The Sixth Line of Defense
Page 36
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This was just one in a very long list of phone calls that had been a result of that day's activities, but for Devin's personal concerns, this was the one he had been waiting for ever since he was included into the group of two Generals and their seconds in command. One of the last task-forces to reestablish secure communications, it was a relief when the call final connected and the found the Lt. Colonel and his command staff perched around a rather chaotic office with Shiva and Ayla settled nearby. Shiva looked like she had either been asleep or was asleep as she leaned heavily against the latter with her eyes closed. Ayla shook her shoulders just a bit and Shiva woke up enough to wave in the background of the saluting officers.
"You seemed pleased, Lt. Col. Riggs." Gen. Killian commented as the salutes were done with.
"Yes, sir. The mission could not have gone better from my perspective." He murmured back to them.
"Let's get the numbers out of the way first, shall we." Gen. Vandemere told him sounding as if she was getting tired of asking that.
"Yes, our forces had 1 fatality, 37 injuries among the regular troops, and some scraps and bruises for a dozen of the kids." He murmured quickly, perhaps demonstrating a good reason to be pleased. "For the enemy forces 47 dead among the regular troops, 207 injuries, 802 captured prisoners total, including the entire command staff. For the Series 5 troops.." He flinched a little at that as if he was expecting a reprimand from someone. ".. 635 dead, 78 injured.. 86 prisoners. Ma'am.. they were using Series 5 as guards at the gates, as security, and down in the tunnels."
"No excuses needed, the children were told what would happen to Series 5 if they were captured, and we are all aware that Series 5 was taught to fight as long they could lift their weapons and sometimes even beyond that point." Gen. Vandemere assured him quickly. "Your numbers are pretty much what we would have expected from the other task-forces. While the loss of life is lamentable, it could have been many, many times worse. Over all we lost 28, about 400 injuries, but all of the children made it through without more than a few broken limbs at the worst." Ayla nodded back to her with a smile.
"General, we would like to request that we be allowed to return.. somewhere.. soon before some of us can cause trouble here for the Lt. Colonel." Ayla murmured clearly not knowing what to expect after that.
"Preferably somewhere with a catapult so I can steal a shuttle." Shiva murmured with a sleepy sound and a sigh. The Generals smirked back at him and Devin chuckled back at them with a nod knowing full well Shiva might do that very thing without the proper motivation to stay put.
"Give the drivers a few more hours of sleep and we'll get you back to Digel base for the interim." Gen. Vandemere assured her with a chuckle.
"Thank you, these kids are going back to bed, with your permission, so you adults can talk about stuff not fit for our ears." She was given a chuckling nod and she drew a very tired Shiva to her feet and pulled her out of the room.
"Is there anything you wanted to add that you might not want in you official report Lt. Colonel?" Gen. Killian asked softly.
"Hmm.. some might say the scale of the destruction was a bit excessive, sir.." He commented to them.
"Or other options involved cratering that entire valley and wasting away thousands of lives." Devin told him, feeling that his opinion wouldn't be outright denied by any of them at that point.
"These kids.. aren't trained killers.. a lot of them passed up dinner after what they saw.. but.. it was amazing to watch, a strange, horrible kind of amazing." He murmured with a far off look.
"We've heard a lot of that. Now that the cat is out of the bag, the 3rd army is going to be joining things here soon, I'd expect your prisoners will be moved in a day or so, and your replacements in 3 or 4 days." Gen. Killian told him with a nod and an expression that made it clear he was starting to feel the length of the day.
"Yes, sir.. if someone has the time.. we could use some rations, most of the stuff here isn't in too good of shape, and the stuff they made the Series 5 blokes eat.. well, let's just say the description isn't fit for polite company." He added before another set of salutes were exchanged and the call was ended.
"Thank god, that's over." Gen. Vandemere muttered as she moved to sit down. "Now we can get some sleep and worry about the mess in the morning."
"You're dismissed, we're done for the day." General Killian murmured as he waved them out of the room, the two Colonels saluted and retreated from the room, but something made Devin linger, not quite ready to leave things at that. "Is there something else Lieutenant?" He asked sounding highly annoyed.
"Yes, sir, ma'am. In regards to the children from Series 6, what happens to them now?" He asked knowing he was risking insubordination, but was simply unable to stop himself.
"Ready to fight for them here and now?" Gen. Killian murmured to him with a grunt as he settled on the near side of Gen. Vandemere's desk. "Think that's wise?"
"Probably not." Devin murmured back thoughtfully. "But if it is going to be a fight, than it is a fight worth having and I am more willing to fight it, sir. My personal reasons aside, I've got Shiva and a gaggle of kids coming here sometime in the morning, and she alone would be more than enough to make all three of us beg for our mothers." Gen. Vandemere chuckled at that even as Gen. Killian scowled. "I know I should wait, but now that their part is over for the foreseeable future, they are going have questions, and they have a right to get answers, sir."
"How does Captain sound to you, Lieutenant?" Gen. Vandemere commented to him.
"It sounds fine, ma'am." He murmured back to her uncertainly, judging by their combined laughter he had completely missed her point. "I .. am .. not sure if I understand.."
"Which is all right, we are all tired." She agreed still chuckling warmly. "The board of inquiry.. the one that ended the efforts concerning Series 6's future, and put Shiva through the wringer.. well about half the officers who sat on it have been implicated in this mess." She flicked some of files that covered her desks in giant stacks. "Seems to me that decision might not have been so valid. We can't make it official just yet, but.. the fact you are willing to stand up to the two of us counts for something."
"It's Shiva's influence on me, Ma'am." He agreed with an amused smile.
"For now, it's going to be just what I told that sweet girl Ayla. They are coming back here to Digel, at the very least we can let the brass that will soon be flooding this place see them in a more relaxed state, and Shiva's little speech reminded me this would be their first time outside of an underground bunker. Get the people who already work for you over here to help contain them a bit, and write up a list of personnel who could do well in the kind of work you have been doing with Shiva. Now that they have had a taste of freedom, I don't think that they will not go easily or quietly back into obscurity, so your command would need to be expanded to deal with them and all the ones who are still sleeping peacefully in Anslaw. The brass will see things my way soon enough, but it is better to just leave that to one side for the moment and work on cleaning up the mess they have helped to contain. After you go and before you go to bed, call Lt. Col. Ishmere on my behalf, ask if there is anyway he can come down here with his guests, with the kids on their way here, I don't think we have to worry about their safety any more. And I have the feeling I will need all my shuttles right where they are in the near future."
"Aye, ma'am. Sir." Devin murmured as he saluted.
"Captain." Gen. Killian murmured back to him as they both returned the gesture and sending him on his way.