Runs In The Family
Page 36
The first figure appeared in the door, and Mairin sucked in a breath. This wasn’t a Council of Colonels. The balding, fat man wore the two stars of a major general. Every one of the council bore at least two stars, with the President of the Council’s shoulders bearing the four stars of a general. She’d never seen a four-star up close and knew that she should be impressed, but she wasn’t. The likelihood that he was another TDF idiot who’d managed to get promoted on the backs of others and was just better at politics than the rest of his peers was likely what set him apart.
Allowing her eyes to quickly glance at the rest of the board, she recognized a familiar face. His uniform bore two shiny new stars and Mairin wanted to grin as he set a spittoon on the desk before he sat. If Talvio is here, maybe I have a chance after all.
“Captain Mairin Shields,” the presiding general looked at her. “This proceeding is in accordance with Article Thirty-Two of the Reformed Uniform Code of Military Justice. As an investigative hearing, you are granted the assistance of legal counsel, if you so choose. Do you wish legal counsel?”
Mairin wanted to look at Talvio’s face as she said, “No, sir.” Her voice sounded more confident and self-assured than she felt inside.
The general blinked but said nothing for a long moment. “Be seated, Captain.”
“Thank you, sir.” The seat was as hard as she’d imagined it would be.
The general looked at the officers on the dais before speaking. “Captain Shields, this hearing is to investigate your actions starting on or about twenty-five July of this year on the planet Rayu-4 through your recent conducts at the Battle of Libretto. At any point in time, the officers of the council are allowed to ask you anything, and you are required to respond in accordance with your rights as a witness. I will start the questioning on twenty-five July of this year. At that time, what was your duty position?”
“Sir, I had no duty position. Upon the verbal order of the ground force commander, then-Lieutenant Colonel Robert Coffey, I assumed command of a detachment of six Slammer magtanks and their crews, totaling twenty-three personnel and myself.”
A lieutenant general with salt and pepper hair and the uniform of a quartermaster asked, “That is not a doctrinal deployment of the Slammer magtank. Were you aware of that, Captain?”
“Yes, sir.” Mairin said. “I’m also aware that a combat commander is not bound to doctrine in the accomplishment of the mission, sir.”
“We do not need a lecture from you, Captain. You are to cooperate with this investigation into your actions on Libretto. Are we clear on this, Captain?” The President of the Board clenched his jaw.
This wasn’t starting well. “Yes, sir.”
A pregnant pause followed her response until a female Major General with the tunic of a Terran Defense Force nurse asked. “How long had you been a captain when you took command of these six vehicles and dropped on Rayu-4.”
Mairin thought for a moment. “Roughly three and a half months, ma’am.”
“And how long had you been an officer at the time of this action?”
“The exact same amount of time, ma’am.” Several members of the council gasped. The president rapped the gavel twice to gain everyone’s attention. He nodded for the nurse to continue.
“What were you doing four months before your first combat drop, Captain Shields?”
“Ma’am, I was an upperclassman at the Eden Academy.”
A murmur rose, and the President rapped the gavel again. “Any more interruptions and I will place all members on report.”
The nurse ran a hand through her short blonde hair. “You were a student at Eden Academy four months before this operation?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then how in the hell did you become an officer, Captain? Our officers undergo years of undergraduate training as cadets or serve with distinction as members of the non-commissioned officers corps before accepting a commission as a Terran Defense Force officer! How did you come to be an officer?”
Mairin looked at the president of the council. “Sir, I respectfully request a security verification of the Board privately under Terran Defense Force regulation fourteen dash four. I have reason to believe my answer in this court could release classified information.”
The president of the board shook his head. “Captain Shields, the board is aware of your status as a test subject for imprinting. Now answer the question for the record.”
Mairin tried not to smile. “I was a student at Eden Academy, and on the day of Civil Consideration, I met a Terran Defense Force officer by the name of Colonel Thomas Munsen.”
Major General Talvio cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Sir, why don’t we cut to the chase? I’d like to get to the meat of this proceeding and discuss Captain Shields’ actions here and the engagements prior to the Battle of Libretto. As you are aware, I do have some knowledge of the captain’s conduct and performance prior to her alleged crime.”
The president of the council scowled for a moment. “You do at that, general. In an effort to speed this process, how would you characterize Captain Shields’ performance as an officer?”
Talvio spat into his spittoon and his face became hard and serious. “Outstanding, sir. Captain Shields is one of the finest tactical commanders in the Terran Defense Forces. I would put her in front of every graduate of the Academy I’ve ever known.”
The nurse spoke again, “But that behavior and performance is more in line with her imprint, than her own actions.”
“Bullshit,” a major general with fleet aviator’s wings on his shoulders replied. “You cannot teach a leader how to care for soldiers and how to effectively fight the enemy. Warriors are born with that.”
The president looked at Mairin. “Would you consider yourself a warrior, Captain Shields?”
“Sir, I hate that term. I am a soldier. I do what I’m told and accomplish the mission to the best of my ability within the guidance of regulations and the orders of my superiors.” Mairin licked her lips. “Even if that means holding a commander to a higher standard present in the regulation versus their conduct.”
Talvio leaned forward again. “Sir, Captain Shields was recommended for the Silver Star for her actions at the Hoffman Colony. The award is currently on hold pending the results of this investigation, in accordance with regulation. Captain Shields is presently flagged and unable to receive that award and others she is due.”
“Others?”
“Captain Shields,” Talvio nodded at her, his eyes twinkling, “will receive two Bronze Stars for her actions on Ashland and Waters City. For the Battle of Libretto, the intent of my command is to recommend her for the Medal of Earth.”
Mairin blinked. She’d never imagined being nominated for the highest award in the Terran Defense Force. The blustering quartermaster general brought her back to reality quickly.
“Absolutely not! She killed a superior officer!” His pudgy hand pointed at Mairin. “Do you deny killing Colonel Coffey during the Battle of Libretto?”
Silence fell quickly. Mairin spoke as clear as she could. “Sir, I shot and killed Colonel Coffey for desertion in the face of the enemy and drunkenness on duty. I would also clearly put to the record all testimonies of my soldiers regarding Colonel Coffey’s intent to shoot me for attempting to arrest him.”
The quartermaster leaned back in his chair and smiled toward the president of the council. “She admits it, sir. Can we go about getting her out of the Terran Defense Force now? She’s a disgrace to the uniform!”
The president of the council glanced at Talvio, then Mairin, and then to the quartermaster. “That will be enough, General. Your personal views are not part of this hearing.”
The quartermaster crossed his arms. “She was fucking the late Prelate’s Consort for God’s sake! Her dalliance with a Styrahi is highly suspect to her motives!”
“That will be all!” The president of the board roared. “Captain Shields, you are instructed to disregard the General’s c
omments.”
Mairin shook her head. “No, sir. I will not. My personal relationship with Tallenaara was before she became the Prelate’s Consort, and besides that fact, my personal relationships are outside of the bounds of the Terran Defense Forces at all times. I will not be insulted by a rear—” Mairin paused. Calling the general a “rear-echelon mother fucker” wouldn’t help her case at all. “By a higher ranking officer whose personal beliefs contradict my own.”
Several voices spoke at once, with Talvio covering all of them in a bellow. “I think we’ve heard enough, General.” The man looked over the collection of generals and back to Mairin. His left eye blinked rapidly and Mairin felt her heart soar.
The president of the council nodded his head. “Captain Shields, you are dismissed. Until further notice, you are on administrative leave without pay. Benefits will be available at any military treatment facility. Until such time as you are cleared for a return to active duty, you will not discuss these proceedings with anyone. Is that clear?”
They’re letting me go? “Yes, sir.”
The President stared at her a moment and consulted his notes. “You are excused, Captain Shields. May the record state that executive privilege is afforded to the next witness.”
Mairin moved to the door as it swung open and stopped. Behind her, Mairin heard the president say, “The Council calls Colonel Thomas Munsen, retired.”
* * * * *
Requiem
The nahalla came early for Mairin’s last night on Libretto. Standing in the warm summer rain, light gently fading in the gray skies, she settled onto the cool wet grass where her love lay forever at rest. The tears still came easily, and her aching chest reminded her that she would never let Tallenaara go. Running a hand through the grass, Mairin smiled. So many people longed only for sunny warm days. Every drop of rain held memories for Mairin of her time with Tally. Our first kiss, coming here to the cabin for the first time, making love—Mairin felt the tears coming and could not stop them. She’d been unable to stop the Greys from murdering Tallenaara not far from here. Burying her lover in the rain, with bleeding hands, while her troopers watched. Some of them cried for her loss, some of them pitied her, and she knew that some of them would never understand.
Mairin turned her face up to wash her tears away, cool her burning cheeks, and bring back her happiness. “Tally,” she whispered to the rain. “I miss you so much. You know I have to go. But I will be back, love.”
The rain quickened as if to answer.
“I’m leaving in the morning. We’re forming a quick reaction force to defend colony worlds more effectively in case the Greys come back.” Mairin wanted to spit. “Little bastards. They roll into the Rim and destroy everything in their path without giving us a clue to what they wanted. Then you destroy an oil pumping station.” Mairin laughed. “Now we all know that’s what they eat. I wish you’d have told me that.”
Tears flowed. “I couldn’t....” The sob choked her, and the words wouldn’t come easily. “Oh Tally, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get there in time. I wanted to kill them all, but the little bastards slagged themselves and left the system.”
The air was turning colder now. The short autumn of Libretto was coming, and the damp cold seeped into Mairin’s skin. Oh cariad, how I miss you. Lowering her head to the grass, Mairin wished the rain would take away her pain as it soaked her clothes, and rivers ran down her cheeks mixing with her tears.
After a significant effort to compose herself, Mairin raised her head and sniffled. A familiar weight hung from her neck. Eyes closed, her hand clasped around it and she smiled. Wiping her tears, she said, “Yes, this is where I went. All the way back to Rayu-4. Took me two days to find it in the grass. Wouldn’t have taken me so long, but the recovery teams had already removed Two.”
The smell of the burning Slammer still came to her as pungent as death itself. Her stomach flopped, and bile touched her tongue. The memory of kneeling in the grass to vomit washed over her. Her gut twisted. Stop it, Mairin. You did everything you could have done. It was their time, and they went down fighting. Pulling in a deep breath, she said, “I went back for the necklace and to pay my respects. I didn’t even really know them when we dropped. But they were my troopers. I don’t expect you to understand, Tally. But those four young men died under my command. The first four I lost. Nothing is ever going to take that away.”
The necklace was warm in her grip. “And I shouldn’t have left this there. I should have had more faith in you. In me. But I didn’t.”
Lowering her head to the grass, Mairin whispered, “Please forgive me, Tally.”
There was no answer. Then again, there seldom was.
The rain tapered off after a while, and Mairin shivered against the coming chill of night. The warmth of the cabin beckoned, however hollow it might be. No, she thought, that is our home. Standing slowly, she caressed the grass a final time, then touched her fingers to her lips and laid them on the cold ground.
“If I do not come home, then I will be with you forever. No matter where I go, you are with me. I love you, Tally.” With her fingers, she bored a small hole in the ground and slipped her captain’s bars inside. “It’s not much, but my future should have been with you and not with the TDF. At least I can say I made that decision, cariad. Da bo ti.”
Mairin made it a point to not look back. Shoulders square and back straight, she walked to the cabin to pack her belongings. The cabin would be hers as long as she wanted it. The Styrahi Council assured her of that. Their doting over her was welcome after the Terran Defense Force had all but turned her out on her ass.
Colonel-retired Munson would arrive within the hour. There was time enough for a shower and a fresh change of clothes before she’d head out into the void. Munson wanted to find the Greys at all costs, and no one would officially back him. The TDF and the Fleet would sponsor the effort, but it would take place outside the bounds of military operations. Being a mercenary did not sound right to Mairin, but in the end, it didn’t matter. There, she would make a difference. And have a last full measure of revenge.
<<<< >>>>
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About Kevin Ikenberry
Kevin’s head has been in the clouds since he was old enough to read. Ask him and he’ll tell you that he still wants to be an astronaut. A retired Army officer, Kevin has a diverse background in space and space science education. A former manager of the world-renowned U.S. Space Camp program in Huntsville, Alabama and a former executive of two Challenger Learning Centers, Kevin works with space every day and lives in Colorado with his family.
Kevin’s bestselling debut science fiction novel, Sleeper Protocol, was released by Red Adept Publishing in January 2016 and was a Finalist for the 2017 Colorado Book Award. Publisher’s Weekly called it “an emotionally powerful debut.” The sequel, Vendetta Protocol, was released in 2017. His bestselling military science fiction novel Peacemaker was released in late 2017.
Kevin is an Active Member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and he is member of Pikes Peak Writers and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. He is an alumna of the Superstars Writing Seminar.
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Titles by Kevin Ikenberry
“Sleeper Protocol” – Available Now
“A Fistful of Credits” – Available Now
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The following is an
Excerpt from Book Six of the Revelations Cycle:
Peacemaker
___________________
Kevin Ikenberry
Available Now from Seventh Seal Press
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Excerpt from “Peacemaker:”
“Well, shit,” She laughed. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
Her earpiece clicked. “Bulldog, Hex. Over.”
“Go ahead, Hex.”
There was a pause. “It’s bad. Kei is dead along with three other Angels. I mean, we’re assuming she’s dead. We can’t find a body. It’s like her CASPer detonated instead of the camera system. There’s at least 40 Altar dead, maybe more. The server compound is gone. It shouldn’t have detonated like that. I don’t…no idea, Jess.”
Jessica paused. She needed to calm him down. “Hex? What about Altar casualties?”
“Um...yeah, there’s about a 100 wounded and the central air defense system was damaged. Klatk is getting a damage report now.”
“I need you to take charge up there.”