Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (65 page)

“
Me?”
Firefly asked surprised.

“
Well, the
orders haven't been cut, but we'll need you commander. At least your
military grade replicators,” the Major said with a shrug.
“Hecate is going to be diverted to babysitting duty in Agnosta.
We're going to send Destiny back with a gas giant mining platform and
some automated tenders for starships. We'll need you to help set up
the space infrastructure and the base itself.”

“
Oh.”
The AI sounded a little put out at the news.

“
I'm
speculating here Firefly, we haven't left you out of the loop. I am
pretty sure how this will go down though. You'll only be there until
the base is set up,” the Major replied.

They were still
digesting the gear and material the Admiral had sent back in Destiny.
With it they could properly finish Hecate and Kincaid, maybe even one
of the other escort frigates. He was hopeful anyway. “We
actually, I'll be going along as well.” He tapped his chest
with a finger.

“
I may be
staying behind,” he admitted. The bases were going to take a
while to set up. Both. Agnosta had agreed to both base requests.
Paris Island and the mountain valley training center. Paris Island
was going to be the primary training base for all branches. The
Admiral had called it right, having your own private island complete
with space port was a better training base than a small mountain
valley. He was actually looking forward to seeing both, it had been
over a decade since he last touched real soil.

“
Ah,”
the AI said, nodding in agreement to the news. “I have some
files the Admiral left behind. As well as the files and material he
sent back with Destiny. Plans he was drawing up. Perhaps we could go
over them? They include a space station, communications satellites,
and automated weapons platforms for the jump points. I am not sure we
can manufacture the weapons platforms however. Perhaps the core
parts, but the power, sensors, and weapons are locked out
unfortunately. We might get some of the parts from stores though. Do
you have any ideas?”

“
Later. Are
you getting more flack about this high guard nonsense?”

“
I think it's
been changed to a militia guard concept. The commander has it well in
hand.”

“
Good.”

“
The other
piece of good news is excellent from our stand point. Destiny
survived and the Admiral is alive and well. His last known position
is on the Kiev, leaving the Triang system to Antigua.” The news
had hit the major media outlets when Destiny had arrived and was
still being digested. There was a growing backlash against the
Admiral leaving, which was both amusing and annoying to the military.
First they couldn't get rid of him fast enough and were glad he was
gone, and now they were resentful that he left? What next?

“
I take it
threatening to start charging full cost for Hephaestus or returning
it to Naval control finally got through?” the Major asked,
changing the subject.

“
You could say
that. I believe they thought that we had given the factory ship to
the system.”

“
Fat chance on
that,” Forth snorted. “Hell no we're not giving them a
factory ship. Not after the crap they have been pulling.” He
knew that Commander Logan was seriously tempted to send the factory
ship to Agnosta since they couldn't send Prometheus. The ship could
do a lot of good in the system and speed up her orbital projects ten
fold.

“
Which the
commander pointed out to them. Since Prometheus is out of service he
pointed out that we will need Hephaestus 33 back for our own
purposes. They squawked, when he pointed out they still haven't paid
their taxes they folded. At least partially and released some of the
funds.”

“
Good to
hear.”

“
But it's not
something we can do much about. You are distracted.”

“
Yes,”
The Major stood. It could wait then. The entire universe could wait
for the next few days. “Are they here yet?” he asked
softly.

“
Docking in
ten.”

“
I'll see you
there then.” The Major adjusted his uniform and then picked up
his jacket and cover. His marines had died in battle. He was going to
be there for their final journey home. It was the least he could do.

...*...*...*...*...

Five and a half
weeks after leaving the surface of Agnosta the shuttle drifted into
the number one boat bay of Firefly. Pipers played a boarding tune.
The side party was dressing in formal uniforms. As the hatch to the
shuttle opened the team came out carrying the remains of their fallen
comrades in quiet, measured steps. They placed each burden onto a
carrison and then saluted the officer of the deck, and then the flag
of the Federation.

Major Forth watched
from the background as his men and women came home. By rights he
should be the one getting those salutes, since he was senior officer
on the deck, but he had no intention of upsetting the applecart this
late into the proceedings.

Jethro nodded
politely to other marines as second and third squads filed out.
Captain Pendeckle and the other officers peeled off to meet the Major
for a debrief. He watched them go with mixed feelings.

It was hard to put
all this into perspective. He had tried to block it out, gone about
his duty and kept the training routine after sickbay had released him
from their clutches. He'd been last for the regen tank so they'd
stuffed him in a stasis pod for two weeks until the bear was out and
it was available. A day in the regen pod and he'd been out, then a
day of therapy and two days off before back on light duty.

He'd managed to keep
out of the debriefs and bull sessions with the other squads because
of all that. But now he had to face it. The funerals were in the
morning.

...*...*...*...*...

“
Damn. I'm
going to miss the dumb lug,” Asazi said, shaking her head. Her
white gloved hand trailed over the flag draped coffin. Somehow it
seemed strange. She hadn't understand the tradition before, and
wasn't sure she did now. A full dress military funeral with all the
honors. Miles would have grumbled but gone through with all the
hoopla. He definitely wouldn't have liked dressing up in full mess
dress. He deserved the honor though. She hoped he was enjoying the
show.

Feet first. The
teams had insisted. In an hour they would act as pallbearers,
carrying each of their fallen brethren to the lock and their final
journey.

“
Me too. He
wasn't a screwball like some I know. Chirby for one. His family is
taking it hard. Both of them were good marines. They had their heads
on straight. Did their job, no complaints,” the gunny sighed.
“Sometimes we lose good people. It happens. We've just got to
make sure their deaths count for something.”

“
And what did
his death account for?”

“
A young girl.
A young girl who may never see her parents again, but can hug her
little brother and together they can grow up to see a new world,”
the gunny tried not to growl. “A life for a life. And all the
lives that those bastards might still have been taking if we hadn't
been there. Two lives,” he amended, looking at Chirby's small
coffin. His remains could be held in a breadbox. They had given the
Veraxin a normal sized coffin anyway. He deserved it.

It was odd, back
before the admiral came death in space was as normal as breathing. Or
at least trying to breath with vacuum all around. Things had changed.
They'd grown closer to one another, bonded in ways that had been
forgotten. She realized that bond would only continue to grow. At
least until things like this snapped them permanently. Gently she
patted the coffin and moved on.

...*...*...*...*...

Carefully the drill
team folded the flag of the Federation. Thirteen folds. Jethro
watched as they made a neat triangle and then handed it to Miles'
family and said something he didn't quite catch. The second drill
team finished Chirby's and snapped too as they presented it to his
child. Jethro's eyes locked onto that fabric triangle for a moment.
It was said that once folded the flag should never be unfolded, for
it kept the soul of the dead within it. He blinked hard at that and
then shrugged mentally. He for one wasn't sure if that was a good
idea or not. Both of them deserved to be in what ever Valhalla they
believed in drinking it up and having a good time.

“
On behalf of
a grateful star nation we thank you for your loved one's sacrifice.
He will always be remembered,” the Major said, handing the
young Veraxin the flag. The Veraxin bobbed a nod and then cradled it
with his true arms to his chest.

The Major snapped
back to attention and turned. He saluted the coffins. “Detail!”

The team and
military personnel snapped to attention to salute. The seven man
detail behind them raised their rifles and fired three shots. Jethro
and the veterans flinched at the sound of each.

When they were done
the holographic sky above darkened to a view of the outside sky
around them. Fighters flew by in formation. Two deltas. One fighter
from each flew off in what he thought was a missing man formation.

He looked to the
side with his eyes as a marine raised an old fashioned brass bugle to
his lips and began blowing. The mournful tune of taps played out. He
closed his eyes, getting his balance back. When he opened them he saw
Valenko looking at him. He nodded.

...*...*...*...*...

In formation the
team carried the coffins to the lock. They passed the marines and
navy crewman along the way. All had their heads down, standing at
attention. The marines kept a careful measured step and stoic
expression. Each coffin felt feather light, but as heavy as a world.
They were placed on carrisons within the lock. Then they step out and
the hatch was shut.

The chaplain patted
Asazi on the shoulder in mute sympathy.

“
May our
fallen comrades rest until space gives up it's dead,” Firefly
said over the overhead. “Their sacrifice will not be
forgotten.” The anthem of the Federation played over the
speakers in the ship as the airlock opened.

“
Attention on
deck!” the AI called. Everyone in the navy snapped to
attention. Boots slammed into the deck, echoing down the corridor.
The entire fleet was there, standing off from Firefly as the coffins
drifted out then were picked up by Firefly's invisible tractor beams
to be flung to their final date with the nearby star.

Camera crews were
recording the funeral and broadcasting it for all to see. Recordings
would be sent out to other colonies. The panther wasn't sure why.
Scuttlebutt said something about PR. He didn't buy it. Why the hell
would some dirtsider care about a soldiers death?

It wasn't right.
Tradition was that a marine was buried in the dirt. Navy pukes were
sun scuttled or sent off into the dark void between the stars. For
some reason the brass wanted it this way. He wasn't sure why. He knew
they didn't care about his opinion and that didn't feel right with
him anymore.

“
Carry on,”
Firefly said. Jethro wasn't sure he wanted to. He looked over to some
of the others. Some didn't look like they did either.

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
Think they
will be okay?” the Major asked quietly after the funeral. He'd
lost men before, comrades. He knew how that can affect a team.

“
I think they
will. Each has faced death before. They've all lost loved ones. They
have each taken a life. I would say they will deal with it in their
own way. They do need some time to put it into perspective.
Decompress I believe you call it,” Firefly responded.

“
We need to
get them back onto the horse though,” Commander Logan sighed.
“They are by far our best unit.” He'd seen the stats, F
platoon was by far the best he'd ever seen.

“
Tomorrow is
another day sir,” the Major said with a nod. He watched as the
ships returned to port. “One bright with a promise of things to
come,” he said softly.

“
Running for
office?” Commander Logan asked sounding amused.

“
No
thank you,”
the Major laughed turning back to them. He sobered after a moment.
“Did we get the tax problem sorted?”

Logan nodded at the
change in subject. “Some of it. Which has eased part of the
problem. They are still holding back half for this high guard
concept. They were agitating for weapons, implants, and hulls but
when they ran into the lockouts they put that on indefinite hold.”
He knew they hadn't given up on the idea, some of his people were
being approached to jump ship and join the guard. When that failed
the supporters of the guard had started dangling incentives to get
them to join when their service contracts ended.