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Reprisal - Part 1
A Space: Above and Beyond Story by Deuce
Colonel T.C. McQueen sits in the Tun Tavern, staring idly out the bay window. Off in the distance, the indigo and green ball which is the planet Hyperion floats in space. Closer still are the capital ships of the Earth Forces Fleet. Cutters and picket ships pass between the larger carriers and destroyers, as ISSCV's flit between ships carrying high ranking commanders towards the Saratoga. And everywhere are the fighters, retrofitted Hammerheads, X-95 Interceptors and AB-101 Gunships.
It is the largest gathering of its kind since the fall of Earth two and a half months ago.
The Colonel contemplates his scotch, briefly bringing his thoughts to a more personal level. His new leg has not brought him any pain today. A small blessing. Even when the pain is at its worst, it is a good thing, though. It reminds him that he is alive. He had not been off planet for more than two days when the Chigs came in-system and things had changed for the worst. If not for his surgery, he would have been on planet during the fall. At best, he would have become a prisoner of war again.
McQueen takes control of his thoughts again. There is little he can do about the past, but there is much he can do for the future.
A flight of the newly retrofitted Hammerheads flies past the window. As the Saratoga's Commander, Air Group, he knows that this is the 127th Angry Angels squadron. Seven months ago, after the debacle that was to have been Roundhammer, a freshly promoted Captain Nathan West requested that the 127th be reactivated. After suffering heavy casualties and losing their commander, West's former squadron, the 58th, was disbanded. Commodore Ross granted the request and the black and yellow of the Angry Angels was restored to active status. Lieutenant Cooper Hawkes, also formerly of the WildCards, followed him.
The 127th is returning from sentry duty, patrolling the outer reaches of the Hyperion system for any signs of their enemy. The chance that the Chigs might have found out about this meeting, despite the elaborate preventative measures that have been employed, is very real. As many squadrons as could be spared from the other fronts have been pulled here as insurance against further disaster. After a brief six hour rest, the Angels, twelve strong now, will return to duty.
A young-looking private enters the room. He breaks the silence by approaching McQueen, "Colonel McQueen, sir?"
McQueen turns to address the Marine, "Yes, private, what is it?"
The private pauses momentarily, "Sorry to interrupt you, sir, but the Commodore would like to see you in his ready room, as soon as possible."
"Thank you, private. You're dismissed." The Marine salutes, McQueen returns it and the young man turns on his heel and heads out the door.
Without taking a look out of the window again, the Colonel places his untouched drink on the bar and walks out the room.
Ten minutes later, McQueen is standing at the door to Commodore Ross's ready room, his hand poised to knock. He wonders briefly about the reason behind this meeting, it is 2100 hours, ship-time. The thought fades quickly, though. It is not his place to question. He is a soldier. He knocks.
A voice calls from within. "Enter."
The Colonel enters to find Commodore Glenn Ross still in his dress uniform, with the jacket unbuttoned, he is sitting at his desk. In front of him, next to a stack of manila folders, is a steaming cup of coffee. The Commodore motions to a chair across from him. "Sit down Ty, there are some things we need to discuss. Can I offer you a drink?"
McQueen sits down, as much at attention as one can be while sitting down. "I'll take a coffee, sir."
Ross nods and pours a mug of coffee. He hands the coffee over to the Colonel, who takes a sip and then looks at the Commodore inquisitively. Ross smiles and leans back in his chair. "It is the real thing, Ty." McQueen grins, ever so slightly. Earth-grown coffee was a luxury before the fall. In the days since the fall, like all other Earth exclusive products, it has a value surpassing gold. "What's the occasion, sir?"
Ross pushes the stack of folders towards McQueen. "A glimmer of hope, the first in a long time, that is the occasion," he says. "I'd like you to review these personally. I want to discuss their content with you before the summit."
The Colonel hefts the first folder, he asks, "May I inquire as to its nature?"
"As you are probably aware, our contact with the other elements of the Earth Fleets has been sporadic at best. Those folders are a summary of the actions of the present Fleet elements and any ships that they've been in contact with. It is current up to less than a week ago. It also contains reports from our top scientists with regard to how the Chigs managed to penetrate Sol system undetected and how to counter this new threat."
McQueen places the folder back on top of its stack and takes another drink from his mug. He pauses before replying, and looks at the pictures of the Commodore's family that sit on his desk. Ross does not know the fate of his family. They have not spoken of this, but McQueen knows. He has personally been looking for Ross's family also, for his friend's sake, and has had no luck. On the rare occasion when the two gather outside of their work, McQueen can see the anguish in the man's eyes. He looks away, towards the wall behind Ross and says, "There will probably be ships coming in even after the summit has ended."
"I'll make sure you get updates as they arrive. I'd like to be able to present some sort of plan when we meet. If we can get some sense of the Fleet's status and the Chigs' recent actions, we can form a strategy to recoup our losses." The Commodore gets up and walks to the window, absently strumming his acoustic guitar as he passes it. He stops and looks outside at the body of ships. His back is still towards McQueen when he cautiously says, "The Fleet reports are not the main reason I asked to see you, Ty."
McQueen takes note of the tone of voice and places his mug down. He looks to Ross. "What is it, sir?"
Ross turns about and looks McQueen in the eyes. He places his hands behind his back and answers, "Approximately thirty minutes ago, the French Bishop-class destroyer, Freedom, spun-down from hyper-luminal velocity. They had recently been in the Pegasus sector and had participated in a rescue operation on the planet Selene. They liberated twenty-two prisoners of war, fifteen of which are still on board the Freedom." McQueen has to force himself to breathe evenly, he has heard of rescues before. Ross walks to where McQueen sits, places a hand on his shoulder and smiles down to him. "Vansen and Wang are on board, Ty."
McQueen finds himself at a loss. He had stopped hoping long ago. To find them now, after so long a time, stirs up strange emotions that the Colonel has not often had to deal with. It is all he can do to finally ask, "And Damphousse....?"
Ross shakes his sadly and replies, "Her name is not on the list that the Freedom sent along with her initial transmissions."
McQueen regains control of his emotions enough to say, softly, "Is there anything you can tell me, sir?"
"All I know is that they and five other Marines last stationed on the Saratoga are going to be transferred over by ISSAPC in two hours time." There is only silence as McQueen stares at his mug on the Commodore's desk.
McQueen raises his eyes to Ross's and says, "I don't know what to say, Glenn." Ross can see the emotions battling one another in his friend's eyes. He knows how important the WildCards had become to McQueen, while the then-Lieutenant Colonel had been their commanding officer. "There's no need to say anything." Slowly, McQueen nods. The Commodore rises, signaling a return to more formal terms. Colonel McQueen stands and a mask of calm settles over his face. "You're dismissed, Colonel."
McQueen takes a last drink of coffee and picks up the folders. "Yes, sir." He heads for the door, but before he closes it behind him, he turns back to Ross. He nods once to him, and Ross returns the nod with a grin.
After McQueen has left, Ross picks up the picture of his wife and children and wonders if he too, will get to feel the joy of being reunited with family.
continue with Reprisal, part 2
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