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Authors: Michael J Lawrence
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command, Major."
"I'm only under your command during
tactical operations, General. You initiate a tactical order for operations that
include engagement with the enemy and we'll be there. In the meantime, they
belong to me."
"That can change," Lane said.
"Real quick."
"I have a responsibility, General,
one that goes back long before you took over MEF. With respect, you don't have
the ability to train somebody else to do what I do. As for command, the Paladin
has always been chosen by his peers. It is not an appointed command."
"Why are you doing this, Major? Do
you feel like you have something to prove or are you just a renegade?"
Lane leaned forward and smiled. "You know, I can relieve you of your
command. I can also do things like convene courts martial. Traditions are fine,
but there is a line and you have your foot half way over it."
"Maybe I do have something to
prove, General." Walker unfolded his hands and held them up. The rumors he
had heard about Lane's ignorance of his own need to develop as a regimental
commanding officer were turning out to be true. But Walker couldn't wait for
Lane to learn how to trust him. "I agree with Colonel Harris. You need to
commit the Cats to the main line. And we're not ready for that. Let me get them
ready."
"Well, Major, that's starting to
sound like something that resembles a request."
Walker felt his jaw tightening. He had
been the Paladin for twenty years. General Lane had been at his post for six
months. Was the MEF really this short on general officers who could fill the
billet? "With respect, General, you sound like the one who has something
to prove."
Lane glared at him, jutting his chin
forward. "I will take your request under advisement and let you know,
Major. In the meantime, I want to know the current disposition of your Cats,
their readiness state and your current supply status. If any of your men take a
single step without my order, I'll convene a court. The Cats stay put. Are we
clear?"
Major Walker stood back up, letting out
a sigh as he rolled his shoulder back. "General Lane, you go ahead and
convene that court. In the meantime, I have training to conduct. Sir."
Before Lane could respond, he wheeled around smartly and marched out the door.
The General had been right. He had
crossed a line. What the General didn't understand, though, was that line was
one of his own making, not one drawn by the MEF. If circumstances had allowed,
he would have waited until the General figured it out for himself. But Walker
didn't have time for any of that. He only hoped that General Lane figured it
out before it was too late.
As soon as he was back in the compound,
Walker jogged to where the Cats were crouched in tight box formations at the
rear of the MEF compound. He ducked into one of the tents that had sprung up
behind them to find Captain Holt and the Company First Sergeant huddled over a
folding table discussing the status of their supplies and ammunition.
"Top, I need a word with the
XO."
"Yes sir." The sergeant ducked
out of the tent, leaving the two of them alone.
"What's up?" Holt asked.
Walker shook his head and sealed the
tent flap. "You need to get the Cats moving to the Pyramid."
"How soon?"
"Now."
Holt cocked his head and then nodded
once. "Alright. What about you? You're rig isn't ready yet."
"I'll be along as soon as I can.
Just get to the Pyramid." He looked over his shoulder and then took a step
towards Holt. Placing a hand on his executive officer's shoulder, he said,
"And if anybody tries to stop you -"
"I understand, sir. I didn't think
General Lane would think much of the idea."
"Indeed, he did not."
Edge of
Extinction
The lines etching his face were as
desolate as the ground that he hacked at with a hoe. Carefully working the
blade around the dried leaves of a plant that anybody else would have taken for
dead, he dug out clumps of dry dirt and clay to expose its withering roots. He
set the hoe down and knelt next
"I'm only under your command during
tactical operations, General. You initiate a tactical order for operations that
include engagement with the enemy and we'll be there. In the meantime, they
belong to me."
"That can change," Lane said.
"Real quick."
"I have a responsibility, General,
one that goes back long before you took over MEF. With respect, you don't have
the ability to train somebody else to do what I do. As for command, the Paladin
has always been chosen by his peers. It is not an appointed command."
"Why are you doing this, Major? Do
you feel like you have something to prove or are you just a renegade?"
Lane leaned forward and smiled. "You know, I can relieve you of your
command. I can also do things like convene courts martial. Traditions are fine,
but there is a line and you have your foot half way over it."
"Maybe I do have something to
prove, General." Walker unfolded his hands and held them up. The rumors he
had heard about Lane's ignorance of his own need to develop as a regimental
commanding officer were turning out to be true. But Walker couldn't wait for
Lane to learn how to trust him. "I agree with Colonel Harris. You need to
commit the Cats to the main line. And we're not ready for that. Let me get them
ready."
"Well, Major, that's starting to
sound like something that resembles a request."
Walker felt his jaw tightening. He had
been the Paladin for twenty years. General Lane had been at his post for six
months. Was the MEF really this short on general officers who could fill the
billet? "With respect, General, you sound like the one who has something
to prove."
Lane glared at him, jutting his chin
forward. "I will take your request under advisement and let you know,
Major. In the meantime, I want to know the current disposition of your Cats,
their readiness state and your current supply status. If any of your men take a
single step without my order, I'll convene a court. The Cats stay put. Are we
clear?"
Major Walker stood back up, letting out
a sigh as he rolled his shoulder back. "General Lane, you go ahead and
convene that court. In the meantime, I have training to conduct. Sir."
Before Lane could respond, he wheeled around smartly and marched out the door.
The General had been right. He had
crossed a line. What the General didn't understand, though, was that line was
one of his own making, not one drawn by the MEF. If circumstances had allowed,
he would have waited until the General figured it out for himself. But Walker
didn't have time for any of that. He only hoped that General Lane figured it
out before it was too late.
As soon as he was back in the compound,
Walker jogged to where the Cats were crouched in tight box formations at the
rear of the MEF compound. He ducked into one of the tents that had sprung up
behind them to find Captain Holt and the Company First Sergeant huddled over a
folding table discussing the status of their supplies and ammunition.
"Top, I need a word with the
XO."
"Yes sir." The sergeant ducked
out of the tent, leaving the two of them alone.
"What's up?" Holt asked.
Walker shook his head and sealed the
tent flap. "You need to get the Cats moving to the Pyramid."
"How soon?"
"Now."
Holt cocked his head and then nodded
once. "Alright. What about you? You're rig isn't ready yet."
"I'll be along as soon as I can.
Just get to the Pyramid." He looked over his shoulder and then took a step
towards Holt. Placing a hand on his executive officer's shoulder, he said,
"And if anybody tries to stop you -"
"I understand, sir. I didn't think
General Lane would think much of the idea."
"Indeed, he did not."
Edge of
Extinction
The lines etching his face were as
desolate as the ground that he hacked at with a hoe. Carefully working the
blade around the dried leaves of a plant that anybody else would have taken for
dead, he dug out clumps of dry dirt and clay to expose its withering roots. He
set the hoe down and knelt next
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