The Mercenary

by Jerry Pournelle

  “Less than four hundred,” the major said sadly. He stood to rigid attention. “Have your men search the ground well, Colonel. There’s aye more o’ my lads out there.” He saluted and waited for the blindfold to be fixed again. “I thank you, Colonel.”

  As the mercenary officer was led away Falkenberg turned to Glenda Ruth with a wistful smile. “Try to bribe him with money and he’d challenge me, but when I offer him his men back-“ He shook his head sadly.

  “Have they really given up?” Glenda Ruth asked.

  “Yes. The truce finishes it. Their only chance was to break through before we brought up more ammunition and reserves, and they know it.”

  “But why? In the last revolution they were so terrible, and now-why?”

  “It’s the weakness of mercenaries,” Falkenberg explained crisply. “The fruits of victory belong to our employers, not us. Friedland can’t lose her armor and Covenant can’t lose her men, or they’ve nothing more to sell.”

  “But they fought before!”

  “Sure, in a fluid battle of maneuver. A frontal assault is always the most costly kind of battle. They tried to force the passage, and we beat them fairly. Honor is satisfied. Now the Confederacy will have to bring up its own Regulars if they want to force a way through the Gap. I don’t think they’ll squander men like that, and anyway it takes time. Meanwhile we’ve got to go to Allansport and deal with a crisis.”

  “What’s wrong there?” she asked.

  “This came in regimental code this morning.” He handed her a message flimsy.

  FALKENBERG FROM SVOBODA BREAK PATRIOT ARMY LOOTING ALLANSPORT STOP REQUEST COURT OF INQUIRY INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF LAWS OF WAR STOP EXTREMELY INADVISABLE FOR ME TO COMPLY WITH YOUR ORDERS TO JOIN REGIMENT STOP PATRIOT ARMY ACTIONS PROVOKING SABOTAGE AND REVOLT AMONG TOWNSPEOPLE AND MINERS STOP MY SECURITY FORCES MAY BE REQUIRED TO HOLD THE CITY STOP AWAIT YOUR ORDERS STOP RESPECTFULLY ANTON SVOBODA BREAK BREAK MESSAGE ENDSXXX

  She read it twice. “My God, Colonel-what’s going on there?”

  “I don’t know,” he said grimly. “I intend to find out. Will you come with me as a representative of the Patriot Council?”

  “Of course-but shouldn’t we send for Howard Ban­nister? The Council elected him President.”

  “If we need him we’ll get him. Sergeant Major.”

  “Sir!”

  “Put Miss Horton’s things on the troop carrier with mine. I’ll take the Headquarters Guard platoon to Allansport.”

  “Sir. Colonel, you’ll want me along.”

  “Will I? I suppose so, Sergeant Major. Get your gear aboard.”

  “Sir.”

  “It’s probably already there, of course. Let’s move out.”

  The personnel carrier took them to a small airfield where a jet waited. It was one of forty on the planet, and it would carry a hundred men; but it burned fuel needed for ammunition transport. Until the oil fields around Doak’s Ferry could be secured it was fuel they could hardly afford.

  The plane flew across Patriot-held areas, staying well away from the isolated Confederate strong points remaining west of the Gap. Aircraft had little chance of surviving in a combat environment when any infantryman could carry target-seeking rockets, while trucks could carry equipment to defeat airborne countermeasures. They crossed the Columbia Valley and turned southwest over the broad forests of Ford Heights Plateau, then west again to avoid Preston Bay where pockets of Confederates remained after the fall of the main fortress.

  “You do the same thing, don’t you?” Glenda Ruth said suddenly. “When we assaulted Preston Bay you let my people take the casualties.”

  Falkenberg nodded. “For two reasons. I’m as reluctant to lose troops as the Highlanders-and without the regi­ment you’d not hold the Patriot areas a thousand hours. You need us as an intact force, not a pile of corpses.”

  “Yes.” It was true enough, but those were her friends who’d died in the assault.

  Would the outcome be worth it? Would Falkenberg let it be worth it?

  Captain Svoboda met them at the Allansport field. “Glad to see you, sir. It’s pretty bad in town.”

  “Just what happened, Captain?” Svoboda looked criti­cally at Glenda Ruth, but Falkenberg said, “Report.”

  “Yes, sir. When the provisional governor arrived I turned over administration of the city as ordered. At that time the peninsula was pacified, largely due to the efforts of Mayor Hastings, who wants to avoid damage to the city. Hastings believes Franklin will send a large army from the home planet and says he sees no point in getting Loyalists killed and the city burned in resistance that won’t change the final outcome anyway.”

  “Poor Roger-he always tries to be reasonable, and it never works,” Glenda Ruth said. “But Franklin will send troops.”

  “Possibly,” Falkenberg said. “But it takes time for them to mobilize and organize transport. Continue, Captain Svoboda.”

  “Sir. The Governor posted a list of proscribed persons whose property was forfeit. If that wasn’t enough, he told his troops that if they found any Confederate government property, they could keep half its value. You’ll see the results when we get to town, Colonel. There was looting and fire that my security forces and the local fire people only barely managed to control.”

  “Oh, Lord,” Glenda Ruth murmured. “Why?” Svoboda curled his lip, “Looters often do that, Miss Horton. You can’t let troops sack a city and not expect damage. The outcome was predictable, Colonel. Many townspeople took to the hills, particularly the miners. They’ve taken several of the mining towns back.”

  Captain Svoboda shrugged helplessly. “The railway is cut. The city itself is secure, but I can’t say how long. You only left me one hundred fifty troops to control eleven thousand people, which I did with hostages. The Governor brought another nine hundred men and that’s not enough to rule their way. He’s asked Preston Bay for more soldiers.”

  “Is that where the first group came from?” Glenda Ruth asked.

  “Yes, Miss. A number of them, anyway.”

  “Then its understandable if not excusable, Colonel,” she said. “Many ranches on Ford Heights were burned out by Loyalists in the first revolution. I suppose they think they’re paying the Loyalists back.”

  Falkenberg nodded. “Sergeant Major!”

  “Sir!”

  “Put the Guard in battle armor and combat weapons. Captain, we are going to pay a call on your provisional governor. Alert your men.”

  “Colonel!” Glenda Ruth protested. “You-what are you going to do?”

  “Miss Horton, I left an undamaged town, which is now a nest of opposition. I’d like to know why. Let’s go, Svoboda.”

  City Hall stood undamaged among burned-out streets. The town smelled of scorched wood and death, as if there’d been a major battle fought in the downtown area. Falkenberg sat impassive as Glenda Ruth stared unbeliev­ingly at what had been the richest city outside the capital area.

  “I tried, Colonel,” Svoboda muttered. He blamed him­self anyway. “I’d have had to fire on the Patriots and arrest the governor. You were out of communication, and I didn’t want to take that responsibility without orders. Should I have, sir?”

  Falkenberg didn’t answer. Possible violations of merce­nary contracts were always delicate situations. Finally he said, “I can hardly blame you for not wanting to involve the regiment in war with our sponsors.”

  The Patriot irregular guards at City Hall protested as Falkenberg strode briskly toward the Governor’s office. They tried to bar the way, but when they saw his forty guardsmen in battle armor they moved aside.

  The governor was a broad-shouldered former rancher who’d done well in commodities speculation. He was a skilled salesman, master of the friendly grip on the elbow and pat on the shoulder, the casual words in the right places, but he had no experience in military command. He glanced nervously at Sergeant Major Calvin and the grimfaced guards outside his office as Glenda introduced Falkenberg.
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br />   “Governor Jack Silana,” she said. “The governor was active in the first revolution, and without his financial help we’d never have been able to pay your passage here, Colonel.”

  “I see.” Falkenberg ignored the governor’s offered hand. “Did you authorize more looting, Governor?” he asked. “I see some’s still going on.”

  “Your mercenaries have all the tax money,” Silana protested. He tried to grin. “My troops are being ruined to pay you. Why shouldn’t the Fedsymps contribute to the war? Anyway, the real trouble began when a town girl insulted one of my soldiers. He struck her. Some towns­people interfered, and his comrades came to help. A riot started and someone called out the garrison to stop it-“

  “And you lost control,” Falkenberg said.

  “The traitors got no more than they deserve anyway! Don’t think they didn’t loot cities when they won, Colonel. These men have seen ranches burned out, and they know Allansport’s a nest of Fedsymp traitors.”

  “I see.” Falkenberg turned to his Provost. “Captain, had you formally relinquished control to Governor Silana before this happened?”

  “Yes, sir. As ordered.”

  “Then it’s none of the regiment’s concern. Were any of our troops involved?”

  Svoboda nodded unhappily. “I have seven troopers and Sergeant Magee in arrest, sir. I’ve held summary court on six others myself.”

  “What charges are you preferring against Magee?” Falkenberg had personally promoted Magee once. The man had a mean streak, but he was a good soldier.

  “Looting. Drunk on duty. Theft. And conduct prejudi­cial.”

  “And the others?”

  “Three rapes, four grand theft, and one murder, sir. They’re being held for a court. I also request an inquiry into my conduct as commander.”

  “Granted. Sergeant Major.”

  “Sir!”

  “Take custody of the prisoners and convene a General Court. What officers have we for an investigation?”

  “Captain Greenwood’s posted for light duty only by the surgeon, sir.”

  “Excellent. Have him conduct a formal inquiry into Captain Svoboda’s administration of the city.”

  “Sir.”

  “What will happen to those men?” Glenda Ruth asked.

  “The rapists and murderer will be hanged if convicted. Hard duty for the rest.”

  “You’d hang your own men?” she asked. She didn’t believe it, and her voice showed it.

  “I cannot allow rot in my regiment,” Falkenberg snapped. “In any event the Confederacy will protest this violation of the Laws of War to the CD.”

  Governor Silana laughed. “We protested often enough in the last revolution, and nothing came of it. I think we can chance it.”

  “Perhaps. I take it you will do nothing about this?”

  “I’ll issue orders for the looting to stop.”

  “Haven’t you done so already?”

  “Well, yes, Colonel-but the men, well, they’re about over their mad now, I think.”

  “If previous orders haven’t stopped it, more won’t. You’ll have to be prepared to punish violators. Are you?”

  “I’ll be damned if I’ll hang my own soldiers to protect traitors!”

  “I see. Governor, how do you propose to pacify this area?”

  “I’ve sent for reinforcements-“

  “Yes. Thank you. If you’ll excuse us, Governor, Miss Horton and I have an errand.” He hustled Glenda Ruth out of the office. “Sergeant Major, bring Mayor Hastings and Colonel Ardway to Captain Svoboda’s office.”

  “They shot Colonel Ardway,” Svoboda said. “The mayor’s in the city jail.”

  “Jail?” Falkenberg muttered.

  “Yes, sir. I had the hostages in the hotel, but Governor Silana-“

  “I see. Carry on, Sergeant Major.”

  “Sir!”

  “What do you want now, you bloody bastard?” Hastings demanded ten minutes later. The mayor was haggard, with several days’ growth of stubble, and his face and hands showed the grime of confinement without proper hygiene facilities.

  “One thing at a time, Mr. Mayor. Any trouble, Sergeant Major?”

  Calvin grinned. “Not much, sir. The officer didn’t want no problems with the Guard-Colonel, they got all them hostages crammed into cells.”

  “What have you done with my wife and children?” Roger Hastings demanded frantically. “I haven’t heard anything for days.”

  Falkenberg looked inquiringly at Svoboda but got only a headshake. “See to the mayor’s family Sergeant Major. Bring them here. Mr. Hastings, do I understand that you believe this is my doing?”

  “If you hadn’t taken this city ...”

  “That was a legitimate military operation. Have you charges to bring against my troops?”

  “How would I know?” Hastings felt weak. He hadn’t been fed properly for days, and he was sick with worry about his family. As he leaned against the desk he saw Glenda Ruth for the first time. “You too, eh?”

  “It was none of my doing, Roger.” He had almost be­come her father-in-law. She wondered where young Lieutenant Harley Hastings was. Although she’d broken their engagement long ago, their disagreements had mostly been political, and they were still friends. “I’m sorry.”

  “It was your doing, you and the damned rebels. Oh, sure, you don’t like burning cities and killing civilians, but it happens all the same-and you started the war. You can’t shed the responsibility.”

  Falkenberg interrupted him. “Mr. Mayor, we have mu­tual interests still. This peninsula raises little food, and your people cannot survive without supplies. I’m told over a thousand of your people were killed in the riots, and nearly that many are in the hills. Can you get the auto­mated factories and smelters operating with what’s left?”

  “After all this you expect me to-I won’t do one damn thing for you, Falkenberg!”

  “I didn’t ask if you would, only if it could be done.”

  “What difference does it make?”

  “I doubt you want to see the rest of your people starv­ing, Mr. Mayor. Captain, take the mayor to your quarters and get him cleaned up. By the time you’ve done that, Sergeant Major Calvin will know what happened to his family.” Falkenberg nodded dismissal and turned to Glenda Ruth. “Well, Miss Horton? Have you seen enough?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I .am requesting you to relieve Silana of his post and return administration of this city to the regiment. Will you do it?”

  Good Lord! she thought. “I haven’t the authority.”

  “You’ve got more influence in the Patriot army than anyone else. The Council may not like it, but they’ll take it from you. Meanwhile, I’m sending for the Sappers to rebuild this city and get the foundries going.”

  Everything moves so fast. Not even Joshua Horton had made things happen like this man. “Colonel, what is your interest in Allansport?”

  “It’s the only industrial area we control. There will be no more military supplies from off planet. We hold everything west of the Temblors. The Matson Valley is rising in support of the revolution, and we’ll have it soon. We can follow the Matson to Vancouver and take that- and then what?”

  “Why-then we take the capital city! The revolution’s over!”

  “No. That was the mistake you made last time. Do you really think your farmers, even with the Forty-second, can move onto level, roaded ground and fight set-piece battles? We’ve no chance under those conditions.”

  “But-“ He was right. She’d always known it. When they defeated the Friedlanders at the Gap she’d dared hope, but the capital plains were not Hillyer Gap. “So it’s back to attrition.”

  Falkenberg nodded. “We do hold all the agricultural areas. The Confederates will begin to feel the pinch soon enough. Meanwhile we chew around the edges. Franklin will have to let go-there’s no profit in keeping colonies that cost money. They may try landing armies from the home world, but they’ll not take us b
y surprise and they don’t have that big an army. Eventually we’ll wear them down.”

  She nodded sadly. It would be a long war after all, and she’d have to be in it, always raising fresh troops as the ranchers began to go home again-it would be tough enough holding what they had when people realized what they were in for. “But how do we pay your troops in a long war?”

  “Perhaps you’ll have to do without us.”

  “You know we can’t. And you’ve always known it. What do you want?”

  “Right now I want you to relieve Silana. Immediately.”

  “What’s the hurry? As you say, it’s going to be a. long war.”

  “It’ll be longer if more of the city is burned.” He almost told her more, and cursed himself for the weakness of temptation. She was only a girl, and he’d known thou­sands of them since Grace left him all those years ago. The bond of combat wouldn’t explain it, he’d known other girls who were competent officers, many of them-so why was he tempted at all? “I’m sorry,” he said gruffly. “I must insist. As you say, you can’t do without us.”

  Glenda Ruth had grown up among politicians and for four years had been a revolutionary leader herself. She knew Falkenberg’s momentary hesitation was important, and that she’d never find out what it meant.

  What was under that mask? Was there a man in there making all those whirlwind decisions? Falkenberg dom­inated every situation he fell into, and a man like that wanted more than money. The vision of Falkenberg seated at a desk pronouncing dooms on her people haunted her still.

  And yet. There was more. A warrior leader of warriors who had won the adoration of uneducated privates-and men like Jeremy Savage as well. She’d never met anyone like him.

  “I’ll do it.” She smiled and walked across the room to stand next to him. “I don’t know why, but I’ll do it. Have you got any friends, John Christian Falkenberg?”

  The question startled him. Automatically he answered. “Command can have no friends, Miss Horton.”

  She smiled again. “You have one now. There’s a con­dition to my offer. From now on, you call me Glenda Ruth. Please?”

  A curious smile formed on the soldier’s face. He re­garded her with amusement, but there was something more as well. “It doesn’t work, you know.”