Sacrifice:The Shenkar War (23 page)

             
He looked around as he walked over to where the rest of his squadron was gathered. The crew moved quickly about, but he noticed several pilots standing about, watching him and the rest of Necro Squadron. Most just looked curiously, but several faces wore the looks of guilt--guilt from their failure after the last fold sequence. True, while they had been delayed in their launches, they still had more than enough time to have launched their fighters and joined the battle. Liam could only guess that the Admiral had been a little upset over the failure of the response time of his pilots. The Royal Razors must have been the only other squadron on standby that hadn’t stood down before the okay was sounded.

             
Evan stepped forward as Liam walked up, clearly with something on his mind by the angry look on his face.

             
“
What the hell was that? Where the hell were the rest of those assholes?” he said in a not-so-soft voice as he pointed at the other pilots standing a little way off. By the affronted looks on their faces, the others pilots had clearly heard what Evan had said.

             
“
Calm down. I am not happy about that either, but I think they were ordered to stand down--maybe as a punishment or something for their lethargic response. We were supposed to be four squadrons prepped and ready to launch instantly, but it looks like only us and the Royal Razors had been ready. I’m guessing those other two squadrons are going to get one hell of a chewing out by the Admiral. On a brighter side, they are going to be envious of the damage you dealt out. I checked the number upon approach--you are credited with eight kills. You’re an ace, and it’s only your first outing.”

             
Evan looked surprised by this news as if he hadn’t even realized it. Then, as everyone closed in around him congratulating him and clapping him on the back, a smile crept across his face slowly. Crystal pulled his head down and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. Just as Evan had finished shaking everyone’s hands, Callen Groto and the rest of the Royal Razors entered the hangar bay and made their way over.

             
“
I hear we have ourselves an ace. Congratulations, mate,” Callen said as he reached out to take Evan’s hand.

             
“
Thanks, and thanks for the help out there. It was getting a bit hairy.”

             
“
Oh, don’t think much of it. Just glad you left some for us,” said Callen as he laughed.

             
“
Does anyone have the final numbers--for kills that is?” asked Steve.

             
Holding up a computer pad, Liam said
, “
Got them right here. Counts are as follows: Evan, eight; Crystal, five; Tim, three; Steve, two; April, one; Michael, one; Darren, one; Dimitri, one; and David, one.”

             
“
Nice--we have two aces on our first outing,” said Darren.

             
“
How many did you get, boss man?” asked Steve.

             
“
Oh, a few, nothing to brag about,” Liam said evasively.

             
“
Oh come on . . . it’s going to get posted anyway, so you might as well spill it,” said Crystal as she poked him in the chest with a finger.

             
“
Seven,” Liam muttered.

             
A collection of laughter surrounded Liam as Evan clapped him on his shoulder.

             
“
Three aces!” exclaimed Michael.

             
“
Well, you hear that, Razors? Looks like we have some catching up to do,” Callen said to his men and women gathered around him.

             
“
Well, either way, the drinks are on you,” Liam said with a smile.

             
“
Oh, I have something that will make you smile even more. The Freedom Fighters got their asses chewed by Admiral Kelvin, as did its sister squadron,” said Callen.

             
“
Who are the Freedom Fighters?” asked Liam.

             
“
Remember that French bloke Petiot, right?” asked Callen.

             
“
That French asshole who got his ass handed to him by Liam? Of course, we remember him, and I do believe I beat his ass good in flight training. So what about him?” demanded Evan.

             
“
Well, the Freedom Fighters is his squadron, and the arrogant git didn’t feel he needed to wait for the stand-down alert. His and the other French squadron were the other two squadrons on standby. On my way here, I passed the launch bay Petiot had been stationed in, and I could hear Admiral Kelvin shouting so loudly, I’m surprised the whole ship couldn’t hear him,” said Callen.

             
Both groups burst into laughter at hearing this news.

             
“
ATTENTION!” yelled a voice from behind them.

             
Both squadrons came to attention in unison; those facing away from the voice turned as they came to attention. Striding toward them was Captain Caqel with Admiral Kelvin close behind. Both men stopped in front of Liam and Callen. Giving a quick salute, the Admiral stepped forward.

             
“
Congratulations, men. You and your squadrons flew with distinguished excellence. I will be recommending you all for the Air Medal. I am also recommending the Distinguished Flying Cross for your Lieutenant Maxis.” The last part he said as he turned and looked straight at Evan.

             
Evan seemed to stand straighter at this, a slight smile of pleasure showing on his face. As Admiral Kelvin turned back, Liam caught a slight smile on his face as well, but then it was gone so fast, Liam had to wonder if he had imagined it.

             
“
You and your men are to have the next couple of days to relax. There will be plenty of time for your duties later. This whole thing could have been for nothing if any of those Shenkar had escaped. And as for your duties? Well, I have arranged for our two French squadrons to see to them, as well as some other rather unpleasant tasks. You’re dismissed.”

             
With that said, Admiral Kelvin turned on his heel and marched from the hangar bay with Captain Caqel in tow. Callen and his group said their good-byes, then left through the door the Admiral had just exited.

             
“
Well, what shall we do for the next couple of days?” asked Tim.

             
“
I am up for relaxing with a few beers and watching movies. Anyone care to join me?” said Dimitri.

Darren, David, and Steve all voted for this; and the four left for the recreation room. Michael and April whispered to each other and then said their good-byes before they to
o departed.

             
“
Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I could use a bite to eat. Coming, Evan?” said Crystal.

             
“
Yeah, I could use some food.”

             
Crystal and Evan left the hangar bay, leaving Liam and Tim standing there alone. Together, they stood and watched two Omega shuttles lift off and exit the hangar bay energy field that separated atmosphere from the vacuum of space.

             
“
Wonder where they are headed off to?” said Liam.

             
“
I would wager they are off to pull the wreckage from the Shenkar destroyer and fighters into the asteroid field. It would be quite the tip-off that the advanced scouting party ran into something it couldn’t handle if they came upon all that wreckage,” replied Tim.

             
“
Yeah, good point--always the analytical mind you are. In fact, let’s get something to eat. I want to talk over some ideas with you. Of any of us, you know the most about the Shenkar and their tactics. I want to run some tactics over with you and whether they are feasible,” said Liam.

             
“
Okay, sounds good. I wonder what our food options are.”

EDF
Sacrifice
, Command Bridge

              “
Captain Caqel, take the bridge. I need to go make a report to Earth on our first encounter,” said Admiral Kelvin.

             
“
Yes, sir,” replied Caqel as he saluted.

             
Admiral Kelvin turned and walked toward the bridge hatchway. Stopping at the entrance, he turned back.

             
“
Lieutenant Sukita, how long have you been on duty?”

             
“
Ten hours, sir,” replied the young Japanese woman.

             
The Admiral turned his head to Captain Caqel and spoke.
              “
Captain Caqel, have someone relieve Lieutenant Sukita. In fact, get Commander Dunklin up here to relieve you as well. It’s going to be a long tour, hopefully, so we all need to get our rest now.”

             
“
Yes, sir.”

             
Turning back to Lieutenant Sukita, the Admiral addressed her once again.
“
Walk with me, Lieutenant.”

             
Lieutenant Sukita looked taken aback for a second but quickly fell in next to the Admiral, and together, they  walked in silence through the passageways for several minutes before the Admiral spoke.

             
“
I have looked over your file and have come to wonder why you would volunteer for such an assignment. You were top of your class and had been given your choice of assignments. Your family seems to have made it through the bird flu okay, with you only losing your grandparents, so depression isn’t a factor. So what is it, Lieutenant?”

             
“
Well, sir, it’s just that I have always wanted to be part of something big. You can’t get much bigger than this, as far as I can tell. I know I could have stayed home and been stationed aboard one of the new battlecruisers. But this is where it is going to make all the difference, this is where we draw the line, and it is history that I want to be part of.”

             
The Admiral stopped and turned to observe the young twenty-two-year-old woman, a most serious look on his face. He gazed at her for several long moments before final speaking.

             
“
I know what you mean. I volunteered for pretty much the same exact reason. Well, let’s see if we can survive all of this so we can get home to tell our stories.”

             
They resumed their walking in silence for several more minutes before Lieutenant Sukita spoke hesitantly.
“
Is it really true we are to sacrifice all those pilots? I mean, they all know they are going to die and will do so without hesitation?”

             
“
Yes . . . amazing, isn’t it? All for the honor and none of the glory. True warriors of future legends.”

             
“
Yes, sir. Like samurai of old from my country.”

             
They continued on in silence for several more minutes before the Admiral bid the Lieutenant farewell and left for his personal quarters. Lieutenant Sukita continued on her way to her quarters. As she rounded a corner, she collided with a man heading the opposite way. She hit the floor hard on her tailbone, dropping the data pad she had been carrying.

             
“
Oh, Jesus, I am so sorry,” said a young man with short spiky black hair.

             
He reached out a hand to help her up, and she took it. He pulled her to her feet with what looked like little effort and handed her dropped data pad to her.

             
Murmuring a word of thanks, she studied him. She stood about four inches shorter than him. As she looked him up and down, she saw something was different in this man. He held himself differently; a shadow showed across his eyes yet not on his mouth. He smiled at her, hands locked down in front of his waist. Then it hit her--he was one of the Templar Knights. He looked so young. She had heard they all looked young due to the regeneration of their bodies by the Meshtrell nanite technology, but seeing it was another thing.

             
“
It is quite all right. I wasn’t really watching where I was going either, so we can just say both were at fault. You are one of those Templar Knights, aren’t you?”