Chapter 43
After a shower and a change into her service uniform, Rachel received a call just as she was leaving her room. She sat at her desk and accepted the call when she saw that it was from her father. Hipper hopped on the desk and flicked his ears at the screen. Her father, mother, and sister were all in the viewscreen.
"Do you have any idea of how proud we are?" Katherine asked.
"You don't get to wave it away and say something like just doing my job. You and your classmates went above and beyond anything that you were supposed to do," her father stated.
"I heard that two were hurt," Jeanette said.
She nodded. "They're fine and acting like nothing happened."
"What happened when you got back to the academy?" Katherine asked.
Rachel shrugged. "The commandant congratulated us, then told us we have to be at an after-action review after lunch."
She sighed and ran a hand down Hipper's back. "Dad, when I was in formation and saw you approaching, I couldn't help but think of how few security people were there, especially with you out in the open."
Benjamin looked thoughtful when he spoke. "This wasn't the first time the Queen or me have found ourselves under threat. It's sadly a fact of life for us. We had the normal amount of security with us, in addition to the dozens of police, Marines, and palace security milling about the festivities."
"But those lunatics attacked anyway!"
"Expect nuts to do the unexpected, that's what my father taught me, and it's something I learned the hard way. We prepare as best we can, but there's no way we can predict what a nut will do. Those men attacked where security was thin, but it wasn't a well-thought out attack. We found that out after the interrogation of the surviving one. When the other two went down, he found himself under fire from the police, Lt. Tucker and Sergeant McDonald, angry treecats were coming at him, and he lost sight of the Queen - thanks to your classmates. He lost the plot, so to speak."
"Who is he?"
"He's clammed up about that, but blood samples and fingerprint scans should return a result soon enough."
They saw her look off-camera and nod. "Matt's here so we can go to lunch. Call you later?"
"Of course, sweetheart, enjoy your afternoon."
#
At lunch, Rachel and Angela told the story to their friends, who were riveted by the tale. None of them had seen what happened but were aware of a commotion. Lew, Diego, Zach, and Max had been near the royal box when the VIPs were whisked away, and Matt was at a booth with other pre-med cadets doing free health screenings for those at the festivities.
"… and you all surrounded them, just like that?" Lew asked.
Angela nodded and Zach took her hand. Earlier, he had half-heartedly fussed that "she could have been hurt doing that!" but was very proud of her, nonetheless.
"And then what happened?" Max asked.
"The security people got them to the pinnace, and off they flew," Angela said, pointing her fork at Rachel. "After that, the LCPD finally arrived and took down two of them. When the third one saw his buddies on the ground, and all those snarling treecats coming at him, he threw up his hands. Although, Hipper and three of his friends tackled the nut anyway, for good measure. Or for fun. They didn't hurt him, but he was screaming for the police to get "these things off me!"
Matt raised an eyebrow at the two 'cats. "Fun?"
Hipper and Athena looked at each other, flicked their ears, and nodded when they looked back at Matt.
#
After lunch, Lt. Lee and the flight squadron cadets filed into the auditorium. Sixth Space Lord Admiral Sarnow, the commandant, deputy commandant, and two yeomen were seated behind a long table on a raised platform. Most of the academy faculty were seated in the gallery to the right Lt. Lee and the cadets stood at attention at seats in front of the table.
"Be seated," the commandant said.
They did so and Admiral Sarnow spoke. "Let me add relax to that. This isn't a formal hearing or any kind of trial. You've done nothing wrong. On the contrary, your actions were righter than anything we could have expected of you."
He gestured for the yeomen to start. One held his hands ready above a keyboard and another started a video recording device.
"We're here to conduct an after-action review regarding the events of September 13, 1924 P.D. at the Landing City airfield. Present to conduct this review are Sixth Space Lord Admiral Mark Sarnow, Royal Manticoran Navy Academy Commandant Admiral Rick Pallas, and Deputy Commandant Commodore Javier Dupre. Recorders are Petty Officers Mallory and Greggson. On review are the actions of academy flight school instructor Lt. Donovan Lee, and members of academy flight squadron series twenty-four; cadets Acosta, Bain, Dimitrov, Ferrera, Ivanov, Jarvinen, Hutchins, Hasani, Lechner, Lambert, Mayer, Mayhew, Murphy, Novik, Petersen, Pickett, Richard, Sanna, Stackhouse, Takᾴcs, Thill, Truman, Vos, Wallner, Walker, Zajac. We'll forgo naming off faculty present or we'll be here until dinner. Note that the list is submitted into record."
"Miss Mayhew, I also ask your permission to speak to your armsmen."
"Of course, sir." She turned around and motioned for them to come forward from the door.
He cleared his throat and spoke. "Lt. Lee, you were the mission leader for the flight squadron that morning?"
Lt. Lee stood at attention. "Yes sir."
"At ease, lieutenant. I want to hear your recollection of events after the flight."
"Aye, sir. I had the cadets form up in two squads of thirteen in front of the Javelin aircraft for review by Her Majesty. Her majesty's cars arrived, and she was joined by Protector Mayhew. I met them at their cars and accompanied them to the formation. She reviewed the first squad, and just as we arrived at the second squad, the attack began."
"Describe the attack, if you would."
"Aye, sir. There was shouting from the cars, pulser shots bounced off a nearby Javelin, the personnel by the cars went down, and the treecats I saw were clearly upset by something. When the cars exploded, I directed cadets Hutchins and Mayhew to start the pinnace for takeoff."
"For the purpose of…?"
"Getting Her Majesty and the Protector out of the area. At that time, it looked to be the best option for their safety. There wasn't much time to work out any other kind of plan."
"I gather that. Why Hutchins and Mayhew?"
"They were nearest me, and honestly, I would have chosen them anyway."
Rachel's cheeks took on a pink tinge at the statement. Lt. Lee was a hotshot LAC jock who had been awarded numerous commendations for his actions in battle, and to have a pilot of his caliber admit that about a mere cadet was touching.
"What was a pinnace doing there?" Admiral Sarnow asked.
"I followed the flight with an academy pinnace carrying rations, material for an academy information booth, and spare gear," Lt. Lee replied.
"Is a pinnace normally there?"
"Yes, sir."
"Continue."
"Aye, sir. When the cadets made for the pinnace, I saw Miss Mayhew's armsmen shooting at the attackers. I was surprised to hear Cadet Truman shout to surround them, and they did so."
Admiral Sarnow looked down the table. "A Truman, why am I not surprised?"
Now Angela's cheeks took on their own pink tinge.
"Miss Truman, I'm not casting aspersions on you or your family. On the contrary, it's heartening to see you carry on your family's tradition of courage, loyalty, and honor in service to our navy."
He returned his attention to Lt. Lee. "Lieutenant, you say that were surprised at the cadet's actions? Can you explain why you feel that way? You may speak freely."
Lt. Lee thought before he spoke. "Sir, these cadets aren't yet officers or security personnel, and no decent officer would ask them to act as such. However, they took the initiative and acted far above what was expected of them."
"Thank you, lieutenant. Continue."
"Yes sir… when the cadets had surrounded Her Majesty and the Protector, LCPD had taken down two of the attackers. Miss Mayhew's armsmen were returning fire and treecats were swarming the third attacker. At that point Colonel Shemais and Colonel Rice rushed Her Majesty and the Protector to the pinnace. Once they were inside, I ordered the cadets to fly to the palace."
Admiral Sarnow spoke. "Lieutenant Tucker, Sergeant McDonald?"
"Sir."
"What compelled your actions during the attack?"
"We are Mayhew armsmen. My principal and Protector Mayhew were in danger. Our only choice, our duty, was to neutralize the attacker."
"Very well, lieutenant. You're both commended for your actions."
"Sir," he said with a nod.
The commandant spoke. "Lieutenant Lee, why didn't you fly the pinnace?"
"Sir, I was the mission leader, and there were 24 cadets at the tarmac that were my responsibility. All the fourth form cadets in flight school are qualified small craft pilots. I've flown with cadets Hutchins and Mayhew for two years, and I felt confident that they could safely get Her Majesty and the Protector where they needed to go."
The commandant spoke to Admiral Sarnow. "Admiral, I fully endorse Lt. Lee's decisions."
"Noted, Admiral. Lieutenant, what happened after Her Majesty and the Protector were evacuated?"
"I saw Cadet Acosta leaning against another cadet with a bleeding leg, then I saw a cadet was applying pressure to Cadet Pickett's bleeding arm. Our attention was drawn to a shriek from the third attacker when three treecats… tackled him. LCPD then took him into custody. I evaluated cadets Acosta and Pickett, who looked to be grazed by pulser fire but were in good spirits."
"Cadet Acosta, Cadet Pickett?" the admiral asked.
The Manticoran and Grayson cadets stood.
"How do you feel?"
"Good, sir."
"All right, sir."
"No damage done?" the admiral asked.
"No sir," they chorused.
"Cadet Acosta, can you give me your impression about events of the day? You were injured, after all. You may speak freely."
"Sir, we're here to serve in the Queen's Navy. The Queen was there with us and she was in danger. The way I see it, what else could we do? Those attackers would have to get through 26 of us to get to her, sir."
"Thank you, cadet," the admiral replied, his voice quieter. The commandant and several members of the faculty patted their eyes and wiped tears from their eyes. Admiral Sarnow cleared his throat and looked at the two treecats.
"Cadet Mayhew, Cadet Truman, can you and your treecats sign?"
"Yes sir," they chorused.
"What are their names?"
"Hipper, sir."
"Athena, sir."
"Fine names. Can we ask them questions?"
When Hipper and Athena clearly nodded in reply, the admiral's lips twitched. "Very well. Hipper, Athena, I've been around treecats enough to know that you can sense danger. When did you sense danger?"
Rachel and Angela signed the question. The cats signed their reply and Rachel spoke.
"Sir, they say that they felt the danger in their minds when we lined up on the tarmac. Other treecats in the area felt it too, so they moved toward the danger. When the bad men appeared, they moved to capture them, but two were on the ground. With so many of the People in chase, just one man was easy."
"I see. Please, go on."
The cats nodded and signed.
"Monroe, the treecat of the royal man; a treecat called Landry, and I captured the bad man. He made loud mouth sounds and was frightened. Your people with guns took him away. The danger ended."
"Very well. Thank you both for your actions."
Rachel signed and the 'cats flitted their tails in return. Admiral Sarnow looked to Rachel and Trent. "Now we come to you two."
Rachel and Trent stood at attention. "At ease… I think we're all in agreement about the events of the attack, but I want to hear about the flight."
"Yes sir."
"Describe the course of events when you were ordered to the pinnace."
"Aye sir… Cadet Hutchins and I ran to the pinnace and I saw that my armsmen were shooting at the attackers on tarmac. I hopped inside the pinnace, strapped in the pilot seat, and began start-up procedures. I noticed Cadet Hutchins tossing bins and such from the passenger area and when the last one was out, the Queen and the Protector arrived at the hatch. Their security personnel helped them aboard, and Lt. Lee told me to fly to the palace, which I did."
The admiral nodded. "Cadet Hutchins, do you agree with that account?"
"Yes sir."
"Then continue."
"Yes sir," Trent replied. "When Lt. Lee told Cadet Mayhew to take off, I made sure that Her Majesty and the Protector were properly strapped in and then I sat in the second pilot's seat. Colonel Shemais directed Cadet Mayhew where to fly, and I manned the perimeter tracking. It was a four-minute flight when the palace contacted us and directed the pinnace to land at pad number one. When the pinnace landed and the ramp was extended, Her Majesty and the Protector were led into the palace under heavy guard."
The admiral nodded. "Miss Mayhew?"
"After they were taken into the palace, Lieutenant Lee called me to get our status. I told him that we had a safe flight and that the Queen and my- the Protector- were safe in the palace. He told us to fly back to the tarmac, which we did."
Admiral Sarnow tapped on his memo board and folded his hands on the table. "Lt. Lee, I understand that all of you have given your account of the morning's events to the LCPD?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well, I think we can wrap this up."
Lt. Lee rose. "Cadets, atten-hut!"
The cadets shot to their feet.
"Dismissed," the commandant announced, and the cadets filed from the room.
The Queen's amused tone was heard from the video recording device computer. "Admiral Pallas, what are you feeding them there?"
Admiral Sarnow grinned at the screen and spoke the table and the faculty seated nearby. "All of you are to be congratulated for that outstanding group of midshipmen and women. You've forged and tempered them into future officers who will serve with distinction."
