Read Online Gray Panthers: Dixie by David Guenther - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David Guenther
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transports?”
“We left the vehicles down by the river. A little less than a day’s march, sir. We can take our time so you’ll be able to keep up with us without any problems,”
“I want to see you run this old man into the ground, Lieutenant, because that’s not going to happen,” Sam said with a laugh. She knew that although Scotty looked like he was seventy, he was closer to twenty-five physically because of his nanite implants. “Let’s get moving.”
“Montgomery, take point,” Semmes said to one of the female scouts. “Scotty, if you would take position behind me, and Captain Culpepper, if you would stay behind Ambassador Scholl, please.” He then called out, “Everyone else, assume your normal patrol positions. Move out, people!”
Scotty stood waiting to move out as the two enlisted scouts that had accompanied the lieutenant started down the trail and disappeared. More than half a dozen additional scouts appeared from the tree line and fell in on the trail. The lieutenant took one last look around as he got ready to move out.
“Scotty, Captain, if you would follow me now, please. Try to keep ten feet from me and each other, please. No talking from here out, and please try to avoid making any unnecessary noise or movement. If you see something or need something, just put the palm of your hand flat on top of your head. Keep your weapons pointed either to the left or right of the trail with safeties on. If you see me drop or get off the trail, follow my lead. If we get separated for any reason, just keep heading downhill till you hit the river. We will look for you there. Any questions?”
The pair shook their heads and Scotty gave a slight half-salute with a smile. Semmes turned back to the trail and started out at a brisk pace to catch up with the rest of the patrol.
Scotty noted that it was already starting to get light and cursed the rumble in his belly, thinking it had been a mistake not to refill his pockets with something to eat from his pack.
Gray Panthers Space Port, Arizona
29 October 2128
The Georgia shook violently as it lifted off the ground. The view of the spaceport was limited to those areas that were illuminated. The repairs on the ship had been completed at 2130, and the captain had announced that departure would be 2200.
In high orbit, two small fleets waited, each consisting of a hundred shuttles. One was manned by the Gray Panthers. The other consisted of the US Army. The Gray Panthers’ general, William “Black Jack” Black, wanted nothing more than to have the space to pace as he waited for the Georgia.
The flight deck crew watched the Earth decrease in size as they increased their altitude. Captain Woods contemplated the mission ahead of them. The thought of the two hundred shuttles navigating up to his hull, then attaching themselves in space, made him feel overly protective of his newly repaired ship. The thought of all the possible damage that could occur left his stomach in knots. The thought of immediately going to FTL crossed his mind more than once, each time more enticing than the last.
“Captain Woods, General Black sends his compliments and says they are ready to commence landing on the Georgia in accordance with the load plan,” an ensign reported.
“Very well. We’ll stop, hold position and attitude, and let them come to us.” Previous experience had Woods ready to watch a circus as the shuttles maneuvered. Instead, they approached like a well-choreographed ballet. Each shuttle quickly and smoothly found its way to the assigned portion of hull and landed without difficulty.
“Captain, the shuttles have all confirmed that they are ready for us to get back underway.”
“We are now heading out. History rides with us,” Woods said with conviction. “We shall vanquish the oppressors who thought they could attack Dixie with impunity. We showed them our back once, but now we shall re-engage them and be victorious, or we shall enter Valhalla as
“We left the vehicles down by the river. A little less than a day’s march, sir. We can take our time so you’ll be able to keep up with us without any problems,”
“I want to see you run this old man into the ground, Lieutenant, because that’s not going to happen,” Sam said with a laugh. She knew that although Scotty looked like he was seventy, he was closer to twenty-five physically because of his nanite implants. “Let’s get moving.”
“Montgomery, take point,” Semmes said to one of the female scouts. “Scotty, if you would take position behind me, and Captain Culpepper, if you would stay behind Ambassador Scholl, please.” He then called out, “Everyone else, assume your normal patrol positions. Move out, people!”
Scotty stood waiting to move out as the two enlisted scouts that had accompanied the lieutenant started down the trail and disappeared. More than half a dozen additional scouts appeared from the tree line and fell in on the trail. The lieutenant took one last look around as he got ready to move out.
“Scotty, Captain, if you would follow me now, please. Try to keep ten feet from me and each other, please. No talking from here out, and please try to avoid making any unnecessary noise or movement. If you see something or need something, just put the palm of your hand flat on top of your head. Keep your weapons pointed either to the left or right of the trail with safeties on. If you see me drop or get off the trail, follow my lead. If we get separated for any reason, just keep heading downhill till you hit the river. We will look for you there. Any questions?”
The pair shook their heads and Scotty gave a slight half-salute with a smile. Semmes turned back to the trail and started out at a brisk pace to catch up with the rest of the patrol.
Scotty noted that it was already starting to get light and cursed the rumble in his belly, thinking it had been a mistake not to refill his pockets with something to eat from his pack.
Gray Panthers Space Port, Arizona
29 October 2128
The Georgia shook violently as it lifted off the ground. The view of the spaceport was limited to those areas that were illuminated. The repairs on the ship had been completed at 2130, and the captain had announced that departure would be 2200.
In high orbit, two small fleets waited, each consisting of a hundred shuttles. One was manned by the Gray Panthers. The other consisted of the US Army. The Gray Panthers’ general, William “Black Jack” Black, wanted nothing more than to have the space to pace as he waited for the Georgia.
The flight deck crew watched the Earth decrease in size as they increased their altitude. Captain Woods contemplated the mission ahead of them. The thought of the two hundred shuttles navigating up to his hull, then attaching themselves in space, made him feel overly protective of his newly repaired ship. The thought of all the possible damage that could occur left his stomach in knots. The thought of immediately going to FTL crossed his mind more than once, each time more enticing than the last.
“Captain Woods, General Black sends his compliments and says they are ready to commence landing on the Georgia in accordance with the load plan,” an ensign reported.
“Very well. We’ll stop, hold position and attitude, and let them come to us.” Previous experience had Woods ready to watch a circus as the shuttles maneuvered. Instead, they approached like a well-choreographed ballet. Each shuttle quickly and smoothly found its way to the assigned portion of hull and landed without difficulty.
“Captain, the shuttles have all confirmed that they are ready for us to get back underway.”
“We are now heading out. History rides with us,” Woods said with conviction. “We shall vanquish the oppressors who thought they could attack Dixie with impunity. We showed them our back once, but now we shall re-engage them and be victorious, or we shall enter Valhalla as
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