by JR Handley
Nhlappo looked at the half-naked Marine’s tattoos and then back to Marchewka. Momentarily disgruntled that things weren’t going her way, Nhlappo appealed to Marchewka’s practical nature.
“If you won’t join us outright, at least consider allying with us until the Hardit scum are wiped from the planet. When they attacked us, they did so with overwhelming technological superiority. They had a new class of interstellar ships we’ve never seen before, which has implications for both of us. Since we scanned the rest of the system on the way in, these had to be built somewhere on Tranquility-4. South of you, we detected structures which might fit the bill. Imbedded in this link you’ll find an information packet about what we know. However, I don’t want to fight our brothers and sisters, Jotun or human, so please consider joining–”
Marchewka growled loudly, interrupting Nhlappo mid-sentence.
“Let us be very clear here, human. What you are suggesting is treason, no matter how fancy you dress it up.”
There was another period of long silence. Nhlappo and Marchewka stared each other down, neither one breaking eye contact or even moving. Lance put his blouse on and decided to try again.
“It’s been at least 160 years since my last duty station, and more years have passed between that assignment and my cadet years. Even at your age, I was born before you and knew this planet when it had more than two bases. I was trained with equipment later banned by the White Knights because it made us too effective. Records indicate that those blinder missiles patrolling above us right now were phased out in your lifetime. I know of many more technological wonders, and I know where some of them are,” Lance explained to the rigid Nhlappo.
She glanced momentarily at him before casting her icy gaze back to Marchewka. Lance knew there was no turning back, and he pushed forward.
“We can always choose to destroy the orbital elevator. We don’t need it to get into space. I also know that your ‘millions of Marines,’ in reality, is just over a million. You can take your chances and ride your bluff, or you can profit instead. I know battle tactics which you could only dream of utilizing. Colonel Marchewka has been trained in deploying them. We have access to AI variants which you’ve only heard about in distant rumors. You must decide what it’s worth for you to acquire. You need only ask your communication officer about our AI capability. We stopped his intrusion attempts cold. You might outnumber us, but assaulting us would cost you more than you realize.”
Lance took a moment to gauge his commander’s demeanor. He expected anger at his repeated interruptions, but the Jotun’s face revealed no detectable emotion. Looking back to Nhlappo, her fierce eyes measured him. He would have to gamble it all here and now.
“I love what you’ve done with your new TO&E, and your rank structure makes a lot of sense. I can see that you were educated about our Earth ancestors. Please send my compliments to Captain Voleikov, your communications officer, but my tech crew is just better than yours. We are offering a lot of resources here. In return, you come clean about these Marines. If they exist, and you’re going to send them, it better be with full kit. Think on that and get back to us. You have until this time tomorrow. Beta City – out.”
After finishing his ultimatum, Lance had Xena cut the feed before turning to face his commander. He hoped it was pride he saw earlier. Looking up at the holo-display of his Jotun commander, he saw only a blank expression peering back.
“Sir, sorry for that unprecedented interruption, but she was bluffing on her numbers. We needed her to know that we know. Further, having a sergeant talk to her just might rattle her enough to gain us some traction. If she wants any information, she must deal with us directly. If we don’t join her, we need to scramble to get ourselves ready to fight,” Lance said as he shifted his rifle and sword on his back. “I was bluffing about our readiness. Most of our equipment was scuttled by the mutineers, and our city wouldn’t survive a direct assault. I’m banking on them not wanting to fight the Hardits here, or lose troops fighting us.”
Lance took a moment to get a drink of tarngrip tea from the podium. His nerves were frazzled, and his hand shook as he reached for it. As he swallowed, he considered the consequences he might face for disobeying his commander.
“I have a hunch that the food processing plant will actually have prepackaged food. If they do lay siege, it should get us by for a few years. Our records indicate the food wasn’t delivered to the ship it was intended for. Sir, all this being said, I’m not convinced that these aren’t ex-Free Corps Mutineers. Those bastards killed our friends and should pay, but whatever we do next, it’s your call, sir.”
Colonel Marchewka’s reaction would stay with Lance forever.
“You’ve done well, young one. I am pleased. I’d already decided to join this Human Legion, at least until we get these promised troops to help put us into a better place. If they are truly backed by the Reserve Captain, then there is more at play than any of us know. The Reserve Captain was instrumental in organizing plans for a free Jotun Empire, but like a spider, she planned webs within webs. What you did, gave us greater leverage and a stronger negotiating platform. Lest we forget, I’ve a bone to pick with the White Knights for how they dishonored my mother’s loyalty.”
Lance felt the air rush from his lungs as relief washed over him in waves. Thanking the Great Creator, he went to take another drink of the tea to find the container was now empty. He sat it down on the podium and turned back toward Marchewka.
“Once we are in a position of strength we can do whatever is necessary to survive. This need not be a permanent alliance. With us joining this new Legion, there can be human officers. I believe such an occurrence is long overdue. You will receive one of these commissions, young one, and part of the riddles told by the Night Hummers will come true.”
Lance had never considered being an officer. Just a day before, he was content being a squad leader.
“In the future, if we rejoin the White Knight Empire, we can lobby to keep these rank changes. Now that we are free from distraction, you will tell me the story of this Kalino, the QEP, and of this sword you wear. When you finish, let’s figure out this flooding situation.”
— Chapter 10 —
Early Evening, Post-Revival Day 1
Whiskey Co. Ready Room, Beta City, Serendine
Beta City Integrated Command
Seeing a human Marine officer feels odd, almost unnatural, Lance thought to himself after he finished explaining the history of Kalino, the QEP, and his sword to Marchewka. His mind was still picturing the bald Field Marshal standing defiantly and proud.
Re-securing his sword to his back, he waited for his commander to instruct him on what actions to take. There was flooding to address, as well as informing Marines of this potential alliance with the Human Legion. Marchewka seemed deep in thought. Between Lance’s personal story, and all the other new information, the Jotun colonel had a lot to think about.
“Sergeant Scipio, we need an emergency conference call with all thirty-eight of the principles from Beta City. They need to be told what’s going on, and what our options are. If we join this Human Legion, those declining the new alliance should be allowed to be iced until they can be turned over to a White Knight authority.”
Lance quietly asked Xena to re-establish the conference call.
Lance, we need to wait for the group to reassemble. You cleared the principles from the Ready Room while you and the colonel engaged Field Marshal Nhlappo. While you two were yapping, I dug deeper into their networks and have prepared in-depth files on the Legion’s history since they started. I have given access to you and the colonel. He can distribute it as he sees fit. I sent blind copies to Senior Veteran Sergeant Thorn, and the other Whiskey Company squad leaders with the understanding that the colonel would kill them for leaking it.
Lance looked down at his Aimee and began reading the intel. Xena, seeing Lance’s vitals were revealing an influx of stress hormones, had a suggestion.
You can take a quick nap wh
ile you wait on those fools from the 828th to come back on line, or you can go flirt with Hayley Mason. She is waiting just outside the room with Wires making goo-goo eyes at your Digi-Pic. I think she wants to make a flesh-merge with you, hoping for advantageous 2.0 outcomes.
After recovering from the shock that one of his youngsters might fancy a roll around his bunk, Lance blurted, “I don’t date children or subordinates, Xena! I do have standards, you know.”
Lance jumped as Xena’s laughter blasted from the speakers of his Aimee. Marchewka’s holo-projection looked up from his desk across the Ready Room. Embarrassed, Lance apologized for his obnoxious AI. Once he finished the humiliating apology, he turned off the audio for the Ready Room and reduced the volume on his Aimee. Xena wouldn’t stop talking.
Standards? Let’s face it, I was there. I know what you did with Aura on the Grendel, and the genes you spread across the galaxy. And let’s not pretend those Auxie girls that used to visit were cleaning your room, or that you were ‘training’ with those other female Marines.
Lance had never considered he could have been a father. The realization staggered him, and he felt a heavy pang of sadness. Xena must have sensed this by accessing his biometrics.
Lance, I’m sorry. I thought you knew. I should’ve verified whether you’d accessed your official records. If you had, you would see that you’ve fathered several children. They all went on to be stellar soldiers while you were iced. I lost track of a few, but you were prolific, rolling with anything that possessed a hole to stick it in. Heck, you even slept with that Spacer hermaphrodite, and that wasn’t due to a need to reproduce.
Standing there, in shock, Lance was startled out of his reverie by Thorn, who tapped him on the shoulder.
“Are you okay, Scipio? You look a bit shaken.”
When Lance nodded that he was fine, Thorn continued.
“Do you have any idea what this follow-up meeting is about?”
Realizing Thorn might not have checked his Aimee, Lance told him that he’d unofficially looped him into the information stream. He then proceeded to give Thorn a synopsis of what had transpired with Field Marshal Nhlappo. After Thorn recovered from the shock of a human officer, he seemed receptive to the idea of fighting for a new cause and better future.
“I like it,” said Thorn. “The thought that my daughter, Cristal, might finally be able to rise higher than I have is intoxicating. I don’t know if I ever thanked you for turning 1st Squad, Whiskey Company around and keeping my daughter out of the Cull. I was never prouder than the day she was made senior section leader.”
Lance was floored by the sudden fatherly connection. He fidgeted with the holster on his waist to stall while he thought of an appropriate answer.
“Cadet Lance Sergeant Cristal Thorn earned her position by virtue of her qualifications. To be honest, I hadn’t made the familial connection. I’ll be sure to forward you her last evaluations.”
“I appreciate it, Scipio.”
Lance moved to change the subject as Thorn smacked him on the shoulder appreciatively. “Anyway, now that we know the lay of the land, this fight could quickly run away from us. At least now we fight and die for ourselves,” said Lance. “We have a choice, and that has value in its own right. I don’t know where Colonel Marchewka will lean, but I’ll fill you in more after this briefing. It looks like we’re ready to start.”
Thorn took his seat, and the Ready Room was again filled with Beta City’s principles, both physical and holographic.
Xena sent Lance a message, and he opened the communication channel with the senior leadership from each company left in Beta City. While Lance stood behind the metal podium, Marchewka began summarizing the meeting with Field Marshal Nhlappo. He also offered an update on what had happened in the universe while they were iced.
When they heard that the White Knight Empire was in upheaval, most appeared willing to join this new Human Legion and fight for their freedom. Marchewka seemed pleased to assure them that they negotiated from a position of strength because of their superior tactics and technology. Upon hearing that they would attempt negotiations tomorrow, there was collective agreement. Sergeant Blake Escombia, the senior sergeant for Echo Company, 2nd Battalion of the 428th MER, asked Marchewka what that meant for them in the short term.
“Sergeant Escombia, there is a real possibility we will receive an influx of Marine transfers from their command. We will wait to reorganize and streamline our forces. If these massive reinforcements turn out to be more than phantoms and empty promises, we will be tasked with controlling Serendine. This Field Marshal Nhlappo plans to control Baylshore after wresting control of it from those Hardit scum. I suspect whatever caused them to fire off their tac-nukes also forced a massive thawing of icers. They said it was Hardits with superior void capabilities, but this seem unlikely.”
The idea of Hardits with void capabilities seemed ridiculous. Everyone knew Hardits were agoraphobic. The idea of one of those monkeys in an aircraft was laughable.
“Regardless, now they have more Marines than they can feed and control. She plans to bolster her command by sending Marines to us, including a Jotun officer or two. It’s clear to me, this Nhlappo isn’t operating from a position of strength. Either way, it would be beneficial to us to join this Human Legion. Unlike them, we will operate from a position of strength,” Marchewka continued. “Sergeant Scipio knows of places that contain powerful equipment that the White Knights forced us to abandon out of fear of our abilities. We will reclaim this gear. Once equipped, we will be able to regain control of Tranquility-4. From there, we will re-evaluate based on the assets left to us. Once we own the system, we can make a final decision about this Human Legion. Until then, we string them along. Are there any questions?”
Lance looked around the virtual room, curious to see how others were reacting to these developments. He was surprised to see no questions from the assembled Marines.
Marines are trained to simply follow orders, thought Lance. Maybe these long-time Marines are simply resorting to what they know.
Marchewka continued his briefing, anxious to reshape his Marines into what he always hoped they could be.
“One of the biggest changes you will see is that our officer corps will be composed of both humans, Jotuns, and any other species we align with down the road. Commissions will be based on competency and opportunity, not on species. It is necessary for our survival, regardless of whom we align ourselves with, as order and discipline must be maintained. The old regimental system has caused disunity and dissention, and we can no longer use this military command model. In that light, standby for promotions,” Marchewka said.
The Jotun colonel looked down at his desk and began entering information into a Digi-Sheet as everyone present in the Ready Room stood for the impromptu promotion ceremony. While Marchewka worked, Lance looked around the room. Many emotions seemed to be floating around the conference table: confusion, excitement, but mostly determination. Marchewka looked up from his Digi-Sheet, and a holographic representation of the new command structure projected in the center of the room.
“Now, for the promotions. By my own order, I promote myself to the rank of Field Marshal and assume leadership of our unnamed regional army. The next two promotions will be of the individuals who single-handedly saved Beta City, and all of us here. Captain Grigonna, by my authority as the regional commander, I hereby promote you to Colonel of Marines and turn over the 6907th TAC Regiment to you. As we reorganize and realign, the nomenclature will change but your regimental command will not,” Marchewka continued. “The next promotion belongs to the Marine of the hour, Sergeant Scipio. Sergeant, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain and are henceforth the commander of Whiskey Company, 8th Battalion, 6907th TAC Regiment.”
Lance stood at the podium, dumbfounded. His eyes scanned the room of mostly smiling faces. His eyes eventually rested on the empty, silver drink container of tea. At this rate of growing responsibility, he figured he would h
ave to trade the tea for grok. Marchewka continued while Lance spaced out behind the podium.
“The other two surviving officers, will be promoted, as will other senior NCOs. Finally, if you check your Aimees, you’ll see that you were tagged with the new TO&E and rank structure. We’ve created several new enlisted positions and ranks. Reorganize your companies accordingly. We will sort out the rest if we get the reinforcements from Field Marshal Nhlappo of the Human Legion.”
Marchewka paused to look around the room. Lance, scanning the room with him noticed the human sergeants appeared proud to have a Marine officer. Marchewka, apparently satisfied with his decision, continued with his briefing.
“Assuming this Field Marshal Nhlappo is true to her word, we will have approximately half a million Marines from this Human Legion. If she is a liar, we will reappraise. Whatever happens, the status of Beta City must be addressed. We need to seal off the connecting corridors between Levels 4 and 5 so we can drain the city while leaving a water buffer. It needs to be done in such a way as to be reversible. Solutions?”
No one spoke. Lance opened his mouth to present an idea when Basil stepped forward. Lance closed his mouth and smiled.
“Field Marshal Marchewka, Tech-Corporal Terloar here. I’ve been studying the plans for the city, and the technology that built it, sir. The FCB-316s, often called Fortified City Builders, came equipped with a standard, smaller variant to clear passageways for the new cities. These machines are known as Micro FCBs, and there are several in the hull of each city builder. If we go to the lowest levels of each City Phase Unit, we should be able to commandeer one and bring it up to Level 4 in a few hours. The equipment wasn’t used on Tranquility-4 because the Hardits and the Trogs created our passageways for us. Our Micro FCBs should be in pristine condition.”
Before Basil could keep going, he was interrupted by a question from Kex Ronwe, recently promoted commander of 901st NTU Division. “Corporal, why do we need this machine to go to Level 4? We don’t want more passageways. We need to drain the water. If you plan on draining the water by giving it places to drain to, it makes more sense to start at the bottom and expand there so it would drain down. Let gravity do some of the work for you.”