revisit the assault plan, at least. We’re going to be facing a much stronger defense than we’d expected.”
“Agreed. Let’s move Cyn Kuragina’s regiment into the vanguard.” Kuragina was a refugee who’d fled from the colony world of Vostok, one step ahead of the law. Neither Cain nor Teller knew what she had done, and neither cared. Black Eagles were born again when they took the company’s oath of service, their prior sins forgotten and forgiven. Such absolution came at a price, however, and Eagles were held to an onerous standard of conduct and duty. They were sworn to serve their brethren, and any who failed in that sacred trust could expect to deal with Darius Cain at his merciless worst. Every Eagle knew their commander would run into the middle of enemy fire to retrieve a wounded private, but they were just as certain he would repay treachery with a cold and merciless justice.
“White Regiment first. Got it.” Teller agreed with the decision. Cyn Kuragina was an odd duck, a woman who looked and acted like she’d been raised as a diplomat’s daughter but who took to soldiering with a gritty vengeance. She was tough as nails and as strong a tactician as the Eagles had, besides Cain and Teller.
“The Teams will go down with her people. I want the area scouted immediately, and I want snipers in place as soon as possible. The Spears’ officers are all strutting peacocks just like Ling. We should be able to put half of them down in the first few hours.” Like all serious military units, the Gold Spears issued the same armor to their officers and key personnel. But their commander, General Ling, was an arrogant man, and his leadership style permeated his unit. And Darius Cain had trained his Special Action Teams to search for any indication a target was an officer – posture, positioning, behavior. His elite snipers were utterly without peers in Occupied Space, and he was confident they would wreak havoc on the Spears’ command structure.
“Falstaff next?” Teller asked. Evander Falstaff’s commanded the Eagles’ senior unit, the Black Regiment. After the Teams, Falstaff’s people were the most experienced veterans, and they served almost as a guard unit.
“Yes, right behind Kuragina.” Cain’s voice was stern. “And I do mean right behind, Erik. If we mess around with the Spears, they can hurt us. And I don’t want Kuragina’s people down their alone a second longer than necessary.”
“Understood. I’ll run the launch sequences myself.”
“Good.” Cain paused for an instant. “Let’s land Cornin’s Red Regiment next and keep Vandeveer’s Blues in orbital reserve. But I want them ready to land immediately if we need them.”
“Got it, Erik. Still good for launch at 0800?” The Eagles ships ran on Earth time, just as the fleets of the Superpowers had. Earth was a radioactive wreck whose survivors clawed out a miserable existence in the shattered ruins, but she was still man’s original home, and her clock and calendar were still in use across much of human space.
“Yes.” He stood stone still as his executive officer nodded. “And I’m going in with Kuragina.”
Teller’s eyes snapped back to Cain’s and his mouth opened to argue. But he got one good look at his commander’s face, and he held his tongue. He’d known Darius Cain most of his life, and he knew that expression. He knew it far too well.
* * * * *
Cain walked down the corridor of his flagship toward his quarters. The landing was commencing in three hours, and if his Eagles were going to have their final showdown with the Gold Spears, he was damned sure going down with the first wave. He’d originally expected the campaign against Lysandria to be relatively quick and easy, but now he knew it was going to be a hard fight. He had most of his strength with
“Agreed. Let’s move Cyn Kuragina’s regiment into the vanguard.” Kuragina was a refugee who’d fled from the colony world of Vostok, one step ahead of the law. Neither Cain nor Teller knew what she had done, and neither cared. Black Eagles were born again when they took the company’s oath of service, their prior sins forgotten and forgiven. Such absolution came at a price, however, and Eagles were held to an onerous standard of conduct and duty. They were sworn to serve their brethren, and any who failed in that sacred trust could expect to deal with Darius Cain at his merciless worst. Every Eagle knew their commander would run into the middle of enemy fire to retrieve a wounded private, but they were just as certain he would repay treachery with a cold and merciless justice.
“White Regiment first. Got it.” Teller agreed with the decision. Cyn Kuragina was an odd duck, a woman who looked and acted like she’d been raised as a diplomat’s daughter but who took to soldiering with a gritty vengeance. She was tough as nails and as strong a tactician as the Eagles had, besides Cain and Teller.
“The Teams will go down with her people. I want the area scouted immediately, and I want snipers in place as soon as possible. The Spears’ officers are all strutting peacocks just like Ling. We should be able to put half of them down in the first few hours.” Like all serious military units, the Gold Spears issued the same armor to their officers and key personnel. But their commander, General Ling, was an arrogant man, and his leadership style permeated his unit. And Darius Cain had trained his Special Action Teams to search for any indication a target was an officer – posture, positioning, behavior. His elite snipers were utterly without peers in Occupied Space, and he was confident they would wreak havoc on the Spears’ command structure.
“Falstaff next?” Teller asked. Evander Falstaff’s commanded the Eagles’ senior unit, the Black Regiment. After the Teams, Falstaff’s people were the most experienced veterans, and they served almost as a guard unit.
“Yes, right behind Kuragina.” Cain’s voice was stern. “And I do mean right behind, Erik. If we mess around with the Spears, they can hurt us. And I don’t want Kuragina’s people down their alone a second longer than necessary.”
“Understood. I’ll run the launch sequences myself.”
“Good.” Cain paused for an instant. “Let’s land Cornin’s Red Regiment next and keep Vandeveer’s Blues in orbital reserve. But I want them ready to land immediately if we need them.”
“Got it, Erik. Still good for launch at 0800?” The Eagles ships ran on Earth time, just as the fleets of the Superpowers had. Earth was a radioactive wreck whose survivors clawed out a miserable existence in the shattered ruins, but she was still man’s original home, and her clock and calendar were still in use across much of human space.
“Yes.” He stood stone still as his executive officer nodded. “And I’m going in with Kuragina.”
Teller’s eyes snapped back to Cain’s and his mouth opened to argue. But he got one good look at his commander’s face, and he held his tongue. He’d known Darius Cain most of his life, and he knew that expression. He knew it far too well.
* * * * *
Cain walked down the corridor of his flagship toward his quarters. The landing was commencing in three hours, and if his Eagles were going to have their final showdown with the Gold Spears, he was damned sure going down with the first wave. He’d originally expected the campaign against Lysandria to be relatively quick and easy, but now he knew it was going to be a hard fight. He had most of his strength with
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