(All the usual disclaimers apply. Reminder this is a rough draft and there will be changes, possibly substantial ones, before the book goes to press.—asg)
Five
Ashlyn chuckled softly as she read General Gataki’s latest email, the fourth of the day. The man simply didn’t give up. At least he’d changed tactics. Instead of demanding the Army be first during the commissioning ceremony, now he wanted to be added to the list of speakers for graduation. As if there weren’t enough speakers already. Too bad, for his ego at least, she had no intention of giving in to his demands. Not when the schedule had been in place for weeks—something he knew. If he thought himself stubborn, he’d soon learn he had nothing on her.
But first things first. She reached for her comm and sent a quick message to Hernandez. She needed to see both her and Anismova before they left for the day. Then she turned her attention back to Gataki and crafting the appropriate response. This time, she also did as Okafor suggested. She copied the message not only to the general, but also to Admiral Miranda Tremayne and to Linden Klingsbury. Now to see if Gataki choked on his outrage at being called out in front of the others.
As she sent off her response a few minutes later, a soft tap at the door sounded. Looking up, she smiled slightly. A very nervous first-year cadet stood in the doorway. He swallowed hard as she looked him over before she gave a nod and a reassuring smile. This was his first day to shadow her admin and Sergeant Welker didn’t pamper any of the cadets assigned to the office. When Ash asked about it early on, the man explained it was the best way to get them to learn quickly. They might make mistakes, but they would never repeat them. Since it was her philosophy as well, she simply told him to carry on.
“Ma’am, Captain Hernandez and Sergeant Major Anisimova are here to see you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Altman. Give me two minutes and then show them in.”
Without waiting for his response, she closed down her comp and climbed to her feet. As she did, her hand closed on the collar of her uniform blouse where it hung on the back of her chair. A slight, albeit bemused smile touched her lips at the sight of the second star at the collar. A star she’d hidden most of the day by staying in her office and working in uniform pants and tank. But now, with most of her staff gone and the day over, it was time to break the news to the two who would be most impacted by her promotion and new assignment.
“Captain Hernandez and Sergeant Major Anisimova, ma’am,” Altman announced exactly two minutes later.
“You’re excused, Mr. Altman. Close the door behind you.”
Ashlyn didn’t turn to face the newcomers until she heard the door close. When she did, she chuckled softly as Hernandez gasped slightly as she immediately noticed the second star. But it was Anisimova’s slack jawed, wide eyed expression that lasted only a moment before the blonde braced to attention that told her she’d made the right decision. Until Okafor was ready to announce her promotion, she wanted to keep knowledge of it to the bare minimum.
“Was this why General Okafor came to see you this morning, ma’am?” Hernandez asked after Ashlyn put them at their ease.
“It was part of it.” She motioned for them to be seated. Then she moved behind her desk and produced a bottle of whiskey and three glasses from the bottom drawer. They watched as she poured and then handed out the drinks before once again taking her place at the desk. “And, before we get started, two things. No formality between the three of us, not now. Also, nothing said here can go outside this office. General Okafor will be making the appropriate announcements soon.”
"Announcements?” Hernandez asked.
“Yes, and I’m not at liberty to tell you all of it, not yet.”
“They want you back on active duty, don’t they?” Anisimova cradled her glass in her hands, her expression betraying nothing.
“They do.” Seeing them about to say something, Ashlyn shook her head and continued, “But Okafor made it clear this is my decision. She also said my position here is mine for as long as I want it.”
Hernandez sipped her whiskey, her expression thoughtful. “It’s obvious you’ve agreed to whatever she proposed, ma’am.”
Ashlyn leaned back and arched a brow.
“Ash.” The younger woman corrected. “You’re going to have to give me time, ma’am. I had a hard enough time calling you by your first name as a brigadier general. That second star makes it even more difficult.”
“Maybe this will help.”
Ashlyn tossed a small box across the desk. Hernandez instinctively reached out to catch it with her left hand. For a moment, she looked at the box before looking at Ash, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Anisimova’s chuckle as she did reminded Ash of all the times Okafor had surprised her. Anisimova enjoyed each of them and Ash was still trying to find a way to return the favor.
“Before you open it, let me tell you what’s going on.”
“I have a feeling there’s a great deal you still haven’t said, Ash,” Anisimova said a few minutes later. Then she gulped down the last of her whiskey and placed the glass on the edge of the desk. “Promoting your mother makes sense, especially since Okafor plans to resign as Commandant of the Corps when the new administration takes office. Unless something unforeseen happens, Klingsbury will more than likely be our next president and word is he wants your mom to take over for her.”
“I’m hearing the same rumors.” Except she knew Klingsbury’s intent was no rumor. He’d talked with her about it the last time they saw one another.
“Your taking command of Seventh also makes sense, especially if there is trouble brewing,” Hernandez said.
“I’m only stepping in as interim CO, Maria. There are reasons which I will read you in on later. While I’m dealing with the Seventh, Zachary Degrassi will fill in for me here.”
Anisimova’s hoot of laughter surprised them. The blonde stood and reached across the desk for the whiskey bottle. After refilling their glasses, she lifted hers in a silent toast.
“I don’t understand.” Hernandez looked from Anisimova to Ashlyn and back.
“We’ve gone full circle, Maria,” the blonde said. “The three of us—Degrassi, Ash, and I. He and I knew she was something special when she joined the Heinlein’s Marine company right out of the Academy. After a few years watching her career, we knew she’d probably end up commanding the Corps, if she didn’t get herself killed first. Something that came too close to reality too many times during the war.” She swallowed hard before continued. “Now we’ll be back together, even if she won’t officially be part of the staff here.”
“Then I assume you’re fine with staying and working with Zach?” Ashlyn felt certain she knew the answer, but she had to ask.
“As long as he’s ready to put up with me again.” The blonde grinned and all but rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “What did he say when you asked him?”
“Actually, it was Petra who said you’d better be part of the package. Otherwise, she wasn’t going to let him give up his retirement, even for a few months.” She smiled at the memory of the general’s wife saying just that. “Zach happened to agree. He said something about the two of you being able to keep things running in my absence and possibly even having some fun doing it.”
Anisimova chuckled and then turned serious. “When’s the hand-off?”
“After graduation, although he will be around starting tomorrow.”
“When are you telling the staff?” Hernandez asked.
“Tomorrow. Sergeant Welker should be sending out word even as we speak. Meeting is tomorrow morning before we raise the colors. The cadets and parents will be informed at graduation with emails going out that same day to those not in attendance. They will be assured this is a temporary arrangement only while I am on TDY.”
“Will the general be bringing in his own staff?”
Ashlyn knew why Hernandez asked. She’d be asking the same thing if their roles were reversed.
“He’s assured me that he will leave everyone in place since this is only temporary. Although I’m hoping there will be one position he’ll need to fill.”
When Hernandez looked at her in question, Anisimova chuckled once again. “She hasn’t figured it out yet, kid.”
Brow furrowed, the younger woman turned her attention to the sergeant major. “Figured what out?”
“That box you’re holding.” Anisimova gestured to the small box still cradled in Hernandez’s left hand.
“Maria, it’s simple really.” Ashlyn shook her head at Anisimova. “Edita loves when someone besides her is blindsided by a senior officer and I’m guilty of doing to you what I always hated when Okafor did it to me.”
“I-I don’t understand.”
“Before I accepted the assignment, I asked Okafor if I could bring in my own staff. Most of Mom’s people will be going with her. Okafor agreed with one stipulation: that Edita remained here.”
The sergeant major sighed heavily. “She still hasn’t forgiven either of us for me haring off with you at the end of the war.”
“Well.” Ash grinned. “You were SMMC and a member of her staff. Besides, I’m not the one who asked you to join me during the attack here. You left her in the bunker and made your way to my command post. I do believe she threatened to bust us both down to private for that.”
“Yeah, and you managed to get yourself almost killed to avoid her wrath. I, on the other hand, got to deal with her and she made me promise not to do anything so foolish ever again.” She almost pouted and Hernandez barked out a laugh that surprised all of them.
“So, the general made sure there couldn’t be a repeat this time,” she said, still grinning.
“She did, but she also knows how well Edita and Zach work together. Add in the fact it will reassure both our cadets and their parents to have her remain. Consistency is important for the Academy to continue on the arc it’s been on.”
“And me?”
“I’d like you to come with me, Maria, as my XO. I promise it is a temporary assignment and we will return to the Academy in few months.”
She hoped.
“I’d be honored, Ash. Hell, ma’am, I’d probably follow you even if you didn’t ask.”
Ash didn’t doubt she would. One thing she learned early on was the younger woman never said anything she didn’t mean. That made working together much easier. The last thing Ash wanted or needed was someone who said what she thought her CO wanted to hear. That would be even more important with the new assignment.
“Good.” Ash gave an emphatic nod. “Edita, I need you to run both of us through the Devil Dogs’ PFT. I also want your opinion on the division’s senior NCO. I know him but haven’t served with him before.”
The sergeant major’s smile turned wicked. “Tomorrow morning before the staff meeting. I’ll meet you on the track at 0500.”
Ashlyn groaned before nodding. Then she shook herself. She could worry about what sort of torture Anisimova might have in store for them later. There was still one more matter to deal with.
Standing, she moved around the desk and motioned for the two women to join her in the center of the office. Realizing what was happening, Anisimova took her place one step behind and to the side as Ash reached out and gently took the box from Hernandez. Then she called the captain to attention.
“We will do this more formally later, but I wanted to give you time to sort out your uniforms for the rest of the week.” Something Ash needed to do as well.
Without a word, Ashlyn handed the small box to Anisimova. Then she reached out and carefully removed the two silver bars from Hernandez’s collar. A moment later, the sergeant major took the bars from her, replacing them with Hernandez’s new rank insignia. Ash carefully secured the gold leaf on her new XO’s collar. Then she stepped back and saluted.
“Congratulations, Major Hernandez.” She shook hands with her and then stepped back and watched as Anisimova congratulated her.
Hernandez looked like she couldn’t quite believe it as she reached up and fingered the gold leaf. Even as she grinned, she straightened her shoulders and once again braced to attention. Understanding, Ashlyn put her at her ease.
“We should have access to the division database and records by morning,” Ashe said as they returned to their seats. “I’ve already sent you a brief about our assignment, Maria. It is bare bones, mainly because that’s all I have so far. Review it tonight and we’ll discuss it some tomorrow when we can carve out a few minutes. Okafor understands that our focus will be on the Academy until after graduation.” She paused as her comm signaled an incoming message.
“Well,” she said a short time later as she slid the comm into a pocket. “It seems we have all been invited to dinner tonight. If you have plans, I recommend you change them. The invitation comes from Okafor. It seems she wants to have a chance to talk with the three of us, as well as my mother and her XO, as well as Zach Degrassi.”
Hernandez gulped audibly. “Ma’am?”
“Relax, Maria. She doesn’t bite. At least not without warning.” Ashlyn’s eyes twinkled. “I have a feeling the general wants to give us all time to adjust to the changes in our duties, talk with one another without worrying about interruption or leaks, and to get a feel for what lies ahead.”
“She’s right, Maria,” Anisimova said almost gently. “I’ve seen the general do this time and again over the years.”
“Dress?”
“Casual. That won’t draw as much attention as it would if we all showed up in uniform, looking like we were reporting for duty.”
Hernandez didn’t look like she believed them, but she nodded once.
“Then we’d best finish up here.” Ash leaned back, relieved to turn her attention back to the upcoming graduation and commissioning ceremonies.
Another reminder. Surtr’s Fury is now available for pre-order on Amazon. It will be an Amazon exclusive for the first three to six months (still figuring that out). Then I will decide whether to take it wide or not. Here’s the link.—asg)