by Aidan Colyer
Chapter 29.
Roland closed his menus and looked up. The others had been doing the same and were all coming back. The tension was palpable.
“Before any of you get angry about this, there is clearly a very good reason for it. You were in the first battle, which meant that you were locked into the system. We can’t ever remove that as the auditors would get a tad angry and void the results. What we could do was stick you in support.”
The lieutenant pulled one of the smaller hard light screens round and tapped at it for a few moments before sending it to float in front of the larger one. He had highlighted a different column that wasn’t on the main system. It had them listed as transferred to camp support roles and retraining. Roland didn’t like it one bit.
All of them turned to look at the lieutenant.
“As I said. You were likely to get angry at this but when the major arrives, I am sure he will explain.”
The tent fell silent there was nothing more to say as far as Roland thought. They sat in silence as the lieutenant packed away the hard light screens. He then moved his desk back to where it usually sat. He pulled up his chair and sat down. They waited. It was half an hour until the major appeared with four of his men in tow. He walked into the tent and up to the front of the lieutenant’s desk. The major barely glanced at the lieutenant as he walked right up to the squad. Coming to a halt he looked at each one of them. His face impassive as he tried to read their expressions. He abruptly turned back to where the lieutenant had had the hard light screens. Producing one of his own from a deep pocket he placed it on the edge of the desk. He turned around as it loaded. The flashing blue screen behind him turning him into a silhouette as he started to speak.
“By now you have looked at your stats and are getting worried about the effect of the mission on your rankings. I can allay those fears very quickly. You will have your statistics edited by the intelligence unit. Internally your records will show as we start to go through the combat footage and our records. You will have the points you would normally get under the circumstances. I understand you are all fairly new but the averages will be the same.”
It had no effect on them. They sat and stared waiting to find out what had gone on.
“Well, now you know that, I can do the basic debrief and then take some questions.”
He turned back to the screens putting in a series of passwords as he adjusted the settings to do the briefing. Watts leant towards Roland again.
“Do you think we could skip the dry tactical crap and get him to questions?” she said with a dry smirk.
“Oh, give me a few seconds and I’ll do it,” Roland replied. His voice surprising even himself. Watts gave him a look and sat up grinning. The major started to go through the logs from the combat. Roland waited. His leg twitched as he got more impatient. As they reached the return journey, Roland couldn’t take it anymore.
“Major I have a question.”
“Certainly, lance corporal Mellors. What is your question?”
“Why did you lie to us?”
There hadn’t been much noise, but the room was now completely silent. The tent flaps cracked in the light breeze but nothing else moved including the major’s eyes as they bore into Roland’s chest.
“I don’t think I heard you, soldier, what did you just say?”
Roland gulped down the lump in his throat and stood up.
“I said. Why did you lie to us, Sir?”
Roland had come to attention. He was going to weather this storm, but he needed answers. Hell, they all needed answers.
The major walked towards him. Lawry and Clark shifted their chairs in front of him and the major stood inches from his face.
“Lie about what exactly soldier?” he said. The menace in his tone sending a chill down Roland’s spine.
“You said we had to wait for 30 minutes and then we could join the battle against the enemy. We were clearly not fighting the enemy but the rebels. Why the lie?”
Roland kept staring straight ahead not meeting the major’s gaze.
“Do you not consider the rebels the enemy?”
“I do, sir.”
“Then what part of what I said was a lie?”
“The part where we were ambushed and killed by rebels because you had told us to wait in place rather than secure a different position. The downloaded tactical manuals say even a non-intelligence unit should secure a different position after such a meeting. Sir.”
“Are you now suggesting that I did not follow protocol?”
Roland looked into the major‘s eyes.
“That is exactly what I am saying... Sir.”
There was the sound of sharply drawn breath and scraping chairs. Roland saw the lieutenant approach over the major‘s shoulder but the major’s men held him back.
“That is insubordination.”
“If the truth is insubordination and hanging your own troops out to dry is insubordination, then that is what it is.”
“What it is what?”
“You don’t deserve the title sir after what you did. You don’t even have the decency to admit you left us to die on purpose.”
Two of the major’s men walked forwards. Lawry and Clark stood and blocked them. Watts moved to stand beside Roland. He was worried until that point. They all felt the same. He knew that now. He stared at the major defiantly. The major looked at the squad and his men. He turned and walked back to the screens.
“I think I am done here. Lieutenant make sure your squad is processed into their new unit properly I have no further use for them.” He gathered the hard light projector and left with his men in tow.
They stood there. Waiting exactly where they had been for a long time. Roland tried to slow his heartbeat taking in slow shallow breaths. Watts put a hand on his shoulder.
“I thought you were going to ask a question not get yourself court-martialled,” she whispered.
“So did I,” Roland replied.
The lieutenant started to laugh. They all turned to him and stared. Roland’s eyes went wide. He looked back at them and stood.
“I knew there was a reason I liked you Mellors. That guy is an A-class prick.”
The others looked at each other. Watts had moved to stand in front of Roland. She smiled and patted him on the chest.
The lieutenant started to laugh again. The tension in the room started to dissipate, and the others started to laugh too. Roland smiled and then joined in. Nervous reaction or not it really did him some good.
“I’m sorry lieutenant I am used to a better command style,” Roland said stifling his laughter.
The lieutenant walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Mellors, first thank you for the compliment. Second, I will make sure you have your points.” He turned as he spoke. “That goes for all of you.”
A cheer rose up from the squad.
“Now that this nonsense is done shall we get back to the barracks?”
There was a resounding yes. The lieutenant walked over to his desk and grabbed what he needed to take back with him. The squad returned to their barracks tent and gathered their belongings. Roland looked at the suit and rifle. He really did want to keep them but he knew there was no chance they would get through the spawn point. He sighed and left them picking up his pack. They made their way to the battalion spawn point and waited for the fade out. They took a little longer to fade than usual but Roland barely noticed. As soon as they were back, they went to their barrack room. They dumped their packs and gathered at the end where the chairs were still left from their last briefing.
Murden walked to the front and called them to order.
“As you are expecting there is a squad debrief that is needed. You will also have seen that we don’t have the last of our squad. I have checked the menus and we aren’t set for any new members. It seems this is our squad now. So to the briefing.”
There was an audible groan as Murden turned to the wall and activated the hard light
screens. She turned back to the squad and then turned them off.
“Sod it. Pub?”
“Yes, sergeant,” Lawry replied with a mock salute.
Murden undid the top buttons of her uniform and then started to walk towards the door. They turned to watch her.
“What are you waiting for?” she said before kicking it open. They got up and followed her. Roland felt the happiness around him but he couldn’t get the major out of his head. There was something there that hadn’t been revealed and they needed to know. There were reasons to what the major had done, and he had called him out on it. Protection or not they still didn’t have answers.
The pub was busy as it always was after a complete battle set. They managed to find a table off to one side and dragged chairs over. Bottles of beer were brought over by Clark and Lawry and they sat. Clark pulled out her cards and proffered them around. Roland declined and so did Murden. The rest moved closer to the table. Clark produced two cigars and handed one to Watts. She took the cigar and started to deal. Roland watched them as they played. He just couldn’t shake it. After the first game, they switched up the players and Watts stepped away from the table.
“Drink?” she said to Roland.
He shook his head to get back into the present.
“Sure.” He stood and walked with her to the bar moving through the press of soldiers from the rest of the battalion. They made it to the bar and waited for the barman to make it to them. Roland kept quiet.
“What is it?” Watts said
“I’m not sure. There was something about that last fight that got to me. The way the rebels acted and the major’s reaction. I just can’t get it straight.”
“Straight you say?” Watts replied
Roland turned and looked at her. The barman arrived just as Roland was about to ask what she meant.
“I’ll have a round of beers on my tab and a couple of vodkas straight,” she said. The barman nodded as she scanned her chip. She turned to Roland.
“Well, you said you wanted something straight.” She grinned as the bottles and vodkas were placed on the bar.
She handed Roland one of the vodkas and picked the other up herself.
“To the sniper elite,” she said before downing the drink. Roland raised his glass and threw the drink back. He felt the burn of the cheap vodka. It felt different though as if they hadn’t been able to agree on the exact feeling of vodka. He slammed the glass down and shook his head. Watts pushed a beer into his hands and he took a sip.
“Not great is it,” she said gathering up the drinks. Roland joined her in gathering them up and they pushed their way back to the table. They passed them out and Roland sat back down. Watts’ seat had been taken, and she looked around. She shrugged and sat on Roland’s knee.
Roland raised his arms not quite knowing what to do. She turned to him.
“Come on, we have died together.” She pushed his arms down and leant back on his chest. Roland looked at the rest of the squad and noticed Lawry nudge Clark and point. She replied by raising her eyebrows and they laughed.
Roland expected to be fighting and perhaps having a few drinks but he was never expecting this kind of friendship. He drained his bottle and waved it at Watts. She rolled her eyes and handed him another one. He shrugged and carried on drinking.
Chapter 30.
Roland woke up with his head feeling like he had been shot through the eyes. Well, not quite like that, he thought remembering his previous injuries. It was still bad though. He moved in the bed and noticed there was someone else there. He opened his eyes and saw the back of Watt’s head. She was curled up around his arm and an empty beer bottle. Roland lifted the covers and saw they were still in uniform. It might be awkward but not that awkward he thought. He forced himself to relax and smiled. This just felt right. He pulled Watts close and fell back asleep.
His alarm went off and he shot up. Watts shot up too as he pulled his arm away. She looked at him her face going bright red.
“Well, that wasn’t totally unexpected,” she said blushing.
“Well, yeah I do like you,” Roland stuttered.
She laughed and slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the noise. Moving backwards she climbed out of his bed and caught the empty bottle as it fell. She looked at him.
“Looks like there is a reflexes stat that I seem to have gotten quite good at.”
She placed the bottle on the floor and padded over to her bed. Roland opened his menu and shut off the alarm hoping it would prevent the headache that was starting to make itself known. She winked at him before lying down and curling up in her own bed. Roland lay back down and tried to remember anything past the second round of vodka shots. He fell asleep again.
Roland felt himself being shaken. He opened his eyes slowly and smiled. Looking up he saw Webb. Panicked he sprang up and coughed. Webb stepped back.
“I like you man but that was a little creepy.”
“What’s the plan?” Roland said trying to change the subject.
“Well, our points have come in from the intel unit. I’m off to up my comms skills I thought you might want to get up as pretty much everyone else has already left.”
Roland looked around and saw the only person left was Murden. She was engrossed in a hard light screen and was taking notes. Roland nodded his thanks to Webb who left as soon as Roland had swung his legs out of bed. He knocked over the bottle and winced. Murden turned from her screen and looked at him.
“Sorry, Sarge. Forgot it was there.”
“Check your points and the unit ranks,” she said smiling and turned back to her screen.
Roland called up the screens and squinted. The brightness levels were too high. He toned them down and worked his way through to the points. He stared at it. There were enough for the next rank. He instantly changed to the correct menu and called up bought ranks. Without any hesitation he sunk most of his points into getting the rank of corporal and watched as his screens changed. He had done it.
[All further ranks require the leadership stat level to be at certain levels. Make sure that it is at the correct level before applying.]
Roland dismissed the notification. At least the major came through with that promise. He searched for his boots. Seeing them lying on the floor he pulled them on and got up. He straightened his uniform as he stood. He could increase his leadership stat but he needed to make sure everything else was settled first. The headache crept up on him again as he stood trying to think about what he was going to do. He sat back down and pulled up the menus.
Roland opened a series of menus and looked through his stats. His leadership stat was increased but not confirmed. He sank points into keeping it at that level. He needed to start concentrating on that one more than he had been so far, especially if he was going to go for a command rank. The stealth stat only required 100 points to keep where it in place so he paid the points to lock it in as well. He remembered Watts’ comment from the night before and searched around. There were a whole bunch of stats, which they had not been privy to on the first go round. He looked through them. He had played a game from years past that involved characters having basic stats. This looked similar in layout and relevance. He checked them in more detail. They were generally the same as what he remembered from the game but also included a bunch of points he could spend that were sat there from the previous battles. Apparently, his ranks were working like levels. He decided to put all of the points into reflexes. Considering his current path along the sniper route, it made the most sense. He had played a ranger in that game and their shots had used the dexterity statistic. He assumed the reflexes stat was essentially the same. Once he was done, he stood up again. His head swam.
“Sarge where is Bywaters?”
“Did you not check the ranks?” she said over her shoulder.
Roland reopened the menus and called up the ranks of the squad. They had promoted everyone except him. Murden was now a warrant officer second class. Roland exited that menu and p
ulled up the wiki on the nomenclature of ranks. Apparently, she was now referred to as a WO. He closed down the menus.
“Sorry. WO any idea where the medic is hiding?”
Murden put her notepad down and turned around.
“She is in the main sick bay. She did leave some items for us though. They are on the table by the door.” She turned back around and picked up her notebook. Roland stood and walked to the door. There was a small table to the right of the door that contained several small cups. He looked at them only one had anything in. he picked it up. There were two tablets in it. He threw them both in his mouth and swallowed. They caught in his throat and he looked at the table again. There was a single bottle of water left. He grabbed it and took a swig washing the tablets down.
[Medication supplied for an ancillary benefit. All conditions that you are affected by have been nullified.]
Roland dismissed the notification and instantly felt better. There really was something to be said for in world tablets.
He walked out of the barrack room and turned to walk to the range. He needed to see Watts. After last night he didn’t want any awkwardness for them if they were going into combat. He arrived at the range and the same awkward looking clerk was sat at the desk. He gestured towards the scanning system without taking his eyes off of the hard light screen he was watching. Roland didn’t scan his chip but looked at the clerk. They clocked him staring and looked pointedly at him.
“Can I help you, corporal?”
“Yes, I am looking for lance corporal Watts. Is she in the range?”
The clerk sighed and pressed a few buttons on their screen.
“Nope, they aren’t here.” The clerk then went back to whatever they were doing. Roland turned and walked out of the range into the warm sunlight. He thought hard about where she might be and then it struck him. The place where she could up her reflex stat. He made his way across the camp towards the obstacle course. As he walked he passed platoons marching back and forth and others on runs. He thought about that as he walked. They had never been forced to do that ever. There was definitely something very different about fourth platoon. It took him about 20 minutes to find the course. There were at least a company of troops using the course. He watched as they made their way over wooden bars and crawled through barbed wire cages. This looked tough but surely wasn’t the thing that would increase the reflexes. He walked up to the first instructor he saw and waited as they balled out a trooper for a particularly bad performance. Once they were done, Roland moved next to them.