The Fight for Peace (22 page)

The memorial service came at the end of a hectic week. Byran barely had time to prepare for it, much less fret over the continued protests and occasional calls for him to step down. For most of Europe, it would be a day of local remembrances with a service Isabella had written to be read. The biggest impact for the countryside would be in the reports that came after. If the newspapers bothered to print what happened in Prague. There was always that worry.

As for local attendance, at least, Byran need not have worried. The square outside of the Parliamentary Building barely held the flood of people. He harbored no illusion they were there to see him, unless it was in protest.

“They are here for you,” Byran told Arinna as they waited for the ceremony to begin from behind a cloth screen.

“Yes, to see if I really am alive,” she said, straightening her uniform. “If you give me a medal for being injured, I will deck you.”

Byran huffed a laugh. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“The medal or her reaction?” Derrick asked. Arinna playfully elbowed her new husband, a smile flashing between them.

Arinna had asked for the elopement to stay quiet for now. It was not a day to speak of such things, she’d told him. Byran was rather certain he wouldn’t, but he really didn’t know what the next hour held. The speeches in his hand were a preparation, suggested words to focus his mind. But he needed to respond to the crowd. That was really what his role was. To convince people who did not want to be convinced that the sacrifices of fellow countrymen, both politicians and soldiers, were worthwhile, and that there was more to come. He needed to pull Europe together before it ripped itself open and let the FLF walk in.

Byran expected the occasional boos when he appeared and through the beginning of his speech. When the Guard was called on stage, Captain Vries appeared first, standing momentarily alone. Byran sensed Arinna’s hand in that. Lieutenant Farrak appeared next followed by Lieutenants O’Dell and Eldridge. There was a pause for the space of a breath before Arinna walked out smoothly, the only sign of her injury a shortened stride.

The staging had the crowd shouting. Byran raised his brows as Arinna shook his hand and stood next to him. She flashed him a smile. Yes, definitely her doing. Just as having Jared and herself flank him made a statement regarding where the Guard stood with the government.

It was after he introduced his new Cabinet of Ministers, naming Robert and Natalia who had stood with him at the peace negotiations, that a list of those who had died was read. He, Robert, and Natalia spoke the names of their fellow delegates, while Arinna and Jared split the names of the soldiers lost.

“Let their spirit and their sacrifice be forever remembered,” Arinna said after Lieutenant Gabriella Faronelli’s name, the last of the fallen Guard to be named, was spoken. For a moment, only the wind tugging at bare branches broke the silence of the square.

“I have made mistakes,” Byran said to the quieted crowd. “Too many lives have been lost over this long war that I knew I had to attempt a formal peace treaty with the Freedom Liberation Front. After the loss of most of their weapons in Tashkent, I hoped the offer for peace was sincere. I thought the worst we would face would be failing to reach an agreement. I did not expect failure to cost lives.

“But I still would have gone. I knew there were risks as did the other delegates. If it had brought a real end to this war, I would sacrifice my life. It is a commitment every soldier in the Guard has made. It is one that every European faced when the FLF ran through our streets. But it is not one I want our children to face.”

Byran paused for the space of a breath. “We need to end this war! If the FLF will not give it to us through peace, we will take it from them in a way they understand!” Byran yelled through the shouts of the crowd.

Looking through the swell of people, Byran could see few who did not rally for the coming fight. There were other matters to address like the delayed elections, but he would have his Cabinet and the coming weeks to sort that out. Today was for winning support for the Guard as much as giving himself a base to make decisions stick. For that goal, Byran felt satisfied. To applause and rallying cries, the stage emptied. Backstage, Isabella met him with an embrace, her eyes glowing with pride.

“That,” Arinna said as Isabella released Byran, “is why I want you in charge of Europe.”

Chapter 25

CADET CORIANNE HEYLOR

ON THE BORDER

It was less frightening to think of this as a field exercise like when her platoon had bested the training officers. But that idea was also very dangerous. The worst Cori could expect from a failed test mission was a solid jolt as her electronic tag triggered to read she’d been hit. If there was anyone else out on the snow swept border besides her unit tonight, they carried real guns and they shot to kill.

“Do you see anything out there?” Tony asked over the walkie.

“Only you,” Emery replied. “You’re about as hidden as a tank.”

“Could you repeat?” Tony asked. “I can’t hear you over the static. I hate these damn new comms.”

“They’re old, not new, and shut up. I can hear you across the friggen valley,” Pyotr snapped.

Liisa sighed into the sudden silence of muffled static. “I can’t believe we still have your cousin as platoon leader.”

Cori chuckled quietly, stretching a cramp in her right leg as she did. “Some things haven’t changed since basic,” she whispered in return.

The night stretched onward, silent and cold. Cori watched the moon send the snow sparkling, to realize she wasn’t watching the shadows that would conceal any threat. Pulling her tired mind to alertness, Cori stretched each muscle in her legs starting with her toes. It helped to make sure everything worked and the discipline kept her awake.

Next to her, Liisa woke herself as her head fell toward earth. “Shit, Pyotr would kill me if he’d seen that,” Liisa hissed as Cori tried not to giggle, loudly at least. “I’m not sure if I’m more afraid of falling asleep because of the punishment or because I think I might die from hypothermia.”

“Only a few more hours,” Cori said. “Tomorrow night, I think we should bring blankets to lay on.”

“You really do want me to fall asleep,” Liisa said over a yawn.

They bumped feet to mark the time and keep each other awake. Incrementally, the sky lightened. Relief brought tears to her eyes when Pyotr’s order to meet at their rally point came over the walkie. Cori slipped backwards so the rise would hide her, just in case anyone was below. Despite her frequent stretches, her legs were numb and barely held her weight.

Liisa looked up at Cori from where she sat in the snow and laughed. “I can’t stand. Great lot of help I’d have been if something had happened.”

Cori offered a hand and hauled Liisa upright. “I would have pushed you downhill like a giant snowball.”

Together they staggered to rally, making sure they were walking properly before they were in sight.

“I think I have frost bite,” Tony said in greeting.

“All I want is something hot to eat and then somewhere above freezing to sleep,” Iva added making Cori feel far less miserable.

Even Pyotr looked tired, although he made them march to base camp. As they approached and discipline eased along with the tingling threat of attack, Simmons asked Pyotr, “Do you really think the FLF is out there? You walked to Crystal City. It must have been horrid and cold. Walking in the snow is miserable. I mean, would they really come all the way to the border now?”

Pyotr stopped, glance shifting from the tents of base with the thin columns of smoke to the Wasteland behind them. “The FLF have vehicles,” Pyotr said finally. “They wouldn’t have to walk until they got close. If the peace talks were a ruse like Command thinks and they started moving soldiers into position from the beginning ... yeah, they are out there.”

The news knocked the fragment of warmth walking had borne in Cori out of her. “Now we can’t see them if they are out there, not with the satellites gone,” she said, gaze drifting skyward even though there was no way to see pieces of dead metal in orbit.

“Except for us and the patrol flights,” Emery added.

“Which is why we need to stay alert,” Pyotr said, “and quiet.” Feet were shuffled in response to Pyotr’s glare. “Come on, let’s get food and warm up. We only have a few hours to sleep until training this afternoon.”

The platoon groaned as one.

It took two cups of coffee, one downed as Cori ran to the training site, to chase the fogginess from her head that afternoon. Cori rounded the corner of the transport plane to join her platoon just as Warrant Officer Chris Makkonen stepped out. He eyed her. She smiled. He rolled his eyes, the slightest smile lifting the corner of his mouth.

Iva elbowed her. “I think he likes you.”

“I thought I wasn’t allowed to date,” Cori whispered back.

“Both of you shut up,” Pyotr hissed at them.

“I know you’ve gone over the transport planes while in basic, so today’s lesson will begin with you showing me what you remember and then we’ll get into a few new additions,” Chris said. “I’ve been front line with the Grey Guard for over six years under Lieutenant Faronelli. I will make certain you have the skills you need to perform any task around a transport for the coming offensive. And no, I can’t tell you what the coming offensive is or when. So don’t ask.”

He had a half smile that made Cori’s heart shudder. The dreaded training felt far less tedious and potentially a little too short. Chris assigned random stations, barking orders for the transport to be moved, and defensive weapons placed on standby. Under Simmons’ control, the transport plane wobbled as it lifted. Simmons swore.

“Actually, you are doing good, Cadet,” Chris said, as Simmons held onto the controls with a death grip. “There is no satellite link anymore and no GPS. We are working on stabilizing patches with local scans of terrain. Until then, be prepared for her to need a steady hand. The group this morning nearly pitched us into a tree.”

Simmons didn’t look any better for the praise. The lack of a satellite link made everything on the transporter touchy, as if the machine was grouchy. Which was how Cori ended up thinking of the beast. It was bulky, didn’t fly fast, and now had lost contact with its friends and Command. It didn’t know what the hell to do and only listened if you were gentle.

“You have a real good feel for this,” Chris said from behind Cori when it was her turn to fly.

Cori tried not to blush. “Thank you, sir.”

“I don’t just mean the flying. You’ve handled most of the stations well. Good memory with the electronics, which is frankly an unusual skill in someone your age. Most of the new Cadets can’t even turn on a computer.” Chris paused, making Cori risk a glance at him. He was staring thoughtfully at her. She snapped her eyes back to the slalom course. “Have you considered being a pilot?”

Cori nearly hit an obstacle. She missed it with a slight roll that sent someone in the back slamming into the wall. “Sorry!” Cori yelled, leveling out and really wishing she could set the transport down. Chris was laughing. “I ... no, I’ve never thought of being a pilot, which I’m certain you now regret asking.”

“Not at all. I think you’d make a fine one. Quick reflexes are a good sign. We didn’t crash and we didn’t hit anything, wing on the ground or the post. Think about it. If you want, I’ll make a recommendation for you.”

She buzzed on that praise for the rest of the training run, Chris encouraging her to go through at a faster clip. She obliged, but only slightly. Showing off skills she didn’t think she possessed was of no interest to her.

When the rotation was over, Chris pulled them together. “Now we get into new equipment. Everyone outside for a shield demonstration. Stand with your back to the hull and don’t move.”

There was a hum that vibrated from the transport into her bones. With a snap, Cori’s hair stood on end as a wave of static electricity sparked over her. When she blinked, pressing herself against the transport, Cori realized they were surrounded by a blue haze. One that crackled and moved.

“Fu
c—
” Tony snapped off his swear.

“Exactly,” Chris said from the doorway. “You are now in a generated shield and protected from just about anything as long as the transport can keep generating it.”

“How long can a transport keep generating one of these, sir?” Iva asked.

“Don’t know. Figure with the nuclear batteries ... a few hundred years. Today I’ll show you how to turn them on and how to walk and work around it. Tomorrow will be far more interesting.” Chris winked at Cori.

It took some time for any of them to feel safe to walk near the shield, especially after Chris threw a pencil at it which disintegrated, leaving behind dust and the smell of burnt wood. The day’s training ended soon after, but as Cori followed her platoon out the transport ship’s door, Chris called to her, “Hold up a minute, Cadet.”

Cori froze in her tracks, instincts of being ripped into for a mistake halting her stride. Iva glanced from Cori to Chris, sending Cori a smile before trotting to catch up to the platoon.

“Relax Cadet,” Chris said as Cori turned to face him. He had a really charming smile. “I’m serious that you have skill flying. I could see you were nervous with other Cadets in the plane. Would you like some extra training? Just one on one?”

Heat burst and spread through her belly, and it wasn’t just from the praise. Cori did her best to meet his warm gaze. “I ... yes, absolutely. Thank you very much, sir. When would you like to start?”

“Call me Chris. I’m not into the sir thing. Grab some grub and come back after. We should have a couple of hours before your rotation tonight.

Cori jogged to catch up to her platoon, hoping they’d think her blush was from the run rather than Chris’ offer.

“What was that about?” Pyotr asked.

“Officer Makkonen offered to give me some extra pilot training,” she said as nonplussed as she could manage.

“When?” Pyotr snapped. “How are you going to fit that in between watch, regular training, and sleep?” he asked when she admitted that night.

“I don’t know,” Jess said, dropping an arm around Cori. “I might agree with Pyotr there. It sounds a bit too much like a date.”

“Oh please, please, please? I’ve been good,” Cori begged. “Don’t I deserve a little free time to miss sleep?”

Cori’s plea had her platoon laughing as they walked into the mess, everyone but Pyotr. “Ah, I guess you can go, kiddo. Just be safe,” Jess said, giving Cori a light shove ahead into line.

“Just don’t be late tonight,” Pyotr growled.

“Yes, sir,” Cori said snapping a salute. He glared at her as the platoon giggled.

The next few days ran as a blur between watch rotations in the Wasteland, brief periods of sleep, training on the transports using the shields, and a few hours of extra flying time with the transport. The opportunity for more fell in hints as Chris leaned too close or held his hand over hers on the yoke a little too long. She thought about it. Part of her really wanted it. Every night as she hurried to reach her platoon before heading into the Wasteland, she wondered why she held back.

By the fifth day, Cori couldn’t stop yawning on the hike into the Wasteland, making her wish she’d left early enough to get coffee before heading out on rotation.

“Things going good on your
flight
training?” Jess teased. 

“You know those things have some power behind them? If you extend the wings to full tilt an
d—
”

“Oh great, she perks up if she talks about planes. Bad sign,” Emery said. Cori blushed as her platoon laughed.

“Enough. On alert. Begin heading to stations. Heylor, you’re with me tonight. I don’t trust you to stay awake,” Pyotr ordered.

Cori bit off her groan. Pyotr was right though. Within half an hour, she struggled to stay awake, much less alert.

“What you are doing isn’t any of my business,” Pyotr began.

A chill along her back brought her to full consciousness. She knew this wasn’t her platoon leader talking. Otherwise, she might answer differently. “I’m not doing anything with Chris other than learning how to fly.” Cori ignored him and sighted on movement through her scoop. A tiny tree rustled in the breeze.

Pyotr broke the new silence between them after a moment. “He seems to like you.”

Cori snorted. “I bet he likes just about every girl in the Guard. He’s a player, Pyotr. Trust me, I can tell the type.” She sent him a twisted smile that made Pyotr huff a laugh.

“You really like flying then?” His voice was warmer and made her smile for real.

“Yeah, I kinda do.”

The alert came as they reached base camp in the morning. The haze Cori walked in split as sirens rattled. The camp erupted into activity.

“Cadet Grekov, take your platoon to transport one for immediate assistance for Base Delta.”

Pyotr responded with an affirmative into the walkie, motioning the platoon to move.

“That’s the next base down,” Tony said with a swear. “It could just as easily been us.”

“It also comes at rotation change. They’ve been planning this,” Iva pointed out.

Chris was in transport one and he pulled Cori to the front to help with the flying. It gave her a good view of the few buildings of Base Delta aflame while scattered tents were already burnt to black smudges. Bullets traced streaks between two transports and a low hill.