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  The trip took five days, accelerating halfway, then turnover at the midpoint. The engines set a constant vibration through the ship, just below auditory level.

  Orbital insertion, maneuvering for optimum drop point, and all the other necessary adjustments took another day, just to be done quietly, slowly, and safely. Briefings continued until the day before orbit. Talice held her squad meeting then, an informal “give me your thoughts” get-together in the Mess. She looked them over, one by one.

  Jance was Second, small arms expert with a no-nonsense attitude.

  Dosu Okoye was a bruiser, Black African Olde Earth, and proud of it, good with arms and following orders.

  Konee, Holey, and Martin handled cover fire and scouting.

  JoJo and Zulu (names they preferred on missions, god love ‘em) were the SmartGun team. And rumored to be lovers, but Talice was okay with that, as long as they weren’t fooling around on the job.

  Talice looked the group over. “What’s on your mind, people?”

  Jance opened a tab on her SLATE. “If we stay fifty meters back and the bad guys have explosives, that may not be far enough. I don’t expect them to have laser-sights or decent range-finders, so they may just be lobbing stuff at random.”

  “We’ll maintain the fifty meters, but spread out more,” replied Talice. “Konee, you and Holey take point, JoJo and Zulu on my right flank. Jance, you’re on my left flank, twenty meters out, Martin cover. Dosu, I want you ten meters in the rear, and don’t assume they won’t have someone behind us. Keep your piece hot.”

  Nods all around, just the way Talice liked it.

  “We’re landing at night, so make sure your POD targeting is on the beam. I don’t want to lose anyone before we get started. We’ll be three to five kilometers out, soft landing, coming in sub-sonic, so noise or atmo-burn shouldn’t be a problem. It will take us a full orbit to descend.” Talice paused to look them in the eye. “We’ve done this. With luck, it will be smooth, but nothing is ever smooth, right?”

  Again, nods, and a few smirks.

  “Mac is going in with the Primary. Be sure your comm units are on All-Channel, not Support. We want to know what’s going on.”

  “What about us?” Zulu asked. He was light-skinned for a Black man, nearly olive in color, and soft-featured.

  “No SmartGun activity except on my order. Keep your personal weapons ready in case you’re jumped, but I don’t expect them to have anyone out scouting at night. These people aren’t soldiers, they’re guerillas, and not very good ones. Word says they were hired by the mining corporation to break up the resistance. Now they’ve gotten their hands on some toys they have no business with.”

  “Fucking Nemesis,” said Holey. “This won’t be the last time we’re needed.”

  Talice nodded, as did the others. “You may be right, but regardless, we take it one mission at a time. They’re in a rough bunker, no hostages we know of, but weapons and possible explosives.” She looked around at them again. “Rory has an explosives expert, Bělinka, in his squad, and it’s her job to see there are no traps once we get inside. You can’t miss her, she’s about as tall as my boobs.”

  They laughed around, all knowing Bělinka well.

  “Questions?” There were none. “Check your gear, get some rest, and let me know if you need anything.”

  “Hua!” came the chorused reply.

  They filed out, and a minute later, Lieutenant Serpens entered. “Corporal, a moment of your time.”

  Talice rose and stood at attention. She knew she was less than a semester from being Serpens’s equal in rank, but that didn’t matter. He was the officer, she was still enlisted. And she knew the score.

  “What can I do for you, sir?”

  “Just a quick word. You know this is only my third combat mission, right?”

  “I have every confidence in you, sir.”

  “Thank you. Regardless, I’m going to rely on Mac, Rory, and yourself a lot. This is my first night landing, and with Mac going in with the Primary, I’m in your drop. Just wanted you to know I’ll be with you.”

  Oh, great, now I’m a sitter. “Yes, sir, I understand. We’re glad to have you with us.”

  Serpens let go a breath. “Well, yes, thank you again. I’ll see you on D-Deck later.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Serpens gave a nervous smile and left quietly.

  Talice sat. Fuck. Not good. Not good at all.

  The thrumming of the carrier engines now sounded like a death-knell.

  * * *

  The PODs were down. Primary was in position, Support was standing by, dug in. Dawn was two hours away, and the operation was to be complete before then. So said the Lieutenant.

  Talice’s NighSight rangefinder was at max-amp, showing Rory’s Troopers in classic disbursement. The moon was new, the stars bright, the air cool and dry. No wind. Landscape was as known, late Autumn, open grasses, and sparse trees. Not much cover, so their HCS’s were set to full camo with enhancements, meaning false deadfall and such. The teams looked like so many other branch-covered lumps of ground.

  Serpens thumbed his wristcom. “Primary, status?”

  “Green. Minimal movement in the compound, nothing outside. Gun emplacement on the roof, but I don’t see anyone on-station.” Rory’s voice was barely a whisper.

  “You have line of fire on the gun, right?”

  “Affirmative. That’s our first target.”

  Serpens checked his chronometer implant. “Go in thirty seconds… mark.”

  “Thirty seconds.”

  Talice continued her observations. “Something coming over the rise north. Looks like a vehicle.”

  “Cancel Go, hold positions,” said Serpens. He clicked to his private channel and glanced her way. “Good catch.”

  Talice nodded, then clicked to All-Channel. “Konee, what is it, can you see?”

  “Five seconds.” Konee’s clipped Asian accent was sharp in Talice’s ear. “Motorized gun, looks like a mini-Hellbore, on an ATV. Three crew.”

  “Damn.” Talice looked to Serpens. “Orders?”

  Serpens shook his head, apparently thinking.

  “JoJo, Zulu, get hot. Track that target.” She looked to the lieutenant. “Sir?”

  “Do that, yes. Draw it off, then commence the operation?” It was a question.

  Talice thought. He’s asking my advice. I have to give him credit. “I’m not going to sacrifice my team, but yeah, I think we can do enough to attract their attention without getting ourselves killed.” She tapped her wristcom again. “JoJo, put on your brains, go stealth, circle north, prepare to draw off the ATV. If it comes after you, take it out.”

  “Copy. Moving.”

  “Brains,” said Serpens, and they activated their already-donned helmets.

  Talice’s display came alive inside her visor, and the entire field before her lit up in NightSight.

  “We’re behind schedule,” said Serpens.

  “First casualty of battle is the plan. Sir.” Talice grinned, but knew he couldn’t see her face behind the visor.

  “Target acquired.” JoJo’s whisper filled Talice’s helmet.

  “Lieutenant, we have activity at the front door.” Rory’s voice was low, but Talice heard a bit of stress in it.

  “All units, hold position.” Serpens let out a breath.

  “JoJo, target status?”

  “Parked, passenger exited to the front door, now conversing with two others, driver and gunner still active and in place.”

  “Lieutenant, I recommend we go.” Rory’s voice was back to a soft whisper. “No urgency or alert status seen at the compound.”

  Serpens was quiet for too long. “Wait thirty seconds.”

  Why? Talice clicked to a private channel. “Sir, in thirty seconds, everything could change.”

  “Sir, I recommend we proceed.” Mac.

  That’s the first we’ve heard from her, Talice thought. She’s sure being patient with this reluctant lieutenant.r />
  “They’re just… standing there.” Serpens seemed to be whispering to himself, and Talice caught all of it. On the private channel, fortunately.

  She clicked over to Mac’s comm. “Sergeant, we have a problem.”

  “On my way.”

  Almost like she expected it. Talice clicked over again, this time to Rory. “Frozen sherbet, Rory. Mac is headed this way.”

  “Hua. Keep him calm.” A pause. “Mac’s in charge, but you’re the closest thing to an officer we have. Recommendations?”

  Talice considered. Probably get court martialed for this. “Once Mac has the situation under control, we proceed. We have our orders.”

  “Copy.” She heard Rory click to All-Channel. “Hold positions, report any changes, prepare for OpCom.”

  Two minutes later, Mac scrambled into view, ten meters away. “Status?”

  Talice looked to Serpens, nearly immobile, still prone beside her, and quiet. “No change. Can you keep him in hand while we do this? Geez, Mac…”

  “Better me than you. Take over and finish this. We’ve been here too damn long.” Mac slithered her way to Serpens’s side and withdrew a hypo-injector from an arm pouch. Talice watched as she plugged it into the lieutenant’s HCS intravenous tap and hit the button. In ten seconds, Serpens relaxed and lay his head down.

  What the hell?

  Mac came in on her private channel. “You have about fifteen minutes to end this.”

  “You just drugged him!”

  “No, I calmed his demeanor. He was agitated, right? A danger to the mission and his command.”

  Talice didn’t answer. She had no words. She nearly snarled, gritted her teeth, and turned away, searching for her own calm. She took a breath. Then another. She clicked over to Rory. “Status nominal. Go.”

  “Copy.” Rory clicked over to All-Channel once more. “OpCom. Go. Go. Go.”

  The sky lit up with live fire. JoJo took out the ATV on the first shot. Rory’s small-arms squad raked the entrance. Zulu’s SmartGun hit the emplacement above it, reducing it to junk. There was no return fire. In thirty seconds it was over.

  “Squad, advance, two by two.” Talice watched by NightSight as Rory took Primary right up to the entrance.

  “Support, take up Primary positions, full cover.” Talice watched as the ATV burned, and the gun emplacement sizzled. Rounds exploded above the entrance, and Rory’s squad took cover.

  “In place, ready,” came Rory’s report.

  Talice looked to Mac, still at Serpens’s side. Mac nodded.

  “Enter at your discretion, watch for traps.”

  “Copy. Primary team, go.”

  “Support, advance, fifty meters, then hold. JoJo, Zulu, report.”

  “Nothing. All clear.”

  Small arms fire erupted inside the bunker. Then a flash grenade. Then another. Then quiet.

  “Secure,” came Rory’s voice after another minute. “Withdrawing with two prisoners, six hostiles down, no casualties in Primary. Bělinka is starting her sweep. Two rooms in the back, closed off. She’s got cover.”

  “Copy.” Talice looked to Mac again, who gave a thumbs-up. “Good work. Support advancing, we’ll take up positions outside. JoJo, Zulu, take the east and west corners, Konee and Holey cover, Martin at the front door, Jance, you’re point. Dosu, with me. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Stay low, eyes open, alert. Good job, Marines.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  How it All Began (Part Two)

  Mac and Me

  “Order or disorder depends on organization…”

  Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”

  Northland Base, After the “Incident”…

  There was no court martial. There was no board of inquiry. There were only hints of an investigation, as Lieutenant Serpens could not provide details of the mission to his commanding officer during the debriefing.

  Special Forces Staff Sergeant Jonie Macauley was called to Major Harlan Fawkes’s office. Then Sergeant Rory Dunham. Then Corporal Talice Wyloh. Each one told the same story. The operation went smoothly. No Marine casualties, no civilian casualties other than the hostiles. All hostile equipment engaged was destroyed. A sizeable cache of weapons was retrieved and collected by local law enforcement, overseen by Marine observers, and a full manifest of items given to all parties. The platoon performed commendably. Lieutenant Serpens gave precise, correct orders, which were followed. End of story.

  “Why, then, doesn’t the lieutenant recall the mission?” Fawkes sat as his desk, Talice standing before him at Parade Rest, by his order, offering her answers.

  “Unknown, sir. I cannot speak to the lieutenant’s state of mind.”

  Fawkes stared at her for a good thirty seconds. Talice’s eyes were focused on the map behind the major’s desk. “I don’t believe you,” he said quietly.

  Talice said nothing.

  “Let me rephrase. I think something happened, and you, Sergeant Macauley, and Sergeant Dunham are doing your best to not get the lieutenant in any trouble, when he obviously has some sort of memory issue. I can’t speak to his state of mind during the mission. But you can. You were there. He went in with your drop and was at your side during the operation. Correct?”

  Talice paused before her answer. “Yes, sir, he was with me during the operation.”

  “And he gave the order to proceed at that time, correct?”

  Another pause. “I believe so, sir.”

  “You believe so? You don’t recall either?”

  “I recall fully, sir. The order was given.”

  “By whom?”

  Talice closed her eyes and drew a ragged breath. “By… me, sir.”

  “Why?”

  What the hell. I’m done. “Due to the tactical situation, sir, and in my opinion as an officer-in-training, it was imperative. Lieutenant Serpens was… incapacitated. Sergeant Dunham was in charge of the Primary group and on-station. Sergeant Macauley was administering aid to the lieutenant. I took command. I gave the order.” She paused for a breath. “The decision to proceed with the operation was mine.”

  Fawkes rocked in his chair, eyes never leaving Talice’s pale and drawn face. “… And?”

  Talice swallowed hard, then continued. “Had we attempted withdrawal, with sunup less than an hour away, it could have cost us casualties. The hostiles had an ATV with small artillery mounted and mobile. There was a minigun emplacement on the top of the bunker. Conversations of importance seemed to be taking place at the entrance between hostiles. Our forces were deployed, targets acquired, and in control of the field. I relied… I used my officer-in-training knowledge and combat experience to make the call. I take full responsibility.”

  Fawkes watched Talice for another full minute. “At ease, Corporal. Take a seat.”

  Talice collapsed in a chair before the desk, slumping over, head in her hands. A tear leaked between her fingers.

  Fawkes waited as she composed herself. At last, she raised her reddened face to him.

  “Apologies, sir.” She took a tissue from his desk dispenser, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Finally, she sat back, exhausted, drained, and miserable.

  Fawkes rose and walked to an ancient coffee machine on a sideboard, drew two cups, and handed one to Talice. She drank half of it, then the other half, nearly choking on the bitter taste. She wasn’t a coffee drinker, but one did not refuse the hospitality of the Company Major.

  Fawkes sat again and sipped, still watching. At last, he showed a hint of a smile. “You’re just like your dad.”

  Talice sat straighter. “I… Thank you, sir. I take that as a compliment.”

  “You should. He would stand up for anything and anyone. I never heard him berate or insult another Marine, or any military, for that matter. Never laid blame. Stood by his company. Led by example. Damn fine officer.” He paused, reminiscing. “Did you know he saved my life?”

  Talice shook her head slowly. Dad? Saved my Company Major? Holy shit!

  “I’m… glad he di
d that, sir. For both of you.”

  “Damn near got killed himself. A High Explosive round glanced off his helmet, didn’t explode. He dragged me about fifty meters back to cover.”

  What the hell were you doing fifty meters beyond cover? Talice quickly forced the question down, down, down.

  “Let’s go over this again, Corporal.” Fawkes waited, but Talice remained quiet. “The operation was successful. The platoon was deployed by the Book. Orders were given correctly. Hostiles were taken out with maximum expediency. Lieutenant Serpens was… incapacitated during the operation by… an unknown malady, which has apparently affected his memory of the mission. After all, you were on a different planet, different environment, unknown bacteria or viruses might have been in the vicinity. Who can say?

  “You followed mission orders and relayed them to the team, which carried them out. Sergeant Macauley, who was the mission medic, by the way, administered to the lieutenant during the operation, possibly saving his life. Anything else?”

  “I… don’t think so, sir.”

  Fawkes nodded slowly. “How much time left before you complete your officer’s training?”

  Talice nearly flapped her arms in frustration, but managed to hold them still. “Sir, after this mission, I’m not sure I can even think about it.”

  “You’d better think about it, Corporal. Because what I see before me is one of the best officer candidates I’ve had in my command. I recommend you sign up after graduation for advanced officer training.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll look into it.”

  “Anything else?”

  Talice shook her head, then stood slowly, and came to attention. “No, sir. Does the Major have further questions of me?”

  “None. You’re dismissed, Corporal. Case closed.”

  Talice turned on her heel and took her exit, numb with relief and in a daze.

  * * *

  The night was late, and the club was closing. Rory, Mac, and Talice were the only remaining customers, seated at a corner booth with three empty pitchers on the table. The rest of the team had headed out, retreating to bunks or on-base housing, where sleep, or vid, or net, or maybe even someone special waited.