Epilogue
Not even a day went by before Seb found himself being called back into the command center of the ship. So much for that rest everyone kept ordering him to get.
Though he wasn’t really complaining. Having downtime had been fun this morning when he and Jenna had been lazing together in bed, but she’d gone up to the CI annex a few hours ago to familiarize herself with the new position she’d be starting, and of course being left to his own devices had seen him get bored too damn quickly.
As he got off the transit and headed toward the huge double doors that kept the command center locked down from the rest of the ship, he spotted Jenna waiting to have her ID checked before the security officers cleared her for entry.
He stepped in behind her, sliding an arm across her shoulders. “Should I be worried that we’ve both been ordered up to command?”
She glanced up at him, a warm, intimate smile making his blood rush. “You know how these things go. They probably just need some follow-up details after yesterday’s debriefing.”
Security cleared her, and she stepped to the side, waiting as his ID was checked as well. Once the formalities were done, he took her hand as they walked through the doors and headed toward the conference rooms. A few other soldiers greeted him—he still hadn’t wrapped his head around the promotion and kept thinking they were addressing someone else whenever they said “Lieutenant.”
Unsurprisingly, Bren and Alpha were also waiting outside in the corridor when they arrived.
“Sir, CAFF,” he greeted with a nod. “Anyone got a clue why Yang called this meeting?”
Bren shook her head. “No, but it looks like we’re about to find out.”
The conference room door opened, and he filed in with the others to find Commander Yang sitting at the large central table, with Colonel Cameron McAllister beside him. They all exchanged pleasantries as they sat down.
“Thank you all for coming on short notice,” Yang said by way of starting the meeting. “This shouldn’t take long, but it’s important.”
The commander went on to explain that he had divulged the intel about the rebel forces Seb and Jenna had discovered to the colonel. Like Jenna, Cam had heard rumors about the rebels, but hadn’t realized they were so organized, or that the situation with the Pontifex was so unstable.
“I don’t need to tell you that we cannot, under any circumstance, let this conflict spill out into the wider galaxy,” Yang concluded. “It came as a shock to all of us that there are factions wanting to use the Brannon System as the catalyst for a wider uprising against the UEF across the galaxy. That kind of war would be devastating, would change the fabric of society as we know it. And it goes without saying, the casualties would easily climb into the millions, if not billions.”
Though probably not intended, Yang’s words sobered the room. The scenario he’d laid out was the stuff of nightmares. The entire galaxy at war? They couldn’t let that happen.
“This is much bigger than the Knox and moles we’ve been dealing with,” he said, though that was probably obvious to everyone. “But what are we supposed to do about it? Warn the UEF? Ask for reinforcement?”
Yang shook his head, frustration edging into his expression. “Without concrete proof, the UEF will be too worried about political ramifications to send in more troops or ships. Right now, they can still claim we’re undertaking peacekeeping efforts. Send reinforcements, and they’ve got to justify how this isn’t an outright war.”
“It’s that kind of bureaucratic BS that makes assholes like Lawler think they’ve got a chance,” Seb muttered.
“Which is why we’ve got to cut them off now, while we still have the possibility of controlling the situation,” Cam put in.
“You guys have a plan?” Alpha asked from the other side of the table.
“The rebels are going to be the key,” Cam replied, tapping a finger on the table. “There’s an entire untapped source of soldiers on the ground, inside enemy lines. If we can make contact with them, convince them to join forces with us. And if what they say about the Ponitfex’s health is true, this could be our moment. This could make or break the entire galaxy.”
“It sounds good in theory, but surely it won’t be that simple,” Bren said from where she sat beside him. “How do we even find these rebels? And then what? We’re going to hand over a cache of weapons and trust this isn’t another ploy by the CSS to double cross us?”
“No offense, Lieutenant Brenner, but you’re not exactly qualified to make calls about the situation on the ground,” Cam returned in a cool hard voice.
Seb only just managed to stop his eyebrows from hitting his hairline at the obvious cut.
Bren stiffened. “Maybe not. But I’m assuming at some point you’ll be wanting air support. That’s why Alpha and I are here, right? And when that time comes, I’m not sending my squad in to be cut down by our own weapons.”
“Enough,” Yang cut in, though maybe a bit late as the tension in the room had already hit DEFCON 2.
Seb passed a covert glance between where Bren and Cam were obviously trying not to glare at one another. And it suddenly occurred to him that while Cam often came up to the Knox for various command and intel reasons, and occasionally joined them at Harley’s for a beer before heading back to the ground, he’d never actually seen Bren or Cam spend more than five seconds in each other’s presence. Weird.
“Colonel McAllister is planning to put some feelers out in the village where Rayne and Agent Maxwell discovered the intel,” Yang outlined, passing a quelling glance around the table, indicating the decision had been made, and he didn’t expect to hear anyone else’s opinion on the matter. “We’re hopeful we can make a connection, possibly get a meeting with someone who has some sway over the rebel forces. Seb, Agent Maxwell, I need both of you to write comprehensive reports of the village. Give the lay of the land, who you spoke with. Any tiny details you can provide to Colonel McAllister will be to his advantage. And yes, Lieutenant Brenner, at some point the colonel may require air support, so I expect your full cooperation.”
“Yes, sir,” Bren returned in an even tone, though Seb could tell that beneath the professionally detached exterior, she was seething over the clash with Cam.
Yang dismissed the meeting, but asked the colonel to stay behind. As the rest of them exited the conference room, he didn’t fail to miss the pissed-off glare Bren shot McAllister.
Oh man, McAllister was going to regret opening his mouth. Bren was an awesome fighter pilot, fair and confidence-inspiring CO, and all-around great friend to have. But boy, could she hold a grudge. And the poor sucker that ended up on the wrong end of her temper would find more warmth stripping off and swimming in an icy lake on a twenty-degree day. Whenever Cam ended up calling in that air support, Bren would no doubt make him work for it.
Bren and Alpha headed back up to the FP flight deck. What he wouldn’t give to join them, but he still had several weeks of medical leave to face down before he got his butt back in his jet.
He and Jenna were silent as they left the command center, neither of them needing to say anything until they were standing outside the transit.
“Are you going back to the CI annex?” he asked, trying not to let any pathetic disappointment creep into his tone. Judging by her indulgent smile, he didn’t succeed.
“No, I’m done for the day. Malouf has given me two weeks’ transition downtime. I’ve got the next fourteen days to decompress from the almost-ten years I spent working as a field agent.”
He shifted closer, dropping his arms around her shoulder, trying not to grin like an idiot. “Well, isn’t that something?”
“Yes, apparently I need to learn how to be around people again, now that I’m actually allowed to have interpersonal relationships.” She slid her arms around his waist, bringing herself in closer to him.
“Hmm, that sounds complicated. I’m sure you’re going to need help.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “You might be right. What do you suggest?”
Leaning down, he set his lips against her ears, making a few suggestions, all of which required them to get back to his apartment ASAP.
When he leaned back again, her gaze on him was smoldering, her smile telling him she was ready to agree—to today, to tomorrow, and every day following, as long as they were together.
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