Guard at the Gates of Hell (Gladius Book 1)

by George Olney

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  The lights were low and the background music was pleasant but unobtrusive in the Senior Officers' Mess. Because of the subject matter to be discussed, the diners were from a very exclusive list. The Cohort Commanders from the Victrix were present with their new Legate, as was Legion Commander Garua as guest of honor. That was it.

  The meal was over and Shyranne pensively fingered her wine glass, staring into the clear liquid as though searching for images from the future. The discussion had begun during dinner and was still in full swing. A great many things were coming together at this table, and she was thinking hard. "I believe," she said, "that we have the beginnings of a working plan, here. We're all in agreement what to do about our future operations... and about Central."

  "The Empire has to fall," Karl replied. "It's become dangerous to the Frontier worlds, and, by extension, to humanity. If it's left to die naturally, it could well take human interstellar civilization with it. That would open the door for other races. If those races get the chance, I don't think you'll see a human controlled planet in this galaxy ever again. They've been waiting a long time and Shangnaman is stupidly willing to hand them the chance. That sanctioned piracy the Rhiannonithi stopped is a symptom of the rot. So is the Tactine attack."

  "True. However, Tactine's something else," Shyranne replied. "It's an almost perfect basis to begin building a new human civilization. It has strategic location, a healthy growing economy, and people that aren't afraid to look forward. That politician I mentioned earlier? The Narsima Randl Turner? Once we talked with him, he bought into the idea of growing a new star nation out here, one that not only expands its own economy, but looks for new worlds. We have to grow if we're going to survive, gentlemen. It's not enough to just take down the Empire. That will bring some degree of security, but we also have to expand if we are to have any kind of future for the race. Like any organism, once the race stops growing, it will start dying. If we stagnate out here, everything we are planning will come to nothing in the end. I want what we are doing to be the first step toward a renaissance for mankind, not just an act of vengeance for what Shangnaman has done to the Corps."

  Karl's voice was hard and grim. "Central and that fool Shangnaman owe us a blood debt. I intend for the Victrix to collect it."

  Shyranne nodded. "With the Valeria and any other Legion we can find.

  "Lane Mackinnie will be overjoyed once he discovers what ships are here in the Cauldwell depots. With what we already have and what we can cobble together, that makes a pretty good sized force, available without much effort. If we can get the Tactinese to build more ships - we're working hard on that - Lane will have a fleet big enough to go back into Middle Empire and take out anything they have. Then it will be the turn of the Corps."

  Karl smiled grimly. "The Corps could probably do it alone, but I don't want to. We need to create a military force for the cluster and they'll go in with us on the day we clean out Central. Corona's plan was always to somehow do that, once Cauldwell has become something other than decadent. We can make his plan dovetail with what you and Khev want to do, but Corona was always looking at Central."

  He took a sip of wine. "Personally, I see our plans as complimentary. You concentrate on looking outward, exploring, building up Tactine and the rest of the cluster while seeing what else is out there. The job of the Victrix is changing the Cauldwell government and waking up its people. Then we can start preparing the way inward to Central."

  Shyranne said, "That's pretty much the way I see it. You take care of Cauldwell and we'll look outward. I'm sure that there are other legions out there that either escaped Imperial plots or haven't been attacked yet. Once they are gathered into our forces, we can begin moving inward towards Central, politically subverting sectors or other worlds we need to have out of our way."

  Karl remarked, "We both agree the cluster needs its own armed forces, new and without ties to us other than a few traditions. There's a lot of raw material right here on Cauldwell for those forces. I'm sure you can provide more from Tactine. Every world we bring into a new political structure in the cluster will add more. One of these days, humanity will be responsible for itself again."

  "Given that," Shyranne again said something everyone at that table knew was true, "killing the Empire has to be our job. The Fleet and the Corps sustained the Empire."

  Her face was set as she looked at the others around the table. "Finally killing it is our responsibility."

  Colonel Paolo Evns nodded then spoke up. "So much for light preliminary work."

  His comment sparked chuckles and broke the grim mood around the table. "Actually," he continued, "I'm encouraged about your plan for the Corps, Legion Commander."

  "Not just my plan," Shyranne answered. "My husband, Khev, actually came up with the basic idea. We both refined it. There're some advantages to having a husband and wife team as Legion Commander and Legate."

  "Well," Karl said, "I've got no problem with providing you some volunteers for your exploration program. That might be a future that won't mean being soldiers for eternity. Most of us, though, are going to be tied down on Cauldwell, taking down the government. That's going to be a very slow and delicate process, given that Narsima Matic Ettranty is in regular communication with Central, possibly the Emperor himself. We don't want him - and Shangnaman - to know anything about us until the bad news arrives at his front door." His grin was wolfish at that last sentence.

  Paolo shook his head. "The Emperor again," he remarked woefully, again to chuckles. "Leaving aside that crazy bastard, I'm glad to see someone is giving some thought to the future of the Corps. I like the idea of making it voluntary."

  Shyranne smiled at him. "It will be, too, if I have anything to say about it. Khev once said the idea of a race of hereditary soldiers is obsolete. I firmly agree with that. We can take specially screened volunteers and give them our body mods and proper training. The result will be very much like our own capabilities if we do it right. No more requirement for a child to become a soldier by accident of birth."

  She looked at the expressions around the table. "I see you all agree with me."

  "Gentlemen," she continued, "right now the Gladius is condemned to war and the human race as a whole is condemned to collapse.

  "We will change both of those things."

  CHAPTER 7

  LEGIO IX VICTRIX

  CAULDWELL

  3226 I.C.E.

  The Narsima Matic Ettranty entered his outer office and paced ponderously past his receptionist, a waiting appointment or two, and several subsidiary clerks with the smooth massive implacability of a huge liner approaching a docking bay. He took note of the individuals in his waiting area and mentally dismissed them. There was nobody of importance to see him this morning. He had something to do before he began his daily business.

  That missing legion - and the Emperor's reaction to its disappearance - was his current headache. Not only was the legion gone, it was nowhere to be found on Cauldwell. A repeated series of extended searches over the last two years had confirmed the fact. His Imperial liaison had even gone so far as to make a very discreet visual examination of the cache points, done at very widely spaced and irregular times so as not to call attention to the fact. No disturbance was discovered. Legate Corona and his men were obviously elsewhere and no longer his problem. It was up to the Narsima to draft a carefully worded message that would state his first conclusion with exquisite documentation, and just as carefully ignore the second. Hopefully, that would stem the increasingly shrill messages he was getting from the Imperial staff.

  The Narsima was never given more than that task - to discover the whereabouts of the Victrix. However, he was fully capable of deduction from the tone of the messages and what was said between the lines. He strongly suspected there were other legions and renegade Fleet forces missing. Those were hostile forces the Emperor couldn't ignore, but they certainly weren't his problem. Neither was the Emperor's fear of them.

&nb
sp; No, he thought as he glanced at the row of beautifully crafted figurines that was his collection of model soldiers then fastened his gaze on one in particular, the Gladius was gone from Cauldwell.

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  Well, no.

  Inside what was once an extremely secret cache of warships, logistical support, and heavy equipment of varying types and purposes, the Victrix went about its current mission: to bring down the corrupt government of Cauldwell. They were making good progress.

  After completing their base and integrating reinforcements, the Victrix had begun infiltrating personnel into the general population. The start was slightly ragged, but the process was now well underway. So was the establishment of a political movement to overthrow the current government by peaceful means.

  Legate Karl Athan left the conference room after the staff meeting feeling reasonably good about things. Infiltration school was proving to be the solution to many small problems. Corporal Ettranty, despite her junior rank, was a major reason for that. As a former top reporter on Cauldwell's premier broadcast news channel and a member of upper level society on the planet, she was a sophisticated observer and was quite able to use those observations to train others. She did it very well. So well, in fact, Intelligence Section regarded her as essential. Needless to say, they weren't very happy after this meeting, but they were going to live with that unhappiness. Especially since he'd just put his foot down about sending her to the next OCS class. Corporal Ettranty was an outstanding trooper in a staff intelligence slot, but now it was time for her to move on and up. She was certainly officer material.

  Once in his office and seated at his desk, Karl spent a few moments thinking about her. She was a woman full grown, he thought, years older than her peers, more mature, and a good soldier. Very interesting person, too. They hadn't had more than formal contact since going under cover, but she was someone he thought he'd like to know better. Fine looking woman too, he finally admitted.

  Now that was an interesting thought, he told himself. For a moment, he visualized Shana. Taller than normal, with a figure appearing a bit more slender because of her height, but there was intelligence, capability, and depth of personality inside the bodily shell. Very interesting.

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  Shana was in her quarters at that moment, reclining on her bunk in a T shirt and shorts and at peace with the world. She had the rest of the day off. What to do with it? Sleep? Always an excellent option. Go look for a game somewhere? No, everyone else was pretty well occupied at the moment. Go over to the gym and work out, then? Maybe. She wanted some more blade work. She was learning the ax and short sword, and that was fun.

  Maybe she'd go over to the Legionnaires Club and see what was happening. One interesting difference she'd noticed between herself and the female Gladii transferred into the legion was her association with the male troopers and their activities. Oh, after her initial grounding in the Victrix she'd missed female companionship, but she enjoyed what the guys did a little more for some reason. They seemed to like having her around, in sort of a brother - sister way, too.

  The fact that she was living underground and had lived that way for two years didn't enter her head. A Gladius did whatever was necessary to make a plan succeed, even living in a glorified hole for years. She knew the general plan, knew what she had to do, ergo... adapt and move on. Think about that or not - the reporter that she once was would have but the Corporal she was now didn't bother her head - she was still at loose ends.

  The door opened and her roommate, Karyn Docket, strode in. Karyn was a typical Gladius female in the usual physical mold, short, solid, and curvy with long pale hair. Shana's opposite, in other words. She was also a good bit younger, which befit a normal Legionnaire Third Class. "Hi, sis," she said.

  Shana remembered the first time she'd called a female Gladius "mate", like the male legionnaires called each other. The subsequent correction was firm and to the point. Only men were "mate". Women were "sister" or "sis". On the other hand, the young troopers of the Victrix still called her "mate".

  Female decurions were a grim discovery. A female sergeant was as hardnosed as her male counterpart, if not more so. Shana quickly learned to mind her step around such creatures, even more than she did around male sergeants. A revolting situation, but simply a condition of life as a legionnaire, to be absorbed and then move on. At least she was a Corporal now, worthy of a minor degree of respect from grumpy and abrasive female beasts with more stripes.

  "What's up, Karyn?"

  "Well," she replied, "some of us have to work while you're playing lady of leisure, but mine is done for the while. Want to hit the pool?"

  Shana swung out of her bunk. "You know, I was just wondering what I wanted to do and you've solved the problem."

  Karyn laughed as she started to change. "Only on condition you don't start playing with the boys. I'm trying to find myself a good one and you distract the whole bunch, you know. You get around the guys and they stop thinking about sex and start acting like you're one of them."

  Shana laughed with her. "I don't see you having any problems, sis. If anything, that's my trouble. I could be bareassed in the pool and they'd still treat me like another guy."

  Karen started removing her uniform to put on her swimsuit. "If it was anyone else, I'd probably doubt that statement, but not you. Let's face it, sis, you're way too tall, skinny, and flat as a board to boot."

  "I'll boot you, short and wide legionnaire," Shana laughed again, then threw her T shirt at Karyn as she began to change.

  Both women were nearly into the Corps issue one piece swimsuits when there was a loud knock at the door. "Hold on," Shana called, as she pulled her swimsuit the rest of the way up and hurriedly adjusted the straps. After a quick glance to see if Karyn was fully into her own suit and a look at the mirror, she headed for the door, pulling here and tugging there to get the suit completely adjusted. For a woman accustomed to body paint or a wisp or two of cloth at the pool, Shana decided, she was actually getting to like the Corps suits. Different, like the skirts, but they showed her figure to nice advantage.

  That thought train was derailed as she opened the old fashioned door and found herself facing Sergeant First Class Homs, her section chief. "Uh, what's up, Sarge," she said, slightly flustered. Then an awful thought bloomed. "I'm not back on duty am I?"

  The fact that Homs had to look up at Shana was mildly irritating to the sergeant. A female Gladius shouldn't be that tall, dammit! On the other hand Corporal Ettranty was a good trooper. Best junior noncom she had in her section. If what Homs guessed was right, she was about to be losing her. "Lieutenant Colonel Paten wants to see you, Corporal."

  She glanced at Shana's well filled swimsuit. "I don't think that's the right uniform to go visiting a colonel, either. You'd better do a quick change and scoot."

  "I had the day off!" Shana said woefully.

  "And still will, but you gotta see the Colonel first," Homs replied firmly. "Now change, then shag ass. She wants to see you now."

  "Now" translated into about ten minutes before Shana was knocking at the open door frame to the Colonel's office. "Come."

  Shana marched in and came to a position of attention. "Lieutenant Colonel Paten, Corporal Ettranty reports."

  Camille Paten was looking over some hard copy on her desk. "Close the door, Corporal, and have a seat."

  Shana closed the door as instructed and seated herself with proper military decorum, meanwhile mentally running down a list of her possible sins, wondering which one had caught up with her.

  Camille glanced up, took note of the Legionnaire's body language, and stifled a chuckle. "No, Corporal, you aren't in trouble. I want to tell you that you're finally going to OCS. Your recent work has made you too valuable to give up until now, but we managed to stifle the screams over at Intel and you've been cut loose. You report day after tomorrow. Make you feel better?"

  Shana let out a mental deep breath and then it hit her. She was finally going to OCS! The fir
st delays were a bit discouraging, but everyone said she was going to get there. Now it looked like they were right. "A good bit, Colonel," she replied carefully, trying not to show her relief. "I have to say I'm happy to get the chance."

  "I expect you to graduate high in the standings, too, Corporal," Camille said dryly. "I've been looking over your record and it's exemplary. I'm sorry that duty kept you from going before now. The fact is I need good female junior officers. I expect you to justify that confidence.

  "Now," she continued, "you've got today and tomorrow off. You're free until you report, so make sure you've got your gear and yourself ready when you report."

  "Aye." That was all Shana could say. She was already thinking about OCS. It was supposed to be rough, but she was looking forward to the challenge.

  Then Camille leaned back in her chair and fingered the hardcopy again. Looking up at the Gladius on the chair across from her desk, she asked, "Corporal, I know about your father. Tell me, did you ever know your mother?"

  That brought Shana to earth with a crash. She had to think for a moment. "No, Colonel," she finally got out, "I really don't. Father always told me she died just after I was born, but she's never been a part of my life. All I've ever seen of her were old solidiopics he gave me."

  "Did your father ever talk about her?"

  Shana thought hard, suddenly realizing she'd never really had much, if any, interest in the phantom that was her mother. In fact, she actually knew nothing about her. "Colonel," she said thoughtfully, "he never spoke about her and it's just now hit me that I've never been interested in her."

  Shana's eyes narrowed. She was smart enough to suspect she'd been conditioned not to show any of that interest. Looking back, it became obvious. She looked Lieutenant Colonel Paten in the eyes, and her expression wasn't that of a junior Legionnaire. "I don't think he ever wanted me to ask about her. Frankly, it never occurred to me to ask, and I'm beginning to think that was intentional on someone's part. Now I'm curious why you are asking."