CHAPTER ELEVEN
13, April 2454 Marine Operations Center on the Tenacious 10:00 hours.
Rick called his staff together.
"Okay Gentlemen you know that I have "been out of it, the last ten days. You have done well in keeping the enemy off balance. I'm cleared for return to duty. We've got them chasing their tails.
Now we're going to confuse them even more. I have changed my mind about the star port. I've already talked to the admiral and he agrees. We are going to take and hold the star port. We'll dig in and set up defenses. Their lack of armor and artillery is going to cost them. They'll have to come at us head on. They can't commit their entire force as they have to protect the mining facility.
They only have a four-regiment brigade, to start with and only one is regular army.
The other three are mercenaries. We commence the assault, five days from today.
We're going to start, tomorrow, on a series of raids on the mining facility. The first one will be real, to do as much damage as possible. Three more will be feints."
"What about civilian casualties or collateral damage, Sir?"
"All the technicians in the mining facility itself, are Crovanian, the same with the star port. Humans are used in the mine itself for manual labor. The processing facility is a semi-portable unit imported from Crovania Prime Turning it into expensive scrap is something we can all enjoy."
"Something else you should all know, but doesn't leave this room, until we're on the way down. Commander Cristobol and her intelligence people have been in contact with a partisan group. The Tenacious is carrying two thousand stands of arms and ammunition to be issued to the partisans. They will be carrying out diversionary raids all over the continent. Okay, let's review the primary assignments."
Marine Operations Center, 12:00 hours.
"Well done, Gentlemen. We'll break for lunch. Be back here at 14:00"
Rick 's com beeped. "Castle"
"Rick, I can't make it for lunch we have an emergency surgery to do."
"Sorry to hear about it. Okay, maybe for dinner."
Rick was mildly disappointed but his mind really wasn't on social matters.
Rick, as he usually did when planning, wore battle dress. It helped him focus on the tactical problems at hand. He never stopped to think how he looked, in it.
The unrelieved black uniform, broken only by the Fleet and rank insignias, close fitting as it had to be to fit under battle armor, emphasized his physique.
One crew woman, into mythology, had said, "Put him in Greek style armor and he could be Ares, the God of War, or Leonidas of Sparta."
Another one said, "He looks like danger personified, the kind of danger I want in my bed!"
Rick took a seat in the officer's mess, setting his tray down, and eating without paying much attention to his food, as he worked on his tablet.
"You know that working while eating is bad for the digestion, Major."
Rick looked up. Commander Hito was standing there.
"May I join you?"
"Certainly, Commander but I'm nearly finished."
"Surely you have enough time to have a cup of coffee, with a lady."
"I always have time for such a pleasurable activity." Maggie signaled for two more cups of coffee.
"I owe you a great debt of gratitude, Major Castle. I would really like to find a way to repay you."
"You don't owe me anything, Commander. All in a day's work."
"Please call me Maggie. I don't see it that way. If you hadn't come when you did, in a few more days I'd have been one of the renegade's sex slaves, or beaten, raped and murdered."
"As I said, no debt. I am glad, however to have been able to prevent the latter occurrence."
"I really would like to do something for you, are you free for dinner, tonight?"
"I'm sorry, Maggie, I have a tentative commitment tonight. Could we do it tomorrow night?"
"Yes, barring unforeseen circumstances. May I call you Rick?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, Rick."
13, April 2454 Officer's mess on the Tenacious, 18:00 hours.
Rick walked into the mess. Just as he sat down, his com beeped. "Rick, I won't be able to make it to dinner, tonight. There's a glitch in the medical computer. There's a technician from signals, here but she needs help on the medical terminology. Lanie and I are staying to help her."
"Okay, maybe tomorrow." Del walked in, a few minutes later. Rick beckoned him over.
"I thought that you'd be dining with Kate."
"So, did I but she said that she's helping with a problem. Sit down, at least you're someone to talk with."
"Thanks a lot!"
"Well, you must admit she's a lot more interesting than you are."
"Yeah and I'd much rather be sitting with Lairlene!" They ate their dinner, then Del said;
"What do you say about cruising over to forward ten and downing a few?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me."
Cheryl Cristobol was frustrated. Her campaign to get Rick Castle into her bed or get into his was not going well. She couldn't really understand it. She'd never had a problem before. Granted, Kate Beckett was beautiful but she didn't use her assets effectively. She was sure that if she'd been in Kate 's place, she would have had Rick through the door and in her bed.
The ten days that had seen Rick on restricted duty had passed too swiftly.
Cheryl had not had much opportunity to have social encounters with Rick.
Far worse, she'd observed Kate or Maggie Hito eating with him.
She'd seen Rick and Del eating, with no women present. Now was her chance.
She returned to her quarters and changed into the red dress that she had worn on Christmas Eve and applied the sexiest perfume she had.
She then left her quarters and went looking for Rick.
Coincidence is a strange phenomenon. It can have far reaching consequences, as it did in this case. Kate and Lanie weren't delayed by much but it was enough that Kate had missed dinner with Rick, so she wasn't in the best of moods.
They turned a corner and met Del and Rick, going the other way.
"Rick, I'm sorry about dinner."
"Don't worry about it. You had a job to do, there will be other opportunities."
Cheryl Cristobol saw them. "Damn it, how does she do it? She's always messing me up!"
She thought. She decided to try a ploy that had worked for her, before.
She began running down the passage. "Rick, May I see you for…OH!" She faked a fall
And sprawled, making sure that her skirt rode well up her thigh. "Oh, Rick, I think I've hurt my ankle, can you please help me?"
"I'll get you to sick bay, where you can have it looked at."
"I don't think it's that bad, just help me to my quarters, please."
Kate may have been a little naive in some areas but she wasn't a fool and there was nothing wrong with her instincts.
"Rick, you and Del go on, Lanie and I are doctors, we'll handle this."
"Okay, we'll see you later. Take care of that ankle, Cheryl."
After Del and Rick were out of sight, Cristobol started to get up. "Stay still, Commander." Kate ran her medical tricorder over Cristobol's ankle.
"You can get up. What are you trying to pull with this little charade, Commander?
There's nothing wrong with your ankle."
Cristobol stood and said, angrily
"Haven't you heard, Doctor, that all's fair in love and war? I want that man and I'm woman enough to admit it. Just because you're a frigid, anal retentive little girl who can't even admit that you're in love with him, doesn't give you the right to get in a real woman's way!
I'm going to enjoy taking him and watching you mewling like a kitten over her lost cream!" Cristobol stalked off.
"Oh, I was tempted to slap that mouthy bitch! She doesn't know a damn thing about me!"
"Take it easy, Kate. Let's go to forward ten and get a drink."
"Good idea, I could use one!"
Del and Rick were sitting at a table in forward ten. Rick 's chair was balanced on its' back legs. His legs were crossed at the ankles, he was holding a mug of ale.
Del was sitting across from him. Rick was laughing at one of Del's outrageous quips.
Kate and Lanie walked into the room. Rick looked up and saw them.
"Good evening again, Ladies. Please come join us." Looking at the handsome, smiling man, the full force of her emotions hit Kate like a body blow. Cristobol had told the truth.
She was in love with Rick. Confused and not knowing how to handle it, her hands flew to her face. "Oh, OH! She turned and fled the room.
"What got into her?" Rick asked.
"How should I know? "Del replied.
Lanie quickly crossed the room and jabbing Rick in the center of his chest with her forefinger, said, "It's all your fault! Jabbing him again, she repeated, "IT" S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Trying to back pedal to get away from her, Rick went over backwards. His ale went flying and his flailing boot impacted the table splashing Del's beer all over Del.
Del reached a hand down, to help Rick up. "It is, you know."
"What is? I haven't done a damn thing!"
"I don't know what she was talking about, I was talking about my beer!
Kate sat on her bunk, the tears streaming down her face. Lanie came in and sat beside her.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm so scared, Lanie. Cristobol was right. I love him. I'm in love with him. But what if he doesn't love me? I can't turn it on and off like Cristobol does."
"How could he not love you?"
"I haven't been intimate with him. I haven't really shown him that I love him."
"Tonight, has been a shock for you, Kate. Step back from it for a couple of days."
"You heard Cristobol, if I step back, she'll have a clear field."
"I wouldn't worry too much, Cristobol's been trying to get him since we boarded ship and hasn't succeeded yet."
Make a nice cup of tea, relax and go to bed."
14, April 2454 Captain Rogers' office, 07:30 hours.
"Lieutenant Commander Cristobol reporting as ordered, Sir."
"Take a seat, Commander. I called you in a little early. Your shift begins at 08:00.
I'm switching you to bravo shift. You will start at 16:00, today."
"Why are you doing this, Sir?"
"We need better intelligence reports on bravo shift. The techs have gotten a little sloppy. We need you to sharpen them up. Don't worry. A couple of weeks will sharpen them up and you'll return to alpha shift."
Cristobol didn't argue. She knew that it was useless with Rogers. "I understand, Sir."
"Very well, Commander. Dismissed."
Cristobol walked away, fuming. Alpha shift was traditional for the ship's intelligence officer. Something was up. She didn't know what but she was determined to find out
She decided that she might as well have a cup of coffee and a sweet roll. She saw Rick Castle coming out of the mess hall. "Rick, Can I speak with you?"
"Sorry Cheryl, first formation is in a few minutes. I don't have time, maybe after the duty day."
Kate overslept, which was okay, she had the late rotation. She hadn't called Rick, which had been her custom the past few days. That was alright. She was still a little shocked that her secret was out in the open. She got up, showered and dressed.
Then she called Lanie, who was also on late rotation.
"Hey Lanie, I need to work off a little of this stress, why don't we go to the gym and do a little cardio and maybe some interpretive dance.
" "Sure, let's get Lily Warren and Nancy Revere." The other two women were nurses who worked with Kate and Lanie.
The four women, dressed in leotards and tights entered the gym and stopped to watch what was going on. Music was blasting out of speakers. Rick, Del, the Sergeant Major and Captain Carlson were wearing only training shorts and soft shoes. All big men, their upper bodies and arms oiled, were going through a mixed martial arts/unarmed combat routine. Some of the moves were so fast they were just a blur. Rick did a back flip to dodge a kick, that if it connected would do serious damage. He landed on his feet and launched a pivot kick in return. Del threw a series of punches that Carson barely blocked.
Kate heard some of the words of the music: Resin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my chances Went the distance now I'm back on my feet Just a man and his will to survive
So many times it happens too fast You trade your passion for glory Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past You must fight just to keep them alive
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight Resin' up to the challenge of our rival And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night And he's watching' us all with the eye of the tiger.
Lily said, "It almost looks choreographed, like dance."
"Pretty lethal dance," if you ask me, Nancy said.
"Maybe but oh what I wouldn't give to dance with any of them, those are beautiful men, especially the biggest one!"
"Don't even dream of it, Lily," Lanie said." That's Major Castle. He's spoken for."
"Yours?"
"No, not mine but trust me in this."
"Come on, Ladies," Kate said. We're not getting our cardio done."
"Maybe you're not but my heart's beating pretty fast, right now." Lily said. "I don't understand, they haven't even noticed us, are they gay?"
"Not even close, Lily." Lanie said. They noticed us, alright. It's just that they are very focused on their training." Almost as if cued, Rick said, "Halt. Take a minute."
He turned and faced the women. "Good morning, Ladies, we'll be finished here in a few minutes, the mats will be clear. Resume."
"See, Lily. Those men don't miss much."
Later, as Kate was into her dance routine, she realized that she was not enjoying it as much as she usually did. She wanted to be doing a totally different form of dancing.
After showering and dressing, Kate sat on her bunk, her thoughts still jumbled.
She wanted to go to Rick and tell him she loved him but she was still afraid of his reaction.
At noon, she decided that she'd go to the mess hall and grab something to eat.
She went and while plenty of the ship's officers were there, not a Marine was in sight.
She caught sight of one of the mess chiefs.
"Business a little light today, isn't it Chief?"
"Yes Ma'am. The Marines drew field rations and are eating on the range and on the simulation deck. I was talking to one of their sergeants the other day. He said that their Major puts them through hell in training, leading them himself. And the damn fool was proud of it!
Kate was both dissatisfied and relieved. She wanted so much to see Rick but relieved that she had a little more time to work out her thoughts. She ate her lunch, then went to take a nap before going on duty.
14, April 2454. Officer's mess 18:05 hours.
Maggie Hito waited, a little impatiently, for Rick Castle. She wore Survey Service class B uniform, Blue-gray tunic over a white dickey, dark blue trousers and black calf-boots. Rick walked in wearing service blues.
"Sorry I'm late, Maggie. I had a last-minute detail crop up at headquarters."
She smiled. "That's quite all right, Rick, anticipation has a spice all its' own." They got a table and ordered.
"Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me," Maggie said. "It's been a very long time since I could relax over supper with a gentleman."
"It's my pleasure, Maggie."
"Where are you from, Rick?"
"I'm from San Francisco, North America, Earth. how about you, Maggie?"
"I'm from Kyoto, Japan, Asia. I have three sisters and my parents. My father's an attorney, my mother's an accountant."
"Do you come from a large family, Rick?"
"One sister, one brother, my father's a Fleet officer, my mother passed away.
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Thank you but it was a long time ago." Their food came and they settled into eating, "I have to ask if I'm stepping on anyone's toes, here, like that lovely commander you were with.
"
"She's a friend but there's no committed relationship."
"Then she won't object to our dinner?"
"I don't see why she should."
Maggie thought to herself, "Boy you really don't understand us!" "I'd object like crazy if the situation were reversed. I wouldn't let you be just a friend, either!"
They finished dinner over a light desert. Maggie said;
"It's too early for the evening to end, could we go to a lounge? I'd like to listen to music."
"Yes, there's a fairly nice one, just aft of the mess hall. The music's canned, of course
but there's a good selection and it's individualized to each booth."
Maggie was strongly attracted to Rick and not just because he'd rescued her. She was also smart enough to know that it was just that, attraction and in her case sexual need.
She'd been celibate a long time. She was at least ten years older than he was.
In the lounge, Rick selected a booth and some music. Maggie leaned back and stretched,
straining strategic spots of her uniform. "Do you think I could get a Vodka Martini?"
"I think so." Rick ordered her drink and a coffee for himself.
"Coffee, that's all?"
"Yes, there's a big operation coming up. I want to keep a clear head, until it's over."
Maggie sipped her drink and tried to think of a way to get what she wanted, without sounding crude or desperate.
Finally, she just came out with it.
"Rick, will you spend the night with me? I've been so lonely."
Rick smiled, gently. "I'm sorry Maggie, I can't do that. It's not that you're not desirable, you are, very much so. It's just that not that long ago, I was involved with a sweet, beautiful woman. It went farther than I wanted it to and, I'm sure that it was farther than she meant it to. It didn't work out well. Another young woman told me some things I really didn't want to hear. I know that sounds selfish and it probably is but it's how I have to play it, for now."
"You're a gentleman, Rick, most men would take it anyway they could get it."
"Don't put me on a pedestal, Maggie. There was a time that I would have, too and a time when I may again. Just right now, I can't."
"Order another drink, for me, please. At least I can listen to music and fantasize."
15, April 2454, Marine training area 09:00 hours.
Rick Castle scanned his tablet as he watched his troops staging a mock assault.
He was rotating his company commanders through the assault commander's position.
Captain Gillespie was doing very well. He'd be a good man to take command if both Del and he were down. Lieutenant Kevin Ryan was also doing very well and would mak a good company commander, with a little more experience.
He was surprised that Kate hadn't called him, for the second day in a row. He knew she'd had a late rotation, but that was 16:00-24:00 she should be up, by now.
He really didn't have time to worry about it. He had a battalion to command.
Kate for her part was fretting, in her quarters. She really should be going over some case notes but she couldn't get Rick 's smiling faces out of her mind. Lanie, wisely, hadn't told her what happened after Kate had fled from the lounge.
She finally pulled the case files in front of her she was going on duty, shortly. She put Rick out of her mind.
15, April 2454 Sick bay office, 12:45 hours.
Kate 's stomach growled. She looked at her watch. 12:45. She'd been so engrossed in what she was doing that she'd almost missed lunch. Oh well, she thought, I'll have a tray sent over.
15, April 2454 Officer's mess, 18:10 hours.
Rick walked into the mess hall and scanned, looking for Kate. She was sitting with a group of medical officers. There wasn't room at the table, for him.
He still walked over. "Good evening, Captain Wayne, Kate, Lanie, Ladies, Gentlemen."
"Good evening Major Castle." Kate looked up, gave him a brief smile.
"Good evening Rick. Then she looked back down at her plate."
What the hell? He thought. I know damn well I didn't do anything. Rick didn't say anything else, just turned and walked off. Maggie Hito had seen the little by-play.
"Major Castle, she called. "Won't you please join me?"
"I'd be honored, Commander" Kate 's head snapped up. This wasn't supposed to happen.
The Survey commander might be ten years older but she was still a striking woman. and right now, had the advantage. Rick didn't even look back. He just sat and said;
"Thank you, Maggie, I usually don't mind eating alone but tonight, I definitely wanted a pretty lady at the table."
"I'm glad to provide that company." Maggie said.
"I thought you said that you're in love with him." Lanie said. Tears were forming in Kate 's eyes.
"I am, Lanie, I am."
"You have a weird way of showing it. Avoiding him or setting it up so he can't be near you."
"I'm just so afraid that he won't love me."
"He sure as hell won't if you keep this up. Hito or Cristobol will grab him in an instant
If they think they can. Let's face it, you blew it, tonight."
"I know." She stood up.
"I'm sorry; I seem to have lost my appetite. Please excuse me." She went to her quarters.
16, April 2454 Launch bay two, 06:00 hours.
Rick stood in the ready room of the launch bay. Five other pilots faced him. "This is the final flight briefing, Gentlemen. This will be a three- fold mission.
I want to cause as much damage to the mining facility as possible, create the impression that the facility is our primary target and get a real time recon of the star port.
Lieutenant Cray and I will carry sensor pods and air to surface missiles four missiles each. The rest of you will carry a full complement of missiles. Lieutenant Wong, your primary target is the vehicle park. Lieutenant Lanier, the fuel dump. Lieutenants Parker and Paulson, your target is the processing facility. Expend all your ordnance and RTB. Lieutenant Cray and I will hit the facility on our way out. Any questions? All right, good luck and good hunting.
"Peregrine leader to flight ops. All peregrines nominal, ready for launch."
"Roger that. Bay doors open launch in 5,4,3,2,1, GO! The six fighters lit off their engines and roared away.
16, April 2454 over the mining facility on Placida 06:30 hours.
"There's the signal," Lieutenant Shane Parker said. "Let's hit them!" The four pilots turned off their cloaking devices, pushed the throttles to full military power and began their attack runs. They would launch their first salvo then orbit and assess damage. They would unleash their second salvo and boost for space. Flying almost wingtip to wingtip, Paulson and Parker unleashed eight missiles.
Inbar Dusk at stood up from his breakfast table. The Crovanian Prefect heard a strange howling sound that was suspiciously like high performance aircraft but that was impossible. There were only a few on the planet and he was always informed of their movements. He was thrown off his feet by a tremendous impact and he both felt and heard explosions.
He pulled himself to his feet and ran to the main control room. Alarms were howling and red damage indicators showed all over the structure.
He was staggered by another explosion. "External camera, now! The camera showed a huge column of black smoke rising from the fuel dump, another from the vehicle park.
"Get me Jagul (General) Gull immediately!
"Gull, here"
"We are under attack, here, Jagul,
Get a regiment here as fast as possible!"
"That will leave me with only two regiments to defend the star port. One regiment is out in the country trying to catch the raiders!"
"I don't care. As you know, the mining facility is the reason we are here at all."
"It will take more than an hour to get the men organized and the better part of the day to get them there."
"Then you had better move quickly, General." He had no sooner signed off, than another round of explosions shook the facility and all power shut off as the power station was damaged.
Over the star port, 06:45
The sensors were recording the chaos on the ground as the Crovanian force prepared to move out. They were also recording all the Crovanian positions in the star port. "Lieutenant Cray, we'll give it another ten minutes recording then set down out behind those woods and deploy a drone. As soon as the enemy convoy moves out, I want to get airborne again."
"Peregrine Six to Aerie, over." "Peregrine Six this is Aerie." "Aerie, Contact Papa Bird and request All Golf Alpha Sierras receive a full load of little birds. Four Peregrines are returning to the nest. Request that they be fed. All birds to wait on my mark to fly again.
There are still a herd of cats around."
16, April 2454 Medical Officer's Quarters aboard the Tenacious 07:00 hours.
Kate Beckett decided to call Rick Castle. She was very unhappy about last night. She wanted to have breakfast with him and try to straighten things out.
She initiated the call. "Good Morning. This is Major Rick Castle. I am not available at this time. Leave a message."
She called Del. "Captain Kevan."
"Good morning, Del. Do you know where Rick is?"
"I'm sorry Kate, I can't tell you that. He's on mission, right now. That's all I can say."
Kate signed off and went to the officer's mess. She wasn't very hungry but knew she had to keep her energy up.
Standing at the kiosk, deciding what she wanted she overheard two ensigns talking
"You're flight ops, Jen; do you know what's going on?"
"What do you mean? I don't go on duty for an hour yet."
"I saw all six aerospace fighters lift off; the flight leader's bird was showing Marine colors. They were all carrying ordnance pods." It became very clear to Kate, where Rick Was.
She grabbed a bagel with cream cheese and a cup of coffee. The food was nearly tasteless, to her. She finished and went to her office. She was thankful that it looked like a routine day. She was too good a doctor not to give it her best and she just wasn't up to it.
16, April 2454 Placida, Highway one 11; 00 hours.
"Highway? This was no highway, just a barely paved road." Thought Colonel Tandoor Taint, Gravel and dust everywhere. His men were barely making 30 kilometers an hour. That's the trouble with a mercenary unit.
No Government support. At least his small arms were standardized. But transport was another story. He had a standard command car. But his transport was a mixed bag of older military vehicles and commandeered civilian farm trucks. He had two-gun trucks and one anti-air vehicle. They were approaching a bridge over a deep ravine. "Look, Sir. there on the far side. An inn. We can take a break there"
"Good idea, just enough time to eat a ration and a relief call." One-gun truck led off, followed by the command car and the anti-air vehicle. The command car had just reached the opposite side, when the bridge collapsed with a thunderous roar. The command car slewed around, nearly overturning.
The anti-air vehicle and ten transports tumbled into the ravine spilling their screaming contents out. A huge cloud of dust and smoke billowed up. Taint looked back, then up, in horror. A howling roar filled his ears as Attack shuttles and aerospace fighters destroyed the remainder of his column. Not all of his men were killed, of course, but the majority were wounded or injured. Every vehicle was either blown apart or was a twisted, burning wreck. Many of his troops threw down their weapons and ran into the surrounding brush.
One of the fighters landed on the roadway. An external speaker was energized.
"Terrorist leader, exit your vehicle and order your men to abandon the gun truck.
The pod covering the muzzles of a rotary cannon opened. Colonel Taint exited the command car, as did his crew. The crew of the gun truck also exited.
"Unfasten your duty belts with weapons and drop them." When they had complied, 'Rick climbed out of his cockpit.
"I am Major Richard Castle, Fleet Marine Corps, you are my prisoners. You will be taken aboard our ship and held for trial. You have two choices to make. Order your men to surrender and they will be treated as prisoners of war, or, if they refuse, they will be treated as terrorists, hunted down and eliminated,
Colonel Taint gave the order to surrender.
Rick transmitted an order and shuttles landed and a company of Marines dis-embarked.
"Round them up, Captain." "Yes Sir." Rick made another call and several locals came forward. One introduced himself.
"I am Cam York, Major. Leader of the local chapter of the partisan movement."
"How many are there in your group?"
"About 150"
"What do you have for weapons?"
"A few hunting rifles."
"As soon as we've got all the prisoners assembled and disarmed, we'll arm your men from their arms. Fleet has a cache of weapons landed but you can use these until they can issue the standard weapons to you. Do you have five subordinate leaders that you really trust?
"Yes, my brother, two cousins and two friends I grew up with."
"Get them over here, as soon as possible. When the six men were present, Rick said,
"Under the authority of Admiral Petrofsky, Commonwealth Fleet, I am commissioning you as temporary reserve officers in Commonwealth Ground Forces. Raise your right hands and repeat after me…"
It took about two hours and several brief, one-sided fights before all the prisoners were
Caught and their weapons distributed. Those weapons that were unserviceable or excess to needs were piled up and destroyed.
"Captain York, we can't transport this many men back to our ship or house them.
Is there any place that we can confine them where they can't cause trouble?"
"Yes Major. There's a box canyon at the end of that ravine. It has a large stream running through it. The walls are too sheer to climb and average 100 to 150 meters high.
If we had demolition charges, we could blow the entrance closed."
"That would work. I'll have the ship's replicators make up 10,000 compressed food bars.
And ship them down. Let's get them moving." The canyon was 7 kilometers from the bridge location. There was a wide path that led to the bottom of the ravine. Relatively flat the bottom served as a good road to the canyon.
Once they were in the canyon, the rations were sent down via one of the large shuttles
Then the Sergeant Major addressed them. "You're all mercenary scum, guns for hire.
I don't know why the Major let you live but he did. There are enough ration bars in those cases to last a little over 10 days at one bar per man per day. We should have captured enough of your own rations, by then, for re-supply. For shelter, you've got your field cloaks and whatever you can improvise. We'll leave one fire starter. That's all it's good for. It will only burn for 30 seconds. I suggest that you build a large fire, in a sheltered spot and keep it going."
The engineers blew the entrance closed and the Marines lifted off.
16, April 2454 Sickbay aboard the Tenacious 16:30 hours
Kate sat, fidgeting in her office, grateful that the duty day was almost over. She'd had trouble concentrating, all day. She had one channel of her com tuned to the tactical channel. She wasn't supposed to have access to it or even know what it was, but she had a friend in TACCOMS who'd set it up for her.
She finally heard what she'd been waiting for, all day. "Flight OPS this is Peregrine Six, request landing vectors for six hawks." "Roger, Peregrine six, your vectors are 221.6 through 222.1 You are cleared for direct approach and docking."
"Roger, Flight OPS Thank you. Out."
Kate signed out, shut down her terminal and headed for the docking bays.
She arrived just in time to see Admiral Petrofsky's aide come up to Rick and say something to him. Rick nodded and they turned and headed for the bridge.
Now what? She thought. Don't they ever leave him alone? He's a man, not an automaton! She ate her dinner alone, that night too.