The General stopped and turned to face Sah Lee. “Your position is assured Major, as long as you mind your step. You are recognized as a valuable field asset, but that doesn’t make you invulnerable. If you fail to perform as required, you will be demoted. I will support you as long as you keep your nose clean, but I will not put my own position at risk to protect you. I hope you take note of this and remember it well.”
“Yes Sir.”
The General called Captain Rettod Bar Sen forward to join them. “Show the major back to the gravity tube Captain. Come to my office when you’ve finished.”
He turned back to Sah Lee. “Carry on Major. Go and speak to your troops in the landing dock. They are waiting for you.” He turned and walked back down the corridor.
Chapter One Hundred And Five
New Beginning
As Sah Lee walked into the dock where the battalion and Ti’rrk were waiting for her they broke into cheers and crowded round her. She stood for a few moments, then waved her arms to signal silence.
“Listen up! You fought magnificently, but too many died. I have just had a meeting with the Generals. They made it crystal clear they will continue to run field operations in exactly the same way Colonel Ssar Bess Dassur did, with the same level of mission resourcing. I don’t want to fight like this anymore.”
There was an audible collective intake of breath from the battalion. Was Sah Lee resigning?
She continued: “I am finished here. Now is a good time to make a break. There is still plenty to do, but not the way the Council of Generals do it. I want to lead my own team, in my way. I want to fight the outcasts, protect the weak, the defenseless and the innocent, but without my comrades falling like corn before the scythe. I will lead from the front line. Will any of you join me?”
After a moment of stunned silence, a roar went up from the soldiers gathered around her, which turned into a chant: “We are with you! We are with you!” Almost every voice was raised backing Sah Lee. She was overwhelmed by this outpouring of support. She knew Si’ir Monnen Dak would stay with her, and maybe a handful of the veterans who she had known and fought alongside for a long time, but she hardly expected all the surviving members of the battalion to want to follow her, with no command structure, no transport, no warships, no base, not even weapons.
The chanting died down and an excited chatter broke out. Brog Dant pushed through the crowd gathered round her and stood by her side in silent support. Captain Auross came to join him on her other side. Touren and Bekkreshan came through and pushed them out of the way so they could stand either side of her.
Ranesh shouldered her way through the crowd and stopped just in front of Sah Lee.
‘I knew I’d have problems with some of them,’ Sah Lee thought, ‘but why did it have to be her?’
Ranesh bent down to look Sah Lee in the face. “I am with you, Sah Lee.”
Sah Lee tried to cover her surprise. “You are a good soldier Ranesh, but you are so fucking miserable! Will you try to cheer up in my army?”
“No.” replied Ranesh. She straightened up and moved to the back of the crowd.
Sah Lee saw Seltet moving towards her through the growing crowd. She hadn’t spoken to her since Por Aruf was killed on the Celestial Heaven. She felt so guilty that she had been unable to protect Por Aruf and she hadn’t known what to say to Seltet. She left it so long to pluck up the courage to face her friend that too much time had passed to make it seem like anything else but an afterthought. She stepped forward to meet Seltet, involuntarily flinching at the tirade she expected from her. “Seltet, I am so, so sorry about Por Aruf. I didn’t know what to say…”
Seltet walked straight up to Sah Lee without breaking stride and threw her arms round her shoulders, pulling Sah Lee tight into her. She bent her head down and spoke quietly into Sah Lee’s ear. “You don’t have to say anything Sah Lee. I am sorry I wasn’t there with her when she died, but she had the comfort of you being with her. We are soldiers Sah Lee, Soldiers die. We all know that. When the dice are thrown, they don’t care how they fall. It could have been you, but it was Por Aruf. Don’t avoid me Sah Lee. Por Aruf loved you like her own child, so do I. I want to join your army. Will you have me?”
Sah Lee felt the tears she had never shed for Por Aruf pricking her eyes and couldn’t hold them all back. As they trickled down her cheeks, she clung to Seltet and said, in an unsteady voice, “Of course I’ll have you in my army Seltet, but I won’t have you going into danger. I couldn’t lose you too.”
Seltet gently pulled away, then reached up and dried Sah Lee’s tears with her sleeve. “I am a soldier Sah Lee. The best we can hope for is that the dice fall our way. I will be in the front line, avenging Por Aruf’s death.” She leaned forward and gave Sah Lee a motherly kiss on her head. “I’ve got some personal things I’d like to bring. I’ll be right back.”
As she walked away, Si’ir Monn came closer and in a low voice said, “She’s right Sah Lee. We are soldiers and soldiers die. It could have been you, it might be me tomorrow. To deny a soldier the right to die in battle is wrong. You are our commander now, it is your job to send us to our deaths. You need to get used to it.”
Sah Lee was digesting this obvious truth when she saw the door slide open and Colonel B’erren Tek walked in. The crowd fell silent and parted to allow her to approach Sah Lee.
“I just received a message saying you are planning to leave the Galactic Savior Army.”
“Yes, I am entitled to. We are not in a conflict situation and I can leave at any time I want. With all due respect Colonel, there is nothing you can do about it.”
“You are so wrong Sah Lee. There is something I can do, and I will do it. I am coming with you. You will need experienced senior officers.”
“What! You are abandoning your career here to join me and these few soldiers? Why?”
“I heard your uninspiring speech just now, but I feel the same as you. The time is right, and you will make a good leader, but you will need the support of a good team, so I’d better come along, or you’ll completely fuck it up. The first thing we need to do is get a temporary base established so we all have air and food. The Council of Generals will not make us welcome and will want us to leave immediately with just our personal possessions. Ker Din Ser Forn holds you in the highest regard. He will take us on board his ship and provide your nascent army with everything we need until we've got a base of our own.”
Ti’rrk stepped forward and spoke. “I believe my hive will support you Sah Lee. I will consult with the hive mind, but it may take a while before an agreement is reached as to the level of support we will provide you with. Until then you will be comfortable on Ker Din Ser Forn’s craft.”
“I’d rather try to survive on an airless asteroid without a space suit than to be beholden to that - thing.”
“But would you rather your troops did the same?”
“No,” Sah Lee sighed, “but why does it always have to be him?”
“Because he cares for you and looks out for you. He wasn't responsible for anything that happened on Aarn, except for getting us Ants there in time to save the remnants of your people. He found an unclaimed solar system, moved a planet in it to a suitable orbit around its star, built temporary habitats for you and the remnants of your ecosystem and is modifying the planet so your ecosystem and people can eventually colonize the planet without protection.”
“Yes, but if he had used Peoples weaponry, he could have saved us straight away, before the invaders caused too much damage.”
“He did what he could. You need his help now.”
“You’re right. As usual. Don’t you get fed up with being right all the time?”
“No, I’m used to it.”
“Hmm. Not sure you got the irony of that. Can you make my case to him please Ti’rrk, I don’t want to have to plead to him myself. I have my pride.”
B’Erren Tek said, “I already contacted him, as soon as I heard what you were doing. His craft is st
anding off three thousand kilometers meters away, and he is talking to the Council of Generals. As soon as he has their permission, he will send shuttles to ferry us across.” the Colonel informed her.
“Stand down Colonel, and you Ti’rrk. It’s my army. I make the decisions. Who gave you permission to organize things?”
Colonel B’erren Tek stepped forward. “You need a command team to do all of this stuff, so you have the time to focus on the important things.”
“Really? What sort of other important things do I have to focus on right now?”
“You know, the important decisions an army commander has to make, like, what color uniform we are going to have. That sort of thing. Oh, and you need to appoint your personal staff. You also need a command structure.”
“I’ve been thinking about that…”
Colonel B’erren Tek interrupted “No need for you to think about it. I’ll plan the command structure, all you need to do is approve it.”
“This is getting out of hand! What makes you think I’ll approve your plan?”
“Because I’m your Chief of Staff, so of course I’ll put forward a plan that you’ll approve.”
“Since when were you my Chief of Staff?”
“Since just now, when I realized that you needed one, and I am the best qualified person in this army, your army, to fulfill the post. Do you want your immediate task list now or shall I wait to brief you later?”
“This isn’t what I had in mind. Somehow I thought I would be leading my army.”
“Sah Lee, I am a good organizer and I can command soldiers, even a whole army, but I am not a leader. You are. You will learn the organizational skills you need, but right now, your role is to lead and inspire your troops, so they become an army and not a rabble. It will be tough at first because no one will call on us for help as we have no track record. With no missions, there will be no grateful clients to give us the things we need to operate, so keeping morale up so that no soldiers leave will be key. You’ll also need to get yourself known to the galaxy at large so when they need help, they will think of us and they will be able to contact us. Right now, you need to rally your volunteers, get them to message their friends and comrades and assemble them ready to leave. Make sure they know not to take anything that belongs to the Galactic Savior Army apart from the uniforms they are wearing. Only bring treasured personal possessions. Everything else will be supplied. That should give them the confidence that this isn’t just a spur of the moment thing, but that it is carefully planned.
“But it was a spur of the moment thing. I have been thinking about it for a while, but more of a daydream than a plan.”
“I realize that. If you had carefully planned it, you would have a plan. Just don’t tell anyone else. We’ll need technicians and support people. Would you like me to invite those I know are dissatisfied to join us?”
“Uh, yes. If you say so. Just do whatever you need. After all,” she said, “you are Chief of Staff now. Report to me, uh, when you think you need to.”
“Yes Sir!” Colonel B’erren Tek said, giving a smart salute and strode away. Sah Lee turned to the crowd of troops who were chattering loudly.
“Listen up!” she shouted. Her voice couldn’t be heard above the noise.
Ranesh, who was standing silently with a small clear space round her saw Sah Lee trying to make herself heard. She barged through the crowd, knocking people out of the way. When she reached Sah Lee she turned and bellowed, “Listen up! Your commander wants to address you!”
The crowd fell silent and turned towards them.
Sah Lee got ready to speak, noticing that more volunteers had joined them, and even more were coming through the doors.
“We will disembark shortly. Only bring with you treasured personal possessions and the clothes you are wearing. Anyone found removing any kind of the Galactic Army’s property will be expelled from my army and returned here to face charges of theft. Re-assemble in Dock One as soon as possible. If you’re not there by the time the last lander leaver leaves, you’re staying here. If you have any comrades who should be joining us, tell them to get here straight away. If you have questions, I’ll answer them when we are settled in our new temporary base. If you are unsure about joining us, stay here. You are either committed now or you never will be. Dismissed! Sergeant Si’ir Monnen Dak! Here, now!”
As the soldiers filed out Si’ir Monn approached Sah Lee.
“Before you say anything I don’t want any promotion. I’m not really comfortable even being a sergeant.” he said.
“That’s good. I’m relieving you of your rank. As of now you hold no rank in my army, but you are a member of my personal staff and carry my authority. Clear?”
“Not even Private Si’ir Monnen Dak?”
“No, just Si’ir Monn.”
“OK, suits me. I think.”
“Do you need to get any personal possessions?”
“No. Haven’t got any. Have you?”
“Just my hunting knife, and that never leaves me. Walk with me and tell me what I need to do now.”
As they walked, Si’ir Monn said, “You should tell me what to do. I thought you were in charge.”
“I thought that too, but B’Erren Tek put me right on that.”
He grunted. “The most important thing, General, is to name your army. How about The Undefeatable Army? Or The Glorious Army Of Justice?”
“Stop there a moment, I’m not going to be a General. I won't sit in the background and send my troops in with no idea of what they are facing. I’m going to be The Colonel, in the field, in the front line. And, I’m not having a boastful or pretentious name. My army is going to be, no, not going to be, it is called - Sah Lee’s Army.”
“Well that’s modest. The Colonel thing. Naming the army after yourself, not so modest, but at least people will get to know who you are. I’ve got a whole list of things that need to be put in place, some are urgent, some aren’t.”
“In that case, your first task is to work with B’erren Tek to come up with a complete list of actions, prioritized with time scales within which they must be accomplished and a named individual responsible for each action.”
“Colonel B’erren Tek? She’s coming with us?”
“She’s my new Chief of Staff so you might consider her to be your boss, she seems to be mine, but you take your orders from me. And at the moment, she’s just B’erren Tek. I’m the only officer right now.”
“Good luck explaining that to her. I don’t think she’ll take it well.”
“She’s aware of that. Sort of. She’s planning the new command structure.”
“You haven’t told her she’s no longer a Colonel?”
“I suppose I ought to. I’ll message her to meet me in the dock.”
Sah Lee noticed a disturbance at the entrance to the dock. “Shit! What now! Come on Si’ir Monn.” As she got closer, she saw General Mauren Dag Slen and his heavily armed personal guard pushing through the crowd towards her.
“We’ve got a problem Si’ir Monn.”
“Nothing we can’t handle.”
“You may not have noticed, but they are armed and wearing body armor. A few of our people are still holding weapons, but none of them are wearing body armor and it might be a bit early to ask them to risk their lives for me.”
The crowd cleared for her and she stopped a couple of meters in front of the General and his guards. “General, we are acting within our rights. Turn around and leave now and take your guards with you.”
“Major Sah Lee,” he replied, “you may not have noticed but you are still on the Galactic Saviors property and your rights are no more and no less than what the Council of Generals say they are. You may also have not noticed that my guards are fully armed and armored, so really, you are in no position to make demands. You also don’t seem to have noticed that my guards have their weapons down and stun sticks holstered. I am guessing you have misread the situation. I have come to join your rabble - I mean, army
, and my guards wish to join you too. What do you want my chaps to do with their weapons? Hand them to Sergeant Si’ir Monnen Dak?”
“What? You want to join us? I’m sorry General, but we don't have any vacancies for Generals.”
He laughed, which turned into a coughing fit. “I’ve had enough of soldiering, Major, or should I call you General now? I see myself as a civilian adviser. I have a wealth of knowledge that could be useful to you. What do you say?”
“Well, I suppose your contacts could be useful. What about your guards?”
“These fine fellows said they would like to be real soldiers again. Now, their weapons?”
“All their weapons, body armor and anything else that belongs to the Galactic Savior army must be returned. No one can bring anything other than their personal possessions and the clothes they stand in. There are no exceptions. And I would be obliged if you would remove your Generals insignia from your uniform.”
“Yes, of course General Sah Lee…”
“Before we go any further, I am The Colonel, which will be the highest rank in my army. You will be a civilian adviser to my personal staff, but you will still be subject to military rules and discipline. I require you to get into better shape too. You are by far the fattest and least fit person I have ever met in my life.”
“The Operators commented on how diplomatic you were after the Celestial Heaven mission. I wonder how they got that idea? Anyhow, I have been enjoying far too much good food and drink, and not enough exercise. Perhaps the good Sergeant here could train me up?”
“I was trained by him when I joined up. He would probably kill you even if he wasn’t trying. Touren Ud Sen and Bekkreshan an Errett will take you in hand. They both have medical training so if you collapse they can revive you. Si’ir Monn now holds no rank in my army, but he carries my authority, so everyone takes orders from him. He will tell your guards what he expects from them as soldiers, so they will report to him when they have returned their weapons. I’ll tell B’Erren Tek your position, she is now my Chief of Staff. Report to her when she returns. I must carry on now.” She started to move away, then turned back and smiled at him. “Welcome to my army Mauren, you have made a good decision.”
Hunter, Warrior, Commander Page 48