“Now, son, anything troubling you?”
“No, Sarge.”
“Etain's off to Qiilura for a few months, to start the rundown of the garrison.”
Darman actually smiled. “That's a safe deployment compared with the jobs she's pulled recently. I'm glad.”
“She's hanging around the barracks waiting for you.”
Darman seemed relieved. He took a deep breath and grinned, but it was that smile Skirata had seen on many mercenaries' faces before they left for a new battlefield.
Fierfek, should I tell this boy now? Should I tell him he has a kid on the way? What if something happens to him before he gets a chance to find out?
Skirata took a sudden and impulsive risk. He could square it with Zey later, like the bill for the anti-terror operation. Always better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. “You can go to Qiilura with her if you want.”
Darman shut his eyes. The pain showed on his face.
“I've had that choice before, Sarge.”
“You love her, though?”
“Yes.”
“I can make this happen.” Maybe it wouldn't be right for you, son. But it's your choice. “All you have to do is say the word, and Corr will take your place in the squad. He's still around. Zey's letting me train him.”
Darman let out a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes still shut. When he opened them, they were brimming with tears.
“Qiilura's safe. My squad deploys in the front line. How can I not be there with them? You could have walked away from Kamino with a fortune and never given us another thought, but you couldn't do it, either.”
“That was different. I was washed up, a di'kutla—”
“No. You were loyal.”
“You sure about this?” Of course you're sure. Your loyalty is overwhelming, too. That's how the stinking Republic uses you. “I won't think any less of you if you go.”
“But I'll think less of me.”
“Okay, no need to tell her, then. It was my idea, not hers. And Ordo will make sure you two can stay in touch whenever you want.”
Darman brushed the tip of his nose and sniffed hard. “You always put us first.”
“I always will.”
“We know.”
Yes. He always would. “There's two ways you can think of females in wartime, son. One is to get obsessed and let them take your mind off your work, and that gets you killed. The other is to focus on them as what you're really fighting for, and draw strength from knowing they're going to be there for you when you get home.” He tapped Darman's cheek a few times with the flat of his hand, firm but paternal. “You know which you're going to choose, don't you, Dar?”
“Yes, Sarge.”
“Good lad.”
Skirata knew that Darman might never arrive home, throw his kit bag on the hall floor, and sob on his wife's shoulder, relieved and grateful and swearing it would be his last tour of duty. But he'd make sure he brought him as close to that sweet normality as a cloned soldier could ever come.
At least Etain understood what a soldier went through. All Skirata had to do was make sure the kid was safe when he was born, and educate him properly. Jinart had held up her end of the bargain and would see that Etain was taken care of on Qiilura. The shapeshifter understood Skirata's obsession with looking after his tribe. She was doing the same thing herself. They were both beleaguered fighters with no love for the Republic, just an uneasy tolerance.
“Go on, then, son.” Skirata nodded toward the doors. “Go and find Etain. Have a day out. Be a regular couple for a few hours and forget you're soldiers. Just be discreet, that's all.”
Darman smiled and seemed to brighten. He was a resilient lad. “Sarge,” he said. “How can I forget I'm a soldier? I don't know how to be anything else.”
Skirata watched him go and wondered when the desire to tell him would overwhelm him and it would slip out. Maybe Etain would find the strain too great, too. It was a pity that something that was a source of joy to ordinary people was so dangerous for Darman and Etain.
It was a rotten war. You should have grown used to all that by now, you fool. But he doubted he ever would.
Skirata had plenty to occupy him while Omega was away—two datapads' worth and then some. He took a deep breath and opened his comlink.
“Ordo? Mereel? Let's go hunt some Kaminoan aiwha bait. We have plans to make. Oya!”
He was a skilled bounty hunter: they were the best intelligence troops in the galaxy.
There was nowhere in the galaxy that Ko Sai could hide from them.
GLOSSARY
A
a (ah) Mando'a: but
a den (AH-den) Mando'a: wrath, rage
AA: anti-aircraft
AAA: anti-aircraft artillery
ad (and, s.); ade (AH-day, pl.) Mando'a: child, son, daughter
ad'ika (ah-DEE-kah, s.); ad'ike (ah-DEE-kay, pl.) Mando'a: child, son, daughter (used affectionately)
adenn (AH-tenn) Mando'a: merciless
aliit (ah-LEET) Mando'a: family, clan
an (ahn) Mando'a: all
ARC: Advanced Reconnaissance Commando
aruetii (ah-roo-AY-tee, s.); aruetiise (ah-roo-ay-TEE-say, pl.) Mando'a: foreigner, outsider, traitor
atin (ah-TEEN) Mando'a: stubborn
B
baatir (BAH-teer, v.) Mando'a: to care, to worry about
baay shfat: an obscenity of unknown origin about Hutt
bal (tahl) Mando'a: and
Bal kote, darasuum kote, / Jorso'ran kando a tome. / Sa kyr'am Nau tracyn kad, Vode an. (Bahl KOH-day, dah-RA-soom KOH-day, Jor-so-RAHN, KAHN-do ah TOh-may, Sah-kee-RAHM now trah-SHEEN kand VOH-day ahn) Mando'a: And glory, eternal glory, / We shall bear its weight together. / Forged like the saber in the fires of death, Brothers all. (ancient Mandalorian war chant)
BRB: Big Red Button (emergency hull seal)
buir (boo-EER) Mando'a: father
buy'ce (BOO-shay, s.); buy'cese (pl.) Mando'a: helmet
buy'ce gal (BOO-shay gahl) Mando'a: pint of ale (literally, the contents of a helmet)
Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal / Vebor'ad ures aliit / Mhi draar baat'1 meg'parjii'se / Kote lo'shebs'ul narit (BOO-shay gahl, BOO-shay tahl Vair-BOR-and 00-rees AH-leet Mee DRAHR bah-TEE mayg-PAR-jee-SEH Koh-TAY loh SHEBS-ool-NAH-reet) Mando'a: A pint of ale, a pint of blood / Buys men without a name / We never care who wins the war / So you can keep your fame (drinking chant of Mandalorian mercenaries)
C
ca (kah) Mando'a: night
cannon fodder: soldier (slang)
chakaar (cha-KAR, s.); chakaare (cha-KAR-ay, pl.) Mando'a: thief, grave robber (general term of abuse)
Cip-Quad: reciprocating quad blaster
CIS: Confederacy of Independent Systems
con: steer a ship
conc (konk): concussion rifle
Coruscanta (KOH-roo-SAN-ta) Mando'a: Coruscant
CSF: Coruscant Security Force
cuir (KOO-eer) Mando'a: four
cuun (koon) Mando'a: our
Cuy'val Dar (koo-EE-vahl dahr) Mando'a: those who no longer exist (the term is used for a group of Jango Fett's handpicked clone commando instructors)
cuyir (KOO-yeer, v.) Mando'a: to exist, to be
D
dar (dahr) Mando'a: no longer
dar'buir (DAHR boo-EER) Mando'a: no longer a father
dar'manda (dahr-MAHN-da) Mando'a: a state of being “not Mandalorian”; not an outsider, but one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and soul
darasuum (dah-RAH-soom) Mando'a: eternal, forever
Deece: a DC-model rifle (slang)
det: detonator
dha (dah) Mando'a: dark
di'kut (dee-KOOT, s.); di'kute (dee-KOOT, pl.); di'kutla (dee-KOOT-lah, adj.): jerk, moron (impolite)
dinuir (DEE-noo-eer, v.) Mando'a: to give
draar (drahr) Mando'a: never
dralshy'a (drahl-SHEE-ya) Mando'a: stronger, more powerful
droten (DROH-
ten) Mando'a: people, public
E
e'tad (EH-tad) Mando'a: seven
ehn (ayhn) Mando'a: three
EM: electromagnetic
EMP (s.); EMPs (pl.): electromagnetic pulse
eniki Huttese: understand
EOD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (bomb disposal)
ETA: estimated time of arrival
F
flash-bang: stun grenade (slang)
G
GAR: Grand Army of the Republic
gar (gahr, s. & pl.) Mando'a: you
Gar ru kyramu kaysh, di'kut: tion'meh kaysh ru jehaati? (Gahr roo keer-AH-moo kaysh, dee-KOOT: tee-ON-mey-kaysh roo je-HAHT-ee) Mando'a: You killed him, you moron: what if he was lying?
ge'verd (ge-VAIRD) Mando a : almost a warrior
gihaal (gee-HAAL) Mando'a: fish-meal
gra'tua (gra-TOO-ah) Mando'a: vengeance
H
HNE: HoloNet News and Entertainment
HQ: headquarters
HUD: heads-up display
hukaat'kama (hu-KAHT-kah-MAH) Mando'a: watch my back, watch my six
hut'uun (hoo-TOON, s.); hut'uune (pl.); hut'uunla (hoo-OON-lah, adj.) Mando'a: coward
I
IED: improvised explosive device
–ika (EE-kah, s.); –ike (EE-kay, pl.) Mando'a: suffix for affectionate usage
J
j’hagwa na yoka Huttese: no trouble
jatne (JAT-nay) Mando’a: best
jatne’buir (JAT-nay boo-EER) Mando’a: best father
jetii (Jay-tee) Mando’a: Jedi
jetiise (jay-TEE-say) Mando'a: Jedi plural, Republic
jorso'ran (jor-so-RAHN) Mando'a: shall bear (archaic)
jurkadir (JOOR-kand-EER, v.) Mando'a: to attack, to threaten,to mess with
K
k'uur (koor) Mando'a: hush, be quiet
kad (kand) Mando'a: saber, sword
kama (KAH-ma, s.); /camas (KAH-maz, pl.) or kamase (kah-AH-say) Mando a : belt-spat
kando (KAHN-do) Mando'a: importance, weight
kandosii (kahn-DOH-see) Mando'a: nice one, wicked, well done, classy, noble
kar'tayli ad meg hukaat'kama (kar-TIE-lie and mayg hu-AHT-KA-mah) Mando'a: roughly “know who's watching your back”
kar'taylir (kar-TIE-leer, v.) Mando'a: to know, to hold in the heart
kaysh (kaysh) Mando'a: him, his
ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade (keh NOO-joor-kand-EER shah Mahn do-AH-day) Mando'a: don't mess with Mandalorians
KIA: killed in action
kit: gear, equipment (slang)
kom'rk (KOM-rohk) Mando'a: gauntlet
kote (KOH-thy, KOH-tay, pl.) Mando'a: glory
kyr'am (kee-RAHM) Mando'a: death
L
LAAT/c: low-altitude assault transport/cargo
LAAT/i: low-altitude assault transport/infantry
larty: a vessel, LAAT/i
lo (loh) Mando'a: into
M
Mando (MAHN-do, s.); Mando'ade (Mahn-doh-AH-day, pl.) Mande'ad: Mandalorian, son/daughter of Mandalore
Mando'a (Mahn-DOH-ah): Mandalorian-language term for the language itself
meat can: soldier (slang)
meg (mayg) Mando'a: which, that
meh (mey) Mando'a: if
mhi (mee) Mando'a: we
MIA: missing in action
MILINT: military intelligence
Mirdala Mird'ika!; Mando'a: Clever Mird!
MRU: much regret, unable (slang)
N
N'oya'kari gihaal, Buir. (Noy-ah KAR-ee gee-HAAL, boo-EER): I've been hunting fish-meal, Father.
nar dralshy'a (NAR-drahl-SHEE-ya) Mando'a: put your back into it, try harder
narir (nah-REER, v.) Mando'a: to act, to do
naritir (nah-ree-TEER, v.) Mando'a: to place, to put
nau'ur ( now-00R, v.) Mando'a: to light up, to illuminate
ner (nair) Mando'a: my
ni (nee) Mando'a: I, me
ni dinui (NEE DEE-noo) Mando'a: I give
ni kar'tayl gar darasuum (nee kar-TILE garh dah-RAH-soom) Mando'a: I love you
Niktose (neek-TOH-say, pl.) Mando'a: Nikto
nynir (nee-NEER, v.) Mando'a: to hit, to strike
O
obs job: observation duty
OCU: Organized Crime Unit
op order: operational order
ops room: operations room
ori; Mando'a: very, exceptionally, extremely
osik (OH-sik) Mando'a: dung (impolite)
osik'la (oh-SIK-lah) Mando'a: badly wrong, horrible, messed up, screwed up, disgusting
oya (OY-ah) Mando'a: let's go hunting, let's roll
P
parjir (par-JEER, v.) Mando'a: to win, to be victorious
PIM (s.); PIMs (0.): Position and Intended Movement (naval term for where a ship is and where it is heading)
PEP: pulsed energy projectile
pod: Kaminoan word for squad
PTC: Perlemian Traffic Control
PWO; Peewo: principal weapons officer
R
rayshe'a (ray-SHEE-ah) Mando'a: five
RC (s.); RCs (pl.): Republic Commando
recce (s.); recces (pl.); recce (v.): reconnaissance, to reconnoiter (military)
Red Zero: request for immediate extraction (military)
resol (reh-SOL) Mando'a: six
RPC: request the pleasure of your company (slang)
rummage: an examination, a search of a vessel (slang)
RV: rendezvous (slang)
S
sa (sah) Mando'a: as, like (comparative)
Sep; Seppie: Separatist
sh'ehn (shayn) Mando'a: eight
shabiir (sha-BEER, v.) Mando'a: to screw up (impolite)
shabla: impolite emphatic adjective in Mando'a
shag Huttese: slave
sharp: needle (slang)
she'cu (SHAY-koo) Mando'a: nine
shebs (shebs, s.); shebse (SHEB-say, pl.) Mando'a: backside, rear
shiny boy: Republic commando (slang)
slot: kill (slang)
SO: Special Operations
SOCO: scenes-of-crime officer, forensics officer
solus (SOH-loos) Mando'a: one
SOP (s.); SOPs (pl.): standard operating procedure
su'cuy (soo-KOO-ee) Mando'a: hi
T
t'ad (tand) Mando'a: two
ta'raysh (ta-RAYSH) Mando'a: ten
Tagwa, lorda. Huttese: Yes, sir.
takisir (TAH-kees-eer, v.) Mando'a: to insult
tal (tahl) Mando'a: blood
te (tay) Mando'a: the (rare)
tihaar (TEE-har) Mando'a: an alcoholic drink; a strong, clear spirit made from fruit
tinny (s.); tinnies (p1.): droid (slang)
tion (TEE-on) Mando'a: prefix to indicate a question
tion'meh (tee-ON-mey) Mando'a: what if
TIOPS: traffic interdiction operations
TIV: traffic interdiction vessel
tome (TOH-may, pl.) Mando'a: together
tracyn (trah-SHEEN) Mando'a: fire
Triple Zero: Coruscant (military)
triple-A: anti-aircraft artillery
troch (troch) Mando'a: certainly
tsad (sand) Mando'a: alliance, group
U
udesii (oo-DAY-see) Mando'a: calm down, take it easy
ures (oo-REES) Mando'a: without, lacking
urpghurit: obscenity in an unknown language
usenye (oo-SEN-yay) Mando'a: go away (very rude; from the same root as osik)
UXB: unexploded bomb
V
vaii (vay) Mando'a: where
vaii gar ru'cuyi (VAY gahr roo KOO-yee) Mando'a: where have you been
verborir (VAIR-bor-EER, v.) Mando'a: to buy, to hire, to contract
verd (vaird, s.); verda (VAIR-dah, pl.) Mando'a: warrior, warriors (archaic plural)
vod (vohd, s.); vode (VOH-day, pl.); vod'ika (voh-DEE-kah, affectionate) Mando'a: brother, sister, comrade, mate
vor'e (V
OHR-ay) Mando'a: thanks
W
werda (WAIR-dah) Mando'a: shadows (i.e., stealth), archaic plural
wet; wets: organic life-form (slang)
white job: clone trooper (slang)
FB2 document info
Document ID: aa0adad3-dd29-47e2-867d-316926a1c73a
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 2005-05-16
Created using: FB Tools software
Document authors :
Anton Filatov
Source URLs :
IRC channel
Document history:
1.0: initial release, some proofreading with real book (added missing pages).
About
This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.
(This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)
Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.
(Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)
http://www.fb2epub.net
https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/
Star Wars: Republic Commando: Triple Zero rc-3 Page 40