And the rest of the team, is it as hard as you?”
“As hard as you taught me to be.” Eginhard grinned back.
And yes, Grant’s young lieutenant was showing gray around the temples. So the kid had learned wisdom and now led his own company of storm troopers. Of course, Grant told himself, I am no older . He laughed.
“And the company, are they arriving soon?”
“Many of them are already here, sir. Everyone has their own cover. No two alike. If one goes south, we will not weep, but, at least so far, all have reported in. Are the police here on Eden blind?”
“Not blind, just old and comfortable in their ways. The place is a ripe fruit, ready to be plucked.”
The team leader clicked his heels at attention and saluted. “We dreamed of plucking fruit in the old days. Now we shall.”
12
Kris actually jumped out of bed when her alarm woke her at Oh Dark Early. Marines were the best of company to keep early in the morning. For her jog, Kris figured she could go light. She just pulled on a spider-silk body stocking, sweatshirt, gym shorts with ceramic slat inserts, and combat boots with similar armor.
Proof against most personal weapons, she slipped her own automatic into the small of her back… and ran into Jack and Penny in the hall.
“Got to stand up to the Marines,” Penny said. Her sweatshirt said GO NAVY .
Jack’s sweats were still Wardhaven Secret Service, which was to say, blank.
Kris laughed with her friends and strode outside.
And came to a roaring halt.
Captain DeVar stood waiting for her. He saluted as Kris took in what he had arrayed before her. “The Marine Detachment is ready for PT, Your Highness.”
“In full battle rattle!” Kris yelped.
That they were. Each Marine stood with his or her M-6 at port arms. Without a full inspection, it was beyond Kris’s ken, but it sure looked like each of them were in full-battle gear… with a full-battle load.
“Is all this necessary?” Kris whispered.
“Your Highness, I will not take my Marines in harms way without proper armor and equipment.”
Kris waved at her eyebrow and the Marine captain smartly dropped his salute. “Gunny Sergeant, open the detachment,” he ordered.
Orders were given and half the Marines smartly took three steps forward, leaving room for Kris and company to slip into the space between First and Second Platoon.
“Do we have a permit for this much firepower?” Kris asked.
“I fully expect that anyone concerned about that fine point of the law is still sound asleep. Shall we get started, Your Highness, so we can complete our run before that changes?”
Properly chastised, Kris settled in between Jack and Penny.
“Oh, one more thing, Your Highness. Local marksmanship is reported to be pretty bad, so we’d appreciate if you’d wear this.” Captain DeVar handed Kris a bright red sweatshirt. On the front a mean-looking bulldog growled SEMPER FI , from behind a golden globe, anchor, and rocket ship.
On the back was a target in circles of Navy blue and gold.
“Thank you so much,” Kris said, then pulled the shirt on over her armored one.
“Don’t want any Marines ending up as collateral damage,” the captain explained with a grin. “If one of my Marines takes a hit, I want it in the front, charging the bastards.”
“Ooo-rah,” answered that. Softly, so as not to wake anyone.
“Gunny Sergeant, move the detachment out.”
And they headed for the mall. There had been a light rain during the night. The air was cool with the smell of trees and fresh earth. And honest sweat. They had the place to themselves, except for a trash truck carrying off yesterday’s refuse. Three miles never went so quickly for Kris.
Though it did leave her a bit breathless. She was spending way too much time being a social target. She’d better start paying attention to that target on her back or someone just might score a bull’s-eye.
As they jogged up to the embassy, a large black sedan pulled to a stop ahead of them.
“As hard as you taught me to be.” Eginhard grinned back.
And yes, Grant’s young lieutenant was showing gray around the temples. So the kid had learned wisdom and now led his own company of storm troopers. Of course, Grant told himself, I am no older . He laughed.
“And the company, are they arriving soon?”
“Many of them are already here, sir. Everyone has their own cover. No two alike. If one goes south, we will not weep, but, at least so far, all have reported in. Are the police here on Eden blind?”
“Not blind, just old and comfortable in their ways. The place is a ripe fruit, ready to be plucked.”
The team leader clicked his heels at attention and saluted. “We dreamed of plucking fruit in the old days. Now we shall.”
12
Kris actually jumped out of bed when her alarm woke her at Oh Dark Early. Marines were the best of company to keep early in the morning. For her jog, Kris figured she could go light. She just pulled on a spider-silk body stocking, sweatshirt, gym shorts with ceramic slat inserts, and combat boots with similar armor.
Proof against most personal weapons, she slipped her own automatic into the small of her back… and ran into Jack and Penny in the hall.
“Got to stand up to the Marines,” Penny said. Her sweatshirt said GO NAVY .
Jack’s sweats were still Wardhaven Secret Service, which was to say, blank.
Kris laughed with her friends and strode outside.
And came to a roaring halt.
Captain DeVar stood waiting for her. He saluted as Kris took in what he had arrayed before her. “The Marine Detachment is ready for PT, Your Highness.”
“In full battle rattle!” Kris yelped.
That they were. Each Marine stood with his or her M-6 at port arms. Without a full inspection, it was beyond Kris’s ken, but it sure looked like each of them were in full-battle gear… with a full-battle load.
“Is all this necessary?” Kris whispered.
“Your Highness, I will not take my Marines in harms way without proper armor and equipment.”
Kris waved at her eyebrow and the Marine captain smartly dropped his salute. “Gunny Sergeant, open the detachment,” he ordered.
Orders were given and half the Marines smartly took three steps forward, leaving room for Kris and company to slip into the space between First and Second Platoon.
“Do we have a permit for this much firepower?” Kris asked.
“I fully expect that anyone concerned about that fine point of the law is still sound asleep. Shall we get started, Your Highness, so we can complete our run before that changes?”
Properly chastised, Kris settled in between Jack and Penny.
“Oh, one more thing, Your Highness. Local marksmanship is reported to be pretty bad, so we’d appreciate if you’d wear this.” Captain DeVar handed Kris a bright red sweatshirt. On the front a mean-looking bulldog growled SEMPER FI , from behind a golden globe, anchor, and rocket ship.
On the back was a target in circles of Navy blue and gold.
“Thank you so much,” Kris said, then pulled the shirt on over her armored one.
“Don’t want any Marines ending up as collateral damage,” the captain explained with a grin. “If one of my Marines takes a hit, I want it in the front, charging the bastards.”
“Ooo-rah,” answered that. Softly, so as not to wake anyone.
“Gunny Sergeant, move the detachment out.”
And they headed for the mall. There had been a light rain during the night. The air was cool with the smell of trees and fresh earth. And honest sweat. They had the place to themselves, except for a trash truck carrying off yesterday’s refuse. Three miles never went so quickly for Kris.
Though it did leave her a bit breathless. She was spending way too much time being a social target. She’d better start paying attention to that target on her back or someone just might score a bull’s-eye.
As they jogged up to the embassy, a large black sedan pulled to a stop ahead of them.
Similar Books
