Read Online In Every Clime and Place by Patrick LeClerc - Free Book Online Page A

shuttle!” I ordered. “If there’s still room, start with the dependents of the embassy personnel. Anybody not collecting a check from the government gets off first.”
    “What about us, corp? The round trip is too long,” said one of Chan’s Marines.
    “We’re armed, shit-for-brains,” I explained patiently. “We’ll overrun and secure one of these tubs if it comes to that.”
    A crowd will take orders from anyone who acts like they should be giving them. Sabatini and Johnson began herding our charges onto the assault craft. I directed the social workers to get O’Rourke strapped in. When they’d finished that, I started loading dependents. Sgt McCray got the civilians lined up and filing on as space was available.
    This was a shit situation. We might not all get out, but I would be damned if I was going to see the kids I trekked across this rock to save go down. Lt Mitchell would either promote me or shoot me if we ever got back, but I had to answer to my conscience. If we died, it would be with honor. We all die eventually.
    Before that happened, we would make a credible attempt at commandeering a corporate shuttle. Let those bastards asphyxiate. They started this mess, they could clean it up.
    Our assault shuttle was designed to carry thirty heavily armed Marines and supplies. We now had nearly ninety people aboard. It was straining the equipment, but we could do it in two overloaded trips. On the first, we got everybody loaded except for Marines, a handful of Navy men and the embassy officials. A gunner’s mate got off the shuttle to make room for the ambassador’s daughter. That made me decide to go easy on the Navy for a while. At least everyone left hanging was on the government’s payroll.
    We backed everybody out beyond the docking chamber and the shuttle took off. My ears popped as the pressure in the asteroid sank lower. I crossed myself half unconsciously. I’d been raised Catholic, back when the Earth was young, but had lapsed a bit since.
    I was lost in thought when Sabatini grabbed the collar of my armor and pulled my head down. She planted a kiss on me. I was so startled I almost didn’t respond.
    Almost.
    “You looked like you needed that, chief,” she said. “Johnson wanted to do it, but I pulled rank.”
    I grinned like an idiot. “Well, it sure as hell hasn’t been a boring deployment.”
    “So, how long till we board a corporate scow and go out, guns blazing?”
    “Since I made the call at the shuttle over six higher-ranked Marines, I think I’ll let the Old Man sound the charge on this one.”
    I waited for the order with a strange calm. The pressure drop might be playing hell with my reason.
    Lt Evers walked up to me. Oh shit, here we go.
    “Cpl Collins.”
    “Sir!”
    He eyed me from under lowered brows, a neutral expression on his face. “You made the right call back there. The Old Man can’t decide if he should tear off your stripes for jumping the chain of command, or give you another one for keeping your head.”
    I waited for him to go on. The best thing to do when you aren’t sure how much trouble you’re in is keep quiet. Talking can only make the trouble bigger.
    “Just wanted you to know that it was the right choice. We all agree on that.”
    Was he reassuring me because he thought we were dead anyway?
    “By the way, we caught a lucky break. A rescue rig showed up. They’re trying to seal the breach now. Don’t get too excited, it hasn’t worked yet.”
    “Still nice to know somebody gives a rat’s ass, sir.”
    He nodded. “Yes, it is. If it doesn’t work, we take the next corporate boat. They won’t like it and we won’t all make it. If this is it, good luck, you’ve been a good Marine. I ain’t gonna kiss you though.”
    This last was said with a look at Sabatini. She put on her innocent face, the one that made the Virgin Mary look like a pickpocket. The lieutenant walked back to his place by the boss.
    Gradually, it seemed the wind was slowing.