BORN OF HEROES

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 49
 

Four days passed while the task force waited for the SPF QuickSilver to get outside of the confines of the Van Connor Nebula, send the encoded message to Joplin, wait for a reply and then return. Nearly every squadron of the task force engaged small Legion ships that either tried to get back to their base of operations, or ones that attempted to break the blockade to get away.

  Elias was on the bridge when the courier contacted the Righteous.

  “Incoming transmission from the SPF QuickSilver,” Cerise informed her husband.

  “I’ll take it in my ready room,” the fox said noting that Sandy got up to also listen in. Once in his normal chair in the chamber, Elias activated the terminal incorporated into the table. The Captain of the QuickSilver was a fetching Afghan hound that Elias had met on numerous occasions. She wasn’t quite a friend, but they had a good working relationship. “Tell me you have good news, Mina.”

  The female smiled. “Janes got your message and issued a call to the entire legislature using some obscure clause in the charter of the Spatial Police Force. Within an hour of contacting the PA legislature they voted and approved of your plan. I think that’s the fastest that group of hardheads ever passed anything brought to them. Oddly enough the Terran delegation was split. Most of them didn’t like the idea of Earth being so close to something like this, though a couple of their people were against any further action, including Delegate Faltane.”

  Elias didn’t say anything about that bit of news. “Thanks, Mina. I owe you a drink.”

  The female laughed and brushed her long hair from her face with one hand. “And don’t think I won’t collect on that!”

  “I’ll be calling all of the task force captains for a conference in a little under twenty hours. Get some rest. You’ve earned it,” the fox said before ending the transmission.

  “Not bad, son,” Sandy said approvingly. “Not bad at all. You’re pretty good at this making stuff up on the fly. I think I might have to nominate you for my job. I’ll finally have someone I can trust not to run the shop into the ground and can think about retirement.”

  Elias looked at the lion. “Ah…about that,” he said hesitantly. “You might want to take a seat, Sandy.” He watched as the lion took a chair and faced him with perplexed interest. “Sandy, I really don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just be blunt about it. When we get back from this, I plan on tendering my resignation.”

  The look on the lion’s face couldn’t have been anymore surprised if Elias had walked in naked with his fur dyed neon pink. “You aren’t pulling some kind of joke, are you?”

  Elias shook his head. “No. I’m deadly serious.” He sighed. “Sandy, I’m tired. If I’d been as smart as everyone thinks I am, I’d have resigned after the loss of the Scimitar. If I had any sense, I’d have left after the Angel got taken out. The only reason that I’ve stayed this long is that the Legion knows who I am. They know about my family. I won’t let anyone threaten them. But once this is over, I’m done. I have a wife and children. I’d like to see the kits grow up. I’d like for them to have both of their parents around to do so and I’d like a shot at growing old with Cerise.”

  Sandy slumped in his chair. “I can’t say that I blame you, Elias. Not in the slightest. Some of the best officers I ever knew resigned after near getting killed, and I didn’t blame them. I suppose I can’t blame you either. I’ve seen you get knocked down time and again and get right back up. I suppose everybody has their limits.”

  “They do,” Elias agreed, “and I’ve hit mine. I’m sorry, Sandy. I know this isn’t what you want to hear.”

  The lion waved a huge paw-like hand in the air. “I was just hoping I had a replacement so I could do the same.” He sighed. “Any idea what you want to do once you’re free and clear?”

  “Yeah. Cerise and I want to do something that’ll keep us flying. It would give Renee and Van a chance to learn about the other worlds of the Planetary Alignment first hand. We were thinking of getting our own ship and running specialized freight and courier services and secure transport.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” the lion said with a grin. “You know, Okami has a ship in salvage right now that you can get for a decent price. She’s a little roughed up, might need some new paint, but refitting her wouldn’t be too bad.”

  “I don’t know if I could do that, Sandy. There’re too many ghosts in that hull…”

  “And she served you well,” the lion pointed out. “At least you know you’d be getting a ship that could take some abuse. Instead of what was lost on her, remember all the good. Jenna and the passengers and crew of the Mintaka, the Fynian ambassador, those kids you returned to Alexandrius. She served well, son. I’d hate to see the Angel rusting out in some salvage yard.”

  The fox was silent as he thought about it. “I’ll…I’ll need to talk to the others…”

  “What others?” the lion asked sharply.

  “Ah, hell. Might as well go ahead and tell you the rest. The others from the Angel are going to resign and come with us,” Elias told his friend.

  “You’re taking the best people in the whole force with you!” Sandy said in shock. He then did something that the fox didn’t expect and started laughing. “I guess I’m not too surprised. You’ll be getting a good crew.” He cocked his head and regarded Elias with a sideways glance. “I have no idea how you inspire this kind of loyalty. I wonder if I could clone you?”

  “Yeah,” Elias said with a smile. “And you’d violate how many interplanetary laws trying it?.”

  “What can I say? People like you don’t happen along every day.”

***

   “What are we calling this part of the operation?” Admiral Sheehan asked from her private communication cubicle aboard the War Maiden.  

  On the large display were the faces of all the commanding officers from the SPF task force and the naval forces that had joined in on the operation. Jenna Brees and Cerise had whipped together a quick presentation of what Elias had in mind, though the fox wanted to address the others personally so that they were clear on his plan.

  “I suppose the designation ‘Thunderstorm’ would be appropriate,” Elias said. “While it would be easier to turn the planetoid into a ball of irradiated slag, I refuse to follow that course of action as we have confirmed reports of civilians that have been pressed into slave labor inside there. Deep radar and sensor sweeps indicate that the habitation cavities are well below the surface.”

  “Are you proposing storming that monstrosity, Captain?” the human commander of the carrier Trafalgar asked in disbelief.

  “Yes I am, Captain Assad,” the fox said, his voice was clear with an underlying hint of steel.

  The human looked at the fur with disbelief. “And just how are any ships going to get close enough to make any of the berths with those weapons emplacements? They have enough firepower to hold off the entire collected force of the Planetary Alignment and then some.”

  “Simple. While the emplacements would prevent a standard bombardment and be able to rake missiles out of the sky, we’ve come up with the idea of sending in a wave of decoys to draw their attention and overwhelm their capacity for defensive fire followed by a series of precisely placed nuclear strikes. The radiation from resultant blasts wouldn’t penetrate far enough into the planetoid’s surface to present a hazard to the living areas or harm the innocents, but they would destroy the weapons clusters. We wouldn’t even have to scour the surface clear, just a fraction of the surface where weapons could be brought to bear on our elements for their approach.”

  As he spoke the presentation that his mate and Jenna had prepared replaced his visual so the other ship commanders could see what he was proposing.

  “Conventional weapons can be used to neutralize the weapons around the berths that aren’t taken out from the initial strike and minimize collateral damage for the assault troops. To spearhead the actual assault of the facilities, we’ll deploy the heavy assault powered armor units first with support provided by standard SPO’s in battledress. While we’d be happy to accept any additional support, I want to thank all of you for what you’ve already done. This operation would have been far more difficult without your timely arrival.”

  Admiral Sheehan spoke before any of the others. “I have two companies of Ganisian Marines that would be honored to go in with your people, Captain,” the raccoon said with a nod.

  “My Liege and cousin, King Aris, would be most put out with me if I didn’t allow our Expeditionary Forces in on this endeavor,” Marquis Nurian of the Tanthean contingent informed the fox. “While our forces only number approximately one hundred effectives, I think you’ll find them to be very professional.”

  The other commanders and captains pledged their ship borne troops, and also a number of volunteers from their naval ratings along with any medical personnel they could spare. Captain Assad shook his head with a chuckle, pride goading him to add to the assault force. “My two companies of Fleet Marines are yours. I also have a number of evacuation shuttles that are normally used for space based rescue operations. I’ll attach these to your command for the evacuation of the civilians.”

  “Thank you all,” Elias said. “The berth that we’ve been able to identify as the one most likely to remain viable, even if damaged, is this one near the planetoid’s equator…”

***

   Using shuttles, repair craft and a variety of auxiliary ships, the task force, under the directions of the crew of the Righteous began hauling debris from the previous battle into place so that it could be launched towards the intended targets at wider end of the planetoid. Simple chemical rockets would send the salvaged materials in at the weapons emplacements at high velocity. The plan called for nuclear warheads to follow the debris. Even defensive fire would aid in the operation as larger pieces would be rendered into smaller debris that would rain down on the surface, and the additional number of objects would further confound targeting computers, sensors and any personnel operating them not to mention the damage that some of the junk itself could do.

  It took two days to get the materials in place and as Elias looked at the holographic representation of the egg shaped celestial body, his expression was one of firm resolve. The fox was alone in his ready room and had traded out a standard duty tunic and trousers for a jumpsuit. It would make it easier to climb into a suit of power armor and he felt more comfortable with the change in uniform. As he looked at the grey rock, he heard the hatch open before he felt someone step up beside him.

  “I guess I can’t ask you to reconsider going in with the combat troops, can I?” Cerise asked softly.

  Elias reached his arm out and drew the petite vixen into the circle of his arm. “I know you’re worried, Love, but I can’t send our people in without sharing in the danger. I’m sorry.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, his pulse increasing as it always did with his female near.

  “I know. I guess it’s like I said before. This is who and what you are and I accepted that when I married you.” She sighed and wrapped both arms around him while looking up at the fox with her deep green eyes. “If you feel you have to do this, I won’t stop you or whine about it. So I guess I’ll just have to come with you.”

  “But-”

  She reached up and put her hand gently on her husband’s muzzle. “I’m qualified for power armor, the same as you, and I’m not going to let my mate go into that den of hate and violence without me at his side. You want to stop me, put me in the brig.”

  “I could order you to stay onboard.”

  “And I’d disobey and you’d still be forced to put me in the brig. Remember our vows, Lover. Equals and together always.”

  “I can’t change your mind?” he asked squeezing her a little tighter.

  “Nope. You’re stuck with me. Besides, you’ll need Treena and me to get through whatever protocols they have on their computers.”

  “Just don’t take any chances. I want the kits to get both of us back.”

  They held each other for several minutes, both staring at the display.

  The door to the ready room opened again and Rovi entered with the others that would be taking part in the operation, Sandy and Jenna bringing up the rear. “You know, you do have your cabin that you can retire to if need be,” the older fox commented with a wide smile as he found his daughter and her husband in each other’s arms.

  “Fine by me,” Elias said with a chuckle. “You can run this without me.”

  Taking a cue from her Captain Lena slipped her arm around Randy. “Seeing as how we’re just chucking the regs out the window,” the rabbit said and pulled the wolf’s head down for a noisy, sloppy kiss.

  “Ugh,” Cerise said with an exaggerated cringe. “At least I’m not drooling all over Elias.”

  The rabbit stuck her tongue out petulantly at the other female before both started laughing.

  Elias turned with his wife still in his arms and looked at those around them, his eyes meeting each of theirs. He noticed that during the exchange between his mate and Lena that Saul and Treena had quietly taken each other’s hands. Even after a year they kept their relationship low key. Odette stood to the side with Lemuel and Sonja Enan, all three quiet but confident looking. Randy wore his normal half smile while Lena grinned openly. Rovi was on the other side and nodded before looking at the rest of the crew with a paternally proud tilt to his chin.

  Finally there was Sandy and Jenna. The ferret stood close to the fur that had adopted her into his family.

  The lion cleared his throat and stepped forward. “You know, when all of you were brought together, I never thought that what would happen was the birth of a group that would become closer than many of the families that I’ve seen. You’ve seen each other at your best and your worst, and it has strengthened your ties to each other.

  “I also know that most of you are resigning when this mission is over.” He paused as most of the group lowered their eyes. “Oh, stop that,” the lion said in feigned irritation. “Don’t be ashamed. In a little over year you’ve done more than a lot of other Spatial Police Force officers have done in twenty. You’ve touched a lot of lives and changed many of them for the better.” He put his hand on Jenna’s shoulder in emphasis. “While I’ll be honest and tell you that I hate to lose any of you, I want to tell each of you how much of a privilege and honor it’s been to know and serve with every single one of you.

  “The only other ones that I have ever been as proud of are my children,” Sander continued and gave the ferret’s shoulder a gentle squeeze to show he included her in that statement.

  “Does that mean we get to call you ‘Uncle’ too, now?” Lena asked with a wide smile.

  “Just don’t call him ‘auntie’ or he’ll chuck us in the brig,” Sonja said with a grin.

  “Only when we aren’t on duty,” Sandy cautioned with mock seriousness.

  They all stood together in silence, each wanting to say something but unable to bring the words forth. It was almost an uncomfortable silence until the ferret took half a step forward.

  “You know, before you found me I didn’t know that there were people like you in the universe,” Jenna told them softly. “Before you rescued me and the other people on the Mintaka I thought that what I saw and how I was treated was how everyone was…or worse. I can’t begin to repay any of you for the difference you made in my life, but I want you to know how much what you considered just doing your jobs really means, especially to people like me.”

  The ferret looked at the crew from the ship that had rescued her and smiled a little self-consciously. “What you did gave me a chance that I never even knew existed. You were the first people to ever show me any kind of compassion and treated me like I mattered. The thing that I found so difficult to accept was that you didn’t want anything in return. You made it possible for me to become a better person than I ever dreamed of being.

  “There are others like me down there. All I can ask is that you save them so they can go and build their own lives and find their own homes and get the same chances I did.” She wiped at a single tear that formed in her eye. “One day someone will ask me who my hero is. I hope they have time for a long explanation because it’s going to take a while to tell them about all of you and how wonderful you all are.” Despite her best efforts to hold back her tears, they refused to be stemmed and Jenna gave up trying to maintain her composure. “I never got to thank all of you for what you did for me. And I never got the chance to tell Stram, Rutger and Melise thanks either.

  “The only way that I can think of to show how much all of you have changed my life is to do the best job I can with the SPF and pick up where all of you have left off. I know I have some pretty high expectations of myself, but I’ve had the best role models I can think of. Let me carry the torch and I promise I’ll make all of you proud of me.”

  Jenna turned to Cerise and swallowed hard as she nervously wrung her hands together. “I have a favor to ask of you as well and I really hope you don’t hate me for what I’m about to say. Remember when you asked me a couple of weeks ago if there was anyone special in my life and I told you that there was one person who would always have a special place in my heart. I was wondering if I could give him a kiss? Let’s be honest, after meeting Elias, a guy’s going to have to be pretty special to get my attention or affection.”

  Cerise smiled and nodded. “I can’t say I blame you. He’s pretty special, but I’ll admit that I’m biased in that regard. Yes, you may.”

  Elias’ eyes went wide. “What?”

  “Shut up and do it,” Cerise said with a wink, letting him know she was okay with it, and turned so that she couldn’t see it as the ferret stepped up to her rescuer from so long ago.

  The others also turned away.

  As Jenna drew close it was easy to see that she was trembling. It was awkward for the fox, but he put a hand on either side of her face and leaned forward. Before he knew what was happening she had thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him quickly but deep. When they parted after a long moment she stepped away knowing that anyone that wanted her heart would have high standards to meet, so high that she might never find anyone. If that were the case, the single kiss from the first person she ever cared about besides herself would possibly have to be a memory that would last her a very long time and would stay with her the rest of her life.

  “Before I go, I wanted to tell you that I love you all and thank you for letting me be part of your family,” the young female told them with her voice breaking as she backed towards the hatch. Before anyone could say or do anything she stepped out into the corridor and fled, a small sob escaping her throat and making it to the ears of the others before the hatch closed.

  “Why do I see her keeping her word and surpassing anything we’ve ever done?” Lemuel asked, his voice full of emotion. “She’s so completely different from the frightened waif that sat in our infirmary or the shattered soul we rescued.”

  “Jenna’s as much your child as she is mine, or even whoever her real parents are,” Sandy said. “Each of you had a hand in helping make her what she is today. She was born of heroes and it shows.” He pulled out his pipe, feeling the need to do something with his hands. When he looked up his eyes were slightly misty. “You’ve all helped turn her into the young adult that Meri and I are so very proud of.”

  They all stood there for several minutes, no one knowing what more to say until Elias looked at his watch. “We have twelve hours and twenty three minutes,” he told his friends. “You’re all off duty for the next nine hours. Make the most of it,” he told them before escorting Cerise out into the corridor and towards his cabin.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.