by M. D. Cooper
Perez said.
Joe’s voice came over the combat net. Tanis turned to see him entering the dock at the head of over two hundred soldiers in full combat gear. Within moments they had taken up positions around the Marines and were laying fire into the enemy.
Tanis had never been so happy to see anyone in all her life.
REPRIEVE
STELLAR DATE: 3227348 / 01.30.4124 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: GSS Intrepid, Callisto Orbital Habitat (Cho)
REGION: Jovian Combine, Sol Space Federation
“We were pretty sure something suspicious was going on when we couldn’t find you and General Grissom said you’d gone rogue after attacking Strang,” Captain Andrews said. “You may be a bit impulsive, but that tale was a stretch.”
“Ring security couldn’t find you, and we couldn’t get a comm signal from the guards at the dock, even though TSF told us they were checking in regularly,” Terrance added. “We were getting one hell of a run-around.”
Tanis was sitting at the table in the bridge’s conference room with Terrance, Joe, Captain Andrews, and Admiral Sanderson. With the additional forces Joe had brought to the battle on the docks, the attackers had been overwhelmed and surrendered. However, things were still a mess. Grissom was demanding Tanis be turned over to his command on the ring, and Strang had not been indicted for abducting her. With all sides of the tale coming out it was becoming obvious that Grissom was in Strang’s pocket.
“So, we were ready for just about anything when that dock opened up, hence the rather large armed force at my back,” Joe said. “Can’t say how glad I was to see you there still kicking.”
“That’s me.” Tanis smiled. “I’m a kicker.” She realized that statement could have been misconstrued. “Er, well, figuratively speaking.”
She couldn’t help but notice a wry look from Joe. Everyone else pretended to ignore the statement and the look.
“Glad we got there when we did,” Terrance said. “We owe you, Major Richards. We owe you several times over.”
“That we do,” Sanderson growled. “I’ve got calls in to several individuals up the chain of command demanding Grissom’s head. Things will come to light very shortly, and they won’t go well for him—that I can promise you.”
“Lucky for me Angela is rated A97 incorruptible, or it would be my word against a TSF division’s that Strang assaulted me,” Tanis said. “As it sits, it’s still going to take some doing, I imagine.”
“We had some of our own excitement as well,” Joe said. “Turns out there was a bit of sabotage in the scoop’s main systems. If we hadn’t caught it, it would have activated and caused some pretty serious damage to Callisto.”
“Really?” Tanis asked. “Did we find who did it?”
“Ouri is working on it. So far everything points to some contractors back on MOS. Everyone onboard checks out.”
“I’ve just got word that Grissom has been relieved pending further investigation.” Tanis saw Sanderson smile for the first time. “It would seem that internal affairs has been keeping an eye on him for some time. He made official insubordination charges against you, and those are still standing, but I believe I can get those dropped even if he’s cleared.”
“Strang really has grown desperate to stop us,” Captain Andrews said. “His little plan here was frankly nuts—chancing millions of deaths to take us out.”
“There’s even a twenty-one percent chance that the field could have destroyed another ring.” Terrance’s expression was grim. “While Sanderson is taking action through military channels I’ve filed over three hundred civil complaints against Strang, Grissom, several local security firms, and…well, you get the picture. There are going to be court battles for decades over this.”
“Not that we’ll really care,” Tanis said. “We’ll be long gone by then.”
Terrance had that smile again, the one that reminded Tanis he was the owner of a multiworld corporation for a reason. “We won’t, but I promise you that they will care very much.”
Tanis looked over the assembled men. “I really can’t say enough how glad I am that you decided to take every precaution when docking.”
“Well.” Terrance wore his nicer, human smile. “Like I said, you deserve some thanks too. Without your work we wouldn’t have made it to Callisto, let alone survived today.”
“You really have the Intrepid to thank,” Tanis said. “Even with all of my efforts, without his intervention at the last moment it would have all been worthless.”
“Let’s just say that it was a group effort.” Joe smiled. “And I’m betting that it will be the STR’s last volley at us. It’s smooth sailing from here.”
“Aw, damn it!” Tanis put head in her hands. “Now look what you’ve done!”
“Who would have thought we would have a superstitious intel officer on our hands?” Terrance chuckled.
“Hell, with all that’s happened to try to stop us, I’d be crazy not to be,” Tanis said. “No matter, though. Those STR goons haven’t come up with anything we haven’t been able to handle yet.”
“Now who’s making the dangerous statements?” Joe asked.
CELEBRATION
STELLAR DATE: 3227362 / 02.13.4124 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: District A39, Ring 19C, Callisto Orbital Habitat (Cho)
REGION: Jovian Combine, Sol Space Federation
It was their last night on Callisto. The Intrepid had ended up staying roughly three weeks longer than intended due to the need to replace all of the supplies destroyed in the dock fight. There had also been the testimonies that Tanis and the Marines gave in the cases against dozens of individuals who were either involved or complicit in Arlen Strang’s attempt to destroy the Intrepid.
The STR had thrown him to the wolves, disavowing themselves of any of his actions, but the chickens had come home to roost. Several governments across the Sol system were launching investigations into the consortium and discovering trails of bribery, technology being sold to embargoed groups, and funding of various terrorist organizations.
Dozens of arrests had already been made and the company’s stocks were plummeting. An added bonus was that the business ventures Terrance was leaving behind were getting a boost as demand for products not manufactured by the STR increased. Not that he would ever enjoy the largess, but his offspring and successors would.
The last few nights had been gala after gala in the ballrooms on the Intrepid, but tonight there were no formal celebrations. Tanis, Joe, Ouri, and several others on the SOC staff threw a soiree at a large club on the ring. Sad farewells were given as many of the support personnel were not colony-bound and Callisto was where they disembarked. Tanis had also invited the TSF platoons that had now finished their assignments under her. At present she was sharing a table with Lieutenant Forsythe, Lieutenant Grenwald, and Staff Sergeant Williams.
“Never gonna forget you, Major.” Williams smiled as he lifted a glass in a toast to her. “You’re the toughest, meanest, most cunning officer I ever did meet. Hell, if you were just a little smarter you could even be a sergeant.”
Tanis laughed. “You could say I’m a little too smart for that. You guys have to do all the work in this woman’s space force.”
“Damn right we do.” Williams downed the drink. “And don’t think we don’t like it that way. If you officers were the ones actually running things, we’d be screwed for sure.”
Forsythe laughed while Grenwald scowled. “You’ll get used to it, Grenwald.” Th
e older lieutenant smiled as she slapped him on the back. “The NCOs are really here to keep us in line as much as the troops. The sooner you accept that, the better your life will be.”
Tanis liked both of the officers a lot. Forsythe was up for a promotion after her work keeping the Intrepid safe, and Grenwald was all but guaranteed one once he had put in the requisite time at his current rank. She also had it on good authority that Williams had a promotion to gunnery sergeant waiting once his platoon was reunited with their company in a month.
The thoughts of promotion and reward brought her mind to Corporal Taylor for a moment. The Marine had posthumously been awarded the Eight Planets of Valor and been added to the heroes roster of Bravo Company, Marine Battalion 242. It was an honor the company afforded to few, but his sacrifice could not be denied.
She was brought back to the present by the needling Forsythe was giving Grenwald. Williams added a particularly choice example of a staff sergeant’s wit and they all broke into laughter.
After the chuckles died down, Williams cast Tanis a questioning eye. “I have to say, Major. I really don’t get why you’re shipping out. This is what you were born to do.”
“Could even pass as a Marine if you worked at it.” Forsythe grinned.
“It’s my time,” Tanis said. “I’ve put in nearly fifty years of service, and let me tell you, in MICI years that’s more like five hundred. They don’t give us much downtime, just shuttle us from mission to mission. Hell, I’ve had periods where I’ve gone years with my only time off being in stasis.”
The Marines nodded solemnly. They didn’t agree, but they respected her decision.
“All the same.” Williams put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be sad to see you go.”
“Who knows,” Tanis smiled. “We could meet again; it’s a big galaxy and stranger things have happened.”
“I’d fight by your side any day, Major.” Williams’ grey eyes locked with hers. “You’re one hell of a soldier.”
“Here’s to the Major.” Grenwald lifted his glass.
“To the Major!” the other two chimed in.
…………………………
The party lasted for several more hours. In the end, all of the tables were empty but one. Tanis, Joe, Ouri, and Amy Lee sat around it, each nursing a final drink. The change from the loud revelry to relative silence had caused a melancholy to settle over them. The realization had hit that when they left the ring, it would be the last time they stepped foot on any structure in the Sol system or saw any people not already on the Intrepid. They were saying goodbye.
“It’s different than I thought it would be,” Joe said. “I’m feeling sadder than I thought I would.”
“I think we all are,” Ouri replied. “We’re leaving home, leaving Sol. We’re going out into the dark for a long time.”
“Feels anticlimactic,” Tanis said. “I feel like after all this struggle that the struggle should just continue.”
“Gah! Don’t say that.” Joe cringed. “I’m all struggled out.” Under the table he held her hand.
“Oh believe me, I am too.” Tanis smiled. “But I’m going to have to reeducate myself on how to live without it.”
“I think we all are.” Amy Lee returned Tanis’s smile. “I’m so used to feeling tense and suspicious I’ve begun to be cautious around my hairbrush. I’m surprised you trust yours with your new locks.”
“Stars, I’m happy to have long hair again.” Tanis ran a hand through her shoulder-length blonde hair. “I’m going to grow it to my ankles.”
“That’ll look…weird.” Joe smiled.
“I recommend against extreme hair lengths,” Ouri said. “It gets really annoying.”
“But I could create hair sculptures out of it on my head! I hear that’s all the rage on Triton these days.” Tanis grinned.
“That was a decade ago,” Amy Lee said.
“Oh.”
“We should head back,” Joe said. “Debark is in two hours and you know how those security types like to have everything all sealed up well in advance.”
“Hey!” All three ladies spoke at once and then burst out laughing. It felt good—good to laugh, good to be relaxed. Things were finally done here.
Tanis and Joe walked arm in arm back to the Intrepid, lost in their own world together. Amy and Ouri walked slightly ahead of them, talking softly between themselves. For once, Tanis didn’t feel the need to be on her guard. ChoSec was thick like flies on the ring. No one wanted the departure of the Intrepid to have any of the same troubles it had on the way in. Luckily, nothing suspicious had happened since that day. The thought made the hairs on the nape of Tanis’s neck rise, but she forced herself to relax. Just because nothing had happened did not mean something had to happen.
Besides, with most of the upper echelons of the STR behind bars, no one was left to cause them trouble. Even if there were, it was unlikely that they would consider it worthwhile anymore. Like any company, eventually the STR had to cut its losses when looking at a losing venture.
Despite her misgivings, they made it to the Intrepid without incident and the guards who checked them in saluted smartly.
“You’re the last ones aboard, sirs.”
“Seal it up then,” Tanis said. “It’s time to head into the black.”
LAST DITCH
STELLAR DATE: 3227364 / 02.15.4124 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: GSS Intrepid, Near Main Asteroid Belt
REGION: Jovian Combine, Sol Space Federation
Tanis stared at the views being displayed on the commissary’s main wall. The entire space was covered with the starscape that was visible from the Intrepid’s bow. The ship was just passing the nominal orbit of the main asteroid belt, slightly above the absolute plane to avoid the small particles that had been disturbed by a Kirkwood gap in the belt.
Even though Sol was just a pinprick in the lower left quadrant of the view, its brilliance in the cold expanse of space was almost like a physical pressure on the eyes. Over on the right, several overlays were visible showing the ship’s path toward Sol, with various periods of engine burn intensity highlighted. The current position was shown by a small representation of the ship with stats indicating vector and thrust to its right.
Tanis found herself lost in the beauty of it. Very rarely did she simply look out into space and the stars; most of the time she was too focused on duty and security, but other than a few reports to file, there was little left for her to do.
It seemed odd to have yet another celebration, but a day or two earlier someone had planned a small gathering before going into stasis and before long everyone was invited and the cooks were having a fit.
Pulling her attention away from her inward thoughts, Tanis focused on the conversation around her.
“I’ve gotta admit,” Ouri slurped a spoonful of soup. “This feels weird…this falling into the sun thing.”
“I’ve done it a few times,” Joe said. “It is a bit different than using a planet to slingshot, mainly because just getting close to a planet isn’t potentially fatal.”
“That and most planets don’t fill the forward view days before you even get close.” Ouri grimaced.
“You worry too much.” Tanis’s eyes had a dreamy look. “Eat food, enjoy drink, listen to banter. Nothing can ruin this. We’re finally on our way—finally leaving Sol and all of the nonsense.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with Tanis?” Joe grinned. “You look like Tanis, but the words coming out of your mouth are calm and relaxed…dare I even say happy?”
“It must be a robot, or maybe a clone,” Ouri said. “I was very certain that Tanis was actually incapable of anything approaching mellow. Should we call security?”
“Aren’t we security?” Joe asked.
“Crap…you mean we have to deal with this?”
“Shut up.” Tanis scowled at her tablemates.
“Oh thank god, it is you!” Joe grinned.
A woman walked up to
the table and pulled up a chair beside Tanis. “I tell you, it’s damn good to actually have a glass of wine again.” She spoke as though she knew everyone around her, but no one recognized her.
She wore a long dress and a cowl which covered most of her head. Tanis tried to catch a glimpse of her eyes as the woman reached for the bottle to refill her glass.
“Who—?” Joe began to say.
“Amanda!” Tanis exclaimed and hugged the other woman. “We didn’t recognize you without a starship attached to your ass.”
Ouri nearly choked on her drink and had to frantically gasp for breath as Joe handed her a napkin.
“Oh my god, Tanis, that has got to be the funniest thing you’ve ever said.”
Tanis scowled. “I’ll have you know I am funny all the time.”
“I gotta admit,” Joe said to Amanda, “I didn’t expect to see you here…I didn’t realize you could leave your…er…post.”
“No pun intended,” Ouri smiled.
“I was on shift for a bit longer than planned—Priscilla had a few problems adapting to the interface, but the plan is a ninety days on, ninety days off rotation between us. As much as I like Bob, I really do need this time to remember who I am.”
“It is weird to hear your voice with my ears. I’m used to it being in my head,” Amy Lee said.
“You and me both.” Amanda laughed.
“Hey.” Tanis spotted someone across the crowd. “Isn’t that Lieutenant Collins of the GSS?”
“Yeah.” Ouri looked over her shoulder where Tanis pointed. “Slimy guy, isn’t he?”
“As the day is long,” Tanis replied. “But what’s he doing here? I thought he wasn’t mission.”