All My Sins Remembered by Brian Wetherell Read Free Book Online Page B

newest Marine officer, a man of Asian descent named Raijan Kemai.  He would be serving as the Black Wave’s tactical officer, though he still looked uncomfortable wearing the silver bar of a Second Lieutenant.  A former citizen of the Rejai Empire, Hawke met him during a rescue mission the Talons had been tasked with, and Raijan simply stayed when all the other rescued captives disembarked.  Hawke never really made an issue of it, and instead just made arrangements for him to be added to the company’s payroll as a Lance Corporal.  That was nearly five standard years ago, and since then Raijan had served with the Talons, exhibiting a knack for small group tactics, and astounding skill in hand to hand combat.  Recognizing this, Hawke quickly promoted him through the ranks.  Now, Raijan always served as tactical officer for whatever ship Hawke’s flag was on, even if his rank didn’t befit his station.
    Of course there was Nathan Schultz, who stepped into the room after Raijan and looked around, looking his normal irritable self as he absently scratched at his beard.  He was Hawke’s rudder when he needed some advice , helping him stay the course.  Bringing up the rear was James “Gordy” Gordon, Hawke’s chief engineer.  This man he trusted with keeping his small fleet running.  Give him a welding torch and some tin and Hawke would swear that the man could build a life pod to escape a ship while it was burning down around them, and never panic.  Gordy had a strange knack for always being one step ahead of him, no matter how impossible it seemed.  Hawke remembered him once saying, “Either we die, or we don’t, but until we do, I’ll work on keeping this bucket of bolts from falling apart.”  Which he did, time and again.
    “Come in gentlemen.  Take a seat.” Hawke said, waving them to chairs around the table with cigar in hand.  As his senior officers were seated, Hawke sighed and reluctantly took his feet off the table, swinging them down to stand up.  Smothering his cigar and setting it aside, he began pacing, hands clasped behind his back.
    “You all know why we’re here.  We’ve got a job to do.” Hawke began.  “We have been tasked with the destruction of a ship.  According to Naval Intelligence-” Hawke broke off as Nathan barked a laugh and mumbled something derogatory about Naval Intelligence.  The others chuckled, and Hawke allowed himself a small smile before continuing.  Every one of them had been bitten by what passed for ‘intelligence’ in the Gadari Republic’s Navy.  Raijan had even gone so far as to fielding a proposal to develop their own intelligence gathering apparatus, but Hawke had never been able to justify the expense.
    “According to Naval Intelligence, this ship is responsible for the destruction of no fewer than forty-three ships ranging from cargo scows to a battleship.”  Hawke continued. Tapping a few buttons on the console in the middle of the table, four holographic displays projected themselves into the air, one facing each side of the table, showing the compiled report of all the ships listed as ‘destroyed’ or ‘missing’ that were localized to a few systems.  “No one seems to know anything about this ship, though Commander Schultz and I suspect that it is approximately the size of your average battlecruiser, capable of cloaking, and has solid firepower for a ship of its size.” Hawke paused a few moments as his words began to sink in, and then, predictably, there was a minor explosion as all the officers began talking all at once.  Hawke let it go for a few moments before slamming the palm of his hand down on the tabletop with a loud CRACK, making everyone jump and turn towards him.
    “Yes, it’s impossible with our current technology.  Or at least, it was, but now we know that it is not.” Hawke acknowledge.  “And yes,” he added, holding up his hand to forestall more excitable comments from Gordy, “I know what that means.