Read Online The Reaper Plague by David VanDyke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David VanDyke
Tags: thriller, Ebook, Action, Military, War, Virus, Alien, Combat, Apocalyptic, Plague, science fic tion
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any
atrocities?”
Sergeant Shute swallowed convulsively and led
a chorus of “No, Master Sergeant!”
“ In fact, Master Sergeant,”
he went on, “we smuggled food in to the S – the Edens there.” His
eyes pleaded for understanding, for forgiveness.
I’m not here to be nice to these
people , Repeth told herself. Play the role of the hardass.
They have to believe you’re tougher and harder and meaner than
anyone here, that you won’t respect them until they earn
it.
“ Is that supposed to make
me happy?” she snapped. “Make me your friend, your buddy? I’m not
interested in your past sins or the guilt on your souls. We’ve all
done things we regret. I’m only interested in now and going
forward, do you all copy? So the one thing that concerns me right
now is how you two managed to end up together and as my third and
fourth squad leaders instead of being split up. Well? Someone speak
up.”
“ Uh, Master Sergeant…”
Butler said, “I swapped with another guy that didn’t want to be
here. Here in Fourth Platoon, that is.”
Repeth stared ice at Butler, then the rest.
They in turn looked hard at the wall. Finally, she growled, “Fine.
I don’t want anyone in this platoon who doesn’t want to be here
anyway. But if I see any problem with you two bosom buddies, we’ll
flip a coin and one of you will get transferred. We clear?”
---
After meeting her leadership team Master
Sergeant Repeth spoke to the rest of her NCOs to establish her
standards and expectations. After that she addressed her platoon as
a whole as they stood in formation after breakfast.
This time SSG Grusky called them to attention
and saluted smartly. “Fourth Platoon, all present or accounted
for.”
Repeth returned the salute, formally taking
charge of the formation, and Grusky spun about, wooden-faced, and
marched precisely to his position. She addressed them in her best
parade-ground voice, pitched to carry.
“ Ladies and gentlemen, the
training schedule is posted on the platoon board. You may notice
that today’s extends until 2100 hours, and each day from now on
begins at 0440 wake-up and 0500 physical training. Every moment
from now on will be full. And the first thing on the training
schedule is a readiness line. We all know the drill – make sure
your records are in order, your will and life insurance is updated
– and inoculations.”
She paused, looked them over.
“ Everyone here is going to
receive a vaccine that protects against the Demon Plagues – Edens
get a nanovaccine, normals get a biovaccine. This is mandatory. A
copy of the written order is also posted on the platoon board. Once
you get your shot, the Edens among you will move on and finish
their readiness processing then report back to me here. Those of
you who are not Edens will be given the opportunity to receive the
Eden virus.”
She let that declaration hang for a moment,
watching her people. She saw a few darting eyeballs and heard a few
coughs and indistinct sounds but by and large they stayed tight to
the position of attention. Good. They heard about my
wall-to-wall counseling already and are straightening themselves
out. And it looks like Grusky is either a very good actor or has
taken his medicine and is ready to get on with business. Their
uniforms even look better. Some of them must have worked on them
during the breakfast break.
“ Listen up. All Eden Plague
carriers, on the command to fall out, fall out to my right and form
two perpendicular ranks. The rest will stand fast. FALL OUT.” About
a quarter of the people fell out and took places in a new, much
smaller formation to the side.
Repeth lifted a hand to point at a large Army
corporal remaining in the second row of normals. “You. What’s your
name, big man.”
“ Donovan, Master Sergeant.”
He had a rough but intelligent face, and hangdog eyes that matched
his Blue Ridge mountain twang.
“ Corporal Donovan, front
and center.”
The man moved out smartly and
atrocities?”
Sergeant Shute swallowed convulsively and led
a chorus of “No, Master Sergeant!”
“ In fact, Master Sergeant,”
he went on, “we smuggled food in to the S – the Edens there.” His
eyes pleaded for understanding, for forgiveness.
I’m not here to be nice to these
people , Repeth told herself. Play the role of the hardass.
They have to believe you’re tougher and harder and meaner than
anyone here, that you won’t respect them until they earn
it.
“ Is that supposed to make
me happy?” she snapped. “Make me your friend, your buddy? I’m not
interested in your past sins or the guilt on your souls. We’ve all
done things we regret. I’m only interested in now and going
forward, do you all copy? So the one thing that concerns me right
now is how you two managed to end up together and as my third and
fourth squad leaders instead of being split up. Well? Someone speak
up.”
“ Uh, Master Sergeant…”
Butler said, “I swapped with another guy that didn’t want to be
here. Here in Fourth Platoon, that is.”
Repeth stared ice at Butler, then the rest.
They in turn looked hard at the wall. Finally, she growled, “Fine.
I don’t want anyone in this platoon who doesn’t want to be here
anyway. But if I see any problem with you two bosom buddies, we’ll
flip a coin and one of you will get transferred. We clear?”
---
After meeting her leadership team Master
Sergeant Repeth spoke to the rest of her NCOs to establish her
standards and expectations. After that she addressed her platoon as
a whole as they stood in formation after breakfast.
This time SSG Grusky called them to attention
and saluted smartly. “Fourth Platoon, all present or accounted
for.”
Repeth returned the salute, formally taking
charge of the formation, and Grusky spun about, wooden-faced, and
marched precisely to his position. She addressed them in her best
parade-ground voice, pitched to carry.
“ Ladies and gentlemen, the
training schedule is posted on the platoon board. You may notice
that today’s extends until 2100 hours, and each day from now on
begins at 0440 wake-up and 0500 physical training. Every moment
from now on will be full. And the first thing on the training
schedule is a readiness line. We all know the drill – make sure
your records are in order, your will and life insurance is updated
– and inoculations.”
She paused, looked them over.
“ Everyone here is going to
receive a vaccine that protects against the Demon Plagues – Edens
get a nanovaccine, normals get a biovaccine. This is mandatory. A
copy of the written order is also posted on the platoon board. Once
you get your shot, the Edens among you will move on and finish
their readiness processing then report back to me here. Those of
you who are not Edens will be given the opportunity to receive the
Eden virus.”
She let that declaration hang for a moment,
watching her people. She saw a few darting eyeballs and heard a few
coughs and indistinct sounds but by and large they stayed tight to
the position of attention. Good. They heard about my
wall-to-wall counseling already and are straightening themselves
out. And it looks like Grusky is either a very good actor or has
taken his medicine and is ready to get on with business. Their
uniforms even look better. Some of them must have worked on them
during the breakfast break.
“ Listen up. All Eden Plague
carriers, on the command to fall out, fall out to my right and form
two perpendicular ranks. The rest will stand fast. FALL OUT.” About
a quarter of the people fell out and took places in a new, much
smaller formation to the side.
Repeth lifted a hand to point at a large Army
corporal remaining in the second row of normals. “You. What’s your
name, big man.”
“ Donovan, Master Sergeant.”
He had a rough but intelligent face, and hangdog eyes that matched
his Blue Ridge mountain twang.
“ Corporal Donovan, front
and center.”
The man moved out smartly and
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