Embracing Oblivion: Wolfpack Book 3

by Toby Neighbors

  “That was fun,” Chavez said.

  “For you maybe,” Dean said, pulling off his TCU.

  “Glad I’m not an officer,” Adkins said. “Too many meetings.”

  “Now we can play more games,” Owanto said. “I love the VR dome.”

  Dean followed the others back down the stairs and pulled off his armor. He had just enough time to see that his armor was returned to the charging station and his weapons were properly stowed, before heading up to the officers meeting.

  He got a drink before slipping into his chair and nodding at Lieutenant Owens, who flashed Dean a smile.

  “Well, we’re all here,” Admiral Masterson said. “The drill was not a success, according to the timetable, but let’s focus on what we got right.”

  Dean was a little surprised at the admiral’s response. He had expected to be criticized for the failed drill. It was his plan after all, and his platoon played the biggest role. Instead, as he listened to Admiral Masterson’s evaluation of the drill, he realized that the senior officer was leading with positive reinforcement. As Dean watched, he could see the other officers longing to earn the admiral’s praise, their commitment to him and to the drill grew under his encouraging support. His method was different, but as Dean listened to the responses of each department, all of which talked about what worked and what could be done better, he realized that the admiral was inspiring his people to perform. It was exactly the kind of result Dean hoped for with his platoon, yet the admiral wasn’t screaming at anyone, or even talking about what didn’t work. None of the officers on board the Apache needed Admiral Masterson to point out what didn’t work, they already knew, and Dean guessed that the next drill would turn out vastly differently.

  When the meeting was over Dean approached the admiral, who smiled at him as he spoke.

  “That went well, I think,” Masterson said. “We’ll do even better the next time.”

  “You didn’t mention the fact that almost everyone was late to their designated areas,” Dean said.

  “No need to bring up something everyone is already aware of,” the admiral said. “Believe me, every officer on this ship is being hard on themselves. I prefer to focus on what we can improve, not how we failed.”

  “That’s refreshing,” Dean said. “Certainly not what I expected.”

  “Well, if you serve with us here on the Apache for very long I think you’ll get used to my eccentricities. I like your plan, Captain. I appreciate the fact that if we’re boarded your platoon will stand in the gap to defend us. And I mean all of us on this ship, not just the officers on the bridge. Everything we do on this trip will shape the standard practices and procedures in the fleet for decades to come. Once more gravity propelled ships come online, this mission will be the case study and you’ve played an important part in that. I appreciate your hard work in creating a strategy that works for everyone on the Apache.”

  “Thank you, Admiral.”

  “We’re almost ready,” he went on. “Less than a week to reach the edge of the heliosphere. Then we’ll get a chance to really see what the Apache is made of. It’s exciting.”

  “I agree, sir,” Dean said.

  Captain Parker was waiting for Dean just outside the ward room.

  “I think once we get closer to the system we should all drill and even do PT in armor,” she suggested. “That should make getting into position faster when the time comes.”

  “I agree,” Dean said, he’d had the same thought but didn’t bring it up in the evaluation with Admiral Masterson. “We need to lead the way on these drills. Show the crew just how well the plan should be executed.”

  “And it might be a good idea to bring armor up to our quarters each night,” she went on. “I would hate to think we couldn’t reach our duty stations before we were boarded.”

  In reality, if the ship was about to be boarded, they would most likely know well in advance. The ship would be brought up to orange alert and his platoon would be in full armor just in case the worst happened. But he didn’t think it would hurt to move one set of Recon armor into their quarters. It might crowd things a bit, but his Specialists didn’t spend a lot of time in their quarters to begin with.

  “I’m open to anything that might help,” Dean said.

  “How are things going with the diplomats?” she asked.

  “Fine, I suppose. They don’t like training with us, but they do it.”

  “They don’t see the need?” she said.

  “No, which I think is naive, but I won’t waste my breath trying to convince them. How did they get selected for this mission anyway?”

  “Politics,” Captain Parker said. “Nasty business.”

  “You can say that again,” Dean said. “I don’t think they’re qualified.”

  “Perhaps not, but have you considered that EsDef may have signed off on them for that very reason?”

  They took the stairs back down to Alpha deck. Most of the crew used the lifts and Dean didn’t fault them for that, but the one thing the Apache didn’t have was a track. Dean and everyone else who was so inclined, was forced to run on a treadmill, which Dean didn’t enjoy. His cardio was suffering, so he forced himself to climb up and down the stairs between decks numerous times a day.

  “So they’ll fail?” Dean asked.

  “Precisely. The biggest criticism of the service is that we’re warlords just waiting for our chance to take over the galaxy.”

  “That’s rubbish.”

  “Of course it is, but in politics, perception is reality. Most of the governmental organizations on Earth and the colonies, or any enemy, will latch onto any rumor or theory about us that gives them leverage.”

  “You’re talking about psychological warfare,” Dean said.

  “No, it’s much worse than that, Dean. It’s politics.”

  He laughed and she joined him. Their friendship had grown over the last two weeks. He had expected her to act like a superior officer, but instead she treated him as an equal. There were times when his feelings for her grew strong again. She was attractive, not exotic like Esma, but still quite pretty. Captain Parker was strong, smart, and engaging, not to mention one of the few women on board the Apache and the only one Dean spent much time with outside of the Specialists in his platoon. But his feelings for her were falling more on the side of friendship, not simply because he was determined to be true to Esma, but because he had grown to genuinely trust her judgment and advice.

  For her part, Captain Parker had never shown romantic interest in Dean. She was a decade older than he was, and though there had been passion in the kiss they shared during Dean’s stint at the OTA, she never mentioned it or acted as if she was interested in bringing it up again. She was a professional, serious about her assignment, but always ready to help out if Dean needed it. She seemed honored when his plan called for her to lead the bridge guard during the boarding drill. He knew she missed leading a platoon, even though she was willing to serve in whatever capacity EsDef thought she would be the most effective.

  “If the diplomats fail,” she said, lowering her voice and leaning close so Dean could hear her, “no one can say that EsDef rushed to war. Taking the diplomatic option gives them political capital, even if they’re secretly hoping the negotiators will fail.”

  “What do you think would be the best outcome?” Dean asked, sincerely wanting to know her thoughts on the matter.

  “Peace,” she said without hesitation. “I’m just not sure we can trust the Kroll, and the last thing I want is to compromise another race just to save our own asses. If we’re going to fight, I’d rather not wait until I’m sidelined by the brass because they think I’m too old.”

  “That would be the worst possible outcome,” Dean agreed.

  “Then again, we may be fooling ourselves,” she continued. “We have no idea how populous they are. Humanity is currently at thirty billion, but what if that is only a fraction of their population. We control 45 worlds, but they could hold hundreds
, maybe thousands. We just don’t know. Intelligence is the most valuable asset at this stage of the game.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got a good grasp of the big picture,” Dean said. “I tend to think in terms of my platoon and what we can accomplish.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” Parker said. “A good platoon leader should have his team in mind at all times. You learn to see every problem and task through the lens of your platoon.”

  “That’s me,” Dean said.

  “But don’t sell yourself short. You accomplished more with just one platoon on Rome Three than the rest of the task force combined. You saved that mission three times. First by cutting the power and restoring communications. Then by capturing the Pope, and finally by defeating the Swiss Guard when they tried to retake the Papal Compound. Reading the report from that mission was like reading textbook Recon strategy and tactics. It’s the very reason OWFR is so important to the service. Nothing is important or more effective than boots on the ground. Drones can’t adapt to the situation. Operators sitting in an air conditioned booth hundreds of miles from any real danger won’t do whatever it takes to ensure that the mission succeeds. They care about their service record, how many kills they record, and how may drones they lose. We step into the line of fire and risk our lives to make sure others don’t have to face danger. We live in the shadow of death, Dean. That’s our calling, our Bushido, the way of the wolf.”

  Dean considered what she said and couldn’t disagree. It spoke to something deep within him. He knew he was doing what he was created for, and nothing else would ever satisfy him. And if he died fighting he was okay with that. Not that he didn’t fear death, and he certainly didn’t want to die, but if he laid down his life for his platoon, or for the sake of the human race, he would feel that his life was well lived and that his sacrifice meant something. Not everyone could say that. He was just about to tell Parker how he felt when the alarm sounded again and the lights changed to a bright shade of orange.

  “Orange alert. Orange alert. All officers report to battle stations,” the electronic voice said over the ship’s loudspeakers.

  “You think it’s another drill?” Dean asked.

  “Can’t be,” Parker said.

  “I’ll make sure my platoon is ready and meet you on the bridge,” he said.

  Captain Parker nodded then raced back up the stairs. Dean was tired, but his system was suddenly flooded with adrenaline. He couldn’t imagine what would cause the ship to be put on orange alert, but he was determined not to be caught unprepared. His platoon would be ready, and whatever was endangering the Apache would have to contend with the Wolfpack.

  Chapter 30

  “What the hell, Captain?” Chavez said as Dean entered the ready room.

  “I’m just glad I’m still in my armor,” Adkins said with a grin.

  The light was still strange, the alarm was repeating every thirty seconds or so. Dean knew that soon the alarm and message would stop, but the tension would remain. He desperately wanted to get up to the bridge and find out what was happening, but he had to get his platoon ready first.

  “Get back in your armor and move to your assigned places,” Dean said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll use the platoon channel to keep you informed.”

  Dean pulled his fatigues off and his armor on, moving as quickly as he could but also being careful to make sure everything was as it should be. He couldn’t risk missing something that might cause his armor to be exposed in a fight, or the suit to fail in hard vacuum if they were called into action.

  “You're set, jefe,” Chavez said, slapping Dean on the shoulder after giving his armor a visual inspection.

  “I want everyone’s armor checked and rechecked,” Dean said. “No one goes out of this room without making sure we’re ready. Weapons will be on safety, no exceptions.”

  “Yes sir,” the platoon said.

  “Chavez, get everyone moving, I’ll be in touch.”

  Dean pulled his TCU down over his head and jogged out toward the stairwell. His TCU automatically ran a system check that included ensuring that his armor was functioning properly. The powerful battle helmet also linked with the ship’s network and Dean could see the orange alert icon flashing on the HUD. When he reached the bridge he was the last officer to enter. The bridge doors closed behind him and Captain Parker waved him over to her station.

  “Something is blocking our progress toward the Urgglatta system,” she said, her voice sealed inside her own battle helmet but carried to Dean on a private channel.

  “How is that possible?” Dean asked.

  “The gravity drive works by locking on a point in space. It forms a chain of gravitons. Think of it like a rail road track. If something breaks the chain, our propulsion stops.”

  “And something is breaking the chain?” Dean asked.

  “Correct. It could be nothing, such as a large meteor that drifted into our path. But the ship’s systems are built to stop before a collision, and we can’t find a way around the blockage until we’ve stopped and created a new graviton chain. So all we know for certain right now is that the ship is slowing down.”

  Dean stared down at the readouts on the bank of vid screens in Parker’s console. He could feel the tension from the other officers all around him. They were feverishly monitoring their consoles, either searching for what might be causing the interference or keeping an eye on their systems to ensure that nothing else went wrong.

  “Gruber, talk to me!” Admiral Masterson said.

  “It’s not the grav-drive,” the chief engineer said. “I’ve got green lights across the board. The problem can’t be on our end.”

  “Is it possible,” Dean asked Parker, “that someone is purposefully blocking our path?”

  “Anything is possible,” Parker replied. “Spotting someone else’s graviton chain is beyond our technological capabilities at this point, but it makes sense that if we can form the chains that someone else could see them and disrupt them.”

  Dean suddenly had a bad feeling. It was never pleasant to know that an enemy was nearby when you couldn’t see them. The skin between his shoulder blades tingled and he switched over to his platoon channel.

  “Staff Sergeant, report,” Dean said.

  “We’re locked and loaded, Lieutenant,” Chavez said immediately. “A Team is in place, B team and sniper are on their way up.”

  “Good,” Dean said. “We’re still waiting for confirmation up here, but something is blocking our path. Standby for further orders.”

  “Affirmative,” Chavez said.

  Dean walked over to Admiral Masterson’s station.

  “Sir, with your permission I’m going to double check my platoon and ensure that we’re ready if needed.”

  “Granted,” Masterson said without looking up. “But stay in contact, Captain.”

  “Yes sir,” Dean said, snapping a salute then hurrying away.

  Outside the bridge, Dean found his squad of Specialists moving into place.

  “Lieutenant, are we under attack?” Valosky asked.

  “Not yet,” Dean replied. “But something’s out there and we need to be ready to stop it if it attacks us.”

  Dean switched to the command channel, “Captain Parker, your Recon team is in position. They’re all yours.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Parker said in a terse tone.

  Switching back to the platoon channel Dean caught everyone up on the situation.

  “Something is blocking our progress,” he explained. “The new gravity drive is complicated, and I honestly don’t understand it well, but the long and short of it is that something picked up our trajectory and has done something to keep us from moving forward.”

  “Can’t we adjust our route?” Ghost asked.

  “Not until we come to a complete stop,” Dean said as he hurried down the stairs. “Until then the gravity drive is programed to slow down and ensure we don’t collide with anything.”

  “So t
here’s something waiting for us?” Chavez said.

  “I think so,” Dean replied. “We’ll know soon enough.”

  Dean hurried around the bottom of the atrium, which unlike the decks above didn’t have a railing around the gravity drive. It was a large open space, and a favorite for many to mingle around. The rest of Dean’s platoon were waiting for him in the hangar.

  “What are the odds this is just a simple miscalculation by the navigator?” Tallgrass asked.

  “According to Captain Parker who is monitoring the situation it’s much more complicated than that. I get the feeling we’re in for something new.”

  The next few hours passed at a snail’s pace. There was nothing Dean or anyone else in his platoon could do. They were in their armor, awaiting a change in the situation, but while the ship remained at orange alert, there was no new information.

  Eventually food was brought around. Dean took his TCU off just long enough to scarf down the sandwich he’d been given. And then the waiting game started again. He understood the need to be ready if something terrible happened, but he also knew that waiting around wore him down faster than a complex job assignment.

  Finally, five hours after the alert was sounded, Captain Parker’s voice came over his TCU comlink.

  “Dean, we’ve got company,” she said.

  An image of a dark speck appeared on his HUD. He looked at it, zooming in as much as the battle helmet would allow, but couldn’t make out any details about the ship. It was obviously not organic, not a meteor or space debris, or even a planetary body. But they were between systems, far from the light of any star, and the ship had no running lights.

  “What the hell is it?” Dean asked.

  “Ship of some kind,” Parker said. “The gravity drive has been slowing us down all this time as we approach it. We’re finally close enough for the radar to get a ping on the bogey, but it’s impossible to make out any detail at this range.”