Fire from Ashes (Honor & Duty Book 4) Read online

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Okafor paced the length of her office once, twice, her hands folded behind her back. When she returned to her desk a few moments later, her expression betrayed little. “Ash, I know the Devil Dogs aren’t yet back to full-strength, but you’re close. I am hoping not only that you and your two companies will get to the system in time to reinforce the Warlords but that you will be enough with whatever ships I manage to convince FleetCom to send with you to hold the system until the taskforce can be relieved.

  “I could send other Marines but, if Ortega and O’Malley are right, we can’t wait for me to be able to free up Marines from elsewhere. Besides, you and Ortega have worked together. You will be better able to combine your people than anyone else. With that in mind, I want your recommendation on which companies should go, as well as what material and supplies you will need for the mission, by morning.”

  “Understood, Ma’am,” Ash said, her mind already turning to the task of figuring out assignments.

  “That’s not all.”

  Ashlyn looked at the Commandant, alerted by something in the woman’s voice. “I also want your thoughts and recommendations concerning the SpecOps units – from the squadron level up – in the Corps right now. Specifically, their current division assignments, how they have been assigned for battle, their manpower and then I want to know how you think that can be improved. Be prepared to discuss that come morning as well.”

  “Ma’am?” Ashlyn looked at her in disbelief. If there was anything Okafor could have asked her she’d expected less than that, she couldn’t think of it.

  “Just do it.” Okafor waved aside any objections or questions she might have. “I want your honest opinion and recommendations, Colonel. That’s an order.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “We will reconvene here at 0700 tomorrow. Liz, you’re to be here as well and be prepared to answer the same questions.”

  “Understood, Ma’am,” Elizabeth said.

  “Now, Colonel.” Okafor smiled as she said it and Ashlyn fought the urge to groan. “You are dismissed. You have a great deal to do before morning.”

  “Ma’am.” She braced to attention, but Okafor waved her salute off.

  “One more thing, Ash. Leave Brigadier General Hale to me. I assure you, I will get to the bottom of what’s going on and heads will roll if necessary.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am.”

  “Dismissed.”

  Ashlyn didn’t wait. She turned and left Okafor’s office. The moment the door slid shut behind her, Connery took up her place to her right and one step behind. As she did, Ash glanced back and smiled in both appreciation and apology. She had a great deal to do before morning, but one thing came first.

  “Lance, I apologize for earlier,” she said as the lift doors closed behind them a few moments later. “I’ll explain once we’re back at the office. In the meantime, send word to Talbot and the XO that I need to meet with them in half an hour. That should give me enough time to read you in on what’s going on.”

  Hopefully, it would also be enough time to gather her thoughts and figure out the best way to split up the battalion yet again.

  3

  THE SOFT CHIMING of one of her father’s antique clocks interrupted Ashlyn’s thoughts. Looking up from Talbot’s report, she leaned back and stretched until her back popped. Exhaustion dragged at her and she reached for her coffee. In the time since she left General Okafor’s office the day before, she had worked almost non-stop trying to carry out the orders she’d been given. That meant grabbing what could be euphemistically called a nap instead of a good night’s sleep. But it had been worth it – she hoped. She was as prepared as she could be for the morning’s briefing.

  Taking another sip of her now cold coffee and grimacing slightly, Ash turned her attention back to Talbot’s report. Even though she hadn’t explained why she wanted his recommendations for splitting the battalion once again, the master gunnery sergeant had proven as competent as always. Of course, he knew her well enough to read between the lines and understand she wasn’t asking for the hell of it helped. More than that, he had obviously tapped into his sources and knew about the trouble Taskforce Liberator faced. His recommendations, based on that knowledge, matched her own thoughts almost down to the smallest detail.

  Unfortunately, that did nothing to reassure her. If his sources were aware of the trouble Ortega and the rest of the taskforce faced, FleetCom should have been as well. So why hadn’t they sent the reinforcements Taskforce Liberator needed?

  “Well, Master Guns, let’s see if you agree on one more little matter,” she muttered as she opened his response to the message she sent late the previous evening.

  Her one concern about splitting the battalion had little to do with their current state of readiness. The Devil Dogs, even when down on manpower and equipment, were better prepared for battle than many other battalions. This time, her concern came down to the simple fact that her executive officer was still new to the battalion. She had tapped Major Elias Laboe as her new XO on the last mission. Before her promotion to CO of the Warlords, Ortega held that position. Because they’d known one another since the Academy and had served together for years, they had the sort of relationship that made for the smooth running of the Devil Dogs. Ash trusted Ortega to do whatever might be necessary not only to carry out a mission but to get their people home safely. Laboe had served with the Devil Dogs early in his career but he was an unknown. Until the last mission, Ash had never served with him and they had yet to get to the point where she knew how he would react in any given situation.

  “I have a feeling you aren’t going to like my solution to the problem, Loco,” she murmured a few minutes later. Talbot brought up the same concerns about Laboe she had, carefully couching them so he also let her know he felt the major was an excellent officer who only needed time to get to know the Devil Dogs. His recommendation was for her to leave a senior NCO with Laboe, one the remaining elements of the battalion would not only respect but respond to without hesitation.

  She sent off her orders for the morning, reminding both Laboe and Talbot she had a meeting with the Commandant. Then she switched off her terminal and climbed to her feet. As she did, a knock sounded at the door. A moment later, it opened and her mother stepped inside. Like Ash, Elizabeth wore MARPATs and boots. In one hand, she carried a mug of coffee.

  “Are you about ready?” her mother asked.

  “As soon as I check on Jake.”

  Elizabeth nodded. One thing Ashlyn had learned after finding herself and the other survivors of the Arterus mission court-martialed on trumped up charges was to never take anything for granted. Her young son topped that list. She made sure she tucked him in every night, even if he was already asleep. She checked on him every morning, kissing him goodbye. They had been separated by those false charges for more than two years, years they would never be able to get back. Ash meant to make sure her son understood just how much she loved him. That time apart taught her to never take a moment with her son, or any of those she cared for, for granted.

  “Help yourselves to coffee and food,” Okafor said an hour later as Ashlyn and Elizabeth were shown into her office.

  As the door slid shut behind them, Ashlyn glanced at the conference table to her left and her mouth watered. Laid out on the near end was an assortment of fresh fruit and muffins, not to mention more traditional breakfast fare. Several carafes of coffee rested nearby. It seemed the general was prepared as always, this time making sure her subordinates had the food and caffeine they needed to face the day.

  “Before we get started, are you all right, Ashlyn?” Okafor settled behind her desk and leaned forward, her expression concerned. When Ash didn’t respond, she sighed softly and shook her head. “Ash, I know you. I know what’s happening with the Warlords right now has to be digging up memories about what happened on Arterus. Hell, kid, they’ve dug up my own nightmares about what happened to you and your people.”

>   For a moment, Ash stared into her coffee mug. When she looked up, she hoped she didn’t look as angry as she felt. “Ma’am, I’d be lying if I denied everything you said was true. But I assure you I’m all right. Yes, I’m mad as hell. Yes, I want answers and, yes, I’m praying Lucinda and her people – not to mention the rest of Taskforce Liberator – aren’t victims of the same sort of plot my people fell victim to.”

  “We all feel that way, Ash,” Okafor assured her.

  Now Ashlyn gave a slight smile. “Ma’am, I’ll even admit I considered slipping out a couple of times last night to have a chat with Hale. I really, really want to know why he hasn’t sent reinforcements.”

  “Not nearly as much as I want to know not only that but also why he didn’t apprise me of the situation the Warlords found themselves in.” Okafor’s expression left no doubt she was not pleased with the brigadier general. But it also had Ashlyn wondering why she hadn’t already discussed the matter with him.

  “Ma’am?” That was the closest she’d come to asking.

  “I’ll explain shortly.” Okafor turned her attention to Elizabeth. “Liz, were you able to find replacements for the Devil Dogs that will be joining up with Taskforce Liberator?”

  “I have. I can shift a couple of companies from 3rdBatt over. I’ll pull in LACs from 4thBatt. Orders are ready to be issued to that effect once I have the final timeline.”

  “Excellent.” Okafor smiled and seemed to relax a little. “Have you decided which companies will link up with the Warlords, Ashlyn?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” She set her plate on the edge of Okafor’s desk, her food forgotten for the moment. “Before I name them, let me explain how I came to my decision.” She waited until Okafor nodded. “I’ve been generally aware of the makeup of the Warlords. I also assumed, and rightly so, that Hammer had been working to bring them more in line with the Devil Dogs than they had been. I know Luce will have continued doing just that.

  “My guess is they are going to be short specialists and, of course, LACs. So, I’m sending two teams from Alpha Company, one team each from Beta and Delta Companies. I would like to send half our LACs as well. I would prefer taking all my LACs but don’t want to strip all of them from the home system.”

  For a moment, her mother and Okafor considered what she said.

  “Why not take all of Alpha Company?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I don’t think the enemy is going to try another run at the Home System, at least not so soon. But, if they do, I want to make sure we have the best chance to push them back. That means making sure at least part of Alpha Company has remained back here for command purposes.”

  Elizabeth shifted in her seat, turning so she looked Ashlyn in the eye. “You’re trying very hard not to say something. What?” The look she gave her daughter was one Ash knew well. She wasn’t going to let Ash get away with not explaining.

  “It’s clear the general here expects me to take the two companies to meet up with the taskforce.” She nodded in Okafor’s direction. “That means Laboe will be in command of the DDs remaining in-system. He’s a good officer and a good Marine. I mean that. But it’s been a long time since he was a member of the Devil Dogs and he’s still getting to know the battalion. More than that, the DDs are still getting to know him. They will obey his orders. But, just as he and I haven’t yet settled into a smooth working relationship as XO and CO, he hasn’t settled into that sort of relationship with the others. Because of that, I want to make sure there are plenty of officers and senior NCOs remaining to keep things running smoothly in case I’m wrong and the shit hits the fan here.”

  “Are you having second thoughts about naming Laboe as your XO?” Elizabeth asked in concern.

  “A few, but you know as well as I do that’s because I don’t know him like I know Lucinda. I’ve not doubt that, given time, we will settle into a smooth working relationship.” It might not be as solid or as close as what she and Ortega enjoyed but it would be enough – she hoped. “But I have to look at the now, not at what the future might hold. That means making sure I leave Fuercon protected.”

  “Your plan?” Okafor steepled her fingers and rested her elbows on her desk as she looked at Ashlyn in curiosity.

  “I haven’t told him yet, but I’ll be leaving Talbot behind with Laboe. The Master Guns will make sure the battalion is battle-ready, no matter what.”

  Both women nodded even though neither looked particularly happy with the notion. Ashlyn understood. She didn’t much like it herself. Talbot had been with her since her pardon. In many ways, he had been her safety net those first few weeks and months. He’d not only kept her from doing anything foolish – like taking off to exact her own justice against those who had betrayed her and her people – he had reminded her she was a Marine, a Devil Dog, and she needed to quit doubting herself.

  “Who are you taking in his place?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Connery. She proved herself more than capable on the last mission. She might be young, but she’s a Devil Dog through and through.” Now Ash allowed herself a slight smile. “Besides, Talbot’s been training her.”

  Neither Okafor nor Elizabeth said anything. Instead, they each reached for their datapads. As they did, Ash shook her head slightly. She had no doubt they were checking Connery’s service record. Let them. They would find exactly what she already knew. The young woman had the makings of an excellent senior non-com with a little more seasoning. When Okafor glanced up a moment later, a sparkle in her eye told Ash she had something up her sleeve.

  And that was not always something she liked.

  “General?” she drawled.

  “Would you say Connery is ready for promotion to corporal?” Okafor asked in return.

  Ash opened her mouth to answer and then stopped. Her immediate response had been to say “no”. Not because she felt Connery needed more time in grade but because she didn’t want the brass cutting corners to make her happy or, worse, to make her feel safe. But she knew better where Okafor and her mother were concerned. Neither would put the Corps or the safety of Fuercon and its allies at risk just to make one person feel better. She had to remember that and not let her own ego stand in the young woman’s way.

  “I would.” She leaned back and crossed her legs. Then she reached for her mug of coffee where it rested on the small table between her chair and her mother’s. “Connery has proven herself, not only to my satisfaction but to Talbot’s as well. He spoke with me the other day about wanting to put her up for promotion as soon as she met the time in grade requirements.”

  That put the ball back in her mother’s and Okafor’s court. If Elizabeth agreed Connery deserved promotion, Okafor could brevet her to it before she met her time in grade requirements. But it would take both of them and she waited as they considered.

  “She’s had consistently exemplary reviews from her senior officers and NCOs. In fact, her last two from Talbot are better than the vast majority I’ve seen from him,” Elizabeth commented as she slid her datapad back into her pocket. “I have no doubt she’d breeze through promotion in nine months when she’d come up for it under normal circumstances.”

  “I know both Talbot and I would push for the promotion,” Ash said.

  “Consider it done then.” Okafor gave a nod and then smiled. “I will make sure you have the proper paperwork by lunchtime, Ashlyn. I’ll let you tell her.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am.” She had a very good idea how she wanted to do so.

  “Now, how soon can your people be ready to ship out?” the Commandant asked.

  “Under normal circumstances, I’d like at least a week. But these aren’t normal circumstances. We have people waiting for reinforcements, men and women who will die – or worse – if we don’t get there as soon as possible. There will be some grumbling, but we can be ready the ship out in forty-eight hours, sooner if necessary.”

  It wasn’t much time, certainly not as much as she’d prefer but, if she were being honest, she’d much rather shi
p out immediately than wait. She knew the horror Ortega and the others faced. It went beyond the knowledge they’d been betrayed and, much as she didn’t want to believe it, there seemed no other explanation. Bad as that was, the fact the enemy could return at any moment, their numbers reinforced, meant the taskforce couldn’t let its guard down. That meant keeping people on watch who could have otherwise been recovering from their injuries or helping with repairs.

  “FleetCom is still working out the details. Their best guess is you will be shipping out in seventy-two hours. Get everything in order and be prepared to move onboard in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The three of us will meet twice a day between now and when you ship out.” Okafor waited until they nodded in understanding. “Ash, I won’t lie. There is a good chance you will reach the Tenasic System and find that our worst fears have come true. If that’s the case, make the bastards pay and bring our people home. We’re Marines and we don’t leave anyone behind.

  “On the other hand, if you get there and the taskforce has managed to hold out, do all you can to support them until we can get more reinforcements to you. That system is vital to the war effort. Even more important is finding out who betrayed our people and why. If, as I suspect, this goes back to the Midlothians, it will be another nail in their collective coffin. The President is not going to wait much longer to reveal their betrayal to Congress.”

  Ash nodded. The memory of meeting with the President, as well as others of his “inner circle”, after her last mission was still fresh. The mission had been simple. The taskforce commanded by Admiral Miranda Tremayne was to protect the Drakkana System, insuring the shipping route to Ramadian remained open.

  Except they never made it to the Drakkana System. Instead, before leaving the system, they had stumbled upon a Callusian taskforce on an attack vector with Fuercon. The battle that followed had been fierce. Good had come out of it, however. Not only had the taskforce managed to intercept the invading ships, Tremayne had forced the surviving Callusians to surrender without scrubbing their databanks. If that wasn’t enough to have the Intelligence specialists dancing with joy, Fuercon now possessed the tangible link between the Callusians and their so-called ally Midlothian. Among those taken prisoner had been Captain Bernard Hughes. The Midlothian officer had tried to deny his true identity, but Intel quickly confirmed it.