He leapt into action and jumped from the wall, hitting the ground running. The guards continued to try and suppress the brawl outside. King jumped down after him, and they sprinted towards the sound of the shot as another rang out. They turned a bend and found one of the other platoon sergeants lying dead. Rosca was staggering about with an Aquilla in hand.
“Death to the Empire! This is not your world!” He was angry and inebriated.
“Put that weapon down!”
Colonel Rossman stormed into view. But Rosca turned about and lowered the Aquilla to take a shot. Rossman’s hand had already been on the pistol on his side, and he ripped it from its holster. He took a single shot, narrowly missing Rosca who fired back. The shot struck the muzzle of the Colonel’s pistol, destroying it, but saving him. Without hesitation, he drew his Guardian and rushed in against the murderous Rhepoy. The weapon extended into its close quarters mode as he swept in and cut down. As intoxicated as Rosca was, he had no trouble fighting. He parried the cut quick enough.
“Come on, protect the Colonel!” Stone drew his Guardian and rushed to Rossman’s aid.
“Sergeant!” King was a few paces behind him.
Stone turned in time to see three other Rhepoys coming at them with their blades. Stone’s eyes widened in shock, but he quickly responded with a thrust to the first before he could bring his blade back down. It was a brutal mortal blow, but another strike came for him from one of the others while his Guardian was still buried deep. He ducked under it, but his attacker quickly doubled his attack, and slashed him across the face. He took hold of the opponent’s blade as they both crashed down into the sand. As he held onto his opponent’s blade from flat on his back, he looked over to the Colonel.
Rossman was fighting bravely, but Rosca managed to slash across his lead arm, and the Guardian fell from his hands. It was quickly followed by a thrust. Rossman turned his body and avoided the worst of it, but it still drove into his shoulder.
“No!” Stone shouted as he wrestled his opponent.
King looked over for a moment and saw the Colonel was in trouble, but the remaining Prian was standing between them. He rushed forward and struck blow after blow, but his enemy would not let him through.
Rosca drew out the Aquilla and lined up another thrust to finish the job. The Colonel was wounded badly and weak, with nothing to defend himself.
“Jamiya!”
A hoarse roar called out as another Rhepoy rushed on to the scene, but not to fight against them. He called out in support of his Colonel. It was Sandu. His Firanwar was raised over his head as he charged in against Rosca, forcing him to take his attention away from the wounded Colonel. Sandu attacked like a whirlwind, cutting powerfully in constant arcs. He parried multiple thrusts as he advanced and kept striking. It was the opening Stone and King needed. Stone let go of his weapon and grabbed his attacker’s head, snapping his neck with one brutal twist. He pushed him away and picked up his weapon as King delivered a slash across the chest of the other, sending him to the ground. Only Rosca remained of the traitorous Rhepoys. Sandu was cut lightly from one strike on his arm, but he fought through it.
He closed with Rosca, grabbed his Aquilla, placing his blade between it and his opponent’s neck. He levered with both his hands, driving Rosca down onto his knees with the blade biting into his neck.
“Hold!” Rossman yelled.
The Colonel staggered over to them, his Guardian hanging in one hand by his side, the other cradling his wounded shoulder. He looked furious, and still managed to maintain most of his stoic composure.
“Jamiya, this man deserves to die for his crimes.”
“He will pay for them all right. This is mutiny. Lock them up,” he snarled as he looked over to see the others were all dead.
Chapter 5
One day later.
“Attention!” Captain Getz ordered as the Colonel approached the square.
The whole Company that Rosca was assigned to had been formed up. Eighty native troops, plus regular officers.
Rossman’s arm was in a sling, but he carried on as if it were nothing. He was calm and collected, but also angry. He paced up and down the lines with Getz and Sergeant Stone close by his side. He stopped as he reached the middle of the three platoons and went to address them.
“By now I’m sure you all know an incident took place last night. Soldiers were killed. Rhepoys and Humans alike. I am also sure rumours have spread among you, but let me be clear; four Rhepoys of 2nd Platoon instigated the violence that took place. As far as I am concerned, they were acting alone. They attacked without reason or warning. Three of the four were killed in the fighting that followed. One is in custody and will be dealt with according to the laws of the Empire! This is what happened, and I can be certain of it, because I saw it with my own eyes. Rhepoy Rosca killed one of my sergeants and tried to kill me. Fortunately, I was saved by the brave actions of not only my own officers, but of Rhepoys loyal to the Empire! Kavildar Baclu, one pace forward!”
The native Sergeant stepped forward, and the Colonel and his staff went along the line to stand in front of him.
“Kavildar, all of the Rhepoys who carried out such needless and bloody violence last night were members of your platoon. Your failure of leadership is unacceptable. You are stripped of your rank!”
Stone stepped forward and ripped the rank slide from his tunic.
“Once pace back!”
Baclu looked angry at Rossman, but he still did as was ordered.
“Naider Sandu!” Rossman called out.
He stepped forward and Rossman smiled.
“Naider Sandu fought with honour and fulfilled his duty. I owe Sandu my life. He is a credit to his people and to the Empire. Naider, from now on you are Kavildar. Congratulations.”
Stone handed him the rank slide he’d ripped from Baclu. Sandu smiled and bowed appreciatively as if it was the best thing that ever could have happened to him. He fell back into line, but was beaming.
Rossman’s expression turned serious as he stepped onto a small podium where he could see all their faces. He took a deep breath as he looked from one to another. King was facing his platoon and looked up to the walls above. The regulars on duty were not watching the wall, but the troops formed up. Ready to deal with any more trouble. It was an uncomfortable position to be in.
“Let me be clear,” began Rossman, “The actions of the cowards that attacked myself and my staff were completely unacceptable. They were not justified, and those that have not paid for their actions with their lives will be dealt with in an appropriate fashion. You work for the Empire. You serve the Empire. You are paid by the Empire, and swore an oath to protect it and those who serve it.
Let us see an end to this bitter chapter of our lives. Let us move on, and continue to serve beside one another with respect and dignity! I will have no more of this senseless violence. Bandits and troublemakers continue to unsettle our attempts to make this a better world for everyone. We cannot let them win. Today is a time to show a presence. Show this world who and what you are, and what you are capable of.
Platoon leaders, you have your orders. The Company is on patrol duty. Get to work. Lift your heads high, and let us all move on from this stain on our Regiment’s short but distinguished history! Good luck to you all out there. Do the Empire proud, and do this fine Regiment proud, too!”
He walked away, leaving the Captain to organise the rest.
“Platoon leaders, you have your orders. Fall out!”
“Sergeant, can you get them loaded up?” King said to Stone as he rushed to talk with the Captain.
“Sir.”
“Yes, Lieutenant?”
“What is to happen to us?”
“In what regards?”
“The incident last night, what will come of it?”
“That is not for us to decide. Those responsible will be punished.”
“I’ve heard talk the entire Regiment could be disbanded?”
Getz si
ghed. “That is a possibility.”
“And that does not bother you, Sir?”
“Not particularly. We’d just form the corps of a new Regiment. Recruit more Rhepoys and start again.”
“They mean that little to you? The native troops?”
“Why would they be worth anything to me? We use them to get the job done because they can be recruited and maintained for a fraction of the cost of regulars. In all other regards they are inferior.”
“How can we expect their loyalty if we see them as worth so little?”
“Look around, Lieutenant. This world is shit. We have brought great things to their lives, order, discipline. Until we arrived they were nothing more than tribes needlessly warring with one another.”
“Have we really changed that?”
“Yes, we’re starting to bring these barbaric people into a new age.”
King was stunned. He’d heard and seen such racism before, but not from someone who had worked and lived among the Prians. He didn’t know what else to say, so he went on after his platoon. He loaded up into an Otter with Sergeant Stone. This one had far less troop capacity than the others, as a large amount of the hull was taken up with a turret. It was a well-armoured variant of the same vehicle, known as the Otter Recce.
Stone sealed the door shut while newly promoted Kavildar Sandu got the rest of their platoon loaded up and ready to move. King was glad of the peace and privacy. He had a lot on his mind, but not things he could share with the Prians.
“So you think we’ll be disbanded after that last night?”
Stone was still wearing a dressing over his face from the cut he’d received in that very action.
“The Colonel will do what he can to salvage this Regiment, but an attack on the head of a regiment, that cannot stand.”
“So what, the Colonel will just not report the incident?”
“Or report a redacted version of it, maybe. That’s up to the Colonel.”
“But what about his integrity? What we stand for as officers of the Empire?”
Stone smiled.
“All you’ve ever known is the Academy. I never went there, obviously, but I know enough about it, and I’ve met no end of idealistic new officers. All I will say is this, a few tours of real service, and you’ll see the world very differently.”
“So much so I would lie to save my job?”
Stone suddenly looked quite angry.
“The Colonel would not do any such thing for himself. All that he does is for all of us. The bigger this story is, the worse it will be for us all. Colonel Rossman doesn’t want to provoke a war. He wants peace throughout these lands. That one day this world can be an important outpost for the Empire, a prosperous and peaceful one. That can’t always be achieved by following the book to the letter. If the Colonel had, none of this would exist today.”
“I…I never thought it would be this difficult. That our moral compass could be so…flexible.”
“That is the job of a Marine. To do the best they can no matter the situation. You have been given the tools to do a job, but not been taught everything there is to know about it. Nobody can teach you those things. So long as your head and your heart are in the right places, they will come with experience.”
“How am I to get experience if we are disbanded?”
“You are a young and eager officer who volunteered for service here? You’ll always find a place on this world.”
“And you, Sergeant?”
“You kidding, an old veteran like me? The Empire is desperate for us. You know I tried to retire a couple of years back. The Corps threw everything at me that I could have wanted.”
“Sir, we’re ready to roll,” said the driver.
He reached for the handset on the wall and called out his orders.
“2nd Platoon, move out.”
They lurched forward. He was deep in thought and concern, and glad to have some time to think it all over before facing the Rhepoys again.
“If you’re worried about the ambush on my mission a week ago, don’t be. Those are isolated incidents. We’re tooled up for it now. They wouldn’t dare hit us.”
“Then we’re just put here as a show of force?”
“Pretty much.”
“Tell me, you’ve been out here for some time.”
“Yes.”
“The Prians, do they really want us here?”
“Probably not.”
“Then why are we here?”
“Do you think everyone under my command, or your command likes you?”
“No.”
“But still you command them even if they don’t want you to?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“Because that’s what I was trained for. To make decisions and actions they alone wouldn’t be able or capable of. To lead.”
“Then you have your answer. Those in positions of power know what is best.”
“And you agree with that?”
“I don’t have to agree with it. That is the job. I’m not the Colonel, or a General, or the President of the Alliance.”
King had a lot to think about, but after a day of fruitless patrol, he was no better off. They got back to the base to find the mood had changed. It was not a comfortable or inviting one. The Colonel watched their arrival from the gatehouse as if to keep a keener eye on things since his near-death experience. As they pulled into the depot, they found Rossman had followed them.
“Everything okay, Sir?” King leapt out to speak to the Colonel.
“Yes, and your patrol?”
“Uneventful.”
“Good, that’s the best of possible outcomes.”
King looked surprised.
“You thought I would not seek peace?”
“I’m not sure what I was thinking, Sir.”
“A Marine that lives long enough to retire to an easy life has succeeded, so long as he did so with honour. Nobody’s ambition is to die in the service.”
“I’ll try to remember that and live long enough to enjoy it, Sir.” King smiled, but they both knew he’d not come merely to chat and impart wisdom.
“Tomorrow at 0800 I want everyone formed up in the drill square, the whole Regiment. Captain Getz has already informed all the others, but he is now indisposed, and so I thought I’d let you know myself.”
“Thank you, Sir. 2nd Platoon will be in good order and ready for anything.”
The Colonel smiled before leaving them.
“Does the Colonel normally relay orders like that?”
“No,” replied Stone suspiciously, “He doesn’t want a big deal made of it.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea.” He looked back to their platoon that had formed up neatly and promptly under the command of their new Kavildar. Sandu looked eager to please.
“The day’s work is done. Have the platoon fall out, but formed up in the drill square for 0730 tomorrow, understood?”
“Yes, Sergeant.”
Sandu continued to shout orders in their native tongue.
“A boring day, but a safe one,” said King.
“I’ll drink to that.”
They soon headed for the mess. There was talk of what the next day may hold, but nobody was the wiser.
* * *
“Form up, form up!” They heard a sergeant calling out orders.
2nd Platoon had been in position for some time. King was determined not to make any more mistakes, and being late would be the most stupid of them. Whatever the Colonel had in mind, it had to be important. The moment finally came as he marched onto the drill square with several regular soldiers and MPs escorting a prisoner. It was Rosca, the one who’d almost killed the Colonel. He was marched up to the front of the drill square and paraded before the entire Regiment, as the Colonel took up position atop the podium.
“Rhepoy Rosca has brought shame upon this Regiment and all Rhepoys. Upon all Prians! Prians, a noble and good people, honest and hard-working
people! You have earned my respect, and I in turn treat you in the best of ways according to my means and that of the Empire. But the actions of Rosca cannot go unpunished. Rhepoy Rosca murdered those in the service of the Empire and encouraged others to do so. He struck and tried to murder a superior officer. There is one punishment for such offences. A punishment so reprehensible I have never had to order it. It brings me no pleasure to do so today. But without order and respect, we have nothing. Rhepoy Rosca’s crimes are without doubt, and according to a tribunal yesterday, he is found guilty, and hereby sentenced by military tribunal to execution. This is a dark day, but let us see it through, and to better times,” he declared, dropping his head in sadness, “Captain, carry out your duty,” he said to an MP.
King watched in horror as Rosca was led to a wall and his hands tied to a post in front of it. Five soldiers were ordered into position before him as the whole Regiment watched. He began to feel sick. At the moment of the attack happening he’d not have thought twice about ending the Rhepoy’s life, but he felt repulsed by the barbaric act he was now part of. He wanted to say something, but he remembered the Sergeant’s words. They were here to do what they were told. He felt powerless and saddened in equal measure. This was not the job he thought he’d signed up for.
“Fire!”
A volley rang out, and it was all over. Silence followed, and the deed was done. Rosca slumped on the pole. It was the Colonel himself who finally broke the silence, and he seemed as saddened by the whole affair as King was.
“Let this be a lesson to you all. I hope by now you know well enough that I am a fair commander. I want nothing more than the best for all who serve here, and who live in this district. Let this be the end of this insanity. Let us move forward as allies. The Regiment is staying put today. Barrack duties. Platoon leaders, you have your orders.”
He climbed down and walked away. Relieved the gruesome work was done, but also deeply conflicted.
“Barrack duties?” King knew Stone would know the Colonel’s mind better than anyone.
“Executing one of their own could lead to all sorts of resentment and conflict. The Colonel wants us to keep a keen eye on the Rhepoys today. He doesn’t want to risk defection. You watch your back today, Sir.”
The Last Empire Box Set Page 5