"I've heard of déjà vu, but this is ridiculous." Nathan caught Reese's confused glance and sighed. "There's no chance these footprints belong to some Oodwae crew out for a picnic?"
"No, Sir," responded Sergeant Krieger. He pointed to the video images he had brought back. "If you study those images you'll see that those prints are too deep to be made by humans -- unless they're nine feet tall. Plus, there's no variation to their gait. Even when marching humans don't have such precisely measured strides." What are the odds? Nathan thought wryly. Being sent down to do sentry duty on a facility and running into AIs. Again. "How many?" he asked. "At least six, probably more," responded Krieger. "And there could be more than one team." "That isn't likely," Nathan responded. "Silicates stick together." "We also found the same kind of tracks about two klicks east of here. And this ---." Lieutenant Reese handed West a cracked miniature circuit board. "Definitely from an AI. Possibly they've cannibalized one of their own to repair others." They looked up as Corporal Macy's team came into the camp. "Corporal," greeted Lieutenant Reese, disapprovingly. "You're late." "We ran into some trouble, Sir." "Silicates?" "Afraid so, Sir." "Visual verification?" "We lost them about twelve klicks southwest of the camp, Sir. Eight, maybe ten." "We figured around that," Reese nodded. "Those aren't too bad as odds go. Weapons?" Corporal Macy nodded. "They were carrying M-590s and grenade launchers. One laser cannon that looked like it was ripped from a small tank. It didn't look functional, but I could be mistaken. There has to be a reason they're lugging it around. " "They may have other weapons stashed somewhere," suggested Jameson. Corporal Macy looked very grim. "Sir," she added. "There's more. They're being led by a Sam-Q model." Rain whistled. "Good Lord." "A Sam-Q?" asked Hawkes, confused. "An AI designed for security detail and urban warfare," explained Sergeant Castillo. "Not as bad as a Joe-G, which is designed for actual warfare, but formidable enough." "You've faced a Sam-Q model before?" asked West. "No, Sir," Castillo answered dryly, "but I can read a spec sheet as well as anyone." "But AIs communicate through wireless modems," Cullen said. "And what one AI knows every AI knows, so isn't one model as bad as another?" "They can share information," supplied Castillo, "but each AI is still well, ruled, shall we say, by its primary programming. So, though every AI can access universal technical data for warfare, a Sam-Q or a Joe-G was made for warfare -- it's what it is." "So why are they here?" demanded Hawkes. "What're they after?" "Oodwae," stated Sergeant Saliers simply. "They must've learned of the transfer and decided to take advantage of the lack of personnel." "Dammit, not again," muttered West. "You've been in this situation before?" Cullen questioned. "Something like it," he answered, remembering the events of their Icarus detail. "So you should know what to do," commented Rain. "Not exactly." He turned to Corporal Lancing. "Corporal -- any word on that link to the Saratoga?" "I'm afraid not, Lieutenant West. The satellite has moved out of range." "Disabling communications is one of the first rules of engagement," stated Reese. "We don't know they did that," said West. "With respect, Sir, we have to assume they did," responded Reese, forcefully. "We're tracking the satellite, Lieutenant West," added Lancing. "It changed orbit but it should be in within range again in about 18 hours. But with the Saratoga on her way to the Chamdar region it's doubtful they can send help soon. We have to assume that we're on our own, for an indefinite period of time, with AIs breathing down our backs, and a facility to protect. Some help would be great -- but we know better than to bet on it." "This bunch seems a lot more organized than those we ran into at the Icarus mining facility," noted Hawkes, momentarily breaking the tension. "They've got a Sam-Q," Krieger pointed out. "Sir," said Lieutenant Reese. "Permission to form a search and destroy team to flush out the Silicates." "We'll be spread too thin as it is, Lieutenant," West answered. "We'd rather have you here." "We know they'll be coming after us anyway," pointed out Cullen. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to pick us off one by one, Lieutenant," protested Reese. "And as it is now the AIs have all the advantages." "That was a 'no,' Lieutenant," Nathan cut off Reese's additional protests. "Safeguarding the facility is the most important thing. We stay here till we can get backup." He expelled an angry breath. "Rain, get me the specs of Oodwae. We need a plan."
"I can't believe it," Cullen murmured to Rain, as she was checking her M-590. "AIs." "Don't tell me," Rain teased, grinning. "You've never seen Silicates face to face before either." "What can I say, I've lived a sheltered life," she admitted. "I do vaguely remember having them around the house when I was a child, though. Before the rebellion." "Well, just don't let the novelty distract you," warned Rain. Something hard entered into her eyes momentarily. "Don't worry, Rain. I'm not making that mistake again." Jordan looked at her seriously. "You know I didn't mean it that way, Sarah," he said quietly. "I'm just saying Silicates can be fascinating in their own way. Like rattlesnakes." She gave him a small smile. "Nice analogy." "I'm serious." He hesitated slightly. "Silicates were made pretty on purpose. They're incredibly smart and they're programmed to predetermine a human's needs and preferences. They're not just machines. Plus there's conjecture that since the Silicates left the Earth they've actually evolved in some way that negates us pre-guessing them." "Well, in a firefight pretty won't do them much good," she answered coolly. "And neither will the rest." Ran smiled. They forgot, sometimes, that Cullen was just as much a warrior as the rest of them. Just because she'd never faced it before didn't mean she couldn't handle it. No fear.
"This is Team Four. We've got movement at the west wall!" "Damn, we've got movement here, too!" Despite their best intentions, there hadn't been much time to plan a defensive. Or to do anything else. The WildCards, plus the 12th's even dozen, made sixteen. Buddying up, Nathan formed four teams to guard all sides of the perimeter. As it was they barely had enough time to get into position before the Silicates had attacked. Nyx was aptly named. There had been no colorful sunset, no lingering twilight. One moment they had been basking in the afternoon sun and in the next had been plunged into almost total darkness. That brought home with a vengeance a fact that they had all known but had failed to consider. Nyx had no moon. There was, in fact, no source of light except for the stars and the dim glow of the energy shield that protected Oodwae. Hurriedly, the marines lighted torches and bonfires to help illuminate the area. Light that more hindrance than help, adding strange shadows to an almost impenetrable darkness. "Stand your ground!" "No, goddammit! Take cover! For heaven's sake we can't even see these guys!" "Incoming!" They seemed to attack on all sides, at the same time. West knew that wasn't possible, but they couldn't seem to make out where the shots were coming from. Their night vision sensors proved just short of useless since the Silicates didn't give off much infrared readings. "Jameson's been hit!" "Hawkes! Where are you? We need backup!" "Team three! Report!" "Slasher here! Banker's down! I repeat, Banker's down! We need a medic!" "Hang on, I'm on my way!" "Stand your ground! Find cover if you can but keep returning fire!" "Where the hell are they?" "Incoming!"
"Tell me about Morgan Tyler," requested Colonel McQueen as he and Ross sat over coffee and pancakes in the mess hall. Ross grimaced, and McQueen wasn't quite sure whether it was from the bitterness of the coffee or from the mention of the new captain's name.
"You have her file," Ross pointed out, and McQueen got the distinct impression that he was equivocating.
"I noticed," McQueen answered, dryly. "And in the same week she was cited for an article 90. Slightly uncommon, wouldn't you say?"
Ross almost grinned. "For Tyler? Not much."
McQueen lifted an eyebrow. For some reason Ross seemed to be giving mixed signals about Tyler. In one second there was a touch of disapproval, and in the next inexplicable pride. To say nothing of the inappropriateness of those reactions. Ross seemed to disfavor of the commendation, while secretly cheering the article 90.
His misgivings about the new Captain intensified. Ross was the quintessential soldier, a stickler for regulations. He would not have stood for any disrespect, any breach of protocol. Good friend or not, he himself had felt the brunt of those convictions.
"It's true then?" he asked. "She did assault her CO?"
"Study the file," replied Ross. "That case was dropped before it even began. I think the exact words of the judge were 'It never happened' and the 114th were cleared of any misconduct."
"And yet their CO, the then-Captain MacLaughlin, was sent to Washington while the 114th stayed at Pensacola."
"Yes."
McQueen waited for Ross to elaborate or explain, but the Commodore seemed content with his one-word answer.
"Is she going to be trouble?" he asked, finally.
The grin Ross had been fighting finally broke through. "Of course. Why do you think they sent her to you?"
"God, what a night," stated Rain, a few minutes after dawn, when the Silicates had finally retreated. "How's Sergeant Castillo?"
"Hanging on," answered Sergeant Krieger, somberly. "Jameson and Hoag are doing better, though. Lieutenant Cullen just got through patching them up." He turned to Hawkes, who was trying to reach a cut on his back. "Let me help you with that, Sir."
Hawkes handed the bandage over reluctantly. "Thanks," he said. "Think they'll come back?" he asked Rain.
"They will. They haven't gotten what they want, and their window's rapidly closing." He turned back to Krieger. "You and your men should get some sleep, Sergeant."
"With all due respect, Sir, are you kidding? With Silicates around? We sleep and we're dead."
"Where's Nathan?" Hawkes asked.
"Lieutenant West is over there, Sir," pointed Krieger, with a small grimace. "Arguing with Lieutenant Reese."
"Oh-oh," murmured Rain, starting towards the two men.
"Wait," Hawkes halted Rain in mid-stride. "I'll go."
Rain looked doubtfully at the pair facing off. "Tell you what, let's both go."
Nathan was obviously annoyed at the younger man. "We've been through this, Lieutenant Reese. We need you here. Besides, you're exhausted. We all are."
"And with luck the Silicates are taking this time to recharge, too," argued Reese. "Last night there was virtually no source of photo-energy. Their energy cells will be running low, too."
"We need to stay put while we wait to hear from the 'Toga."
Reese's face was set stubbornly. "You can wait all you want, Sir, but I'm taking a team out and hunting these things down."
West was about to loose his temper with the younger man and Hawkes moved in between them to forestall further argument.
"No, you'll stay here," Hawkes stated. "And get your wounds looked after." He looked pointedly at the graze on Reese's side. "_I'll_ take the team out." He looked over the 12th. "Who are your best field men?"
"Me," came Reese's ready answer.
"Someone who's not you and not wounded and can be spared," said Hawkes clearly. "Which means not Lancing or Liu or Hops or Krieger, either."
"With all due respect, Lieutenant, we've all gone through JEST and SERE, you haven't and I ----"
"I have," Hawkes cut in quietly.
"Excuse me, Sir?"
"JEST, SERE, SSS -- you name the initials, did them all."
"You did?" This was from Nathan, asked with some surprise.
"Yeah," answered Hawkes flatly. "Just not with the Corps."
"Oh." Reese looked like he was going to argue further, but seemed to change his mind upon further consideration. He nodded. "You'll want Macy's team, then, Sir."
Macy's team separated from the group and filed in beside Reese.
"Good," said Hawkes, turning to the tall brunette and the other three members of her team. "Get some breakfast and assemble your gear. We move out in 15 mikes."
"Fifteen mikes. Roger that, Sir."
"I need you here, Cooper," West protested.
"You've got Rain and Cullen and Reese and the rest of them. Strategizing isn't my strong point anyway. Now hunting, " he said, looking over Macy's team with a wolfish grin. "That's my kind of job." He noted West's worried look. "Give us six hours, West. If we haven't found anything by then I'll bring them back here."
"Rain, look at this." With the blueprints laid out on a makeshift table, West pointed to two spots at opposite sides of the facility. "According to this there are only two actual points of entry to the facility. With the facility shut tight we have to patrol an area of more than two kilometers. If we break the outer seal we can concentrate on these two areas."
"Not to mention we can create some cover and turn on some lights," added Cullen. "That should even things a bit."
The 12th exchanged meaningful glances. "Lieutenant West, we have orders to keep the seal intact," interjected Lieutenant Reese.
"Under ordinary circumstances I'd agree, Lieutenant," answered West. "But we happen to be under attack. We can protect the facility better if we can concentrate our energies, and resources."
Lieutenant Reese shook his head, his face set in a grim mask. "That's not an option, Sir. We can't let them get that far."
"That doesn't make sense, Lieutenant," frowned West. "This way we can protect the facility more effectively. Now, unless you have a good, and I mean _good_ reason for this quibbling I suggest --."
Reese took a deep breath. "Sir, we have reason to believe that this is exactly what the AIs want. Breaking the outer seal gives them a better chance of actually getting into the facility. That can't happen. There'd be too many unknowns. They can override the computer system. They can hide in the ventilation tunnels. The Sam-Q model is expert in infiltration and urban assault, but unlike the Joe-G, the Sam-Q has no SERE, SSS or JEST programming. We do. Out here we have a better advantage. We can't --."
"Enough with the double-talk, Lieutenant," interrupted Rain, eyes narrowed. "What aren't you telling us?"
Another meaningful look passed through the members of the 12th. There were faint nods from some of them, slight shakes of the heads from others.
"We don't have the clearance to tell you, Sir," said Lieutenant Reese. He expelled a frustrated breath, but stood his ground. "Don't break the seal, Sir. We can't risk what's in this facility."
"What the hell is inside this facility?" demanded West.
Rain was studying the facility's blueprint and specifications thoughtfully. The energy shield, the multi-level structuring… the lead-lined reinforced walls. Something clicked and he grew cold at the implications. He pivoted sharply, turning to stare in shock at the façade. "Weapons," he supplied flatly. "Nuclear weapons."
Nathan's eyes widened at Rain's words. "Oh shit."
"God, what a mess," declared West as he, Cullen and Rain stood a few feet away from the rest of the group to discuss their rapidly dwindling options. "I can't believe it."
Rain sighed internally. "It's not as convoluted as you may think," he answered. "In 2012 the UN passed the absolute ban on nuclear weapons. It would have taken too long, not to mention cost too much, to actually disarm them all. So, facilities like Oodwae were built to house them."
"Are you saying these weapons are active?" There was an underlying hint of panic in West's voice.
"No," answered Rain. "They have no guidance or detonation systems. But they do have their nuclear cores, which means they can be used if the right parties get hold of them. It was a long time ago," he continued. "The bleeding hearts decried detonating them in space or sending them into the sun, and the politicians couldn't even fathom actually destroying a hundred trillion dollars' worth of weapons. So…"
Cullen nodded in understanding. "Guess this seemed like the perfect compromise."
"One that didn't give them any problems for forty years," Rain pointed out. "Mainly because they kept the locations such a secret."
"For heaven's sake, why didn't Colonel McQueen tell us?"
"Lieutenant Reese explained that," said Rain. "The information was compartmentalized. Need to know. Of course the Corps isn't going to advertise that we're keeping nuclear weapons on this planet. We don't even have any proof that McQueen knew about it himself."
"I am going to kill whoever came up with the 'need to know' rule," swore West. Then he remembered something. "Then how come the 12th knew?"
"You keep doing that," noted Rain.
"Doing what?"
"Comparing people." Rain nodded towards the 12th, huddled around discussing the blueprints still laid on the table. "The 12th is a different team. They have a different CO, and for all we know they're under different orders. So they knew something we didn't -- that's not a crime. Right now we have to work together -- if we don't, we're dead. Those differences are something to be thankful for. What's important is we know it now, before we made a very big mistake."
West didn't seem to hear anything. "Corporal Lancing! Any word on that link?"
"No, Sir! We've got two hours till the satellite is in range, Sir!"
"Dammit!" cursed West. "I need to talk to McQueen."
Rain expelled a frustrated breath. "Why?"
West looked at Rain like the other man was slow-witted. "Because he's our commanding officer," he answered sarcastically.
"And are you saying you don't already know what he's going to tell you?"
"What?"
"What Jordan is so diplomatically trying to say," Cullen cut in nastily. "Is will you just for one moment get over yourself and fucking lead us?"
"Excuse me?" West asked, incredulously.
"Sarah…" Rain frowned at Cullen but she charged right on. He glanced sideways at the 12th who were pretending not to hear them while actually trying very hard to listen.
"You see?" Cullen challenged. "Even the 12th knows you're not doing your job. Otherwise why would they even be discussing a defense plan? We've got Silicates to deal with and you can't even give us one clear directive."
"This isn't the time to do this, Sarah," said Rain. "We've got a crisis."
"You want to call McQueen?" Sarah continued. "Why? Is he going to come down here and rescue us? Hasn't happened yet, has it, West?"
"You are so over the line, Lieutenant," warned West.
Sarah was past listening to reason. "All through this war we've heard stories about how great the 58th was. There was even that goddamn AFN video," she answered angrily, her hands akimbo on her hips. "And you, all you've done is fight Tyler at every turn, defending some imagine space, saving it, waiting for Vansen to come back and claim it. Just like you've been waiting for McQueen to come back. Well, he's back. So what? Has it changed anything?"
"This is about Tyler, isn't it?" he growled. "You want her here instead of me."
"Oh for heaven's sake!" exploded Cullen. "Don't you go blaming her for this! She's not here. I know she's not here. McQueen's not here. Vansen's not here. You are. You're honcho. Take some goddamn responsibility. And while you're at it, take command."
West couldn't believe how nasty Sarah was being. He looked around, not sure what to do next.
"Hawkes isn't here, either," Sarah sneered.
"That's enough, Lieutenant!" West almost shouted.
She set her jaw and angled her head stubbornly. "Make me," she challenged. She glared at him a moment longer. "Can't, can you?" With a disdainful sniff she spun away and stalked back to where the 12th were gathered.
"What the hell was that about?"
"You've asked me that before," answered Rain. "And I'll tell you again. Ask her."
"I've got half a mind to write her up," West muttered.
"Do it," Rain said quietly. "Just be sure you're doing it for the right reasons."
Nathan turned on Rain, mostly because he was the only one left. "I've had it up to here with your cryptic remarks and your vague references to whatever bug you have up your butt," he snarled. "If you're going to rag me about something, pray do it directly to my face in words I don't have to translate, transcribe or transpose into something remotely understandable."
For a moment Rain seemed almost amused, which only irritated Nathan more.
"Is it because Tyler made me honcho instead of you? I didn't ask for this, you know. And it's not my fault your precious Tyler is off gallivanting around somewhere on some mission and couldn't be here. I'm doing my best and I'd appreciate a little cooperation."
West stopped, fascinated, as the humor faded from Rain's face, to be replaced by a freezing anger.
"Get this through your head, Nathan," Jordan replied lowly, dangerously. "It's not about her. It's about you. Hell, yes, I want Tyler back, but that doesn't mean I won't follow you. Believe me, I've followed worse."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"In case it escaped your notice, we have a situation here. A very serious situation. Dwelling on the little things won't help. Sarah isn't angry. And she sure as hell isn't working against you. She's just disappointed But that doesn't mean she's not capable of following orders if you would just give them."
"Lieutenant West?"
They turned to find Lieutenant Reese standing a few feet away, surrounded by the rest of the 12th.
"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but I think we have an idea…"
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