Chapter Ten: Specs

Willis had his jaw set as we walked quietly toward the rendezvous coordinates I'd just set up. I didn't need our near-eleven years of marriage to tell he was upset. Still, I said nothing myself, and waited for him to speak first while we strode through the 8th Engineers' reestablished lines.

Finally, when we'd almost reached the spot, he turned to me and came to a halt. His eyes were calm but searching as he looked at me. Maybe he was giving me the benefit of the doubt since I'd just saved his life.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Coop?"

"I couldn't, Will."

"Why not?" he pressed.

I released a sigh, trying hard not to sound brusque but failing. "Because it doesn't concern you."

"Doesn't concern me?" he repeated incredulously. "My brother and my wife are on the ground waiting to get shot like fish in a barrel, and that 'doesn't concern me'?"

"I meant your command, Willis. It wasn't something you and your pilots needed to know about to do your jobs. Not yet. And we're hardly fish in a barrel. I've got two Marine battalions dirtside and a third in reserve coming in on the new ship. Plus two Scorpion tanks, three Warthogs still functional, and both your squadrons in the air to provide overhead support. We're not exactly in bad shape ourselves here."

My husband frowned. "Maybe, but those portals – "

"I know, and I'm working on it, like I said. That's also what this briefing's about. I've got some ideas and plans already in the works. This is just to get some input and make sure everyone's on the same page about this."

It was Willis's turn to sigh now. "How many others know?"

"A handful. Not a lot. Majors Harris and Warfield, the spook, Captain Rhodes on the Affair, and the small team of Marines that went down into the ruins with me. Basically just my aide and – "

"And my brother," Willis replied, his voice going hard again. "My little brother knows and I'm guessing you probably told him not to tell me."

I glanced down at the dirt, put my hands on my hips, then met his gaze again. "I wish you'd understand that this isn't about you, Willis. It has nothing to do with me and you personally and everything to do with where we're at professionally. I can't help that Matthew was with me when we went in. But I can assure you that outside of that this stuff is known only at the very top. And my senior staff had to know because otherwise they can't effectively lead the ground units. Captain Rhodes told me things even the spook wasn't privy to when I got promoted, Will. It comes with the job. I can't always tell you every single thing I know just because you're my husband. Because everything's up to me now, and I just – "

Surprising me, I felt my husband's arms suddenly surround me in a tight hug. Slowly, I hugged him back, the action made awkward thanks to our bulky gear, but no less welcome. I grabbed onto the back of his armor hard and rested my chin on his shoulder for a moment, giving in completely to the embrace. I was so relieved he understood that I felt like a literal weight had lifted off my shoulders.

"It's okay, Cooper," he finally said, his arms still wrapped around my middle. He blew out a breath. "I'm sorry about getting mad at you. I know it's not your fault. I know you didn't ask for all this responsibility. And I know you still miss your best friend, and you're only doing what you think is fair. I...can respect that."

"Will – "

He pulled back and took my face in both his hands now that I was without a helmet, gently, and gave me a small smile. "I made the mistake of being selfish before and you ended up close to death in Columbia's medical wing. I won't make it again. I trust you, Natalie. Whatever you decide, you know I've got your back."

I couldn't help the answering grin that spread across my face at his words. There was only one thing I could think of to say in reply. "You're amazing, honey."

"Thanks. I try," Willis said, his own grin widening. Then he quirked an eyebrow at me. "Now I think we've got a briefing to attend, Colonel."

The meeting was a solemn affair, held deep within the 904th Infantry Battalion's lines well away from where we'd encountered the Storm earlier in the day, as well as the ruins guarded by the 8th Engineers. Both of the 904th's Warthogs surrounded us, while Willis's Victor Squadron circled overhead - though not conspicuously so. Even though we were technically out in the open, heading up to the ship right now was out of the question, and this was as safe a place as we could make it.

I slung my rifle behind me then and folded my arms across my chest as each of the four officers present nodded to me in turn - Major Harris, Major Warfield, Willis, and the spook.

"All right," I said, starting things off. I nodded to my husband. "I brought our air commander in on this now, too. Obviously the ruins pose a problem, and our lines still aren't safe despite the heavily armed perimeters and patrols. And somehow we've got to make all this secure by the time our new ship arrives in four days." I looked over at Warfield. "Major, any updates from Captain Sogaard's company? Are they finished with the mapping yet?"

"Yes, ma'am," he answered gruffly, as usual. "Captain Sogaard and her Marines got back just before the Prometheans attacked the Eighth's lines."

"And?" I prompted.

"The tunnel they found on the beach led straight to the main chamber of the ruins."

I nodded at the news. "That's what we figured. So we know how the Remnant troops are keeping out of sight and launching surprise attacks against our lines." I looked at the map of the island on my datapad, focusing on the thin orange line that denoted where Sogaard's Marines had found a link to the ruins underground. "If there's one path, though, there's gotta be more."

"That poses a problem for our mission, ma'am," Major Harris said then. "Without knowing how many of these underground passages there might be, we can't effectively secure the ruins for the scientists when they arrive in the new ship."

"And we can't know how many passages there are until they come down to scope it out for us," I said, thoughtful. "That's a hell of a catch-22."

Willis spoke up beside me. "There's also the Prometheans to consider, ma'am. They've been jumping our lines too from what I just saw."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and again wished that Hayden was here to add his more experienced voice. But like Lloyd had said earlier, he wasn't, and so it was up to me to find a solution to our bevy of issues. I let out a sigh as I lowered my hand from my face.

"Well, there's no other way around this. Four days isn't enough to search the whole damn island for more shortcuts. We're just going to have to double our watch and make sure the men realize that no perimeter is impenetrable. I think we've been taught that lesson a couple times now." I looked at Warfield and Harris in turn. "Majors, I want you to upload a copy of this map to each of your company commanders. Make sure they know exactly where this place is, and that they're aware that the Storm or Prometheans can emerge from it at any time. Obviously, you'll want to avoid placing your perimeter in its direct proximity."

"Yes, ma'am," Harris replied.

"Understood, Colonel," Warfield said.

I glanced over at the ONI operative next. "Lloyd, I want you to take one of the engineer companies and start surveying all you can down on the beach. Mark every cave and outcrop around that you can get to within the next few days, and we'll start from there. Assume that each location is hostile, but don't try to go inside for now. I just want to get a better idea of how many there might be, and where they're positioned."

"Got it, Colonel," the spook responded. He scratched the back of his neck. "What about the portals though, ma'am? How do you want the ruins secured for the scientists?"

"We'll do what we can to make it as safe as possible for them. Post a tight guard both in the chamber and on the outside. I may have to bring this to Captain Rhodes aboard the Affair for approval." I shifted my stance. "But as long as there's no active combat going on, I'd say we bring them in regardless. We can't solve this on our own without their help, and they knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up."

"We'll just have to make sure the Marines are prepared for any contingency, then," Warfield murmured.

Harris overheard and snorted good-naturedly at the other major. "We're Marines, Cole. Always supposed to be ready for that."

Major Warfield cracked a rare smile. "Oorah, brother."

"Okay. I know we're far from an ideal situation at the moment, but I hope that getting some things in motion before our reinforcements arrive will give us an edge," I said. "Beyond that, we just have to hold the lines for a few more days till we get some definitive answers. And by then, we'll also have a fresh battalion at our disposal as well. I can see about rotating one of the units out for a break if it looks like things stay relatively quiet. If things are hot, however, we'll just go ahead and bring in the extra battalion right away." I looked at the other officers around me. "Questions so far?"

No one said anything.

"Good. Shawn, your battalion is closest to the ruins, so make sure you keep round-the-clock surveillance on that area. Until we map this place out, remember that our enemies have access to come and go as they please. We'll try to remedy that with some small recon drones of our own that Major Hawk here can requisition from the Affair. At least if they go dark, you'll know instantly that trouble's coming."

Harris nodded. "That'll work, ma'am."

"Will, I need your squadrons to enlarge the radius of their flights," I said to my husband. "I know it's a lot of ground to cover, but if you guys can spot enemy forces coming out of the woodwork where we can't and give us a head's up, that would help a lot. In this case, I'll need your pilots to start observing the shores as well as the ridge and the ruins."

"Consider it done, Colonel."

"Hopefully that should tide us over until the scientists can land and get us more intel," I said. "In the meantime, I'll keep working on the locals. This morning's contact was clearly a bust, but I believe as soon as the mayor comes to understand the gravity of the situation, I can get him on board." Ignoring the pain of my wounded arm, which I had no doubt he'd indirectly inflicted, I added, "Besides having the rebs pacified, once our reinforcements arrive, I'd like to use the mainland as a staging area where we can hold extra troops and supplies in reserve, so we don't have to sacrifice part of our air cover for too long going back and forth to the Affair. If we can do so without having to constantly watch our six, all the better."

I glanced up again and looked at the pensive faces around me. Once again, Warfield was the only one who seemed more stern than contemplative. Something was still amiss with the newest major, and I decided then that I'd try to catch him after the briefing and finally figure out what was going on.

"If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions to add, now's the time," I prompted.

Again the officers around me remained silent. I waited about a minute before I said, "All right, then. That's all I've got for you. Obviously if things change, we'll meet here again to devise a new solution. For now, though, you've got your orders. Dismissed."

I wanted to speak to Major Warfield in private now, but I knew I had to talk to Lieutenant Lloyd first before he left. I motioned for the spook to stay put and pulled him aside.

"Cal, one more thing for you," I said to him. I handed him a small data chip. "This is my helmet cam feed from the skirmish we just fought on the other side of the ridge. I know the admiral will want a complete report from me later, but I'm giving this to you now to send up to Captain Rhodes. It's got my notes on some tactics I noticed the Prometheans using in the fight, and a guess on the type of grenades they deploy. Might be helpful."

The Navy lieutenant nodded. "Sure thing, Colonel. I'll get this sent right away."

"Thanks."

When I turned to leave, I found Willis waiting for me. The others had already moved off.

"Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you, Cooper."

I gave him a look. "If only you knew, Will." I ran a hand across my face, already feeling exhausted from the day's events - not to mention hurt and sore. "What I wouldn't give to be back home right now."

"I know, honey. Me, too. But for now, this is our lot. Gotta make the most of it." He looked around, knowing the other officers were still nearby, and grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed in lieu of a kiss. "I'm going to go meet up with Heat now and head back up. Hang in there, Natalie."

"Yeah, thanks."

And just like that, Willis was gone.

When I finally left myself and went to look for Major Warfield, he was nowhere to be found.