Aaron moved to look over the other equipment. Special Forces was usually synonymous with special “toys”.
The marines handled an assortment of military drone variations, designed for recon or combat purposes, and deployable turrets and barricades. There were high and low tech variations of each.
Over by Reliant, Rachael looked all set. She had on a blue flight suit and held her helmet tucked underneath her arm.
She looked up while adjusting her flight suit. “We’re ready.”
Aaron looked over her. “Remember, recon only. You get as much information as safely as possible. Don’t compromise your position for intelligence. It’s just going to be the two of you for a while.”
“I’m sure Reyes will teach me everything about starships in the time we have.”
There was an awkward silence. He took a moment to freeze an image of her in his mind. Her blue eyes and short dirty-blond hair cropped by her flat ears. Smooth plain features and that warm smile.
A smile that could for some brief moments make you forget where you were and what you were doing. Make you forget the things that seemed to be the most part of you.
As if she knew what he was thinking, her smile widened.
What was he saying? Ah. “Once we’ve located Endeavor’s crew. We’ll signal you and withdraw near the wormhole. Hopefully, the task force will be on the other side. I want you to promise me something, Rachael.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Promise me if you need our help, you’ll call. Don’t let delusional heroics and grand wayward ideals lead you to believe you can’t signal for help, simply because it places the crew at risk. I’m not leaving you out here if you run into difficulty. I’m not leaving anyone. Your task is long-term recon only.”
She hesitated but finally said, “Delusional heroics and grand wayward ideals . . . are you sure you don’t mean someone else?” She left off the—“such as yourself”—part. But he heard it anyway.
He pressed his lips together in a fine line and fixed her with a glare. “Rachael.”
Her shoulders dropped. “I promise.”
He circled the group and stood to the fore. Everyone looked up. A feeling of dread consumed him. That darkness that was so close to the surface threatened to overwhelm him. Once they left the ship, they would be beyond his help. Each carried with them a part of him. Sending your family—professional soldiers or not—to war was gut wrenching. He bit the inside of his gum, blinking back tears. Keep it together.
“This is likely the last time we’ll all be together in the same place, for a long time. Take a good look around you. If you find yourself hunted by a terrible enemy. If you’re out-gunned and overwhelmed by hopeless odds. These are the people who will be there to even those odds, or right there fighting to the last breath with you. You’re a part of a special crew now. If you look around you and you don’t see your crewmate, do not be alarmed . . . because he’s standing behind you, where he should be, guarding your back.”
Aaron didn’t believe in goodbyes, but rather farewells. Farewell, until we meet again. The away teams exchanged farewells with Ayres, Zane and him.
“Commander, me and my team have been together a long time. But we’ve never had a place to call home. If it was up to me. It would be Phoenix.” Sergeant Dawes said.
Aaron clapped the young marine on the shoulder. “In my mind, Sergeant, it already is.”
“Give ‘em hell, Commander,” Ubu said.
“We’ll get our boys and girls, Commander. No worries,” Chen said.
Reyes came next. “Commander, don’t burn out my engines before I get back. You know I do all the real work around here,” he said, glancing over at the Master Chief who grunted in return.
“No promises, Reyes. But I’ll try my best.”
“Commander,” Lee said. “I can’t be in two places at once, so don’t get into any problems while I’m gone. You know how it is with you.” Lee said.
“I promise not to board any enemy ships and wrestle with the crew while you’re gone.”
And finally Rachael.
Neither of them spoke. Awkward again. Somewhere distant in his mind he noticed the others move off to give them space.
They both began to speak.
“Please . . . you first, Aaron.”
He smiled. “There’re many things I’d like to tell you. Perhaps in another life. I don’t think this one is willing to compromise where we’re concerned.”
“A spy and a starship captain,” she nodded. “Not a happily ever after combination.”
“We did make some progress.”
“How so?”
He snickered. “Well, when we first met you were a rigid robot if I rec—”
She threw her arms around him.
He stood motionless at first. Then hugged her back.
“All kidding aside, we did actually make progress,” he told her.
She let him go and locked onto his eyes. She probably wondered if another snide comment was about to come out. None would, even if he could think of one.
“You’re a former spy. That means there’s always hope for the future.”
Tears welled in her eyes. One ran away down her cheek. He wiped it with his thumb. Damn, now his vision was blurry.
“Better get going before we break down in front the crew.”
She nodded and headed towards Reliant. A few minutes later Reliant lifted off the hangar deck.
He knew one day he’d have to make certain sacrifices being a starship captain. And this was one of those days.
Chapter 22 – Saddle Up
“Good luck gentlemen. I’ll see you when I see you” – Yuri Miroslav
Main Bridge
Phoenix
Aaron emerged from the lift on the bridge. Zane was at ops, and Ayres operated the helm. Max was in sickbay prepping it to treat any surviving members of Endeavor’s crew. Garrett was in engineering.
“This is almost perfect,” Aaron said. “I specialized in tactical before command school, and XO you trained along a starship maneuvers track before your recent command training.”
She shrugged. “Even so, Commander, I’m not Yuri Miroslav.”
“Don’t even think about it, XO, no one is Yuri Miroslav. That boy has piloting instincts I’ve never seen or heard of. It’ll come back to you naturally. I’m sure I’ll miss a few shots over here. He met her gaze. “I’m not Lieutenant Lee.”
Aaron turned to Zane. “Lieutenant, you helped enhance the current generation of starship sensor suites, and you consulted on the construction of this ship. I feel like Shepherd couldn’t have done us any better.”
Zane beamed. “I’m grateful for your confidence, Commander, but you know I lack combat experience. I’m not so thrilled about being shot at in space. You’ve probably noticed that…”
Aaron didn’t think any less of him for it. It wasn’t even a consideration. “I think you’ll find you’re more than up to the task, Herman. Just focus on your station, don’t overlook anything, and if you have a suggestion, don’t hesitate to speak up.”
“Thank you.” He looked down at his board. “All systems nominal, except the kinetic barrier. Only the previously primed gravitic charges are available.”
“Good,” Aaron said. “XO, just cautious maneuvers. If I have something special in mind, I’ll walk you through it. Evasive is at your discretion.”