Cold Warriors Page 12

  "Because I said so,” he said while resetting the unit, “and besides we always need a back up. Remember, two is one and one is...?"

  "None."

  "Correct.” He held the bandana up again. “So in case I can't do it, you can. I want you to know this thing like the back of your hand. Now do it again, and this time no daydreaming. You're taking too long. This shit is gonna go down in minutes if not seconds. When you get that thing in the ground and the laser scope hits it, the trigger is set and the countdown begins immediately."

  The seriousness of the situation settled upon her shoulders like a heavy beam. She was training to detonate a bomb. Suddenly all her complaining in the past seemed ridiculous. “What about us? If this thing is set to go off where are we gonna be?"

  "Far away. Very far away."

  Hoping his words were true, she placed the bandana over her eyes and went back to work.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Caitlin stared at the clock on the wall. It had taken her some time to get used to their way of time keeping. It was nearing evening mess. She and the rest of the cryos didn't have mess privileges until the final shift. Everyone on the Blanchard ate in shifts of three. They said it was based on rank, duty and billet. And since the cryos had none of that, they ate last. It was for the best anyway; they generally had the place to themselves and could eat in peace.

  She puffed pulling her chin up over the high bar. Her muscles flexed and twitched as they hauled her frame upwards lifting her high off the ground. She increased her speed trying to beat her personal best of twenty-five in a row. The red numbers on the digital clock cycled up one more showing that a minute had passed.

  John Beller walked into the room, clean-shaven and dressed in his Class B Naval Uniform. She noticed that command had been nice enough to let him wear his Navy SEAL insignia. Curious, she arched an eyebrow.

  "Damn, it's hot in here!” he barked.

  Frigid air from the room's cooling unit blasted from the wall nearby. It felt decent to her, but she could stand it to be lowered a tad.

  Men and women glanced at their C.O. momentarily, then continued their training.

  "Somebody lower the thermostat, “he ordered gazing around the cluttered exercise room. “I told you guys time and time again, all this work generates heat and heat will raise your body temps rapidly. And that could be deadly."

  Barbells clinked in the background as Caitlin hung from the chin-up bar with one arm. He checked his watch. She smiled. She thought he looked funny dressed up. It didn't seem like the same Beller she had come to know and hear grouse.

  "Okay guys I want you to go get some chow."

  "It's not our time,” Mitz remarked while lifting a dumbbell.

  "The lower mess deck is already set, you can go early."

  The group stared at him in disbelief.

  Irritated, he frowned. “Move it. That's an order."

  Caitlin let go of the bar, landing gracefully on the floor.

  "Not you Driskoll you're coming with me. Go put on a decent shirt."

  She wiped her forehead with the back of her hands brushing away a thin sheen of ice. “Where are we going?” She stepped out of the way as the remaining team members cleared the room.

  "We're going topside,” he remarked in a sober manner.

  * * * *

  The decks were considerably lighter and less dingy than those below. They even appeared to be less narrow. She kept pace with Beller as he navigated the halls and passageways of the huge carrier. They nodded to high-ranking officers as they passed and ignored the glances of curious Marines and sailors as they went by. She knew their uniforms bore no rank and insignia, but she could not figure out why they stared.

  Finally stopping in the back of passageway where an armed guard stood outside an oak door with two small anchors covered in gold leafing, Beller handed the Marine a set of orders. Nodding slightly, the guard turned and knocked on the door.

  "Enter,” a woman's voice responded.

  The Marine opened the door, allowing them to enter, but not before giving them a wary glance. She and Beller walked into the room and found three people waiting for them-Hollis, Keegan and the CAG.

  "It's good to see you, Chief,” Hollis greeted offering a seat.

  "Thank you Ma'am.” Beller sat down while Caitlin remained standing.

  She stood behind him focusing on the area around the ship's commanding officers, especially careful not to stare Keegan in the eye.

  "How are things downstairs?” she asked.

  "Just fine, Ma'am."

  "Good. I'm not going to waste anybody's time here, so I'll get straight to the point. In twenty-four hours your people will be put to the test. As you know our mission is to meet the enemy on their turf, though the particulars of our true objective have yet to be attained. However, your people will play a vital role in accomplishing this goal. It is important they be prepared, because we want no surprises on the battlefield."

  "I understand, Ma'am."

  Caitlin wondered what they were talking about. She, along with the other grunts were never given much information, only enough to get the job done. It seemed as if she was a child in a room full of adults who were spelling everything to keep her from finding out what was going on. She gave Keegan a stolen glance. He seemed preoccupied.

  His sight momentarily crossed hers. For a moment when he saw her, she thought he looked perplexed. But the expression disappeared as fast as it arrived.

  "You and your people will be participating in an exercise with this and several other carriers. It is meant to be a training exercise, but there is a great deal more at stake, if you get my point."

  "Yes, Ma'am.” Beller nodded slowly.

  "The CAG here will be aiding in this operation and the Colonel and I will be monitoring it. Do you think your people are ready?"

  Caitlin smiled inwardly at that loaded question. Of course, he had to say yes, because that was the only acceptable answer.

  "Yes, Ma'am they are ready."

  "Good. Very good.” She relaxed sitting back in her chair.

  "Their operational readiness will be tested in battlefield conditions, however there is no test for predisposition of the will. It's your job to achieve the mission objective ... presumably without taking any casualties,” Keegan added. “Remember, Chief, there are no bad teams on only bad leaders."

  "Yes, Sir."

  "I'll have two squadrons in the air with eyes on you in case your people get into trouble,” the CAG offered in a biting tone.

  "They'll be your air cover,” Hollis added. “You'll be given a billet assigning your squad to their perspective duties."

  Caitlin saw Beller's body tense. The room fell silent. He always told her, the best way for a team to succeed was for everyone to play to their strengths. And the best one to recognize them were the people on the team, not some group in command far away from the action. Caitlin remained still not allowing her face to betray her thoughts.

  "Do you have any problems with this?” the general asked.

  "No, Ma'am,” he responded evenly.

  "Good,” she answered shifting her attention to Caitlin. “And who is this behind you."

  "This is cryo 1169,” he answered.

  "You look new to me,” she studied Caitlin, “are you new to this ship?"

  "No, Ma'am,” she answered simply.

  "You've been here before?"

  "Yes, Ma'am."

  She glanced at the CAG who studied her carefully. Suddenly a spark of recognition went across his face. “What's your M. O. S. ?"

  "Riflemen, Sir,” she said, sensing his disdain.

  A smile crawled across the general's thin pink lips. “You can shoot? What's your rating?” Hollis asked

  "4.9."

  "Outstanding.” The smile became even wider.

  "Thank you, Ma'am."

  "Hot shot, huh?” the CAG jeered. “Did they show you how to die for your country?"

  "No, Sir, they showed me how to ma
ke a Vernean die for his."

  Beller made the tiniest of gestures, catching Caitlin's attention. She turned her ear to him. He gave her the code word for leaving the room.

  "If you'll excuse me, Ma'am. I must take my leave of you,” she asked politely standing at attention.

  "Of course. Dismissed."

  "Ma'am, Sirs.” She nodded to Keegan who eyed her with concern and the CAG who eyed her with displeasure.

  * * * *

  Pulling his gloves securely over his hands, Keegan was careful to protect his skin from the cold. As he entered the area where the cryos lived, the temperature was considerably much colder than the rest of the ship. The darkened corridor was illuminated by a single light, which shone over a keypad that unlocked the barrier between him and Caitlin.

  What he had seen earlier today disturbed him. So much so, that it kept him from sleeping. He had been in the Corps for a long time and he'd seen lots of crazy fads come and go in the Special Ops community, but this was different. Much different.

  He tapped in the numbers unlocking the door and entered their corridor leading to the sleeping chambers. He found her new personality unnerving. She was just out of boot and was already talking like a seasoned jarhead. If it were anyone else, it would be a credit to the Corps, but for the cryos it was a credit to science. The men and women typically awakened from these units were the worst candidates for the Corps, especially in the Special Operations community. A mixed bag of men and women forced to serve upon the pain of imprisonment or death put on suicide missions usually ended up with disastrous results, not like the gung-ho super fighter that stood before him that afternoon.

  Inside one large sleeping area were empty cots. He studied the immaculately clean room. It was a far cry from the debris-cluttered disaster area he had encountered earlier. Turning around slowly in the dark, his flashlight traced the steps in front of him in the hall as he searched the surrounding doorways. Steam from his breath curled in front of him as he entered a room filled with lights from monitors overlooking long slender containers.

  Inside, men and women rested comfortably awaiting their upcoming mission. Because they needed to be in tip top shape, they were ordered into their biostasis chambers. It quickly acclimated them to colder temperatures and heightened their ability to withstand the rigors of their mission.

  He approached the coffin-like object with the number 1169 above it. Caitlin lay sleeping in her chamber, looking peaceful and innocent. A computer monitored her vitals keeping her body temperature and the tube at optimal conditions.

  He entered the code that unlocked the chamber and awakened her. “Time for you to wake up,” he whispered.

  The computer cycled through its program, warming the chamber and raising her body temperature. The lid popped open with a hiss.

  "Cate, wake up.” He shook her gently.

  Her eyes popped open. She grabbed his hand with a vice like grip.

  "It's me."

  She stared forward with unblinking eyes. He pulled away from her grip. She did not move.

  "Wake up dammit,” he said gently striking her cheeks.

  She gasped, her eyes darted back and forth. Startled, she reared away from him. Sitting up, she stared at him. “What are you doing here?"

  "Get up, we need to talk.” He looked around the room, which looked like the inside of a funeral parlor. “Not here."

  * * * *

  He peered at her as she paced back and forth inside the small storage unit near her quarters. It was seldom used and not monitored much, which is why he picked it. At least they could talk without fear of being caught. She hooked her fingers inside the belt loops of her pants, causing her chiseled biceps and triceps to flex and bulge.

  "You're hair, it's gone. What happened to it?” he asked with folded arms.

  She ran her hand through her short blunt hair. It was black at the roots but with gray and white tips.

  "You know it's not standard. You don't have to have it all cut off. It just has to be off your collar."

  "It's the cold,” she grumbled. “My hair kept breaking off and shedding. They say the new growth will be better suited for my body chemistry."

  Keegan clinched his jaw and turned away. “Right."

  "Why did you wake me?"

  Surprised, he eyed her curiously. “Why do you need to ask?"

  Pausing, she licked her lips. “I'll rephrase. You seemed like you wanted to tell me something."

  He chuckled. “Aren't you warm and toasty."

  "I'm sorry; it's difficult to gauge my behavior around you sometimes."

  "You have any problems figuring things out without him?"

  "Who?"

  "You know who.” His voice bounced off the walls.

  "Beller? He's all right. I guess."

  "You two seem very close."

  "He looks out for me."

  Offended, he calmed himself. If she only knew. “Okay, right."

  "Why?"

  "Cause you need to figure out what you want,” he frowned.

  "What is that suppose to mean?"

  "It means don't get too chummy with your new boyfriend."

  "Boyfriend? Hardly. If you're going to chew me out for listening to my C.O., then I might as well go back to sleep."

  "You are not a soldier!"

  "According to the government I am. You mean because I didn't sign up and go through boot with the rest of your human friends—"

  "What the Hell are you talking about?! Do you even listen to yourself?"

  "Do you love your country?” she asked through gritted teeth.

  Keegan stormed over to her. She was the last person who should be asking him if he loved his country. He had sweat blood for it and he didn't need to start proving his loyalty to some recruit who just stepped out of boot.

  "I give my country and the Corps all that I am because I choose to. They are my family and my life because I chose them. I chose to love them!” he bellowed. “And it was not because someone put it in my head to do so."

  "I don't know what you are talking about, and frankly I don't give a damn. All I know is that I have to fight for my country and my life."

  "You fight for the people around you!” he threw his hands up in despair. “Dammit, they didn't even get that right!"

  As his words began to register, she looked confused. “What? Who didn't get what right? What do you mean?"

  Realizing he had said too much, he sighed and shook his head. “Never mind."

  "No, don't say never mind. You keep referring to something."

  "Listen to me. Keep your wits about you. Stay in touch with who you are. I don't...” he paused and struggled with his words, “I don't want you to be so far away that I can't reach you."

  "Beller was right. You guys are just jerking me around."

  "He's full of shit! I'm talking reality here. You don't have to stay this way."

  "According to him it's a dream not worth having. After having seen what I've seen, I'm inclined to believe him."

  "Are you going to believe him or me?” he asked truly wondering what her answer would be. He had no idea how far she and Beller had gone, but more importantly, he wanted know where her heart was.

  She approached him with ire. “Why should I believe you? He's been through it. He knows."

  "That's his reality, not yours. Besides, why else would I be here?"

  Caitlin chewed her lip while she considered his words.

  "Have you thought about us?” he asked more quietly.

  "I don't allow myself that luxury."

  "Dammit, don't play games! I don't want to hear your cryo mantra! Do you think about us?"

  "Do you think that I want to even consider the possibility of living a life that's different than this? Do you know what kind of pain it is to see a prize I can never have? I am an indentured servant!” Her voice quivered. “I am here to do one thing, and that is fight. Everyday I am reminded of this when they lock those doors and put me in that casket."

&n
bsp; "You're lying."

  She stared him in the eyes. He regarded her face. Dark brown skin that had been so beautiful and supple now had a dull pallor. The once deep, rich color of her black hair was a drab brittle gray.

  "I have thought about you and I.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And how it would be so nice to be held by you. But I can't even be seen in the same room with you without special orders."

  She shook her head as tear ran down her cheek and dried before reaching her chin. “But I don't have a way out and you are better off without thinking about, what if?"

  He touched her cheek; she was still as beautiful as the day they met.

  "They have done things to keep me...” she struggled to speak. “I am not normal."

  "I'm not asking for you to be normal. I'm asking if you want to be with me."

  The door to the storage room opened.

  "Who's in here?” a man asked.

  Caitlin stepped away backing into the shadows.

  "It's the XO, what do you want?” Keegan asked sounding stern.

  A light flashed in his eyes.

  "Oh sorry, Sir, I thought I heard voices in here."

  "No. It's just me,” he answered.

  The guard flashed the light around the room as if to confirm his words. “Sorry, Sir.” He saluted and walked out of the room shutting the door behind him.

  Keegan looked down at the floor feeling relieved. “Caitlin?” he whispered.

  There was no answer. He called her name again. When she didn't answer, he left the room not bothering to check her quarters.

  Chapter Twenty

  0600 hours inside the infirmary the next morning.

  Caitlin waited outside Major Bishop's door as he busily finished his morning work. She eyed a pen and a scrap of paper that lay upon his desk. It brought to mind Medoro's question and how she had yet to answer it. Today was the day of the training mission and now she was thoroughly afraid. Not of dying, because she'd done that, but of not living. The training mission represented a path in her life she was forced to walk at gunpoint.

  However, in boot, then afterwards in specialized training, she decided she had two options: be a participant or victim. She had chosen participant. But now another option was set before, a life filled with love, with or without the military, she didn't know ... yet her heart longed to find out.