30
Carrie opted to eat her meal in her room that evening. She didn’t want to sit there in the mess hall again in silence, trying her best to avoid contact with Doc, worrying about what was going to happen to the team. She could do the same in her room; stare blankly at the TV and try not to think about it … or the dreams that haunted her.
She found that she only picked at her food, barely watched the TV and instead stared out the window. She watched as the lights of Fort Centralis twinkled in the darkness, traffic went by on the streets below and guards patrolled the pavements. She looked off into the distance catching the last glimpses of the ocean as the sun set behind the island’s mini-skyline, and a ship took flight leaving its trail across the heavens.
She thought about everyone else out there on the various mainlands, working nine to five, sitting at home with their families, rubbing their bellies from their lovely evening meal, completely oblivious to Carrie locked inside this small hotel room. Oblivious to the Jumbo’s the UNF had created. Oblivious to the far reaches of the galaxy the UNF was exploring. Ignorance was bliss, she thought. Unfortunately for her, she preferred knowledge. That was why she’d been drawn to the UNF; for the knowledge, the experience, and because her father had urged her not to. And that was why she couldn’t be one of them, out there.
She heard a knock at the door, and looked at her watch. 19:03. She opened it, and saw Harris standing there, alongside both their guards.
“Corporal,” he gave her a nod, “we didn’t see you in the mess hall this evening. Is everything alright?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You feeling alright?” He studied her.
“Yes, sir.”
Harris eyed her a while longer. “You get your orders for the next couple of days?”
“Yes, sir. Verdict tomorrow. Service the day after.”
“Good … and you’re sure everything’s alright?”
She nodded. “I just felt like eating in my room tonight, captain.”
He continued to study her face, then nodded back, “Well, if you need anything, these guards know where to find me.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He eyed her one last time then left. She could see the skepticism on his face, but she was too tired to care. She closed the door, went back to her window, and continued to watch the UNF world of Fort Centralis go by.
*
Carrie stood at the door to her room, ready to make her way to the UNF courtroom. She ran her hand over her ponytail to smooth it, tucked her long fringe behind her ear, straightened her skirt and double-checked her heels were clean and shiny. This was the first opportunity she’d had to wear the “official” Space Duty uniform. It was smart, it was feminine and she felt it had class. If it were not for the bruises on her face, she could’ve almost been a poster girl for the UNF, she thought. An absurd thought, really, after all they’d put her through. But she’d heeded Harris’s warning and was going to play the good little soldier until she knew where they stood with the UNF.
She opened the door, nodded at her guard, and headed toward the elevator. She had purposely cut it fine to avoid standing with the others. She wanted to just turn up and have it happen, whatever the outcome was to be. She didn’t want time to be nervous. She didn’t want to discuss possible scenarios or how she was feeling with anyone, and of course, she wanted to avoid Doc.
Unfortunately, when she opened the doors to the courtroom, he was the first person she saw. His eyes had been on the door. If she wasn’t mistaken, he’d been watching for her. He was off to the side, talking to McKinley and Hunter, who along with Colt, were sitting in wheelchairs, although looking reasonably well. They were dressed in their service uniforms and they too looked smart. Especially Doc, who gave her a subtle smile and nodded her way. McKinley and Hunter looked over at her, and her eyes locked with McKinley’s. She gave them a quick nod and immediately turned away. If it was painful to look at Doc in his combat uniform, then it was killing her to look at him now.
“I was about to come looking for you, corporal,” Harris hissed quietly. “This is not a day to be late!”
“Sorry, captain.”
Harris gave her a glare, then turned back around to face the front. Brown stood next to him and looked down at Carrie over his shoulder, very overtly running his eye over her.
“Well, well, well. Carrie the Kid in a skirt,” he said quietly, seemingly amused. Clearly he was opting for humor to break the nerves in the room.
Carrie overtly looked him up and down too. “Brownie, in official uniform!”
“Look good, don’t I?” He flicked his eyebrows up at her.
She flashed him a broad smile, but quickly controlled it, then looked around the room. Other than the Aurora team, there was only a sprinkling of other officers there, Dale included. It was clearly a “closed room” affair, which didn’t surprise her. She saw Harris lock eyes with one of the uniformed men. He had gray hair and looked to be a colonel in rank. The man gave a slight nod to Harris, who eyed him back with a blank stare, then turned away from his gaze.
Carrie made her way over to join Colt and Packham.
“Corporal Colt,” she said, with a half-smile, “how’re you going?”
Colt smiled. “I’m alright. They’re going to release me in a couple days.”
“That’s great. You look good,” Carrie told her, then she looked up at Packham. “How’re you holding up?”
Packham gave a weak smile. “Alright. I’m glad it’s over.”
Carrie gave her an empathetic smile.
“I hear you did good, girl?” Colt piped up.
Carrie shrugged. “I could’ve done better.”
“Oh, Jesus! Who you kiddin’? I told you, didn’t I? I told you there would be a time when you would get to do your shit and you did it, girl. Fairmont didn’t know what hit him.”
Carrie smiled. “Thanks, Colt … I missed you.”
Colt nodded, her eyes glistening a little. “Ah, Welles, I missed me too,” she said, shooting them a cheeky smile.
Packham smirked and Carrie couldn’t help but break a smile. She looked up and caught Doc watching her. If she wasn’t mistaken, he almost looked like he was in pain. At least, his eyes did. Did it hurt him to look at her, too? He quickly turned back to engross himself in McKinley’s conversation.
Just then an officer stood and called everyone to attention. The room fell silent and he announced the arrival of Judge Walter J. Bates, who entered the room and took a seat in the middle of the elevated table, on one side of the room. As he sat, the rest of them gathered also took a seat.
Carrie eyed him closely. He looked to be a little older than her father, although his hair wasn’t quite as gray. He had a hard, round face with flushed cheeks and dark beady eyes. He opened an e-file in front of him, placed some reading glasses on his nose and began flipping through the onscreen pages, skimming quietly. The room remained quiet, as the Aurora team waited patiently. Carrie noticed someone watching her out of the corner of her eye. She turned and saw it was Dale. She gave him a great poker face, then turned back to Bates. She was getting good at this, she thought.
She wondered what the judge was reading and what he would make of all this? The Aurora team sat before him scattered with their injured. She looked over at Colt and eyed the bandage showing across her neck. Her eyes then fell to Hunter, whose broken arm was in a special gel-sling, the bicep on his other arm bandaged and showing beneath the sleeve of his shirt. She looked down at his thigh and saw it looked thick with bandages too. She turned her head slightly and looked over at McKinley, whose leg was in some sort of brace that ran from toe to mid-thigh. She then glanced over at Harris, who was sitting, but holding himself very upright, as though his ribs were still bothering him. She thought about her own head, and her side. They didn’t hurt so such anymore, but she could still feel the bruises sitting roughly on her skin.
Judge Bates flipped back to the front of the file and tapped the microphone in front of him, to check it was turned on.
“Officers, soldiers,” he nodded. “I have carefully read through the debrief report on the Darwin mission as prepared by Senior Officer Edgely.”
Carrie felt a slap of shock, as the Aurora team all turned to eye Dale. They’d been led to believe that he was the one responsible for any findings on the debrief, and that Edgely was merely observing. It would appear that Dale was a decoy, and he seemed satisfied with his ruse.
“It would appear,” the judge continued, “that to thoroughly investigate the events that took place I would need to undertake a more comprehensive investigation of Darwin Station itself. However, as the intimate details of the Darwin’s programs were classified, this could not be done. So, I am left with merely examining the events that took place from the time the Aurora docked to the time it disembarked. Although I have had to take into account the allegations of the Aurora team as to the nature of some of the programs being run on the station, I will not be referring to those allegations during this briefing, due to the classified nature of the said programs.
“Above all else, it is my job to decide whether any disciplinary action is to be taken with regards to the deaths of the seven UNF scientists and lab workers on Station Darwin, and whether there is any responsibility to be laid for the deaths of the four Aurora crew members. Today, I will pass only my judgment on the Aurora crew for the deaths of Darwin crew. It’s been confirmed that one UNF team has already reached the Darwin to investigate the matter further. However, again, due to some of the allegations of the Aurora crew, a second independent team was dispatched to ensure all investigations are aboveboard. Judgement against the remaining Darwin crew for the deaths of the four Aurora crew will take place once they have been brought back to Earth.”
Judge Bates reached forward, picked up the glass of water in front of him and took a sip. He placed the glass back down and looked over the top of his glasses at those present.
“So, I will have the Aurora team standing in front of me as I hand down my findings. As I call your name, please step forward to this line,” he said, pointing to a white line along the floor about four meters in front of his table.
“Captain Saul Harris.”
Harris stood from his chair, walked up to the line, and stood straight, arms by his sides.
“First Lieutenant Daniel Walker.”
Carrie watched as Doc stood at the line by Harris’s side.
“Second Lieutenant James McKinley.”
McKinley stood up from his wheelchair, and with the help of crutches handed to him by a nurse, made his way over to stand by Doc, who turned and watched him.
“First Sergeant Jacob Hunter. Sergeant James Jay Brown.”
Hunter was pushed forward in his wheelchair by a UNF nurse. As he reached the line, she helped him to stand, resting his weight on his good leg, then wheeled the chair away slightly. Brown stood alongside of him.
“Sergeant Sarah Packham. Corporal Sabrina Colt.”
Colt, like Hunter was wheeled up to the line, and then helped out of her chair to stand on the white line beside Packham.
“And Corporal Carrie Welles.”
Carrie stood and made her way over to stand by Colt in the line. Her heart was racing and her chest felt tight. She could sense the others felt the same way, as the tension hung in the air thickly like a stifling heat.
The judge, still looking over the top of his glasses, ran his eye over the line, analyzing each and every one of them. “As I address you each individually, you will take another step forward, then fall back into line when done. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” they all replied.
“Captain Harris, if you would?” The judge motioned for Harris to step forward.
He did so.
“Captain Harris, according to the report, you were called to Command at 0600 on September 20th and issued with your orders for the Darwin mission. You were then informed that you would be taking on three new recruits. Is this correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Harris answered, staring dead ahead, his face devoid of emotion.
“And you were advised the mission was a response to a loss of comms on the Darwin, and that your team, including your new recruits would be leaving that night. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And when you arrived you found the station deserted, except for four survivors, whom you quarantined. First Lieutenant Walker, please step forward. Thank you, Captain Harris.”
Doc stepped forward as Harris stepped back.
“Lieutenant Walker. You ran several tests on the ‘survivors’, finding no trace of a virus, despite them exhibiting symptoms indicating otherwise. You then held the survivors for some 12 hours to be sure there was no change in their symptoms. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“After waiting these 12 hours and running another series of tests, you recommended their release from quarantine to Captain Harris, as their results were clean and you had no reason to quarantine them any longer. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
The judge looked down at his file again for a moment. “I’ve seen your medical files and I’m satisfied that your tests were thorough and you took the necessary precautions for the team. Step back, lieutenant. Captain Harris step forward again.”
Harris did, as Doc stepped back.
“So, as per Lieutenant Walker’s recommendations, captain, you approved the release of the four survivors into your custody and onto the Aurora. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m satisfied, given the classified nature of the Darwin, that you exhausted all lines of investigation into the disappearance of the rest of the crew, had no reason to hold them further and therefore released the survivors under UNF law. However, it does appear that this is the moment the mission took a turn.” The judge eyed Harris carefully over his glasses, then looked back at his file.
“Corporal Welles, would you please step forward,” he called, looking over his glasses again.
Carrie’s heart thumped against her ribcage so hard she thought it was going to burst right on through. She stepped forward and stared straight ahead.
“Corporal Welles, the incident between you and Tynek Grolsh set off a chain of events for your team that has ultimately led us all here today.”
Carrie tried to hold it, but she couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“I have watched the surveillance footage of the incident, and it is clear that Grolsh was the instigator, and that you were not at fault. In fact, corporal, I’d say you are very lucky to be standing here in front of me today.” The judge eyed her for a moment, then looked back down at his file, turning over a page. “Corporal, you are responsible for killing two members of the Darwin crew: Karl Fairmont and Eric Oxer. With regard to Fairmont’s death, I’ve watched the footage from the Aurora’s external cameras and read the supporting testimonies of First Sergeant Hunter and Corporal Colt. It is clear that Sergeant Hunter was under attack from Fairmont and you did attempt to rescue him by first wounding Fairmont. Fairmont then charged you, and you shot and killed him. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“With regard to Oxer’s death, I’ve read Second Lieutenant McKinley’s supporting testimony of the incident and that of Walker, Brown and Packham who were watching from the Aurora’s flight deck. I have also seen the footage from the headcams, although they are, at best, hard to obtain any clarity from. There must have been some kind of interference with the relay during the recording process. However, it is quite clear that this time you made no attempt to wound the enemy, corporal. You fired a single shot to the head, killing Oxer instantly. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
The judge eyed her again for a moment. “Corporal Welles, I have taken into account the fact that you are a sharpshooter. Hitting your targets accurately is what you do. Having said that, you are better placed than most soldiers to simply wound as opposed to killing your enemy. You have accuracy on your side to be able to make that decision. In Fairmont’s case you did, at first. In Oxer’s, you did not.”
Carrie swallowed hard again.
“Corporal, I have also taken into account that this was your first mission as part of a team on the ground, in the firing line. Your previous experience has been as a sharpshooter, far away from hand-to-hand combat. You survived the attack by Grolsh, and I believe this was probably still on your mind, not to mention the deaths of your fellow team members, when you killed both Fairmont and Oxer.
“I believe the force was excessive. But I believe that you felt you were under attack and that you did what you are trained to do, and you did it to save a fellow team member, whom you also thought was at great risk. Therefore, I find no disciplinary action to be taken against you for the deaths of these two UNF lab workers. However, I will not be granting you the commendation that Captain Harris has recommended for your bravery, either. Corporal Welles, you showed elements of bravery, but I do not believe you showed more than your fellow soldiers. This has been a massive learning curve for you, corporal, and I hope you take what you’ve learned from this mission and keep it in mind on your future missions. You may step back.”
“Thank you, sir.” Carrie stepped back into line and took a deep breath. She felt a little numb, but like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. More than that, she’d been taken by surprise and touched by Harris’s commendation, despite it being refused.
“Corporal Colt, Sergeant Brown and First Sergeant Hunter, please step forward,” the judge called.
Colt took a step forward, while Brown helped Hunter move forward.
“The three of you were not directly responsible for the deaths of any of the Darwin crew, and therefore you have no charges to answer. First Sergeant Hunter, Corporal Colt, you may step back.”
They did.
“Sergeant Brown, Captain Harris has recommended that you receive commendation for stepping up as co-pilot on the Aurora to get your team home. I’ve looked at your file and note that although you’re the chief engineer on the ship, it is in fact beyond the call of duty for you to be asked to co-pilot. But you did and your team made it home. The commendation has been noted in your file. You may step back.”
“Thank you, sir.” Brown stepped back into line.
“Sergeant Sarah Packham, would you please step forward.”
Packham stepped forward, looking nervous.
“Sergeant, you are responsible for the death of Edgar Carlisle on board the Aurora. I have watched the footage from the Aurora’s onboard surveillance cameras and I have also read the testimonies of Lieutenant Walker and Corporal Welles. Sergeant Bolkov was injured and wrestling with Carlisle when you shot him in the back, killing him almost instantly. I note that your role as co-pilot generally means you are very rarely involved in combat, and this was in fact your first experience of such. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You shot an unarmed man in the back, sergeant, something I would not normally approve of. However, given the situation you were in and your lack of experience, I believe you did what you thought was right at the time. You shot Carlisle in an attempt to save your wounded teammate. I will not record disciplinary against you. However, I will not be granting you the commendation that Captain Harris recommended for your action in stepping up to pilot the ship when First Sergeant Hunter was wounded. As co-pilot, it is your duty to do this if required. You may step back.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The judge took another sip of his water.
“Second Lieutenant McKinley step forward.”
McKinley crutched forward a step.
“Lieutenant McKinley, you are charged with the death of Tynek Grolsh. I’ve watched your headcam footage of the incident, lieutenant, and as the third senior officer on board the Aurora and the resident sharpshooter, I’m a little unconvinced that your action was warranted. I understand that two of your team members were being attacked at the time and Grolsh had led them into that ambush, but Grolsh approached you unarmed. You came out from a hidden position and you shot him clean in the chest.
“You knew your shot would be fatal. You’re a sharpshooter, that’s what you do. More to the point you chose a rather painful way to take him out, rather than a good clean shot to the head, as I know you are capable of. No, I think you’re smart, lieutenant. You shot him in the chest because you knew it would kill him, but there would be a few minutes of excruciating pain first, and that it could look like you didn’t mean to kill him. Provided you weren’t a sharpshooter, of course …
“I understand that on top of leading your teammates into that ambush, Grolsh was also wanted for the assault on Corporal Welles, and he had also assaulted you during the incident in which Private First Class Smith was killed. Therefore, I do believe that when you took out Grolsh, revenge was on your mind, lieutenant. On reading the testimonies of your fellow team members and of your captain, however, it seems they are all certain that your actions were warranted. I believe your team support you because they, too, wanted revenge. I will have it noted on your file that I believe your actions were excessive, lieutenant, but given the circumstances of this whole mess, you will not receive a formal strike … this time. But next time you have an unarmed man running toward you, lieutenant, I suggest you aim for his legs. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Step back, lieutenant.” McKinley crutched back into place, his face a mask showing no emotion. Carrie actually felt sorry for him. As far as she was concerned, McKinley did the right thing.
“First Lieutenant Walker, would you please step forward again.”
Doc stepped forward. She felt her heartbeat step up a notch.
“Lieutenant, you are charged with the death of Julian Ravearez. I have watched the surveillance footage and I have read the testimonies of Corporal Welles and Sergeant Packham, and I must say that I was a little undecided whether your action was warranted. You shot Ravearez three times in the face, neck and shoulder, killing him almost instantly. He was unarmed.”
The judge took a good hard look at Doc over his glasses. “Ravearez had tripped Corporal Welles, who was to your left, as you made your way toward Bolkov and Carlisle who were wrestling. Lieutenant, you claim that Ravearez was trying to pull Corporal Welles toward him, and perhaps drag her away, when you shot him, three times, in the face, neck and shoulder. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve read your file, lieutenant. You have a good solid record, cleaner than most, and Captain Harris rates you very highly. Your response to Ravearez attacking Welles does seem a little excessive, but given the situation of Bolkov under attack, not to mention the deaths of Carter and Louis that Corporal Welles had just informed you of, I believe you felt the team was being attacked and extreme measures were called for. You took control of the situation and did what you had to do to rescue your fellow team members and secure the ship. So there is no strike against you to be noted in your file. You may step back.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And so this leaves me with you, Captain Harris.” The judge looked over his glasses again. “Please step forward.”
Harris stepped forward, standing straight and tall.
“Captain Harris, you are charged with shooting Bradford Chet. I could not view the footage from your, or Corporal Welles’s, headcam. Whilst the footage on the Darwin’s main floor has interference, there appears to have been something blocking the signal altogether up there on this supposed second floor, but I have read Corporal Welles’s supporting testimony of the incident. From what I can gather, Corporal Welles had been taken hostage, was suffering from a head injury and Chet was in the process of attacking her when you shot him. Chet had been wounded twice by Welles. A shot to the arm and she also stabbed him with the needle provided by Lieutenant Walker, yet he continued to attack. You went to her rescue, Captain Harris, and you did what you had to do to get both her and yourself out of there alive. I believe you have no charges to be answered.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Judge Bates took off his glasses and looked back at Harris. “All in all, would I rate this mission as successful, Captain Harris? No, I would not. You left with a team of 12 and headed for a station of UNF scientists. You lost four men. A third of your team, captain. You also returned with five wounded soldiers, some seriously. Even you did not come out of this unscathed.
“This was not an ideal test case for the UNF. Although the three female soldiers returned alive and stand before me now, two of them were wounded badly and could have died. That would not have been a good result for the UNF, captain. I must say at this point, however, that Lieutenant Walker did a good job in keeping the wounded alive, and I do believe there was nothing he could have done to save the four men who did die.
“This mission was a mess, and many errors in judgment were made on all sides. And due to the classified nature of the Darwin and its programs, I believe this is a mission the UNF will not want known to any person outside of these four walls. Therefore, this debrief will now be classified, and all your personnel files will be elevated to a level 4 and locked. You will need to regroup, captain, and put this mess behind you. But I have faith that you will do so, and continue to serve the UNF as you have done.”
The judge stared firmly at Harris for a moment, then scanned the row of soldiers before him again, making eye contact with each and every one. “You faced the unknown on this, soldiers. For the most part, you did well. You got out of there alive, and where possible you got your team out alive, too. Every mission, be it good or bad, is ultimately useful. You learn from failures. They make you stronger, better soldiers. So, learn from these events, but move on, and forget these events. Forget this mission … because it never happened. That is my order to you all.”
The judge closed the file in front of him. “Captain Harris, do you have any final words to say?”
A brief moment of silence passed before Harris firmly answered, “Yes, sir, I do.”
“Very well.”
“Sir, I would like to personally thank my team for pulling together and being the strong unit that I know them to be. It can be a difficult thing when you introduce new team members at the last minute, then throw them into a mission like this, but I believe the team integrated well and did what they had to when it counted. My experienced soldiers—Lieutenants Walker and McKinley and Sergeants Hunter and Brown—stayed solid as a rock and, as ever, I believe there are no better soldiers in the UNF with whom I would entrust my life. My new recruits, Sergeant Packham and Corporals Colt and Welles, stepped up to the level of my experienced soldiers and I was proud to have them in my team for this mission.
“I would like it to be noted, however, sir, that I am disappointed that more information was not readily available to me when my unit was sent in. My particular grievance being with Professor Martin, as he was in control of that station. It is hard to fight an enemy when you do not know their full capabilities, especially when their capabilities are beyond what is considered normal by UNF standards. Unfortunately, I had to lose four good soldiers to find that out. Four soldiers who, I believe, deserved better from the UNF they served. Four soldiers, whose deaths have left a gaping hole in my team.
“Having said that, I’m proud of my unit, sir. Providing the relevant disciplinary actions are taken against those responsible for this ‘mess’, I can assure you we will re-group and continue to be as strong as we ever were. The Aurora will indeed set sail again, sir, and we will continue to serve the UNF as we have done.”
The judge sat quietly for a moment, seemingly mulling over Harris’s words, then he finally nodded. “Is that all, captain?”
“I do have one more thing, sir.”
“What is it?”
“I want to ensure that my complaints against the Vortex crew will be duly processed.”
“What complaints are these, captain? I’m not aware of this?”
Harris turned and shot Dale a glare. The judge noticed.
“Officer Dale, would you care to clarify?”
Dale stood. “Sir, the UNF Vortex was the ship that intercepted the Aurora and escorted it back to base. Captain Harris has made several complaints against certain members of the Vortex crew, concerning their treatment of the Aurora team. A report is being filed as we speak. However, it is being treated separately from this mission, therefore you have not been advised of it.”
The judge eyed him over his glasses. “Very well. I accept that it should be treated as a separate issue. However, I am very interested in seeing that report, Officer Dale.”
“Yes, sir.” Dale nodded.
“By 0800 tomorrow. Take your seat.”
Dale sank back into his seat. Carrie felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her as he did.
“This hearing is now adjourned,” the judge told them. “This mission is now classified, and as far as the UNF and you soldiers are concerned, it never took place. You are all dismissed.”
*
Harris let out a quiet sigh and slumped his posture slightly. Part of him was relieved it was finally over, but part of him was surprised at just how well things had gone for them. Had Colonel Welles come through for them? Or did it mean something else? Was the UNF letting them walk away, because they now had good leverage against the team? Leverage that would pay for their silence and keep them in line? It left Harris uneasy.
He looked to his left, down his line of soldiers. They looked relieved, but also a little shocked, as though they were just as suspicious as Harris as to what would happen now. Hunter, Colt and McKinley reached for their wheelchairs, exhausted from the standing. He suddenly noticed Doc watching him.
“Good speech,” his lieutenant said, eyes questioning.
Harris gave a slight nod then turned away. He wasn’t really good with emotional intimacies, especially with his soldiers. Truth be told, he wasn’t really sure how he felt about the last part of his speech, and he knew that was what Doc’s questioning eyes were about. Harris had said what he had to for the sake of the team; playing the “good little soldier”, and confirming that the loyal Aurora team would indeed set sail again for the UNF. But the question right now was: Could he?
As he walked off he called over his shoulder to Doc. “Get everyone to The Vicar by 1200.”
“Yes, sir,” Doc said.
He looked at no-one else, spoke to no-one else, and simply walked right out of there, glad he no longer required a guard to shadow him. He headed for administration to begin proceedings to discharge his team from the UNF debrief and lodge a claim for extended leave. After all, their previous leave had been cut short, and he knew it would take McKinley and Hunter several weeks to recover from their wounds, and Harris sure wasn’t setting sail without them. Again, he was hit with that feeling; could he set sail for the UNF, after what they did? Did he even have a choice?
As he walked along the corridor the judge’s words resonated in his head. He thought about each of the findings against his team, what he agreed with and what he didn’t. McKinley got the harshest treatment, he thought, but if he had the time again, he would have no problem sending McKinley in and ordering him to do exactly the same thing. Grolsh deserved to die. They all did.
His mind crept to thoughts of Logan and Sharley in the bio cell. He hoped Martin’s team knew how to handle them, as Sharley’s words rang in his ears: “I may be submitting to you now, but the next time I see you, it will be you who submits to me.” Harris was very interested to see the outcome of their trial. He wondered, too, about Professor Martin and Colonel Isaack and what would happen with them. He’d seen Isaack there at the verdict. He’d been wanting to speak with him, but had not yet had the chance. Why did he show up now? Why wasn’t he involved in the debrief? He felt an overwhelming urge for the answers to the questions brewing inside him.
It took just over an hour in administration. While his body was on autopilot, lodging the forms, his mind couldn’t help but constantly return to wondering about Colonel Isaack and where he stood in all of this. The more he thought matters through, the more questions he had. He decided that when he was done with Administration, he would find him and get those answers.
*
“I’m sorry, sir,” the receptionist advised him. “Colonel Isaack has been reassigned and is no longer working from this office.”
“Reassigned? I just saw him a couple of hours ago at a debrief hearing.”
“That may be the case, sir, but as of three days ago he moved out of this office.”
“Can you tell me where he’s been transferred to?”
“I’m sorry, sir. That’s classified.”
“Do you know how I can get in contact with him? A number perhaps?”
“I’m sorry, sir. Classified.”
Harris stared at her a moment. “Well, if you could please get a message to him. Tell him that Captain Harris of the Aurora would like to speak with him. It’s quite important. He’s got my number.”
“Certainly, sir. I’ll ensure he gets that message.”
He turned and headed for his hotel room, his mind ticking over furiously. Reassigned? Where? Why? Did he know too much?
He closed the door to his room and moved over toward the window and looked out over Fort Centralis. He felt strange, not as relieved as he should. Although he felt a certain weight had been lifted, he still felt a pressing gloom hanging over him. He knew those alive had been taken care of, but he still had to deal with the dead …
He recalled his speech again, surprised at the words he’d spoken. After what the UNF had put him through, he was tempted to quit. But he knew that leaving wouldn’t be such an easy thing to do now. Not with the Darwin hanging over him. Could he leave? What would he do? This was what he’d done his whole life. This was all he knew. This is what he was good at. He’d never thought of doing anything else.
He stared out over Fort Centralis and his mind continued to tick over, intrigued. There were so many questions unanswered. So many questions he wanted answered. As he rolled them around in his mind, Sibbie and Etta appeared like reflections in a window pane, staring at him like they did. And he felt a sudden strange sensation within. Despite all that had happened, he felt a pull to stay. A pull to Fort Centralis. It was like there was something that had to be done; like there was something he was needed for; like it was beyond his control to walk away…
It was only a small element within the UNF that had betrayed them, right? Just Martin. Maybe Isaack? And no charges were laid against the Aurora crew in the end. So maybe someone, somewhere, was looking out for them. A serious fuckin’ mistake had been made, but now it was being corrected, right? Too late for his dead soldiers, but he could still believe in the UNF and what it stood for.
Right?
He lay back on his bed, and stared at the ceiling. He pictured the faces of his four dead soldiers, and yet again, Sibbie and Etta, too. He sighed and closed his eyes.
You’re back on Earth, Saul. It’s time to start again. Time to move forward.
For the first time in days, he thought of the Jazz Club Woman, but sure enough, he very swiftly pushed her aside for thoughts of Taya and Ty.
*
He arrived at The Vicar at 1156. It was a small Irish pub, frequented by UNF soldiers, just down the road from the Command docks. At the end of a mission, he always met the team at The Vicar and bought them drinks. Today was only going to be a taste test, however; a quiet celebration of making it through the debrief. The real drinks would follow after the service tomorrow, although they would also double as a wake.
As he entered he saw the team gathered in one corner, wheelchairs and all.
“Gentlemen, ladies,” he greeted them.
They all acknowledged him with quiet smiles, and nods.
Doc stepped forward and handed him a beer. “We took the liberty of ordering a round, captain.”
Harris took a gulp, then stood near their tables and looked at them all. “So, the verdict’s in. Most of us came out of it fairly unscathed. I knew we would. You all did a good job, given the circumstances we were thrown into. I meant what I said. You should be proud of yourselves.” Harris raised his glass, the team joined him, and they took a drink in silence.
“Captain,” Doc began, “I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that there’s no-one else we trust more with our lives, either, than you.”
Doc raised his glass to him, and the team followed suit. McKinley, Brown and Hunter called out in approval, drawing attention from the rest of the bar. Harris was touched, but somehow didn’t feel worthy of it when four of his men were dead. He waved his hands at them to quieten down.
“Thank you, Doc, gentlemen … and ladies. I guess now is a good time to tell you that you are all officially released from UNF custody.”
“Hallelujah!” Brown called out, then turned and slapped Hunter’s hand which was already waiting for him.
“Now, I don’t need to remind you that we need to play it cool for a while.” He lowered his voice a little but kept it firm. “Whatever you think or feel, you cap that shit, alright? Keep your head down and play normal. I have requested extended leave for you. For the old team here, we’re owed a few weeks, and I’ve requested a further five weeks on top of that. So, pending UNF approval, which I have requested be fast-tracked, you should all have a good eight weeks to get away, recharge, and for those of you injured, recover.”
“Nice one, captain.” McKinley raised his glass to him.
Harris gave him a nod. “After this drink, you will all go back and pack your things and leave Command. You will, however, stay in town, as we have a service tomorrow for the four soldiers who are not here right now, drinking with us.” Harris eyed the team, as they drew quiet and still. “Carter. Bolkov. Louis. Smith. They should be here with us, but they are not. Now, you may be free men and women, but if any of you turn up hungover or drunk tomorrow, you will be visiting Captain Harris’s world of pain.”
“Yes, sir,” they answered.
“Good. So shut up and let me drink this, would you,” Harris said dryly, taking the spare seat next to Doc.