Blood War 1: Last Stand of the Legion: Rift (47 page)

SOL SYSTEM

EARTH

CITY STATE
OF NEW YORK

CONFEDERATION NAVAL HEADQUARTERS

OFFICE OF ADMIRAL OF THE NAVY

USICHE RAURK

After the
last meeting and the officers had been dismissed Admiral Raurk leaned back in her chair. Istas pulled a gold cigarette case from her bag and offered Usiche one. She lit Usiche's then lit her own.

"It is hard to believe people denied themselves such a wonderful simple pleasure because their medicine was so crude. All cancers were simple once they learned the DNA triggers and repaired them
," Usiche said.

"Yes. One needs their simple pleasures."

They exchanged a look as Istas handed Usiche her favorite drink. Usiche took a long sip before she said,

"This was too close to feel as if this was a victory
," Usiche said.

"Yes, some battles are won by strategy, others by might but some are won by luck
," Istas said as she sat on the coach and kicked her shoes off.

"Istas
, you are too disciplined to think of this as a victory. We were only able to hold them back this time. If you had not been sent to protect me things would have been different. If two young Legionnaires had not sacrificed their lives to report that this was indeed an invasion things would have been different. If two destroyer captains had not been willing to go against incredible odds things would have been different. And underneath it all, if our Colonel Sand and his Armored Infantry had not been willing to sacrifice their lives to give us the time we needed none of the other’s sacrifices would have mattered. The Xotoli would have occupied Rift. We cannot let the next battle depend on luck to win. The Xotoli are too smart."

They sat there smoking and sipping their drinks as they contemplated the string of ifs that had been strung together to win the battle. It was frightening in it fragility. The Confederation had little time to prepare for the next battle.

"We still have no idea what the Xotoli look like. We have only seen their hybrids. It is a very smart strategy using surrogates to fight your war not caring about losses, while you weaken your enemy.”

"Yes there are many areas we will have
to improve upon very quickly," Istas said.

"Yes and that does not take into account the politics. The Ceti representatives are pushing hard for
a quick strike. Groombridge and Cygni both are on their side and gathering votes among a number of other systems. Von Fleet and the other corporations are screaming about the lost revenue in spite of the military contracts that are in hand and more that are coming. Rigil Kent is pushing for a negotiated settlement, from what I understand, they think they can overtake Sol as the center of the Confederation and with a new army it could very well happen."

Usiche stopped and rubbed her temples.

"Our war is just starting. It will be as bloody and dangerous as our Colonel’s was on Rift," Usiche's said.

"I will be at your side
," Istas said.

"I know and it will take all of your skills and mine to win our war. I will have
to find my own allies in the fight to carry out this war the way it needs to be conducted. Intelligence is vital. Captain Kitmura put in his papers to transfer to the Navy and my staff. He is bringing most of his staff with him. Of course I will need the Anjin's help. They have been invaluable."

Usiche smiled a small smile and their eyes met.

"May I ask a question?" Istas said.

"Since when does my Little One have to ask permission to speak in private
?"

"We are in the office and not your quarters
," Istas said with a smirk.

"Of course."

"Knott the intelligence officer, that was of no use during the battle - why did you keep him on your staff. When you met with him today it is obvious you do not think him competent or trustworthy."

"I have a feeling about our Captain Knott
, that is why I put him under Kitmura's command. I want see what it is I am sensing."

They were silent as they finished their cigarettes and drinks.

"I think it is time we went to my quarters," Usiche said.

Istas did not just sit up and put on her shoes but made it a slow show of her perfect legs and cleavage when she bent over to slip on her shoes. Usiche watched with appreciation.

"I have been meaning to ask you for some time. You wear so much jewelry is it true that it all can be used as a weapon?" Usiche said. Her gaze was unwavering on Istas. Istas paused and spread out her fingers - she wore gold rings on all of her fingers, each different and the large gold cuffs on her wrists, and forearms.

"The rings
are nano infused so that when I strike someone they fuse together protecting my fingers but producing maximum damage to my opponent. The cuffs have crystals embedded in them and can be used for striking or blocking."

She slowly fingered her gold chain belt around her waist.

"This is my favorite. I practice much with it often. We call it The Snake. It is quite deadly when unfurled, its end is weighted so it causes much damage when it strikes an opponent."

Usiche only continued to stare
, enjoying Istas talking about her profession.

"All of the earrings?"

Istas touched her right ear. The rings began at her earlobe and reached up to the top of her ear. There were rings at the bottom and became larger until they were tiny gold leafs in that reached just past her ear.

"No, these are not weapons
, they assist my hearing, magnifying sounds."

"The gold hair, very fashionable for young women
. I would not think fashion is something you would worry about."

"You like it then?" Istas said
, her eyes never leaving Usiche's.

"Of course, you know I do."

"That is the reason. It is sometimes best to appear as a fashionista, someone more worried about the latest fashion than other issues. Others tend to take you less seriously. It can be an advantage."

"And to attract others?"

"Do you not find me attractive?"

Istas just leaned back, slowly crossed her perfect legs and smiled.

"Is it true that you are able to release sexual pheromones at will?" Usiche said.

"Yes."

"Did you use them on me?"

"Did I have to?"

Usiche threw her head back and laughed one of the first genuine laughs Istas had ever seen from her.

"No, Little One you did not."

"Do you have a preference?" Istas said.

"Yes, men. This is unusual. Do you have a preference?"

"Yes, tall, beautiful strong women."

"You too practiced at this art."

"It was part of my training but I used none of it on you. This is real."

Usiche stood and walked over to Istas and put her arm around her waist. They entered Usiche's quarters by the door in the back of the office. It would be a long day again tomorrow. Usiche had much work to do. They all did.

SOL SYSTEM

EARTH

CITY STATE
OF NEW YORK

CONFEDERATION
NAVAL ACADEMY

GRADUATION CEREMONY

Admiral
of the Navy Usiche Raurk stood in front of the men and women in the great hall of the Naval Academy where she had sat so many years ago as a cadet. She looked out at the young faces and knew many of them would die in the next years; others would rise through the ranks to take her place. The future of the Navy and of the Confederation sat in front of her. Every media outlet on Earth was covering her speech. The speech was as much for the public as it was for the midshipmen. This would be their first chance to put faces to the names that had been in the media over the last months.

Usiche had deliberately withheld any media coverage of the
Rift survivors until today. It guaranteed the media would cover her speech in force and she wanted to gain as much coverage as possible. It was the first step in her political war. She hoped that her speech would be as effective as she wanted; words and the right kind of publicity were her best weapons at this point in the meeting rooms and the halls of Congress.

Cameras
flew around the Great Hall, as each of the media outlets camera operators trying for the best angle; some were hovering over the heroes of Rift while others went for midshipmen. Usiche stood and the room came to attention as one. She slowly approached the podium in her dress whites with all her ribbons and gold. Usiche stood looking out at the thousands in the great hall where she had sat as a midshipman so long ago. It was the place she had taken the oath and it now was where she wanted to fire the first salvos across the bows of her political opponents in her war.

"Seats
," Usiche said.

As one every man and woman sat. Usiche took a deep breath and began
.

"
Nine months ago the human race was attacked by an alien race. A race not interested in peaceful contact but in destruction and enslavement of every human - man, woman, and child. No matter their breed. No matter their race or age. You are the leaders who will face this threat face to face. You will be asked to sacrifice much some will sacrifice all. You sit here for one reason and one reason only. You sit here because of the sacrifices that have already been made by thousands of your fellow Naval and Legion brothers and sisters. Were it not for their willingness to honor their commitment and to the long traditions of the Navy and Legion of duty, honor and sacrifice you would not be sitting here able to have the privilege of joining their ranks."

Usiche paused and looked out the faces then looked down to the front rows filled with the heroes of Rift.

"You are privileged to be sitting in the presence of some of those heroes today. I asked them here so you could see the faces of the men and women who are responsible for your ability to graduate. Rear Admiral Tamara Lule, whose brilliant tactics drove the alien fleet out of Rift space. Captain Ririsa Grogen, whose ship the Capella, along with the Bernards made an attack that will go down in naval lore. Lt. J.G. James Hiroshi, who only months out of this Hall while standing bridge watch in anchorage, took command of the Phoenix. His actions saved the Phoenix and thousands of lives of survivors from other ships. Petty Officer Zenus Lee whose Swift Boat along with Chief Warrant Officer Rajendra Kim who gave the first warning of the attack that allowed the Fleet to prepare for an attack. Then on their own initiative joined the Capella and Bernards in an attack against an alien carrier and against overwhelming odds."

She paused before she began to name the Legionnaires who contributed so much.

"Lieutenants Juan Rico and Wilhelmina Takuda who gave their lives to assure the rest of the fleet were aware of the invasion and the location of the alien landing platform. Lieutenant Maxwell Steiner who single handedly found and directed the attack on the enemy carrier. And now for the men and women on the ground - Colonel now General Dasan Daniel Sand and former Command Sergeant Major now Major Axec Aijuba who spent twenty-five years fighting to have an Armored Infantry capability within the Legion. Then when the attack came led the newly formed and untested unit in a defense of Rift that will go down in history as one of the great stands made by any army anywhere."

Usiche paused for a moment to let what she had said and what these men and women had done.

"These are the men and women who have blazed a trail of duty, honor and sacrifice for you to follow. Their actions have shown you the way. They have set the standard for your performance. I expect you to live up to their example. Now if they will stand I want them to turn and face the cadets."

As one the heroes of Rift stood and turned to face the young faces that sat before them.

"Look into the faces of the giants who you will be following, whose shoulders you will stand on, and who you will serve beside in the coming years. It is one thing for an Admiral to say that she expects you to live up to their legacy. It is entirely another thing to face those who have already made the sacrifices and pledge to live up to their examples. The words that are etched in stone in the arch that you pass under every day have a new meaning. Duty, Honor, Sacrifice are no longer just words - they have faces and names. You will be expected to live up to the example they have set. You will live up to your oath because if you do not, it could cost not just your life but all the lives of the human race."

The hall was dead silent as the Heroes of Rift stood at attention facing the cadets assembled before them. Usiche again used the silence to let the meaning sink in to the cadets. The media camera's zoomed around the room for angles on the heroes and the midshipmen.

"Cadets stand," Usiche said.

The Naval Academy graduating class stood.

"Raise your right hand."

Each raised their right hand.

"I.. please say your full name."

The hall was filled with a chorus of young voices as they said their names.

"Of my own free will and without coercion,

"Of my own free will and without coercion
,"

"Do solemnly swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the Confederation against all enemies. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Confederation and will faithfully discharge the duties of the
office that I am about to enter with my life should it be necessary. So help me God.. you may say your own religions God's name if you want," Admiral Usiche Raurk said.

The class repeated the oath. Usiche stood silently staring out at the newly minted Naval officers.

"Normally this is a moment when covers are thrown into the air and there is much celebrating. I do think that is appropriate today. As I said earlier for many of you there are more sacrifices ahead of you than you can understand. The fate of the human race is in the balance and will depend on you and the millions of others who will join you in the coming years. Remain standing. Heroes of Rift you are dismissed."

As they had practiced
the Rift veterans all followed Admiral Lule the highest-ranking officer out of the rows of seats into the center aisle. They marched down the center one by one according to their ranks. Without prompting by Usiche as they reached each row the midshipmen came to attention and saluted. This happened the entire length of the Hall. The hall was silent except for the footsteps of the Heroes of Rift. When the Hall's doors were closed behind them, Usiche looked out at the young newly minted Lieutenant Junior Grades and wondered how many of them she would have to order to their deaths. She did not feel like celebrating. She watched the cameras flying around the room zooming in on the young solemn faces of the men and women. It had gone better than she had expected; the meaning and the seriousness of what the Confederation and the human race faced could not be misunderstood.

"Dismissed
," Usiche said.

Usiche turned from the podium. Her bodyguard kept the press away as she left the stage, she had a meeting with the Secretary of Defense about the restr
ucturing of the Navy and the newly formed Marine Corps. It was the start of a long war. 

<<<<>>>>