(The usual disclaimers apply. This snippet picks up from the last one.—ASG)
A soft tap on the doorframe interrupted her thoughts. Looking up, she smiled slightly and waved the newcomer inside. Then she turned her attention back to Gatacki’s so-called request. She wanted to respond before he had a chance to think of anything else he wanted to change about the weekend’s ceremonies.
Captain Maria Hernandez stepped inside and crossed the office, stopping in front of Ashlyn’s desk. Ash signaled that she needed another moment or two. Understanding, Hernandez glanced around. Ashlyn’s office never failed to impress her. Bookshelves, filled with books—real, printed books!—on military history, philosophy, and more lined one wall. Interspersed with the books were images of Ash and some of those she served with from various points in her career. On the opposite wall hung various awards and commendations Ashlyn earned over the years as well as her diploma from the Academy and her pardon from President Harper.
“You’re staring at it again,” Ashlyn commented without looking up.
“I don’t understand, ma’am.”
“Don’t understand what, Maria?” Ashlyn leaned back, watching her Deputy Commandant.
“I don’t understand why you have your pardon on display.”
Ashlyn lifted a hand to hide her smile. Hernandez joined the Academy staff shortly after Ashlyn took over as Commandant. Ash had been impressed with the younger woman, both as an instructor and as a Marine. When the previous Deputy Commandant returned to active duty, she asked Hernandez to step into the position. She had not regretted the decision. Not only did the two of them work well together, but she liked the captain as a person. Her only regret was Hernandez had yet to relax and forget their respective ranks when in private. But perhaps things were changing.
Instead of answering right away, Ashlyn climberd to her feet and moved around her desk until she stood in front of the framed pardon. For a moment, she remembered seeing the digital version for the first time. Less than a week before, she’d been brought back from the penal colony without explanation. She hadn’t dared hope it meant she might soon go free, especially when they continued to hold her in a cell. That day, a small Callusians force attacked the capital, testing the system defenses and changing everything. Not only was it her first day of freedom, assuming she managed to survive, but it also was the start of her quest for justice, not only for herself but for those under her command who had lost their lives or who had been imprisoned with her.
Hernandez knew that part of the story. Ash doubted there was anyone at the Academy, be they a cadet or a member of the staff, who didn’t know what happened. But that wasn’t what Hernandez wanted to know.
“Maria, this pardon means as much to me as my diploma or any of the medals and commendations I’ve earned over the years. This simple document did more than correct the wrongs done to me and my command by the likes of Sorkowski and O’Brien and the others who plotted with them to subvert the Navy and the Corps. It was a chance for me to make sure those sent to Tarsus with me made it home. It was proof the Corps and even FleetCom had not been complicit in what happened to us. Don’t get me wrong. There were those who either turned a blind eye to what happened on the mission or who encouraged Sorkowski and the others to follow the path they did. But they were the exceptions. They proved they did not deserve to wear the uniforms granted them and most of them have paid the price for their betrayal.
vBut the real reason for the pardon to be here is to remind me to never forget the oaths I’ve taken. The people responsible for what happened to my Marines and to me were blinded by greed and by a desire for power. I came close after President Harper pardoned us to forgetting what was important. I wanted vengeance. I wanted those responsible for what happened to pay with their lives, and I wanted it to be at my hands. I came close to losing myself and probably would have if it hadn’t been for my family and friends who made sure I didn’t do anything foolish.”
Friends she’d done the same for. They had wanted vengeance almost as badly as she did. That had been a bad time for all of them.
Hernandez didn’t say anything for a moment. Ashlyn blinked in surprise when the captain suddenly braced to attention, her hand snapping up even though she didn’t wear her cover. Ashlyn’s eyes burned as she returned the salute.
“Maria, we all have shadows and ghosts we live with. This is a reminder of some of mine as well as proof that we can overcome. It wasn’t an easy lesson to learn and one I hope no one else ever has to face.”
“One I wish you and your squad hadn’t faced, ma’am.”
“Me too.” She smiled slightly and motioned for Hernandez to take a seat. “Now, are you ready for finals and for this weekend’s ceremonies?”
“Probably about as ready as you are, ma’am.”
To add weight to her comment, Hernandez flicked her gaze in the direction of the holo-screen on the wall to her right. A copy of Ashlyn’s schedule for the week currently filled the screen. The daily grids leading up to Saturday’s graduation and commissioning ceremonies were filled with appointments, assignments and other notes. It was enough to drive both of them to distraction. Add in the fact it was finals week for the cadets as well as the inevitable requests from Fuercon’s various military services for additional information about the graduating cadets that were coming in. . . It was no wonder Ashlyn was behind her desk almost two hours earlier than usual.
“I won’t lie, Maria. I’m looking forward to next week and no classes.” Ash moved back around her desk and took her seat, glancing at the message she’d been composing to General Gataki.
“Ma’am?” Hernandez’s brows drew together as she recognized Ashlyn’s frustration.
“Let’s just say a new headache made itself known last night and I was trying to deal with it when you arrived.”
“I don’t understand.”
“General Gataki left a message last night about the commissioning ceremony and I decided it was best to respond before he returned to his office and could think of anything else he wanted us to change.”
“What did he want this time, ma’am?”
Ashlyn smiled slightly to hear Hernandez’s own frustration. Then she reached for her mug. Her brow creased to find it empty. Before she could do anything more than look around, as if to discover who might have had the temerity to drink her coffee, Hernandez poured her a fresh cup from the carafe sitting on the desktop When she did, Ashlyn thanked her and motioned for her to pour a mug for herself.
“Typical end of year posturing.” Ash sipped her coffee and leaned back, relaxing. “He thinks the Army should be the first to administer the commissioning oath. After all, if we’re being fair about it, at least in his way of thinking, we’d go alphabetically when the service COs are called up to swear in their new officers.”
Hernandez rolled her eyes. “Does he do this every year?”
Ashlyn nodded. “Everyone does to one degree or another. Gataki is a bit more forceful about it than the current heads of the other service branches.” She shrugged slightly, almost philosophically. “But it goes back decades, at the very least. I know it happened when I graduated. I overheard some of the staff talking about how Admiral Greene had to put his foot down when General Claflin wanted the Marines to go first even though they had the year before.”
And that was long before Gatacki reached his current rank and assignment.
“What happened then?” Hernandez crossed her legs and reached for her mug.
“I’m not sure what sort of back-and-forth went on between the commandant and the service commanders, but by the time graduation day came around, the oaths were given as each cadet graduated instead of grouping us according to service branch and administering the oaths once per branch. It took forever and royally pissed off the families and dignitaries. From what I gather, it did cure the commanders from playing the ‘me first’ game for a bit.”
Hernandez looked as if she didn’t know whether to laugh or gasp.
“Please tell me we aren’t going to do that, ma’am.” She actually held a hand up in front of her, as if to ward off the horror of the logistical nightmare that could turn out to be.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of doing anything quite so drastic. However, I am reminding Gataki in my response that the Army led off the commissioning ceremony last year. Then I’ll point out it wouldn’t be fair for them to be first every year simply because the Army comes first alphabetically. I’m even reminding him about the dangers of arguing with a Marine, especially one who has the well-earned reputation for being stubborn at the best of times. After all, I might just decide the Corps and the Navy will alternate the lead position for as long as I’m commandant of the Academy.” She gave an almost evil grin that left Hernandez giggling in appreciation.
“You are an evil woman, ma’am, and I will make it my life’s goal never to piss you off.” Hernandez’s hazel eyes twinkled as she spoke.
“That makes you a smart woman, Maria. You will prove to be a wise one by finally accepting the fact I won’t jump down your throat if you call me by my first name. In fact, if I need to, I’ll make it an order that you call me Ashlyn or Ash when we’re alone.” Despite her best efforts, she had yet to convince the captain she could relax and call her by her given name.
“Evil, I tell you!” Hernandez pointed at Ash and laughed once again.
“But of course.” Ash sipped her coffee and glanced one last time at her response to Gataki before sending it off. “If the general reaches out again, tell him the order of the commissioning ceremony has been decided and will not be changed. Since the Army went first last year, it will go last this year. I leave it to you to decide the rest of the order, Maria.”
The young woman nodded, making a note on her datapad. Then she looked at Ash, her head tilted to one side, her expression concerned.
“Ma’am—Ashlyn, you could have dealt with General Gataki’s request from home. What else brought you here so early?”
For a moment, Ashlyn said nothing. To give herself a moment to think, she sipped her coffee. Then she carefully set the mug on the desktop and made a decision.
“I received a call from General Okafor earlier this morning. She wants to see me before I get buried with classes and appointments today.”
It sounded so simple and yet Ash knew better. Not once since she took over as head of the Academy had Okafor visited without at least a week’s notice. That added to the fact the call came in well before dawn spoke volumes and had all of Ashlyn’s internal alarms going off. The fact Hernandez’s eyes widened and she opened and then closed her mouth without saying anything confirmed the younger woman understood the unusual nature of Okafor’s impending visit. Unfortunately, that did nothing to reassure Ash.
“Ma’am—Ash, I know you and the Commandant go back a long way.”
Ashlyn nodded. “Since my own days here at the Academy. Later I served under her command before joining the Devil Dogs.”
“I know you well enough to tell this request worries you. What I don’t understand is why.”
“That part’s simple, Maria. She didn’t explain why she wants to meet. That’s unusual. Just as it’s unusual that she wants to meet here instead of at her office.” Which made it feel like Okafor wanted to limit the number of people who might learn they’d met.
Hernandez gnawed on her lower lip, her eyes dark with concern. “What do you want me to do?”
“You’re going to have to hold down the fort once she gets here. I don’t see any way we’ll be able to keep her visit a secret. Visitors are logged in at the gate. Besides, you know as well as I do that word the Commandant of the Corps is here will spread like wildfire. I need you to run interference and make sure we aren’t disturbed.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hernandez once again looked at the calendar displayed on the wall screen. “Any idea how long your meeting will last?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “Not a clue. Let’s play it safe and reschedule my first two appointments. Contact those involved with my third appointment and let them know I may be delayed. You’ll fill in for me if necessary. If anyone asks why the schedule’s changing, explain that I am tied up finalizing plans for graduation.”
Hopefully, anyone who asked would accept the explanation—or understand she was still with Okafor and couldn’t be disturbed.
“Of course, ma’am.” The younger woman nodded, already tapping away at her datapad to rearrange the appointments. “I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed during your meeting, and I’ll remind you of the time if it runs longer than expected.”
“Thank you, Maria.” Ash smiled gratefully.
“Anything else?”
“You can tell me what happened on the parade field earlier that had the good Sgt. Major tearing that first year a new one.”
Hernandez surprised her by chuckling softly, almost evilly.
“Let’s just say the cadet thought it would be a good idea to prank his older sister during the graduation ceremony and he was foolish enough to talk about it during formation. Normally, Edita would let it slide and have a private word with him. His mistake came when he tried to draw other cadets into it. If he managed to pull it off, more than his sister would have found themselves the victims of the prank. Edita felt it best to put an end to it right then.”
Ashlyn leaned back, frowning, her mug cradled between her hands. “Do I need to step in?”
“No, ma’am. Edita handled the situation and I made sure to have a word with the cadet afterwards. From now until end of term, he is confined to quarters unless he’s in class or working with his squad or under orders from one of the staff.”
“All right. Have a word with his squadron commander, impress upon them the importance of making sure the cadet doesn’t do anything foolish.” She thought for a moment. “Talk with the faculty advisor for the squadron as well. You’re to be informed if there are any more problems from the cadet or any of his friends. And let’s make surenone of his fellow cadets decide to hand out any additional discipline themselves.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She made a note on her datapad and then looked up. “Everything else went well this morning. There will be another practice for the cadets’ entrance and exit from the parade grounds for graduation tomorrow morning. I’ve received responses from all the VIPs invited and confirmed lodging when needed. It is coming together and by Saturday, everything will be ready.”
“Excellent.” She relaxed a little. “Maria, you’ve been invaluable this year. There’s no way I can thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“Just doing my duty, ma’am.”
“Ash,” she corrected and chuckled softly when the young woman ducked her head to hide the blush suddenly coloring her cheeks. “I’m serious, Maria. Thank you.”
For a moment, Hernandez studied her, head tilted slightly to one side. “It’s been my pleasure, Ash. When the opportunity to teach here presented itself, I jumped at it. I never expected it would lead to serving as the Assistant Commandant. That has been an honor, one I can’t thank you enough for.”
“Then do me a favor.”
“Of course.”
“My parents and I are having a small get-together Sunday. I’d like it if you came. This will be family and friends and, even if you do still tend to choke when I force you to call me by my first name, I consider you a friend.”
“Ma’am.” She stopped and made a visible effort to correct herself. “Ashlyn, you’ve got to understand how difficult this is for me. I grew up reading everything I could about you and finding every video clip I could find about you and the Devil Dogs. I’d always known I wanted to be a Marine. But you made me want to be a Devil Dog and the best damned Marine I could. be When you asked me to sit for the interview as the assistant commandant, I didn’t know whether to scream in excitement or die of fear.”
“I’m glad you didn’t die of fear.” Ashlyn grinned, her eyes sparkling. “And now you need to remember something. I’m just a Marine, same as you or Edita or any of the others. I do my best to do my duty. That’s all any of us can do.”
“Ashlyn, you do much more than that.” She waved off Ash’s protests. “And I am proud to be your friend. Just don’t get too upset if I forget and fall back on tradition and formality—or get tongue-tied.”
“Been there and done that,” Ash laughed. “Now, anything else I need to deal with this morning before Okafor gets here?”
Hernandez checked her notes. She started to respond and stopped, reaching up to tap her earbud. She listened to whoever was on the other end of the call and then tapped her earbud a second time. When she glanced back at Ashlyn, her expression mirrored the concern reflected in her eyes.
“That was the front gate, ma’am.” Gone was the shy, almost hesitant friend, replaced by the competent officer. “General Okafor has arrived. According to the duty officer, she came alone.”
“Tell them she’s cleared for entry. I’d like you to meet her downstairs, Maria. Let’s make this look like any of the other million meetings I have this week with outside VIPs.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She swiped a finger across the screen of her datapad and slid it into a thigh pocket of her combat utility uniform pants. “Shall I arrange coffee and something to eat?” Left unsaid was her suspicion Ashlyn hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.
“Coffee yes, the rest, no.” Mainly because she didn’t think she’d be able to eat anything until she knew why Okafor wanted this all but off-the-books meeting.
“Then, with your permission, I’ll go wait for General Okafor.”
“Thanks, Maria.”
Ashlyn watched as the younger woman stood and left the office, closing the door behind her. Once alone, she tried to focus on the day’s schedule. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to the question of why Okafor wanted to meet with her.
Something was going on. What?
With a sigh, Ash stood and turned back to the window overlooking the parade ground. She watched as a group of cadets in PT gear ran along the perimeter of the field. Other cadets in their daily uniforms moved between buildings, some on the way to the mess hall while others headed to the library or to class. Each of them represented the future of Fuercon’s military leadership. She’d done her best to make sure she, as well as the rest of the staff, gave them a strong foundation. God, she hoped it was enough.
It had to be.
Besides, right now she had other things to worry about, starting with why Okafor wanted to see her. Then there was the whole what to do with her future question.
Damn, but life had been so much less complicated when she’d been a Marine on the line.