Read Online Legion Of The Damned - 06 - For Those Who Fell by William C. Dietz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: William C. Dietz
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Military, War stories, Space warfare, Life on other planets
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his command the afternoon before, but the process of getting to know them had barely begun. What were their strengths? Where could they improve? And what could he do to help? It was too early to know.
The platoonâs mission was to serve as eyes and ears for both the company and the battalion. Consistent with that mission Santana had two squads of fast moving Trooper IIs. There were three cyborgs and three observers on each squad. That made a total of eleven sentients not counting himself. A lot less people than an infantry platoon would include, but more lethal, given the amount of firepower that six T-2s could put out.
Now, as he and the other bio bods stood at parade rest in front of their assigned T-2s, the platoon leader spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. Captain Dil Gaphy appeared a few seconds later, with Gunnery Sergeant Hreemo Kuga-Ka walking a respectful three paces behind, like the tail on a dog.
The two of them marched out to the point where the companyâs scarlet guidon hung limply from its metal pole and executed a perfectly synchronized left face. That was formal, very formal for a training day, and Santana wondered why. Was the emphasis on ceremony a reflection of Kobbiâspersonality? Or did it say something about Gaphyâs? Having met the colonel the previous day, and seen him in his grease-stained overalls, the platoon leader would have put his money on option two.
Lieutenant Lis Awanda served as both a platoon leader and the companyâs executive officer (XO). She shouted, âCompany . . . Atten-hut!â and waited a beat before the follow-up. âB Company is ready for roll call and inspection, sir! â
The cyborgs were already at what amounted to attention, but the bio bods snapped to, and roll call began. The NCOs handled most of it, which meant that Santana had an additional opportunity to examine his new CO. Gaphy was around six feet tall and rail-thin. What flesh he had clung to his bones as if most of his substance had been sucked out of him. The company commanderâs face was little more than skin stretched over a skull, his eyes were nearly lost in deep-set sockets, and his ears looked as if they had been pinned to his head. Gaphyâs uniform was immaculate, but the shirt he wore appeared to be a full size too large, while his trousers fit to perfection.
As the roll call came to an end, and the morning inspection began, Haaby felt a growing sense of anxiety. She was designated as Santanaâs mount, stood directly behind the lieutenant, and could see over the platoon leaderâs head.
Kuga-Ka was pissed about something, she could tell from subtle clues learned over the last few months, and that was a bad sign. Because whenever the gunny was unhappy, he had a tendency to take it out on the troops, and cyborgs in particular.
Things had been especially difficult during the weeks since Lieutenant Quito had transferred out. As senior NCO, Kuga-Ka had been assigned to lead the 2nd platoon until a new officer arrived. Except that rather than lead the 2nd, he bullied it, riding the T-2s like they were horses, forcing them to carry him around when they were supposed to beoff duty, and making liberal use of a bootlegged neural input device. Drill instructors were allowed to use âzappersâ during basic training, and military police carried them as a matter of course, but no one else was supposed to have or use one of the controllers. But Kuga-Ka not only had one, he loved to use it, and Haaby had been zapped two times. Once when she refused to wrestle another T-2 out behind the NCO clubâand once when the Hudathan forgot to strap himself in and fell off her back.
Now, as Gaphy and Kuga-Ka finished inspecting the 1st platoon, Haaby was worried but wasnât sure why. She and her comrades had a real platoon leader now, and if appearances meant anything, a good one. But the feeling wouldnât go away, and the T-2 felt herself
The platoonâs mission was to serve as eyes and ears for both the company and the battalion. Consistent with that mission Santana had two squads of fast moving Trooper IIs. There were three cyborgs and three observers on each squad. That made a total of eleven sentients not counting himself. A lot less people than an infantry platoon would include, but more lethal, given the amount of firepower that six T-2s could put out.
Now, as he and the other bio bods stood at parade rest in front of their assigned T-2s, the platoon leader spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. Captain Dil Gaphy appeared a few seconds later, with Gunnery Sergeant Hreemo Kuga-Ka walking a respectful three paces behind, like the tail on a dog.
The two of them marched out to the point where the companyâs scarlet guidon hung limply from its metal pole and executed a perfectly synchronized left face. That was formal, very formal for a training day, and Santana wondered why. Was the emphasis on ceremony a reflection of Kobbiâspersonality? Or did it say something about Gaphyâs? Having met the colonel the previous day, and seen him in his grease-stained overalls, the platoon leader would have put his money on option two.
Lieutenant Lis Awanda served as both a platoon leader and the companyâs executive officer (XO). She shouted, âCompany . . . Atten-hut!â and waited a beat before the follow-up. âB Company is ready for roll call and inspection, sir! â
The cyborgs were already at what amounted to attention, but the bio bods snapped to, and roll call began. The NCOs handled most of it, which meant that Santana had an additional opportunity to examine his new CO. Gaphy was around six feet tall and rail-thin. What flesh he had clung to his bones as if most of his substance had been sucked out of him. The company commanderâs face was little more than skin stretched over a skull, his eyes were nearly lost in deep-set sockets, and his ears looked as if they had been pinned to his head. Gaphyâs uniform was immaculate, but the shirt he wore appeared to be a full size too large, while his trousers fit to perfection.
As the roll call came to an end, and the morning inspection began, Haaby felt a growing sense of anxiety. She was designated as Santanaâs mount, stood directly behind the lieutenant, and could see over the platoon leaderâs head.
Kuga-Ka was pissed about something, she could tell from subtle clues learned over the last few months, and that was a bad sign. Because whenever the gunny was unhappy, he had a tendency to take it out on the troops, and cyborgs in particular.
Things had been especially difficult during the weeks since Lieutenant Quito had transferred out. As senior NCO, Kuga-Ka had been assigned to lead the 2nd platoon until a new officer arrived. Except that rather than lead the 2nd, he bullied it, riding the T-2s like they were horses, forcing them to carry him around when they were supposed to beoff duty, and making liberal use of a bootlegged neural input device. Drill instructors were allowed to use âzappersâ during basic training, and military police carried them as a matter of course, but no one else was supposed to have or use one of the controllers. But Kuga-Ka not only had one, he loved to use it, and Haaby had been zapped two times. Once when she refused to wrestle another T-2 out behind the NCO clubâand once when the Hudathan forgot to strap himself in and fell off her back.
Now, as Gaphy and Kuga-Ka finished inspecting the 1st platoon, Haaby was worried but wasnât sure why. She and her comrades had a real platoon leader now, and if appearances meant anything, a good one. But the feeling wouldnât go away, and the T-2 felt herself
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