Battle Wounds (Honor and Duty) Read online

  “Thank you, Sir. I’ll be sure to pass them on to the rest of Delta.”

  “Along that line, Sgt. Adamson, I know you were only released to limited duty this morning, but I would like your after-action report on my desk by end of day.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Captain, the same goes for you. Leave nothing out. Captain Shaw, that includes your impressions and conclusions on events leading up to the battle, as well as how the battle was conducted on both sides. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good.” He gave a nod and reached for his coffee. Sipping, he considered his next move. “Captain, I also want to hear what you can tell me about what happened. There are reasons which I shall explain later.”

  For a moment, Shaw said nothing. He had no doubt if he gave her permission, she’d get up and pace the length of the office. Instead, her expression darkened and he waited. He knew he was asking her to relive a time no one in their right mind would want to revisit. He wished he could leave it to just her AAR but he couldn’t and it went beyond needing to make sure Shaw and Adamson were up to what he was about to order them to do.

  “General, to explain everything that happened would take most of the day. Perhaps if I knew more what you wanted to know about.” It wasn’t quite a question and he understood. It wasn’t every day the Commandant of the Marine Corps asked for a personal AAR from a mid-level officer.

  “Give me an overview, Captain. If I want to know more, I’ll ask.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She sipped her coffee. He recognized the move as one he, and others like them, often used to give themselves time to consider how to begin. “General, we were lucky not to have lost more Marines than we did. There’s no other way to say it.”

  For the next half hour, she described the mission with an occasional comment from Adamson. From the beginning, there had been problems. The Wolf’s Bane’s commanding officer, Captain Carlisle, had little use for Marines. Unfortunately, his attitude was one shared by too many naval officers and it was, Neuman feared, one that would cost more lives before those officers were moved away from the front lines. Until then, it was his job to try to find a way to work around them, not only for the sake of the Marines he commanded but for Fuercon and its allies.

  Three weeks after departing Fuercon, the three-ship taskforce led by Wolf’s Bane continued the patrol pattern set out by FleetCom before the taskforce departed the home system. Up until then, the patrol had been uneventful but everyone knew it was the lull before the storm. Shaw and Adamson did what they could to keep the Devil Dogs sharp but it had been next to impossible with the limitations Carlisle had placed on sim time and drills. He didn’t want the Marines disrupting the daily workings of ship personnel. At least that’s what he said. Shaw suspected the truth was much simpler. Carlisle didn’t feel the enemy would dare attack the taskforce, so there was no reason for the Marines to prepare for that possibility.

  “General, as we neared the Midlothian System, the XO reminded Captain Carlisle of the briefings from FleetCom about enemy activity in the area. To be honest, Sir, the XO could have been talking into a vacuum. Captain Carlisle didn’t take FleetCom’s warnings seriously. Instead, he relied upon his gut and experience in the sector. Nothing the XO, or anyone else, said could sway him. That’s when all hell broke loose.”

  Shaw paused and swallowed hard. Neuman waited. He wouldn’t push her, not when he recognized the look in her eyes. The anger and frustration, not to mention the pain of losing people under her command, was still too fresh.

  When she continued, Neuman’s own anger spiked. Carlisle had led his taskforce straight into an ambush. Even as enemy torpedoes tore through their defenses, Carlisle refused Shaw’s offer to have her Marines move to assist their Navy counterparts. Fortunately for the Wolf’s Bane, Shaw hadn’t cared if Carlisle thought Marines to be the lowest of low. She’d known her people were needed to help man critical systems as well as work damage control. She’d risked Carlisle reporting her for insubordination – or worse – and ordered her people into action. She knew her people and she knew the taskforce was in serious trouble. If they didn’t do something, and quickly, they were all going to die – or worse.

  Even then, it had been a close thing. The only reason any of them had gotten out of there alive was because comms had been knocked out and Commander Ryerson, CO of the Victoria Rey, assumed command of the taskforce. Ryerson hadn’t hesitated to order a change in tactics, one that took the enemy by surprise. With LACs finally in the air, too few for Shaw’s peace of mind but at least enough to keep the taskforce from being overrun, they managed to drive back the enemy and make their escape.

  “Too many of our people were injured or killed that day, General.” Shaw once again lifted her cup to sip but, finding it empty, set it back down on the table between her chair and Adamson’s. “If Captain Carlisle has filed a complaint against me, that’s his right, but I wouldn’t change anything I did. It is my opinion that had the Devil Dogs, not to mention the other Marines assigned to the Wolf’s Bane, not jumped in to help, we would have lost even more.”

  “Begging your pardon, General, but Captain Shaw’s correct,” Adamson put in. “Unlike Captain Carlisle who, so I’m told, finally took to his Ready Room when comms went out and Commander Ryerson took command of the taskforce, Captain Shaw did everything she could to help keep the ship operational. She led a team of Marines toward AuxCon, which had been cut off when an enemy torpedo ripped through the Bane’s defenses. She was injured and, like another half dozen of us, she was trapped under debris when another torpedo cut through the hull, buckling the bulkhead. Corporal Lahti died after finding a way through the debris into the next section where the ship was leaking atmosphere. She sacrificed herself, manually closing the hatch to seal the breach. To do so, she had to stay on the other side. She never hesitated and the Captain and I, as well as a number of others, are alive because of her.” Anger roughened the blonde’s voice and her eyes flashed as she recalled the events.

  “That’s enough, Sergeant. The general understands,” Shaw said softly.

  “Your captain’s right, Sergeant.” He waited as his aide appeared with more coffee for them. As the young man left the office, Neuman doubted either Devil Dog realized he had sent for the lieutenant. “And you both confirmed what I suspected. I’m sorry I had to ask you to go into it, especially since you will be submitting your AARs, but I needed it on the record without delay. I still expect a full report from both of you by end of day.” He waited until they nodded.

  “I also want to reiterate the orders you received after the ambush, Captain Shaw. Delta Company is on leave for the next week. The company will be held on Fuercon until it is back to full-strength and has been resupplied.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Don’t thank me yet, Shaw.” At his words, the young woman sat a bit straighter and her expression, if possible, grew grimmer. “While your company is getting ready to return to the front, I have a special assignment for you and Sergeant Adamson.”

  “Sir?” The worry reflected in her eyes mirrored that in Adamson’s.

  “What you and your Marines experienced with Captain Carlisle is not unique. Fortunately, it is not the norm. Most Navy COs understand the important role the Marines play and have no problem using us to their best advantage. I assure you steps are being taken to make sure Carlisle learns the error of his ways. If he fails to, he will not command another ship of any size that might see battle.”

  “I hope the general understands when I say good.” Bitterness filled her voice.

  “I do.” He reached for the carafe and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and then motioned for the women to help themselves. “However, what happened with the taskforce has happened before. Yes, we knew there had been an enemy presence in that sector but it had been nothing more than a probing presence, as if testing the water. Even though Midlothian hasn’t formally declared war against the Callusians yet, they have made no se
cret of the fact they support our side in the conflict. I can’t see the Callusians doing anything to force their hand, not when it would mean cutting off the trade routes on the other side of the Midlothian System, routes the Callusians rely on for supplies.”

  And routes the Midlothians get good money from the Callusians to use, he added silently.

  “We need to know how they knew the taskforce was going to be there at that time. It could have been dumb luck but I don’t think so.”

  For the next hour, he laid out the plan. From time to time, one or the other would ask a question. Even though they took no notes, by his order, he had no doubt they committed every detail to memory. Much as he wished he could give them time to fully recover before sending them back into the fray, he couldn’t, not that they would ask him to. They were Devil Dogs, the best his command had to offer.

  “Very well, Captain, Sergeant, you will receive official copies of your orders within the hour.” He stood. By the time he walked around his desk, they had climbed to their feet. Before they could brace to attention, he waved for them to stand easy. “I expect the two of you to report back to the hospital as soon as you leave here. If everything goes as planned, your implants will be updated and you will be released by noon tomorrow. By then, Major Pawlak will have been informed of your temporary assignments. Do you have any questions?”

  “No, Sir,” they answered in unison.

  “I expect you to do the Corps proud, Captain Shaw, Sergeant Adamson. Dismissed.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The shuttle lurched slightly as it came to rest in the landing bay the Dresden. From where she sat near the front of the passenger compartment, Ashlyn Shaw closed her eyes and swallowed hard as a wave of nausea washed over her. The Marine in her knew she had nothing to worry about. That lurch was as familiar as the safety harness holding her in place. Her stomach, on the other hand, was another matter.

  As the nausea eased, she took a deep breath. Once she had, one corner of her mouth quirked up in a humorless smile. Her stomach might be rebelling but she saw the irony of the situation. When the possibility of having her implants updated had presented itself, she hadn’t hesitated. Every Marine knew their life might depend on the advantages those implants gave them. From faster reaction times to better eyesight to direct links into the battle-net and so much more, the implants were as vital as armor and weapons.

  What she hadn’t counted on, not that it would have changed her mind, was having to report to her new assignment before she’d adjusted to the updates. It still surprised her the doctors had signed off on it. If she’d harbored any doubts about the importance of the mission, not that she had, the fact her doctors had all but pushed her out the doors would have dispelled them.

  Not that it helped her poor stomach any.

  “You look about as green as I feel, Ma’am.”

  Ashlyn glanced at the shuttle’s only other passenger. M. J. Adamson looked as if she might pass out at any moment. A wicked grin touched Ash’s lips. “You do know how lucky you are none of the rest of the company is with us, don’t you?”

  Adamson leaned her head back and breathed slowly, deeply. “Don’t you dare tell anyone about this. It will ruin my reputation.”

  Ashlyn’s laugh escaped before she could stop it. Adamson took pride in being able to control herself no matter how bad the chop on a shuttle drop. The fact she now looked like a rookie on her first drop would be prime ammunition for those who knew her the best.

  Before Ash could respond, the light over the hatch turned green. With one last steadying breath, Ashlyn released her safety harness and stood. As she did, she reached for her briefcase where it rested next to her. By the time she stepped into the aisle, Adamson had joined her.

  “Let the game begin, Reaper.”

  “Aye, Ma’am,” Adamson said, her expression as grim as Ashlyn felt.

  Half an hour later, a steward escorted Ashlyn inside Admiral Collins’ quarters. She thanked him and waited until he withdrew, the door closing behind him. Then she turned and looked around, her eyes missing nothing. The corners of her mouth turned down. As with the parts of the ship she had already seen, the admiral’s quarters appeared to have seen better days. Even so, she had a feeling that impression had been carefully created, just in case anyone onboard thought they could get away with slipping information to the enemy.

  Before anything else could be said, the hatch leading to the admiral’s bedroom slid open. Richard Collins stepped into the outer room. Before Ash could brace to attention, he shook his head. Then he crossed the distance separating them and shook Ashlyn’s hand.

  “Well?” he asked after they’d each taken seats.

  “If I didn’t know what was going on, Sir, I’d be asking who you pissed off in FleetCom.” Ashlyn looked around and shook his head. “I’ve never been onboard an active duty ship that looked to be in the condition the Dresden appears to be in.”

  He nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Appears to be being the operative term, Captain.”

  She nodded, wondering if she might finally to be read fully into the mission. “Sir?”

  “Relax, Ash.” Collins smiled in reassurance. “We’ve known one another long enough not to stand on ceremony in private and, what I have to tell you is easier done without it.”

  For a moment, Ashlyn said nothing. While she had known the admiral for close to ten years, she had never been assigned to his command. Nor was he as close a family friend as Admiral Miranda Tremayne. Even so, what she knew of him, and what she’d heard from those she trusted, reassured her he took his oaths to Fuercon as seriously as did she. He might have the reputation of being by-the-book, but he also knew when to throw the book out the airlock and improvise.

  And he was a master of improvisation.

  “All right.” She relaxed and once again reached for her cup. “Since you’ve opened the door, so to speak, I hope you understand when I say I have more than a few concerns about the mission.” Not to mention the potential damage it could do to both their careers should the mission go bad.

  “Considering my own concerns, I most definitely understand.” He blew out a breath and then shook his head. “Right now, the two of us and Sergeant Adamson are the only ones who know our real mission. Once we have departed the home system, we are authorized to read in our senior officers and NCOs. Before we do, I’d like to hear your thoughts about what FleetCom has set for us.”

  Without asking permission, Ashlyn climbed to her feet and paced the length of the sitting room. As she did, she thought back to the discussion she’d had with her mother two days before. Colonel Elizabeth Shaw, Marine and former CO of the Devil Dogs and now FirstDiv’s commanding officer, had wasted no time letting her eldest daughter know she did not approve of Ashlyn’s latest assignment. There were too many variables, especially if there was a traitor in FleetCom. The Dresden’s reinforcements would be far enough out to avoid detection by anyone tracking the ship’s progress. That might help draw the enemy in but it also meant relief could be too far away to help turn the tide of battle. Even so, they both agreed the risk had to be taken, whether they liked it or not. They had to find out sooner, rather than later, how the enemy knew when to attack.

  The two of them had discussed something else as well, something that continued to bother Ashlyn. The superior officers seemed convinced the leak, if one really existed, came from someone in FleetCom. That narrow view, without evidence to back it up, ignored other possibilities. No one wanted to believe there might be a traitor but it was easier to accept the existence of a single traitor than it was multiple ones. But they couldn’t ignore the possibility the Callusians had people in place at the docks or transit points feeding them information. Then there was the fact that any passing merchant ship could be innocently spreading the information that they encountered a warship and, in doing so, give enough information the enemy could extrapolate a projected course.

  In other words, they simply didn’t know enough to begin guessing where the
leaks came from and that made the Dresden’s mission all the more important and dangerous.

  Drawing a breath, she turned and faced the admiral, hoping he understood. “Let’s just say I’m not as convinced as some others that we are dealing with a single traitor. There are simply too many other ways the enemy might be getting the information, including shear dumb luck on their part. Unfortunately, none of that helps us and I’m not willing to risk lives on it being coincidence or luck.”

  Especially not when every ambush she’d been made aware of, Marine SpecOps forces had been onboard. Not all had been Devil Dogs, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. If there was a traitor, Ashlyn wanted to find them and, if she did, they would pay dearly for every life lost because of their treachery.

  “Do you think the Marines onboard will believe your cover?” Collins asked as she returned to her chair.

  “It has the benefit of being the truth, Sir. After the Wolf’s Bane, I have four openings in Delta Company that I must fill. If that’s not bad enough, several of those injured might not be released for duty for months. Even then, they may not be physically able to continue as Devil Dogs. I need to fill those positions, at least temporarily. Since the docs won’t release me to full duty yet, I get the duty instead of someone out of HQ doing it.”

  Collins nodded. “Then let’s see if, as you check out the Marines, we can’t get the enemy to show their hand.” He stood and, before Ashlyn could follow suit, he hurried to help her to her feet. Tired as she was, sore as she was, she appreciated it. “Two things, Captain. I don’t know what kind of act the powers-that-be suggested you put on – and I know what they told me to do – but I recommend we play this as close to normal as possible. I doubt any of your Marines or my officers and NCOs would believe we’ve both suddenly decided to go renegade.”

  “Understood and I agree.”

  Relief filled her to know he recognized the weaknesses in FleetCom’s plan. If they were about to fly off into a trap, they needed the crew sharp, not walking on eggshells, worried if they might not be spaced at any moment.