Chp. 18: Shelter From the Storm
October 29, 2049
OFS Icarus (CVN-62)
Neither Jed nor Annie had ever been deeper than a few decks below the hangar area. The sheer size of the carrier meant they'd never see all of it. It also meant that they found a quiet little corner to talk. It felt more like two spies meeting to exchange info than a heart-to-heart about romantic feelings. Jed still didn't know what exactly he was going to say, but he knew he had to at least listen. He had to listen and he had to at least acknowledge the fact that he liked her and she maybe liked him back. He'd wait for her to explain that. The two sat near the last set of stairs they'd gone down in silence for a few minutes.
"So how long have y'all, y'know, liked me?" He asked softly.
"The door answering incident is what catapulted it. Before that I hadn't fully come to terms with it because I hadn't realized that you have a unique charm." She replied.
"Unique charm?"
"Yes. You have this combination of honesty, bravado and...naivete that makes you very different from all the boys I'd known before."
"That's the first time anyone has ever said that me being kind of a dumbass is a good thing."
"You're not a dumbass. Why do you come down on yourself so hard like this?"
"Years of failed relationships have taken a toll on my self-worth. Sorry, it's a habit at this point."
"Would you be willing to tell me about it?"
"Y'all sure about wanting to know?"
Annie crossed her arms over her stomach and nodded as she closed her eyes.
"I need to understand everything so I can make it right. I hurt you and you're not brushing it off like it's nothing...because if I'm going to say that I love you, I have to know how to comfort you when you're in pain."
The words "I love you" sent a tingle through his body. He almost blurted out the same, but caught himself before he did.
"Okay, but first Ah want to say Ah'm sorry for that night and how it went sour."
"I should be the one apologizing. I have my own bad habit of putting up emotional walls when I step even an inch outside of my comfort zone. Bloody hate it, glad it didn't permanently mess things up."
"That's fair...let's-Ah think we can both accept that we're sorry for our own reasons."
Jed sighed and fiddled with the zipper of his flight suit as he retraced the long road from highschool to now. He spoke slowly and softly.
"Ah've never had a steady, meaningful relationship for more than a few years in my entire life. The longest was about two-and-a-half years, and the closest Ah got to a fiance was in my final years of college. For various reasons, and sometimes by my own choice, they've all ended. This has happened when Ah've come from an upbringing where everyone my age has been with their significant other for three times as long as Ah've ever been with someone. They would try to help but it became too involved for my liking. We'd butt heads over it because they'd insist they were doing it cause Ah was family. The tipping point was this girl named Homura. She and Ah were actually tossing around the idea of getting married, but she was scared to death of me going off to join the Navy. So, it couldn't last. My family, well not by blood but that's besides the point, resented her for it."
"And you?"
"Ah was heartbroken, but Ah would've hated myself even more if Ah forced her to accept me or give up everything just to get married. That's what really broke things and as soon as Ah could get away Ah stayed away. Soon enough Ah was throttled if a girl so much as gave me a kiss on the cheek, pending we weren't both already in the one-night stand mentality. Ah've been knocked down enough times that Ah should've gotten a clue by now, but Ah keep getting back up for more."
"So you refuse to give up until you find the one."
"That's one way a lookin at it."
Annie would've liked to think she was the one, but that hit her as being ahead of herself.
"I suppose I should explain why I put up those walls I mentioned." She sighed.
"Ah know a few girls who do the same thing, so Ah already have a vague idea of where yer coming from." He assured her. Shyly, the young man held out a hand. She took it and squeezed a little.
"It's the often-heard story of the daughter in a wealthy, conservative family. Joining the Navy was my way of rebelling...I became distrustful after so many family-picked suitors. I didn't want to be seen as vulnerable. I still don't want to be; I'm a prideful, stubborn girl."
"Who kicks a fair amount of ass."
That got a chuckle out of her.
"You're not one of those weirdos who'd get stiff if I kicked your ass, are you Jed?"
"No, Ah'm one of the weirdos who'd get...stiff...watching y'all do it to another guy."
He smiled for the first time during their conversation. He lifted their hands and looked at her again.
"So, Ah guess now we just gotta figure out how to navigate things between us."
"Yes, and only if you feel comfortable pursuing me."
"Ah want to. It's going to be tricky, and Ah'm damaged goods but…"
He drew in a breath and all the courage he could muster to just let his feelings pour out.
"Yer a beautiful, beautiful and incredible woman and in a few days yah made me crazy about y'all. Just...everything about y'all is suddenly just another reason why yer perfect. And if y'all genuinely do love me...Ah can't explain it but Ah'm feelin really sure about saying that Ah wanna have something with yah, Annie."
Annie flushed and felt her heartbeat increase at that. A shy, excited smile grew on her face and she nodded.
"One day at a time, Jed. Unfortunately we're not free to go fast or go far. To everyone else we're good friends. I promise though, I promise that I feel the same way about having something with you. It just seems right, and I can't help but be impressed by a daring, handsome young man like you. Together, we can-we WILL make it work." She said, speaking a little too fast as she tried to rein herself in.
"Are y'all sure?"
"Are you?"
"Ah dun-no, no Ah don't mean that Ah don't think it'll work Ah'm just-"
"Jed?"
"Yeah?"
"One day at a time."
"One day at a time...starting with me saying it properly. Ah love y'all, Annie."
"And I love you, Jed."
She tugged him down and rested her forehead against his. Jed, face as red as a tomato, carefully tilted his head and inched his lips towards hers. She came the rest of the way and the two enjoyed a simple kiss. Annie tugged him down so she could at least try to rest her head atop his and stroke his hair. Jed awkwardly leaned towards her until they had something going. It was enough for now; Jed closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
"Ah like having my hair ruffled. Ah'm so tall that feeling like Ah'm not a sentient lamppost towering over everyone is...different. Nice." He explained.
"So just a few minutes more?" She asked.
"Please."
Jed blushed as she laid his head on her lap. She simply smiled and stroked the top of his head a few times.
"There there, no one's gonna hurt you anymore. Not with me around." She whispered. He didn't even have to tell her he believed her 100 percent…
Admiral Leighton looked at the simulation of the Erusean battlegroup's positions whipped up by CVW-8's Intel Officer, Commander Wattenberg, with his eyes centered firmly on the Tanager. She hadn't fired a single missile, but she was now staying near the edge of the group. The southwest edge according to Wattenberg and his staff.
"Is there even the smallest, most insignificant reason to believe that the Invictus and her group will use this clash to locate us?" Leighton asked.
"I would assume that they're exploiting it somehow, Admiral." He nodded.
"How long will it take for them to mount an attack against us?"
"Anywhere from six to thirteen hours."
"CAG, how soon could you get an attack rolling? Primary target being the Tanager."
Captain Feely sat up in his chair and motioned at the large cruiser with a pen.
"Six, eight hours tops. We'd have to go through a decent chunk of our LRASMs to damage her, though. We may want to commit some of our escorts so we can save weapons for an attack on the Invictus and her escorts." He explained. The man exchanged looks with his surface-based counterpart.
"It would also relieve some of the stress on my maintenance guys. Even with UNREP." Feely added.
"In that case, I would recommend we shift our station so that we have friendly forces on Khamatra in close proximity. This would allow us to focus all four destroyers on the flank closest to the Erusean battlegroup. In the meantime, our cruisers and frigates would carry the bulk of responsibility on defending us alongside our subs. Or we can use a different combination of ships in much the same manner. Though, I believe whatever the composition, it shouldn't include taking our subs away from their main mission." Captain Tesstarossa explained in a soft, analytical voice.
"At the risk of being hauled before the Admiral's Mast, We should see if our land-based friends on Kharmata can spare some firepower. We gotta steamroll the Eruseans, sir. If they control the littoral waters, they can easily conduct an amphibious landing and outflank Chakari's defenses near the border." His Operations officer, Commander Sutton, chimed in.
"We have reliable intel that the Eruseans have an amphibious group to the north, somewhere under the guard of the Sotoan carrier Khroda. All things considered, if we're working in conjunction with the Andersen's battlegroup we should be able to severely damage their ability to hold the coastal waters. We have to strike soon. We're probably not gonna get a better fix on the Erusean fleet than what we have right now." Wattenberg contended. Leighton looked at Feely.
"What's your plan, CAG?" He asked.
The man got up and walked to the image of Tanager.
"We've got two Wraiths and a Pelican tracking the group's southern half. Our planes will attack from three angles to stretch out their defenses. Each attack will consist of Lightnings and Dauntlesses armed with LRASMs and HARMs. We'll have Hellcats and Shadows providing support. Our surface combatants, meanwhile, will engage smaller ships nearby. A friendly sub, the Sarafield, is also trailing the group with a pair of Lenish boats. It's above my pay grade, but if possible I'd like their help. They'd be in the best position to ambush the Eruseans and deplete some of their defenses."
Leighton nodded and sat back in his chair. The mountain of info made it feel like six hours would pass by a few seconds from now. He closed his eyes and mentally noted where his coffee mug was as he spoke up.
"CAG, Tesstarossa, get outta here and get this plan squared away. I'll get you those subs, and talk to Admiral Hardin aboard the Andersen. See what else he can offer." He promised.
The two nodded, gave the standard assurances of keeping the Admiral in the loop, and hurried out of the compartment. He motioned for Wattenberg to continue. While the man went on, Leighton glanced at the clock on the wall across the way, and the paintings below it. Among them was an image of James Wellington, the father of Osean aircraft carriers. Oh Patron Saint of Naval Aviation, please don't let me fuck up…
Corporal David Chalise pulled his eye back from the thermal scope atop the L7 machine gun and let out a long breath. Next to him, Lance Corporal Khedar Sigdel stirred but remained partly asleep while the gunner kept watch over the craggly slopes leading down to the valley. He still had two hours of his shift according to his watch. Their relief crew had promised to be early in exchange for the fact he'd covered for them a few days ago. Looking to keep from feeling too stiff, he set the machine gun down and opened what looked like a bulky laptop. The screen flickered to life and after he entered the keycode, the status of the minefield down on the slope came up. All mines were still functioning, and he hoped they would continue to function if the Sotoan military ever came across the valley. Observation Post 39 sat far from where Sotoa's mechanized might was predicted to gallop southwards. Its importance was obvious, though: from it you could control the precious few roads below. What's more, it allowed you a clear view in any direction for dozens of kilometers. With it and the roads, an invading force could spill into the right flank of the plains to the west.
David looked up when he heard the soft crunch of gravel outside. He looked over the lip of the firing port, then realized the noise was coming from behind the bunker. He immediately nudged Khedar with the toe of his boot until the man awoke. As he opened his mouth to say something, David clamped a hand over it and put a finger to his lips. He let the man listen for a minute so he'd get the picture. They grabbed their M8 rifles, and Khedar manned the machine gun while his comrade stepped outside. In the evening light, he saw two figures walking down the trail to the bunker.
"Halt!" David yelled, weapon at the ready. There was a pause, then a familiar voice called back to him.
"The countersign is Yeti, if I recall right." A calm, refined voice said.
"Yes sir...come forward."
Captain Dorji, commander of OP 39's garrison, approached with his radio operator in tow. The Captain casually rested a hand on one of his combat vest's pouches and regarded the fellow soldier with a light smile.
"Good evening, sir. What brings you out here?" David asked.
"I'm inspecting the line. Good job on reacting to my approach."
"Thank you, sir."
Without another word, the Captain moved onwards to the trench nearby. The crew manning a bunker a couple dozen meters away had poked their heads out to see what was going on, but when there was no firing after a minute, they went back inside. David ambled back inside and swapped his rifle for the L7 once more.
"Captain Dorji?" His loader asked as he settled back into the corner.
"Yes, taking a look at the valley." David thought. He put his eye back to the gun's scope and started scanning.
"Fuck me, we're at war with the Toes and he still walks around with that...thing on his head." He mumbled to himself.
David hesitated on calling it stupid, because the gray beret was something that distinguished the 1st Light infantry Regiment as mountain troops. It was something that made David's effort to gain full citizenship feel a bit more worthwhile. He could just imagine his grandmother when she found out the family had formally returned to its homeland. It was the least he could do for all she'd done for him.
"Say something, mate?" Khedar asked.
"Mumbling to myself. Get some sleep, Khedar."
No sooner had he said that, David saw something move down the slope. At first it looked like a bush getting caught in a breeze, but his scope picked up something as he passed by it. He came back until he found the phenomenon and focused on it. It was a thin, thin line moving across the slope. No, it was an outline of something. He spotted a second outline near it the longer he looked and reached up to key his radio.
"Boar 1, Boar 3 this is Boar 2. I have possible movement to my front, approximately 200 meters. Either of you available to verify?"
"Boar 2 this is Boar 3, solid copy. Standby." The bunker to his right replied.
"Boar 2 this is Boar Actual, request SITREP. What kind of movement?" A third voice, Dorji's XO, chimed in.
"Ah, looks like some kind of outline. Thought it was just wind moving the bushes at first, but I can definitely see something. Count at least two." David reported slowly.
"Any equipment issues?"
"None we're aware of."
"Boar Actual, Boar 3 has a visual on the same. Count at least two pairs of em."
David stuck out a foot and gave Khedar a kick to the boot. As the man stirred he told him to get on the mine system and standby.
"Boar Actual, do we wanna launch a flare or something to see what's going on?" He asked. A muffled crash grabbed his attention. He scanned until he saw dust settling. By that time one of the other bunkers had an explanation.
"Boar Actual, something just set off one of my mines' anti-tamper devices! I've got a partial thermal signature and a body down the slope about 100 meters." Boar 3 radioed.
"Copy...all Boar elements maintain visual on those phenomena. We're bringing the OP to full alert; standby for illumination rounds." The XO replied.
"Captain, you may wanna get inside one of the bunkers!" David yelled from behind his machine gun. He looked over as Khedar brought a box of ammunition over.
"Mines are ready." He added.
As the Captain and his RTO hurried in, the world outside was bathed in a red glow. Someone shouted from down the slope, and the world was thrown into chaos. David spotted a man emerge from thin air below, clutching a weapon about as large as his. David jammed the trigger back and swiveled the weapon as more shapes appeared.
"Contact!" The gunner declared.
He grabbed his radio's transmit button and shouted the word again before opening fire once more. Dorji took over coordinating the fire as requests for the exact location of the contact flooded in. Khedar raised his M8 and fired a few shots, then jolted downwards when bullets scraped the top of the bunker. David felt like he was watching a mob of people suddenly appear before him as figures scrambled left and right for cover. From behind a curtain, it looked like. Cloaks, optical camo? He flinched as something exploded to the right, but kept the trigger down until the ammo box ran dry.
"Need ammo!" He called to his loader.
An enemy machine gun opened up from down below as Khedar worked frantically to help get a new belt fed into the weapon. David crouched down as fire concentrated on them. The sound of a rocket made him think this was it, only for it to land elsewhere. He heard a warcry echo down the slope as the first reinforcements entered the fight. Captain Dorji left to command them and give the two some room as they got the machine gun back into service. Khedar raised his rifle and fired on a man with something resting on his shoulder. David scanned to see how many they'd cut down; to his horror he only saw three bodies nearby. No, he assured himself, some must've been blown down the slope by the mines! He spotted a group moving up between rocks and let off a long burst at them. Two of the attackers fell while those in the open went for whatever cover they could find.
"David, enemy forces moving up between us and Boar 1. Too many to get on my own." He reported in a shaky voice.
David swung the machine gun to the left as a rocket streaked through the air into the friendly bunker. They caught the man who'd fired the weapon and were about to engage when David felt something hot poke his face. The thermal sight went blank, then something struck his hand and sent him jolting down in surprise and pain. He landed on the floor of the bunker with a groan as he tried to figure out what'd happened. His loader was barking his name; it felt like he was right next to his ear.
"Calm down, Khedar, calm down!" He yelled as loudly as he could.
The man rolled onto his side and grunted through the pain until he saw his right hand had been reduced by a few fingers. His friend was on the ground too as a grenade was launched at their position. He saw his gunner's injury and began fumbling with the first aid kit on his chest rig. David used his left hand to raise his right so his friend could get the injury wrapped up quicker.
"Something's wrong...those mines should be going off!" Khedar shouted, too loud and too fast.
"Shut up, don't worry about them!" David snapped.
"The console won't respond! The screen's all fuzzy!"
"Help me get back in the fight!"
David looked around for his rifle and saw it where he'd last left it: up against the wall, near the doorway. Khedar caught his right hand as he pulled away his left to reach out for it. He managed to get a grip on it as the whistle of light artillery overtook the crackle of small arms. He dragged his M8 to himself and rolled so he could sit up. As settled against the wall of the bunker, he could hear voices. The men had gotten close enough that individual words could be picked up. They were Eruseans! David thought with alarm. Khedar leapt to his feet, howling like a madman as he opened fire at the approaching Eruseans. He dropped down and hit the button to sever the link with their mines and detonate them. Far fewer than they'd expected went off. In response, the Eruseans raked their position with more fire and launched a grenade their way. Khedar was thrown back, landing atop his squadmate.
When the ringing stopped and David could open his eyes again, he was shocked to realize he was still alive. Khedar, however, remained on him. He looked at the controls for the mines and saw the device had been crushed under dirt and sandbags. The bunker was effectively no more, with its primary weapons both unusable hunks of metal and plastics. Still, David had his M8. He struggled to get his loader off of him and further inspect the damage. After that...well, he'd figure that out soon enough.
"Khedar, if you're not dead then wake up and get off of me." He growled, head still in a haze.
That's when he became aware he was being watched. A figure appeared at the hole in the bunker, a bullpup-style rifle in his hands. The figure looked more like a cyborg but with all the modern trappings of a soldier. Vest, camouflage fatigues, helmet, low-light goggles; David and him exchanged stares for a minute, then the Erusean fired a burst from the hip. He moved on past the two bodies with the rest of his squad, chasing the remaining defenders from the trenches and towards the center of the installation.