. “Can we kill those mother fuckers?”
“If they draw down on you or make any attempt to harm their prisoners, I expect you to do just that.” Voice cold, eyes hard, she found herself hoping for the opportunity to do just that to the man who held the knife to Navarro’s throat. “Boomer, make it happen.”
The explosives expert nodded once and moved quickly down the corridor toward the doorway. It wouldn’t be long now.
« Chapter 16 »
Ashlyn stepped inside the shuttle that had become the mobile medbay for the Devil Dogs. This time, the shuttle was filled with Marines needing treatment. Her jaw clinched and she watched as the medics moved between their patients, doing everything they could for them. Fortunately, most of their injuries were non-life threatening.
Most being the operative word. Several of the Marines sent to make entry into the Residence had been seriously injured. Then there were the prisoners, those few Ortega and her squads had been able to save. Fortunately for those responsible, none of Coreal’s people survived the initial battle. Fortunate because Ashlyn would have seen them dead for what they’d done to the prisoners who had been taken there, most especially for what they’d done to Corporal Navarro.
Navarro.
The thought of the young woman had Ashlyn glancing around the shuttle. Her mouth drew tight to see the medics treating the corporal. They worked quickly and almost silently, something Ash knew was a bad sign. Much as she wanted to go over and demand an update on the woman’s condition, she wouldn’t. She didn’t dare. She would not risk her squadmate’s life that way.
Nearby, the others of her team waited. The two who had been rescued from the mining operation were in worse shape than the three rescued from the main compound, but they would recover. It would take time and they would bear the scars of their time on Tarsus, both mentally and physically. But they would live and nothing else mattered at the moment.
Without a word, Ashlyn signaled for Talbot to hand out the uniforms he had secured for their squadmates. Once he had, she followed. Almost reverently, she handed each one his dog tags. As she did, she remembered what she’d felt when Talbot had tossed her her own tags in the middle of the attack on the capital. Hopefully, having them on again would help her people as much as it had her.
Moving carefully amongst the injured, she made her way to where Navarro was being treated. Without a word, she placed the woman’s dog tags on the cot next to her. Then, after an encouraging nod from the nearest medic, she gently wrapped the chain for the tags around Narvarro’s hand. She wanted the corporal to know they had been returned to her the moment she regained consciousness.
“Captain, we need to get her and several others back to the Magellan once we have them stabilized,” the medic nearest her said.
“All right. I’ll let the Major know.”
She took one last look at Navarro before turning away. As she did, she swallowed hard and fought down her anger. Those responsible – well, most of them – for what happened to the younger woman were dead. The Devil Dogs had made certain of it.
“Cap?” O’Malley’s voice was soft, his concern clear.
“They’re doing all they can for her.” She hoped it would be enough. “I need to report to the major and then see if we can’t get off this rock once and for all.”
“God, that sounds good, Cap,” Baldwin admitted.
The others nodded in agreement.
“Agreed.” She nodded to Talbot. “Gunny’s going to escort you to another shuttle where you can clean up and change. There’s food and drink waiting for you as well. I should be back from meeting with the major by the time you’re done.”
“Ma’am, are we really free?” Lance Corporal Odell Vickers asked?
“We are, Vickers, and all charges against us have been expunged from our records.” She motioned to Talbot who produced his datapad and keyed in a command sequence. Then he handed it to Vickers. “You’ll each find copies of all the pertinent documents on there. I promise we’ll get you kitted out once we’ve returned to the Magellan. I’ll do my best to answer all your questions then.”
“Your word’s enough for us, ma’am,” Harston assured her. “Now, with the Captain’s permission, can we get the hell out of here?”
Laughing, Ashlyn nodded and watched as the five carefully climbed to their feet. She knew she didn’t need to tell Talbot to report in after they reached the second shuttle. Trusting him to look after their squadmates, she left the shuttle and made her way across the landing area in the direction of the administration building.
“Captain, the major is in with Lieutenant Liu,” Hound said as she entered the anteroom of what had been Coreal’s office.
“And the prisoners?” She had no doubt he knew exactly who she meant.
“They are secure in their cells. We have constant eyes on them. It wouldn’t do for any of them to have an unfortunate accident before they get the chance to answer for all they’ve done to you and the others.”
“Good.” And if it was wrong to feel more than a hint of satisfaction to know what Coreal now inhabited a cell similar to the one she had lived in for so long, she didn’t care.
She knocked at the door to the inner office and waited until Pawlak called for her to enter. A moment late
r, the door slid open. As she stepped inside, she was a little surprised to see the JAG seated behind the desk and Pawlak sprawled in one of the chairs situated before it. Then she realized it made a kind of sense. The JAG had been using the office to conduct his investigation. The other member of the JAG Corps had traveled to the mining facility as well as The Residence. From what she’d been told by their Devil Dog escorts, the two weren’t missing anything that could be used to build a case against Coreal and the guards.
“Ah, good.” Pawlak motioned for Ashlyn to join them. “The LT and I were just going over what he’s found so far.”
“And?” Ashlyn took the seat next to Pawlak and waited.
“Let’s just say it I’d be surprised if either Coreal or Haritos manage to avoid the death penalty, Captain,” Liu said grimly. “And I have a feeling a number of the guards here will be joining them.”
Ashlyn closed her eyes, not sure whether she should feel relieved or not.
“Ash, it’s worse than I think even you imagined,” Pawlak took up. “It’s going to take months for Liu and his people to sort through all the evidence and talk to all the potential witnesses.”
Ashlyn’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard. Surely Liu didn’t expect her and the others to stay there that long. They couldn’t. All of them, herself included, needed to get off-planet and the sooner, the better.
“Don’t worry, Captain,” Liu began as if reading her thoughts. “You and your people may return to the Magellan as soon as Captain Carlisle gives the go ahead. You can dictate your statements and file them from the ship.”
“Thank you.”
“How are they, Ash?” Pawlak asked.
“Pretty much like I was those first few days, sir. The best thing we can do for them is get them away from here. Seeing the video feeds of Coreal and Haritos in custody helped. But, as I know from personal experience, being away from this hellhole will be the best medicine.”
“Then I’ll issue orders to get Shuttle Two ready to return to the Magellan. As soon as the medics have Navarro ready to move, be prepared to leave.”
“Understood, sir, and thank you.”
“I’ll have my preliminary report, as well as the evidence we’ve seized so far, ready to transport up, Captain. If you’ll ask Gunnery Sergeant Talbot to hand it over to Captain Carlisle for transmittal to FleetCom, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course, Lieutenant.”
“Go be with your people, Ash. I’ll touch base before you lift,” Pawlak told her.
“Aye, sir.” She stood, glad to know that soon she would be away from that hellhole and hoping she never had to return.
« Chapter 17 »
“Sir, you don’t have to do this,” Ashlyn said as they paused outside the staging area in Marine Country onboard the Magellan.
“I need to do this just like you needed to bring them home, Ash.” Pawlak looked down at her, understanding and something else reflecting in his eyes.
Seeing it, Ash nodded. She had been touched when he commed her an hour earlier and explained what he had in mind. But he wouldn’t do it without her being present. Not that she would miss it. This was too important, to her and to those sent to Tarsus with her, to miss. Even so, she knew how much was still to be done at the penal colony and their CO was taking time away from it for this.
A moment later, the hatch slid open. As it did, Pawlak stepped inside. Ashlyn followed, Ortega at her side. The moment the hatch slid shut behind them, Talobt braced to attention from his post next to the hatch. Before those gathered could do the same, the gunnery sergeant told them to remain at their ease. Since several would have been hard put to stand, much less brace to attention, Ash nodded to the gunny in approval. She had no doubt it was something he had discussed with Pawlak earlier.
“I’ll keep this brief,” the major began as he stepped forward. “I know I speak for every Devil Dog, every Marine, when I welcome you back. We never forgot you. We knew none of you were guilty of the charges against you. We might not have been able to do anything at the time, but we remembered you. We, along with a number of others, worked to find a way to free you. You were ours and we weren’t going to leave you behind to be sacrificed on the bier of political agendas.
“None of us are going to pressure you about the future. Just know that you will always have a place in the Devil Dogs if you want it. We’re just damned glad to have you home again. I’m only sorry it took us so long to get here.”
He stepped back and, much to Ashlyn’s surprise, he motioned her forward.
“Sir?”
“This is for you to do, Captain.” He held out a hand and Ortega stepped up. Without a word, she handed him a stack of folders. He gave them a glance before handing them to Ash. Her mouth suddenly dry, she looked down. Tears burned in her eyes as she realized what she held. Each folder, leather-bound and bearing the insignia of the Fuerconese Marine Corps, reminded her of the one she had been presented not that long ago. To be able to give them to those sent to Tarsus with her meant everything. More than everything.
“Go on. You need this as much as they do, Ash,” Pawlak said softly.
“I’m not going to ask how the major got these.” She glanced to where Talbot stood near the hatch, doing his best to look as if he didn’t know what she meant. “I brought these onboard the Magellan with me.” Her hand lightly caressed the top file.
“You have seen the digital versions of your pardons, of the paperwork not only clearing each of you, of us, of the charges leveled against us after Arterus but expunding our records. However, if you’re like me, you still have doubts. We learned the hard way that digital records can and have been altered.”
Each of them nodded, their expressions grim.
“What can’t be altered or faked is the fact that I was present when each of these documents was executed. I demanded to be before leaving Fuercon. I wanted to be able to assure you that this isn’t another trick. We’ve had more than our fair share of those, haven’t we?”
More nods.
“These contain the official documents clearing your names. All charges are formally dropped and your convictions have been overturned. President Harper has added pardons as well, his way of showing his support for our cause. You will also find that you have been returned to duty, inactive status until cleared by the medics and until you have decided whether you want to return to active duty or not. By the time we get home, your back pay should have been remitted. In short, you are now and, as Hammer said, always, Devil Dogs.
“There’s something else to prove this is real,” she continued. “When we leave here, you can send messages to your families. You’ll also find messages waiting for you. General Okafor spoke with each of them before the Magellan broke orbit, letting them know what was happening. They sent messages and they will be there to greet you when we return to Fuercon.”
“Is it really over, Cap?” Navarro spoke softly and Ashlyn saw the fear lurking in her eyes.
“It’s really over, Yvonne. At least this part of it is.”
“What do you mean, Angel?” Malloy asked sharply.
“Like I said, we’re free, our names cleared. But those responsible for what happened are being investigated. It goes beyond Sorkowski and O’Brien. Once we return home, we’ll all receive a full briefing.” She held up a hand before they could interrupt. “I know. I didn’t trust JAG to handle this either. But it isn’t just JAG. Rico Santiago, General Okafor, even SecDef are involved in the investigation. They want to know the why of what happened just as much as we do. More importantly, they will make sure those responsible pay and, for whatever it’s worth, I believe them.”
With that, she handed out the files, pausing to speak with each member of her team. There were tears as well as laughs. If they were bitter, no one blamed them. She certainly didn’t. When the rest of the Devil Dogs on the mission filed into the staging area, she shook her head. No one needed to tell her why they were there. They were Devil Dogs and they would make sure t
heir fellow Marines knew they were finally home.
That made all the difference in the world.
“The medics said no booze,” Tank said as he stepped forward. “But we figured we could have sort of a party to welcome you home even so.”
“That includes you, Angel,” Ortega said before she could step back. “You did what you promised. You brought them home. Now relax and let us show you how glad we are to have you back.”
“And I’ll make it official,” Pawlak said with a grin. “It’s an order, Captain. You and the others are to relax, spend as much time as you want or need catching up and then each of you is to get a solid eight hours down.”
“Gunny, I think it’s time to get this party started.” Ortega nodded to Talbot.
A moment later, the hatch slid open and several members of the ship’s crew entered, bringing with them enough food and drink to satisfy even the Devil Dogs.
“You did it, Ash. Enjoy this. You earned it,” Ortega said softly as she pulled her friend in for a hug. “We’ll get back to work on putting nooses around the necks of those responsible for sending you here soon enough.”
No. Not ever soon enough but it could wait a little while. Lucinda and Pawlak were right about one thing. She needed this time with the others. She needed it almost as much as she needed to get home and spend some time with her family, especially her son.
“Brigadier General Shaw is here, ma’am.”
General Okafor looked up from the latest reports received from Tarsus and nodded. “Send her in.”
She got to her feet and moved to stare out the window. When she issued the orders for most of Alpha Company to go to Tarsus, she’d suspected they would find everything Ashlyn told them to be true. She had even been prepared for it to be worse. But Major Pawlak’s latest report turned her stomach. How had Coreal been allowed to act as he had and for so long?
How deep did the cancer run and would they be able to cut it out before the enemy attacked again?