Marines (37 page)

"So," Holm continued, "I've got to replace him.  I don't want to look outside the I Corps for senior officers if I can help it.  So, I'm bumping Gilson to command 1st Division.  Erik, I want you to take over 1st Brigade, effective immediately."  He smiled at Cain's stunned look.  "There's no one I trust more."

He looked over at Jax.  "Darius, you'll take over the regiment."  He tossed him the box he was holding.  "Here are your eagles.  Congratulations, Colonel Jax.  You earned them."

Erik turned to face Jax and put his hand out.  "There's no one who deserves it more, Jax," he said as they shook hands.

Holm stood up and walked around the desk again, putting his hand out to Jax as well.  He glanced over at Cain.  "I'll get you your star too, Erik.  But I can't approve a promotion to general rank without an OK from General Samuels.  I sent the request this morning."  He gave Cain a quick grin.  "Another reason I don't want you picking fights with that political officer right now."

After shaking hands with both of them and exchanging congratulatory salutes, he continued.  "I want to bump up one of Jax's captains to major and give him the battalion.  I'll expect a recommendation from the two of you by 1800 tonight.  Try to agree and just give me one pick.  I'll approve whatever you guys send up."

"Yessir."  Cain and Jax spoke almost in unison.

Holm looked down and poked at his 'pad for a few seconds.  "I'm sending you both some operational notes.  I want 1st Brigade to plan and execute an assault on Columbia.  You'll be taking on 2nd Brigade, which will be defending.  We'll do a simulated bombardment, and then you'll hit the ground, Erik.  Review the notes, and we'll discuss again tomorrow, say 1300 hours."  He glanced back down at his desk.  "Dismissed."

The newly promoted officers stood up and snapped salutes to the general, Jax's sharp and crisp, Erik's a little ragged.  They turned and walked toward the door.

"Oh, and gentlemen?" 

They turned to face the general.  "You have both seen a force assault Columbia.  See if you can do better than they did, ok?"

Chapter 3

Western Alliance Intelligence Directorate HQ

Wash-Balt Metroplex, Earth

The conference room was large and very plush; the polished walnut table alone cost enough to feed a hundred starving Cogs for a year.  The soft leather chairs surrounding it were no less expensive, and in these comfortable seats there were a number of well-dressed men and women.  To the side of the table was a large credenza covered with platters of food.  This was a lunch meeting, and the group assembled here quietly picked at their plates and fiddled with their 'pads while the waiters finished serving everyone.  Finally, the last of the staff departed wordlessly, and the heavy glass doors slid shut, the clear panes turning opaque as they did. 

The room had an old look to it, with its real raised panel wainscoting and antique oil paintings on the walls.  The paneling alone was noteworthy - wood of any kind was an expensive commodity, and walnut of this quality was almost priceless.  There were few forests remaining in 23rd century America, and almost none with the old-growth trees needed for this type of craftsmanship.  The illusion of some ancient manor home's drawing room ended abruptly, however, at the single wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, which offered a kilometer-high panoramic view of the southern Washbalt skyline.

"We have a number of items to discuss, and time is short.  I have to brief our British friends on the status of our operations; my transport leaves in three hours, so let's not waste any time."  The speaker was a tall man, perhaps sixty years of age, his black hair sprinkled lightly with gray.  His name was Gavin Stark, but only a few people in the room knew that.  To most of them he was simply Number One, the head of Western Alliance intelligence and one of the most feared men on the planet.  "Let's start with the Epsilon Eridani initiative.  How does the excavation proceed?"

A woman seated at the opposite end of the table responded.  She was tall and trim, perhaps a few years younger than Stark, though there was more gray in her hair.  "Operations are almost back on schedule.  As you are all aware, twelve years ago, just before the war, CAC intelligence discovered what we found on EE-4.  They launched a surprise attack and took control of the planet.  We were able to divert a detachment from 1st Marine division to retake the world back before they could dig in or reinforce.  Or, of course, get any heavy intel from the excavation site.  The battle was small - neither side was heavily mobilized at the time.  In the aftermath we were able to substantially upgrade the system's defenses, and a naval battlegroup has been posted there since."

Stark put up his hand, an impatient look on his face.  "Yes, Number Ten, we can bypass the history lesson.  Let's focus on the implementation of the Directorate's most recent operational plan."

Mildly chastised, the woman cleared her throat softly and continued.  "Yes, Number One.  At our last Directorate meeting it was decided that, with the discovery of several additional excavation sites, the colonial population had become an unacceptable security threat to the overall operation.  Removal has been completed in accordance with that finding."

"Has there been any blowback from the implementation?"  Andres Carillon was designated as Number Three in the Directorate.  He was tall, well over two meters, with white blond hair and pale skin.  To look at Number One, he could have been an accountant or a college professor; Carillon, on the other hand, was everyone's image of an evil spymaster.

"No, sir."  Number Ten paused to clear her throat.  Carillon made her nervous.  He made everyone nervous.  "As per plan, we utilized our new variant of the G-11 virus family, which has a considerably higher mortality rate.  Unlike the versions used during the Unification Wars, this new strain carries a specific genetic marker rendering it impotent against anyone who has received the companion vaccination.  Of course, only our personnel were given the injections."

Carillon's usual grim expression gave way to a slight smile, which was somehow even more unnerving.  "Was the virus 100% effective?"

"Actual mortality among the population was in excess of 94%.  The rest have been liquidated through conventional methods, though we have officially attributed all deaths to the virus.  We have also utilized the plan to remove the marine garrison.  Their mortality rate was lower, approximately 50%, mostly because the commander responded quickly and put biohazard procedures in effect almost immediately.  Nevertheless, the outbreak gave us the perfect cover to have the marines ordered offworld.  Carson's World is now occupied by two battalions of our new Directorate troops.  A planetary quarantine is in effect.  The orbital defenses remain manned by naval personnel, and there is a reinforced battlegroup permanently assigned to system defense."  She glanced down at her 'pad for an instant.  "Currently, the AS Sheridan and her group is on station, reinforced by the 3rd Cruiser Squadron."

Carillon looked like he was about to say something further, but Stark spoke first.  "Security seems well in hand."  He turned slightly.  "Number Six, what is the status of the actual excavation?" 

"Progress has been slow.  As you all know, this is a very sensitive project from a technical perspective."  Number Six was a woman, younger than Number Ten.  Indeed, she was the youngest person present.  Tall, with long blond hair and blue eyes, Alex Linden had risen faster than any agent in the Directorate's history.  It didn't hurt her rise that she was drop-dead gorgeous and willing to use it; before she had been appointed to the Directorate         she had been the lover of two of the men and one of the women in the room.  But she was brilliant too, and cold-blooded.  As well as the affections of a roster of highly-placed officials, she also possessed many of their secrets.  Alex was a big believer in using both the carrot and the stick to get what she wanted.

"We all know the difficulties involved, Number Six."  Stark was amused at how differently he reacted to her than anyone else in the room.  It was involuntary, and he found it interesting how difficult it was to suppress.  Not that he would ever allow that to interfere with his decisions.  But he realized he wasn't entirely immune to her charms.  "I think what we need is a reliable estimate on when the shipment will be ready.  We are going to need the maximum possible security on that.  A full battlegroup, at least."

Alex's smile was brief, barely perceptible, though Stark saw it as she had intended.  "Number One, I am confident that the first shipment of items will be ready for transit within six months.  With your permission, I will go to Epsilon Eridani IV myself to supervise the final security measures."

"Yes, that is a good idea.  You may leave as soon as you are ready."  He paused for a few seconds.  "Be careful out there."  He doubted he would have added that if he were speaking to any of the others.  Honestly, he wouldn't really have cared if any of the others made it back.  But he'd miss Alex.  He'd probably have to get rid of her one day, but for now he enjoyed having her around.  "Number Ten, please clear Number Six through your onsite security and arrange a suitable cover that affords her any access she requires."

"Yes, Number One.  Consider it done."  She kept her voice even and professional, for which she was pleased with herself.  Number Ten hated Alex Linden.  Bitch was the nicest thing she called her in private.

"Very well.  Let's move on.  Number Four, what is the current status of our Marine Corps initiatives?"

Number Four was the only member of the Committee not present, represented instead by a hologram of a professional, middle-aged man in a stylish suit, which was likely not at all what the individual in question really looked like.  Stark was the only one in the room who knew the identity of Number Four, and he intended to keep it that way for now.  Not even pretty little Alex had been able to charm it out of him, though she'd tried with commendable enthusiasm.

"The plan is underway, but progress is slow."  Number Four's voice sounded normal - too normal.  A regular crowd wouldn't notice the perfection of the tones, but this was a room full of spooks, and they all could tell it was a fake.  But it wasn't in any of their interests to push for information Number One didn't want to share.  Not in the open, at least.  "The political officers have been assigned to units currently in base.  It is not practical to interfere with the command structures of deployed forces while they are on campaign."

"What response have the political officers received from the marine personnel?"  Stark had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to hear it anyway.

"There has been considerable resistance."  The hologram moved naturally as Number Four spoke, turning to face whoever had asked the last question.  "As you know, the marines are recruited from among those who least fit in with the normal population.  Their training builds on this, and the result has been an extraordinarily effective fighting force.  The Corps fills a void in their lives, which creates a very high level of morale and élan.  However, loyalty is to the Corps itself, and not Alliance Gov.  In fact, most marine personnel harbor a level of resentment, at least against the system in general if not the government in particular."

"Yes, yes, we are aware of all of this.  It is the primary reason we have initiated this plan."  Number One found himself looking at the hologram as he spoke.  Damn, those things are realistic, he thought as he forced himself to turn away.  "But what is the status of implementation?"

"Few of the officers have truly accepted the attachment of political overseers.  Instances of true insubordination have been rare, but there has been tremendous resistance to integrating the new officers into the command structures.  Among the marines themselves there has been considerable grumbling.  To date, we have not implemented any disciplinary measures.  In fact, with virtually the entire officer corps of one mind on this matter, it will prove to be extremely difficult to impose any serious penalties.  At least conventionally."

Stark reminded himself not to look at the hologram.  Not for any particular reason other than it made him feel foolish talking to a laser-generated phantom as is it were a human being.  "Do we have any reports regarding the impact on the operational efficiency of the units in combat?"

"Negative."  The hologram looked back at Stark as it answered his question.  "Although some units with assigned political liaison staff have been deployed to campaigns, none of these operations have reached a decisive point as of yet.  We do have reports that commanders are generally keeping the political officers out of the chains of information and command wherever possible.  Whether this is the result of multiple instances of individual resistance or a more orchestrated campaign of non-compliance is not yet evident."

"I'd like to interject something into this debate."  The gray-haired man sitting next to Stark had been silent until now.

"Yes, Number Two, what would you like to add?"  Stark paid close attention to everything Number Two said.  The old man would have been Number One himself, but he felt he was no longer up to the demands of the job, and he'd asked his protégé Stark to leapfrog him and take the Chair.

"First, let me make clear that I am in complete agreement that something must be done about the marine organization as well as the colonial governments, so what I say now is only intended in the context of how best to tactically execute the needed changes in the near term."  He looked around the table as several of those present nodded their understanding.

"I have some concerns about implementing these measures too quickly at this time.  While the war has unquestionably taken an upward trajectory from the disastrous early years, it is far from over.  I am extremely hesitant to do anything that might impair the combat effectiveness or morale of our forces until victory is assured.

"We have managed to keep the empire out of the current conflict by an effective campaign of bribery and blackmail.  However, if I understand Number Seven's report" - he looked briefly over at that operative, who nodded in response - "General Santiago has been removed from command and may, in fact, have been executed.  In any event, he is certainly no longer in a position to sabotage Imperial combat readiness in return for the stipend we have been paying him.  We know the imperial high command is planning attacks on several of our colony worlds.  I agree with our decision to withhold warning from our field commanders - the outrage caused by a surprise attack will be quite useful as a propaganda tool, both in terms of focusing the attention of the military and instilling a useful amount of fear and nationalism into the civilian populations.  Overall, it is clear the war is escalating, not winding down.  I must question if now is the time to tinker too significantly with the military."