Duty from Ashes (10 page)

“Unless you have a very good reason not to go, you will be going with them. That means you’ll need to carefully choose what part of Ares Company and your staff goes with you and what part remains here to make sure the rest of the battalion is ready for the next phase of your mission,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll need to know your decision on staffing by end of day tomorrow.”

Ash nodded and tried to ignore the way her stomach once more tried to tie itself in knots. She didn’t like having to split her staff up, not this soon. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust them. She did. But she’d feel better if they were all together on their first mission under her command. Still, her mother was right. She needed to leave someone in command here who would keep the rest of the battalion working to prepare for the next phase of their mission, whatever that might be.

“All right. Let me talk to my people. However, it would help to know what the immediate and long term goals of our mission are.” She glanced at Okafor, hoping the general understood and agreed.

“You’ll be fully briefed shortly, Ash.” Okafor held up a hand to keep her from interrupting. “Be patient a little bit longer. We’ll be there soon.”

What could she do except nod?

“One more question, General?” she asked a few moments later.

“Of course.”

“I am getting the feeling that this is going to be anything but a standard mission you’re sending us on. Because I have some concerns about certain officers and non-coms for the companies you’ve identified to take part in the mission, I would like to be present for at least part of their training today. Do you think we will be done in time for me to get back to the O-Course to see how they’re doing?”

“You should be able to. I don’t think the briefing will take more than a couple of hours. At least most of the afternoon will be yours. But be ready to meet with the mission’s senior naval officers tomorrow morning.”

“Understood, ma’am.”

“Ash, there’s one more thing,” Okafor said. “You won’t be the senior Marine on the mission. Colonel Isaiah Johnson will be. However, he understands that the Devil Dogs will have their own mission parameters and that you are in charge where they are concerned. It’s just that in the chain of command until you reach your destination, he will be senior.”

Ashlyn nodded. That didn’t surprise her. Whatever their ultimate destination, the Devil Dogs were still SpecOps. They would serve to assist the Marine contingent assigned to the task force or fleet transporting them but, once there, they would take over. It was something she’d been part of time and again when serving with the Devil Dogs under Pawlak.

“Johnson’s a good man, General, and an even better Marine.” Sensing her mother relaxing at her words, she turned her head and smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, Mom. I know O’Brien and Sorkowski are the exceptions. I won’t hold what they did to me and my team against Johnson.”

“We never thought you would, Ash.” Elizabeth’s hand closed over hers and gave it a quick squeeze. “But we also want you to understand that this decision is in no way an indication that we think you aren’t capable of leading the full Marine contingent. It’s just that you are going to have your hands full with the DDs’ mission.”

“Mom, I understand, truly.” She looked back at Okafor. “Ma’am, I mean it.”

“I know you do, Ash.”

Okafor fell silent as the aircar pulled into a parking garage. Ashlyn looked around and felt the color drain from her face as she realized where they were. Of all the potential destinations that had come to mind, this was the very last one. Hell, it hadn’t even been on the list of the most improbable destinations. What in the world was going on?

“Easy, Ash,” Elizabeth said softly. “This is necessary. You’ll understand soon.”

Not trusting herself to speak, Ashlyn nodded and watched as their driver slowed and finally stopped at a security checkpoint. Two heavily armed Marines stepped forward and asked everyone to hand over their IDs. After closely checking them and confirming that they were expected, the Marines stepped back and waved the aircar through. Because she knew not many in her position ever made this journey, Ashlyn breathed deeply and tried to calm her nerves. As she did, she chuckled softly. Now she understood why her mother and Okafor had refused to tell her where they were going. If she’d known they were on their way to meet with the president, she’d have probably run for the hills. Now she had no choice but to see what her companions had up their sleeves next.

C
HAPTER
S
IX

A
SHLYN
PAUSED
OUTSIDE
the door to the conference room and breathed deeply. How quickly things could – and did – change. That was a lesson she had learned early into her career as a Marine. That lesson had been drummed home when she joined the Devil Dogs. Now it was a lesson she planned to drill into her company commanders, whether they liked it or not.

Three hours ago, she’d been sitting in the back of the aircar with her mother and General Okafor. Her biggest concern had been getting through the upcoming briefing and then back to the Obstacle Course. She’d been so worried about the potential problems with Gamma and Delta Companies that she hadn’t thought too much about why they were leaving Marine country for the briefing. Then they’d pulled into the parking garage under the Capital building and all concerns about the battalion had disappeared.

For more than two hours, she had stood behind her mother’s chair as Secretary of State Linden Klingsbury briefed them. Then President Harper had taken over. Over the next few minutes, he’d made it very clear that he wanted to put an end to the war. FleetCom was to implement a plan to take the fight directly to the Callusians. While they were pushed on their own homefront, missions were to be run to help liberate both the Cassius System and the newly invaded Nystrom System. If FleetCom learned of strategic targets, they were to be hit and hit hard. The time for Fuercon and its allies to sit back and watch as system after system fell to the Callusians was over. The war was going to end now and on Fuercon’s terms.

While Ash agreed wholeheartedly with the President, she had concerns. The morning briefing of company commanders had shown a weakness – well, two weaknesses – in the battalion. She was going to have to deal with that at once. Otherwise, the battalion would be at a disadvantage when it shipped out. The only problem was, she didn’t know what to do. Not yet, at any rate. Hopefully, by the time this briefing was over, she’d have an idea.

Squaring her shoulders, Ashlyn reached out and opened the door. As she stepped inside, she glanced around. In the center of the room was a long conference table. Around it sat the company commanders and members of her staff. Standing nearby were the company XOs. Unlike the morning’s briefing, the senior non-coms had not been sent for. She’d leave their briefing to Talbot and Adamson, but that would come later.

Ashlyn frowned at the sight of two empty chairs at the table. Damn it, she had really hoped the concerns she’d had since morning had been a temporary blip in the way the battalion ran. Now she knew better. Just as she knew she should have insisted the doctors release her to full active duty status sooner than they had. With only a month or so on the job, she simply hadn’t had enough time to get to know her commanders, much less their officers and the enlisted personnel.

“’Ten-hut!”

Adamson’s voice rang out as she called the room to attention. Instantly, all conversation halted and boots scraped against the floor as chairs were pushed back and those gathered got to their feet. At least those present showed no hesitation in following the master sergeant’s order.

Ashlyn moved to stand at the head of the table and took the time to look each of her captains in the eye. “Where are Captains Hotchner and Rhydderch?” Her voice was cold and her eyes hard. Any doubts she’d had about the necessity of transferring the men out of the battalion disappeared as she waited for someone to answer her question.

“Unknown, Major. They have yet to report in. Nor did they send word that they would be delayed,” Ortega reported from her place at Ash’s right.

“Did you confirm receipt of the change in orders for Gamma and Delta Companies?”

Of course she had. Why else were the XOs from those companies present?

“I did, ma’am,” Ortega confirmed.

“Call the roll, Master Sergeant.” If Hotchner and Rhydderch wanted to play games, she’d teach them that she would win every time – and she’d do it by following the rules.

Ashlyn remained standing, her gaze moving from person to person as Adamson called the roll. Starting with Alpha Company, the name of each commanding officer was called. Then Adamson repeated the process with each of the executive officers. With only two exceptions, everyone answered. Ash nodded, grateful for small favors.

“I want to make one thing perfectly clear,” she said as the room once more fell silent. “I expect each and every officer to act like a Devil Dog. That means obeying orders and never being insubordinate. I will not tolerate non-coms being thrown under the bus to save an officer’s career nor will I stand by and let officers or non-coms abuse the enlisted members of this battalion.

“The Devil Dogs are the best of the Marines. So I expect the best from each of you. It was obvious this morning that two company commanders had a problem understanding that. They have now shown they do not deserve to call themselves Marines, much less Devil Dogs. I will not allow insubordination such as they have shown to go unpunished.

“”Lt. Taffer, where is Captain Hotchner?”

From where he stood four places down the table, Taffer swallowed hard. But that was the only indication he gave that he might want to be anywhere but there.

“Begging the Major’s pardon, but I don’t know.”

Ash forced herself not to clinch her fists at her side as her anger once again flared. “When did you last see or speak with him, lieutenant?”

“Shortly after we received the change in orders for this afternoon, ma’am.”

“And?”

“That’s it, Major. He instructed me to make sure the company knew of the change in orders and told me to be sure to be here. Then I was dismissed.”

“Same question, Lt. Rossi.”

Unlike Taffer, the petite Rossi stepped up to the table and looked Ash square in the eye. As she did, Ashlyn had a feeling the redhead had grown tired of covering for her captain.

“I received basically the same orders, Major.”

For a moment, Ash didn’t say anything. Then she nodded once, her mind made up. She was about to make an example of the missing captains, one they wouldn’t soon forget.

“Master Guns.” She looked to where Talbot stood near the door. “Step outside and contact the MPs. Captains Hotchner and Rhydderch are to be located and brought immediately to my office. If we are still in the briefing, they are to be held there until I’m done.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He executed a perfect about face and left the room.

“Lt. Taffer, Lt. Rossi, you are in temporary command of Gamma and Delta Companies until new COs have been found. You will meet with Captain Ortega after the briefing and you will detail for her everything you can about the behavior of your former COs. You will answer each of her questions fully and without hesitation if you wish to remain with the battalion.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

If they hadn’t already been standing at attention, Ash had no doubts they would have braced to it.

“Now, understand one thing, ladies and gentlemen. I will not tolerate behavior such as Hotchner and Rhydderch have exhibited today. I will repeat what I told each of you when I assumed command from Lt. Col. Pawlak. If you do not feel you can follow my orders, if you are not willing to give your all – including your lives – to the battalion, to the Corps and to Fuercon, then leave. I will approve your transfer immediately.”

She sat and waited, giving them time to think about what she had said. Then she looked at Adamson and motioned for her to once again call the roll. One by one, those gathered announced their intent to remain with the battalion.

Good.

“Be seated.” She watched as they did as she said. “There have been some changes since our briefing this morning. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no longer any room for doubt that the Callusians are intent on waging an all-out war. They have now sent ships to the Nystrom System. Halstrom’s Landing has been attacked but is, at least so far, holding out. Second Fleet is dispatching units to assist the Nystrom Navy in holding off the invaders until more help can arrive.

“There has also been movement in the Cassius System. The latest word from our picket is that it appears at least some of the Callusian ships have moved out. What that means, we don’t know – yet.”

Ash leaned back and frowned. By the time she’d left the briefing with Okafor and the others, she had been worried about whether or not the Devil Dogs would be able to meet the challenge set for them. Now that worry had blossomed and she was going to have to admit to the brass that at least part of the DDs weren’t up to the challenge – yet.

And that was on her because she hadn’t anticipated the problem before now. That was one mistake she’d never again make.

“The battalion, or at least most of it, will be shipping out just as soon as FleetCom has determined ship assignments for the upcoming mission. It was to have been the full battalion but, after the events of this afternoon, I anticipate we will be at least one company short.” She held up a hand to prevent anyone from interrupting. “If that is the case, a skeleton HQ staff will remain as well. I’ll be meeting with Captain Ortega and the rest of my staff later to discuss how we’ll handle it.

“Alpha and Beta Companies will go into immediate training for the mission. Focus is to be on boarding parties as well as ground combat. You will receive your training assignments within an hour of the end of this briefing. Be aware that orders are going out to all members of the battalion that we will be moving on base tomorrow. That gives you tonight to say your goodbyes. There will be limited comm privileges to all Devil Dogs but we are basically going into a blackout until launch. FleetCom does not want to tip their hand to the enemy.