by Tom Kratman
“Death to the Tauran Union!”
II
All the prisoners, and they were many, who could speak English were gathered in one camp. Likewise for those who spoke Spanish, or French, or Italian, or any other major Tauran language. Several hundred of the English-speaking prisoners were now under guard at Fort Williams’ old, octagonal theater, one of the few places to be spared damage in the fighting.
Marqueli Mendoza spoke English. Thus, she inherited the task of being chief instructor for the many thousands of English-speaking prisoners. It was no small job.
Still, thought Marqueli, vanishingly petite, perfectly formed, beautiful, and wonderfully fragrant, a journey of a thousand miles and all. She began to mount to the stage.
One of the Anglians began to hoot. This lasted until his sergeant belted him, knocking him completely out of his theater chair. “Shut up, boy,” said the sergeant. “Can’t you tell a lady when you see one?”
If Marqueli saw or overheard the exchange, she gave no sign. She went to the central rostrum and directed that the assistants begin passing out books.
“I apologize,” she said, “for the books we’re giving you. They’re translations and . . . well . . . maybe not the best translations that were possible. That’s one reason I’m here, to guide you over the bad translations.
“But first, a couple of rules and a little explanation. The books are to help you understand what’s gone wrong with your countries. You don’t have to read them. You don’t have to pay attention to anything I say or even to me.” A born actress, she gave a little stretch then, illustrating perfectly why every male there ought be paying attention at least to her.
“If you’ll look at the covers of the books,” she said, “you’ll see the title, History and Moral Philosophy. The names of the authors are my husband’s and mine.”
The assembled Anglians gave off a subdued groan. Damn, she’s married. Well, there goes that reason to defect.
If Marqueli caught the reason for the groan she effected to ignore it. “This is the founding document, really, for why you ended up here as prisoners. It’s also the refutation of the philosophy, and the people, who sent you here to become prisoners. You know, the Kosmos? The cosmopolitan progressives to whom your lives mean nothing?
“Let’s start by talking a little about cosmopolitan progressivism, shall we, boys?”
III
Estado Mayor, Ciudad Balboa, Balboa, Terra Nova
In four separate cells the four expatriates who had provoked war between Balboa and the Tauran Union waited. All had been interrogated, though without torture. When people were as lost and hopeless as these were, Fernandez usually found pain unnecessary.
“So what happens to me . . . to my men?”
“Public crucifixion,” Fernandez said simply. “Along with your families; though theirs will be semi-private.”
The former policeman shuddered, his face growing pale in the bright cell light.
“Isn’t there any other way?”
“No.”
“What if I confess? I mean make a really good confession.”
“I have discretion to spare your wife and children. The rest of you go to the cross.”
“But it’s not right,” said the killer. “It’s not right for Rocaberti to die easier than we do. It was all his fault.”
“Well . . .” said Fernandez. “Make your confession. If it’s good enough . . . maybe we’ll just hang you. That’s fifteen minutes of degradation against three days. My last offer . . .”
IV
Palacio de las Trixies, Ciudad Balboa, Balboa, Terra Nova
“Last week,” said Parilla, into the cameras, “on a day of shame, the Republic of Balboa was suddenly, and deliberately, attacked by ground, air and naval forces of the Tauran Union. The ostensible reason for this attack was certain crimes allegedly perpetrated by members of Balboa’s armed forces upon Tauran citizens. The real reason for the attack was to force upon Balboa a traitorous clique of puppets who would do the will of the Tauran Union even against their own country and people. The man who ordered the crimes that were to be the Tauran Union’s excuse for this unwarranted invasion was also the Tauran Union’s chosen puppet . . . their intended ruler of Balboa.” Parilla stopped speaking to take a short drink of water.
“Watch,” he said, as choice excerpts from Arias’s confession, and those of the others, were rolled for the cameras. This took all of ten minutes. It must be said that the confessions were not entirely truthful.
“Complete copies of these confessions have been made available to the world’s major news services.
“It was natural enough that the Tauran Union government should have, through the agency of its puppets, arranged for an incident that would galvanize their people for war.” Parilla paused for dramatic effect. “If those had been our women, we’d have gone to war too . . . even against the Tauran Union . . . or the whole world combined.” He gave a nod to an unseen underling. “Now watch this . . .”
The camera changed scenes to the courtyard of the main jail. Four men stood upon a thick beam. The camera closed to show the faces of all four in detail. They were the same men who had just been shown on the videotaped confessions. Lengths of rough hemp graced their necks.
The beam was pulled out and the four men dropped a few inches each. Four guards cut the ropes that bound the men’s hands behind them. Viewers all over the world had the chance to see them struggle with their hands with the constricting nooses. Cameras caught the ground under the four as they voided their bowels and bladders. Urine and feces stained the concrete.
After an interminable time, struggles ceased. The criminals were dead.
Parilla reappeared on screen. “I wonder,” he mused. “I wonder what the Tauran Union will claim they were going to do to them that was worse than that.
“In any event, the criminals who caused this war, those—at least—who are in our hands, have been punished. Some few remain at large in the Tauran Union. They, however, being elected officials, appear to have a certain immunity to criminal action at law. Still, do not be fooled. The war the Tauran Union began is not over.”
APPENDIX A
Glossary
AdC Aide de Camp, an assistant to a senior officer.
Ala Plural: Alae. Latin: Wing, as in wing of cavalry. Air Wing in the legion. Similar to Tercio, qv.
Amid Arabic: Brigadier General.
Antania Plural: Antaniae, septic-mouthed winged reptilians, possibly genengineered by the Noahs; also known as Moonbats.
ARE-12P A Gallic Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
Artem-Mikhail-23-465 Gaur An obsolescent jet fighter, though much updated.
Artem-Mikhail 82 Also known as “Mosaic D,” an obsolete jet fighter, product improved in Balboan hands to be merely obsolescent.
BdL Barco de la legion, Ship of the legion.
Bellona Moon of Terra Nova.
Bolshiberry A fruit-bearing vine, believed to have been genengineered by the Noahs. The fruit is intensely poisonous to intelligent life.
Caltrop A four-pointed jack with sharp, barbed ends. Thirty-eight per meter of front give defensive capability roughly equivalent to triple standard concertina.
Caltrop Projector A drum filled with caltrops, a linear shaped charge, and low explosive booster, to scatter caltrops over a wide area on command.
Cazador Spanish: Hunter. Similar to Chasseur, Jaeger and Ranger. Light Infantry, especially selected and trained. Also a combat leader selection course within the Legion del Cid.
Chorley A grain of Terra Nova, apparently not native to Old Earth.
Classis Latin: Fleet or Naval Squadron.
Cohort Battalion, though in the legion these are large battalions.
Conex Metal shipping container, generally 8’ × 8’ × 20’ or 40’.
Consensus When capitalized, the governing council of Old Earth, formerly the United Nations Security Council.
Corona Civilis Latin: Civic Crown. One of approxim
ately thirty-seven awards available in the legion for specific and noteworthy events. The Civic Crown is given for saving the life of a soldier on the battlefield at risk of one’s own.
Cricket A very short takeoff and landing aircraft used by the legion, for some purposes, in place of more expensive helicopters.
Diana A small magnet or flat metal plate intended to hide partially metal antipersonnel landmines by making everything give back the signature of a metal antipersonnel landmine.
Dustoff Medical evacuation, typically by air.
Eris Moon of Terra Nova.
Escopeta Spanish: Shotgun.
Estado Mayor Spanish: General Staff and, by extension, the building which houses it.
F-26 The legion’s standard assault rifle, in 6.5mm.
FSD Federated States Drachma. Unit of money equivalent in value to 4.2 grams of silver.
GPR Ground Penetrating Radar.
Hecate Moon of Terra Nova.
Hieros Shrine or temple.
Huánuco A plant of Terra Nova from which an alkaloid substance is refined.
I Roman number one. Chief Operations Officer, his office, and his staff section.
Ia Operations officer dealing mostly with fire and maneuver, his office and his section, S- or G-3.
Ib Logistics Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-4.
Ic Intelligence Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-2.
II Adjutant, Personnel Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-1.
IM-71 A medium lift cargo and troop carrying helicopter.
Ikhwan Arabic: Brotherhood.
Jaguar Volgan built tank in legionary service.
Jaguar II Improved Jaguar.
Jizyah Special tax levied against non-Moslems living in Moslem lands.
Karez Underground aqueduct system.
Keffiyah Folded cloth Arab headdress.
Klick Kilometer. Note: Democracy ends where the metric system begins.
Kosmo Cosmopolitan Progressive. Similar to Tranzi on Old Earth.
Liwa Arabic: Major General.
Lorica Lightweight silk and liquid metal torso armor used by the legion.
LZ Landing Zone, a place where helicopters drop off troops and equipment.
Maniple Company.
Makkah al Jedidah Arabic: New Mecca.
Mañana sera major Spanish, Balboan politico-military song: Tomorrow will be better.
MRL Multiple Rocket Launcher.
Mujahadin Arabic: Holy Warriors (singular: mujahad).
Mukhabarat Arabic: Secret Police.
Mullah Holy man, sometimes holy, sometimes not.
Na’ib ’Dabit Arabic: Sergeant Major.
Naik Corporal.
Naquib Arabic: Captain.
NGO Nongovernmental Organization.
Noahs Aliens that seeded Terra Nova with life, some from Old Earth, some possibly from other planets, some possibly genetically engineered, in the dim mists of prehistory. No definitive trace has ever been found of them.
Ocelot Volgan-built light armored vehicle mounting a 100mm gun and capable of carrying a squad of infantry in the back.
Meg Coastal Defense Submarine employed by the legion, also the shark, Carcharodon Megalodon, from which the submarine class draws its name.
M-26 A heavy barreled version of the F-26, serving as the legion’s standard light machine gun.
PMC Precious metal certificate. High denomination legionary investment vehicle.
Progressivine A fruit-bearing vine found on Terra Nova. Believed to have been genengineered by the Noahs. The fruit is intensely poisonous to intelligent life.
Puma A much improved Balboan tank, built in Volga and modified in Zion and Balboa.
Push As in “tactical push.” Radio frequency or frequency hopping sequence, so called from the action of pushing the button that activates the transmitter.
PZ Pickup Zone. A place where helicopters pick up troops, equipment, and supplies to move them somewhere else.
RGL Rocket Grenade Launcher.
Roland a Gallic main battle tank, or MBT.
RTO Radio-Telephone Operator.
Satan Triumphant A hot pepper of Terra Nova, generally unfit for human consumption, though sometimes used in food preservation and refinable into a blister agent for chemical warfare.
Sayidi Arabic form of respectful address, “Sir.”
SHEBSA Servicio Helicoptores Balboenses, S.A. Balboan Helicopter Service, part of the hidden reserve.
Sochaux S4 A Gallic four-wheel-drive light truck.
SPATHA Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Heavy Armor. A legionary tank destroyer, under development.
SPLAD Self-Propelled Laser Air Defense. A developed legionary antiaircraft system.
Subadar In ordinary use a Major or Tribune III equivalent.
Surah A chapter in the Koran, of which there are 114.
Tercio Spanish: Regiment.
Tranzitree A fruit-bearing tree, believed to have been genengineered by the Noahs. The fruit is intensely poisonous to intelligent life.
Trixie A species of archaeopteryx brought to Terra Nova by the Noahs.
TUSF-B Tauran Union Security Force-Balboa.
UEPF United Earth Peace Fleet, the military arm of the Concensus in space.
Volcano A very large thermobaric bomb, set up by a seismic fuse.
Yakamov A type of helicopter produced in Volga. It has no tail rotor.
APPENDIX B
Legionary Rank Equivalents
Dux, Duque: indefinite rank, depending on position it can indicate anything from a Major General to a Field Marshall. Duque usually indicates the senior commander on the field.
Legate III: Brigadier General or Major General. Per the contract between the Legion del Cid and the Federated States of Columbia, a Legate III, when his unit is in service to the Federated States, is entitled to the standing and courtesies of a Lieutenant General. Typically commands a deployed legion, when a separate legion is deployed, the air ala or the naval classis, or serves as an executive for a deployed corps.
Legate II: Colonel, typically commands a tercio in the rear or serves on staff if deployed.
Legate I: Lieutenant Colonel, typically commands a cohort or serves on staff.
Tribune III: Major, serves on staff or sometimes, if permitted to continue in command, commands a maniple.
Tribune II: Captain, typically commands a maniple.
Tribune I: First Lieutenant, typically serves as second in command of a maniple, commands a specialty platoon within the cohort’s combat support maniple, or serves on staff.
Signifer: Second Lieutenant or Ensign, leads a platoon. Signifer is a temporary rank, and signifers are not considered part of the officer corps of the legions except as a matter of courtesy.
Sergeant Major: Sergeant Major with no necessary indication of level.
First Centurion: Senior noncommissioned officer of a maniple.
Senior Centurion: Master Sergeant but almost always the senior man within a platoon.
Centurion, J.G.: Sergeant First Class, sometimes commands a platoon but is usually the second in command.
Optio: Staff Sergeant, typically the second in command of a platoon.
Sergeant: Sergeant, typically leads a squad.
Corporal: Corporal, typically leads a team or crew or serves as second in command of a squad.
Legionario, or Legionary, or Legionnaire: Private through specialist.
Note that, in addition, under legion regulations adopted in the Anno Condita 471, a soldier may elect to take what is called “Triarius Status.” This locks the soldier into whatever rank he may be, but allows pay raises for longevity to continue. It is one way the legion has used to flatten the rank pyramid in the interests of reducing careerism. Thus, one may sometimes hear or read of a “Triarius Tribune III,” typically a major-equivalent who has decided, with legion accord, that his highest and best use is in a particular staff slot or commanding a particular maniple. Given that the legion—with fe
wer than three percent officers, including signifers—has the smallest officer corps of any significant military formation on Terra Nova, and a very flat promotion pyramid, the Triarius system seems, perhaps, overkill. Since adoption, regulations permit but do not require Triarius status legionaries to be promoted one rank upon retirement.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
in no particular order:
Yoli and Toni who, in their different ways put up with me, TBR (the Kriegsmarine contingent of the bar), John Biltz, Chris Nuttall, Brian Carbin, Joseph Capdepon II, Nigel the Kiwi, Mike Watson, Seamus Curran, Arun Prabhu, Alex Shishkin, Jon LaForce, Michal Swierczek, Harry Russell, James Gemind, Mike May, Chris Bagnall, Guy Wheelock, Ori Pomerantz, Krenn, Paul Arnold, Steve Saintonge, Jasper Paulsen, Andrew Stocker, Nomad the Turk, Mark Bjertnes, Paul 11, Matt Pethybridge, Conrad Chu, Geoff Withnell, Joe Bond, Rod Graves, John Becker, Sam Swindell, Bill Crenshaw, Andy and LTC Fehrenbach at old Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne, Mike Sayer, Jeff Wilkes, Bob Allaband, Henrik Kiertzner, John Jordan, Keith Wilds, Greg Dougherty, Andy and Fehrenbach from the 233rd BSB, Wade Harlow.
If I’ve forgotten anyone, chalk it up to premature senility.