| Prologue | Chapter 2 |
Chapter 1
Time: CY 9816 MayLocation: K-MAC headquarters, Tizona
Lancer First Class Theodoric Lawford looked at the mob of Lancers around him and began to surreptitiously move towards the back of the crowd. He had been a Lancer for a bit more than a year and had learned early that when the battalion met in the briefing hall he would be listening to someone telling him something he wouldn't be interested in. The secret to enduring such a lecture was where you were in ranks when you entered the hall. The first troops in had to sit in the front of the building where the Sergeant Major could keep and eye on you and notice if you started to fall asleep. Too far back and you wouldn't be able to get a seat and you would have to endure the entire lecture standing up , or if you were lucky leaning up against a wall.
His placement turned out to be nearly perfect he found a seat in the next to the last row and settled down, closed his eyes, and prepared to catch a quick nap. The building's climate control system was, as usual, malfunctioning and the auditorium was already uncomfortably warm. He felt sorry for the Lancers in the front rows. They would be struggling to stay awake, fully aware that if they closed their eyes they would find themselves on the Sergeant Majors shit list.
"Hey Theo, any idea what this is going to be about? " came a feminine voice from the seat beside him.
Theo opened his eyes to see green eyes in a freckled face surrounded by auburn hair, Sergeant Caitlin Rhinegold was sitting beside him. "Not a clue, Cat," he answered. "It's probably about a new form of sexually transmitted disease found in the prairie moles of Fenree."
Cat grinned her appreciation at the joke "Then you had best stay awake and pay attention you'll need the info. I'm betting we're going to hear Top telling us it's time to contribute to the Lancer Relief fund. I can hear him now, 'Contribution to the fund is strictly voluntary. You are all volunteers.'"
Before Theo could make a reply, the battalion's senior enlisted man Sergeant Major Ellington, better known as 'Top' to his troops walked to the front of the auditorium and bellowed out 'Attention on Deck.'
Theo automatically came to attention and the battalion's commanding officer Colonel Qian entered the building.
"At ease," he ordered when he reached the front of the building. "Good afternoon Lancers. Be seated. I have some important news for you. I know there have been rumors floating about concerning a possible contract for our services. Those rumors are correct. There's a new player in town. They call themselves the Free Trade Association, or FTA for short, and they've decided they need our help in dealing with a competitor. Our battalion along with the rest of the 814th Lancers has been assigned to carry out the contract. Specific details of the operation are classified on a need to know basis but I can tell you that the operation will be a raid rather than an occupation with emphasis on maximum property damage and minimum personnel damage." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "It appears our employers don't want us to kill off to many potential customers." He glanced at his wrist. "I have five minutes. Which is about time for two questions."
Cat jumped to her feet. "Sergeant Rhinegold, sir. What can you tell me about our employers?"
"Not a great deal I'm afraid, Sergeant" answered the Colonel. "They are an conglomeration of transport and manufacturing corporations that survived the uprising more or less intact and have banded together in an attempt, to use their words, 'to promote the benefits of free trade and commerce.' They've been in existence for about 20 years operating out of Diphda V in the Milky Way Galaxy. Since most of our operations have been here in the Andromeda Galaxy and the vicinity it's not too surprising that we haven't heard of them before now."
Another Lancer stood up. His back was to Lawford so he couldn't tell who he was. " Staff Sergeant Rodriquez, sir. What about our target planet?"
"Most of that will be released to you later but I can tell you that the planet has been Vedraformed and is human occupied. It has some slipstream capable vessels and some Home Guard defense ships as well. Part of our job will be to destroy their capabilities for intersystem trade and travel. Ok, that's it." He turned the to Sergeant Major. "Top, the battalion is yours." The Sergeant Major called out 'Attention on Deck' and the Colonel left the building.
As soon as the colonel had left Top began to speak. "Everyone take a seat. As you know the annual Lancer Relief drive will be starting next week...." Theo felt his eyes starting to close.
He was awakened by Cat nudging him in the ribs. "Come on Theo. Wake up," she was saying. "We're done."
Theo awoke with a jerk and started to spin around, only to have his movement blocked by Cat's hand. "Watch the blades Theo," she said. "I'm not a Than .I don't have any eyes to spare."
Theo flushed slightly as he realized that he had extended his bone blades into fighting position. He relaxed them into the rest position and looked about. Sure enough the battalion was filing towards the exit. He and Cat got up to join the herd. As soon as they were out the door Theo turned to his companion. "So what do you know that the Colonel wasn't telling us, Cat?
"What makes you think I know anymore than you do?"
"You're grandmother used to be planetary chancellor. She has to know something."
"And your dad's a general. So what. We're enlisted. Nobody tells us enlisted pukes anything. We'll find out the score is when we see who's shooting at us."
"Yeah, they ought to call us mushrooms rather than enlisted. We get kept in the dark, get fed nothing but shit..."
"And if we ever see the light they can us." Cat completed the soldiers' lament that had been old when Caesar's troops were fighting in Gaul. She glanced at her wrist chronometer. "The mess hall's open why don't we get a bite to eat. You got any plans for the evening?"
"Duty day for me, Cat. I've got the mid to four watch at gate nine."
"Damn," said Cat hitting Theo playfully on the shoulder. "We're having a poker game tonight in the barracks and I was hoping I could talk you into joining in. I need some easy cash."
| Prologue | Chapter 2 |