Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2) Read online

  "We're on schedule for meeting up with the second fleet. Shrift and Tactical have figured out the allotted supplies and worked with the shuttle pilots to figure everything out. It's going to be a very hectic eight hours before we jump."

  "I want all of that equipment sorted out and the two eclipse ships are to be placed at optimum positions for their deployment. How long til we begin charging the jump drive?"

  "Eleven hours."

  "Good."

  "CAMC and Bok Soo are in the conference room waiting for you."

  "Thank you, I'll go see what they want." CAMC was another acronym, standing for Commander of the Armoured Marine Commandos, Rick was loving using all the damned acronyms he could find, and I had a feeling he would be for some time, unfortunately.

  I got out of my seat and went to the adjoining conference room.

  "Henry, Bok Soo," I said as I entered, relaxing as I slumped in a seat.

  "Have you slept yet?" Henry asked as I looked up at him with a look that asked him 'what-do-you-think?'

  "I would suggest getting some sleep soon, sir. We're going to need you for this upcoming battle," he said in a gruff manner as he looked to me like a dad would to a boy the night before school.

  "Listen to Henry. You're working yourself to the nub, James," Bok Soo said, his voice gentle for a man that nearly had as many as scars as me. A man I considered my brother just as I considered Henry. His words made me bite back the quick response I had ready for Henry as I sighed, sitting back in my seat.

  “I don’t think I’m going to get much sleep until we’re in the Wolf System with it fully scanned.”Bok Soo nodded in sad understanding. Henry spoke, clearly trying to steer away from my personal issues.

  “Krom wants me to increase your protection detail and I agree. Though, I think you need to talk to Yasu. I think there’s more to the situation than meets the eyes. She knows that the Avar would be honour bound to kill her if she was to kill you, being their battle mistress or not.”

  The rumours about gossip spreading faster than light across star ships seems to hold true once again. I looked sourly at a corner in the room before replying.

  “I know.” I really did need to talk to her but I didn’t have the time and I was too sleep deprived to trust my own judgments.

  “For now we need to work with the hole that’s in our AMC structure. I can’t have someone that attacked my protection detail, and from what I pieced together inspired this conflict, as my battalion leader,” I continued, switching to the issue of Takahashi's involvement.

  “Agreed,” Henry said, his face taking on a hard edge, mimicking mine and Bok Soo as well.

  “He was one of the best commanders by far and deserved the post on merit, but he’ll have lost the respect of most of his troops in this move,” Bok Soo said, annoyance on his face.

  “So who’s going to replace him?” I asked.

  I was pretty sure who it was going to be already, and on such an important mission the final decision would come down to me, but I valued both of their opinions and they where commanders in the AMC. Technically, I was too. But recently, because of my duties as CFF, I ‘d been doing so much more I had no time to stop in on the AMC. Though I knew Henry and Bok Soo had no illusions that when the AMC went into battle me and my protection detail would be there if at all possible. As much as they griped about me being in the front, something that I’d cut down after their repeated requests, they too - like me - lead from the front. The Free Fleet would not be run by some armchair generals the way I’d heard some of the Earth military people amongst my ranks.

  "Santos," Henry said without hesitation, Bok Soo nodding g his head as well. Santos was Takahashi's second in command, but it was clear to anyone that he was loyal to the fleet. Before the recruitment he'd been a gang leader, his whole family dead in one way or another. He hadn't cared about giving until he was recruited. He had people that were willing to die for him, and he found himself wishing that he died for those that did so.

  "I agree, though we also need to figure out what to do with Takahashi. We cant just leave him in the brig. James, your too close to this. Let me take it over so it can be done right and not be pulled into question later," Henry said.

  "Agreed. " I sighed, feeling a small weight lift from my shoulders, both of them visibly relaxing. "Alright, well, if that's all, I'm going to the armouries." I stood, both of them tapping their fingers to their foreheads before dropping them lazily as I did the same and left, going to one of the few places I knew I'd find solitude.

  ***

  “What in the fuck was Takahashi thinking?” Bok Soo demanded, slamming his fist into the table. Henry's grin was replaced with a grim look, both of them where counted as members of Mecha Tail and the most trusted members of the Free Fleet by James, a naturally paranoid and suspicious man. Takahashi and Yasu's betrayal would only further his paranoia.

  I wish I knew, Henry thought.

  Both Bok Soo and Henry knew that James was going for a month and a half on three-ish hours of sleep, and he wasn’t going to get anymore for some time now.

  “I have no idea, but I intend to find out.” Henry’s voice was harsh as he rose. I'll get an answer from Takahashi. He felt his fist tighten as he thought of the betrayal.

  “I’m coming with you.” Bok Soo saw Henry was about to question him as he kept talking.

  “James is as much of a brother to me as he is to you.”

  “Alright, lets go.” Bok Soo rose, following Henry. Bok Soo’s face was hard as he thumped along behind Henry, weighing over a hundred and twenty kilograms he was one of the biggest humans on the ship and rumoured to be one of the only people to fight Avars without being in a mecha, the other being James and Henry, though Henry always found himself losing.

  They walked through the ship and into the brig, no one trying to stop them and everyone moving out of their way, their looks thunderous.

  “We’re here for him,” Henry said. A look of disgust crossing the jailers face as he knew who he was talking about.

  “Yes, sir.” He saluted, opening the armoured doors. Inside there was one door guarded by two Avars. They came to attention, one opening the door to the cell. Bok Soo walked in first.

  “So, he sends his dog,” Takahashi said, a smirk on his face. Bok Soo crossed the room in one step.

  “Stop,” Henry hissed. Bok Soo backed up and leaned against a wall, anger on his face as he crossed his muscled arms.

  Henry opened up his private communicator, connecting with Santos. “Come to the brig.“

  “Right away, sir.”

  “So, when can I get out of here and back to my battalion?”

  “You don’t understand, do you?” Henry said

  “Even if I wanted to have you as a commander, which I don’t, no one would listen to you. You’ve lost the respect of the fleet.”

  The armoured doors opened as Santos ran in.

  “CAMC!” he said, saluting Henry without even glancing at Takahashi.

  “At ease,” Henry said, returning the salute.

  “Santos Barrera, you are now in command of second battalion.”

  Santos didn’t even pause in replying. “Yes, sir!”

  “Do you know why your old commanding officer attacked the CFF?”

  “No, sir, I do not.” Anger rang through his voice as Takahashi flinched.

  “Would you accept commands from him?”

  “No, sir, if we where in battle I would probably frag him, good soldier or no.”

  “Santos as your commanding-” Takahashi's face turned to anger.

  “You are no commander of mine,” Santos said, his fists turning white as he clenched them with rage.

  “That is all, Commander. Go and get sorted out with your troops,” Henry said briskly.

  “Yes, sir.” Santos said as they saluted one another again. Henry turned to Takahashi as Santos stormed away.

  “Now you may realize the impact of your actions. The majority of the fleet is calling for your
head. I might be inclined to give it to them.” Realization was dawning on Takahashi's face. James hadn’t been bluffing. There were limited few that would support him over James, which changed as soon as he attacked James.

  “You will remain in the brig until we reach Parnmal station and judgment can be rendered. Do you have anything to say in your defence?” Takahashi took a breath before talking to the floor.

  “I manipulated Yasu. After Chaleel I didn't believe there was any way that he could be a commander. Looking to how he had gotten so many people killed at Parnmal I didn't want my people to die for his mistakes.”

  “Did you look at the video footage?” Henry growled, he'd lost too many good people there.

  “Yes, but I thought it was faked, or made to seem as if the battle was bigger than it was.”

  “It was different in one way, it was much, much prettier than being there.” Henry's voice took on a hard tone, his eyes making Takahashi continue looking to the floor.

  “I wanted to show that he couldn't keep his marriage, so why should he be a commander. Or use Yasu to kill him and allow the position to be open. I just wanted my people safe.”

  “So you would kill our leader.”

  “I've killed many people now.” Takahashi looked to Henry and Bok Soo who nodded. They were all veterans now.

  “Here's something else to think on. Your stunt to get into power and look after your people didn't just hurt you, it hurt Yasu and him. James believes in marriage, she’s his wife and he’s faithful to her, but now, well, now I don't know if he doesn't want nothing to do with it, or Yasu.” Henry saw something like pain in Bok Soo's eyes. He'd lost the woman he'd been married to on Chaleel.

  “That man, who controls the fate of everyone in this fleet and has earned the position, will trust people even less than before. You better hope that me and Henry can fix it before he wraps himself with the security he finds in isolation. If you told him your issue he would have listened and you could've kept your commandership. Idiot, I fought with you on Chaleel, but I didn’t know you where this stupid.” Bok Soo looked away, clearly done with Takahashi. Henry signalled for the jailer to close the cell.

  “I will take into account your statement,” he said as the door shut

  “Will I be on the assault to free Earth?” Takahashi asked, his voice tight.

  “No, you’ll remain in your cell for the duration.” Henry's voice was unyielding. I don't want a backstabber in my ranks.

  Henry barely heard Takahashi's parting remarks.

  “It looks like I made the wrong decision. He’s much stronger than I thought.

  ***

  I spent seven hours in the armouries, fixing up my armour and helping Eddie fix others.

  “Commander, we’re about to meet up with the fleet.”

  “On my way, Rick.” I qued another Wake Up and all of my fatigue was washed away. I sighed as I stood from the chair I was sitting on.

  “The luxuries of command,” I said as I picked myself up.

  Eddie nodded at me knowingly as I left, walking back to my captains quarters as my four man protection detail helped me into my mecha. I powered it up, feeling the familiar systems come to life as the familiar HUD came into detail. My four man detail stayed with me as I entered the bridge

  “Alright, Rick, lets get those materials sorted out.” I mostly watched as the reactors fed power into the hyper jump generators while shuttles madly rushed between the ships of my original fleet and those that had come from Parnmal.

  “Shift into formation entry four,” I said to Rick as he sent Commands to the new ships, those that had been part of the original force moving into position.

  I looked at the roster on my personal screen, we had one barely functioning battle cruiser which it’s commander, Bregend, had been driving his people to fix up as well as his chief, and they’d done miracles. We had a fresher battle cruiser from Parnmal,

  but more than half of it’s weapons where out and it’s structure was - shaky.

  Then there was the Resilient, two destroyers, three cruisers and eight corvettes all

  with problems though with at least three quarters of their weapons online and most armour plating fixed or patched in some way. Most where missing power plants or had issues with their critical systems, and all of them had two fifths of a full crew if they where lucky.

  The two troop transports we had were actually converted merchant freighters. We’d slapped more armour onto them and personnel defence. They would carry more AMC and personnel than all of my other ships combined and were nestled behind the umbrella-looking formation of the rest of the fleet.

  “All shuttles recovered and ready for worm jump,” the combined arms officer said. They communicated between me, a team that was working with mostly the shuttles, and the AMC, as well as the limited air fighters we had picked up from Chaleel.

  “I want those missiles and ordinance being moved the entire time. Get the AMC to help out in their mechas. Bring everyone to full alert and administer Wake Up as needed,” I said, Marleen turning my words into action as she rode Tactical, getting the combined arms officer to move the AMC.

  Twenty minutes later a blue light and siren signalling hyper jump in thirty seconds sounded.

  I had already checked the navigation, had locked in our jump point, as well as the rest of the ships, and we were all linked in together - ready to make the jump as one body with a backup jump point already plotted.

  “Secure all weaponry and personnel!” Marleen yelled as the communications officer passed this on to everyone in the fleet.

  The hum that had been building for the past ten hours reached it’s crescendo as I could feel my teeth vibrating. Then there was nothing.

  “Adjusting shield configuration!”

  “Scanning immediate area.”

  “All weapon systems are green, continue moving that ordinance!”

  “Close vicinity clear.”

  I watched as my team worked through the sequence of emergence protocols we’d made.

  “Emergence of all shield forces confirmed,” Rick said.

  “Troop transports have arrived. First Fleet is all accounted for and all ships are green.”

  “Thank you, COS. Sensors?”

  “Nothing detected in two light minutes.” Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At least now we would get two minutes of warning before someone hit us.

  The miniature hologram beside me, as well as the main one in the middle of the bridge, began overlaying what scans had picked up with the last saved scan of the system.

  “Take the fleet into the system. I want everything scanned before we move into Sol System.”

  Ships sensor commanders where communicating with one another, breaking up the system into grids for their people to search and relaying the information to everyone else as the map started becoming populated with imagery faster and faster.

  I had taken off my helmet which sat on a rack beside my chair. I had only once jumped into a new system when not in a mecha and I’d had my leg cut off, which was not a pleasant experience let me tell you. Eddie had made me new armour, my third since training with scrap mechas to enhance me new strength and abilities. It was a scaled down version of the ones the Avar used. I still had my sword and my rail gun and pistol, and limited flight thrusters had been added after the space acrobatics the AMC had been called on to perform.

  My battle computer synced with the ship was throwing up information in the projected HUD with my helmet being off.

  In a half hour the system was declared clear.

  “Tactical, I want to know the minute all of the ordinance is secured in the correct place. Comms, signal the fleet down to twenty-five percent. Navigation, plot us a course to the Sol jump point. Helm, as that’s plotted and the other ships are in sync, take us there.”

  I opened a channel to Eddie.

  “Alright, Eddie, do what you can. I want the priorities on-”

  “Weapons, armour, and propulsion, I know, w
e’ve been over it enough times,” he said in an exasperated tone.

  “Then I’ll let you get to it,” I said with a smile.

  “Thank yee, sir!” he said, his tone eliciting a small laugh from me.

  Rick was calling me on a private channel. “It’s Commander Hoi’s watch. Should we get some food while he takes over and switch off some of the personnel that have been up for the majority? We’re going to need our first line crew.”

  “Understood, Marleen is to let people go at her own discretion as I don’t want another group coming in and not knowing what the hell's going on.”

  “I concur.”

  Commander Hoi was sitting at one of the VIP chairs along the wall which also could serve as any one of the stations in the ‘pit’ as we called it, because the lowered areas on either side of a catwalk in front of my chair split into vital areas. At the front was the helm and navigation side by side then in the right pit there was communications, tactical, and sensors. In the left there was the combined arms, engineering, damage control officers, and the science division - there basically to answer any problems and to brainstorm ideas.

  The view screens made it seem that we were on top of the curving hull of the ships, but in actuality we were buried in the centre of the ovaloid vessel.

  “Commander Hoi, you have command,” I said as I got up from my seat.

  Rick was finishing up talking to the people in the pit with private channels and he stood up too.

  “Thank you, sir!” Commander Hoi said, jumping from his seat as we exchanged two finger salutes, mine more of a general point in my Mecha. I grabbed my helmet, following Rick out of the bridge and to the nearest mess. Rick made me sit as he got the food. I was already dozy when he came back with the trays.

  “Sir, you need to get some sleep.”

  “Not damned well lucky right now.”

  “I have to insist. The doctor said that your body can’t take anymore Wake Up, it could kill you.”

  “Everything’s trying to kill me.”

  “Oh shut up and eat.”

  “I don’t want to break the cutlery.”

  “Don’t be stupid. You’re the best handler of a Mecha, you could pick up a fly without crushing it.” With a half grin, I slurped down some of the greenish soup we’d been having since we began training and some chewy meal supplement we’d added to the bland meal. I’d gotten used to it, having eaten it for so long, my last solid meal being made from a food compiler on Parnmal. After a few minutes of silence Rick began talking again.