Ultimate Warrior (The Fight for Creation (Book Three)) (8 page)

Dinter wasn’t smiling and Derek knew his willingness to command was being questioned. “Sir, there is a difference between being smart and being wise. I recognized that Callaway possessed the wisdom to make the best decisions for this exercise. My teammates agreed with me. I turned down the command of this exercise so we could have a chance at winning it.”

Dinter smiled and looked at Mitch, “Would you care to explain why you ordered the camouflage jumpsuits two week ago?”

“I assumed you were going to teach us humility and the only way to do that was to kick the crap out of us in an exercise. I didn’t know if we’d need them, but I wanted every tool possible for our toolbox in the event an exercise did happen.”

Dinter said, “Are you aware that the suits are not standard issue? With the armor’s camouflage capabilities, they have been deemed useless.”

“Yes Sir.”

“You knew that?”

“Yes sir.”

“And what do you think about that?”

“I’m going to insist that any warrior I command must wear it under their armor. What happens if an enemy is able to detect the energy emissions our armor puts out? The suits have no emissions.”

Dinter thought a moment and said, “I’ve seen that.” The entire class laughed. “Well, I guess it was only a matter of time until someone was able to win. Did any of you learn humility?”

Callaway said, “I did, Sir.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes Sir, I’m humbled by the trust my fellow trainees gave me and followed my plan even though they felt naked without their armor. They responded marvelously.”

Dinter smiled and said, “That they did. Now you’ve completed your training and are going to be assigned your units. Bender and Bander, you are ranked number one and two so you will be given the command of a company of Life Warriors, congratulations.”

Derek looked at Olivia and saw her nod, “Sir, we don’t feel it’s the right thing to accept that rank ahead of Mitchell Callaway.” Dinter’s smile disappeared and he frowned at the two trainees. Olivia said, “Sir, Mitch spent hours of his personal study time teaching us what he had learned. If he had not assisted us, he would have cleaned the floor with all of us. He is the one that deserves the recognition.”

Derek said, “I respectfully decline the honor and only ask that I be assigned a platoon in Callaway’s Company.”

“Why would you want that?”

“I know that my platoon will be safer with him commanding us. How many trainees did we lose in this exercise, Sir?”

Dinter stared at Derek and said in an emotionless voice, “Two.”

“What’s the best number of survivors of all the classes that went through that exercise?”

Dinter smiled, “None.”

Dinter looked at the two and said, “Your request is denied. You will take command of a company.”

Derek looked at Olivia and sighed, “Yes sir.”

Diner looked at the trainees and saw their displeasure. He waited for a long moment and then pressed his wrist unit. The class heard Dinter say, “Attenteshuuun.” They were shocked when Fleet Admiral Mirabal walked into the room.

He looked at the class and said, “Take your seats.” The class sat down and Jason looked at them, “I know you think we’re not rewarding the right person but these two trainees were wise enough to step aside and make a good decision without using this exercise to further their careers. That is the kind of officers we need commanding our Warriors. You deserve what you’ve been given.” Jason paused and said, “When Major Dinter told me that a class of trainees wiped out the officers, I thought he was kidding. This exercise has been designed to be unwinnable and you went out and proved us wrong.” Jason looked at Mitch, “Mitchell Callaway, Colonel Dorg says you have the best tactical mind she has ever encountered during armor training. I’ve read the interviews of your former platoon and they happen to agree with her. It seems the ones in this class also hold that opinion.” The trainees all nodded.

“With that in mind, you are being given the rank of Major and will command a battalion of Life Warriors. I agree with them. Your planning of this exercise was extraordinary.” The class jumped up and cheered Jason’s statement. Mitch’s face turned red and he said, “Thank you for your confidence, Sir.”

Dinter said, “Sir, Captains Bender and Bander have requested to join Major Callaway’s unit.”

Jason looked at Mitch and said, “Most commanders would want officers with more combat experience.”

“I prefer officers that are willing to work hard at preparing for combat, Sir. I’ll accept them and be thankful for them.”

Jason stared at Mitch and then turned to Dinter, “I’ll make the assignments. Make us proud, Major.”

Dinter and the class jumped to attention as Jason exited the room. Dinter said, “The evening meal and drinks are on the officers. You’ll be shipping out tomorrow afternoon.”

The class cheered and began celebrating their accomplishment. Everyone in the class went into their units with a high level of respect from the other officers who knew what they had accomplished. But for that evening, there was only joy and celebration.

P
ixie sat in her room and sighed. She had messed up and she knew it. She had graduated number one in Scout Training and was given Captain’s Bars. Now she couldn’t be Mitch’s Scout. The scout always had to have a rank lower than the commanding officer they were assigned to work with. She dreaded it but pressed her computer and saw Mitch appear on her display. It looked like a huge party was taking place. “I’ve caught you at a bad time. I’ll call back.”

“No, no, give me a moment.” Mitch stood up and went outside the restaurant. “How did training go?”

“I messed up, Mitch.”

Mitch saw her expression and said, “How?”

“I graduated number one and I’ve been promoted to a Captain.”

“Well, I ended up number four in my training class so I didn’t get the Captain’s position.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better, Mitch.”

“Would it make you feel better if I told you I was promoted to Major and will be commanding a battalion?”

“Mitch, this isn’t a laughing matter. I so wanted to fight with your unit.” Pixie saw Mitch smile and said, “You are joking?”

“No, it seems I messed up and we beat the officers in the final exercise. Now they want me to command a battalion. I do hope you can pull those strings and get assigned to me.”

“REALLY!?!”

“Yes, Pixie; who would have thought it?”

Pixie screamed and said, “I’ll get back to you.” Mitch started laughing as Pixie disappeared from his wrist unit’s display.

• • •

Pixie was ecstatic. Suddenly her wrist unit buzzed and she saw Russell Slade on it, “Yes.”

“Pixie, I would like for you to go to Baron Kelley’s Ball with me this weekend.”

“No, I can’t make it.”

“Pixie, I’m sure the military would allow you the time to attend.”

Pixie shook her head and said, “Let me make it clearer to you, I don’t want to go with you.”

“Pixie, you can’t hold what happened in training against me.”

Pixie had to give him credit. He wasn’t going to give up easily. “Russell, I have absolutely no interest or respect for you. I will not attend any function with you.”

• • •

Russell saw his display go dark and decided that she wasn’t going to be let off the hook that easily. He contacted Admiral Mirabal’s office and requested that Pixie be sent to attend the ball with him. The Captain that took the call forwarded the request to Jixie’s training commander and she was called into his office.

“Sir, I told Baron Slade that I would not attend the function with him.”

“Captain, the Military supports the Royalty and he has directed us to send you to go with him.”

“He has?”

“Yes and we are compelled to listen to his request.”

Pixie was angry at the unmitigated gall of the egotistical Royal. She said, “Sir, I’ll handle this.”

“Captain…”

“It won’t be a problem for you, Sir.”

“See me in the morning, Captain.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Mom.”

“Yes Darling.”

“Can you get Dad to handle an issue for me?”

“What is that?”

Pixie told her and Jixie said, “I’ll get on it.”

• • •

Baron Slade was looking over the quarterly reports from the planet when his assistant came in and said, “Sire, Duke Robbins has requested you contact him.”

“When did he call?”

“About ten minutes ago.”

Russ rushed to his room and pressed the frequency he kept on his communications system. Sam appeared on the screen and smiled, “It’s been a long time Russ.”

“Too long, Your Highness. I miss the days of fighting the Realm’s enemies.”

“I need you to help me with an issue.”

“What is that?”

“Your son has directed the Navy to send one of their warriors to attend a ball with him. She turned him down so he directed her commanding officer to direct her to go.”

“I would think she would be flattered.”

“She was in his training class.”

Russ stared at Sam and took a deep breath. “It would only be for an evening.”

“Russ, since when do Royals command someone to go to a ball with them?”

Russ shook his head, “I know. Perhaps he wants to make amends for his actions.”

“Do you think he has any regret for them?”

“What are you saying Sam?”

“Russ, did you look at the training tapes?”

“No, Russell told me he messed up and failed the training.”

“No he didn’t Russ. He resigned. Review those tapes and contact me afterwards.”

“Is that a command?”

“It is, Baron.”

“Tell me, Your Highness. Why are you getting involved in a warrior going to a ball?”

“Russ, I know you can keep secrets. She’s my daughter and she detests your son. Take a look at the tapes and get back to me.”

Russ was shocked at the revelation and saw his display go dark. He went to the files on his computer and found that the tapes had been erased. He contacted Col. Dorg and had her resend them to his terminal and he spent the rest of the afternoon viewing them. After he finished watching them he pressed Sam’s frequency. “Did you view them?”

“I did.”

“Will you handle this issue?”

“I will. And I’m sorry for not having viewed them.”

“I didn’t want to bring them up, Russ but you left me no choice.”

“I know, Sir.”

“Russ, you should know that I honor and respect you for all you’ve done. If I were in a fight, I’d want you there with me.”

“Thank you, Your Highness that means a lot.” The display went dark and Russ pressed a button, “Get my son here!”

Russell went into his father’s office and wondered what he wanted. As he walked in, he saw a picture of him being confronted by Col. Dorg on the main display. His fear was instant. He looked at his father and saw he knew what had happened.

Russ stared at his son and said, “I can forgive some of what you’ve become because I was gone most of the time you were growing up fighting in the Warriors. What I can’t forgive is you erasing the training records that were sent to me to prevent me from seeing just how worthless you are.”

“But Father…”

“YOU WILL BE SILENT!” Russ stared at his son and felt shame at what he had become. “You will contact the Commanding Officer of the young woman you are trying to force into attending the ball with you and inform him that she is not required to attend. Second, you will report to the Assignment Officer at Naval Headquarters and rejoin the Life Warriors as a Private. I have sent instructions to him that your file is to be marked to never be given a leadership role in the service.” Russ saw his son’s anger start and he said, “You will do these things immediately. It is my prayer that the Warriors will teach you what you have failed to learn in my absence. You are stripped of your Royal status and have been removed from my succession until the completion of your service. If you do not obey these instructions, you will never recover your standing in the Royal Community and will be expelled from my house permanently. Do you understand?”

Russell was shocked silent. The loss of his Royal Title was devastating. He stared at his father and simply nodded.

“Get out of my sight!”

Russell left the office and sat in his room stunned at what his father had done. Thirty minutes later, Jacob entered and said, “I have been instructed to assist you in packing your bags.”

Russell looked at him and said, “Wha…what?”

“You are no longer a resident of the Royal Grounds and are no longer welcome here. I have been asked if you have complied with your instructions.”

Russell forced himself to remember and went to his computer and placed a call to Pixie’s Commander. He finished it and Jacob handed him a travel pass, “This will get you to the Assignment Officer. If you choose not to go, you may leave the grounds and go wherever you choose.”

“Jacob, what should I do?”

Jacob stared at Russell and said, “You should grow up.” Jacob saw Russell’s expression and said, “If it were I that was in your place, I believe I would make the shuttle to the Navy.”

Russell forced himself to stand up and begin putting clothes in a duffle bag. Jacob said, “Sit down. I’ll do this for you.” Russell nodded and an hour later boarded the shuttle still in a state of shock.

He arrived at the Assignment Center and sat in the office waiting for a unit to accept him. Since he resigned, a Unit Commander would have to accept him and no one was willing to take the risk of having him in their ranks. Russell saw Colonel Tyre come out of his office and said, “Has anyone accepted me?” Tyre looked at Russell and shook his head. “Why is no one willing to take me, Sir?”

Tyre stared at Russell and said, “They look at your training records and see your total disregard of the ones you led in your training exercises. No one trusts you’ll hold up under fire.”

He walked away and Russell decided to make the call he dreaded. He punched the number and Pixie appeared on his wrist unit and her expression was not pleasant, “Pixie, I’m sorry for being such a jerk. I was wrong to do what I did and I just wanted to apologize.”

Pixie stared at him and suddenly saw he was wearing a Life Warrior’s uniform. “What are you doing in that uniform?” Russell shook his head and looked down. “Answer me, Russell.”