(All the usual disclaimers apply. This snippet picks up directly after the previous one. Remember, this is the rough draft and changes, some substantial, will occur before publication.—ASG)
“Ten-hutt!”
Sergeant Welker’s voice echoed through the assembly hall. The sound of more than one hundred men and women climbing to their feet and bracing to attention filled the air. He took a moment, looking at those gathered with a critical eye. Then he turned and moved to one side of the podium where he’d been standing. As he did, the door behind him slid open.
Ashlyn crossed to the podium, Hernandez and Anisimova following close behind. Unlike those gathered, the three wore their Bravos. Ashlyn gazed out over the gathering of instructors and other staff members and nodded once. Then glanced over her shoulder at Anisimova. The sergeant major nodded in response to her silent order and put everyone at their ease. Then, instead of telling them to be seated, she moved to stand next to Welker and they waited for Ashlyn’s next order.
When Ashlyn ordered the doors closed and locked, more than a few eyebrows went up. But no one said anything. They knew her well enough to understand she would explain when she was ready. The only question was if they’d be ready for what she said.
To be honest, she wasn’t sure she was ready. Not that she’d ever tell them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by thanking you for your dedication and hard work this scholastic year. It has been my honor working with each of you. The graduating class is all the better because of you.” She leaned forward, her hands resting on the podium.
“I won’t keep you long this morning. However, there are a few changes about to take place that you need to be aware of. I have to ask you to keep what you’re about to hear to yourselves and not discuss it outside of this room until given the okay. If you can’t agree to do so, you are excused to return to your duties. There will be no hard feelings and it will not impact your position here one bit.”
A lie and they all knew it. While there might not be any official action taken if they chose to leave, unofficially was a different matter. History was filled with stories of officers who chose not to take part in similar briefings who were never looked at the same by their fellow officers. That was especially true for Marines. After all, what Marine wanted to go to war with someone who couldn’t be trusted to hear the harsh truths or to make the hard decisions?
Ashlyn waited, giving them time to decide whether they wanted to stay or not. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly when no one made a move to leave. She hadn’t expected anyone to take her up on her offer, but there was always the possibility someone would. Especially in an academic setting where many of them hadn’t been on active duty for years, even decades.
“Thank you. Please be seated.” As they were, she signaled for Hernandez to stand ready at the controls for the various holo panels around the room. “There are going to be some changes here at the Academy. Major Hernandez and I will soon be leaving on TDY. I expect we will be gone no more than a few months. While we are away, General Zachary Degrassi will fill in for me.
“Most of you know the general. Those who don’t, know of him. I had the pleasure to serve under him early in my career. I was lucky enough that he became my mentor and later my friend. He is everything I want our cadets to aspire to be.
“General Degrassi is no stranger to the Academy. Like most of us, he is an Academy graduate. Since his retirement, he has spent some time teaching here. I have no doubt he will be a welcome asset in my absence. I know he will do everything he can while here to make sure our cadets get the best instruction possible. I’m asking each of you to do whatever you can to make him feel welcome.
“Because Major Hernandez will be on TDY with me, General Degrassi will bring his own aide with him. Captain Foyle also served a stint here as instructor several years ago. Both he and the general have also served with Sergeant Major Anisimova. The Academy will be in good hands with them and with you.”
She looked around, searching for one particular face in the crowd. “Commander Zacharian, while we are gone, I’d like you to fill in for Major Hernandez, not only in her classes but also as the assistant commandant. You have acted as her assistant and know her duties as my second here. Are you willing to step up? I’ll understand if you choose not to. I’m not giving you much notice after all.”
The retired Navy commander stood. “It would be my honor, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Commander.” She smiled and motioned for him to be seated. As she did, she hoped others followed his example. “An announcement pertaining to this matter will go out graduation weekend. General Okafor, as well as myself, will also make an announcement during the graduation ceremony. General Degrassi will be present much of this week, getting to know each of you and settling in. Also, I will be in contact with him once I go on TDY since I will still be on-planet. So you aren’t completely getting rid of me.” She smiled and more than a few of them laughed in response.
“If you have any questions, please ask either myself or Maria. We want these next few months to go as smoothly as possible for everyone here. One thing General Okafor stressed when she first spoke with me about going TDY was how she wants to make sure the Academy continues running smoothly. And that brings me to my next announcement.”
For half an hour, Ashlyn outlined what she could about her mother’s promotion and new assignment as well as some of the changes that would be coming for both the Navy and Marines. One of the topics of discussion the night before had been what to tell the staff. Okafor had considered for a moment and the simply said to tell them the truth, at least when it came to the events in Bennington System. The rest was still classified.
That brought them to the summer classes and other activities for the cadets, some of which Ash wished they could delay if not cancel. But that wasn’t going to happen, at least not without more information from not only Bennington but also from the Roemer Sector. At least Okafor briefed Degrassi on what little they did know and her former CO assured Ash they’d discuss their options after she informed the Academy staff of the upcoming changes.
“Classes will continue as scheduled after graduation. So will all summer activities for the cadets, including the training cruises. Those cruises will be kept closer to the home system until FleetCom knows more about the situation in Bennington. In the meantime, I am recommending General Degrassi increase the PT requirements for our cadets and I’m asking each of you to keep an eye on them, make sure they are all right and that they aren’t paying attention to unfounded rumors.”
“General, is there reason to believe trouble will find its way here?” one of the instructors asked from the back of the room.
“At the moment, that’s a negative, Master Sergeant.”
Before she could say anything more, Anisimova stepped forward, her expression showing her disapproval.
“Willis, you know General Shaw well enough to understand she’d tell us if there was reason to be concerned. You most certainly know me well enough to realize I’d have already taken you aside and given you a head’s up if there was. All General Shaw, not to mention General Okafor, are worried about is making sure the hard work all of us have put in this year doesn’t slide over the summer. The cadets are finally at the level everyone wants. Let’s make sure they continue to progress. Understood?” The former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps waited until the man nodded before dropping back onto his seat.
“Thank you, Durga.” Ash grinned briefly at the woman. “Before we move on to the program for this weekend’s activities, I want to say something. I don’t have reason to believe Fuercon is in danger. But I, like most of you here, served during the last war. That taught me never to underestimate what might happen. Because of that, I’d rather do everything possible to make sure each of you, as well as our cadets, are in the best place possible to meet any challenge that might arise. Now, Major Hernandez, if you please?”
The younger woman stepped up to the podium and activated the holo display behind her. “Let’s begin with the presentation of the colors Saturday morning. . . .”
A reminder that the title and series title of the book has changed. I’ll be going back this weekend to see if I can make the corrections on the earlier snippets so they are consistent with those going forward. Also, next week will be the last week before new snippets go behind the pay wall. However, I will add a snippet occasionally for everyone, so keep an eye out for those. There will also be another post later today or tomorrow outlining a few other updates to the site.
In the meantime, here’s another quick 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