by Nate Johnson
.o0o.
Captain Dex Carter sighed for the thousandth time. Three days since the last shot was fired and everything was still screwed up.
The Dauntless had sent down a shuttle with communication equipment and two dozen Navy spacers to help with prisoner control.
His stomach turned over as he thought about that shuttle leaving with his wounded and dead. The picture of those body bags being loaded would not leave his mind. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t stop wondering what he might have done differently that might have saved some of his men.
Sighing again, he looked up the hill at the ring of barbed wire surrounding the Scraggs and the humans walking patrol around the ring. The aliens sat in the middle, their long arms wrapped around their knees, staring off into nothing.
They’d used the farm equipment to dig the mass graves, but they’d used the prisoners to fill it with the dead Scraggs. His guards standing over them ready if necessary. A scene that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Just like so many others.
The guards really weren’t needed he thought. Once the Scraggs had submitted, they became meek and mild. The former, vicious monsters, became as tame as newborn kittens. Dex shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the juxtaposition of personalities.
“Oh, well,” he mumbled to himself. His men were fed, the civilians were trying to figure out how to rebuild. Alicia had learned that her mother and two brothers were still alive. Life could be so much worse, he told himself.
Yet, the weight of the world still rested on his shoulders. Where was his relief? Why wasn’t someone more senior on the ground? Didn’t they remember he was only a sergeant in real life? He needed someone who could take responsibility for the thousands of decisions to be made.
More and more questions continued to tumble through his mind. Where were the replacements for the men he had lost? When would his men be allowed to stand down? They needed time to recover and recoup. It wasn’t right, he felt like he was sitting out here all alone.
He’d repeatedly radioed in these questions and been gently reminded to be patient. That there were bigger problems to deal with.
Shaking his head, he tried to not think of how bad things must have been for the primary landing force if they still couldn’t send him any help.
“Are you still worried?” Alicia asked as she came up behind him.
He turned and gave her a quick smile. The woman would always know the perfect thing to say.
Laughing, he shrugged his shoulders, no use trying to fool her. She could see through him like a screen door.
Slipping an arm through his, she reached up to kiss him on the cheek.
“You are a hero,” she said. “I thought that was what every man wanted to be. You will always be the hero of Drake’s Rift. ”
He frowned and slowly shook his head. “The heroes were loaded on that shuttle in body bags,” he said grimly.
She sighed and said, “I know, but just think how many more people would have died if you hadn’t stopped them. One of the Navy spacers was telling me that the entire fleet was talking about it. That if you hadn’t held them off. If they had hit the main Marine force from behind, they would have collapsed, and the Scraggs would have overrun their positions.”
He shrugged, while he was glad that he had done his job, that didn’t take away the sting of what he had lost. The men who would never know what they had accomplished.
The two of them stood there, neither speaking. Dex was surprised at how not awkward it was. They didn’t need to speak to know that things were right between them.
After a few minutes, Alicia pulled at his arm. “Come on,” she said, “it’s time for dinner, Mrs. Jensen has organized as Bar-B-Q, one of the men shot a Kairn this morning. She’s made her famous potato salad. It will be great.”
He smiled down at her, loving the way she was trying to pull him out of his funk. Nodding, he started back towards the village, arm in arm.
They hadn’t gone five feet when a roaring rush overhead drew him to an instant stop.
A Navy shuttle was coming in. He frowned to himself. They weren’t expecting a resupply until tomorrow.
Both he and Alicia came to a stop and watched the shuttle hover, shift a little, then settle down for a smooth landing. Dex smiled to himself as he admired the skill of the pilot. Something struck him as odd, he thought as his brow narrowed in confusion. The side of the shuttle had some kind of logo he had never seen before. Scrunching his eyes, he tried to make it out.
“Oh, my God,” Alicia exclaimed as she dropped his arm to bring a hand to her mouth.
“What?” he asked, but all she could do was shake her head with disbelief.
Dex looked again. It was an Imperial Navy shuttle. Of that, there was no doubt. This was not a new attack from the Scraggs. Not unless they’d taken over the fleet and he was pretty sure that hadn’t happened.
Before he could press her on what was wrong, the shuttle doors opened and eight Marines quickly rushed out to take up a security perimeter. Dex frowned as he studied them. Their armor was spotless, no burns, no rips or tears. They looked like they’d just stepped off the parade ground back on Taurus.
Following quickly after the Marines, a contingent of Navy officers stepped down from the shuttle. Dex’s insides turned over when he saw all the brass. This could not be good, he thought as he swallowed hard.
Without thinking, he adjusted his uniform and stood up straighter. Too many years of habit took over.
The officers approached, the Marine guard moving smoothly with them. Always keeping the officers in the center, protected, like sheepdogs with a small flock. Dex studied their performance and had to admit to himself that they were good. The sergeant inside of him could admire professionalism when he saw it.
As the group approached, Dex felt Alicia starting to slip away. Reaching out he gently grabbed her shoulder and shook his head. “No you don’t. I’m not going through this alone.”
She swallowed hard, looking back up at him with big eyes and a look of terror that he had hoped to never see again.
“It’s the Emperor,” she whispered as if saying those words might conjure up the unknown.
He whipped around to check and see what she was talking about. His stomach fell to the ground. She was right, it had to be. Admiral McKenzie and Admiral Jacobs were both walking behind the man. No way would they do that except for someone senior. And that meant the Emperor.
The man was dressed in a plain Navy gray officer’s uniform. No special markings. But, it was the Emperor, of that there was no doubt in Dex’s mind.
The markings on the side of the shuttle made sense. That was the Emperor’s family crest. Crap. What was going on? Just when he thought life might be good again. This happens. One of the things he had learned early in his career, things never went well when the brass was around. They were paid to find problems to be solved.
And it didn’t get any bigger than the Emperor. This was so not good.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dex quickly scanned the distant prisoners. The Emperor arriving completely made him readjust his estimation on how many guards he needed.
Thankfully, there was no activity in the alien camp. Not even curiosity about the new shuttle. Swallowing hard, he looked back at his men. Those not on guard duty were sitting around eating, joking. Sergeant Smith had his uniform shirt off while he tried to sew up a rip. Obamway was laid out flat on the ground, half naked, trying to soak up some rays.
Dex shook his head. Why hadn’t he been informed? Why hadn’t he been given a chance to get ready?
Grinding his teeth, he wondered if he should yell back at his men to form up. To be ready to render honors.
Seeing that he had no time. He snapped to attention and rendered a salute.
The Emperor smiled as he and both Admirals returned his salute with a quick snap.
“Your Highness,” Admiral McKenzie began, “this is Captain Dex Carter, commander of Bravo Co
mpany, 2nd Battalion, of the Taurus regiment.”
Dex’s heart raced in his chest. How long would he hold that title? he wondered. Surely, he’d get kicked back down to sergeant when this was all over.
“Captain,” the Emperor said, his voice sounding just like the thousands of vids Dex had seen over the years. “You and your men are to be commended. Truly remarkable, what you have accomplished. It is so nice to finally meet you. I’ve read all of your initial reports. Truly remarkable.”
The Emperor then did something that breached every protocol Dex had ever heard about. He held out his hand.
Dex swallowed hard as he shook the Emperor’s hand while his mind raced a million miles a minute. What was he supposed to do now? They didn’t teach stuff like this to sergeants. This was more the senior officer stuff he had heard about.
Then, remembering who stood next to him, and the possibility of shifting some of the limelight, he said, “Sir, … I mean Your Highness. May I introduce Miss Alicia Miller of Drake’s Rift, ? She and her people were instrumental in our success. Without them. We couldn’t have done it.”
Alicia looked up at him, then back at the Emperor. Dex could tell that she didn’t know whether to bow or curtsey. Hell, she was probably wanting to strangle him for pulling her into this. He could well imagine how much she hated greeting the Emperor of the galaxy dressed in ripped jeans and a dusty shirt, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
“Miss Miller,” the Emperor said with a soft smile, holding his hand out to her as well. “I am so sorry for all that you and your people have suffered. I promise, we will do everything in our power to help you rebuild.”
“Your Highness,” she said as she shook his hand, “Captain Carter is being modest. His men saved us. Without them, we would have been taken within minutes of the Scraggs arriving. We will never be able to repay them for what they did for us.”
The Emperor nodded, then glanced back and forth between the two people standing before him. His brow wrinkled as he considered what he was seeing, then he smiled to himself and Dex just knew that the man could see how he felt about Alicia. It must be written all over his face.
“We would like a briefing,” Admiral McKenzie said, “Can you walk us through what happened here?”
Dex swallowed hard as he glanced back towards his men. Thankfully, Sergeant Smith had seen what was going on and had the men up and in formation. They might look like a ragtag group of misfits. But they were standing proud.
“, Sir,” Dex said as he let out a deep breath and started explaining about the drop from the transports and the loss of two-thirds of the battalion and all the senior staff.
As they made their way over the battlefield, he pointed out each encounter, each maneuver, and counter-maneuver. The Emperor nodded, occasionally asking a question. Dex was surprised at the sharp insight the questions indicated. It was obvious the man was an expert on military tactics. He would make a good sergeant, Dex thought to himself.
As they moved down the main street, the Emperor made a point of stopping and talking to each person. Shaking their hand. Thanking them. Praising them for what they had done. The young Marines looked at Dex, terrified of doing or saying the wrong thing. The civilians stood there in frozen wonderment. Unable to believe what was happening to them.
Once he was done with greetings and small talk, the Emperor would turn back to Dex and nod for him to continue with his explanations.
When they reached the first wall, the Emperor stopped for a moment to examine the damage. Furrowing his brow, he reached up and removed a glob of amber glass.
The Scraggs’ lasers transformed large sections of the wall to a yellow, pasty glass. “One lesson learned, Sir. It was like the books said. Sandbags are great against lasers. The sand turns to glass and reflects even more.”
The Emperor nodded. “If it is all right, I’d like to keep this,” he said, indicating the fist-size piece of glass.
Dex almost laughed. What was he going to say? No, the Emperor couldn’t have it?
“Of course, Sir, we’d be honored,” he was able to say, rather proud of himself for not making a snide response.
The Emperor nodded, as he wove his way through the walls. Stopping, he stood up on the bench and looked out over the wall, back over the battlefield.
Both Admirals joined him on either side.
“Five thousand,” the Emperor said as he slowly shook his head in disbelief, “against seventy-six. It doesn’t seem possible.” Turning, he looked down the Rift. “And this would lead to Tannerville? The aliens would have poured down on the landing force like lava on a grass field.
Admiral Jacobs nodded. “Yes, Sir, they wouldn’t have had any warning.”
Again, the Emperor turned back to look out over the battlefield. Dex could have sworn he saw a tear forming in the corner of the Emperor’s eye. But that was impossible to even think of.
“See that these people are taken care of,” he said to his aide. “I want a weekly report until every building is restored, until every person is accounted for and returned to their family. I want this valley fixed and I want to return to dedicate a memorial to the people who died here. The Empire needs to know about this.”
“Yes, Sir,” the aide said as he made a note on his tablet.
“Admiral Jacobs,” the Emperor continued without taking his eyes off the street in front of him. “I want the awarding of the Imperial Cross to happen here on Intrepid, not back at Taurus.”
Dex’s mouth ran dry, were they talking about him?
“Yes, Sir,” the old Admiral said with a smile.
“Now then,” the Emperor said, turning to Captain Carter. “What else can we do for you?”
Dex tried to swallow but his mouth refused to work right. His mind frantically tried to come up with an appropriate answer.
“Nothing, Sir,. My men are being taken care of. We need to be relieved. But I realize that is going to take some time.”
The Emperor nodded but continued to stare at him, as if waiting for more. Dex realized that the man was not used to having people not ask for things. Especially when he went out of his way to offer.
“There is one thing,” he said, holding his breath. “When the new company commander is assigned, I’d like to remain with the company. I was scheduled for a transfer in six months. But, I think we’re going to need more time to reconstitute. They are going to need an experienced sergeant.”
The Emperor and the two Admirals looked at him like he’d lost his mind. Then, Admiral Jacobs laughed, “Son, your days of being a sergeant are long over.”
Admiral McKenzie slowly shook his head. “And as a newly commissioned officer, you can’t remain with the same unit. It just doesn’t work. You will be assigned to another company. Believe me, we have more than enough openings.”
Dex’s stomach fell at the thought of leaving his men, he tried hard not to let his disappointment show on his face. “Sir, it’s not like I have enough men left. Seventy percent are gone. It will be all new people. Almost like a whole new unit.”
Admiral McKenzie studied him for a moment. Dex knew that he’d overstepped the line, but he had to try.
An awkward pause in the conversation settled over the group until the Emperor broke in.
“I think we can make an exception, Mac, don’t you?”
Admiral McKenzie thought for a moment then nodded. Dex could see a smile behind the man’s eyes. He wasn’t upset, not really.
Letting out a deep breath, Dex turned to Alicia and smiled. She, however, frowned up at him. As if unable to believe that was the one thing he wanted.
“Sir, Your Highness,” she said, her eyes narrowing with focus. “May I make a request?”
The Emperor smiled, “Of course.”
She hesitated for a moment, then shot Dex a quick look of apology.
“Sir,” she began, “can I request that Captain Carter’s company remain here on Intrepid. At least for a while. I know that my people will feel so much mor
e secure knowing that he and his men are here.”
Dex leaned back in shock. That was the last thing he had expected. Asking something of the Emperor was already beyond normal. But to ask for a specific military unit to be assigned somewhere. It was unheard of.
The Emperor looked at her for a long moment, then at the captain and smiled. Turning to Admiral Jacobs he said, “We hadn’t decided which of the Taurus divisions to move to Intrepid. I guess this sort of makes the decision for us.”
Admiral Jacobs nodded. “As good a reason as any, Sir,” he said, but Dex could tell the man desperately wanted to roll his eyes.
The Emperor nodded, obviously pleased that was all settled, then looked out over the battlefield one last time.
“You know, Captain,” he said wistfully, “a thousand years from now, people will not know my name. I will just be another in a long list of Emperors. But they will never forget yours. They will never forget Drake’s Rift. It will be studied and admired. Dissected and discussed. Torn apart and put back together a hundred different ways. But they won’t forget. Because it was here, in this valley, that the Empire saw it’s finest hour.
Epilogue
Major Dex Carter turned back to give his wife a hand up the last bit of trail. His heart leaped when she smiled up at him. That was one of the many things he loved about her. The way she made his world feel special.
Three years, he thought. And the woman still shook his world with a simple smile. Taking her hand, he guided her around the outcrop of rocks.
“There it is,” he said as he pointed to the remote Valerian valley. Finally, after all this time he could share this with her.
Alicia gasped and squeezed his arm. “It is as beautiful as you said.”
He smiled to himself. She was right, the mix of blues and reds, the bright oranges, and subtle yellows. All of it ruffling back and forth in the cool summer breeze.
“It’s like a painter’s pallet,” she said with a whisper. “Unbelievable.”
“A mixed up, crazy painter who couldn’t make up his mind,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her.