by Myke Cole
“Me too,” said Zhukov, “and so that’s the one I’m sticking with. Let’s just hope the PLAN is spinning the same yarn on their end.”
“You got an over-under on that, sir?”
“Don’t look at me, Jane. It’s not like I’m the head of an entire branch of the United States military.”
She stifled a laugh, was surprised that there was humor down there after the wreckage of Alice’s hab, but there it was. You’re alive. You’re alive and Alice might be, too.
“Now, there’s another story that could be told two ways, Jane, and it’s a story about you,” the old man went on. “In one version of the story, you refused a direct order from the Vice Admiral in charge of Operations for the entire service, and took your SAR boat into a firefight, resulting in the serious wounding of your Executive Officer. And that would be accurate, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, sir.” Oliver’s stomach tightened after the admonition after all, more evidence she was still Jane Oliver, deep down beneath the shock and grief. “It would, but I won’t apolog–”
“But the other version of the story,” Zhukov cut her off, “is here in this citation that was put in by one Brigadier General Demetrius Fraser, telling how your bravery and initiative was responsible for turning the tide of that battle when you distracted the enemy by landing in their backfield, granting the marine force time to regroup and dig in, and that, had it not been for your quick-thinking and selfless disregard for your own safety, every American in Sinus Medii would be dead right now. He credits you with saving his life and that of his precious MARSOC16 squad, and has put you up for the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat ‘V.’ Do you think that General Fraser’s story is also accurate?”
Oliver’s head spun. The events of the battle flashed through her mind, too bright and too fast to make sense of. Had she truly done those things? She was only sure of one of them. “It was my team, sir.”
“I know that, Jane. It’s always the team. But the fact remains that we have two versions of the same story regarding your conduct during the Sinus Medii incident. And we are agreed that both of them are credible. So, let me ask you, admiral, which one do you like better?”
“The true one, sir.”
The old man laughed. “Me, too. Tom would be so unspeakably proud of you, Jane. I know that I am. Commander Ho is in good hands. I want you back on Medii to oversee the cleanup, and I want you to lead the personnel recovery effort there. I know Alice’s hab was damaged. You must be worried sick.”
And now, the tears returned. Even though this was the Commandant of the service. Even though now she needed to shore up his confidence in her ability to command the personnel recovery, to give her the personal chance to make sure Alice was found. But as she grasped for military bearing, it only slipped further from her grasp, and she choked out her next words between sobs. “I am, sir,” she said. “I really am.”
If her lapse of composure bothered him, he gave no sign. “I know it. So, go do something about it with my blessing. We’ll pin that medal on you when you’re back on Pico. I’m flying out as soon as I get off this call.”
EPILOGUE
Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt when it’s time for them to be hurt.
HARUKI MURAKAMI. NORWEGIAN WOOD.
Vice Admiral Donahugh sent Oliver back to the surface in her own executive shuttle, the Navy crew silent and deferential the whole way. Oliver knew that only social lepers and heroes got this kind of treatment. Rumors of her conduct in the battle were surely spreading, and she wondered what kind.
But the minute the shuttle touched down and she walked down the ramp to where her crew waited amid the stacked plastic cases packed with medical supplies, spare parts for the numerous construction vehicles, and ammunition in case things went hot again, her mind shifted gears. Sick worry about Alice was a new emotion, a task that she had no training for. But ops planning for a recovery effort she could do. She began surveying the pocked wreckage of the landscape, saw the civilians picking their way through it, trying to assess the damage to their homes and businesses, still under the guns of the distant PLAN boats, holding position just at the limit of the naked eye.
“Hey Chief,” Oliver said, “what’s the SITREP?”
“Still getting set up here, ma’am. Waiting for the on-site commander to get assigned.”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Oliver said. “What’s the plan?”
“Well, the first thing we need to be doing if you ask me,” Chief said, “is dig through this rubble for survivors. Can’t imagine we’ll find many, but I’m willing to bet there’s one or two trapped and kept alive by their suits. That should be priority one.”
“Concur,” Oliver said. “But first I want all the ambulatory civilians cleared out of here. You got casualty tents?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Okonkwo said, gesturing at a stack of long, low boxes two sailors were lifting off a rover.
“Get them set up about two klicks that way,” she pointed behind her. “Then muster everyone there. Nobody in the battlespace, under threat of arrest.”
“They won’t like that, ma’am,” Chief said.
“They’ll like it even less if this zone goes hot again and they start getting shot to pieces. And that’s likely exactly what’s going to happen if we let American and Chinese civvies mix right now and tempers flare. Get ’em separated, Chief. First order of business.”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” Chief said. “Where’s Commander Ho?”
“He’s got an extra crispy hole in him,” Oliver said, “and he has to lie down until it cools off. You’ll have to be my XO for now. You like that idea?”
Chief arched an eyebrow. “No, ma’am.”
“Welp,” Oliver said, “if you wanted options, you wouldn’t have joined the military. Let’s get this show on the road, XO!”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” Chief said, and turned to where the LSST was unloading more crates to relay Oliver’s orders.
Oliver scanned the splintered remains of what had once been a thriving mining community and shook her head. So much work, undone in an instant. The Moon represented everything ambitious and noble about mankind. The constant reaching for more, the refusal to be satisfied, the unquenchable hope. But the shattered habs and toppled furnaces reminded her of the darker side of each one of those coins. She caught movement out of her peripheral vision and looked down to see Pervez, her hand on Oliver’s forearm.
“I’m glad you’re back with us, ma’am,” she said.
Oliver nodded, looked up. Overhead, the capital ships held position. Oliver counted three American and five Chinese frigates, attitude thrusters firing to keep them in position over the battlefield, broadside-to, a dark, slender canopy of weapons hanging over the rescue effort. Dry tinder ready to go up at any moment.
Oliver wrenched her gaze away. There was nothing for her up there. Alice was down here on the surface. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to compete,” Oliver said.
“Ah, you know,” Pervez smiled, “just like the marines, isn’t it? So scared they started a shooting war with China rather than risk losing to us on TV.”
Oliver laughed, and Pervez matched her, loud and long, leaving echoes on the radio link that buzzed pleasantly in her ears.
When Oliver opened her eyes, Pervez was still looking at her, serious now. “We’ll find your daughter, ma’am. She’s alive and we’re going to find her.”
“I believe you,” Oliver said.
And when she checked her gut against her words, she realized it was true.
GLOSSARY
0600 – 6AM.
16th Watch – A colloquial term to refer to any military duty anywhere in space. It refers to the 16 sunrises seen on the old International Space Station (ISS) in a single Earth day.
1LT – First Lieutenant.
72 COLREGS – 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Actual – Radio argot indicating the commander of a given unit is spe
aking.
Acceleration Gravity – Artificial gravity induced by rapid acceleration.
Abaft – In or behind the stern of a ship.
Aft – The rear of a vessel.
AIS – Automatic Identification System.
Anti-Materiel Gun – A large gun designed to penetrate vehicle armor.
ASAP – As soon as possible.
ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Autocannon – A large, fully automatic, rapid-fire projectile weapon that fires armor-piercing or explosive shells.
Binnacle – Standing panel for nautical instruments such as the radar and plotter.
BIV – Body in Vacuum.
BO – Boarding Officer.
BM1 – Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class. An enlisted rank (E6) in maritime service.
BM3 – Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class. An enlisted rank (E4) in maritime service.
BMF – Boat Maintenance Facility.
Beam – The widest part of a vessel, usually the direct center.
Bow – The front of a vessel.
Bridge – The elevated, enclosed platform on a ship from which the captain and officers direct operations.
Bulkhead – A dividing wall or barrier between compartments in a vessel.
Bunny Suit – The second layer of American spacesuits, worn under the hardshell. The bunny suit is a soft, insulated layer much like a snowsuit.
Captain – The sixth highest commissioned officer rank (O6) in maritime service.
CBDR – Constant Bearing Decreasing Range. Indicates that a vessel or object is on a collision course with the speaker.
Cert – Certification.
CGMS – Coast Guard Messaging System.
Charlie Status – Indicates a vessel is undergoing significant maintenance and is not available for operations.
Chief – A colloquial term for a Chief Petty Officer.
Chief Petty Officer – The seventh highest enlisted rank (E7) in maritime service. Chiefs are the heart and soul of maritime service, and the achievement of this rank is a considerable badge of honor among the enlisted corps.
Cleared Hot – Authorized to open fire at your own discretion.
Coastie – A member of the United States Coast Guard.
Commander – The fifth highest commissioned officer rank (O5) in maritime service.
Crew Served Weapon – A gun large enough that it takes multiple people to operate it.
CO – Commanding Officer.
Coords – Coordinates.
Conn – The act of controlling a vessel’s movements at sea or in space. The person said to “have the conn” is also known as the “conning officer.” Conning officers are usually not physically steering, a job reserved for the helmsman, to whom the conning officer gives orders.
Coxswain – A boat’s steersman. On a Coast Guard boat underway, the coxswain is considered the operational commander, and their voice carries the most weight regardless of actual rank.
Coxs’un – Colloquial pronunciation of coxswain.
COTP – Captain of the Port.
Cover – Military parlance for a hat.
Cutter – Any United States Coast Guard vessel over 65 feet in length.
DC3 – Damage Controlman 3rd Class. An enlisted rank (E4) in maritime service.
DHS – Department of Homeland Security.
DIPSEC – Diplomatic Security.
DIW – Dead in the Water. A vessel that is not moving. On the 16th Watch, this term is also used for vessels that are not moving in space.
DOA – Dead on Arrival.
Dust – Metal dust packed into a shotgun shell. In lunar or micro gravity, the particles are lethal at close range, but disperse quickly enough so as not to compromise a ship’s hull.
Duster – A large bore shotgun design to fire dust, primarily in boarding actions.
EEZ – Exclusive Economic Zone. An area in which a single nation has exclusive rights for economic exploitation.
ENDEX – End of Exercise.
EVA – Extravehicular Activity. Any action taken in space outside the confines of a vessel.
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Flag Grade – A commissioned officer of the highest rank. In maritime services, this is a Rear Admiral and higher. In land and air services, this is a Brigadier General and higher.
Field Grade – A commissioned officer senior in rank to a company officer but junior to a general officer. In the United States Coast Guard, this corresponds to the ranks of Commander (O5) and Captain (O6).
FITREP – Fitness Report.
FO – Forward Observer.
GAR – Green, Amber, Red. A vessel’s fitness score for launch.
Gardener – A tracked, robotic 3D-printer. It uses the lunar regolith to autonomously 3D print structures on the Moons’ surface.
Gunnery Sergeant – The seventh highest enlisted rank (E7) in the United States Marine Corps. As with Navy and Coast Guard Chiefs, Gunnery Sergeants are the heart and soul of the Marines, and the achievement of this rank is a considerable badge of honor among the enlisted corps.
Gunny – Colloquial term for a Gunnery Sergeant.
Guns Up – Command to raise weapons to the ready and prepare to fire.
GYSGT – Gunnery Sergeant.
H3 – Helium-3
Hab – Short for “habitat.” A dome shaped structure built for human residency on the Moon. Older models are constructed on the surface and use a series of heat exchange piping for heating and cooling. Newer models are built mostly below the surface.
Hard Dock – Describes the suction process after the nipple is engaged with a vessel in soft dock. Hard dock locks the vessels together and creates a stable connection between the two.
Hardpoint – A location on a vessel designed to carry a load, usually a fixed weapon.
Hardshell – A rigid, articulated spacesuit worn by American service members and civilians alike. The hardshell is the outermost of three layers worn.
Hatch – Any door on a vessel. In maritime service, all doors, even those on fixed buildings, are referred to as hatches.
Helium-3 – A non-radioactive isotope of Helium found in lunar regolith. During fusion, the isotope can be used as a source of electricity, making it a potential clean source of energy.
Helm – A vessel’s steering apparatus.
Helmsman – The person physically steering a vessel.
Hornet Gun – A specialized gun that fires hornet rounds.
Hornet Round – A specialized munition intended to compensate for recoil in space-based combat. The munition has a weak charge that pushes the round out of the hornet gun’s barrel. An instant later, the munition’s own rocket-propelled motor ignites, launching it at the target at lethal speed. Since the round is fully exited from the hornet gun before igniting, it does not impart recoil to the shooter.
HS3 – Health Services Technician 3rd Class. An enlisted rank (E4) in maritime service.
HUD – Heads Up Display.
JAG – Judge Advocate General. Military lawyers.
Jaw Jacking – Engaging in useless talk.
KIA – Killed in Action.
Klick – Kilometer.
Knot – A maritime unit of speed equivalent to approximately 1.15 miles per hour.
LADAR – A portmanteau of “light” and “radar.” LADAR measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with a pulsing laser and then measures their reflection.
Lagrange Point – The points near two large bodies in orbit where a smaller object will maintain its position relative to the large orbiting bodies.
LED – Light Emitting Diode.
Longhorn – An older model of spacegoing small response boat.
LDPD – Lacus Doloris Police Department.
Lift-Point – Portion of a vessel where a tow cable or crane hook attaches.
LMGRS – Lunar Military Grid Reference System.
Logs – Logistics.
LSST – Lunar Safety and Secu
rity Team.
LT – Lieutenant.
MARSOC – Marine Special Operations Command.
MARSOC16 – Marine Special Operations Command, 16th Watch.
Maser – Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Sometimes colloquially called a “microwave laser.”
Master Chief – A colloquial term for a Master Chief Petty Officer.
Master Chief Petty Officer – The 2nd to highest enlisted rank in maritime service (E9). Master Chiefs usually occupy senior administrative roles, in charge of advocating for enlisted needs, and advising commissioned officers in their duties.
MGRS – Military Grid Reference System.
Micro-g – Micro gravity. Used interchangeably with zero gravity.
ME3 – Maritime Enforcement Specialist 3rd Class. An enlisted rank (E4) in maritime service.
MK3 – Machinery Technician 3rd Class. An enlisted rank (E4) in maritime service.
MPPD – Mons Pico Police Department.
MWR – Morale, Welfare, and Recreation center.
NASCAR – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Nautical Mile – A unit of distance measurement used by maritime services. Equal to 1.151 miles.
Naval Infantry – A term used by China and Russia to describe marines.
NCD/0G – Non-Cooperative Docking/Zero-Gravity training. The basic school all spacegoing boarding teams must graduate to qualify in their discipline.
NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer.
Nipple – A grasping device, the size and shape of a man-sized hatch, mounted to the end of a flexible, extendible gangway. The nipple extends from a vessel’s belly and attaches to the tow fender of another vessel, creating a connection between the two vessels to facilitate boarding.
NJP – Non Judicial Punishment.
Non-Cooperative Docking – A contested boarding of a vessel against hostile crew.
Non-Rate – An enlisted sailor of the lowest ranks (E2-E3) who has not yet attended an “A-school” to obtain a rate – their job in the service.
PAX – Passenger.
Perp – Perpetrator.
PIV – Person in Vacuum.
PQS – Personnel Qualification Standard.
O6 – The sixth highest grade of officer in the US military. In maritime service, this is a Captain. In air and land service, this is a Colonel.