Read Online Naero's War: The Citation Series 2: The High Crusade by Mason Elliott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mason Elliott
Tags: Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, alien invasion, first contact, Galactic Empire, Space Marine, Colonization
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have gone before him. Let them welcome him in honor.”
Sender’s mates had already said their goodbyes to him along the way and during the ride up.
They handed the remains over to the funeral teks, and went back to their quarters. Marines were almost always quiet during the first few hours of losing one of their own. Then slowly, they returned to their regular routines.
Seventhday had what many called Sparring Night. Others also called it Dance Night, but Naero had never been much of a dancer. Although from what she heard, 36 had some of the best dancers in Bravo Command. Everything with the hyper-athletic Marine Companies was a hot and heavy competition.
Naero spent much of the evening knife fighting with Trevor Lakota in a practice room.
They had a fantastic time.
Just as she expected, Lakota was superb with blades. Without her Mystic strength and speed, he would have beaten her half of their matches. The man was that good.
Even with her prowess, he drew her blood seven times.
“You should have been a Mystic,” Naero told him.
He smiled. “That is not my way, as it is yours, Naero of the Brighteyes. I am but a simple warrior at heart. While you, you were borne of the blood of your mighty parents to become the great Spirit Warrior that you are now, and that you shall yet become in the future. Any who have eyes can see this in you.”
Naero sighed. “I carry a Cosmic monster within me that I cannot control,” she confessed.
Lakota nodded. “You may call it that, but it is you. You are the darkness and the light, both good and evil, and they constantly war within your soul. The Great Mystery itself has touched you, and invoked its powers of Life and Death within you. I fear, that your destiny shall be both great and terrible–a very frightening thing indeed. I would not wish such a life. Yet it makes me glad, that I am but a simple warrior.”
Naero asked him about the Marine they had lost, and then about several other people in the company. Lakota always gave her his honest opinion.
At one point Naero grinned and was curious. “You like the Foxes, the cousins Chime and Jonny. I can tell you do, but you seldom talk to them or hang around them as friends.”
Lakota grinned. “Big sister and little brother Fox? Yes, I have great love for them, and they need it, because of the great sadness of their family. They often make me laugh, but I can only take so much of them. Yet they are good Marines and warriors in their own right, and have my respect. I am a quiet man by my nature; I usually keep to myself.”
“You know they’re cousins, not sister and brother, right?”
“That does not matter. They were raised together like brother and sister by the last of their elders, but the little brother always tries to look out for the older sister. He protects her like a brother should and has a good heart.”
“I would agree with you, though, Lakota. Chime can be a little much at times.”
Lakota sighed, “It’s because she’s crazy. If she survives this war, and finds the right person to love her well, Chime will be all right I think.”
They talked for another hour, drinking lix paks. Lakota informed her about several others in the company that she would enjoy matching iron with, half of them from the other native Clans.
Naero gave him one of her special Clan Maeris battle blades, and showed him all of its powered features.
Lakota’s eyes twinkled and he smiled. He unfolded an ornate leather wrapping with intricate beading and gave her a warrior’s knife from his people. He said the hilt was buffalo horn and that the blade was sacred to his Clan.
Naero gasped slightly, actually sensing a touch of Cosmic power within that blade.
Naero made certain to thank and honor her new friend with great respect. Honor was something that was paramount to all Spacers; something that they all shared and could understand.
4
Metra-4’s lush, green, primordial forests and grassy plains
Sender’s mates had already said their goodbyes to him along the way and during the ride up.
They handed the remains over to the funeral teks, and went back to their quarters. Marines were almost always quiet during the first few hours of losing one of their own. Then slowly, they returned to their regular routines.
Seventhday had what many called Sparring Night. Others also called it Dance Night, but Naero had never been much of a dancer. Although from what she heard, 36 had some of the best dancers in Bravo Command. Everything with the hyper-athletic Marine Companies was a hot and heavy competition.
Naero spent much of the evening knife fighting with Trevor Lakota in a practice room.
They had a fantastic time.
Just as she expected, Lakota was superb with blades. Without her Mystic strength and speed, he would have beaten her half of their matches. The man was that good.
Even with her prowess, he drew her blood seven times.
“You should have been a Mystic,” Naero told him.
He smiled. “That is not my way, as it is yours, Naero of the Brighteyes. I am but a simple warrior at heart. While you, you were borne of the blood of your mighty parents to become the great Spirit Warrior that you are now, and that you shall yet become in the future. Any who have eyes can see this in you.”
Naero sighed. “I carry a Cosmic monster within me that I cannot control,” she confessed.
Lakota nodded. “You may call it that, but it is you. You are the darkness and the light, both good and evil, and they constantly war within your soul. The Great Mystery itself has touched you, and invoked its powers of Life and Death within you. I fear, that your destiny shall be both great and terrible–a very frightening thing indeed. I would not wish such a life. Yet it makes me glad, that I am but a simple warrior.”
Naero asked him about the Marine they had lost, and then about several other people in the company. Lakota always gave her his honest opinion.
At one point Naero grinned and was curious. “You like the Foxes, the cousins Chime and Jonny. I can tell you do, but you seldom talk to them or hang around them as friends.”
Lakota grinned. “Big sister and little brother Fox? Yes, I have great love for them, and they need it, because of the great sadness of their family. They often make me laugh, but I can only take so much of them. Yet they are good Marines and warriors in their own right, and have my respect. I am a quiet man by my nature; I usually keep to myself.”
“You know they’re cousins, not sister and brother, right?”
“That does not matter. They were raised together like brother and sister by the last of their elders, but the little brother always tries to look out for the older sister. He protects her like a brother should and has a good heart.”
“I would agree with you, though, Lakota. Chime can be a little much at times.”
Lakota sighed, “It’s because she’s crazy. If she survives this war, and finds the right person to love her well, Chime will be all right I think.”
They talked for another hour, drinking lix paks. Lakota informed her about several others in the company that she would enjoy matching iron with, half of them from the other native Clans.
Naero gave him one of her special Clan Maeris battle blades, and showed him all of its powered features.
Lakota’s eyes twinkled and he smiled. He unfolded an ornate leather wrapping with intricate beading and gave her a warrior’s knife from his people. He said the hilt was buffalo horn and that the blade was sacred to his Clan.
Naero gasped slightly, actually sensing a touch of Cosmic power within that blade.
Naero made certain to thank and honor her new friend with great respect. Honor was something that was paramount to all Spacers; something that they all shared and could understand.
4
Metra-4’s lush, green, primordial forests and grassy plains
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