by JR Handley
When Xena observed Lance’s vital signs returning to a state of calm, she continued. I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of the assets left in Beta City. There are currently 3,220 Marines left in the habdisks. All the properly iced Marine cryopods were revived to die in the mutiny. There are thousands of Spacers on ice, though reviving them would eat up your limited resources. Also, we have no ships for them. There are 13,979 Spacers in their habdisks and another 10,000 Auxies in there with them. I can’t ascertain what equipment is with them, but comms should be up momentarily. When comms return, I will notify you immediately.
When Xena finished, Lance looked up at the Whiskey Company squad leaders. “No more secrets,” he muttered before ordering Xena to send a copy of this information to their Aimees. Satisfied that this was taken care of, Lance sat down and looked at his fellow squad leaders.
“I’m the junior sergeant here, so which one of you has seniority? They should be representing Whiskey Company’s interest. Of course, I will facilitate things with my AI until we can loop in another one to the permanent mainframe.”
Expecting an immediate answer, Lance was surprised when each sergeant looked sheepishly at the other. Isabella Mayer spoke up.
“Lance, after the training exercise at Old Akoni City, we trust you. You’ll represent us until a competent authority comes along and relieves us.”
Lance leaned forward in his chair.
“I’m the junior sergeant here, I shouldn’t be—”
“Don’t argue, just do what you’re told so you can tell us what to do! Think of it as positional authority. Right now, you’re in the best position to have the authority to exercise command. Now, let me suggest you have Cadet Sergeant Mason handle 1st Squad for you so you can worry about the company.”
“Very well. I’ll take point on this until we find an acceptable replacement.”
After some good-natured ribbing from the NCOs about not getting them all killed, Lance took charge and started issuing orders. He was the de facto company commander now, and he needed to ensure everyone was tracking.
“Squad leaders, let’s get full accountability of our individual equipment, food stuffs, ammunition, and AI functionality. Also, make a point to replace any cadet NCO that died and leave the rifleman position vacant. We can always consolidate down the road if we can get replacements. I’ll pass word over to Yankee Company. Meanwhile, Sergeant Mayer, please bring Cadet Sergeant Mason up to speed.”
Lance buried his face in his hands as the squad leaders left. Positional authority was not a responsibility he wanted.
— Chapter 04 —
Midday, Post-Revival Day 1
Sergeant Thorn’s Quarters, Beta City, Serendine
Whiskey Co., 8th BN, 6907th TAC RGT
Satisfied that Whiskey Company was in competent hands, Lance headed over to Yankee Company’s portion of the habdisk. He found Senior Veteran Sergeant Caelius Thorn in his quarters reading something on a Digi-Sheet. Lance took a second to scan the room full of Digi-Pics. The captured digital moments showed smiling Marines in battle-scarred combat uniforms. Most of them appeared to be on planets he didn’t recognize.
Seeing Lance looking at the Digi-Pics Thorn said, “Memories of past glories are all we Marines can hope to receive, Scipio. Have a seat.”
Lance followed Thorn’s direction and sat down. He adjusted the rifle and sword strapped to his back as he did.
“Caelius, as you predicted, the other sergeants in Whiskey Company decided that I should represent our interests. I’ve sent you a copy of the full report on the assets available to Beta City. In the spirit of transparency, you’ll see what I see — no secrets. I am currently setting up a conference with all of the senior sergeants from each company, but we’ve run into a small hiccup.”
Before Lance could continue, Thorn raised a hand indicating he should stop speaking.
“Scipio, we are both sergeants here, and you’re the acting Whiskey Company senior sergeant, just call me Thorn. I know Marines like to use each other’s first names these days, but that’s a new thing. It’s too odd for me.”
Thorn paused and cast his grey eyes toward a Digi-Pic on the wall. Everything about the old sergeant was grey and weathered.
“Now about this hiccup,” said Thorn. “Let me guess, the base is about to flood, the water is poisoned, we don’t know who our real enemies are, we can die at any moment, and we need to kill some Hardits — is that the hiccup?”
“There’s more, I’ve got passive reports from the naval units but no direct communication,” said Lance. “Further, reports coming back from the 428th MER are shaky. We need that Marine Engineering Regiment. Their skills will be invaluable to our survival. My AI should have the interference resolved shortly. Until then, all we know is that there are two companies. Best we can tell, there are no Marine officers.”
Thorn stood up from his desk and started straightening some of the Digi-Pics on his wall. He used a cloth to wipe the front of them as condensation from the emergency cryofreeze had blanketed nearly everything in the habdisk.
“Roger, so here’s what I know. Morale will be shaky, at best. In times of stress, Marines revert to their training. They’ll want a leader they trust. Right now, that’s you,” Thorn said as he continued wiping Digi-Pics with a rag. “I will back you as that leader, but only if you’re acting in the best interest of the Marine Corps I know and love. We will continually re-evaluate that decision until we find a competent authority to turn this Marine command over to.”
“Roger that,” Lance replied. “The sooner I can hand command over the better. I don’t mind leading from the front, but I prefer to lead at the squad-level.”
The old sergeant nodded in agreement and smirked as he tossed the now damp rag on his desk before taking a seat. Once seated, Thorn unholstered his Flenser pistol so quickly Lance bounced in his chair. Smirking at the junior sergeant’s jumpiness, Thorn began disassembly and maintenance. His eyes stayed on Lance while his hands worked on instinct.
“Finally, I went through the records you sent of what occurred while we were iced,” said Thorn. “The computers registered armor signals during the raid on the base and one of the names was familiar — Nhlappo. I served with a female by that name prior to being assigned to the 6907th TAC. She was as hard as they come, and trustworthy.”
Thorn took a moment to blow imaginary dust out of the grooves of the black and silver pistol. Casting a grey eye down the grooves, he continued.
“I suggest we not rush to judgement on the human Marines fighting for Tranquility-4. I don’t want you to walk into the trap of closemindedness. When Marine leaders do, it’s often deadly. Promise me that you’ll keep an open mind.”
Lance chewed over Thorn’s words while the older NCO finished reassembling his pistol. Lance knew he needed to keep Thorn happy, but that didn’t mean he had to like what he was suggesting.
“I will keep an open mind,” said Lance. “We’ve woken to a world that makes no sense. Not yet. But I don’t like the notion of these soldiers scurrying around our city, raiding our stores, and setting off bombs. Above all, I don’t trust Marines who have clearly deserted the Corps for whatever reason. So yes, I will keep an open mind out of deference to your experience. But I ask you do the same. If this Nhlappo is a traitor—”
“If Nhlappo is a traitor,” — Thorn slammed his pistol back into the holster — “I’ll kill her myself.”
— Chapter 05 —
Early Afternoon, Post-Revival Day 1
Command & Control Bunker, New Detroit City, Baylshore
Staff, Unorganized Human Legion Forces
Colonel Tirunesh Nhlappo paced back and forth at the front of the hastily erected command and control bunker. Holographic maps projected up from the battle-damaged desks, and her newly appointed staff members squirmed in their chairs. Stopping, she turned and stared into the faces of the assembled members. They could feel her presence, drilling into the depths of their souls.
Nhlappo was a hard woman, and a Marine veteran of many campaigns. She’d risen and plummeted through all the enlisted ranks available to humanity within the White Knight Human Marine Corps. Despite her doubts, most Marines respected her. After burning into them with her eyes to further gauge their measure, she began speaking.
“You are aware that the Hardits altered our plans to secure these icers for the Human Legion. Their virus forced us revive these Marines under poor circumstances, but it was necessary to save their lives. We are Human Legion Marines, and we don’t abandon our own.”
Nhlappo saw the group nod their heads in agreement and used the momentum to drive her speech forward.
“We will stay until we secure this system and can re-group with General McEwan. There are currently just over a million Marines here, and the old ways of organizing our TO&E’s just won’t cut it anymore. I’ve studied our history. I’ve consulted the libraries of information we’ve gotten from Detroit’s mainframe, and I’ve come up with a solution.”
The newly promoted staff officers looked at Colonel Nhlappo like she was a ginquin on the prowl. Introducing new organizational concepts unnerved them and was impacting their concentration. Realizing that her pacing was getting in the way of progress, she stopped. With a sigh, she walked over to the desk in the front of the room and pushed a button on the built-in keypad. She was surprised the desk still functioned with all the bullet holes. With a flicker, a bright blue holo-display projected upward showing the new organizational chart.
“We will organize several echelons above the regimental system you are familiar with. Above the colonels leading the regiments, there will be divisions. A division will consist of four regiments and a small staff which will be commanded by a Brigadier General,” Nhlappo explained as she pointed to the display. “Four of these divisions and staff will be organized into Armies and commanded by Major Generals. Above that will be an Army Group, commanded by Lieutenant Generals. There will be six of these Army Groups and they will report to the Regional Army Commander, a Field Marshal, who in turn will report to the Human Legion Commander, General of the Armies McEwan.”
A shout and a loud crash caused everyone in the room to look toward the door. Nhlappo dropped her hand to her holstered pistol and approached the door to investigate. When she realized it was simply a drunk Marine in the wrong place at the wrong time, she ordered Lieutenant Miranda Gardiner, her security detail commander, to handle the situation. Walking back to the front of the assembled group, she crossed her arms in front of her.
“That interruption was caused by one of our recently revived Marines getting into a hidden grok cache. These breaches of discipline will continue until we cement our new command structure. As such, I will lead the New Detroit Regional Army and assume the rank of Field Marshal.”
Nhlappo’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the room. Her body was a coil ready to spring, as she silently dared any of them to challenge her right to this self-appointed promotion. The room was silent, except for Major Spartika. Her rusted chair creaked as she shifted in it to cross her arms in displeasure. Nhlappo figured some promotions would ease everyone into the new status quo.
“You all know your positions within the new staff, but a few of you will be getting promoted too. Captain Manuel Casillas, you’ve been an excellent Aide-de-Camp. With your newly expanded responsibility, I hereby promote you to the rank of Major,” Nhlappo said.
As she spoke the holo-display above the table began to fill in names showing where each Marine sat in the new hierarchy.
“Major Spartika, with your added responsibilities as my executive officer, I promote you to the rank of Lieutenant General. Senior Sergeant Paco Ortiz, I hereby confer upon you the newly revived Earth rank of Sergeant Major. As the New Detroit Regional Army Sergeant Major, you outrank damn near everyone. Congratulations, you’ve earned it.”
The group let out some cheers and grunts of approval. Ortiz was respected among the Marines, and Nhlappo knew he would be an essential link in the chain.
“Speaking of promotions, Petty Officer Magnetizer, I hereby promote you to the rank of Commander in the Human Legion Navy. Commander Tizer, you will serve as our Naval Attaché and facilitate communication between the Navy and Marines. Until we have a Navy, just keep working your tech magic.”
Nhlappo paused and looked her subordinates over as they congratulated each other on their new rank assignments. She smirked to herself when she observed how quickly Spartika altered her smartfabric uniform to update her rank insignia from the database she’d been provided.
She only cares about herself, thought Nhlappo. She abandons my son’s unit to die in combat, and then she returns like she had every right to live. If she didn’t hold such sway in the command, I’d gut her now. One day…
Clearing her throat to regain their attention, she prepared to continue with the briefing. After the sudden promotions, the Marines appeared more receptive than they were a few minutes ago. There were more smiles than muted expressions now.
“Major Terra and Captain Kury, I expect you to use your skills to assist Major Murphy in streamlining these Marines into units. Under ideal circumstances you’d have a week or more to do this task. I want it done in two hours, so I hope you woke up your AI. I’ve posted a copy of the current chain of command for the Regional Army. Check your Aimees and you’ll see the updated command hierarchy.”
A symphony of creaking and groaning chairs filled the polycrete bunker as the Marines all looked down to read their Aimees. Nhlappo walked behind the desk, sat down, and dimmed the holo-display hovering in front of her face.
* * *
CHAIN OF COMMAND:
CO: Field Marshal Tirunesh Nhlappo
Aide-de-Camp: Major Manuel Casillas
XO: Lieutenant General Spartika
SGM: Sergeant Major Paco Ortiz
Security Detail:
LT Miranda Gardiner
SGT Taran Anderson
Marine Brianna McRoy
Marine Clark Tremblay
Marine Delia Lamm
Marine Doug Sanders
Marine Prescott Libeck
Supply Officer: CPT Vardon Taylor
Communications Officer: CPT Ivar Voleikov
Naval Attaché: Commander Magnetizer “Tizer”
Intelligence Officer: CPT Dennis Kury
Training Officer: MAJ Melina Terra
Logistics: MAJ Jackie Murphy
Diplomacy: CPT Ishmael Kogan
* * *
After the chatter died down, Nhlappo stood and resumed addressing the Marines. “Obviously, we want to promote the Marines who’ve been awake fighting with us the longest. Those who’ve proven themselves under fire as loyal to the Legion. However, we’d be stupid to ignore the skills brought to us by the recently revived. Even if some of them are half-drunk on grok,” Nhlappo said as she looked toward the door and shook her head. “Finally, in addition to replacing the Senior Sergeant position with Sergeant Major at any tier above the battalion, the senior enlisted position in the company will henceforth be called First Sergeant, harkening back to our Earthen heritage. Also at the company level, the squad leader rank will officially be Senior Sergeant and the company level aide-de-camp position will be held by a Staff Sergeant. Any further changes to the organizational structure can be done on the fly.”
Nhlappo paused to scan the room, watching their reactions with the skilled eye of a Marine training sergeant.
“Once we have secured our position, we’ve got some vital issues to prioritize. We need to find out where those Hardit vecks built their space craft, as they had to be locally sourced. We also need to secure food for our command. I suspect we can raid the areas around the Alabama Depot. There was a factory there that processed food and made it useable for the Spacers, which means it would be vacuum sealed and still edible. That is only a temporary solution. We need to start thinking long term. Unless anyone has any brilliant suggestions on how to unfrakk ourselves, that will be all.”
&nb
sp; Nhlappo caught her comms officer trying to discretely get her attention by nodding his head up and down.
“Yes, Captain Voleikov, what’s on your mind?”
“We’ve been detecting strange signals originating from Beta City,” said the heavily accented officer, who was a former training sergeant like herself. “We can’t explain them.”
“Very good, Captain. I like an officer that can show some initiative. It can’t just be about shiny new titles. Investigate these signals and report back to me. It’s probably nothing. We found strange signals there last year during our search for more icers. It’s likely an automated signal of some sort because we didn’t get any response when we raided the place during the First Tranquility Campaign. Regardless, be thorough, and get back to me.”
When the captain indicated his understanding, Nhlappo dismissed the staff with strict orders to get to work and maintain constant contact with her AI.
Watching the group filter out of the bunker she couldn’t help but think, Damn, I’m getting too old for this shite.
— Chapter 06 —
Mid Afternoon, Post-Revival Day 1
1st SQD’s Sergeant’s Quarters, Beta City, Serendine
Whiskey Co., 8th BN, 6907th TAC RGT
Back at 1st Squad’s barracks, Lance was pleased to see that weapons were cleaned and oiled, armor was polished and serviced, and their AIs had been retrieved and redistributed. After making the rounds, he went in search of Hayley to give her an update. He found her sitting with Basil in the squad room. They were tinkering with one of Basil’s many gizmos. Before he could ask what was going on, or determine if this current project was an appropriate use of time, Hayley spoke up.