Read Online Theogony 1: Janissaries by Chris Kennedy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris Kennedy
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and when he did, his accent confirmed
his nationality. “Sir, if I may, our unit uses ‘Gluck ab’ when we greet each
other, which we use to mean, ‘happy landings.’ Due to the nature of our
mission, which may involve making landings on hostile planets, I believe that
‘gluck ab’ might be appropriate for us.”
Calvin could see a number of heads nodding as the men and
women considered the slogan. It looked like most approved. “I agree,” Calvin
said, “and I think that this also sets a good precedent. While not all of the
reason, you are all still here to form a special forces Center of Excellence,
or COE. That COE is expected to come up with new ways of fighting, in places no
Terran has ever gone before. You all have specialized experience in a variety of
backgrounds that might be needed, wherever we end up and whatever we end up
doing there. As we train, I expect you to share your experience, so that we all
become better. How we do things will probably end up being how the space force
of the future ends up doing them, so we’ve got to get them right ! You
are the finest troops on this planet, and I expect us to become the finest
troops in the galaxy. We will train hard, and we will be ready for anything,
whether that is saving our allies or killing giant frogs. We will be
victorious, because the fate of our world and our species are on the line. Are
you with me ?”
The Special Forces troops, not normally given to displays of
emotion or drama, roared, “ YES !”
“Gluck ab!” Calvin yelled.
“GLUCK AB!” the platoon yelled back.
“ GLUCK AB !” the entire group chorused.
Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, October 15, 2018
“But you don’t understand, sir. The new troops are crazy !”
said Master Chief O’Leary.
Calvin looked out the window of Ryan’s cabin to where the
platoon was cleaning its weapons. Ryan’s one-room cabin was located in the
Snoqualmie National Forest, several miles from the nearest road. A couple of
pre-fabricated Quonset huts had been brought in by helicopter so that the
platoon would have a place to sleep while they trained there. It wasn’t the
Hilton, but it beat sleeping on the ground in a tent. Especially once winter
started setting in. Calvin had come up to the cabin to see the finish of the
latest training evolution that the platoon had run, pitting the ground force squad
as the offensive force trying to capture the space force’s flag. Top’s ground
force had beaten Master Chief’s space force again for the third time in a row.
The frustration in Ryan’s voice was easy to understand. He wasn’t used to
losing.
“C’mon, Master Chief,” said Calvin, “I know that you
consider the SEALs to be the ‘best of the best,’ but this force is supposed to
be the best of the best of the best. These troops are some of the best troops
available on the entire planet. What do you mean, ‘they’re crazy?’”
“I mean just that, sir; these guys are crazy!” He looked to
the XO for help, but First Lieutenant Paul ‘Night’ Train didn’t say anything.
Calvin had noticed that about the XO; he never spoke much without being
directly asked for his input, but when asked, he always had an answer. He
watched everything, and Calvin didn’t think that there was anything that
escaped him. If someone was crazy, he would know.
Getting no help from the XO, Ryan looked next to Master
Sergeant Aaron ‘Top’ Smith, who did reply. “Well,” said Top, “I don’t know if
they’re crazy, but there are certainly quite a few unique individuals. They
definitely bring a lot of experience to the platoon in a number of new areas.”
“Unique? Unique ? You’ve got a guy that thinks he’s a
no-kidding ninja, for crying out loud!” exclaimed Master Chief. “What do you
call him?”
“I’d call Sergeant Hattori Hanzo one of the best fighters
that I’ve ever served with,” said Top. “Sure, he does have some interesting
ideas on who he might have
his nationality. “Sir, if I may, our unit uses ‘Gluck ab’ when we greet each
other, which we use to mean, ‘happy landings.’ Due to the nature of our
mission, which may involve making landings on hostile planets, I believe that
‘gluck ab’ might be appropriate for us.”
Calvin could see a number of heads nodding as the men and
women considered the slogan. It looked like most approved. “I agree,” Calvin
said, “and I think that this also sets a good precedent. While not all of the
reason, you are all still here to form a special forces Center of Excellence,
or COE. That COE is expected to come up with new ways of fighting, in places no
Terran has ever gone before. You all have specialized experience in a variety of
backgrounds that might be needed, wherever we end up and whatever we end up
doing there. As we train, I expect you to share your experience, so that we all
become better. How we do things will probably end up being how the space force
of the future ends up doing them, so we’ve got to get them right ! You
are the finest troops on this planet, and I expect us to become the finest
troops in the galaxy. We will train hard, and we will be ready for anything,
whether that is saving our allies or killing giant frogs. We will be
victorious, because the fate of our world and our species are on the line. Are
you with me ?”
The Special Forces troops, not normally given to displays of
emotion or drama, roared, “ YES !”
“Gluck ab!” Calvin yelled.
“GLUCK AB!” the platoon yelled back.
“ GLUCK AB !” the entire group chorused.
Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State, October 15, 2018
“But you don’t understand, sir. The new troops are crazy !”
said Master Chief O’Leary.
Calvin looked out the window of Ryan’s cabin to where the
platoon was cleaning its weapons. Ryan’s one-room cabin was located in the
Snoqualmie National Forest, several miles from the nearest road. A couple of
pre-fabricated Quonset huts had been brought in by helicopter so that the
platoon would have a place to sleep while they trained there. It wasn’t the
Hilton, but it beat sleeping on the ground in a tent. Especially once winter
started setting in. Calvin had come up to the cabin to see the finish of the
latest training evolution that the platoon had run, pitting the ground force squad
as the offensive force trying to capture the space force’s flag. Top’s ground
force had beaten Master Chief’s space force again for the third time in a row.
The frustration in Ryan’s voice was easy to understand. He wasn’t used to
losing.
“C’mon, Master Chief,” said Calvin, “I know that you
consider the SEALs to be the ‘best of the best,’ but this force is supposed to
be the best of the best of the best. These troops are some of the best troops
available on the entire planet. What do you mean, ‘they’re crazy?’”
“I mean just that, sir; these guys are crazy!” He looked to
the XO for help, but First Lieutenant Paul ‘Night’ Train didn’t say anything.
Calvin had noticed that about the XO; he never spoke much without being
directly asked for his input, but when asked, he always had an answer. He
watched everything, and Calvin didn’t think that there was anything that
escaped him. If someone was crazy, he would know.
Getting no help from the XO, Ryan looked next to Master
Sergeant Aaron ‘Top’ Smith, who did reply. “Well,” said Top, “I don’t know if
they’re crazy, but there are certainly quite a few unique individuals. They
definitely bring a lot of experience to the platoon in a number of new areas.”
“Unique? Unique ? You’ve got a guy that thinks he’s a
no-kidding ninja, for crying out loud!” exclaimed Master Chief. “What do you
call him?”
“I’d call Sergeant Hattori Hanzo one of the best fighters
that I’ve ever served with,” said Top. “Sure, he does have some interesting
ideas on who he might have
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