Chapter 7
DAVE
Dave loved it in Tech. He had never been able to learn so much before, and it turned out he had a real knack for it. He took apart drone consoles and rocket sighting systems. He learned how to repair communications systems. He began to study programming and electronics. He learned to file electronic folders in ways that made them invisible to everyone except those he chose to give access, and he learned to retrieve hidden files and crack secure systems. He even got to test it on their own systems.
“If we can break it, someone else could. This way, we stay on top of the development. Although, in reality, electronic warfare is a race which no one ever wins. The best you can do is stay one step ahead of your enemy.” That was Senior Technician Hasle, his instructor and superior, around sixty and probably one of the oldest Wardens around. Come to think of it, he was one of the oldest people Dave had ever met. He was Moon people of course, but you wouldn’t know it, except for his name. He looked nothing like the others, dark skinned and curly hair. Dave wondered if it would be all right to ask him about it, but deemed it inappropriate, so he let it go. Hasle treated him well from the first day. He let him take his time to get everything right, and whenever Dave had a question, Hasle would explain in a way that made him really understand what he was talking about.
He quickly understood there were areas of the system where even Hasle wouldn’t let him test his skills, though. Once, when he suggested it, the older man had just laughed.
“I know you are talented, Wagner, but no matter how hard you try, that door will remain closed. Best not to think of it,” he said.
When Dave brought up the subject a few weeks later, Hasle surprised him, by banging his fist on the table.
“I said let it go. You won’t be able to do it. And even if you managed to, you’d regret it. Trust me.” That was the only time he saw Hasle angry, and except for that one occasion, they got along fine.
While he was busy learning his new skills, he didn’t have much contact with the others. He once saw Brian walking trough camp with Scientist Hughes, and then there was Liz.
She seemed changed, he thought. She wasn’t around much, being out with the rangers most of the time, but she always made sure to check in with him whenever she wasn’t out. Dave considered her his best friend here. Something was different about her, though. She was more irritable, and she seemed constantly restless. He even saw her smoking kissweed with some others, even though she’d been vocal about the stupidity of it.
They spoke from time to time, but he began to wonder whether she even listened to him. But she didn’t speak much, so he did most of the talking, anyway. He tried asking about what had happened—he knew it must have been something—but she just changed the subject. It was the usual “You’ll see” and “Just wait, it will be your turn soon enough” answers, which irked Dave something fierce. He had begun to hate those words. He wanted to know. If it was bad, he’d handle it. He even said as much, and Liz just laughed.
“If I could tell you, I might. But I can’t.” And that was the end of it.
After a few weeks, Liz came over and told him she would be gone for a long time, something to do with the Rift. He just nodded quietly, understanding he’d get no answers to any of his questions. Instead, he buried himself in his own specialization. For a few more weeks, he managed to fool himself that if he buried himself deep enough in electronics, computers, and advanced technology, the alarm would never wake him again, he wouldn’t have to go out and face whatever it was that Liz had seen. Maybe he wouldn’t be… changed, like she was.
SUE
The ceremony was impressive. There were no other words to describe it. For a week, the Janissaries of Camp Sharpe had been busily preparing, setting up a great stage, creating a show of fireworks and laser effects, advanced stage lighting, sound effects, music, and a huge screen in the background. There were flowers, banners, and Covenant flags everywhere. Everyone knew their place and everything had been rehearsed over and over again. The honor guard surrounded the stage, all along the walk up to it, and all the way back to the airpad. The cameras were everywhere, while behind the scenes, electronic defense systems would prevent any unexpected interference, and every armed man and woman not attending the ceremony was manning positions covering every entrance. Above, the airships, brandishing all kinds of weapons from machine cannons to rockets to laser defense systems, patrolled the air.
Sue thought it was all too much, but it was out of her hands. She had done what she thought was best, and somehow the story had reached all the way back to Legacy. When she had spoken to Counselor Novak, she’d had no idea it would lead to this. Nevertheless, she didn’t see how she could have done anything differently. It had never been up to her, anyway.
Head Servant Lunde stood before her, beaming. She avoided his eyes. The medal he held up before her looked heavy. It was white gold, brandishing the Covenant symbol in black. The Exceptional Deed of Bravery Medal. It had only been awarded to Janissaries four times before, and never to one still considered an initiate. Granted, she was no longer an initiate, but she had been when she did what had led to her nomination.
“…And here you have her,” the head servant said to the camera in front of them. “Susan Atlas.” Everyone cheered, and the screen showed the flapping flag of the Covenant morphed with her face. The music, a patriotic hymn everyone knew, was loud. The head servant’s words were louder still.
“A young woman, saving her friends and exhibiting exceptional bravery under fire. An example for future generations of what Service to the State means.” Sue cringed, but kept up appearances. For the previous week, since the announcement, she had been interviewed so many times, she had lost count. She was being portrayed as the young woman from a small town, doing her duty, serving bravely in the most dangerous environment. Nobody mentioned that she hadn’t seen combat at all since coming back from the mission where they lost Brad. Nobody mentioned Brad at all. It was all about her, a woman on her way to the responsibility of citizenship, an example for every young man and woman out there.
The cameras broadcast everything into mandatory viewings in every home in the Covenant. She should have been thinking of her mother and Jason. Of her father, who would have been so proud to see her like this. So relieved that his daughter would have a different life than he’d had. A longer life even.
But all she could think of was the young woman she had killed. The one she had taken prisoner, and then shot as the woman pulled a hidden gun on her. That wasn’t bravery; it was sloppiness.
She looked at the audience and saw at least one man who didn’t think of her as a hero. First Janissary Ivanov had come, and he was fuming. She realized she had deeply offended him when she stood up for Dave on Initiation Day, and he didn’t seem like the type to forget easily. It was a wonder really, that he hadn’t stopped the whole thing, but she guessed that spoke volumes of the influence of Counselor Novak. This was his doing, although Head Servant Lunde seemed to enjoy the occasion immensely.
She saw Tac Hordvik standing to attention just below the stage, beaming like a proud big brother. Sub Strategos Janev looked equally proud, standing just as stiffly beside the tacticus. As if this was his doing somehow. Her eyes darted around, finding her team. There was Keisha, brandishing a big grin, ear to ear, winking as their eyes met. Quinn, surprisingly cheerful and finally out of hospital. She thought she sensed a certain respect. That was unexpected. Julian stood there, as well, smiling at her. She looked away. Ever since they got back, there had been a tension between them. And it wasn’t uncomfortable. She felt her cheeks go hot and tried to think of something else, turning her attention to the head servant, who looked like he was ready to finish.
“Thank you, thank you all,” he said and turned toward her.
“But most of all, Sub Tacticus Atlas, thank you.” He extended his hand, and her alarm seemed to amuse him greatly. Sub Tacticus? She had been an initiate just a few weeks ago. It was unheard of. Sh
e took his hand and shook it, head spinning. Then Head Servant Lunde took off her single Junior Janissary bar from her lapel and pinned the triple bar of her new rank in its place. He turned, gave a big smile to the camera, and waved all around, making sure the camera got it from every angle, before walking off, followed by his aides and security detail from Legacy.
Sue watched his back as he disappeared. As the cameras were switched off, people rushed in to greet her.
“Congratulations, Sub Tacticus,” Tac Hordvik said, shaking her hand.
Keisha slapped her back.
“You’re famous now, girl,” she said. “You’re a heroine! A few more years, and you’ll be government material. I’m telling you, you’re set for life now. And a long life!” Sue smiled, relieved that this was finally over. Back in Legacy, and in every town all over the Covenant, people would watch the broadcast and the reruns, over and over. But here, tomorrow was a new day. This would all blow over, and people would forget about all of this. She would be a bit young for a SubTac, but that would be it. Soon, everything would be back to normal.