Chapter Twelve: Revelations

Jason awoke to the sight of Claire’s and Sarah’s faces looking down at him, shocked. Jason gave an enquiring look and Claire’s eyes told him where to look: down. When he looked he saw Celeste’s head resting on his bare chest. Jason looked back and Claire and Sarah.

‘It’s not what it looks like’ he said.

‘Sure it isn’t’ Claire said, barely concealing her smirk. Jason noticed something in Sarah’s hand.

‘What’s that?’ Jason asked, changing the subject

‘A letter from General Carson’ Sarah replied.

‘There’s also a map with it’ Claire asked. Jason stopped for a second.

‘Map’ he whispered, then he thought about it.

‘Jason?’

‘Sarah, pass me the envelope’ Jason said. Sarah passed him the envelope.

‘Jason, you can’t decrypt those papers without a computer’ Claire said.

‘Well, I don’t think they were encrypted to begin with’ Jason said, pulling the papers out of it.

‘What do you mean?’ Claire asked.

‘They’re map coordinates’ Jason said.

‘Leading where?’ Sarah asked.

‘That’s what I want Claire to figure out’ Jason said.

‘Oh yes, sure, no problem commander’ Claire snapped.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Jason retorted.

‘It means you are not in charge of us, for now’ Claire replied.

‘What is she talking about?’ Jason asked Sarah.

‘You should read the letter’ Sarah said. Jason carefully rolled Celeste off him, sat up, and took the letter out of Sarah’s hand. When he opened it, he saw half a page of writing.

‘This is closer to a note, but thank you’ Jason said.

‘Just read it’ Claire said. Jason read it.

‘Apart from Williams being promoted to Lieutenant, and us leaving the Barracks, what does that have to do with me?’ Jason asked.

‘We’re all on Lieutenant Williams’ party and General Carson gave Williams you as his second-in-command’ Sarah told him.

‘We’ll leave you to get dressed’ Claire said nastily.

‘At least the old Claire’s back. I wondered where she’d gone’ Jason said. Claire gave him the finger before walking off with Sarah. Jason got out of bed and quickly got dressed. Jason walked out the door.

‘Didn’t take you long, did it?’ Claire asked.

‘I didn’t plan for that to happen. And, just for your information, she started it’ Jason asked.

‘Like father like son’ Claire snarled, stepping forward.

‘I’m not apologising for last night, or for what happened eight years ago. So get over it’ Jason replied, just as angrily.

‘Take this’ Claire said, sighing, holding out a radio. Jason took it and walked off. He heard Claire yell something but ignored her and kept walking. Jason switched on the radio.

‘Lieutenant Williams’ he said.

‘Jason is that you?’ Williams said.

‘Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?’ Jason asked.

‘Mess. Where are you?’ Williams replied.

‘I’m on my way’ Jason said as he headed towards the Mess Hall.

When Jason stepped inside, General Carson was talking.

‘Nice of you to join us, Mr Blake’ Carson said.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ Jason said. ‘I just found out’ Williams signalled for Jason to sit next to him, and Jason awkwardly made his over.

‘As I was saying, before Mr Blake decided to show up, all of your locations are secure, as of last Wednesday’s recon. You all leave in two hours for your prospective destinations. Any questions?’ Carson asked. One of the soldiers raised their hands.

‘These locations are past Nexus controlled territory. In order to get there, we’ll have to go through that territory’

‘Lieutenant, I understand what you’re saying, but the Nexus will not be expecting us to move. The paths through will lightly guarded, if guarded at all. Add to that they suffered heavier casualties compared to us, they’re not going to want to fight’ Carson replied.

‘Then why move at all?’ someone else called out.

‘The safety of the Barracks has been compromised. A small force will remain here to defend the barracks from any stray attacks, but our main objective is save as many lives as possible’ Carson answered.

‘If you wanted to save lives, you’d have two military in command. Civilians don’t know anything about defensive strategies’ a soldier called out.

‘Colonel, we’ve been through this before. The civilian leaders are they’re to run the civil side of the new colonies. The military officer will have full control of all defensive operations, when necessary’ Carson told him. Then Williams spoke.

‘What about the civilians like Jason, sir? Those who have some military training, but aren’t officers?’

‘If required, they run both the civil and military sides. All civilian leaders, will have the order power. When they are put in command, all military personnel are to follow their orders, like they would if their commanding officer had given the order. Is that clear?’ Carson said.

‘Yes sir’ the soldiers replied.

‘Dismissed’ Carson said. They made their way out of the Mess Hall and once outside, Jason spoke to Williams.

‘Congratulations on the promotion’ Jason said.

‘I only got it because Spire was killed in the Nexus incursion’ Williams said. ‘But thank you’ he added.

‘So why did Carson civilians as second-in-command?’ Jason asked.

‘He doesn’t want it to look a military dictatorship. We leave for the Claremont Showgrounds in two hours, go and get your things ready then ring them to one of the rovers waiting by the South gate’ Williams said.

‘The showgrounds are east of here’ Jason said.

‘I know, just go’ Williams said. Jason nodded and left.

‘Pack your stuff. Take it to the South Gate’ Jason said.

‘Jason you need to see this’ Sarah said.

‘You were right. They’re map coordinates. One of the locations is the Claremont Showgrounds’ Claire said.

‘Yeah that’s where we’re going’ Jason said.

‘But they’re not colonial destinations’ Celeste said.

‘Then what are they?’ Jason asked.

‘Airstrike coordinates’ Sarah said.

‘We also found three others; The Convention centre, Perth Arena and Subiaco Oval. All airstrike targets’ Claire said.

‘There has to be a mistake. Check again then re-check’ Jason said.

‘Already did. They’re air strike targets Jason’ Sarah said.

‘What do you want to do?’ Celeste said. Jason thought about it, pacing around the room.

‘Pack your things. We’re still going. I’ll see if I can get anything out of Williams on the way there. Just keep quiet about it for now, ok’ Jason said.

‘Alright’ they all replied in unison.