Silence greeted him. He’d expected to get an introduction by the director of the Space School. He saw many of the front line instructors in the back, but none of the senior leaders. He had a job to do, regardless of what he thought was right.
“I am Major Cain, first of the new Cygnus Marines, and I need help.” He looked at the silent crowd. No feedback at all. He’d have to deliver his pitch lecture style, but the video would probably best grab their attention. “Holly, lower the lights and cue the video, please.”
Cain stepped to the side as an external view of the Cygnus-12 came on screen. There was no sound, so Cain narrated.
“What you see here is a Concordian shuttle with twenty of their soldiers coming to board the Cygnus-12 in order to take the ship and as many of our people as would help them run it. Our chief engineer had a different idea. He had enough time to set a trap, spike their shuttle, and hit it with a few gigajoules of electricity. We didn’t have time to intercept the second shuttle, though.” The screen showed the first shuttle bounce free from the trap that Briz had set and drift into space as the Cygnus-12 accelerated.
“The second shuttle docked and the soldiers ran aboard. At this airlock, we lost two good people, one a former discipline instructor. Katlind took the battle to them, but she didn’t have a blaster.” The video was intentionally fuzzy as she engaged the boarders. Cain hadn’t wanted to show all the gory detail, just that people went down. Blaster fire washed through the corridor as the others fought back. The Concordians mounted a greater volume of fire and drove the defenders in the stairwell away from the hatch. A skirmish led to another crew member dying, along with a number of Concordians as the defenders acquired a blaster and emptied it into the corridor’s open space. Cain didn’t know what to say. He’d known those people and it choked him up, so he let the video continue without commentary.
The next scene showed the corridor where Rastor and Gaven were trying to vent the atmosphere from the shuttle deck. They were already on the floor with the Concordians standing over them. The Rabbits’ laser beams took them out. The next clip showed three Rabbits running up the stairs.
“Stop right there, Holly.” The video paused. Three white Rabbits, one with an ugly scar across his chest. “Those three saved our ship. Rabbits, known for being peace loving, addicted to gardening. They killed more of the enemy than anyone else did, because there was no one there to stand between them and the Concordians. That’s what the SES has determined we need, a force to protect us from those who would do us harm. We were twelve hundred and thirty-five light years from home. We were alone, and thanks to some good luck, courage, teamwork, and dedication, we were able to overcome a determined adversary, but it came with a great loss of life. Seven hearty souls, all of whom sat where you’re sitting, never thinking that someone out there, in that vast universe, was willing to kill them in order to take our ship.” He stopped to let that sink in. The recruits were leaning forward. The instructors were leaning back, faces drawn as they contemplated the words they were hearing, seeing the demise of peaceful exploration.
Cain waved a finger and Holly continued the video showing the Rabbits driving two Concordians into an ambush set by Captain Rand and Tandry. Then the corridor below, where the Concordians trapped the crew in billeting and the galley. More combat. The image faded and was replaced by a view of the planet. Master Daksha and Pace were there with the villagers from Fairsky, at the mercy of the Concordians. Lutheann attacked like a white flash and then blaster fire erupted from the tree line. Cain ran from the trees, and covered the remaining Concordian, who lay on the ground. Cain thought it was going to stop, but it didn’t. Holly had added the fight on the Traveler.
“Holly, you can shut it off now,” Cain said, but the battle continued, showing Cain and Stinky using SI Hendricks as a shield as the Android attacked. The Wolfoid fought valiantly to keep the Android from firing its lasers but in the end, he was slammed into the bulkhead, stunned and out of the fight. Cain battled alone using damage control tools to help him. Once trapped within the insulbrick foam, the video showed Cain pounding the life out of the Android.
Cain had not seen that footage before. He was appalled.
The image faded and the lighting in the auditorium was restored. The audience was shocked. “Holly, what the hell did you just do?” Cain said angrily before addressing the audience, “I’m really sorry, I didn’t approve that to be in this presentation.”
“But I did,” a voice said from the back of the room. The director stood and walked toward the stage. “I didn’t want anyone to be under a misimpression of what you are asking, Major Cain. Combat is ugly, the ugliest of human endeavors. I support your recruitment here, but only because I was ordered to by Admiral Jesper. You are a violent man, reckless even. There was nothing you showed us that could not have been resolved through negotiation. Now finish your business and let us get back to ours.”
Cain couldn’t speak. He only looked at the man in disbelief.
‘Appeal to their sense of honor. No one wants to see a Rabbit fighting because others couldn’t. You are giving the people a choice to be that barrier between the bad guys and the explorers, while also being an explorer yourself,’ Brutus told him soothingly, taking away Cain’s shock at the verbal attack from the director.
“These are very difficult times,” he projected confidently to the audience. “I went through this school with the sole intent of becoming an explorer. When we got out there, we found a new world and an enemy, one we tried to talk to, who lied to us.” The lights dimmed, surprising Cain. The video that the Concordians sent played. It was short and everything in it was a lie.
“We didn’t have Marines with us. We had to make it up as we went. With Marines, we would have seven more shipmates, still living, still exploring. And that’s what we offer. Are you willing to stand between your friends and the bad guys? Are you willing to lay down your life for the freedom of others? Just yesterday, I was attacked on the rainforest road because there are those who believe I’m trying to create a military to oppress the people of Vii. What I wish is that all people of Vii remain free and that people scattered throughout the universe can also live free. To do that, it takes strength, strength of will, and a dedication to the cause of freedom for all. Who will stand with me and join the first recruits from Livestel?” Cain pointed to the wall.
“We need at least six more to train, work with the ‘cats as they conduct the pure-heart test. That’s right. If your motivations are anything less than they deem appropriate, you won’t be allowed to sign up. And that’s all I have. If you are interested, understand that you’ll work for me and I work directly for Admiral Jesper. Your association with the Space School will become extremely limited.”
Cain wanted to include that in case someone feared retaliation. He walked off stage and stood at the end of the line with his Wolfoid recruits. The first few people walked past, not looking at Cain as they exited. The fourth person, a human, tiny in stature, stopped and offered his hand to Cain. He was barely taller than a Rabbit, but he had a strong grip.
“Spence is the name. Where do I sign up?” he asked with a smile.
“With me. Consider yourself signed up. Wait over there.” Cain pointed toward the stage, away from the Space School instructors. He didn’t want any more conflict or to create any more hard feelings with the school.
Soon, Cain had twelve people standing at the front of the stage. Once the final video played, he expected that no one would want to join.
Brutus stalked along the stage behind the people, thirteen humans, a Lizard Man, a Wolfoid, and a Hawkoid. For three of the humans, Brutus pointed a furry paw and shook his head. Cain looked each of them in the eye as he shook their hands and thanked them for volunteering, but that he had enough recruits. The first two walked away with looks of disdain. The third one was a completely different story.
“What do you mean I’m not selected?” he growled, spitting at Cain.
“You are not select
ed. You can go now, Recruit,” Cain replied firmly, setting his jaw and feeling his muscles tense. The man, older than an average recruit, made to push the major, but Cain deftly dodged and used the man’s momentum to throw him face first into the front row. The Wolfoids were instantly engaged, hopping over rows of chairs and running to the front. When the man collected himself, he was surrounded by twelve snarling Wolfoids. Cain held them back with a single gesture. They cleared a path for the man to walk away.
He took one step, stopped, then turned toward Cain. Harnesses jingled as the Wolfoids pressed in around him. “You haven’t heard the last of me,” the angry man grumbled. He pushed through the Wolfoids, who pushed back, almost knocking him down as he backed out of the auditorium, watching them all as he tried to slam the door on his way out.
Cain brushed off his hands. “Well, let’s see what we have here. Whoa! Aren’t you one of the instructors?”
“I am a professor of astrophysics,” the man said pleasantly. “I’m Doctor Starsgard.”
“Astrophysics and that’s your real name?” Cain said, unable to stop himself.
“Indeed,” the man sighed. Cain nodded, then looked to the next volunteer.
“Hawkoid, what’s your name?”
“I am Ascenti,” he said smoothly through his vocalization device. Cain pointed to the next volunteer, a Lizard Man.
“Zisk,” came through loud and clear. Those who’d been at the school longer had better tuned their vocalization devices to reflect their moods and what they intended to say.
And to think I wanted to limit it to humans, Wolfoids, and ‘cats, Cain thought.
“Form up outside. Sergeant, show them how, four by six, if you please,” Cain directed, although the Hawkoid wouldn’t be in formation. He didn’t correct himself as he’d let Stalker figure it out.
‘What did you see from those three?’ Cain asked Brutus over the mindlink, not wanting anyone from the school to listen in.
‘The first two weren’t committed and were happy to be let go, but the third one, that one was very dark. He saw the Marines as a way to hurt people. He is someone that we protect others from. He was right about one thing, though. You have not seen the last of him, but next time, I suspect that you will not be so restrained in your response,’ Brutus complimented his human.
“I suspect not,” Cain stated out loud. With Brutus, he headed outside to join his recruits. Twenty-four strong. The number was right, but it was a Wolfoid-heavy mix.
Bull was carrying Ascenti, which was one of many solutions. “Sergeant, take the squads to the bay. Uniforms for the new members should be along shortly. As soon as they arrive, get dressed, form back up outside, and run your happy asses to the obstacle course. We have unfinished business. That’s right, my pretties. We’re spending the night outside, just like I promised, because some of you have no self-discipline.” It may have been harsh for the newcomers, but he had little planned for the next day.
The Marine recruits ran off, the Lizard Man struggling to keep up. They were heavily muscled but ill-suited for running. He would see how the Wolfoids flexed to their new teammates. They had mattresses on the floor, but wouldn’t get to use them. When they finally got to sleep in their beds, they’d appreciate them as if they were at the finest resort.
Everything was relative. He hoped the humans found the humor in the fact that they were being punished for something they were incapable of doing that happened hours before they joined the team.
‘They’ll get over it,’ Brutus added.
“Because they have no choice in the matter, my straggly friend, no choice at all,” he said and started jogging toward the obstacle course, pleased with how the day turned out, despite the attempt at subterfuge from the director, but all’s well that ends well. He had what he wanted and a clearer idea of who to avoid. They’d train and then they’d head to space.
Training in zero-g. “Remind me to ask Holly to reserve some time in the command area of the Traveler so we can practice maneuvers in zero gravity. We need to figure out how the ‘cats can function. You guys are always at a big disadvantage. Think on that. Maybe Luthie has some ideas?”
‘How about you maintain gravity?’ she responded tartly.
Cain had no answer for her. She was probably short because twenty ‘cats were driving her insane. ‘We’ll do that then,’ he countered sarcastically. Just like herding ‘cats, he thought.
He was strolling toward the obstacle course, when his mind lit up with the voices of his friends. ‘Cain, Pickles and I are headed your way. We both made it without puking!’ Stinky celebrated.
‘Obstacle course. We have a little party going on because our young Wolfoid recruits can’t control their canine urges. I think you’ll like the mob we put together, Stinky. They understand and they have Brutus’s seal of approval.’
‘Who’s Brutus?’ Stinky asked, surprised at the new name.
‘It appears that Lutheann was fed up with me and they did a tactical hand-off. This ‘cat’s right up my alley, keeps me on my toes. You’ll meet him when you get here. We’ll be easy to find.’ Cain smiled inwardly. He finally had the company of people he trusted. Add them to the ‘cats, and he was wrapped in a cocoon of security. He expected more trouble. The admiral’s comment regarding being safe at Space School for the time being came back to him. Throw in the director’s disdain and the mad recruit who thought he should have been selected, and all the ingredients for a crap sandwich were there.
“I need you, little man. I think the safest place for me is on the front lines, in deep space. What the hell did I do to any of these people?” he asked the ‘cat.
‘You showed them what they are not. Don’t let people with no honor get under your skin. Throw them out with the trash while you keep your own house clean,’ Brutus stated philosophically.
“Damn, Brutus! You sound like a Tortoid.” Cain looked closer at the orange ‘cat, wondering why he was so small.
‘I am a direct descendent of Prince Axial De’atesh, by his son Klytus, who was only half Hillcat. It seems that we have stayed smaller than those with pure Hillcat blood coursing through their veins. That one domestic dalliance and the Golden Warrior’s spoor were forever condemned. We make up for our lack of size though.’ Brutus jogged forward and turned hard, disappearing into the woods.
‘You make up for your lack of size all right,’ Cain agreed. A direct descendant. No wonder the bonding was meant to be. How come he’d never seen Brutus when he lived in Coldstream? He would never understand the way of the ‘cats, but he liked Brutus and already depended on his sage counsel. He expected the ‘cat wouldn’t share the misery of a night in the mud pit.
‘You are right about that,’ he heard the ‘cat say in the back of his mind.
Stinky and Pickles
Cain’s friends arrived before the platoon, as Holly told him he should call it. They embraced warmly, although Pickles still couldn’t understand the human need for touching.
The major quickly explained what he had going and suggested they find their quarters, put on their uniform equipment, body armor and a harness for the Wolfoid and for the Lizard Man, a uniform that would fit over his skin suit.
“We have to tell you that once Ellie got to the station, she called her parents, then decided to go back to the ship and help Briz with the upgrade,” Stinky relayed, not gossiping but sharing information about someone who was important to Cain.
“I didn’t think her parents would take it well, their little girl and all. I don’t know how I got so lucky, then failed so spectacularly!” Cain smiled, then turned to Pickles. “I was attacked by Lizard Men on the rainforest road.”
“Why would they do that?” Pickles asked, his vocalization device reflecting surprise.
“I don’t know. I’m sorry, Pickles, but I had to kill them, two of them anyway. Lutheann came to my rescue with the last one. I’m sorry. They blocked me in and had their tridents. There wasn’t anything else I could do. They didn’t seem interest
ed in talking,” Cain told the Lizard Man.
“The fact that they were Lizard Men is irrelevant. They were criminals against which you defended yourself, just like the rest of us would have done, but unlike the rest of us, you are better at defending yourself. Maybe we can improve our skills over the next couple months as part of the training that you’re running,” Ensign Peekaless offered.
“That’s our goal, Pickles. I think you guys are going to like the recruits. The Wolfoids are hard chargers. All the rest, I just recruited a few minutes ago. We will meet them together, assuming you can get your sorry asses dressed and back here before the platoon arrives!”
Holly had arranged for the rooms and gear for Cain’s friends once he knew they were coming. He expected everything was ready and waiting, unlike the uniforms and equipment for the new recruits which had to be fabricated as soon as the volunteers were identified.
The major had no idea what to do with the Hawkoid, except that his great-great-grandfather relied heavily on one of his closest friends, Skirill. He gave Braden a view of what was well out in front of the companions, like Chirit had done on Concordia. Holly had fabricated a powered and armored vest for Skirill and suggested the same design for Ascenti, at least to start. The design was over one hundred years old, but if it worked, there was no reason to change it.
Cain contemplated many things, discarding ideas that seemed far-fetched, but he wanted the training to take place all around Vii as he didn’t know what conditions he’d have to take his people into when on a mission in deep space. He knew Concordia, but what about the next planet and then the one after that?
Cygnus Expanding: Humanity Fights for Freedom (Cygnus Space Opera Book 2) Page 11