(All the usual disclaimers apply. This snippet picks up from the last one—ASG)
“That’s why I’m here. Before I get into it, two things. First, what we discuss here can’t leave this office without clearing it with me first.”
Ashlyn nodded, the feeling in the pit of her stomach growing colder. “And second?”
“The decision about what you do is totally yours. I will support that decision, whatever it is, without question.”
“Understood.”
Not really, but she didn’t know what else to say.
Okafor studied her for a moment. Then she stood and moved to sit behind Ashlyn’s desk. Without asking, she activated the holo screen on the opposite wall. Her fingers flew over the virtual keyboard and a moment later, the screensaver changed from the Academy’s wallpaper to Okafor’s. A moment later, the Shalimar’s distress call played, followed by Captain Locke’s report to FleetCom.
As Locke’s report ended, the screen shifted to show a static image of the Bennington and surrounding systems. Ashlyn studied the trade routes and allied patrol patterns. Then she stood and moved closer, her eyes narrowing as new icons appeared. Glancing over her shoulder in Okafor’s direction, she waited for the general to explain.
“Those represent documented encounters which match what happened to the Shalimar. We have no doubt there are others we aren’t aware of, especially within Bennington’s system borders.” The general stood and moved to join Ashlyn. “The encounters are increasing in frequency and we have yet to find anything to identify who is behind them.”
“And I’m guessing you don’t buy Bennington’s explanation that what’s happening there is the fault of homegrown terrorists or activists or whatever the hell they call them.”
“Correct. They’re hiding something from us and we don’t know what. The President has instructed Caitlin Murphy, our new ambassador to the system, to see what she can find out from her counterparts here before she leaves for Bennington in three days. Once there, she is to inform the system government that we will not continue to sit back as innocents are slaughtered, or worse.”
“Am I wrong to say this reminds me of the Midlothian situation during the war?”
“If you are, then I am as well.”
Okafor sighed wearily. Ash glanced at her, surprised and worried to see her suddenly looking her age.
“What else?”
“Nothing solid and certainly nothing we’ve managed to get confirmation on yet, but there are unconfirmed reports that some form of the biotoxin may have been used in at least one of the encounters.”
Ashlyn blew out a shaky breath as her insides turned to jelly. She still had the occasional nightmare about the biotoxin the Callusians utilized during the last few months of the war. She’d lost friends and Marines under her command to it. She’d seen the aftermath of it being turned against an entire planet. There had been no antidote. The best they could do was cobble together filters and decon procedures and hope they helped.
Then they’d gone on the hunt for the manufacturing and storage facilities for the biotoxin. Her command took part in the siege of Pausa, capital planet of the Alpha Cebus System, where they located huge stores of the biotoxin. Even though FleetCom felt confident they secured all but the amount already onboard Callusians ships, she’d never been sure. The Callusians military and political leaders who might have known either died in the final stages of the war or killed themselves before they could be captured.
“Where?” She spoke softly, barely above a whisper.
“The Roemer Sector.”
Ashlyn once again turned her attention to the display, focusing on the sector Okafor named. As she did, her mouth firmed into a thin line and one hand fisted at her side. During the last year of the war, elements of Second Fleet had focused on the system, doing hit and run strikes against its military and industrial facilities in an attempt to keep the Callusians from focusing on FleetCom’s real target: the Callusian home system.
After the war, the enemy home system had been interdicted. Its military infrastructure had been destroyed as well as much of its industrial capability. But, ignoring the recommendation of President Harper, as well as much of the allied military leadership, the allies had not imposed similar restrictions on other systems held long-term by the Callusians.
Roemer was one such system.
Was that decision about to come back to bite them in the ass?
“What can I do?”
“Ash, I made you a promise when I visited you in the hospital the after you were injured so badly at the end of the war. I told you I would never ask you to return to active duty. You’ve done more for Fuercon and our allies, you’ve suffered more, than most anyone else. Certainly more than any of us had any right to ask. I’ve not broken that promise to you—until now. I need you back.” She stopped Ashlyn before she could interrupt. “I’m not asking you to return for a full hitch, much less for years beyond that. I am asking for a few months. When this is done, you’ll return here, to the Academy, if you wish. Or you can return to Reserve status or even retire. The future is yours to decide. But we need you right now.”
Ash sank onto the edge of the desk and rubbed her hands over her face. Duty called but memories of the nightmare of war reminded her of what she’d lost. They also reminded her of what Fuercon could be facing if they didn’t act quickly, especially if someone had discovered a stockpile of the biotoxin.
“In what role, ma’am?”
“You’ll be taking over the Seventh.”
Ash sat up, eyes wide, nostrils flaring. What? Seventh Division was her mother’s command. Shaking her head, she pushed to her feet, unable to understand what Okafor might be thinking.
“I won’t take my mother’s place.” She ground out the words.
“No, you won’t.” Okafor spoke almost gently, understanding reflected in her dark eyes. “Your mother is getting a much-deserved promotion. Lt. General Shaw is becoming General Shaw and, with her fourth star, she is also becoming my Assistant Commandant of the Corps.”
For a moment, Ash said nothing. The words simply weren’t there. Then she smiled, a slow smile that turned into a grin. Without realizing it, she nodded in satisfaction.
“Does she know?” She doubted it. Elizabeth had been too calm when they spoke earlier that morning. “If not, I want to be there when you tell her.”
Okafor laughed. “I had a feeling you’d say that.” Then she sobered. “Will you accept command of the Seventh, at least until we can find someone who meets not only your approval to take over but your mother’s as well?”
“What about the Academy while I’m doing that?”
“I’d thought you could put a bee in Zach Degrassi’s ear and see if he might not be interested in filling in for you.”
Ashlyn considered. Personally, she could think of no one better for the posting who wasn’t on active duty. He’d been her first CO after graduating from the Academy. Then he’d become mentor and friend. Now, all these years later, he and his wife, Petra, were family in every way that counted. She could trust him to continue her policies—and to improve them—in her absence.
“All right. I’ll talk with him as soon as we’re done here.”
“Then you’ll accept a return to active-duty status?”
“I will, but I’m not so sure the medicos will agree with it.”
“Dr. Hevesi has already signed off on it.”
Ash looked at her in disbelief. FleetCom’s chief medical officer had the reputation for being more than a bit slow to release service members, especially Marines, back to active-duty status after serious injury. One of the reasons she hadn’t already asked to return to active duty status, beyond the fact she loved her current assignment, was because she knew how difficult it would be to convince the man it was the best move for her. So what happened to make him step aside this time?
She quickly decided that she really didn’t want to know.
“When do I start?”
“Immediately, although you will maintain your position here until after graduation. Then Zach, if he agrees, will step in while we deal with this current situation.”
“I’m going to want my own staff.” Mainly because she suspected her mother’s staff, at least most of them, would go with her to her new posting.
“Of course. However, I’m going to ask you to leave Edita here.”
“Agreed.” Not only because the sergeant major worked well with Degrassi but also because she had retired from the Corps when she joined Ash as the Academy’s senior NCO. “But you get to tell her.”
Okafor chuckled. “How about we let Zach tell her?”
Ashlyn grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Good. Then let’s make this official. We’ll fill in your posting with the Seventh after I’ve spoken with your mother. Until then, we’ll simply deal with your reactivation.”
Okafor motioned for Ashlyn to return to her desk and followed. Once there, Ashlyn stood aside, waiting for the general to be seated. Instead, the older woman shook her head. Feeling a little strange to sit while her CO stood, Ash slid onto her chair. A moment later, her new orders appeared on the holo screen and Okafor switched the display back to the desk.
Ashlyn read them and then added her digital signature and thumbprint. As she did, she smiled slightly. When she woke that morning, the only thing she worried about was getting through the week before graduation. Her plan had been to then talk to Okafor about her future in the Corps. Whether by chance, fate, or luck, that had changed. But she still needed to get through the week.
“One more,” Okafor said as she pulled up another set of documents.
Ashlyn glance up at her, suspicion rising. She knew the general well enough recognize not only her tone but the sparkle in her eyes. Okafor was up to something. One look at the new document and Ash hissed out a breath. The only thing keeping her in her seat was Okafor’s hand on her shoulder.
“General, no.”
“Yes.” Okafor’s simple response brooked no disagreement. “It is necessary if you are going to accept command of the Seventh. You know it, Ash.”
“The President and FleetCom agree?”
“Agree and approve.”
She closed her eyes and counted to ten. Then she opened them and nodded. She should have expected something like this. Okafor seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in finding ways to either hang a new medal around her neck or give her a promotion she didn’t really want. Why should today be any different?
Resigned, she signed and added her thumbprint before leaning forward to pound her head against the desktop. Hearing Okafor’s laugh, she gave her head one last pound before climbing to her feet.
“One day I will manage to repay you for all these so-called favors of yours, Helen.”
“You can try.”
She pulled a small box out of a pocket. A moment later, she added a second star to Ashlyn’s collar. Then she stepped back and saluted. Ashlyn braced to attention and returned her salute, holding it until Okafor dropped her hand and put her at her ease.
“Congratulations, Major General. Let me know when you’ve had a chance to talk with Zach. I’d like a list of who you want for staff positions by end of day.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll be letting your mother know her new assignment at lunch today. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Besides, she would need to get with her mother as soon as possible to discuss the changeover of command. “What can I tell my staff here? They’ll figure something’s going on as soon as they see this.” She tapped a finger against her new star.
“Tell them I twisted your arm until you accepted a temporary assignment and the promotion is part of it. After they’ve agreed to join your staff and we’ve had a chance to discuss it, you can read them in. Once your mother learns of her promotion and new assignment, you’ll be given access to Seventh’s commnet and databases.”
“Until then, I have more than enough to do.”
“As do I.” Okafor sent a quick message, asking her driver to meet her at the front gate. “Ash, I wish I didn’t have to ask you to do this, but I had a feeling you were getting close to asking to return to active duty and, like it or not, we need your experience right now.”
“I understand, Helen, and you’re right. I was getting close to asking just that. Now I’m hoping you and the others are overreacting and I will soon be returning to this desk and the most difficult decision I’ll have to face is whether to let Edita have her way with the O-Course for new cadets or not.”
Okafor laughed, understanding exactly what she meant. Anisimova’s reputation as being a demon when it came to the O-course was well-known—and well-deserved. The fact she could, and did, run it with the much younger cadets only solidified her reputation. If she had her way, she’d keep the sergeant major training up new cadets as long as possible.
“Don’t bother your staff, Ash. I can find my way out,” she added before Ashlyn could send for an escort. “See you later.”
Ash walked her to the door. Then she returned to her desk. For a moment, she sat there. Then she reached for her comm and sent a message to Colonel Rico Santiago, FleetCom’s chief intel officer. If anyone knew what was going on, it would be him. Now to see just what sort of a mess she’d stepped in.
Battleborn will continue Monday. Until then, look for a note/post later today announcing the release date for Surtr’s Fury. Until then, have a great day!
Featured image created using Midjourney AI.