by Sam Schall
If she’d just done as she’d been told, if she hadn’t questioned him and then tried to send her objections further up the ladder, none of them would be in the mess they were now. More importantly, he’d still be where he belonged, on the flag bridge of a destroyer. But no, she had to be a royal pain in his ass and the downfall of his career.
Well, he’d shown her. Fortunately, O’Brien had had no more love for the woman than had he. Shaw might have been a thorn in his side, but she was worse than that for O’Brien. Shaw could have been the recruiting advert for the Marines while O’Brien was just putting in his time until he could retire. O’Brien was a good enough CO in peace time, but when the war broke out, the powers that be decided he needed someone as his XO who could get the job done. Shaw had been the last of a long line of officers assigned to him and the most stubborn.
So, when the mission on Artarus went bad, neither he nor O’Brien had any qualms about offering up Shaw and the survivors of her unit as sacrificial lambs. Someone had to pay for the fiasco and Sorkowski knew exactly who it should be. After all, if Shaw had spent as much time preparing for the mission as she had opposing it, she might not have led her people into the trap that had killed so many of them and even more civilians. Okay, maybe he and O’Brien hadn’t given her access to all the intelligence they had, but she’d had enough to complete the mission and get out without too much collateral damage.
Emphasis on too much. Unfortunately, she hadn’t even managed that the way he’d hoped. She’d come back alive. So, when FleetCom demanded answers and wanted someone to pay for the civilian deaths, Sorkowski never paused before offering her up to them.
Hindsight being what it was, he cursed his own lack of foresight for not realizing she’d have reported her concerns not only about the mission but about him and O’Brien to Admiral de la Cruz, Third Fleet’s commanding officer. More importantly, they should have realized she’d have sent copies of her messages to de la Cruz to that thrice damned Miranda Tremayne. When he’d learned what she’d done, it had been a mad scramble to alter Shaw’s orders and information downloads. Even now, almost three years later, Sorkowski wasn’t completely sure he and O’Brien had managed to cover all their tracks. Maybe that was why he’d been worrying how long it would be before Fleet Intel pulled him in for yet another “debriefing”.
And now, finding out that Shaw was back on-planet, it was as if his worst nightmares had come to life. But maybe he was overreacting. There’d been nothing on the news reports about Shaw being on-planet, much less having been pardoned. But, after the attack on the capital, nothing would really surprise him.
God, if they had pardoned her, he was as good as dead. He had no doubts that bitch would come after him. She’d said as much after her trial and one thing he’d learned about her was that she was a woman of her word.
He had to think. Just because O’Brien thought saw her during the attack didn’t mean he actually had. Even if he was right and it had been her, the fact she hadn’t been treated like a prisoner really didn’t mean much. The Marines manning the security complex would have armed anyone they felt could help protect the building and its occupants. No, he wasn’t going to worry about Shaw being put on the front line in the fight.
At least not yet.
First he had to find out was why she’d been brought back from Tarsus and why no one had warned him.
“Do you know if the others are here?” He forced himself to look and act as unconcerned as if they were discussing the weather. O’Brien might still be on active duty, but Sorkowski had long ago figured out it was simply so the Marines could keep an eye on the man. Frankly, he was surprised some of Shaw’s supporters in the Marines hadn’t already dealt out their own form of punishment for what they saw as his betrayal of their own.
“Not that I know of, but then I didn’t know Shaw was here until I saw her.” There could be no mistaking the bitter anger in the major’s voice.
“Have you seen or heard anything about her since the attack?”
“Negative. It’s not like I can go around asking people if they’ve seen her or if they know why she’s back.”
For a moment Sorkowski said nothing. A faint glimmer of hope appeared. Could he actually be lucky enough that the bitch had been killed in the fighting? The only thing that would be better than that would be if she’d died before talking to any of his enemies about the events leading up to her conviction.
“Good. That means she either managed to get herself killed or she is back in custody.” At least I hope it does. “Either one works in our favor.”
“But why bring her back?”
“That’s something we’ll have to find out.”
And the sooner, the better.
Sorkowski leaned back, studying his companion. O’Brien had never been the model of what one expected of a Marine. On the short side and carrying a few extra pounds, it wasn’t too far of a stretch to guess that someone in his family had the political connections needed to get him into the Academy as a young man. From there, they’d made sure O’Brien had secured postings that wouldn’t task his mediocre leadership skills. Then war had broken out and nothing could keep him, or most of the rest of the Corps, from the front lines.
And that was another cross Sorkowski had had to bear. If O’Brien had been even halfway competent as a Marine CO, Shaw never would have been assigned to the ship in the first place. Then she would never have been a problem. But, once she’d been assigned to the ship, O’Brien should have been able to handle her – or get rid of her somehow – without anyone ever questioning why.
Well, he’d had to clean up after O’Brien before and it looked like he would have to again. Of course, if things got too hot, he’d offer O’Brien up just as easily as he had Shaw. The only question was if he’d be able to before O’Brien turned on him.
Damned stupid Marines.
* * *
“Well, I must say you’re looking better than you did a couple of hours ago.” General Okafor smiled as she escorted Ashlyn into her office, closing the door behind them.
Ash didn’t need to look in a mirror to know the general was right. It was amazing what a couple of hours with people she cared about and a tattoo she never thought she’d wear again could do to raise one’s spirits. It might not have eased all her doubts, but it had helped – even if her arm stung despite all Gerhardt had done to prevent her from hurting any more than necessary. In fact, now that she thought about it, he’d been much more gentle as he worked this time than he had been when he first tattooed her so long ago.
Of course, if she were to be absolutely honest, the three beers she’d shared with her fellow Devil Dogs probably hadn’t hurt any either.
“I feel better, ma’am.” She reached up and lightly touched her arm in the area of her new tattoo. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Ash.”
Okafor motioned for her to take a seat on the sofa against the far wall. As she did, Ashlyn’s eyes narrowed and that all-too-familiar seed of doubt once more appeared. What did the general mean? Why shouldn’t she be thanking her? Had she let her guard down too soon?
“Ashlyn, don’t look so worried.” Now the general smiled in reassurance and once more motioned for her companion to be seated. She waited until Ash complied before continuing. “It’s just that there are some things we need to discuss first.”
“Ma’am?”
“I have hard copies of your orders here as well as a few other official documents you need to review.” Okafor patted the file she’d held during their earlier meeting. “If you’re still willing to return to duty.”
“If it means being able to bring my people home, I am.”
“Good.” There could be no mistaking the general’s pleasure with Ashlyn’s answer. She opened the file and pulled out the top set of pages. “Here are your orders, Ash. You are now officially reattached to the Devil Dogs. You will accompany Alpha Company to Tarsus to retrieve our people. Major Pawlak is going as
CO and you will be acting as his XO. Remember, however, that you are on restricted duty status.”
“Understood, ma’am.” A flicker of relief began to replace the suspicion. That flicker turned into a flame as Okafor handed her the hard copy of her orders.
“This next is a copy of the official notice of your pardon and reinstatement as an officer of the Corps. It will be released to the press an hour after the Magellan breaks orbit. I figured you would want to avoid the press as much as possible.”
“Thank you.” Ash heard the relief in her voice and felt her cheeks color as the general smiled in understanding
“The rest of it is pretty self-explanatory. The paperwork is there to assure that you get credit for your time in grade for the last two years as well as back pay. It should be credited to your account by the time you get home.”
“General, that’s not necessary.”
Not that it wouldn’t help.
“It is and you won’t argue with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ash nodded once.
“Good. Now, we have a briefing to attend and then you’ll need to meet with Major Pawlak. Spend tomorrow with your son. Your orders don’t require you to report to the Magellan until the morning you break orbit.”
Ashlyn swallowed against the lump in her throat. The fact the general had thought about her son meant a great deal to her. “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll not argue with you about that.”
“I know it’s going to take time, Ash, but you need to know just how glad we are to have you back. I wish I could say there aren’t at last some ulterior motives because you know there are. We need you and the others in this war to help us win once and for all. But that’s only part of it. A small part when considered against the rest of it. We’re glad to have you back because you were wronged and we’re glad that is being corrected. Most of all, we’re glad because it means you will have the chance to help us find out why you were set up and then you can see justice, real justice, done.”
“I hope you understand that I know that, at least where the Devil Dogs – past and present – are concerned, General.” And, surprisingly, she finally had come to accept it. Perhaps the rest would come with time. She hoped so. “May I ask one question, ma’am?”
“Of course.”
“I know my mother was beached after my conviction. I even have a pretty good idea why. She’s never been known as one to stay silent when she feels a wrong has been committed.”
When Okafor threw her head back and laughed, Ashlyn felt herself responding. From what little her parents had told her, it was clear her mother had made life miserable for a number of senior officers before she’d been beached. If they had thought that would silence her, they’d been wrong. No longer worried about chain of command, Elizabeth had gone public with her campaign to not only free Ashlyn and the others but to clear their names as well.
“And you want to know why she hasn’t been returned to duty. Right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve tried to reactivate her from the first day I assumed my duties as Commandant of the Corps.” Gone was the humor from a moment before. “She refused. In fact, she threatened to resign her commission if I pushed. She wasn’t going to return to duty until you’d been cleared of all charges against you and brought home. At least she wasn’t against working with me to do just that.”
Ashlyn nodded.
“But, after the attack on the capital and learning you were home, she’s agreed to return to duty. If you don’t mind, I’ll be sending hard copies of her new orders with you when you leave today.”
Another nod. One simply didn’t tell the Commandant of the Corps to find another messenger. Not that Ash wanted her to.
“I don’t want you to worry, however. For the immediate future, she will be stationed here in the capital. She’s being assigned to FirstDiv.”
Ash smiled, pleased for her mother. She knew the Corps meant as much to Elizabeth than it did to her. But more importantly, her mother would still be there for Jake. That was important, especially with Ash about to leave for Tarsus. Jake didn’t understand why his mother had been gone for so long and Ash didn’t want to think about how he’d feel when he found out she’d be leaving again so soon.
“I seem to be saying this a lot today, General, but thank you.”
“No need, Ash. You know me. I demand the best of all my Marines, myself included. That means I insist the best people fill command positions. And, now that you’re home, it’s time for your mother to get back to duty.” Okafor handed the file with the rest of its documents to Ashlyn, telling her to study them and let her know if she had any questions. “Now, let’s get to the briefing so you can get home to your son.”
Grinning, Ash tucked the file under her arm and stood. Maybe things really were going to work out. At least she was finally beginning to believe it.
* * *
“Another story, Mommy,” Jake said as she finished the third story of the night.
“Not tonight, baby. It’s your bedtime.”
She bent and kissed his cheek, pulling the sheet about his shoulders. As she did, she swallowed against the lump in her throat. How she’d missed being able to do something so simple and so wonderful as reading her son a bedtime story. Tears pricked at her eyes and she blinked them back. He had grown so much in the time she’d been imprisoned, time she’d never be able to get back. That was just another thing to add to her list of reasons to get revenge on those behind her conviction.
“But you’re going away.”
Now tears welled up in his eyes. It broke Ashlyn’s heart to see them roll down his cheeks. She wanted to stay with him and make up for all the time she’d been gone. But she had to return for those who’d been sent to the penal colony with her. He’d understand, she hoped, when he was older. But right now he was still so young. All he knew was that she’d finally come home only to leave again.
“I won’t be gone long, sweetie. I promise.” She bent and kissed his cheek again. As she did, a thought came to her and she quickly produced her datapad from her thigh pocket. A moment later, the calendar appeared on the screen. She shifted, drawing her legs onto the mattress and holding the datapad so Jake could see it. “Grandma tells me you know how to use one of these. Right?”
He nodded his head, one small hand reaching for the datapad.
“Then you know that this–” She pointed to the entry for the next day –“is tomorrow. I leave then. And this–” She tapped the entry for three days later –“is when I will reach my destination. I’ll be there for a couple of days probably. Then I’ll come home.”
Now he looked up and grinned, his finger pointing to a date a little more than two weeks away. “So you’ll be home then?”
“I’ll be home then. I promise. I won’t miss your birthday.”
Even if I have to hijack a ship to be here.
“Can we have a party?” Excitement lit his face as he looked up at her.
“Sure, sweetie. I’ll talk to your grandma and grandpa about it before I leave.”
He grinned and snuggled up against her side. “Mommy, can I see your ship?”
“You’ll have to get up real early.”
“I can do that.” He nodded vigorously.
“Okay. I’ll talk with Grandma and Grandpa.” She held him close and hugged him tightly, her heart soaring as his arms went about her and squeezed back. “But that means you have to get to sleep now.”
He planted a wet kiss on her cheek and snuggled down in bed. Ashlyn brushed his cheek with the fingers of her right hand and stood. He watched, his brown eyes, so much like her own, following her as she backed toward the door to his room. Then, just before she switched off the light, he blew her a kiss. Her right hand flashed out, as if to catch it. She winked at him, reminding him that if he didn’t get to sleep, he wouldn’t wake up in time to go see her ship. Then she switched off the light and left the room.
“Is he asleep?” Elizabeth asked, handing her a beer.
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“If not, he will be soon.” Ashlyn smiled her thanks and took a drink. “He wants to see my ship before I leave.”
“I’ll take him,” her mother said.
“Thanks.”
She settled on the sofa, pulling her feet up under her. As she did, she realized she’d positioned herself so her back was to the wall and she could see all entrances into the room. Damn it, how long would it take for her to be able to let her guard down in her own home?
“How long will you be gone?” Abe asked.
Ashlyn glanced at her father where he sat at the opposite end of the sofa and shrugged. “This shouldn’t take more than a week, but it wouldn’t surprise me to be delayed there a few days longer. However, I will be home in time for Jake’s birthday. Nothing will keep me from that.” Not when she remembered the joy reflected on her son’s face when she promised she’d be there. “By the way, he wants a party.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “Of course he does. A party means more presents. Shall I take care of setting it up?”
For a moment, Ashlyn didn’t answer. Anger flared briefly as did resentment. Then she shook her head. It wouldn’t do any good getting upset with her mother because she didn’t know who her son’s friends were.
“Please, Mom. Set up something fun for him. I don’t care how much it costs.”
“Don’t worry about that. All he really wants is for you to be here.”
“Believe me, I’ll be here, even if I have to hijack the Magellan to get home in time.”
“I’m still not sure you going back to that hellhole is a good idea, Ashlyn.” Her father’s concern was clear.
“I know, Dad, but I have to do this. I have to see for myself that my people are not only freed but that they are all right.” She took another sip of her beer and then leaned over to grasp his hand. “They are there because of me, because they chose to follow me and to voice the same objections to the mission I did.”