Published: 4 Sep 2023

The sounds of a frame running across reinforced concrete caused everyone in the makeshift medical area to turn. “What the hell?” Robin shouted as he looked up from gluing Johanna’s neck wound as Luna, in her frame, came into view with Maximilian in her frame’s arms. The boy was a bloody mess.

“I screwed up!” Luna shouted. “I… help him!”

Right behind Luna, Maik’s deputy frame carried MSgt Ryder. The man’s right arm hung down awkwardly. Blood dripped down Ryder’s fingers splattering large drops from the lower forearm.

Robin’s head shot back and forth between Johanna, Max, and Ryder with an open mouth.

Johanna slid further back. “You got the metal out and I’m glued. Don’t worry about me!”

Robin moved up to Max but still glanced back. “Don’t move your left arm or shoulder! It may open back up!”

Luna extended her arms toward Robin.

Robin reached out to grab the boy but stopped. He saw open blank eyes. The same look he had seen on others way too many times. His hands froze for a moment. “Oh, nooooo! Max! Come on Man! Come On! NO!” he shouted as he reached back into the met kit taken off one of the Medicorim frames. He pulled out a small kit with two wires and stuck them on each side of Max’s neck. The display blinked a trio of times and then showed five red lights.

Robin gulped even as the small scanner fell from his hands.

Luna fell to a knee as Robin stared into her faceplate. “He’s… Not…”

“Nothing I can do…” He stopped as Maik extended Ryder into him with enough force to knock him on his butt. “What the hell?!”

“If you can’t help Max, help this guy!” Maik shouted.

Robin felt his face flush even as he started to tell the kid to back off. Fortunately, Luna barked out, “Robin! Maik’s right! Sergeant Ryder needs help!”

The known voice jerked Robin out of his flash of anger. He motioned for Maik to put Ryder down even as he pulled the medic kit closer. He slid over, grabbed a small squirt bottle of antiseptic wash, and sprayed the man’s forearm. It gave him only a couple of seconds to see the damage since blood quickly welled out of at least seven deep wounds. “Something blow up real close to him or what?”

“Yeah…” Luna managed to choke out as she gently lowered Max onto a blanket hastily tossed on the floor by Philipp.

Philipp knelt next to Max, blinked out some tears, and pulled the lifeless eyes closed before he turned his head and puked.

Luna’s left hand crashed into her head unit, “Oh, damn… Damn… DAMN!” A moment later her right fist slammed into the reinforced concrete floor hard enough to put a divot into it.

Robin kept most of his focus on Ryder’s arm. He glanced down into the kit and shook his head. “Too much shrapnel to bandage…” He glanced around for a moment. “Philipp! See if the PDF medics have any spray bandages!”

Maik responded, “I’ll check!” The sound of metal frame feet on concrete quickly faded as the kid took off at a sprint.

“He’s losing too much blood!” Robin muttered as he slipped on a tourniquet over Ryder’s bicep and triggered the power cuff. The ring quickly swelled, cutting off blood flow to the lower arm. As this happened, Robin pushed another squirt of antiseptic wash over the lower arm. He cringed as he saw three small chunks of metal sticking out and a really nasty gash deep enough to see the radius. While the bone was still inside, it was clearly broken.

“Philipp, I can tell you’re shook up, but I need you to get with PDF medics and get me an auto bone-setter with an arm unit!”

“I’ll see if they have one,” Luna managed to get out through a sob.

“You need to get back out there and keep others from firing into the perimeter!” Robin ordered as he carefully looked over the rest of MSgt Ryder to make sure there weren’t other problems.

“Perimeter’s clear.” Luna managed to get out as she turned and made her way over to planetary defense medics who were working on several of their people.

“Then how…” Robin started to ask, only to realize Luna had already moved out of easy earshot. His focus returned to Ryder’s arm. He pulled out another scanner from the Earth Core medical kit, suddenly happy Maj. O’Connell had gotten some medical equipment salvage from the crash of the Earth Core flagship on New Bravaria. Because of this, Robin knew how to use almost all the equipment in the kit including the mini-scanner.

He slowly moved it across the arm on both the upper and lower sides. He then had it process an image. A few seconds later a holographic display of the arm was projected above the center crystal. He tapped a few buttons to get a computerized assist. The imager picked up all the shrapnel he had seen and one more deep, between the radius and ulna. It also found a small nick on the artery right where the deep gash was. On the plus side, all the remaining metal was in locations he could get to and pull out without doing much more damage.

Even as he carefully extracted the metal, he glanced over to Phillip. The teen had tears running down his cheeks even as he tried to clean blood off Max’s face. “Take some breaths… And if you can, cover him. I know from experience. It hurts to cover up someone you know. It’s final… But if you don’t, you will keep looking.”

Phillip turned and looked upward away from everything other than metal beams across the ceiling. “Covering Max will not stop me from looking!”

“You’re right. It won’t. But it will prevent you from seeing the face of someone you know… Remember him as he was, not like this.”

“I… Can’t leave blood on his face… his dad… He will want to see…”

Robin let out a long breath and cringed. “We can do it later… But if you… need to, don’t do it alone. Find Glen, Master Sergeant Flanagan. He’ll understand and will help. I would but…”

Philipp held up a hand red with Max’s blood, “No, you take care of the living… But you guys don’t even know Max…”

“Doesn’t matter,” Robin responded even as he carefully pulled out the final chunk of metal deep in Ryder’s lower arm muscle. “It makes no difference how long or short a time someone is in a merc unit. A fellow merc is a member of the family.”

Robin started another scan to make sure there was no more metal in the arm but continued to talk to Phillip. “Looks like you know him pretty well. Were you friends?”

“He and Hans, Maik, and Pat were in the same frame class as me. We were all picked up after all five of us took the top five spots of every-other-year huge Frame Sim competition in Whispering Wheat. Over eleven hundred entered. Max took third, Hans, fifth.”

“And you?”

Philipp let out a sad sounding snort and stroked the dead boy’s blood-matted hair, “Fourth. The last thirty-two of us were put into a random double-elimination tournament then the final eight did a round-robin to get first through fifth. I lost three total matches, all to Max. Over a year younger than me, but man… he was great. He just missed going for first. Pat took him out with a stupid lucky headshot.”

Philipp cut off a piece of blanket, wetting it with his canteen, and wiped some more blood off Max’s right cheek. “Pat got his ass firmly handed to him by Maik. Everyone said…” Phillip choked up for a few seconds. “Everyone, even Pat, said the final would have been way better if it had been between Max and Maik.”

Luna, out of her frame, returned with an auto bone-setter. She handed it to Robin, “Anything else I can find for you?”

Robin shook his head. “I can take care of the arterial nick with the dissolving patches in the medic kit. As long as Maik finds me a can of spray bandages, I can set the bone, coat his arm with spray bandage, let it dry, then reattach the bone-setter and have it lock on as a cast. The readout on the auto-tourniquet says his blood pressure is low but stabilized. So, I hope with the spray bandage and the auto-cast everything will hold when I release the pressure. Otherwise, we’ll need to get him evacted so he doesn’t lose his arm.”

“As long as you’re sure we’re secure, can you?” Robin gave a head bob toward Phillip.

Luna glanced down, clenched both fists, took a breath, and nodded. She knelt next to Phillip. “Let me help.”

Phillip shot Luna a frown, “But you said it was your fault!”

“It was,” Luna stated as a couple of tears dripped down her cheeks. “I should have seen…”

Maik handed Robin a can of spray bandage, “Only half full. It’s all they can spare.” He turned to Luna, “It wasn’t your fault.”

“It was. I… knew he was upset… I shouldn’t have snapped at him.”

“While I have no clue what is going on, you were worried about whoever was in the frame. Max should have seen it for what it was.”

“Max was one of us.” Luna choked up and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “He was a Rebel. Rebels come first, and I lost that in the moment.” She shook her head as she refocused on Phillip. “Please… let me help you.”

Maik moved up and put his arms on Phillip’s shoulders. “Phil, I was right there. It wasn’t her fault. Max lost his shit.”

Robin glanced over, “We still have someone in a frame?”

Luna took a deep breath. “Um… in a way, yeah… Robin…” Her voice broke up. “Get the sergeant fixed and get out to the captured frames with the med kit.”

Robin panned his arm across several others who still needed care. “I can’t…”

Maik spoke up, “Captain… Commander, whatever… Again, I don’t get what is going on, but you need to listen to your Ell-Tee. The looks on the faces of a few of the others who came with you tells me, you need to get out there.”

Robin sprayed the arm and gave it a few seconds to dry. He reattached the bone-setter. He typed in a command to form into a cast and kept the scanner over the arm as it automatically checked, then made some small adjustments to set the bone properly and fully before it hardened. He let out a sigh as it showed everything was holding. He started to pack up the kit while looking out toward the front of the water plant, “you sure… there are still wounded in here…”

“Robin, get out there, now!” Luna tearfully barked out as she crossed Max’s arms over his chest and wiped some blood off his hands.

Maik motioned for Robin to go, but paused. The teen took a step back, and kicked at a pile of bloody rags, “You have something else… weird… to worry about Captain… But I can tell you, I’m going to miss how Max giggled when we tickled him… and Han’s practical jokes. It will not be the same without them.”

“No… no it won’t,” Phillip agreed with a sob. “But… What are we going to tell Max’s dad? We promised…”

Robin took another reading on Ryder’s arm even as he responded with a trembling voice, “Guys, talking to his dad… and Hans’… is my job… I am unit commander.”

Caleb gritted his teeth as he angled the crippled fighter higher for the third time. At lower altitudes, the Timberwolf seemed to perform well. However, right about 45,000 meters the craft started to shake. Above 50,000 meters it was almost uncontrollable. Once again, the craft started to vibrate and then shake as he tried to angle it up.

Vlad’s voice came over his headset. “Comrade, it’s no use. It’s not going to let you break into the mesosphere. Conserve fuel until your lead pilot gets to us.”

“But if it won’t let me leave the planetary well, and I can’t eject…”

“One thing at a time, comrade,” Vlad responded in a calming voice. “I’m right with you until you are safe.”

Osop’s voice came over the radio after several uneasy minutes of silence, “Boys, I’ve got a visual. I’m coming in at 327 on your compass and about ten thousand meters above you. Caleb, are you not able to go higher?”

“No… It won’t…” Unease at not only his situation but who he was talking to, caused his voice to crack.

Vlad took over after only a few seconds, “Sir, Kay’s ship shakes very bad as soon as he gets above where we are now.”

“Must have some control surface damage or possibly something going on with the rocket thrusters,” Osop responded. “I’ll have to do this the hard way.”

“Hard way?” Caleb squeaked.

“Relax,” Osop commanded. “You are still technically in standard aircraft operational space. There is still enough air where you’re at to cause decent turbulence. I’m also betting there is extra wake eddies and swirls off your craft because your fuselage is battered. The extra churning caused by airflow over damaged surfaces is going to make this way harder than if we could do it in the even thinner mesosphere.”

“You are still going to be able to help him?”

“Vladimir, right?”

“Yes sir.”

“It’s going to be OK Vlad. I know you were told to stick right with Kay, but I need you off standard wingman position.”

Captain Tanner’s voice came over the radio, “Osop…”

“For God’s sakes, sir, chill. There is a shell of a Timberwolf between us!”

Major O’Connell jumped on. “Do what needs to be done. Just keep Kay safe.”

“I’ll cash before I let anything happen to him!”

“Vladimir,” Major O’Connell spoke firmly, “Osop is in command until Kay is somewhere safe.”

“Understood, sir!”

“Kay,” Major O’Connell’s voice became stern yet calm, “I know this goes against everything you’ve been told, but I have full faith in Osop to take good care of you. Not only is he the best pilot the Grenadiers ever had, but he’s risked his ass countless times to save the lives of just about every combatant in this unit at one point or another. Do exactly what he tells you.”

“Got it.”

“Good, now relax. You are in the best hands this unit has.”

Osop’s Peryton IPSC took a position off Caleb’s starboard side. The man gave Caleb a nod even as he spoke, “Vladimir, I need you in a covering position. Get above and behind us. You are our eyes and guardian angel for this.”

“How far back?”

“At least half a kilometer. I can’t have any extra air disturbance as I move in. Caleb, I need you to stay straight and level. I need to get close and look over your bird to see what damage may pose a problem.”

Maintaining level flight at forty-six thousand meters at a heading of 287. Speed steady at 37 hundred kilometers per hour.”

“Can you slow?”

“Gets shaky below 32 hundred KPH, and real bad above 39 hundred.”

“Then stay at 37 hundred. Nothing like getting belly grappling at Mach three, huh?”

“If you’re trying to make me calm, it isn’t working!” However, even as Caleb spoke, he giggled.

“Promise I won’t tickle you too much.”

“Osop!” Caleb’s mom’s voice bellowed over the radio.

“Mom, He’s just joking, geesh!”

Osop said nothing as he did a full slow rotation around the crippled Timberwolf. He leveled out slightly behind and lower than Caleb. “Um, Caleb…”

Kay gulped, “This doesn’t sound good. What, sir?”

“What readings are you getting on your forward missile launcher?”

“Showing offline.”

“OK, run a full diagnostic on it.”

“Why…”

“Don’t worry. Just get me a reading.”

Caleb forced a humor-filled tone even as he pulled up a detailed reading. “Too late. I’m worrying.”

Osop snickered. “Ain’t gonna do either of us any good. While you’re at it, what is your fuel reading?”

“Twenty-eight percent.”

“OK, when it drops below twenty let me know. I need you with at least fifteen percent when I grapple and sync to your thrusters.”

Caleb’s voice became more nervous. “Why?”

“Cause your bird is bigger and heavier than mine. We will need both our engines to punch out of the gravity well,” Osop stated calmly. “So, what does your comp tell you about that launcher?”

“Says hatch is not sealed, but I already knew that… Um, two light missiles in the launch tubes, both offline.”

“Oh, brother.” Osop sighed. “Caleb, I know you can’t pull it into the fuselage, but can you fully lower it?”

“Um, don’t know. Do you want me to?”

“Want, no, need yes.”

“What’s going on warrant officer?” Tanner demanded to know.

“Sir, I really need you to stay off this channel. This is going to be hard enough without you bitching at me!”

“I’ll hogtie my XO if I have to, Osop, but I’m with him. What’s wrong?”

“Sir, Sirs… as things stand now, I can’t belly grapple. Caleb’s missile launcher is protruding down, and it has missiles in it. If I try, there is a good chance I’ll crunch the launcher back into the ammo bay. If it sparks or one of the stuck missiles fires, which is a good possibility since they are primed to fire, we end up scattered over dozens of kilometers.”

“So, what good does lowering the launcher do?” Vlad asked.

“Same question I have!” Maj O’Connell growled.

“If we can lower it, I can… I’ll have to shoot the damned support pilons off… both at the same time. It will rip loose. Then I’ll be able to grapple without the missiles there. And I only have a few minutes to do it before he’s too low on fuel.”

“NO!” Kay shouted. “Wait, wait, wait!” Heavy breathing could be heard, “Are you saying you are going to shoot me?”

“Kay,” Maj O’Connell barked. “Osop is my onsite commander! If he says to try to lower your missile launcher, do it!”

Caleb’s trembling voice answered with a weak, “Yes sir…” There was a light sob, “Lowering now.”

Caleb felt the whole ship vibrate.

“Caleb, wiggle your nose up and down hard!” Osop ordered. “It’s trying to come down, but the left hatch is stuck!”

Caleb did as instructed. “It’s getting hard to fly!”

“It’s stuck on the hatch door!” Vlad shouted. “Kay, do a Kulbit with a hard right twist! The G’s should force it out!”

Kay gritted his teeth hard enough for those listening over the radio to hear. Moments later the nose of the Timberwolf shot up while the whole craft violently banked to the right. The IPSC did an extremely tight loop with a hard sideslip. As Caleb fought to level it out, the left hatch tore off and the missile launcher dropped fully down into firing position. As this happened the craft stopped shaking as badly, but it still vibrated.

“Damn good flying!” Osop praised. “Now level and smooth it out. While you do so, see if you can fire those two missiles!”

It took Caleb a couple of seconds to pry his hands off the controls and attempt to fire the missiles. “No, still have red lights on both tubes!”

“Alright.” Osop’s voice calmed. “Keep it as smooth and level as you can.

“Vladimir, I need you to close but stay above and behind us. I need you to destroy the missile launcher when it tears loose. If you don’t, it will be the same as if we dropped a bomb and we are getting close to several larger towns!”

Vlad edged his IPSC closer, “Ready. But it’ll still send lots of metal bits all over…”

“Better than a two-missile bomb,” Osop countered.

Vlad maneuvered right behind Kay. “Stay there and stay sharp!” Osop ordered.

“OK, Caleb, I am going to have to independently target the two three-centimeter pilons that normally extend and retract your missile launcher. You can’t deviate at all. Find the absolutely smoothest speed and head straight!”

Caleb adjusted the throttle several times before speaking. “Looks like 3575 KPH is the best, sir.”

“Then keep it there.”

There was over a minute of silence. Finally, Osop spoke softly. “Caleb. I am going to count down from five. On one I am going to fire. When you feel your bird shimmy, pull up hard, but don’t do another Kulbit. I don’t want you getting hit by your own missile launcher.”

Caleb forced another giggle. “Not really wanting to add to the list of things my fighter gets hit with today.”

A groan which Caleb guessed was his mom came over the radio.

A few seconds later Osop’s voice came over the radio. “OK, I’ve got it… don’t move. Don’t even breathe. Five… four… three…”

Suddenly the nose of the craft shook hard. At the same time, Vlad and Osop both shouted, “Pull up!”

Caleb didn’t need to be told, but still shouted “What happened to two and one?!” The nose of the Timberwolf shot upward. As this happened, he both heard and felt a pair of loud pings from just in front and below him. At the same time, the underside of the cockpit buckled slightly.

Vlad’s voice came over the radio, “He didn’t want you to jerk before he fired, Comrade! And sir, GREAT shooting! It’s free! I’m on it!”

Caleb chanced a glance over his shoulder even as he leveled the IPSC out again. He saw a glint of metal as Vlad’s Timberwolf both dove and spiraled down, presumably chasing what had been his missile launcher. “OK, now what.”

The answer didn’t come from over the radio, instead, his craft shook as grapple lines fired into his nose and both wings. “I got you! Stay as level as you can and give me your fuel readings!”

“Nineteen percent, sir!”

“We don’t have much time. Open your comp and input a link sequence. Use the name of the unit you and your father joined for a while after New Bravaria, before you came back to the Grenadiers!”

Caleb quickly typed in the unit name, “Set, sir!”

“Keep hands free of all controls. Put your head back, brace, and let me fly!”

Caleb once again heard and felt an impact of metal on metal as Osop’s IPSC pulled itself onto the belly of his craft. Three seconds later he was violently shoved back as Osop activated both crafts’ rocket thrusters.

Eight minutes later stars became extremely vivid as they fully exited the atmosphere and gravitational well of New Brunswick. He let out a sigh of relief as the heat warning lights on his partially exposed ammo rapidly dropped. As he noticed Osop angle the tethered craft toward a large shuttle with Brave Humanities markings, he let out a larger sigh of relief. With his heart rate slowing, he looked at the stars and the green and blue orb below. A smile crept across his face. “Man, this view never gets old, no matter what system or world.”

“Caleb,” Osop spoke softly, “I say the same thing each and every time I head into space. You were born to be a spacer wingnut. Now sit back and enjoy. They sent us a docking shuttle, so we are going to get you a partial fuel load. Once you have some juice in your tanks I’ll detach, and we can pull into the bays independently. I want you to go first in case you have any problems. If something goes wrong, come to a full stop and I’ll re-grapple. One way or the other we’ll get you safely in.”

Caleb pushed his head back into the headrest and took a long drink of onboard water. “Until today, I have never been allowed to talk to you. So, while I still can… Thank you.”

Robin couldn’t help but glance back at the rows of wounded as he hefted the medic kit and made his way out. Yet his primary focus kept returning to those he was directly responsible for. Three dead and four wounded. Of those injured, Johanna was certainly going to make a full recovery. Laura was questionable at best. The other two were going to be out of action for a while. Three families had lost their kids, only one was legally an adult. He felt his stomach churn at the thought of talking to parents.

His attention changed as he rounded the main pump building. Between the outer water reclamation and purifying tanks, he saw Glen’s frame as his best friend pulled one of the odd-looking enemy frames into the shade provided by the large reclamation tank next to half a dozen other frames, then quickly disappeared around the far side of the tank.

As Glen took off at a run, Cody, also still in his frame, came into view. His frame pulled yet another weirdly designed frame.

Not far away, Dante pulled his head out of an Earth Core Medicorim frame. The younger boy shouted, “OK, I got another in the green! Get it in the shade and grab another!”

Robin moved up to the frame Cody let go of. He noticed the back was closed and there was a light hum coming out of the back air exchanger. “What are you doing? It sounds like there is still a pilot in there!”

Cody turned, “There is. All of these frames have pilots in them. Have to get them closer to Dante.”

“Why?” Robin demanded to know. He pointed to the reclamation tanks while shouting, “Even badly shot up, they could do all sorts of damage to what we are still under contract to protect!” He took a closer look at the frame as Cody pulled it deeper into the shade. “And this one doesn’t even look badly shot up!” His eyes went even wider as he pointed to a pair of small ports. “It hasn’t even put out smoke!”

“Robin, STOP!” Cody barked as he moved and flipped up his face shield. He pointed to a frame right next to the Medicorim Dante had stuck his head back into. “You are needed over there!”

Robin eyed the line of frames “But…”

Cody let out a long breath as he stared at Robin, “Robin, I’m just as lost as you look, but Glen, Luna, and Dante have been in full freak-out mode since Jared radioed and demanded Luna talk to whoever is in the frame right next to Dante. Luna even stepped in front of it as the new kid grabbed MSgt Ryder’s pistol. He shot her instead of the downed frame. Speaking of which, how is the sergeant and kid?”

“Bad,” Robin mumbled as the sight of Max’s dead open eyes flashed into his mind’s eye. “Real bad.” He took a breath, “But all this…”

“Talk to Glen and Dante. I don’t get what’s going on, but Luna ordered Dante over, and the next thing I knew, her, Glen, and Dante were all suddenly ultra-protective of whoever is in the frame next to Dante. Only a few seconds later all hell broke loose. Luna took a point-blank shot, grabbed the new kid, and Glen ordered me to grab one of these downed frames. I may outrank him, but Luna outranks me, and I am telling you Luna clearly wants this to happen. I’m just doing what I was told.”

“Who’s on guard?”

“Nataly, the one with prior combat, has three other newbs at the main gate. The PDF has the back of the facility. All air reports, including from our own Combat Air Patrol, says the others all took off. We haven’t been shot at in a while. Now get over there! Whoever is in the strange frame is important enough to you all for Luna to take a point-blank micro missile in order to protect him or her!”

“Ok, but until I figure this out, you stay here and watch all these frames! We can’t afford a mission failure because one of them decides to get stupid and take out one of these tank buildings!”

“Done. Now get over there!”

Robin sprinted over to Dante. As he got there, he heard Dante who was all but fully inside the Medicorim. “It’s showing access to the lockout of all eleven of these frames, but I have a red light on transmit!” he pulled his head out, “Hold on Sev. I’m going to jury-rig a bypass to jump this command module over to the tight beam and see if it will let me access your lock-out.”

A weak, almost inaudible voice came from inside the enemy frame right next to Dante. “I’m getting real dizzy…”

“Hold on! Hold on!” Dante shouted in return.

Robin moved closer with a deepening frown.

Suddenly the Medicorim’s head turned. “Got it! Tight beam is holding. “Now what do I do Sev?”

The voice from inside the downed frame got a little stronger, “I’m in LLTBG seventeen. Give me water and… access to ingress and egress… Please.

“Done!” Dante pulled his head out of the Medicorim. “Robin! Help him!”

The back panel of the frame right next to Dante let out a hiss as it fully equalized air pressure, then slid open. A kid pushed his upper torso out, grabbed the edge of the frame, and pulled the rest of himself out. Robin stood over the figure, with his hand on his sidearm.

For several seconds all Robin saw was a long, matted mop of dark hair and a sweat-drenched electrostatic underclothing in the same maroon and yellow as the frame was painted. The kid reached down and used his hands to pull his leg out. Right above the knee of the electrostatic Robin could see the yellow stripe was soaked with blood. He knelt just as the kid rolled over. He found himself staring into the light green eyes of what had to have been a ghost. “Sev?”

The teen grabbed at his upper leg with both hands but managed to look up. Recognition flashed into the pain-filled eyes. “Rob? Um, sorry… Robin. That really you?”

“Oh, my God! SEV!” Robin shouted as he pulled the slightly smaller kid into his chest.

“Robin, his leg!” Dante barked.

Robin let go quickly. He pulled out his boot knife and slipped the tip of the blade into the round hole and sliced the pant leg all the way down with one easy pull. What he saw caused him to stare. Not only was there a through-and-through wound in the meat just above the knee, Severiano’s lower leg had dozens of scars. Most looked like they had been stitched closed by auto-suture kits by someone with limited knowledge and even less concern over how it would look later. “What in the hell?”

“Our legs tend to take the most hits,” Sev responded as he noticed what Robin was looking at. “Got one more to add to the collection,” Sev stated as he looked at the holes in his leg with a frown. “Make it two more. Doesn’t look as bad as I thought. But I think I lost more blood than usual… My head is spinning.” He pulled the canteen off Robin’s belt, took a long swig, and shook his head. After another long drink, he spotted the med kit and grabbed a couple of things. “Got antibiotic and fast clot and… auto stitcher. I can do it myself…” He pushed Robin’s hands back.

Robin blinked as Sev, without first loading a dose of pain medication, shoved an injector into the open wound with only a hiss of discomfort and a cringe. He followed up the first injection with a second without taking the thin tube out of his leg. It took only a few seconds and several sharp intakes of air before Sev stuck a vial of yellow liquid into the back. He pushed the tip of the injector deeper and kept his thumb on the infusion button until yellow liquid and blood came out the opposite side of the wound. He yanked it out, squirted some antiseptic solution over both sides, and pressed the auto-suture unit over the larger hole on the inside of his leg. He moved the unit back and forth, putting way too many stitches in. He dealt with the self-care with his jaw clenched while a single tear slid down his cheek on the left side of his face. A couple of deep breaths later he did the same to the inside hole. This time a few tears appeared as the suture kit closed the hole very close to the kneecap. He fell back onto his frame, wiped his eyes, and took several long breaths. “Oh, man it feels so good to be in warm fresh air.”

Sev took yet another long drink before a sheepish grin crossed his lips. He handed the canteen back. “Sorry, Robin, should have asked first…”

Robin pushed the canteen back into Sev’s hands. “Finish it. There’s plenty more. You did just attack a water station!”

Sev started to sit up but quickly blinked and laid back. “Dizzy… air is thick and warm… and I think I lost quite a bit of blood. Hard to hold a hole in the leg closed while inside a frame. Plus, I didn’t realize it was all the way through, so I only put pressure on one side.”

He managed to roll on his side so he could look at Dante. “Thanks for letting me out Little Inferno…”

Dante smiled and giggled, “Only the Drago Condottieri guys called me Little Inferno. It’s so good to see you!” Concern entered his voice. “What about your brother?”

“Acario?”

“Yeah!”

Sev held up both hands and turned them. “I wish I knew. He was taken by Legatus Legionis Sulla’s Ludus. His Ludus, Legatus Legionis Gozen’s, Legatus Legionis Yukimura’s, and a new minor house Ludus were left behind on the fold after we were forced to flee the Obsidian system under heavy fire.”

“What about your older brother and sister?” Robin asked.

“More questions I wish I knew the answers to. I think my older brother was killed in the games on Obsidian IV. No one saw Renato for about two weeks prior to us leaving Obsidian. If he’s alive, he was on the same ship as Acario. But Neves was recently bought by a new Ludus. The smaller Ludus owners didn’t let theirs fight ours, but she was on one of the other ships that came here.”

“How many ships are we talking?” Robin asked with wide eyes.

“Five.” Sev winced as he rolled and watched as Glen pulled another frame over.

Glen dropped the frame, popped his back hatch, and raced over. “Sev!”

Severiano smiled as he reached up and wrapped his arms around Glen.

Glen didn’t even seem to notice the smell and sweat as he held on tight for several seconds. “We were sure you died on the Fluvius Camillus!”

“Never got to it. Sounded like we were next to board when it lost thruster power and plummeted down. We didn’t get to see it, but we sure as hell heard, as the crew of the transport when they went nuts. With the loss of the Fluvius, we got jumped by what must have been ABR or maybe Blood’s Honor fighters. We docked at a stupid fast speed with a larger ship, got to a fold craft, and folded with what had to be a partial fold charge. It was the second roughest fold I’ve ever felt.” He let out a long breath, “The one fleeing the Obsidian system was way worse.” He finally let go and let Glen lower him onto his back. “Glen, Lukas is around here somewhere…”

Robin let out a choking gasp as Glen rocked back, blinked, and wheezed out, “Wraith Riders, Lukas? Here?”

Sev nodded and looked over at Robin. “I know how good of friends you two were… We all did.” He reached over and slapped the frame he came out of, “He’s in a Gladiusim. Same as me. He’s got a scrounged rail gun on his right shoulder. Only one in the troupe.”

Robin pulled a headset off his vest with shaking hands and put it on. He changed over to the general frequency so everyone with the secure codes could hear him. “All Rebels, this is Captain Lerrik. Report in if you have a frame with a neck guard, small shields on both arms and a rail gun on the right shoulder. If you see it, do not shoot it. I say again, if seen, do not shoot it!”

Jared’s voice responded moments later. “We got him. He’s safe.”

Robin lowered his head and took a couple of deep breaths, “Anything he needs, Jared. Anything. Got me?”

“Already being taken care of. I gather this means you got Sev with you?”

“Hell yes!”

“If Glen isn’t by him…”

Robin let out another breath, “We’re both right next to Sev. What’s your status?”

“Secure. But we have seventeen never seen before enemy frames including… yeah… and I haven’t told him yet… and three others like his… well, not so sure about being enemy at this point… Damn sure two aren’t and… Holy crap! I’m pretty sure I’m looking at Pen!” Jared let out a sharp exhale, “I’m sure it’s him… I’ll talk to him in a minute… Screw this. Be right back!”

Jared’s muted voice could be heard through the radio he had been talking directly into. His sudden shout could clearly be heard. “Pen! Pen, is that you?” there was a pause before he yelled again, “Pasha! The kid holding his arm! His name is Pen! Take care of him as if he is one of us!”

Jared spoke into the radio again, “Definitely him… I almost killed Pen… Damn-it!”

“Jared, Ensign Warley, you aren’t making much sense.” Captain Tanner stated firmly as he broke into the back and forth. “Take a breath or five and give us an update.”

“Or have someone else give it if you can’t, kiddo. You sound way out of sorts!” Major O’Connell interjected.

“No… no…” Jared’s voice came back sounding shaken up but calmer. “Um… sorry sirs… Ok, update. Let’s just start from the top. Other than one of the Maslow’s hurting himself, and two breaches with minor wounds, we’re fine. Nothing more than moderate armor damage and we have rods and liquefiers. Ammo is above fifty percent on all frames except Yegor. His is almost dry.

“Same here with the Kipling’s.” Cody jumped into the conversation. “They went a little bullet happy.”

Jared snickered. “They’re going to cost us a fortune! But um, anyway… As far as those we fought, three are badly wounded. Sergeant Nire and Erin both have full med kits and are getting help working on them. Six others have minor injuries. Nothing life-threatening. There is one of the weird frames we can’t open and no response from inside. It put out red smoke and not looking good. Most of those we captured are right around our ages. We dropped eight others, all known EC frames. Two have unresponsive pilots inside. Four pilots, all older and out of known EC frames either got shot as they got out of downed frames or escaped on foot. One into the wood line. Three others into the ore ship. The last two got out but took several bullets before they could even get out and are real dead.

“There were also three Medicorims. One was putting out red smoke but got into the woods opposite the ship, so it didn’t get aboard. Not sure where it went. Another got to the ship. The third is down and we have full access, but the bastard scrambled the code. We need a Medicorim key with an active code if we want to safely open the ones with dead or unresponsive pilots. But there had to be at least twenty frames that made it into the ship. Mostly weird ones. There were probably more since we could see movement on the back side of the ship but couldn’t get more than glimpses.”

Captain Tanner’s voice broke into the conversation. “Ship’s down, kids, but we don’t have eyes on it yet. Kay took some damage and couldn’t land, so he is headed to the White Tiger. Vlad had to land, refuel, and is heading up to join him. We’re hoping to get you all rounded up in the borrowed Brave Humanities Star Shuttle so you can secure the wreckage, but if there are that many hostile frames aboard, we may need to rethink this.”

“We can handle it, sir,” Jared announced with certainty. “Most of the frames are stupidly lightly armed.”

“Same thing here!” Robin stated. “Only the known EC frames and the ones with the two arm shields have decent loadouts. We need to be damned careful though. No kill shots on any of the three weird frames!” Robin took an audible deep breath, “Jared, I was paying attention to Sev. So, I missed some of what you said. What about those with you? How many Rebels are down?”

“Like I said, captain, none down. One of the Maslow brothers did a number on his own leg and is out of action, and two with armor breaches and light wounds. Looks like both shrapnel. No energy weapon wounds. But otherwise, armor damage only. Mostly thanks to Stasik. And guys, Stasik is born to be one of us. He has five confirmed and at least two assists. Might have more when we go over vids. I’ve never seen anyone shoot like he does! But as far as damage, it’s nothing we won’t have touched up within an hour or two.

“How about you guys, Captain Lerrik?” Jared asked with a strong emphasis on Robin’s rank.

“All original Rebels are fine, but our cadre… um… he took a nasty hit. We also have lots more patching than it sounds like you guys do.” Robin let out an uneasy sigh. “The new members, not good. Not good at all. There’s some families I’m going to have to talk to…” Robin’s voice trailed off.

Even as several of the kids around him cringed, gasped, and winced, Sergeant Nire broke in, “Not alone, you won’t. I will be with you. Ryder as well, if he is up for it.”

“You’ll have Grenadier support too, Robin.” Major O’Connell spoke in a commanding voice. “You all need to take one thing at a time. Take care of the living and the contract for now. We’ll be by your side when it comes time to honor the fallen.

“Captain Lerrik, Robin, I know this is hard. I still remember the first combat losses I took as a leader. But you need to stay mission-focused. PDF reinforcements are about forty minutes out. Once they take over security, your first mission is a success. Jared, while those who need to patch armor do so, I want you to do a full sweep of the mining camp and surrounding woods. Your contract has a full salvage clause, so make the most of it. At the very least, sounds like there is a Medicorim out there. Find it, but go in frames and be ready to unleash some extra Rebel Hell if needed. Those things are nothing nice.”

“Already on it,” Jared answered. “I have three undamaged frames, being led by Ruslan, tracking it. It won’t get far.”

“Ruslan? Not a Grenadier double digit?” Captain Tanner asked.

“He was taking special recon courses,” Cody chimed in. “One of the best out of the academy level cadets in recon, tracking, and following from everything we heard from Q VII instructors.”

“Good reason to put him on it.” Major O’Connell stated. “So, let’s get down to business. Captain Lerrik, if you agree to let me use the Fire Lance at your cost, I’ll dispatch a couple of squads to your base so the rest of the Rebels can join you. I’ll go one better and send a frame and platform unit to watch the ship Kay shot down in exchange for fifty grand, plus replacement of ammo, repairs, and medical costs should my people need to engage. Anything the Grenadiers take down in combat is my salvage, not yours. We’ll secure it until we decide if you really are in a position to take it. Agreed?”

“Yes sir!” Robin responded without hesitation. “But no kill shots on weird frames, sir!”

“Um… Sure…” Major O’Connell paused. “We’ll be as careful as we can, but I’m not endangering a single Grenadier to get better salvage.”

“It’s not about salvage sir!” Jared snapped.

“You best cool those heels, Ensign Warley!” Maj O’Connell barked back. “But OK, fine. If we have to engage, I’ll give orders to do what we can to curtail casualties. It’ll mean more repairs for you all to pick up the cost of though!”

“Then we’ll find a way to pay, sir.” Robin responded.

“Alright… I’ll pass on the orders. Actually, this may be good. It’ll allow the rest of your Rebels to get some field time in and permit me a chance to see how some of our new hires do on an unexpected deployment and allow my lower leadership a chance to command all but unknowns in a possible combat situation with the added difficulty of needing to be careful. So, it works well for both of us.”

Major O’Connell’s voice hardened, “With the contract and salvage sides of this operation handled, I want to reinforce what SrSgt Nire said. You will not attempt to talk to any parents or family of your fallen or seriously injured without adult support. We don’t want family hearing about it from another source, either. Therefore, I don’t want any names released until we can make direct contact with family. Keep all talk of casualties to encrypted transmissions. Preferably, nothing over the radio at all.”

“All Rebels, I need you to listen. Some of you are hearing for the first time you lost fellow mercs. A piece of your family is gone. Some of you didn’t even get to meet them, but it is still your first loss as a combatant. Do not try to handle any feelings alone. Either myself or Captain Tanner will be by your side and if you need to talk, any of you, do so with each other or wait until we can be there. Remember, you are all a family, and your family is hurting. If you know direct family members of those lost today, DO NOT make contact. If you want to be there with us, as we handle the notification, fine and even admirable. However, there are some things a kid, even in a combat command position, shouldn’t ever have to do, and this is at the very top of the list. So, to make this abundantly clear: we will handle first contact and be there for your full support.

“Also, you are all combat mercs and as AIM mercs, you have allotted free Post Combat Heath sessions available to you. I expect all of you, especially those with Captain Lerrik, to use your first one within the next week. The Grenadiers will pick up full cost if any of you need more than what is available for free.

“Now, before I sign off, I have one more set of questions we in the command center need answered from either Captain Robin Lerrik or Ensign Jared Warley. And guys, this is the last time I am going to remind you to use ranks when in a combat situation. The next time will come with more than a verbal reminder.”

Jared responded. “Ask away, sir.”

“Ensign Warley, you just fought a battle. You shot and got shot at. Over a dozen with you reported combat hits. Several of you have confirmed combat kills. With all of this being fact, what is all this about not going for kill shots and not being sure if you have enemy frames around you… And who in the HELL are Sev and Pen?”

Dante responded, “Captain Tanner, do you remember Acario from New Bravaria?”

“Um, yeah…” Captain Tanner’s voice told of his confusion behind the question. “Hard to forget. I got bit and had to shoot one of the disgusting slimy water snakes to save your asses. You two didn’t give me any choice since both of you decided to try to chase the largest of those damned things I ever saw into the deep mud, and it turned on you two after you got stuck. I then, with a badly bleeding leg I might add, had to pull you and him out of the mud bog. What about him?”

“Gee, you remember that real well.” Dante snickered.

“Hard to forget. I had to get two of those teeth removed from my leg!” Tanner muttered. “I still have them in a case with all the other bullets, shrapnel, and other crap dug out of me dating all the way back to when I was slightly older than you.”

“Wow, that’s a rather morbid collection,” Jared snorted.

“Says my kid, who has a tub with the rank pins and EC cash taken off all the Hunter pilots you killed,” Jared’s dad chimed in.

“Zane’s is WAY bigger,” Kerri spouted off. “For that matter, so is mine!”

“Rebels,” Major O’Connell interrupted, “you are scaring many of the newer Grenadiers in my command station. So, knock it off. And for the record, I remember Acario and his brother Severiano, those two were regulars aboard the Grey Stallion.” His voice stopped short then spoke with a sudden tremble in his voice. “Severiano Scaramella… Sev… Guys you can’t possibly be talking about Zane’s hunter-killer buddy… Can you?”

“Yes sir, we can,” Glen stated. “I’m right next to him!”

“That’s not possible!” Tanner gasped. “His mother and I found his bloody, scorched, and tattered vest and Acario’s half-burned backpack next to Dorian’s school satchel and Annabel’s jacket!”

“Oh, it’s more than possible,” Jared countered. “Not only is Severiano with Captain Lerrik and Master Sergeant Flanagan…” Jared paused, took a deep breath and his voice tightened up. “Sir, is SrSgt Calvert OK after the miss-fold?”

A couple of seconds later SrSgt Veronica Calvert’s voice came over the radio, “Dislocated elbow, but I’ll be fine, Jared. Standing in as operations support for now. What’s going on, tiger? You sound like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Jared’s voice trembled. “Ma’am sit down, stay on the radio, and stand by a second.”

“Jared,” Captain Tanner spoke carefully, “What’s going on?”

“Sir, please give full control of the radio to SrSgt Calvert and everybody stand by.” All listening over a secure radio heard Jared yell, “Stasik, I need Lukas over here now!”

There was a several-second delay. No one spoke. Suddenly a jittery, weak-sounding, voice came over the radio, “Mom?”

Caleb watched as a large Brave Humanities IPSC shuttle carrier sent out a small refueler. The rectangular box-shaped craft came in over the top of him using only small bursts from maneuvering thrusters. The pilot gave him a friendly nod and then went all the way around the grappled IPSCs before it came up and angled so it was right above his cockpit. Caleb watched in fascination as a solid metal probe descended from the underbelly of the refueler into a slot just in front of the cockpit. Up until now, the only time he had done this was in a simulator. Seeing it done in real life, as a pilot, was amazing. However, he couldn’t help but cringe. The refueling port was a small target, but whoever was behind the controls nailed it the first time. A woman’s voice came over the radio, “Ruffian Rebel Timberwolf, you have heavy damage across most of your craft. Do you show any fuel leaks?”

“I didn’t before I got into space, but no way to know. My tanks are at one point four percent. The only thing I am using on this bird is life support. I’m in a freaking E-suit and getting cold!”

“OK, wow… I’ve never heard of a fuel reading so low! To be on the safe side, we’re going to fill you up slowly. Pull up diagnostics as we do so.”

“Understood.” Caleb watched as the blinking red light at the far left on his fuel status bar started to go up. As it did so he let out a sigh of relief and increased heat to the cockpit. It took only three minutes for the bar to move into the orange. “BH refueler, I’m over twenty percent. There is no signs of leaks. I have plenty to dock.”

“Good.” A man’s voice responded. Our sensors concur. There is no sign of fuel loss around your craft.”

The ship’s probe pulled back up. The female voice came over again. “Once your fellow Grenadiers’ pilot detaches grapple, head to the back of the shuttle. Lock in at docking station two; upper front, right side. Stay in your cockpit until back bay door is sealed and we repressurize.”

“Understood,” Caleb confirmed. “Station two, upper front, right. Stay in no atmosphere mode until repressurization is confirmed.”

Seconds later he felt his IPSC drift free of Osop’s. He fired a short burst of his underside thrusters to give him distance then tapped his space thrusters to give him more space.

As this happened, he heard the man gasp, “Rebel Timberwolf, be real careful. I can see right into your missile racks, and you have extensive damage across your entire undercarriage!”

“Yeah,” Caleb grunted, “I figured as much. Thanks for the reminder of how much work I am going to have to do on her.”

This got a chuckle out of the man, “Young man, it’d be easier to scrap her at this point.”

“Nope!” Caleb barked while shaking his head. “This bird took care of me! Now it’s my turn.”

“Good luck with THAT!” the woman stated as she maneuvered to give Osop some fuel.

Caleb let out a sigh but otherwise said nothing. Instead, he slowly banked around until he had a straight shot into the back of the shuttle. He just started to ask for clearance into the back when he spotted something on the edge of his peripheral vision. He turned his head sharply while his hand grabbed the control. He scanned the area. Nothing stood out. Part of him wanted to dismiss the whole thing as his imagination, but one thing his father had drilled into him from almost the moment he could speak was to never ignore anything.

A deep male voice came over his radio, “Rebel Timberwolf, is there a problem we cannot detect with your craft?”

“BH shuttle, stand by. I saw something.”

“Nothing on scanners. You are clear to dock.”

“I said stand by!” Caleb growled. At the same time, he spun his craft to point in the general direction of whatever had caught his attention. “Shuttle, I recommend you close up until I am certain there is not a problem.”

Osop’s IPSC edged into his view on his left side. Caleb didn’t take his eyes off the stars in front of him. “Sir, back out of my L.O.S. You’re a distraction.”

Caleb saw reverse thrusters fire out of the corner of his eye.

Osop spoke softly, “What are we looking for?”

“No idea. But I saw something.”

The deep voice on the shuttle broke in, “We just did a full sweep. There is nothing on any scanner young ‘an.”

“Then you need better scanners!” Caleb barked.

“Young man there is nothing out there and we have other things to do than take care of some little want-a-be pilot”

Commander Bennet came over the radio after a delay, showing how far away she was from the shuttle. “Lieutenant, the boy in that fighter has more confirmed kills than you and your copilot combined. Shush! Caleb, don’t let the chatter get to you. Stay focused and see if you can isolate what caught your attention.”

Osop spoke again, “Caleb, I got a big zilch. You sure?”

“Never ignore your gut,” Caleb responded with an undertone of anger in his voice.

“Grenadier rule eight,” Osop responded. “OK, I’m going to pull further back and bank around the shuttle so I can keep my eye on the same space as you, but from a slightly different angle.”

Caleb edged further away from the shuttle, so nothing was in his view other than the deep space in front of him. “Come on… what did I see?”

Another thirty seconds went by when Caleb saw a tiny, but distinct swirling pinprick as it expanded slightly. At the same time, Osop shouted, “BH Shuttle, Fold gate! Way the hell outside of normal fold lanes! Sending coordinates!”

“Damn!” the deep male voice shouted a couple of seconds later. “Good eyes kid! Command, Sector three by twenty by eighteen. Fold Gate!”

“Got it!” Another female responded after a several-second delay. About the same time the pinprick of swirling light blinked out.

Commander Bennett’s voice came over the radio after another delay. “We’re dispatching Space Vipers, but it’s way the hell out on the edge of the system. Light refracting data says the light you saw is over six hours old. Possibly as old as eight. We’ll have better data shortly.”

“Six light hours?” Osop asked with uncertainty. “That is between the last planet and the outer asteroid belt. Is there even enough of a gravitational and magnetic well to allow for a fold that far out?”

“There is,” Commander Bennett answered. “With an extremely competent mixed with slightly insane fold pilot. And it is just slightly outside the outer asteroid belt, on the very fringe of the New Brunswick system. Even with everyone and everything BH has up here, we would have missed it without you, Caleb. Well done! Now get your butt in the shuttle and docked so we know you are safe!”

“Yes Ma’am!” Caleb responded. Eight minutes later, with his craft secured by grappling arms, he watched as Osop pulled in right next to him and the outer bay doors closed. Green lights came while a gruff-sounding voice came over his radio, “Ruffian Rebel Timberwolf, bay is pressurized.”

Caleb hit the button for the cockpit canopy to slide forward. Nothing happened. He tried again and followed up with a hard pull on the emergency release. Nothing. He let out a sigh. “Brave Humanities shuttle. Looks like my cockpit is stuck.”

“Dispatching repair crews now,” the gruff voice announced.

Suddenly Caleb’s mom joined the conversation. “If my boy is really stuck inside a cockpit and can’t go anywhere, is safe, and not hurt, leave him there for a few hours.”

“MOM!”

“This is the second time you tried to give me a heart attack and mouthed off after. Besides, a few hours of you not being able to get into more trouble will do you, and me, and the nerves of the adults in this unit some good! Leave him there for a bit!”

“You heard the woman,” Commander Bennett stated with humor in her voice. “Get repairs started but leave him there to stew for a bit. After all, mom knows best!”

Osop floated by the front of Caleb’s shuttle. He grinned, wagged a warning finger, and put it up to his mouth.

Caleb growled as he stuck up both middle fingers. As the man laughed, he slammed his head back into the headrest and punched the release as hard as he could. All this got him was some bloody knuckles. He killed his radio as his right hand rubbed the knuckles on his left hand. He looked around, sighed, and spoke to himself. “Well, crap! Probably the only kid in the galaxy to EVER be grounded inside his own damned IPSC!”

Four craft launched out of the White Tiger. The lead two slowed once they were clear of the ship so the two behind them could pull their noses into a slot on the upper tail. The noses were then locked in by clamps, so the two craft became one. The coupled ships accelerated using the trailing crafts’ rocket thrusters.

It took only a couple of minutes to get up enough speed for the lead craft to activate a powerful magnetic coil. To those watching, it appeared the linked craft suddenly went from 30,000 KPH to zero. Moments later rips in space opened in front of them. The specialized ships seemed to get sucked into the tightly spinning light of the rip.

Moments later the new rips opened just beyond the outer asteroid belt. The craft shook hard as they reappeared 6,523,000 kilometers from where they had been.

The craft separated within seconds banked hard and angled toward the fold rip Caleb had spotted. They formed a diamond pattern and did their first sensor sweeps.

The craft on the starboard side of the formation got a lock on a target and focused cameras on it. Didn’t take long for the cameras to gather a good holographic rendering. While this happened, the four craft banked toward the ship.

The pilot in the lead ship activated his radio, “Unknown fold ship, you are in a system with a Brave Humanities established blockade. Stand down for boarding and searching.

A voice responded, “Brave Humanities, we are outside the standard well and do not recognize your authority, regardless. Back off or be fired on.”

“Unknown craft, stand down. This is not a request.”

“Have it your way.” The smug voice answered. Seconds later laser fire speared outward from four separate turrets.

The four Space Vipers took avoidance maneuvers even as the 3D photographic renderings were analyzed by the onboard computer. It identified the much larger ship as an EC Quadriga corvette warship with fold coils. It also picked up an ore hauler and a liquid cargo ship as they entered an open upper back hold. The pilot sent all the data into a rear-facing zipball launcher, calculated its destination, and fired it off even as the craft in front of them fired heavy energy cannons at the four rapidly approaching craft.

The port side ship of the formation took a direct hit from a particle cannon and blew apart. Two Brave Humanities Space Vipers returned fire even as the other pilot purposefully placed her ship between the zipball and the hostile ship. The lead craft took a pair of turbo laser spreads to its starboard engine and peeled off, but not before launching a spread of six under-wing heavy cloaked missiles.

The damaged Space Viper was targeted even as it angled away. A series of ion and laser hits forced the pilot to eject from the cockpit. Moments later three of the six missiles were destroyed by point defense turbo laser fire. The fourth clipped the heavy liquid cargo transport as it angled around to try to enter the back of the warship. The final two missiles slammed into the upper back and exploded. Ejection of debris told the surviving pilots it had gone internal and caused at least a section of the ship to decompress.

The damaged cargo ship then crashed into the lower bay doors as the doors slammed shut at emergency speeds. The armored bay doors rapidly coming together crunched the forward edge of the liquid cargo ship. This caused a decompression of the bridge area. Bodies and debris were launched out from the breach of the cargo ship. At the same time, the upper bay door on the starboard side of the Corvette let out a stream of sparks and didn’t fully close.

Even as all this happened, the Space Viper on the starboard side of the formation took a series of nasty hits. However, this gave the zipball the needed time to accelerate, open a fold rip and reappear only a couple thousand kilometers from the White Tiger.

With the zipball safely sent, the lead Brave Humanities pilot firewalled her space thrusters and spun as tightly as she could handle. The wing and nose pulse lasers lanced into the much larger ship’s hull while laser light flashed all around the Space Viper. Her eyes narrowed as she saw a glow from a ring toward the back of the ship. “It’s going to try to open a fold rip! It must have come from somewhere within double bounce range or has emergency fold coils!

The other surviving Space Viper responded, “I don’t know the design, but only seeing one fold coil ring! Must have been within double bounce! Command needs to know!”

“Long-range comms are still down after our folds and the zipball! You were tethered so you still have a fold capability! Get clear and let Commander Bennet know!” The woman snarled as she focused her nose Electron cannons on a point defense turret on the lower aft starboard side of the ship. At the same time, she launched all six of her heavy missiles. “GO!”

The final Space Viper engaged its fold drive just as laser fire ripped into the port wing. But it was too little too late. The badly damaged craft entered the rip and appeared a few thousand kilometers from the White Tiger.

Alone, the woman slammed her hand into the thruster control hoping to get just a bit more speed, and pointed her nose at the glowing ring of the fold coil. At the same time her other hand activated automatic fire of all forward weapons. This told the computer to continue to fire as soon as each weapon recycled regardless of what it was aimed at. It was meant for a situation just like this, where every front weapon would hit a much larger target somewhere.

An upper point defense turret took out two of her incoming missiles, but the final four smashed into the lower bay. Another explosive decompression followed as a lower hold door ripped off the side of the Corvette. Two smaller ships and a large ferry were torn loose from the inside and ejected out into space through the gaping hole where the lower docking bay door had been.

Damage mounted on the side of the ship, but just as it formed a fold rip for itself, a spread of micro missiles ripped into the Space Viper. The computer detected catastrophic damage and ejected the cockpit pod.

As the cockpit fired thrusters to get clear, the woman smirked as what was left of her fighter slammed into the edge of the fold coil and the Earth Core insignia of an oval wreath surrounding a gladius. More debris, including several bodies, was expelled from the explosive decompression of yet another compartment or two. Moments later, with the fold coil pulsing oddly because of damage, the main hull of the badly battered Corvette entered the fold rip and disappeared but left behind lots of extra debris including its entire starboard side engine array since the fold ripped snapped closed before the ship fully went through. “That’s for Bev, you bastards!” Her right fist smashed into her left as she shook her head sadly at the thought of the loss of her squadron mate. She took a deep breath and glared at the debris field. “With that much damage and such an unstable rip, it’s going to be a damned nasty fold. Hope you all choke on your vomit!”

She took a few deep breaths and scanned the area. She studied the heavy liquid cargo ship and smaller transport shuttle-sized yacht for several minutes. The first was in horrible shape but had light coming out of side viewing portals. She wondered if it was from fire, or if it still had some power. She watched for several seconds and decided sections still had power since there was no flickering or other telltale signs of fire.

However, the other appeared to be in decent shape, yet didn’t show any signs of life. She rubbed her chin as she continued to eye the crafts. Finally, once the static of the fold gates cleared from comms, she jumped on her radio, “Jules, you in one piece?”

“Yeah,” Jules answered. “Can’t say the same for my fighter. Not enough of it to pick up with a fork and spoon. You?”

“Same. At least my cockpit pod’s green across the board.”

“My pod’s good too, which is more than I can say for the EC ship. You must have done some damage to the fold coil. I’ve never even heard of a fold rip snapping shut on a ship before!”

“Pretty sure what was left of my ship hit the edge of the ring.” Lina grumbled. “Hope the rest of them are scattered across half a dozen light years. But enough of them. There’s no chance they will be able to make it back here anytime soon.”

“No, they’re in almost as bad of shape as we are.” Jules growled. “Hopefully worse. ‘Cause thanks to you, we may have a chance. That large shuttle or yacht looks really tempting. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Looks like the heavy liquid freight ship has some power too.”

“But the bridge is toast. The smaller one looks awful nice, not shaped like a cargo transport, and too large to be an EC fast assault ship,” Jules noted. “Wonder what they used it for?”

“My bet it’s a combat capture,” Lina answered. “The design has more of a Great Outback, Antares Industries look, especially the way the back fins wrap around the space drive. My bet is, it’s a lux yacht.”

“More I look, the more I agree. Regardless, it is really inviting. My computer says I have plenty of emergency thruster fuel to get to her. How about you, Lina?”

“Same. I’m closer than you are. Hell, if I had been any closer, I might have gotten sucked through the rip. So, what do you think?”

“No sign of it being manned. I say we give it a shot. Better than sitting out here for hours, if not days, in hopes they find us.”

“My feeling too,” Lina agreed. “Let me go first. If it’s a no-go, you will not waste fuel you may need for extended life support. If I find a reason we can’t do anything with it, you can try for the freight ship. Neither of us can risk the fuel to get to both.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Lina approached the ship cautiously. Without her fighter, she had no weapons and very limited sensors. She also kept her eye on the two smaller ships ejected when the lower bay had decompressed. She was actually far more concerned about them since they were Earth Core Hammerhead heavy fighters. One had clearly slammed into the superstructure on its way out and had extensive damage to the port front weapon pod and a section of its back wing hung off at an odd angle attached by only a pair of badly mangled internal supports. The second Hammerhead, however, looked completely intact.

She spoke with concern, “Jules, don’t fire any thrusters. There is a Hammerhead out here with us. Looks like no pilot, but…”

“Copy, Lina. Since it hasn’t fired at you, chances are good it’s unmanned.”

“Same thing my brain is telling me,” Lina announced. “Not stopping my guts from doing flips though.”

“Don’t blame you. Get close to the shuttle and stay out of its arc in case it’s playing dead.”

“Such is the plan.” Lina tapped her thrusters to put as much of the shuttle between her and the EC fighter as possible. While she did so, she looked over the larger ship. As the name came into view, ‘Timofey’s Toy, she got a clear view into the cockpit of the Hammerhead. It was empty.

She snickered at the name even as she activated her radio, “Jules, the Hammerhead is clear. However, in case something goes wrong, let command know. I think we just found the missing captain’s shuttle off the Wagon.

“What makes you think it’s from the Wagon?”

“The captain and owner of the ship had the first name of Timofey. Ship has his first name on it.”

“Good guess.”

“Not a guess, if you would pay more attention to the briefing and less on my ass, you would have picked it up.”

“Your ass is much more enjoyable to keep a focus on. You can listen for both of us.”

Lina laughed. “I’ll wiggle it more for you during the next briefing.” She paused. “It’s a real large yacht with some point defense weapons. Best guess is a twin pulse laser package in the nose and something in the upper and lower aft turrets. Definitely Antares Industries. Looks like her undercarriage clipped something on the way out of the Corvette. It’s got a huge dent running from just under the nose, all the way down to the aft landing gear. But it looks intact. Doesn’t appear breached anywhere and I am seeing a dim glow from the bridge, so it has some power. I am going to go for the airlock.”

“Make sure you form a good seal.” Jules warned. “I’m sure you’re going to have to force it open.”

“Docking collar looks good and I am totally green on mine. But I’m going to tether myself to the handle in case something goes wrong. Would appreciate a pick-up if this goes bad.”

“Cozy won’t be the word for things if we both end up in my cockpit ejection pod,” Jules joked.

Lina laughed, “You’ve wanted to get under my E suit for months. You save my ass, instead of just looking at it, and I may just unzip for you!”

“Not sure what command will think when they find us, but you just gave me extra incentive, not that I needed any!”

Lina continued to snicker as she carefully centered the bottom of her ejection pod on the starboard side docking collar of the yacht. She watched as the computer ticked down the meters. Finally, there was a thud as she made contact.

She tapped on the computer and verified the full seal. She then shut off life support and sucked all oxygen back into the tanks so she wouldn’t lose any air should the seal not hold when she opened her pod. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when the panel popped open, and she could see the green light on the yacht’s door. This verified a good seal. Even though her right hand was already reaching for the specialized pry bar to open stuck airlocks, her left hand went to the touch panel. Much to her astonishment, the airlock doors slid open.

Lina activated her E-suit’s radio, “Jules, there was no lock-out on the airlock. I am entering.”

“No lockout? Lina, be careful. That must mean someone is aboard and deactivated the lock!”

“I’m aware. I’ll keep you posted.” Lina pushed herself into the closet-sized isolation room, unclipped her tether from the outer hull, and snapped it into place on a bar next to the door to enter the main hull. Once secure, she turned and tapped the panel leading to her pod. The outer doors slid shut. A few seconds later green lights appeared above the outer door. The hiss of air followed, as the room she was in pressurized, her suit lit up showing oxygen levels and pressure had equalized. She turned to the inner door and reached for the access panel when a speaker in the airlock came to life. A young-sounding voice, she guessed was a boy, came through the small box above the door to enter the yacht. “You aren’t going to hurt us, are you?”

Lina pushed on the faceplate release of her E-suit and raised it but kept her hand on the shield so she could instantly pull it back down should someone try to decompress the airlock and shoot her into space. “No, honey, no…”

“Who are you!” an older, yet still young female voice demanded to know.

“Senior Warrant Officer Lina Mendelson, Brave Humanities Defense Force. Who are you?”

“Cadet Sergeant Alyona Spetlov, Quaker VII Academy,” The girl responded. “You really from Brave Humanities?”

“I sure am. If you open the view portal, you will be able to see my fight suit, name, rank, and shoulder patches.”

Lina watched as the metal cover was pulled back and the face of a young teen girl appeared in the thick window. A few seconds later a boy close to the same age gazed in. While it was difficult to tell, it looked like the kid had blood splatter on his right cheek.

The speaker came to life again. This time it was a boy’s voice, but not the same as the first one she heard. “Ma’am, this is Cadet Specialist Arkady Lendavich. Look, I know you way outrank us and we need your help, badly, but I need you to put the pistol on your side into the slide tray and put the prybar in your right hand down. There is a netting you can slide it into on the left side of the hull door.

“OK…” Lina frowned deeply but complied. “Done. But I’m not going to harm you…”

“Understood, ma’am, but after the last however long, we don’t have any trust left.” Alyona responded. “Um, can you tell me where you came from?”

“The White Tiger is my assigned ship young one.”

“Where is it?” Arkady demanded to know even as the tray with her gyro-jet pistol was pulled into the ship.

“Several light hours deeper in system, young man.”

“So how did you get here?” Arkady’s voice was full of fear and skepticism as he added, “You not come in that!”

“No, sure didn’t. I came out here on a small fold capable fighter called a Space Viper. Got it shot out from under me as I and my fellow pilots tried to get the ship you came out of to submit to a search.”

“There is more of you?” Alyona asked with clear worry.

“Just one, and like me his Space Viper got shot out from under him. Another of my squadron mates was killed. The last folded back to the White Tiger, at least we hope she did.” She waited for several seconds before she spoke again, “Look, kids, you can keep me here, but you say you need help, and I can’t provide it with an airlock door between us.”

Another couple of minutes passed before the door to the inside of the ship slid open. Directly in front of her was a nine or ten-year-old girl with long black hair, tear-filled grey eyes, and wearing an adult male’s shirt over underclothing. Her right hand was wrapped in white cloth but had red blood stains from under it. Lina guessed both her pinky and ring fingers were badly injured. Another bandage covered her left thigh. It also showed blood seepage but appeared to be clean and well-tied.

Off to the opposite side a smaller boy, at least she took the kid for a boy, gripped a storage rack. Fear was plastered on his angelic face. He had on a way too big blood-splattered Quaker VI PDF jacket, but other than a black eye, looked unharmed.

The girl held up both hands even as she floated backward. This told Lina a couple of things very quickly. First, the girl was good in Zero-G, second, the wince and bite of the lip as she tried to hold out her right hand with palm up caused a great deal of pain. “Hey, hey, hey…” Lina spoke softly “It’s OK. You don’t have to hold up your hands.”

At the same time, her eyes darted around the room she found herself in. She instantly guessed she had entered the craft through the supply door since she found herself in the main pantry judging from a walk-in freezer door to her right and several shelves with netting around them to prevent things from floating off them. There wasn’t much left. The other thing she noted, in the glow of emergency lighting, was the older boy and girl had both backed off. The girl held a laser rifle, the boy sported her gyro-jet pistol. However, he also had a laser rifle floating from a shoulder strap over his shoulder. They also had shock batons on their sides. Both kids pointed weapons at her, but neither youngster looked like they wanted to shoot. In fact, both had their trigger fingers outside the trigger guards.

“Guys…” Lina forced a smile. “Kids, relax. Know it or not, you just saved my life.”

“We did?” Arkady asked with confusion.

“Yeah!” Lina stated, then lied. “My ejection pod has damage. I wouldn’t have lasted long out there!”

Another boy, this one slightly younger than the teens, with tears floating out of his eyes, came around the corner. He sported a sonic sporting rifle and a shock baton on his side, but most of his focus was on holding a hand over a heavily bandaged leg. “Alyona, let her in! Please! We know Brave Humanities! And my leg is real bad!”

Arkady let out a long breath and lowered the gyro-jet pistol. He spoke in Russian.

Alyona nodded at what was said and also lowered the laser rifle. “Just… Just don’t hurt us…”

“I’m not going to hurt any of you.” She still didn’t move deeper into the ship. “Where are the adults?”

Arkady pointed toward the front of the ship. He again spoke in Russian.

“Son… Arkady,” Lina spoke softly, “Stick to English or Portuguese. I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Alyona spoke up, “They were taking us off when alarms sounded. We were in the second group… Master Sergeant Kannada and a guy in Earth Core called himself Immunes De’gato were… they are… she gave some dry heaves and turned away.

The younger girl with bandages on her right hand spoke up. “They were behind us, with these sticks that shock… shock bad.” She pointed to the one on Alona’s side. “We all slammed into them when the ship went crazy, Grigor and Helina…” She started to sob. “My fingers… my fingers…”

Lina pushed off the wall so she could move up slowly. At the same time, her heart sped up. “Immunies? Any others?”

“Neyt,” Arkady answered. “The others… they took them. No other adults. Just us and a few others in the back. We can’t unlock the doors. But sounds like some of them are hurt too. One, a fledge merc boy, who be in our academy, say he kill adult in room with him but say he hurt too. Door not open from in or out.”

Alyona pointed through a hatch, “Last room down there. Gamble joined on frame side but switch to battle armor. He one of the best… should have been nicer to him.”

“Guys, I’ll do what I can to get him out and I can tell you are all real nervous, scared, and hurt. But if there is an Immunies on board, I’d feel a lot better with my weapon back.

Arkady flipped the safety on and pushed it over to her after getting a nod from Alyona. He switched to the laser rifle as he spoke. “He’s dead. I knock into him when ship shift hard.” He pointed to the blood splatter on his cheek and went down the right side of a jacket several sizes too big for him. “His head… um…” he held up his hands and made a motion of pushing them together. “His blood shoot out of neck. It stopped but floats all over by other exit.”

Lina secured the weapon in her E suit’s leg holster while giving both kids a forced smile. “Can’t say it hurts my feelings to hear he’s dead, but are you sure there are no other adults abroad?”

“We looked.” Alyona responded. “Master Sergeant Kannada has head bent in bad angle and open eyes. He’s dead too. He’s floating with Grigor and Helina. They’re all…” She gulped in some air. “Like Arkady, he had me by back of my neck. I slammed back into him, and he smashed into Sergeant Maovich and Grigor, and Helina. I slammed into all of them, or I would be badly hurt too. There is someone in the cockpit area, but not sure who it… was… Real, real dead. It is just us and a few other kids in locked rooms. Gamble says one with him is dead. So, unless other adults are in one of the locked rooms… But not likely. We were all being moved to the real big ship by the few non-hurt adults who took us.”

Arkady jumped in as Alyona’s voice faltered. “We know all who not hurt. If Gamble kill Corporal Sagalov, all now dead. Those small rooms are where we were locked in. The adults took the salon and master rooms. They empty.”

Lina gave an uncertain nod, then focused on the girl with her hand wrapped. “Let me take a look, little one.”

“Nothing left to look at,” Arkady stated. “Her hand hit table edge. They hang off by little piece of skin. I clip. Um… snip them off, spray them with the preserve goo. Put them in a baggy, and put the baggy in water and a long act cold pack like the academy show us to do with remove parts.” He made a nasty face. “But Rodion needs help. I don’t know what else to do for his leg.”

Lina grabbed onto a nearly empty rack and redirected herself over to the sobbing boy. Like most of the others, he wore a man’s shirt that was way too big and had bruises on his face and neck. However, those injuries became secondary as she looked at the kid’s leg. His knee was wrapped, but a bulge was noticeable on the inside of the knee joint.

She moved to get a better look but was stopped by Arkady’s voice. “It’s his knee knob… um… cap. It broke through skin. I not know what else to do.”

“We do nothing,” Lina stated. “Kids, my squadron mate is a backup med-tech. I bet he will know how to better brace this until we get you all to a real doctor. He may know what else needs to be done with the fingers too.”

“And he won’t hurt us?” The smaller girl asked with real fear.

“No. Jules is a real good guy.”

Arkady and Alyona exchanged glances and then nodded at each other. Alyona spoke. “OK, how do we get him?”

Lina pointed to her comm unit. Once both teens nodded, she activated her radio, “Putting you on speaker, Jules. I have a few kids here. Some are hurt. Sounds like they were being taken off when the ship broke loose. They say we’re secure, but there is talk of others who may be hurt, and they say several of the adults who took them are dead. One was an Immunies. It sounds like I’ve also got another kid who is trapped in a room with someone he killed. I’d love to have you here so we can verify the ship is clear and you can help patch up these kids better until we get them back to the White Tiger.

“On the way. Keep your sidearm handy until we go over every centimeter, twice!”

“We’re on the same wavelength,” Lina stated.

“Good. Need to know if the opposite side airlock is good. If not, you need to eject your pod so I can dock.”

“Kids said there’s a bloody mess close to it. Head to it. I’ll try to find a vacuum. If not, I’ll grab a sheet or something and collect as much as I can.”

“Sounds like a plan. Probably fifteen minutes out with maneuvering thrusters.”

An hour later, with the ship swept and five more kids found locked into small storage closets, and a kid by the name of Gambe was stuck in a sleeping compartment, Lina finally took stock of the situation. Two of the kids had serious injuries, and another had been found badly beaten and tied up.

Lina moved into the small bridge. The power was on and the computer was up. She let out a sigh of relief since this gave her full access. She changed passwords before she made a careful sweep.

Another body, this one in a Quaker VII uniform, was partially wedged under the copilot’s seat. She recoiled as she checked over the figure and secured a sonic pistol off the right hip. She could tell by the way the body was wedged in; the guy had tried to grab onto the seat but was jarred so hard both his arms snapped inside his e-suit. His head then hit the chair hard enough to snap it all the way forward, so the entire body got folded under the seat. She bet the inside of the e-suit was filled with blood. A glance in the faceplate told her the guy died with his face contorted into a scream. It made her cringe.

She forced a few deep breaths and took the body back to the walk-in freezer, where the other five adults and two kids had been wrapped in sheets and stuck inside for preservation and possible identification. She used a small ball of twine to secure the guy to one of the shelves and made her way back to the bridge.

Next up was a check of controls and fuel. She smirked at the fact the fuel and water tanks were full. She bet the Corvette had refueled and replenished water. She then ran down a full diagnostic. She wasn’t surprised to find the forward landing feet were offline. The dent she saw went right over the hatch. However, everything else was in the green. She activated internal comms, “Other than not being able to land on a planet we’re good Jules. Internal scanners confirm our hard internal security sweep. It’s just the two of us and the kids. Sensors aren’t giving me anything from inside the room with a stuck door, though.”

“Send the White Tiger a message about our status then give me a hand. Oh, and grab your prybar from your pod. This door ain’t doing more than wiggling with mine. So maybe with two…”

“Be there in a minute or two.”

It took Jules with some help from Arkady, using both pry bars to pop the door to the sleeping compartment where Gamble was. They found a bloody mess. A badly beaten young teen, wearing only under shorts and a way too big for him Quaker VII armor vest with a shoulder holstered gyro jet pistol pointed a sonic rifle at the door. Lina cringed at the amount of blood still floating in the room and splattered across the kid.

She also noted the kid had self-applied makeshift bandages over his left arm and right leg, and wrapped another around his side. A bloody sheet, tied shut, floated in one corner. A body in a Quaker VII corporal uniform floated in front of the door, giving the boy some cover. The body had a quartet of hammock securing hooks sticking out of its face, side, left hand, and groin area. A combat knife was buried to the hilt in the abdomen, and the neck had part of a hammock wrapped around the man’s neck so tightly it had cut into the skin.

Arkady moved between the kid and Jules. “Dear God! Gamble, you live through this?”

“Not by much!” Gamble growled back. “But this bastard ain’t hurting any of us again!” He shot the body pushing it into the doorframe.

“No!” Arkady stated as he backed up. No shoot. We safe!”

“Who are the two goons in the e-suits?” Gamble demanded to know while pointing the rifle in Jules’ general direction, but not at Arkady.

“They here to help us!”

The teen eyed the situation. His eyes were narrow and showed no trust. “You sure Arkady?”

Alyona floated into view. “Take it easy, Gamble. They are from Brave Humanities. And look, without them you would still be stuck in here… Still bleeding stuck in here.”

Gamble glanced at the cloth tied around his upper arm. “Jack-ass sliced me when I was strangling him. Tough SOB. But he’s dead now… Finally. But what about the others?”

“Craft is clear of hostiles, son.” Jules stated.

“You sure?” It was clear by who he looked at that he was talking to Alyona.

The girl nodded. “We checked with them twice. No more Quaker VI or VII alive on ship. Some not on board. Now let them help you, Gamble. You still bleeding!”

“Good to hear we’re clear,” Gamble responded with less edge in his voice. “And yeah, hard to tie a bandage on my arm with one hand and my teeth.”

“Then let me help,” Jules stated. “I can see blood drops still floating up.”

“You a medic or something?”

“Space viper pilot is my primary, but med-tech is my secondary… Look kid, you need to get those wounds closed properly and a full antibiotic regimen.

“OK, yeah. But Arkady, you’re gonna watch him while he works on me. Got it?”

“Sure!”

Gamble let out a long breath, shot the dead body a second time, and lowered his weapon. “What about Boris?”

“Not aboard,” Alyona announced. “Must have stayed aboard big ship when they took other off.”

“Damn!” Gamble snarled. “He needs to die!” He shook his head and punched the dead body as he floated past. Finally, he held out his left arm. “He sliced me good when I was strangling him. The others are all nicks.”

Jules clamped his hands over the wound. “Arkady, there is a full med kit under the seat of my pod. Pull on the green handle and twist to the left it will release it. Bring it to me… We’ll set up a makeshift medical area in the main lounge.”

He turned to Lina, “How is the bridge?”

“Fully functioning and we have full water tanks so you should be able to get those who need it, water vacuum showers.”

“Good. See if you can raise the White Tiger. Five of these young ones need medical beyond what I can give and the others show lesser physical injuries and malnourishment.”

“Sent a message over an hour ago, but there and back, we are talking about twelve hours give or take an hour or so.”

“If we need to burn in, how long?”

“We’ve got an Antares class C drive and full fuel, so we can make good time. But we are way out…” She paused and typed in a few calculations on her wrist computer. “Um, from a prelim trajectory path, including maneuvering around or through the asteroid belt… probably nineteen days. Might be able to shave a couple of days off once we get inside the system past the asteroid belt where I can run some computations and use some planetary and moon gravitational pulls to speed us along.”

“Water should be good, but food could be a problem,” Jules answered. “The other problems are the girl’s fingers and the overall health of the older non-academy kids. None of these kids were treated well at all. Worse, those locked up got bashed around when the ship broke loose. One has not shown any sign of waking up. And I am betting I’ll have to stitch this one up if he’ll let me.”

“Won’t be the first time,” Gamble stated with lessening hostility. He even managed a grin and joked. “Auto suture kits and me are pretty much on a first-name basis.”

Lina snickered. “Merc to the core. Jules will get you up and running.”

“Good. I have some Q VI and VII assholes to find and kill… But after the way the fold rip snapped shut, makes me real glad I wasn’t on that ship! So, they might be dead already.”

“It sure not hurt my feeling,” Alyona stated. “We can hope and pray. It’d probably be better for those they took if they were dead instead of with those animals… However,” she glanced over at the younger girl. “What about her fingers?”

The girl whimpered. “They’re… gone.”

Jules gave a sad smile. “Maybe not, sweetheart. If we can get you into a real med bay in the next eighteen hours, the chances are good we can save them since Arkady did everything right. But I’m not going to lie, chances go down dramatically with each six hours after the first eighteen.”

He turned to Lina, “The other kid’s knee may not wait nineteen days either. It needs a bone setter and a surgeon. And I honestly don’t know what to do with the girl we found in the E-suit storage area. Her breathing is OK, but she’s out. Nothing. Best guess is a major concussion, maybe serious head trauma inside. No way to know without a med bay.”

Jules took an uneasy breath, “The badly beaten kid is in the best shape of those locked down, but some of these bruises may be from internal damage. And honestly same with Gamble here. Without a full scan, no way to tell. And our pod med kits only have enough pain killer to keep the worst two numb for another four days at most. It’s going to be a miserable two weeks for both if we have to burn in.”

Lina ran her hand through her hair. “Unless they send us a linked Space Viper with a passenger attachment, there’s no chance we can get the girl back in time.”

“Yeah, I know. How about you send another message asking for one, and why we are requesting it.”

“Get me the full names of the kids so I can send them as part of the communication. I know Command is looking for two in particular and Quaker VII cadets are also high on the priority board. We have three of them, four with Gamble, so hopefully they’ll send us needed help. But if we do this, I can’t go anywhere until I hear back. Plus, there is no telling if Command will risk more Vipers. We lost at least three and Bev.”

“Lina, as things stand now, we’ll have one kid without two fingers. Another will probably end up with a permanently messed up knee. Worst of all, the third might not make it if we try to head in system now. As it is, I’ll have to set aside all the basic AIM packets to keep her fed with enough calories, and there are only enough of them left for one person for fifteen days. She’s small, so I can stretch it, but… Well, my vote is to wait… and cross every finger you can Commander Bennett will take the risk. Make sure to tell them to send up food packets and bone shot units if they are going to come, cause even with three less of us, we are going to be damned hungry if we have to do this with what is left on board… and these kids all show minor malnourishment and bone density loss as is. I’ll bone-shot them all over the next few hours and hand them my high protein emergency rations out of my pod to help, but it’s only a short-term solution.”

“Do the same from mine. I’ll starve before we let them get any worse.”

Arkady’s nervous voice came over. “Ma’am?”

“What’s on your mind kiddo?”

“Um, when you message send, tell your commander about the brand-new Earth Core Hammerhead out here with us. And while it looks messed up there is a liquid freight ship and the other fighter. Bet those would pay for some of what you lost… Not your pilot though. Sorry.”

Lina wiped at the corner of her eyes. “You have a big heart, Arkady. Bev would be happy to know she died to free kids like you. And good thinking young one. So, mind me asking what were you in the academy for?”

“Battle armor pilot, ma’am. With specialization on becoming a medic on the military side and History on the academic.”

“What about you, Alyona?”

“Same. Battle armor.” Alyona answered. “But my specialization is communications with Math. Since I was a communication specialist, my English is better than Arkady’s. Extra English is a requirement for all comm specialties.”

Gamble spoke up, “Switched from Frame to Battle Armor after taking the free classes they offered. But I’m AIM basic certified in Frame Pilot, Gyro, and Missile. I’m advanced certed on Frame Laser and Ballistic. But I really like battle armor. It can go places frames can’t and I can be a lot more sneaky in it.”

Gamble frowned. “But this stupid academy wouldn’t let me choose a fun academic focus. So I went scout for military and Biology on the academic side. But my grades in Bio… barely passing and only with lots of after-class study help from a couple of somewhat decent instructors.”

Alyona continued to fill in a few gaps for the two Brave Humanities warrant officers. “We were in the same Battle Armor force. Gamble has advanced AIM certs in Pilot, Ballistic, Laser, Gyro, and was working with a kid from the O’Connell Grenadiers on Battle Armor Martial Arts.”

Gamble waved off the pain injector. “Save that for the others who need it.” He then bit down on the strap for the rifle as Jules auto-sutured his arm.

Jules patted the boy on the shoulder, “I really should do your side and leg as well, but suturing your side without pain mitigation…”

Gamble continued to bite down on the rifle strap as he flipped his right wrist a few times and hissed out, “Just do it. I’m an Ion Assassin Merc! The others may need the pain meds!”

Tears leaked out as Jules carefully sutured the boy’s side. The leg went much better. After the last suture was put in Gamble floated over to a corner and took some deep breaths. “Shit… that hurt… I so want to shoot that bastard again…”

“He won’t feel it, but if it’ll make you feel better, go for it.” Jules stated with a smirk.

This got a pained chuckle out of Gamble. “Not worth it if he won’t feel it…. Um, is it OK if I go to bed? I really hurt.”

“Let’s get you a bone shot and have you eat a high protein pack, and take a shower. You can do a water vac if you want. It would be easier on the sutures than a sonic one. Then feel free.”

“Yes, sir.” Gamble sighed. He moved up to Jules. “Let’s get the bone shot out of the way. A hot shower while I move my leg after will help with the tightness.”

Jules finished with Gamble and had Arkady watch him as he took a water vac shower just to make sure the kid was going to be OK. Once the teen was in a space hammock, he focused on the others.

He came onto the bridge with Alyona chatting with Lina. “…and Arkady and me have basic AIM certs in Guard class battle armor along with Ballistic and Laser. Battle Armor was pretty new to the academy, so everyone who was going for certs was in the same force. Rodion was in it too even though he’s almost two years younger. He hasn’t picked a specialization yet. Our bet is battle armor repair and Science. He can all but build a laser or electron rifle from scratch. We all grew up in the same apartment building just west of the northern spaceport. One of the retired troopers in our building sponsored us, so we got in on scholarships.”

Lina patted the girl’s shoulder. “Well, Rodion is hurt and will need to keep his leg still. But while we’re up here, I’m going to need to fly and Jules has his hands full as our medic. How about you and Arkady be ship security and helpers? Arkady seems to have a handle on and a strong interest in medical, so he can help Jules and you can come up here and help me man the radio and keep an eye on sensors. Once Gamble is up to it, he can help as well.”

“Anything you need ma’am!” Alyona spoke up eagerly.

Arkady also chimed in, “Same here, ma’am!”

Lina glanced over, shot Jules a smile, and typed in a message to him on her wristband. ‘You up for pitching in a couple hundred credits for them?’

The answer was fast, ‘Happily.’

“Welcome to the crew kids,” Lina announced as she smiled at the near-instant response. “I’ll see if we can get you some pay as temporary members of Brave Humanities Defense Forces.”

Alyona managed a tight smile, “It would be awesome if we could have a stint with BHDF on our AIM records!”

Jules sent another message to Lina, ‘How about we give them something to really smile at and offer sponsorship to BHDF’s apprentice program?’

‘Great idea. We can get them a few months on the White Tiger with us as military students with real duty responsibilities. But if we do this, we’ll be responsible for them.’

‘Always wanted a little brother and sister. But the way they are worried about Rodion, we may have to find a way to get him in as well. Gamble has some advanced certs, but still may need a sponsor if he wants in on this.’

‘You really do want into this fight suit. Let’s do it. I’m sure we can get Tabby or Barret to sponsor the younger one if we can get his knee fixed. Dickerson will certainly jump at sponsoring Gamble if needed. He’s a former merc and is good with the kids in the senior apprenticeship program. I’ll let you make the offer. I will second it.’

Jules smiled as he looked up from his wristband. “You two pull your weight and really help us, I bet we could even get all of you some time as apprentices on the White Tiger. It would come with minor pay and ribbons to add to your uniforms showing you were active members of our defense forces. We can see if Gamble wants an advanced slot and if we can get Rodion up and running again, we could probably add him in as a junior apprentice as well.”

“Anything you need! Anything!” Alyona spoke with what was the first happy-sounding voice either adult had heard out of the kids. It warmed both their hearts.

Jared looked up as a Brave Humanities heavy assault lander banked hard and came in fast. Dirt and plants blasted out from under it as thrusters fired hard and brought it to a landing almost exactly where the ore ship had been parked next to the mining station.

His radio came to life. “Rebels, this is Captain Tanner. Stay off your tertiary freq but feel free to monitor. Stay on your primary and talk to me or other Grenadiers on your secondary if you need to. Ensign Warley, meet me by the back ramp. All other Rebels continue to follow the orders you were given. Out.”

Seconds later the back assault ramp came down. The five frame frames that had been on guard duty back at the Rebel’s small base were first off. They were followed by two more squads that had helped secure the water facility.

Jared was taken off guard as fifteen more frames moved down. This included Captain Tanner’s large and heavy Marauder frame, Senior Lieutenant Blanchard’s Gladiator frame, and the five of the better pilots in the Grenadier’s best tracking and recon unit. The other seven had Brave Humanities crests on the shoulder and were largely unknown frames to Jared.

Even as SrLt. Blanchard directed the recon squad to move out into the woods to the east where the stragglers who couldn’t get to the ore ship fled, five of the Brave Humanities frames moved in behind them. The other two Brave humanities frames held back.

Five Zodiac infantry hover platforms came down the ramp. These were followed up by a much larger Contender wheeled assault platform and a pair of Fiend hover recon assault APCs. All had Grenadier crests on the sides. Jared recognized them as some of the armor the Grenadiers had captured during the defense of the Q VII greenhouse complex. The use of the armor surprised him since the Grenadiers seldom used platforms.

A woman Jared didn’t know emerged from the top hatch of the Contender and took a look around. She spoke into a headset even as she panned gyro jet rifle over the area. “Set a four corners security perimeter. Medic one, stay to the rear and keep the ramp guarded.”

Four vehicles spread out and formed a good boundary around the star shuttle. The fifth Zodiac stayed only twenty-five meters off the back ramp. Overhead, a quartet of Manta IPSCs with Brave Humanities markings made a couple of low passes then took up station above the heavily damaged mining station.

Next off were four heavy-wheeled Dagger assault transport vehicles. They had Brave Humanities markings on them. They split off. Two followed the Grenadier and Brave humanities recon squads while the other two angled to the southwest. When they got to the edge of the clearing, back hatches came down and two sixteen-man units of Combatant Class battle armor took defensive positions to protect the back of the facility.

With the area much more secure, infantry squads moved out of thee of the Zodiacs. Under the leadership of people Jared didn’t know, they started a sweep of the outer buildings.

Jared moved his frame over to Captain Tanner so he could talk without using the radio. “Sir, this is overkill. At most nine frames from here didn’t make it into the transport. Ruslan thinks it was seven, but Zolyar thinks eight, maybe nine. It looks to both like they scattered deeper into the woods. We’ve picked off a few stragglers from the Water station, and there are probably others, but we have frames watching where they came from. And we did a full search of the buildings. We’re secure here.”

“Brave Humanities wants the kids you know protected so they are paying for this. Command Sergeant Black is in one of the Pathfinder frames and is here to interview them.”

“OK, but the buildings are clear. All of them. We triple-checked.”

“You told us, but we didn’t tell them. As far as they know I am getting a status update from you right now.” Tanner answered. “Most of the infantry came off the hiring boards here and are being led by lower ranking Grenadiers we spot promoted and a few Lieutenants Meschev knew and recommended from the Quaker VII PDF as platform leaders. Just play along for a few. Now where are the miners and their security?”

“The main billeting. It’s the L-shaped building by the two large mine tunnels. We gave them most of what little food the raiders didn’t take and offered medical help, but they don’t want much to do with us. To say they are not happy with us for being so nice to those who attacked them is a big understatement.”

“Understandable. However, you saved their asses, so they should just be happy they are alive!” Tanner stated. His head unit moved as he surveyed the area. “And the… Um, let’s call them captives for the moment. Where are the captives?”

“Ore processing building. I put six frames around it to protect them from the miners and what is left of their security.” Jared pointed. “But…”

Tanner held up a hand to stop Jared. He spoke into his radio. “Ensign Itonivich, Ensign Warley of the Rebels says the largest building the six frames are around has the prisoners. I’ll take the Fiends and secure them.

“You handle the survivors and ship security. The L-shaped building next to the two mines has survivors of the mine complex. They need medical and food. Sounds like they are peeved about the good treatment of captives. Be firm, but not mean. Remind them the Rebels took the flash contract, so this is their show. Since we are helping it’s now ours as well. Have our people inform them they can take our help and pout or be idiots, pout, and get nothing from us. Their choice. One way or the other, we’ll be out of their hair in a few hours to a couple of days at most. But while we are on-site, this is Rebel territory!”

“Understood Captain,” the female voice responded. “Medic team, deploy to the L-shaped structure by the mine entrance. Let ‘em know we offer help. They can take it or not. But regardless, they sit tight. It’s up to them if they chill or throw temper tantrums until we pull out. One way or the other, we are in charge, not them. I’ll move the Contender up to take your place on the ship perimeter. All other infantry stay clear of the building being guarded by the frames. Also, pay attention to their colors. Those are Ruffian Rebel frames. We are here to back them up and give them platform and infantry support!”

Since Jared heard the transmissions, he knew all the arriving reinforcements were using the Rebel’s tertiary frequency as their primary one. He waited and watched as the remaining Zodiac broke off from screening duty and angled over toward the building closest to the two big mine entrances on the side of the ridge.

Jared cringed as the vehicle sped off without a flanking or supporting vehicle. “Sergeant Brookshire, take both Kiplings and move to cover the green and tan hover that is headed toward the miners. It’s med support and those higher northeast rocky woods are not fully swept yet.”

Kerri responded, “On it. But what moron takes the medic transport across open ground with high ground on one side before they find out if it’s secured from enemy fire?”

Captain Tanner snorted, “A real green one. And good observations, both of you. Keep your eyes peeled.”

Before more could be said Ensign Itonivich’s voice came over the radio, “Medic team, get your ass behind buildings! You are in the open! Rebel leader, I assume by the rapid deployment of three frames those rocky hills are not secured?”

“Only swept once,” Jared responded. “There is still a Medicorim frame up there somewhere. I have three frames trying to track it down. We also know a few hostile frames couldn’t get to the ship. Most went straight east but may have detoured to hook up with the Medicorim frame. We don’t know yet. The south and west are basically secure, but all it takes is one framer to slide around our flanks. There’s too much wild land and too few of us to do more. But it looks like our situation is being shored up quickly so it should get safer quickly. For now, stick to the buildings or the draw going down to the river. Those areas are enemy frame free, and we are keeping it that way.”

“Understood.”

Jared switched back to the Rebels’ primary frequency. “Guys, keep your eyes on the infantry and armor. If we take any fire, move to shield them until they get their crap together.”

Jared angled over to Nikki and her squad, “Sergeant, have your squad take a look at those three frames.” He pointed to three frames laid out next to each other. “Once you know them on sight, I need your squad to push up into the rocks on the northeastern side. Secure the hill so we have the high ground. If you take fire from a known Earth Core frame, take the bastard down. If it’s one of those three, do your best to get them to surrender, but whatever you do, don’t go for a kill.”

“Don’t go for a kill?” Nikki asked with confusion.

“Absolutely not! We risk extra armor damage before we do a hard takedown of any of those three styles of frames. If you have to take one of those three types down because it won’t surrender, go for legs and back off on lasers and powerful weapons. Switch over to guns and only fire single shots or bursts. No full auto.”

Nikki moved over to the three odd-looking frames. “So we want to capture the frames intact?”

“Frames are secondary. We want the pilots as unhurt as possible.”

Even as Nikki turned and shot Jared a befuddled stare, he held up both hands of his frame. “It’ll make sense later. Also don’t expect them to get out of frames. If they fall give them a chance to stay down and don’t shoot them, even if they don’t put out smoke”

“What?!?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but for now, you’ll have to trust me. Also, we have three framers in those hills, so don’t let any of your squad get careless.”

“You’re the officer,” Nikki responded with a shrug, a long breath, and a shake of her head. “OK, guys, you heard the Ensign. We have some friendlies up there so keep IFF up and no shooting until you have identified the target. Also, we need to get a close look at these downed frames and if seen, do not go for a solid kill. Sounds like ammo conservation is secondary to keeping the pilots inside as healthy as possible!”

Jared walked next to Captain Tanner as the man angled over to the building being guarded by six frames.

Tanner eyed the frames surrounding the building and glanced over to Jared, “If you got them out of frames and you… we really know a few of them, what’s with the heavy guard?”

“More for the miners and the safety of those inside.”

“They really that pissed off?”

“Oh yeah. Those miners and what is left of their security were not happy to see us being friendly with Lukas and Pen. Sergeant Nire shot one with a stunner when the jerk tried to pull a pistol on Lukas. And sir, we have Sarah Cunner too.”

“Sarah Cunner?” Tanner asked. “Name doesn’t ring a bell.”

“The daughter of the Bullet Eaters platform master tech.” Jared saw Tanner shake his head. “Denny’s Girlfriend…”

Captain Tanner looked up and let out a long breath. “At the first New Bravaria merc camp… The guy with the missing ear I got into a knockdown drag-out with because he went after Denny after his girl and Denny decided to go way past kissing?”

“Yeah,” Jared grinned. “Good thing you were there. That dude was huge, and man was he pissed off!”

“Oh, him I remember. His fist had the same impact as a freakin’ sledgehammer! I was in med for three days because of him.”

“But you knocked him out. Which was great cause none of them bothered us again. And Denny and Sarah were able to sneak out a few more times because none of the Bullet Eaters were willing to say anything and risk getting a round with you.”

“It was a rough camp to be sure.” Tanner suddenly grinned. “But the card games were great!”

Jared snickered, “The whole camp was lots of fun until the second round of EC came in. And it’s where I met Pen. He was with the Afanc Archers.”

“Another one I don’t know. The Archers were and, last I heard, still are a Combined Arms Division. They were in overall command of the first camp and took over as the lead merc unit in the New Bravaria system until Blood’s Honor and the rest of the ABR came in and tore the crap out of anything and everything EC. I didn’t get to know any of the Archers directly, but we took orders from their tactical commander, Colonel Cadwalader. As of a couple of months ago, they were neck-deep in the ABR civil war… They offered us a couple of contracts to work with Forest Garden and the NFC on their behalf.” He paused and looked down at the frames laid out beside the building. “So, they were in those?”

“Uh-huh.” Jared nodded. “With a crazy command lockout. They couldn’t shoot, drink, or even get out without getting permission.

“Did they tell you why?”

“Something about games and something called their Ludus troupes fighting other troupes. It sounds like they had to fight each other for real, but they called them games. I haven’t spent much time with Lukas yet, but from what I got from him, Sarah, and Pen, it sounds like they were forced to fight in stadiums against each other like gladiators or something. They have all sorts of scars, especially on the legs. And…”

“And what?”

“They all have brands on their chests.”

Tanner shuddered at the words but didn’t have time to dwell on them. Instead, his focus turned to the Fiend recon platform as it moved up to the side of the building and two squads of infantry deployed to secure the perimeter.

A few seconds later Master Sergeant Saulsky jumped down. “MOVE! You lazy bastards, MOVE!” He shoved the last one, a teen only a couple of years older than Jared down as the kid paused to eye her surroundings. “You just volunteered for latrine digging duty Recruit Volkrein! Anyone else want to join her?”

He stepped into the open, panned a heavy gyro jet rifle over the area, and jogged around the building. He returned without even breathing hard. “Three entrances. We need three, four meters long and meter-and-a-half deep, trenches in front of each with easy-to-walk past areas. The back one will need a path for a platform to get to the bay door, so they need to be further out! I expect each trench to have a heavy weapon behind sandbags! You got two hours or we dig nine more just for something fun to do before chow!”

He slapped the side of the Fiend, “Private Grendel looks like most of the focus is to the east! Give us a hardcover from those hills. You take the front guns. Private Gertsenberger man the upper turret! Blast the shit out of anything that fires on any of us. You two will join latrine digging cause you get to sit on your asses while the rest of us work! Oh, and keep the back ramp down so I can get to my frame if I need it!”

Jared took a few steps back even as MSgt Saulsky yanked another guy, this one in his mid-twenties, back by his collar. He pulled the collapsible shovel out of the guy’s hands while knocking him on his butt with a leg sweep. “Private Donahue, you just signed on as another digger on latrine duty!” He grabbed the shovel and slammed it into the rocky soil. “This is how you dig, you worthless piece of farm crap! I figured a farm boy would know how to dig!”

Even as he dug faster than any two others around him, he shouted, “Private Leco and Bertran cover Sergeant Calvert and our medics!”

Two figures in guard class battle armor jumped down. One went to a knee and panned a light gyro outward while the other helped SrSgt Calvert down and then moved to stand between the woman and the entrance. Two others, one man and one older teen girl jumped down right behind Calvert. Both were in battle armor with helmets off and carried medic packs.

MSgt Saulsky slammed the shovel into the soil and stomped a foot, “Dekker and Birchweiger, get your helmets on! You’re on a combat deployment, you morons!”

Jared moved to better cover all of them as SrSgt Calvert cringed and pushed her body sling-secured elbow into her side with her other arm for a moment. With a gritting of teeth, she moved up to Tanner. “Where? Where is he?”

Jared flipped up his face shield. “In there, Sergeant!”

She turned sharply, took a step then stopped and looked back. “Jared, you sure it’s Lukas? Really sure?”

“Oh yeah. It’s him.”

She took a couple more breaths, closed her eyes, and straightened her back. After a few more seconds she gulped, “Mind coming with me?”

“Sure.”

Captain Tanner moved his frame close to the door and climbed out. He reached out to lightly patted SrSgt Calvert on the shoulder. “Right beside you Iona.”

Jared moved in first but still paused to take a look back at the master sergeant. He shivered at the fact the man already had a hole down below his knees when no one else in sight was past their ankles.

The building was nothing more than an ore sorting and storage area with a bank of showers and waste stations on the west side for those doing the work. The south wall had scores of three-meter square bins filled with ore and a huge bin of rock with large conveyor belts going up to mostly full bins. There were two carts with hitches for pulling the bins parked in the northwest corner and a third one, shot up, by the main bay door. He yelled out, “Captain Tanner and Senior Sergeant Calvert of the O’Connell Grenadiers are about to come in. No fast moves.”

Lukas glanced up from where he was helping to feed one of the badly wounded kids. He was clean and in Jared’s spare uniform. His eyes teared up as he saw his mom step into the area and lock eyes with him. “Mom…”

“Lukas!” She rushed over and dropped to her knees. She pulled her son into her with her good arm. Both tried to speak, but only tears and sobs came out.

Tanner scanned the other kids. None moved. Most held up both hands. He motioned for all of them to lower their arms. A moment later his eyes met Sarah’s. Even though she was a couple of years older than the last time he’d seen her, he recognized her. It was clear by her wide eyes; she remembered him as well. Even as her right hand clutched at a bandage around her upper leg she gulped.

He moved over and knelt, “Relax. You’re safe.”

“You’re…” The girl took a few breaths. “My dad dislocated your shoulder…”

“And I knocked him out… barely. But that was between him and me. Nothing to do with you.”

Even though she cringed, she nodded and wiped at a couple of tears with her left hand. “Jared told me about Denny. I’m so sorry, sir.”

Tanner let out a sad sigh. “Yeah, so are we. But…” He forced a smile. “I am certain he would be thrilled to know you are alive. I can also tell you there are several other Grenadier kids, most now Ruffian Rebels, who are going to be very happy to see you.”

This got a genuine smile out of Sarah. “Kerri, Jared, and Val have all hugged me and made sure I was one of the first to get taken care of.” She pulled at a shirt that was a little too big. “Kerri took what I’m wearing out of one of the miner’s things after Val helped me clean up and SrSgt Nire auto-sutured my leg. It’s the nicest anyone other than my squad mates have been to me in a real long time.”

“We’ll check on your dad’s unit. Until we find out more you have a place with us.” He jerked his head over at Jared, “Or if you want, with the Rebels.”

“Oh, I so want to sign up with them, sir. But I’m not sure AIM…”

Command Sergeant Black lifted up his face shield and spoke. “You let the Grenadiers and Brave Humanities worry about smoothing out your status with AIM. But you’ll certainly need to get AIM certs…”

Sarah let out a humor-filled snort. “After the last two years, I’ll smoke any test they’ve got. Just give me a day or so to let my leg heal up and a frame I can borrow.”

Tanner patted her on the shoulder. “No hurry. You took a combat hit. You should take at least a week off…”

She shook her head, “Only a bullet fragment and some shrapnel into the thigh. It’s already out. Not enough to keep me out of training for more than a day in the Ludus. On a bad day, I’d already be back in a frame getting ready for another match. I’ll be fine.”

As Tanner gave her a skeptical look, she shrugged and pulled up the pants of her uninjured leg. “Take a look. We’re used to leg hits.”

Tanner rocked back as if he had been punched. His eyes moved down scores of scars. Many had auto-suture marks, others showed rings from laser hits, yet others indicated where bullets had gone clean through. He started to reach down but pulled his hand back.

“Go ahead. They don’t hurt. The laser burns itch until a Ludus surgeon cuts out the blistered sections and puts some goop on them so they heal fast. And they take enough scar tissue off so we don’t lose feeling and our frames can still get proper feedback through electrostatics”

“But you have dozens…”

A boy Jared was kneeling next to spoke up. “We learn fast to try to go for each other’s legs. Arms are also fair game.”

Jared spoke up. “Captain, this is Pen.”

“Pendragon Griffiths from the Afanc Archers,” the young teen responded. “But almost everyone calls me Pen, sir. Aren’t you the guy who took down Sarah’s dad?”

“Yeah…” Tanner sighed. “Wish people would stop reminding me.”

Pen snickered. “My dad lost a large bet with your Master Sergeant. Big mean dude. Mom lost a bet with Robin’s Mom. All told I think you cost my folks over 700 credits.” He grinned, “But I bet Drath forty credits on you, so I made out.”

“Yeah,” Another boy responded with a shake of his head. “My last forty credits. Then got snagged before I could earn anymore, so you caused me to lose the last real credits I have held in about two years.” He then chuckled. “But I got to say, it was a great fight, sir.”

“Sure was!” Jared grinned widely. “Both Robin and I came out with credits from it!”

Tanner ran his hand down his face. “Geesh! How many bet on it?”

“Almost everyone, sir!” Pen answered. “Until you took down Warrant Officer Cunner, no one messed with him. He was a beast!”

Sarah snickered, “The Grenadiers and a few who got to know you all made out big time. Almost everyone in the camp was willing to bet on my dad. I didn’t even know he could be knocked out until you did it!” She let out a light giggle. “Dad took out his frustration on a sergeant from the Mud Grinders a week or so later. It wasn’t pretty.”

Pen, Drath, and a couple of others shuddered. At the same time, Lukas managed a snicker as he looked over at Sarah. “Stopped a lot of boys from hitting on you and your sister.”

“Denny stopped others from hitting on me,” Sarah responded with sadness in her voice. “I thought about Denny almost every night. It’s one of the few things that kept me going.”

Tanner pulled her into his side. “I’m sure you’ll find another boy…”

She pulled up on her right sleeve. “No one will want me. Not looking like this.” There was at least a score of scars. Even as Tanner blinked and lightly ran his hand down the exposed arm, she gave a dismissive flip of her other wrist. “Like I said, some frame armor shrapnel and part of the bullet in the leg. Nothing to even talk about. But I’m nothing but a walking scar. No normal guy will want me.”

“Character marks.” Jared stated. “Lots of guys will be interested!”

“Thanks, Jared,” Sarah stated. “Does this mean you’d take me out in public?”

“Hell, yeah I would!”

Tanner shot Jared a stern glare. “How about you stay focused on being the highest-ranking Rebel here?”

“I am. I’m doing my best to recruit while also trying to get a date.”

This got snickers out of several kids and Command Sergeant Black.

Tanner’s head dropped and he let out a sigh, “You remind me way too much of Major O’Connell when he was your age, Jared…”

Jared raised his eyebrows and asked, “Oh, do tell!”

Tanner rolled his eyes. “Ahh, how about… NO!” While several kids snickered, Tanner stood. “I should have never opened my mouth… I’m going to go out and make sure the new Grenadier Platform crews are doing OK and keep an eye on the Rebels.”

“You do know I am going to tell all the Rebels. Sooner or later, we are going to find out!”

Tanner shot Jared a smirk. “Remember, you and your Rebels will be back in the Grey Stallion sooner or later and I am still the XO.”

“The chores you find for us will be worth finding out what you and the major were like as kids!” Jared fired back with a wide smile.

As Tanner tossed up his hands and walked out, Iona pulled up her son’s shirt sleeve and looked at numerous scars. “Dear God! Who… who did this…”

Sarah swept her hand around the ore sorting area. “Probably some in here including me. Everyone here not part of the same Ludus has shot at all the others countless times. We weren’t supposed to know who we were shooting at, but after arenas on nine worlds, and shooting, punching, cutting, and drilling into each other we all got to know what frames we redsmoked and where we hit them to do so. All it took was to start matching up injuries in the gladiator villages.

“Because of this, I know I got Sev in the leg a week before we fled the gladiator village and Lukas nailed me in the shoulder with a micro laser and redsmoked me the day before we were forced to pack up and flee the Obsidian system.” She pulled the shirt down to expose her shoulder and showed the remnants of laser burn rings on the skin.

While Iona gasped, Sarah smirked. “We hold no grudges. Actually, this time it worked out cause I was sent to medical. Because it was so fresh, I wasn’t even allowed into my frame, so I didn’t have to scramble and load as much as we could take even as FPA hit the military base just down the road from the gladiator village. They had me carry light stuff while most from my Ludus got locked into their frames and pulled out everything that was not bolted or welded down.”

A boy next to her snorted, “We even ripped a few of those out. Remember, we took the whole bank of cubbies with all the spare clothing for the whole Ludus.”

“Yeah,” another girl spoke up. “Same with our Ludus. The shelving for the spare and replacement uniforms and electrostatics were bolted to the walls, but it was faster to break them loose and take the whole thing rather than empty them.”

Iona Calvert kept her son’s head pulled into her chest as she gazed around. “You shot at each other?”

“Yeah, Mom,” Lukas responded. “It’s what we were taken and sold to do.”

“Sold?” Command Sergeant Black and Lukas’ mom stated at almost the same time.

“Most of us,” Sarah answered. “A few were directly selected to join a house Ludus by making it through all the tests. I sure as hell didn’t.”

Pen spoke up. “I don’t think any of us other than Brock was one of those. Most of us were injured when we were grabbed.”

Everyone who could, nodded their heads.

Sarah sighed, “There were a few who were taken directly into a Ludus from my group. I heard they actually had it worse at first, but better after. It might just be from my Ludus though.”

“No. Brock said almost the same thing about our Ludus.” Pen stated. He pointed to a kid who was unconscious. “He was selected at the end of the tests. According to him, there was some kind of draw between the twelve biggest house Ludus lead trainers for the four who made it through the testing. The four winning lead trainers did a second draw to see who picked first. But as always one went right to the Lomo Ludus. If you can find Phoenix, you can find out more about what happened with him. He came in system with us… Um, but Brock knows a lot. Brock said he was taken third. As soon as they each got selected, they were branded. No warning. Branded, ice sprayed, bandaged, and shoved into a frame.”

“Branded?” A Brave Humanities medic asked while Iona and CSgt Black turned and stared with wide eyes.

Sarah stood and pulled her shirt up exposing her chest. Just to the left of the breastbone and below the collarbone, she had a clearly burned-in crest. It had a water dragon with what looked to be a katana in its mouth with crossed gladius blades behind the main crest. The whole thing was surrounded by chains. “Legatus Legionis Yokoyama’s crest along with the gladiator insignia. She pointed to the crossed blades. The chains show I am owned by his Ludus.”

Around the room, several kids took shirts off while others exposed their chests.

Everyone looking was speechless.

Sarah pulled her shirt back down. “So, Jared, still think I am worth taking out?”

Jared didn’t hesitate. “Damn straight! Even more proof of how tough you are!”

Off to the side, Erin glanced up from where she was working on Brock. She locked eyes with Pen. “I’m with Jared. You want a date; you got one Pen!”

This got a grin out of several kids even as Pen blushed.

At the same time, Iona lightly rubbed her hand over a brand of twin-clawed cats facing each other with hammers in their right claws. The rest of the crest was exactly like Sarah’s. It was also the exact same size. Iona’s voice was rage-filled as she hissed out “Who do I need to kill?”

Lukas grabbed his mom’s hand. “A little late. Some kid by the name of Stasik took down Magistri Almueaqib’s frame.”

“Who?” Jared asked.

One of the girls who was pulling her shirt back on answered. The fact none showed any embarrassment over the exposure of their chests was not missed by anyone else in the room. “Legatus Legionis Taleb’s lead trainer, Magistri Almueaqib. Our lead trainer. The kid you call Stasik redsmoked him from way up on the hill. After he fell and tried to get clear, Brock sprayed him with machinegun fire as he opened his frame. Lukas did the same to Medici Quegio after someone took him down and he started to get out. It’s why there were a few open frames with command codes still in them for all of us. It’s a real good thing our Ludus trainers decided to share codes for all of us in case one of them was taken down.”

Pen nodded in agreement. “Real lucky, but Magistri Gōmon-sha saw what he did and took Brock down.”

“Only redsmoked him with a shot into the upper back,” Sarah countered. “The same Stasik kid dropped Magistri Gōmon-sha before he could finish Brock off. I bet that kid took down five of us and at least three of our Magistri and Medici overlords.”

Lukas finally managed to pull his shirt over his brand, “The one in the preceptor frame?”

“Yeah,” Pen stated. “He’s a freaking surgeon with frame weapons. He sent disks into my head from way beyond max range for a disk rifle. It left me stunned. It let someone put a rocket or gyro into my arm.”

“A medium gyro. And that would be me,” Jared declared. “I’m really sorry Pen.”

Pen waved it off with his good arm. “It was a good shot against an enemy frame at long range. Besides, getting shot by people I know has been part of life for the last two years or so. I’m used to it. Still hurts, but a stint in medical means a few days of downtime. So, it ain’t all bad. I’m not mad at you or the kid with the damned disk rifle.”

“He’s the one who knocked me into the basement of the tin shed or whatever it was.” Lukas stated with clear awe in his voice. “I took two missiles to the chest and one to the face as I rounded the building. The smoke trail came from his frame. As I waved my hands to try to keep my balance, he sent three disks into me from way up on the hill. I wouldn’t have believed it, but he’s the only one with a disk rifle and I saw where the smoke trials of the missiles came from. Had to be Stasik. No way should he have been able to shoot me with disks from way up there, but he did. Glad he wasn’t in the circuit against me.”

“The way he shoots, we would have had to team up on him,” Sarah stated. “If he had been on my team we would have run cover for him. Either way, he would be a squad leader for sure.”

CSgt Black cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Hate to break up the small talk, but Brave Humanities needs some answers and I hope you can give us some.”

Pen spoke up. “Ask away, sergeant.”

“OK, so you were all captured on New Bravaria?’

“Most of us. Not all.” A younger boy answered from the far back corner. “I was taken on Storm Sea VII moon three. An Earth Core raid hit our water ice facility. They emptied the water tanks, killed or forced most of the adults to flee, and took all us kids who had on electrostatics. Bet it left lots of mines without water.”

“Same here.” A girl responded. “But I was in a hydrogen collection station in the Pendelhaven system. And Tangier, over there,” she pointed at one of the seriously injured teens across from her, “was on an asteroid mine in the Ackron system.”

As CSgt Black glanced around, Sarah spoke again. “But most of us here were taken from assaults on Merc camps of New Bravaria. We were patched up, tested, trained, and sent into the pits on that nasty icy world. We trained there for a couple months and finally went into combat with a squad leader who was already part of a Ludus. I was a replacement for someone who was killed.

“Me too,” Another teen answered. “But from what I heard from those in the squad I was stuck in, a few were sent directly into combat so they could see us in action before the Ludus leaders offered the prices put on the board for us. It wasn’t until we left that godforsaken iceball of a world before I found out those points on the board were actually our sale prices.”

“Took me a while to figure it out, too.” Sarah admitted. “Don’t think we were really for sale until the points hit 60,000. ‘Cause the numbers turned green after 60,000. But I didn’t see anyone bought for under 75,000.”

The younger boy from Storm Sea held up a hand. “I went for 57,551.”

Pen glanced over, “Probably because the games on Ravendale were the most bloody of any system I’ve seen.”

Pen continued. “My squad lost two against Legatus Legionis Lomo’s second squad and we had a fight only hours later against Legatus Legionis Gozen’s third squad. And from what I heard, Quartic, Gōmon-sha and Almueaqib were both looking at you because of your unarmed skills inside a frame.”

“They were right about you, too.” Sarah stated. “Your unarmed frame is among the best of the lower squads in the circuit.”

Quartic shrugged. “Anker is just as good if not better. The merc unit guarding the water station we were at had a couple of guys certified in Frame Martial Arts. Since we were into taekwondo and so good in frame sims, they got permission from our dads to work with us. They had a couple of spare Aggressors, so they got us through Basic Frame Laser, Ballistic, Missile, and Gyro. It took me a full year to get my Advanced Pilot and Basic FMA certs with AIM before I was taken. Wish I hadn’t been in classes. If I could have gotten to the Aggressor… Probably would have killed me, but I would have taken at least one of those jerks down.”

Another kid let out a snort. “Explains how you put me through a block of ice on your first time out in the arena on Ravendale VI. You were AIM certified and went through all the trials and tests we were put through!”

“And then he slammed me onto you, Forman,” Another girl added. “Redsmoked us both and left me with a broken wrist. It was the last time I went right after a brand-new frame or took one for granted.”

“Most of the time it was a quick easy takedown to get village credits,” Pen stated. “But yeah, thanks to Quartic we were able to win four straight without a loss before everyone started talking and didn’t let Quar charge.”

“Yeah, you all started covering for me until ranged weapons timed out, though. So I still redsmoked at least one frame every time. Made triple ace before we left Ravendale VI.”

“How many kills do you have?” Iona asked with tears in her eyes.

“We didn’t get credits for kills, Sergeant,” Pen stated. “Credits are what we learned to live for, and we only got them for redsmokes, so we try not to kill. It’s why our legs and arms get so scared up. But we still got marked for a kill, but those are in red. Redsmoke with pilot survival got us credits and blue marks.”

“Blue and red marks?” Iona asked as she started to look over Lukas more carefully.

Lukas pulled up his hair on the left side of his head behind the ear, exposing scores of tiny blue daggers. They were in rows of fifteen and went halfway down the side of his neck. He pulled up the hair on the right to expose sixteen tiny red dagger tattoos.

CSgt Black blinked a few times as the other kids around the room exposed duplicate tattoos. He moved close to Quartic. Slowly, he ran his thumb down the fifty-nine blue daggers and four red ones. He had to blink out some tears. “You can’t be much older than my daughter…”

“Turned twelve on Obsidian IV,” Quartic stated. “Have no idea what the Earth date is now.”

Iona glanced at her wrist comm and tapped it, “Earth Standard date is June fifth. Less than two Earth Standard hours to June sixth.”

Sarah let out a sigh, “We haven’t seen an Earth clock since we were dropped off here. Turned fifteen less than a week ago.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Birthdays are not important. Only the board showing when we have the next arena match and the time to the next grand tournament.”

“Grand tournament?” several Rebels, CSgt Black, and Iona asked at almost the same time.

Lukas nodded even as his mom counted all the daggers on the sides of his head and neck. “It’s talked about all the time. Every three years all the Ludus’ send squads to Earth for some kind of royal battle. The emperor even attends. All we are told, it’s the only chance we have at freedom. Those who survive to go to the grand tournament and then live through it are freed. At least in a way. We must have at least three hundred more blue daggers than red or be clearly over the age of sixteen. Those who survive and please the emperor get a shot at military service in EC in what Magistri Gōmon-sha called an anti-riot unit.”

“What more can you tell me about this tournament?” CSgt Black demanded to know.

“Almost nothing.” Sarah answered. “A year or so ago, all those in the gladiator village with the required three hundred more blue daggers than red, and all those who were clearly adults were given Fabrorim-like frames. They got six weeks of practice in them and shipped out with those in the other Luduses who met the requirements. It was the first time we heard of the grand tournament. One thing was for sure, the overseers and trainers acted very odd when they shipped out.”

“Like nervous and almost scared,” Pen stated. “All of them. They worked with those going way more than us. It was a nice break.”

“Sure was!” Lukas stated. “For six weeks we had basic practice and had to fight in the arena only a couple of days a week.”

Sarah nodded. “Then, right after we got to Obsidian IV, Earth Core Golden Samurai showed up and arrested all the leaders of Legatus Legionis Galven’s Ludus. New leadership was brought in later in the day. They were horrible to those in Galven’s Ludus. There was talk they were going to have to fight each other to prove who should be squad leaders. Fortunately, the FPA hit us before it could happen, ‘cause from what was being said, they expected over half of the Ludus to be killed off so new blood could be brought in.”

“And everyone in Legatus Legionis Lomo’s Ludus got five hundred village credits.” Another girl remarked. “All of them.”

“And their Ludus got a shipment of brand-new frames for their leaders and several for their gladiators including five more Gladiusims,” Lukas sighed. “But it got me one of their used ones, so I can’t complain too much.”

“But they had brand new stuff which made fighting them harder than it already was!” Sarah grumbled, then added. “All we heard was that both things happened because of results at the grand tournament. We guessed Legatus Legionis Galven’s gladiators from our circuit did bad. But none of the trainers would talk about it other than to make occasional comments about Legatus Legionis Lomo’s Ludus having one of the best recruiters in EC and it not being fair.”

CSgt Black rubbed his chin as the kids continued to talk. Finally, he cleared his throat. “OK, so I have a better idea of what happened to all of you, and some of what you have been through. I will see if Brave Humanities will be willing to take care of your scars and kill marks…”

“I earned these, Command Sergeant.” Pen stated as he lightly slapped at his neck.

CSgt Black held up both hands. “If you want them, fine. I can understand feelings either way. Same goes for combat scars and even brands. And I have no idea if the brands can be removed, but I will ask. For now, I have several much more important questions. First, do any of you know about how many of you came here to New Brunswick?”

Lukas spoke up as Captain Tanner reentered the building escorting a girl who was younger than most in the building. She was filthy, crying, had her arm wrapped with a bloody bandage, and had wild-looking eyes. “Joplin, it’s ok. These are friends.”

The girl blinked and turned to look at Pen.

Pen nodded, “We’re safe and not under EC control Jop. Take it easy. They have fresh drinking water, a sonic shower, and real food packs. He pointed to a small side area.”

The girl continued to look around with uncertain eyes. “But they cut us down… and had codes to let me out… They are not another Ludus?”

“No. They’re mercs who took down our Lanista and got our codes. We attacked the mine, water station, and village, and they came to the defense.” Sarah stated. “Take a breath, get your arm sutured, grab some water, and food, and clean up. There’s even some spare clothing you can change into. No EC village garb or Ludus electrostatic crap, real clothing!”

As the girl took one more look around and edged over to the makeshift cleaning area, Tanner spoke up. “Stasik found and dropped the missing Medicorim and took this one down with a disk rifle shot to the arm. Sounds like we got our eyes on two more who came from the direction of the water station, but they aren’t responding to radio messages. They’re pinned in a small draw.” He paused and looked around, “So, did I hear someone in here knows how many we are facing?”

Lukas spoke up, “Yeah, but sir… If you have a couple of us pinned down, you need to get close and radio on base radio band eleven or thirteen. Gladiator frames don’t have standard radios and they further limited our output to low power and those two frequencies so we couldn’t talk without them easily monitoring.”

Tanner blinked. “What are radio bands eleven and thirteen?”

Iona kissed her son on top of the head and held out her good hand. “He’s talking about non-regulated basic radio bands in the about 27 megahertz area. Limited range. Fifteen to twenty kilometers at best. But if they had a low power setting, it could be reduced a great deal further. Jared, toss me your headset. I’ll talk your scouts through how to change over so they can talk to whoever they got pinned.”

“They won’t listen,” Sarah warned. “Doing something for an unknown is a surefire way to get a punishment. Tell whoever you have close to them to say Sarah, Pen, and Lukas all said to do what you tell them. If they refuse. Tell them to hold and not fire until one of us gets there.”

As Iona started talking to Ruffian Rebel scouting frames, Tanner shook his head as if to clear it. “Barbaric… Um, anyway, let’s get back on track here kids. What are we facing out here?”

Lukas answered. “We left the Obsidian System with eighty-seven of us gladiators, eight of us in Gladiusims, thirty-one Sicaims, and forty-eight Pugioms. Thirty-seven others had no assigned frames, but since they all had six months of training and their prices didn’t even get to 45,000 they were relegated to Plugs. We had sixteen plug frames and twenty-one makeshift plug frames at the time of arrival.”

“Plugs?” CSgt Black asked.

Pen answered. “Plugs are gladiators who don’t do well in training. They get the rank of Coactus and are branded with the EC and our gladiator circuit symbols with a number in the middle. They are floaters who fill in for actual bought and branded injured squad members.

“Ludus leaders draw tags with their branded numbers when there is an open slot in a squad about to go into the arena. Whatever number is drawn is who jumps into the empty slot. Plugs are considered expendable and only above Novics in rank. Most of our red dagger marks come from dropping Plugs.”

Sarah nodded, “Not worth much so we tend to drop them fast. We try not to kill, but… She sighed. “The best chance we have is to drop as many opposing frames as fast as possible, and Plugs are the easiest to take down…”

Sarah shook her head sadly. “Even Discipulics who are still in training, but working toward getting a price high enough to get them bought are considered above them. Once made a Plug, the gladiator starts from scratch. His price drops to zero and he only gets half village credits for every redsmoke. And we only get a third of normal payout credits for redsmoking them. They are put in Sicaim frames that are all the exact same and aren’t allowed any weapon change-outs. We call them plug frames. They also have the lowest ranks in the gladiator villages, so they are treated very badly. If they get fifty redsmokes, they are put up for sale for 50,000. Normally, only small, or new Luduses buy them.”

“Yeah,” Lukas sighed. “Almost half of those taken become Plugs. I would try to coach the better kids who were getting close to becoming a Plug. So did Sarah, Sev, and Brock. If they listened we could normally get them past the 45,000 mark, but most are not worth our time. They just don’t have it in them or stay too scared to do well in training matches. They take slots to keep squads full while injured recovered in medical. All the extra Plugs with us were stuck in Hastatims with Pugioim head units with stupid light weapon loadouts. When you all hit us, we had twelve with us. Eight fell to you.” He pointed to four girls and three boys. “They were Plugs.” He glanced around “I know Gene fell early, but I don’t see him.”

Sarah shook her head. “Gene took multiple shots to the chest on the second volley from up on the hill and froze. He stayed in the open, fired a couple of shots back, and took several more hits after he redsmoked. No chance he made it.”

Pen shook his head and sighed. “EC recruiters should have never grabbed him. He told me he only wore electrostatics because they were comfortable and prevented his skin from drying out on the desert world they took him from. He wasn’t even a framer.”

Another kid spoke up. “Blue berets saw electrostatics and a handheld frame sim he had with him and took him. I knew as soon as I got thrown into a frame and locked in, he was screwed. He never stepped in anything but a frame pod until that day… and he sucked at them. Only reason he played in them was he got made fun of for not trying. His mom bought the portable unit to help him learn so he could fit in…”

Pen nodded, “Same thing he told me. But I don’t think he froze. The fact he fired back up at the hill all but proves it. He knows… knew… both his mom and dad were killed and his two sisters were taken when EC hit the liquid helium plant they were at. He wanted to be a computer tech and poet. Until being forced into a frame he had never fired a real weapon before. He told me he just wanted someone to kill him.

“It’s why he never got a redsmoke but was redsmoked at least two dozen times. He tried to get killed on Obsidian IV, but kept getting put down with leg hits… The only reason he fired at others was because he tried the first two times to just expose himself, so they locked him in his frame for two straight weeks, then did it again when he tried to hang himself.” Pen looked up and shook his head. “It broke him. I promised him I would put him down with either a kill shot or injure him too badly to be able to continue if we fought each other, but the chance didn’t come up before the FPA hit the Obsidian system.”

As several stared at Pen with wide eyes, he wiped a couple of tears out of the corners of his own and glanced around. “He was a nice kid. Too nice. Good chess player too… What about Jody and Hovy? They were on the far side of the camp with me. There is no way they got to the ship…”

Sarah answered. “They ran after we lost our last Magistri, but pretty sure Yoko made it to the ship. I only saw four Plugs from the other groups make it to the ship, so my guess most are down.”

Lukas paused and let out a long breath. “Plugs almost never last long.”

CSgt Black clenched his fists and gritted his teeth but managed to clear his throat again. “OK, guys, we’ll do what we can for everyone including the Plugs. But this isn’t getting us where we need. So can we stay a little more focused here?”

All the kids stopped talking and looked at him, so he continued. “I’m not angry and you aren’t in any trouble. But we need real intel.” He paused to hold up both hands. “Seriously kids. No one here is even annoyed at you. And I’ll die before I let you get hurt any worse than you already are. But, if I am hearing you right, there were just over a hundred of you kids including those you call Plugs. What about those over you and other adults?”

Lukas put his head on his mom’s shoulder. “Sorry, sergeant. We all try to do what we can for the Plugs because we never know when we might have to fight beside them and they aren’t good… Actually, they suck… but we still need them to fill in. Um, so yeah. As for your question, as of this morning, before the attack on this mine and the others hitting a water plant or something… Um, we had fourteen Magistri, five Medici, and two Lanista left…” he paused as he saw furled brows.

Sarah quickly filled in. “Those are the adult leaders of our troupes. Each troupe is called a Ludus. Lanista is the overall leader. They are the ones in the Peditatim frames. They have both the medical key glove and full access to all frames. They can even override Magistri and Medici lockout codes sent to our frames. Magistri is the trainers and Medici are medics, although Medici is a combination of medics and techs. So, they also train us in frame repair and teach us how to patch our own minor injuries.

“We fled Obsidian with twenty-nine Ludus leaders, most with Triarims, Muifexims, and Medicorims. The ship took on thirty-nine EC red-patch framers all with Adscriptcims, Auxiliarims, or Hasatims, and twenty-three red-patch battle armor in Galeac battle armor. We also got fifty-six EC conscript infantry and five light Carpentum wheeled support platforms on our ship. The Commander and XO of the red patches were both in Draconarim frames and their tesserarius was in a Triarim.

“The red patch commander didn’t return from a check on some target they were reconning and the XO switched to a Medicorim after Medici Gambelia was killed. This gave him control of all of us, but he was handed all the Plugs to use as he wants most of the time. Today was the first time the Plugs were sent out to fight, but the XO kept back nine of them.’ Sarah snapped her fingers suddenly, “Oh, and the tesserarius changed over to a captured Commando frame about a week ago.”

Lukas jumped in. “One of the Carpentums got dragged aboard and was scrapped for parts and abandoned shortly after we got here. We lost another Carpentum a few days ago when it rolled down an embankment.”

Pen spoke up. “Since we got here, we lost twenty-two gladiators, five Magistri, two Medici, and a Lanista. But that was before today. So sixty-five non-plug gladiators and twenty-one Ludus leaders are… were left. You took a lot down here and sounds like even more by the water station. But six wounded gladiators, nine Plugs, Junior Magistri Bandar, and all the remaining red patches stayed back at the camp. Junior Magistri Bandar probably won’t make it. He took a pair of breeches to his chest two days ago.”

Sarah continued. “As far as red patches there are twenty-three framers, sixteen battle armor, and thirty-eight infantry left. Some are injured. We don’t have exact numbers of wounded. We do know after their commander didn’t return, their XO took over. He’s a mean bastard.”

“Yeah,” Pen growled. “If you find him, do all of us a favor and end him.”

Several kids nodded at this.

CSgt Black blinked then stared at Pen, “If he’s that bad consider it done. But I need you all to keep focused. Those are very precise numbers. You sure?”

“Yeah,” Lukas stated, “The numbers are correct. At least were before today started.”

“And you know this how?” Iona asked her son.

Quartic spoke up. “Lukas, Sarah, and Pen are Gladiusim pilots. They hold rank of Inbellic and are trusted enough to help the crew, some. They are the ones who fed us, rotated us through sonic showers, and made sure we did exercises and got bone shots while we were in space.”

One of the teens who had spoken a couple of times joined in, “Many of our Ludus overseers were wounded and several killed to buy us time to flee. So, all our remaining masters and trainers counted on the more senior gladiators in the troupes aboard the ship to keep things going. If you don’t believe Sarah, Lukas, and Pen, find Severiano, Hanna, Ericka, and Denton. Or wake Brock. They can verify since they were the other Gladiusim pilots on our ship.”

Another kid spoke up, “Ericka made it to the ore ship. Didn’t see Denton, Sev, or Hanna though.”

“We have Sev,” Jared stated as he turned to CSgt Black. “He’s hurt but sounds like he’ll be OK. Most of us also trust him every bit as much as I do Lukas. We can confirm those numbers with him if you want.”

“No… no… I was just taken by surprise to get exact numbers of how many are on planet.”

Pen shook his head. “Oh, wait, no… We just know how many were on our ship. Not how many came into this system.”

Tanner, Black, and Iona all turned to look at Pen.

“Nor how many were already here,” Sarah added.

“But most of those left on the ships that dropped us off,” Lukas chimed in.

Off in the corner, Brock groaned and pulled himself up to a seated position even as he shoved Erin’s hand away. “Eleven ships… um… two didn’t make it past the second moon… and… um…not all hooked up to the fold ship… when we left Obsidian… And one of them didn’t make it here… What the hell hit me?… and who are you all?”

“Brock lay down!” Lukas barked. “You took a full volley from Magistri Gōmon-sha and redsmoked.”

Brock cringed as he tried to reach over to the middle of his back. “The bastard shot me and didn’t kill me?”

“Didn’t get a chance. And don’t worry; he’s dead.” Pen responded. “Real dead. Now lay down and let the girl help you!”

Brock pushed Erin back with one hand while he used his other to try to reach around to the small of his back, “Is something hot stuck in me?”

Erin slapped his hand hard. “Warm, yes. It’s an extra frame fusion power unit and it is probably preventing you from bleeding real bad so leave it alone! And you have a nasty bump on your head, so I bet you have a concussion. I’m amazed you woke up!”

“I’ve been half in and out listening for several minutes. But caught the remark about the ships… And I’ve been hurt worse, so just pull it out, shove a quick clot in the hole, and slap a skin glue patch over the whole thing. I’ll be up and fighting for you in a few days.”

CSgt Black moved over to the medic kit brought in by one of the Brave Humanities medics, grabbed an air injector, and loaded a double dose of sedative. He moved up, knelt next to Brock, and once again prevented the kid from trying to reach over his shoulder. “Hold still for a sec.” He got a nod even as he grabbed the boy and pushed the injector into the boy’s shoulder. A few seconds later the kid went limp.

He shot Erin a smirk as he gently lowered Brock back onto his stomach. “Finish securing the power unit in place.” He glanced back, noting all the others were looking at him with concern and hostility. “Relax guys. We’ll get him a priority medivac. Now what is this about multiple ships and was he right when he said you started off with nine and then separated at some point?”

“Yeah,” Pen growled. “And you just knocked out the person who had more info than any of the rest of us!”

“Yeah, he’s the only gladiator at the rank of Bellatic left in this group!”

“He needs a surgeon, so drop the attitude and tell us what you can.” CSgt Black commanded.

“OK…” Lukas held up both hands as if expecting to get hit. After a couple of nervous seconds, he shot Brock a worried look. “But he knows more than all of us…”

Iona stroked Lukas’ hair and spoke softly. “We’ll take good care of him. Just tell us what you know, son.”

Lukas took a deep breath. “Sure… There were six ships that came into system,” he announced. “Ours and five others.”

“FIVE OTHERS?!” Tanner barked out. “Do you know how many were aboard the other ships and where they went?”

Sarah shook her head, “No idea where the others went. But it was really more like five and a half. One of the ships with us was smaller and held four or five upstart Ludus troupes. They were brand new and only had ten to fifteen gladiators each, mostly freshly bought Plugs that got enough redsmokes to be sold.”

“OK, hold up!” Black stated firmly. “Let’s back up here. So six ships came into the system?”

Lukas nodded, “Yeah. If what we heard was right, we came in hard and fast during one of the frequent meteor showers. Two others entered the atmosphere at the same time we did. One got jumped by the PDF and peeled off. We heard over comms that it had heavy damage but evaded the PDF and went to some moon with an atmosphere or something. The lead ship took damage from an asteroid fragment or meteorite. We heard it crashed way up north. No idea what happened to the other two. But they held minor Ludus troupes and a few more upstarts. They were not considered important to our circuit or the Magistri with us. One was in an old assault ship with a slower main drive. The other is a smaller craft that was packed to the point it had a hard time lifting off Obsidian IV. At least that’s what we heard.”

Pen jumped in. “We expected to see the other ships when we landed, but instead there was a team of EC framers at the landing site. It looked like it was some sort of mining station, but it was shot to hell. They helped us unload what we grabbed from the gladiator village and switched places with us. They took the frames the red patches were in and stuck them with what they had left. Mostly non-EC real light combat captures and heavily patched Munifexiums and Triarims. The shot-up mine is where the Ludus leaders based us out of since we got here.”

“And the only place they let us out of our frames,” Quartic added.

“Mostly locked in the building with sonic showers or in the mine.” Another girl added. “The EC troops who took our ship and left were badly beat up. Lots of their frames were in real bad shape.”

“So EC had forces here already?” Black asked.

“Yeah.” Pen nodded. “Like Sanura just said, many were in badly damaged frames. Most looked like they were captures. They left the red patches with a handful of badly damaged Munifexiums and Triarims. The rest got non-EC frames. We’ve seen some Partisan, Minutemen, Resistance, and other real light frames that looked like they had been taken in combat and were overpainted in grey and green. The red patches also got six frames I hadn’t seen before. They called them Razors and looked brand new. Oh, and the two officers and one senior enlisted who oversaw the red patches were given decent spare frames. So there is an Intruder, Aggressor, and a pair of Strikers back at our camp as spare frames… I’d sure like to get my hands on one of them.”

Lukas spoke up at this point. “But the Centurion Posterior who is in command of the red patches now is in a Medicorim. The Ludus leaders put him in command of the Plugs and seem to trust him for some reason.”

Sarah nodded at this, “The way they talked, they must have known each other before we got here.”

Lucas took a deep breath, “That XO is probably the scariest of the lot. But his NCO ain’t nothing to laugh at either… But um, anyway. The EC that were here didn’t leave us with much in the camp and we had mostly ammo, electrostatics, med gear, food paste tubes, and repair stuff for our frames but little in the way of other supplies. So, the three Lanistas took us against a few small facilities with fairly light security to get food and other basics. They were surprised when the PDF didn’t show, so we hit a few more over the last several days. A red patch scouting patrol spotted the transport ship here this morning.

“It sounded to me like they wanted to flee the system for some reason. They had a fail-safe pick-up point or whatever. So, anyway, our Ludus leaders set up a hit on some water facility to pull the PDF well away from here so we could grab the ship. Then you hit us. If you really stopped the other assault and shot down the ship, then you basically wiped out this group.”

Sarah nodded. “We’re done, but the Obsidian tournament was a huge event for the circuit. There were all twelve major Ludus houses, sixteen minor ones, and nineteen or twenty start-ups. It was right on par with Foray IX… Um, sorry. Need to keep on track… So, um… Let’s see… All the other ships, other than the decoys, had to have about what we did. Except the old and small ones… like Pen said, those ships had the small brand-new upstarts… But it was too far to make out details. We only saw the other ships scattered around the valley they pulled us back to. There were eleven ships. One, we heard, was a decoy and was shot down so the rest of us could escape. But one was taken as we rounded the Obsidian VI moon. Two ships hitched a ride on another fold ship. The rest were with us. We had to leave one behind after the first fold, so there were six left when we arrived in this system. Brock was one of the last to come aboard our ship, so he saw way more than most of us.”

Lukas nodded but looked over to Jared. “However, if you have someone who can talk to Sev, he may know more. He rode on one of the Carpentums because his frame took a hit and had a knee hydraulic rod problem. We replaced it on the way here. He’s also in line to compete to be a Bellatic; the highest rank for a gladiator. He just needs to wait until someone else reaches three hundred more blue daggers than red.”

Jared blinked, “How many has he dropped?”

Sarah responded. “He has three hundred and six-five blue daggers and only nineteen red. He’ll probably have to face… um would have faced Hanna for the next Bellatic rank.”

“We were all hoping it would happen, cause Hanna needs to go down,” Lukas grumbled.

Iona grabbed her son’s head and looked into his eyes. “Son, that isn’t like you… What did they do to make you think like this?”

“Not his fault,” A girl by the name of Holly spoke up. “And there is nothing wrong with him. Lukas is one of the nicest senior gladiators in the circuit.”

“It’s true, ma’am,” Quartic added. “Lukas is the best Inbellic in the circuit. He takes extra damage to set up the least painful redsmokes in the entire circuit. He has redsmoked me at least eleven times and only once was I in medical for more than two days. He also has the lowest percentage of Plug kills to redsmokes of any Gladiusim pilot. Please don’t blame your son for hoping for bad things for Hanna. She has it out of Lukas. Not to redsmoke him, but to kill him.”

A younger boy spoke up, “And Lukas ain’t the only one she wants to kill! There is a reason she has more red daggers than any other two of us combined.”

As several of the adults glanced around the room at several nodding heads, Pen continued “So, anyway, Lucas has every right to want Hanna to go down and Sev is the best chance for it to happen. Sev is… was second only to Brock of all the gladiators aboard the ship that brought us here. And, because he managed to take down two scouting frames as we pulled back, he was with the surviving support platforms when they broke up and went to separate ships just before we left Obsidian IV under heavy fire…”

Command Sergeant Black jumped back into his frame and spoke into his radio loudly enough for everyone in the building to hear him, “Captain Lerrik, did I hear you say you were with a kid you know by the name of Sev?”

This was followed seconds later by, “Command, we need medivac for a priority intel asset here and I need the person known as Sev, who is with Captain Robin Lerrik, to me or me to him yesterday!”

Jared looked over, “What about the ship we shot down with the others from here…”

Command Sergeant Black gave a slashing motion. “You guys did your job. This is now a job for the Knight Stalkers.”

“But we may know…”

“Ensign Warley, we’ll get them.” Iona stated harshly.

“What about the salvage for the ship?” Erin argued. “If you take it…”

“We’ll pay you for whatever we recover,” Nire countered. “I need you all to finish sweeping this area and get back to base. We’ll use it as a safe place to house and reacclimate those we rescue.”

Pen looked over, “Sergeant, you will have to kill or redsmoke most of the remaining gladiators cause they don’t know you. If you can get us head units off Hastatims, Munifexims, and Triarims or let us take our base frames and get override modules we can help…”

CSgt Black flipped down his faceplate and held up a hand to stop Pen as he spoke into his radio. After nearly a minute, he flipped up his faceplate. “You all need some downtime, but why would you need head units of those frames… And what is an override module?”

Sarah spoke up, “The connector points on the three gladiator frames were made the exact same as those three frames. So, if we could get those head units with full computer access, we could use our frames normally without lockouts, have full radio spectrums, and even have faceplates we could flip up and down. If not, there’s a crate of sixty-four override modules back at our base camp. They take a hardpoint but block all the gladiator subroutines. With a module in the frames we were in, those with control codes can’t shut us down. With an electrostatic wrap around my leg, I could still pilot and help.”

“What forces are left at the base and where is it?”

Lukas shook his head. “We don’t… know… I mean not like we can show you without taking you there. We haven’t had or even seen any overhead maps… but we know these hills and can take you there once we get our bearings. As far as what is there, the remaining red patch framers are all in light-captured frames plus those six light but new Razors. Their XO, who is now in a Medicorim, twenty-eight conscript infantry, and three Carpentum. And five of us who are too injured after we hit some silicon processing station. Oh, and the Plugs and Bandar, but Bandar is in real bad shape and his frame is all but scrap.”

Another girl spoke up. “But Bandar’s Menifexim’s head unit still works so it would give us another frame head with computer access codes… If I could get it, I could help get the others out. I’m next in line to get a Gladiusim.”

“And it might be where those who couldn’t get to the ship ran to,” Sarah chimed in. “They’ll need Bandar’s frame or the Medicorim codes to let them out since all our masters and trainers were taken down or got to the ship… Unless Lanista Sin-Shun made it, but his Medicorim was spitting out red smoke as he disappeared into the woods and was really staggering.”

“Look,” Pen pleaded, “you may not want to trust us. But with Lukas and Sarah in their frames, they can talk the others down. Probably even get them to surrender with little to no fighting as long as you can take out the remaining leaders. And Sarah’s right. It would be where I would have run to if I had been stranded and couldn’t get to the ship. It’s the only hope they have of getting out of their frames.”

Lukas stood. “I’m in one piece and so is my frame. I could do a head switch with a Magistri Triarim. It’d give me codes to block the others and give them access to back panels so they can get out and surrender. They also all know Sarah and my voice. We can stop them from linking back up with Luduses from other ships if we get to them before they hand themselves over to the red patch XO.”

Sarah took a long drink out of a hydration packet and stood. “Pen, I need your right leg assembly. Mine will take too long to repair.”

“Take what you need. My lower arm is screwed and no way I can go out with my arm like this.”

Captain Tanner blocked both kids. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

“Sir,” Lukas stared at Tanner with pleading eyes. “Do you know what a red patch is and what their XO and tesserarius will do to our squad mates if they show up and beg for help?”

“No, never heard of a red patch.”

CSgt Black answered, “Red patches are disgraced EC warriors who are forced to wear bright red patches or have parts of their equipment painted red. They are put in the most dangerous spots with the worst equipment. Basically, laser and cannon fodder. We’ve heard they can work out of red patch units, but a taint stays with them. And no, I don’t know what their commander and senior NCO would do to kids they have full control over, but with no one over them I can guess.”

“We just got them back.” Tanner sighed and looked over to Lukas’ mom. “Iona, we have a split decision, these are not Grenadiers… and you have the most direct tie to this.”

Iona looked at her son, “You’re dead set on this aren’t you.”

“Mom, you don’t understand what it’s like to do whatever you are told or be stuck inside a frame for days… And the red patch XO is a horrible man. They need a chance to… Mom, I thought you and Dad were dead.” He paused and let out a long breath, “And since you are with the Grenadiers and Dad ain’t here…”

Iona pulled Lukas into her hard, “Killed at the same time I thought you were.”

Lukas lowered his head and let out a deep breath. “But I have you… Maybe some of the others do too.” He looked up with tears in his eyes. “What if there is just one with a mom or dad out there? I can’t… leave them.”

Sarah spoke with desperation in her voice. “The only people back at the camp are red patches and their XO and tesserarius. I bet those red patches will send them into battle against a facility with a decent-sized security force in hopes of getting salvage. They’ll have to do what they are told to have any chance of getting out of their frames. And like we’ve said. The red patch XO is a real bad dude. Any who get back to the camp will have to submit to him or stay locked in a frame. You don’t know what it’s like to be trapped in a frame for days or even weeks!” Her eyes had tears threatening to spill out of them. “We have to get to them if we can.”

As Iona cringed, gripped her son tightly, and kissed him on top of the head, Black turned to Tanner. “Captain, like it or not, we may have a very narrow window. Once the EC detachment realizes what happened they’ll know their current location is compromised. We can’t get more forces down from the White Tiger or her escorts for over a day, probably two, nor can you chance pulling more resources off the facilities you are protecting. Hell, you may have a hundred or more frames in the hills close to you if the numbers we are hearing hold for the other ships.

“However, I bet with a consolidated effort, we could do head and weapon swaps with some of the standard EC frames and get some of these kids up. Kids the others may listen to. Combined with most of the Rebels, they could rescue the others who came here with them, crush the detachment of EC, snag some captive, and hopefully get us some harder intel.”

Tanner took a couple of deep breaths. He turned to Jared. “If I greenlight this, are you up to me being a temp commander for the Rebels?”

“Yes sir!”

He let out a long warbling breath, then turned to CSgt Black. “If I do this, we need to get basic AIM certs on those who go so we are legal…”

“We’ll call in temps on all of them and pay the extra fees. It’ll give us thirty days to get them Ident cards, tested, and certed with AIM merc numbers. But we’ll have to take responsibility for those under the age of fourteen. You willing to split responsibility with Nire and me?”

Tanner let out a long breath, “Yeah… But only if you are willing to stay here and keep things organized while Nire and I lead this… rescue. Agreed?”

“Only if you give me full command of all the new recruits including your… let’s be nice and say untested armor officer.”

“All yours. I’ll make it crystal clear you have final say over anything and everything.”

“Then I guess I am a temp Grenadier while you are a temp Rebel. And we get to be dads to a whole bunch of kids we don’t know…”

“Add me to the list of caregivers,” Iona demanded. “Sarah and Pen are as good as mine until we find her family! I’ll help with the others as well.”

Tanner nodded to Iona as he activated his radio, “Sergeant Nire, get me the best frame techs we have out here. We got some serious work to do and not much time to do it!”

Captain Tanner eyed Lukas and Sarah as the two worked hard and fast to help several of the other kids get frames up and running. They ran diagnostics on their strange Gladiusim frames with salvaged Triarim head units. Both kids dug through extra EC equipment the Rebels had captured and used it to improve the capabilities of several gladiator frames. Tanner could tell when they said something while others followed. He had never seen such instant obedience out of men and women, let alone kids. It made him question the decision to try this raid.

However, it was obvious by watching, the kids were used to working on their frames. Even the younger ones who repaired the smaller frames knew their frames better than many veteran framers. However, they were not alone in getting damaged frames up.

Techs from the Grenadiers and Brave Humanities worked with the kids to patch armor, replace short-range weapons with more powerful ones, and add extra ammo bins along with proper weapon feeds since the gladiator frames had been designed for very limited ammo capacities in the back ammo bins.

All told thirteen kids ranging in age from about eleven to fifteen were about to join the Rebels on the assault. With everything he saw, it was not something Tanner was comfortable with. He tried to pull the plug on the whole thing, or at the very least only use Grenadiers and the adult framers who came with him.

Major O’Connell stepped in and overrode Tanner’s request for a mission scrub. The decision was threefold in nature. First It was clear from discussions between several of the Rebels there was a desire to bring most of the former EC gladiators in, at least until parents or adult family members could be located. Second, the more kids they were trying to take down without serious injuries knew, the easier it would be to convince them to surrender. Finally, it would allow both Tanner and Nire to see them in action and with it, hopefully gain insights into the tactics and behaviors of what was almost certainly others like them scattered across New Brunswick.

Even as Tanner watched the kids vigorously labor to get frames fully up, he also realized a few of those he watched would indeed become full-time Rebels and thus Grenadiers. Any possible adult sponsors would want more information before taking in such clearly damaged kids.

He made his way around all the freed ‘gladiators’. He got names and units. However, a handful didn’t come from merc units. They had been taken from facilities, ships, and even towns raided by Earth Core units seeking supplies. In some cases, they insisted the raid had been to procure kids for the games first and supplies as an afterthought. Many talked about family members being killed or taken in prisoner transports never to be seen again. Hearing the kids talk about this and what their ‘training’ had been like made him hate Earth Core even more than he already did. Something he didn’t think was possible.

Tanner paused his interviews as another ship came in being escorted by two Ruffian Rebel IPSCs. The Black Comet came in just above the treetops, skimmed the plateau to the north then circled and landed. He slapped his faceplate down and spoke into his radio, “What’s with the lander and why is it being escorted by Rebel fighters?”

CSgt Black’s voice came over the radio. “We rented it from the Black Ball Crusaders. A unit-sized merc unit that badly needed some funds after getting pummeled at a mercury extraction plant by what sounds like another group of EC. They say a number of frames were unknown to them. They also swear many were painted in orange and black, silver and blue, green and light blue, blue and red, and black and yellow, so we are guessing it was more of the gladiator kids. The attackers took the cargo ship and emptied the extraction facility of just about everything. But said they pushed most of the silver and blue along with the orange and black frames back, preventing them from getting to the ship.

“We are giving them sixteen new Intruder class frames and repair to the comet in exchange for full use of the ship for the next month and intel on what hit them and where they were last seen.

“We figure the Rebels, and or you all will need both the intel and use of the extra transport as we wipe the New Brunswick soil of EC and free the kids they brought here.”

Tanner angled over to Black so he could talk face to face. “Major O’Connell doesn’t like handouts, and you Brave Humanities folks have already given us too many…”

“This is only partially on us. Most of the funds come from an open contract put out by Blood’s Honor. It was already up on the boards. I guess they found out about the gladiatorial games and heard some of their own may have been captured and put into them. Sounds like they want it ended yesterday. It is also a way to get your kids into Blood’s Honor Academy without it being a free ride. The contract is more than enough to cover everything.

“The Rebels didn’t take it….”

“Didn’t have to. It’s an open contract. You can talk to Sergeant Jorgan to verify.”

“Caleb’s mom knows about this and green-lighted it?”

“Soon as she landed at the water station and talked to the kids your Rebels captured. Sounds like she knows the kid you all call Sev and one other very well. She and Sev are on the comet.”

Tanner tossed his hands up, “She’s supposed to be on extremely light duty…”

“Yeah, something we tried and utterly failed in telling her.”

“I’d say I’m shocked, but it would be a lie,” Tanner grumbled, then continued. “Most of us know Severiano. He and his fellow Drago kids banded and bonded with several Grenadiers. They were the main reason EC hunters were pulled from our sector. Other units started to pay them to go hunt them outside our zone. Not sure why or how, but Sev and Zane figured out how to take them down and many of the other kids joined in. Sev is, or at least was, a great kid.”

“From everything I hear, he still is. And your kids are ultra-protective of him.”

“He was all but one of us for the last couple of months leading up to the camp being hit with rippers. His ability to take down Hunters also saved the lives of a few Grenadiers. And he was one of the few who was really nice to Caleb and Dante, so Caleb’s mom is real fond of him.”

“Such is what I’ve pieced together. One way or the other, your Sergeant Jorgan has all but adopted the kid, and sounds like she is pissed about what she saw and heard. She also helped get all the kids temporarily AIM-listed. We have thirty days to get them to AIM for full biometrics, IDs, and testing. Blood’s Honor, not Brave Humanities, will pay for up to four AIM tests on each plus an extra for each Gladiator rank they hold. So the plugs can do four and it goes up by rank from there.”

“That’s a lot of testing and cash!”

“Not ours so we don’t care.” Black smirked. “And this way you can’t get even more worked up over what Brave Humanities is forking over.”

Tanner shot Black a squinting glare, then shrugged. “Still think all this is… never mind. So Sergeant Jorgan is on board and so is Blood’s Honor. How did all this come about?”

“I discovered the open contract when I talked to AIM about temp certs on the kids. When I told Sgt Jorgan of the open contract, she had Robin contact AIM. Blood’s Honor has a rep on world since they are actively looking for units and individual replacements across much of the known galaxy to help fight the Talborne allied forces in the ABR NFC war. It’s the main reason there were so few veteran mercs on the hiring boards and why you ended up with… what you ended up with.”

Tanner rolled his eyes. “At least that makes sense and explains a great deal. We ended up with a few hundred borderline rejects because Blood’s Honor picked over the hiring boards.” He sighed, “So this Blood’s Honor rep has the authority to authorize a contract, with a kid merc unit, on this mess?”

“She didn’t even bat an eyelash from what SrSgt Jorgan told us,” Black responded with a bemused grin. “The rep agreed to do a retro activation on the open contract. The only stipulation is you are stuck with me, Nire, and Ryder as AIM-designated contract reps. So, for the time being, I am assigned to the Rebels as a Blood’s Honor AIM rep.”

“Why you three?”

“Because they know us and we no longer work for them. They also paid Brave Humanities a retainer to do this… And we get a bonus if things go well.”

Tanner frowned and shot Black a stern glare, “Too convenient, but keep going.”

“Convenient or not, Brave Humanities gets to play a role, which is something the corporate bigwigs are dead set on, and Blood’s Honor gets badly wanted and needed intel on this gladiator circuit. At the same time, New Brunswick gets a unit dedicated to fighting an incursion way larger than they knew about. Therefore, your kids have a dual AIM contract mission success here, and they are signed up to go after as many other EC gladiator camps in this system as we can find. From what I was able to glean, the thinking is if kids take the lead the young gladiators might be more receptive. Hard to tell if this is the case since it appears the main reason this worked so well is your kids know several of these unlucky souls.”

“Maybe, but I am certain many of our dependents are thinking this could have, would have, been them had the EC flagship not been brought down. However…” Tanner shook his head and looked around, “This is above anything we fathomed a Robin and Luna lead group would face. Contract terms are going to be very important as is a clause for the adult leaders to pull them should this become too much. The mental side alone has got to be tearing at some of my kids.

“Blood’s Honor already had academy councilors ready to join the academy in exile here. We hear they are a week or so out. They will be available for the Rebels as well. Also, any who are injured fighting these EC jackasses are covered under Blood’s Honor medical which is far better than what Robin worked out with the local PDF commander. He gets full medical including three rejuves for every twenty gladiators freed. For every thirty freed, a full Regen is also tossed in. And since it is an open contract, the rejuves, and regens are inclusive regardless of how many engagements or long it takes. Blood’s Honor has already contacted Brave Humanities about providing, rejuve, and regen, along with the supplies and parts for the duration of the contract. Sounds like the minor details will be worked out before we even hit the camp and crashed ship.”

Tanner mulled all this over, but there was one potential snag that he saw right away. “Almost sounds too good to be true. Where does New Brunswick stand on this, though?”

“Are you kidding me?” CSgt Black snorted. “They get help ridding their system of these raiders and don’t have to pay for it. Thanks to Robin’s successful relief of the water purification plant, New Brunswick agreed to hand the whole raider problem over to the Rebels and whoever wants to support them. They’ve also agreed to pay base wages and food in exchange for a flat twenty-five percent salvage tax. This doesn’t include the moons. Any that go after raiders on the moons are on their own, but sounds like most are on planet and they are giving us good terms. The salvage taxes are the only fees, and the PDF will ignore any planetary crimes committed by any kids forced to be gladiators if the Rebels or Grenadiers agree to take care of them. Because of this, AIM didn’t balk at the temp status of the kids and won’t have an issue reinstituting or assigning permanent AIM numbers. This will allow them full access to testing. But, of course, AIM will charge full fees for everything.”

“Of course, they will!” Tanner snorted. “Anything to pick the pockets of mercs!”

Black laughed hard. “AIM at its best. But don’t worry. In this, you will get what Blood’s Honor has agreed to and Brave Humanities support. Brave Humanities will pay for any and all AIM fees for those you rescue who want to certify as a junior merc and test. Blood’s Honor is going to pick up Post Combat Health and other psych evals and treatments as needed. Something I am certain every one of these kids will need.”

“Without a doubt. Glad they are as concerned as I am. I also get why Blood’s Honor is doing all this, but what does Brave Humanities get out of any of this?”

“First, Blood’s Honor is paying us. Second, the degree of lock-out tech incorporated into the so-called gladiator frames and the command modules in the frames over the kids is beyond anything we have encountered. We’ll pay for the replacement of the salvage. But we want several of these units to really dig into.

“Since your kids seem to be willing to let several of the freed gladiators join them with the frames they were in, Brave Humanities is willing to make an offer in order to get ahold of the EC tech in those frames. Any kid who will give up his or her gladiator frame will get a Scrapper class frame with either a standard urban, scout, support or wilderness loadout including a full extra ammo load. We sent for thirty-six Scrappers. Hope to have them here, along with extra parts, within a week. We can send for more if needed.”

“Can’t see many refusing such an offer.” Still, Tanner frowned as he added, “But this all seems like you are going overboard to help. I can’t help but wonder what other motives are behind all this.”

Black shook his head and let out a long breath. “Damn, you are a stubborn suspicious bastard, you know that?”

Tanner smirked. “Such as I have been told.”

Black snorted. “Everyone who said so was right!”

Black paused and stared right at Tanner. “Captain, we want to understand this tech. It has to be borderline illegal since, should the machines ever resurface, there is a chance with modification it could be used against us. Universal laws and treaties state any unmanned vehicle must have limited power and ammo and a remote kill code that is hardwired. All manned vehicles must have an override of all electronics for humans to instantly take over. We don’t believe these gladiator frames follow these basic galaxy-wide requirements. In a worst-case scenario, they may have made a vulnerability in the security of all heavily computer-assisted systems.

“In addition, Brave Humanities was paid an absurd amount to get here and deal with what we found. This is how Commander Bennet has decided to do so. And we well could be on the fringes of another Brave Humanities EC conflict. First shots have already been exchanged. Helping rid this system of EC before such a dispute cuts deep into the bottom line is a real priority. Especially if you are correct about what our Space Vipers encountered. I sent your thoughts up to Commander Bennett and she was extremely receptive to checking.”

Black tapped his commlink for emphasis, “We should know shortly.

“Also, keep in mind many of us, including Commander Bennett, have kids this age. Several on board the White Tiger and her support ships lost kids during the Brave Humanities, EC tangle of a few years ago. A handful even lost kids on New Bravaria as mercs before they joined Brave Humanities Defense Forces.

“There is a chance your kids stumbled on what may have happened to some of those missing. Should you or your kids recover any company dependents, Brave Humanities will offer substantial rewards. I bet several other companies and merc units will pay for the safe return of their kids as well. Your Rebels are probably going to have a real AIM rating and be well known before this is over.”

Tanner blinked and shook his head. “You do realize we arranged for the formation of the Rebels in the hopes they would fold under debt and realize they have lots more to learn…”

Black sneered and shrugged. “Probably not going to happen. You kids stepped into a giant EC puddle and instead of wrinkling their noses and running away, they are wiping the EC stench off their feet on and in the soil of New Brunswick. They stand to make good money and earn a hard AIM rep for doing so. You’ll just have to take contracts where multiple units are needed or take Blood’s Honor up on sending them to their academy.”

“How much are you all behind this?”

“None.” As Tanner cocked his head, Black held up both hands. “Seriously. You need to stop with this conspiracy B.S. If you need verification, go to AIM and take a look at the contracts and the data behind them. Major Goddard, a Blood’s Honor officer I hear you all met, found out about the gladiator games not long ago. As soon as Colonel Price got word, he put out the open contract. You can check the AIM boards. The contract was posted a few days ago. I also hear they are in the process of forming a couple of cohort frame forces to help end the gladiator games once and for all. If you and the Rebels can’t end the problem here, Blood’s Honor will. I just hope it happens before more shots are exchanged between Brave Humanities and EC.”

“Call me paranoid or…” Tanner struggled to find the right words. “Regardless of what you are telling me… this seems like it’s all too convenient. And don’t go pointing me to AIM. I saw what you did to Neil and Zane’s AIM records. I also know there is motivation in Blood’s Honor to bend and twist some things. Especially since Blood’s Honor wanted Robin and several of the other kids from our unit in their academy before we even left New Bravaria. And they have clearly been keeping tabs on the Grenadiers for the last couple of years.”

CSgt Black shrugged. “Maybe they have. Maybe, because your kids and some of theirs, including mine, constantly exchange messages through the AIM network, your kids made it easy to do so. I really don’t know. But you need to look at the bigger picture, Captain. Blood’s Honor was already involved in this without you.

“Original Blood’s Honor’s interest in this had little to do with you. They sent the kids from Quaker to here. They were supposed to use the Brave Humanities’ mothballed equipment to form an academy in exile. Actually, many are already at our old crop research facility. Others will be sent down as they get patched up and recover aboard our ships.

“However, you jumped in and rescued them. While doing so, your kids uncovered serious treachery inside the FPA. In fact, I have it on good authority, several of your kids are in line to get high-level commendations directly from the FPA for their actions.

“Because of the direct involvement of both the FPA and Blood’s Honor, the New Brunswick government is being very lenient on what you and the Rebels do. New Brunswick’s largest trade outside of the Great Outback is the FPA. Millions of tons of food are bought by FPA planets every month. New Brunswick isn’t willing to upset the status quo with the FPA. They also aren’t willing to piss off either Blood’s Honor or Brave Humanities. Keep in mind, the water purification facility your kids defended was made by us. There are nine other Brave Humanities water purification and thirty-eight fusion power stations all built by us in this system. They need us for parts, tech support, and don’t want delays on other facilities that we are contracted to build.

“Therefore, the only stipulations from New Brunswick are the Rebels must take on a planetary rep to handle salvage claims, the planetary rep gets second pick out of each of four major salvage items, and we cannot engage near settlements without consent. They even agreed that in all engagements where a facility of any kind, including private mines and drilling operations, is being attacked, New Brunswick will include a standard Flash Contract payout by their PDF. This means there are more chances for multiple successes for the Rebels with AIM.”

“Good for their AIM records, but from what we’ve seen those flash contract terms are crap,” Tanner stated.

Black chuckled. “Agreed. But it’s basically free cash since you or your Rebels will be getting paid by Blood’s Honor for all those they take down and any kids freed. Also, every contract New Brunswick put up has included full salvage, so there wouldn’t be the 25% salvage tax should a flash contract happen.

“The real focus, however, is the Blood’s Honor contract. It comes with a 250% Standard AIM base pay, by rank, for every unit member who takes part in any battle. Pay is for one month, even if the action takes only a single day within the month. Since the New Brunswick PDF is handling base wage, this is a straight payment into Rebel coffers.

“In addition, it includes excellent supply, repair, and rearm clauses. All expended ammo will be replaced at 125% so the Rebels have practice ammo and includes a full standard basic supply container and repair cargo container and replacement of up to one frame for every twelve gladiators freed. If replacement frames are not needed, a new Scrapper class frame will be handed over for every twenty freed. The Rebels also get AIM advanced medical care if they should be injured during any engagement to free gladiators or destroy EC targets in this system. The only Blood’s Honor Stipulation is their rep has to approve any rank increases because they are paying by rank. But the PDF put in the same restrictions since they are doing a flat rank-based pay directly to the combatants.

“Finally, medical for the rescued is under full pay by Blood’s Honor and they can then be added to the Rebel’s roster and get paid per standard AIM rates for senior privates once they pass Post Combat Health and psych evals. For every freed gladiator who survives, there is a 15000 AIM credit bonus; 5000 if they become members of your units. Transport to get them back to units, family, or other loved ones is also included. The contract is good for either the Grenadiers or the Rebels, or even both should you combine. So we need to make sure you and your Rebels track any damage, ammo usage, and aid given to the rescued kids.”

“Those are good terms…” Tanner whistled and took a deep breath. “So what if a settlement or another infrastructure station like a water or power plant comes under fire?”

“If it becomes necessary to do so, a supplemental PDF contract may need to be put in place. Until it happens, The PDF handles all combat in and around established settlements and key infrastructure installations.”

Tanner mulled everything over for a few seconds. “Sounds like everything has been put in place with a damned bow!” He let out a resigned sigh. “It’s something we can’t turn away from. The PDF getting a quarter salvage for food and base pay isn’t great, but it could be worse.”

“True. However, thanks to Robin’s contract with the local PDF, continued actions out here are covered under this contract for full salvage and remains intact as long as fighting is confined to the Tanberry Bluffs and stays clear of official settlements.

“Also, as an incentive to rid the highlands, where the Grenadiers are of hostiles, and since you took the contract and defended a mine outside of those who hired you, they are giving you the same rights in the Whispering Wheat Escarpments area. It’s a huge expanse of well over 27,000 square kilometers. It encompasses the entire set of rocky hills you are already defending part of. Salvage will drop to seventy-five percent if you engage outside the bluffs. However, as part of this new agreement, you and the Rebels are considered under a provisional PDF contract. This gives you full rights as members of the PDF. Weapon carrying and basic discount privileges are open to all your combatants planet-wide. Additionally, both you and the Rebels get a planetary legal rep, so local governments will have to take any complaints up to the planetary level for anything but major crimes.”

Tanner’s mouth twisted into a smirk, “How about we NOT tell the kids about that last part.”

Black let out a booming laugh as he nodded.

Robin watched with concern as Senior Sergeant Jorgan flinched in discomfort with every step, but refused help from Captain Tanner as she sat with a hiss of pain at the makeshift meeting table set up in what was left of the mine office building. She motioned for Lukas to sit and eyed the kids. As she adjusted to get as comfortable as possible, she shot a sharp stare over at Command Sergeant Black and Senior Sergeant Nire. “Sev is here. Be nice. He’s a Jorgan until we find his family!”

As CSgt Black stood and headed out, she focused on Robin and Luna. “He’s gonna be fine, so stop giving me the puppy eyes. He may be the only reason I allowed you to sign the Blood’s Honor sponsored contract and is the only thing saving you from getting your asses whooped!”

She let out a growl as Robin started to say something. “Not a word until I’m finished.”

Her fists clenched as she continued to send a dagger-eyed stare at Luna and Robin. “You two went in half-cocked when you accepted the flash contract for the water station. Your exuberance and piss-poor planning got a few kids you were responsible for killed. We are not going to have a repeat. Understood?”

Both Robin and Luna gulped. Robin managed to get out, “Yes ma’am.” Robin wanted to defend himself but the look in Caleb’s mom’s eyes told him it would be a bad idea.

The lack of retort caused her to raise an eyebrow. However, instead of continuing to talk to Robin, she turned to Jared, “Much better job here. You only have five out. One self-inflicted. The other four got armor breaches and minor injuries. One, is the elimination of the escaped Medicorim. All five are only expected to be out for a few days. What was the difference between the two groups?”

There were several seconds of silence. Finally, Stasik raised his hand. “Ma’am?”

“Speak.”

Stasik cringed as he looked over to Robin. He gave an uneasy nod as Luna spun her hand for him to continue. “Um, we had a couple of things going for us here.”

“Such as?” Nire asked with clear interest.

Stasik took a deep breath and glanced over to Jared only to get almost the same wrist twist gesture to continue. “Um, first we trained together and know each other, at least some. Also, we came in on the high ground and took here by surprise. We followed the plan set out by Jared…” he cringed as he got glares from all four adults. “Sorry, um, Ensign Warley… He set a target and gave advantage from the start. It sound like Captain Lerrik had harder attack.”

Captain Tanner cocked his head to the side. “Why do you say this was harder? Didn’t you all have to do a combat egress from a ship, clear raiders from this mine, and protect the surviving miners?”

“Yes sir. But Captain Lerrik had to break through…”

“So did you all,” SrSgt Jorgan stated. However, she tempered a firm voice with a pain-filled smile. “And judging from all the talk and glimpses of vids from Sergeant Nire’s frame you were a big reason for the success here.”

At this, Jared nodded. “Best shooting I’ve ever seen other than adults!”

“Better than many adults I have fought next to,” SrSgt Nire added.

Stasik grinned, “Thanks, comrades.”

“We should be the ones saying thanks,” SrSgt Nire stated. “You dropped more than any other two combined. With the vids I got, I bet we can get you enhanced certifications and an ace ribbon from AIM. But we are getting off-topic. While we have a little extra time as repairs to downed and damaged frames continue, we want to prevent another water station fiasco.”

Jared started to say something only to have Luna shake her head. Captain Tanner turned his attention to Luna. “Something to say, young lieutenant?”

Luna took a few uneasy breaths before shaking her head. “Nothing to say. Ensign Warley wasn’t there and didn’t lose anyone. We did. We lost three and have four badly injured. I’ll be surprised if Laura makes it. Happy, but I’d be surprised. If they had better firepower, we would have been… it would have been way worse.”

Captain Tanner waited for a few seconds before focusing on Jared. “What were you going to say?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Bullshit!” Caleb’s mom snarled. “Out with it!”

Jared gulped. “I… um… well, Captain Lerrik took the contract and defended the water station. It sucks we lost people. I didn’t even get to meet any of them…” He looked down and gave a sad shake of his head. “I am a Rebel officer and want to be there when we tell the families.” His voice took on an edge as he continued. “And I know I’ll cry when I hear about the others who did know them talk about missing them.”

He looked up and wiped a couple of tears out of his eyes. “Crying now… But we considered this. You made sure we knew this was going to happen.”

Jared forced himself to take a breath and lower his voice. “We all went into this expecting to lose friends and others we know. I don’t get how you talk about a completed AIM mission, our first like we lost!”

Nothing was said for several seconds. However, Robin could tell by exchanged looks, the adults were waiting for someone to react to what Jared said. The problem was he didn’t have anything worth saying. Part of him fully agreed with Jared. Another part of his brain flashed the image of Hans and Max’s dead eyes looking up at him. Accusing him.

Judging by Luna’s tightly pressed-together lips, Robin guessed she had similar thoughts.

Fortunately, at least in Robin’s way of thinking, Stasik spoke up. “Um, can I talk something here?”

“Say something,” Nire corrected but with a reassuring smile. “and yes. I included you in this because everyone who took the mine has started to see you as one of the leaders. Even the gladiator kids look up to you. I’m going to recommend we put you into an officer slot.”

“Fine with me,” Jared stated without hesitation. “We’ll need a couple more and Stasik is a leader.”

Tanner glanced over at Jared with clear surprise on his facial features. After a few seconds, he shrugged and turned to Stasik, “OK, so if approved by both Blood’s Honor and New Bravaria, we’ll get you a commission to Ensign. Therefore, soon-to-be officer, let’s hear what’s on your mind.”

Stasik thumbed his sergeant pin for a moment before he spoke. “It be hard to say what went wrong or right at water plant. We not there. But maybe, what I hear is we need good plan before doing more. We use good strategy here and it work. What was plan at water plant?”

“To get to it and relieve the pressure on the PDF,” Robin stated softly. “I broke us into three groups each with a leader I knew and…” Robin hung his head. “Not really much of a plan.”

“It was a plan,” Captain Tanner corrected Robin. “You assigned each squad to a task. It was clearly based on the information you had. What it lacked was key foundational support. What could you have done better?”

“Had medical kits ready, or tried to get some from the PDF before we took off,” Robin answered. “And I needed drill units on hand to get downed pilots out faster.”

Nire nodded, “So you had some supply deficiencies. What else?”

There was another long silence before Luna spoke up. “We didn’t even try to find out who worked best with who. Robin… Captain Lerrik and I didn’t go over more than the basics of their files beforehand either, so we didn’t assign frames with loadouts that best suited them.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Nire stated. “Keep going.”

Robin cracked his knuckles and hung his head. “I… I split the unit before we established any kind of perimeter. It left all three squads open to flanking fire. When EC frames showed up, I lost the big picture. Tactical control was non-existent.”

“Glenn…” Luna cringed as she got sharp looks from the adults. “Um, I mean Master Sergeant Flanagan… kept his squad tight and supported the worst ones even as he moved to the front gate of the complex. It’s why his squad did so much better. Once he secured it, he was in a spot to direct us. We should have turned control over to him…”

“So the battle turned into a brawl with no real command and control,” Robin stated.

Captain Tanner let out a long breath. “And this, kids, is why after-action reports are so important. You looked and acted like rookies because you are. You made mistakes. There isn’t a man or woman in this group who hasn’t. I’m pretty sure it is a merc rite of passage.”

“Hardwired into merc genetics.” SrSgt Jorgan confirmed with a smirk. “Something me, Captain Tanner, and the major excelled in at your ages… And something Caleb seems hellbent on reminding me.” She pulled up her headset, “Commander Bennet, I think Kay’s had enough time to think. Go ahead and release the little hellion.”

“Release Kay?” Luna asked.

“I had him confined to his new flying toy to think. Something we’re trying to get all you hard-headed urchins to do!”

This loosened up the room. Robin even found himself grinning but looked back and forth between the Grenadier adults. “I know we need to figure out how to do things better, but I want to hear more about what you all did.”

“So do I!” Jared stated with a gleam in his eyes

Tanner forced a laugh. “At some point, the Major, Sergeant Jorgan, and I are going to have to tell you all of our first foray into being AIM mercs. Without our parent’s knowing, I might add. Not one of our better moments…”

As young eyes all looked at him, he smiled. “Yeah. At least you formed a legit unit first…” He rolled his eyes. “But at the moment this is about you all. Meetings like this are where mistakes can and should be brought out. Making this more important is you all need to jump back into the fire way before any of us are comfortable with you doing so. You all need to come up with a battle plan and set things to succeed. Like Ensign Warley did here…” He shot Stasik a smile, “With considerable support from one of our newest soon-to-be officers.”

The conversation continued for several minutes. Finally, Captain Tanner and Sergeant Nire ran down lists to work on during upcoming training.

Caleb’s mom jumped back in, “The problem is, we don’t have time for training before you all head back into the heat of combat. So, we need to make sure you all and the rest of the Rebels are ready.

Captain Tanner nodded in full agreement. “Anyone who needs to take a few days must be able to do so. No hero crap. Those who just don’t want to take part in the upcoming attack, but refuse to go back to base can stay here and help with security. We’re going to make this our forward base until we have dealt with all aspects of this group. However, if any Rebels need or even want to go back to the base, there is no shame. At the same time, we need to make damned sure the kids… kids who have been through hell… are ready to follow all your commands…”

Tanner paused. “Along with all my commands. Because like it or not, I am taking charge of both the assault on this camp we have close to here and the ship. However, if needed the ship can wait until Brave Humanities elite Knight Stalkers can get down here. But they are over two days out before they can even get planet-side.”

Nire turned to Lukas, “Which is why you were invited to this meeting. We need all the resources we can use that are on hand. Can you tell us what to expect from those with you who want to join this… mission?”

Lukas ran his hand through his hair, “Sergeant… I… We just want to free the others from our Luduses. I know we need… Not sure what the right words even are. Maybe to be normal or something. But we have to get to those we came here with. We’re all kind of a family… I know it sounds stupid…”

“No.” Tanner spoke up. “You have been living and fighting together even if it was against each other for a long time. It’s got to be close, maybe closer, than the bonds a merc unit forms. But I… we don’t really know what to expect. We know you and Sev, and he says we can fully trust you… And it sure as hell looked to me like most of those in the ore sorting area look up to you.”

“I’m an Inbellic,” Lukas stated as if that should say everything. When he realized he was getting frowns he shrugged and continued. “Inbellic is the second highest rank a gladiator can get. There aren’t many of us. Even fewer Bellatics, which are the highest rank. Once made a Bellatic, you are guaranteed to go to the next Grand Tourney. But most Inbellics go as well. We are considered elite and there is even a penalty, a nasty one for, killing us. We are easy to identify because we all pilot Gladiusim frames. And in camp and when not fighting each other we follow the rank structure. To not do so would be a lockdown inside a frame with many, if not all power shut off… or worse.”

Jared cringed. “There is worse than getting locked inside a powerless frame?”

“Oh yeah… Way worse.” Lukas closed his eyes and noticeably shivered. “There is reasons, good ones, to do what Gene did. Sometimes death seems like the only way out. Especially for those who didn’t have it in them to be framers. Others don’t or can’t accept what we were and where we found ourselves. Sarah and me will make sure we only take out those we know will do what needs to be done. We will run all the names down with Sev and if he is awake, Brock. But I’d bet all of my 389 village credits on them agreeing with the names Sarah and I approve of. Those who go out will listen to us and we’ll do what we’re told… There is nothing else to say…”

Nire’s brow furled. “While I am glad to hear you are only going out with those you feel can handle this…” He took an uneasy breath. “You all need time to breathe and taste freedom you have not seen or felt in a very long time. How certain are you everyone will follow orders?”

“Sergeant, all I can say is they will follow our lead.”

“We believe you think this,” Tanner stated slowly. “However, we need to make sure no one will go off on some sort of vendetta. You all have… Let’s just say you have dealt with more than any kids should have.”

Lukas sighed and looked down. “We’ll all do what we’re told. It’s… impossible to explain.”

Jared looked over to Lukas. “Hey, talk to us. We’re friends. No judgments. Just friends. What are you really thinking?”

Lukas looked up and let out another breath. “You don’t get it, Jared. None of you do.”

“I’m sure you’re right, son.” Caleb’s mom spoke with surprising softness. “None of us have been under the heel of EC boots for two years. We haven’t been forced to fight each other and kill fellow mercs and even friends. You don’t have to do this…”

Lukas frowned deeply. “Yeah, we do. If you hit them without us… They will not listen to you. Just like Saddie and Sequoia aren’t even though it sounds like you have them pinned with way heavier firepower. Once Sarah gets out there and can talk to them, they will. She’s an Inbellic. With the head unit, we took off of Magistri Gōmon-sha’s Triarim, she’ll be able to talk them down so she can get close enough to kill the lockouts. I’ll be able to do the same thing once we get Magistri Sonnet’s head off and fixed enough to hook on my Gladiusim… It would be nice if we had a couple of other Inbellics or even better if Brock wasn’t hurt.”

“We’re medevacing him out with a few of the others,” Tanner stated. “He’ll be taken care of.”

Nire focused on Lukas, “You’re sure you or any of the others will not lose focus and endanger yourselves or others if we take you?”

Lukas took a deep breath and straightened up in the chair. “For almost two years we have fought and shot each other over and over. All of us have been redsmoked more than some can count. For me, it is forty-nine times. Another sixty-one my frame had enough damage to where my Ludus leader shut me down and popped the red smoke on my frame because I was hurt, but not bad enough for smoke to automatically shoot out. Each time I would have probably been killed if he hadn’t. It all counts as a redsmoke. Getting mad, going ballistic, or losing it… no matter what you want to call it was a sure-fire way to get punished. Punished bad. Failure to follow orders of anyone over us, even our own squad leaders wasn’t an option either.

“Sarah and me with some help from Pen and even Sev will make it clear who the leaders are. Once we do, the others will… will… do whatever you all command. Even if ordered to get redsmoked. To not do so… you just can’t understand.”

There was complete silence around the table for several seconds. Finally, Stasik spoke up. “Lukas, those we not take down and capture yet… Will they do as you order, also?”

“Yes. As long as they recognize someone in authority and there are no other leaders to counter what we try to tell them. I won’t be able to convince any of them to go against what Lanistas are telling them. But thanks to you and Luna it sounds like the last two Lanista are down. Still, I doubt I can get any to turn against a Madistri or Medici. Only Brock and maybe Sev would be able to do that… Possibly Hanna…. But most will not, cannot go against a Ludus leader. The thought to do so would never occur to them. So, we will have to take all leaders down. Some may be afraid of the red patches and even the conscripted adults. But most will follow Sarah and me. As this happens, all but a few of the others will as well. There are a few, like Gene, who we may have to redsmoke. But only if I can’t get close enough to shut them down. We’ll go for the legs on those. But a few will probably have to be put down hard. All we can hope for is not to kill them.”

While most blinked at the matter-of-fact tone of Lukas, a sly smirk spread over Stasik’s face. It was not missed by Sgt Jorgan. “Son, I have seen that look on dozens of Grenadier kids over the years, including on Captain Tanner and Major O’Connell’s faces a few times when we were your age. Do we even want to know what is going through that head of yours?”

Stasik’s grin only grew. “Do not know what you think… But me… I believe we need to do a Battle of Troy…”

“Battle of Troy?” Nire questioned with total confusion.

“You mean Trojan Horse?” Tanner asked.

Stasik smiled widely, “Yes, comrade sir. The ploy to win the Battle of Troy. But in frames.”

Robin looked over, “What are you talking about?”

At the same time, both Jared and Luna looked over with bewildered looks.

Lukas, on the other hand, turned his full attention on Stasik. “What kind of deception are you thinking?”

“We walk in. Get close. Take leaders down fast. Send codes. Lock out the weapons and let your friends out.”

“Just walk in?” Caleb’s mom scoffed. “How?”

Luna snapped her fingers, “We use their frames!”

Stasik nodded and grinned. “Get right up on them. Take down leaders. Let Lukas and Sarah move in and do what they need to get others to concede field of battle.”

“Kids,” Nire spoke with warning. “EC frames aren’t like frames outside of EC Space. Their HUDs are different, and targeting is tied to their weapons based on verbal preset inputs. They are set to the pilots they had in them. It prevents easy use if they are captured. Neural network reconfigs are no fun at all. It’ll take several minutes inside the frame with a Medicorim key ordering synopsis mapping for it to adjust to your individual neuronal pathways…” Nire noticed Stasik’s smirk and stopped. “And I can tell by the look in your eyes you already know this.”

Stasik nodded with a huge smile, “Oh, yes comrade sergeant. At Quaker Academy, all here took hostile frame familiarity at same time as me. We know how to activate, use, and pilot Earth Core frame. We can reset neural network for new pilot too. We know it shocks. It hurt but we no get shot at by many if we stop them. Shock be worth no getting more shot into frame. Found it really hurt to get shot, even in frame.

“No matter how well we train, new framers are always surprised how much it hurts to get shot. Even when the armor doesn’t breach,” Nire snorted. “Sims, low-powered energy weapons, and rubber coated bullets, rockets, and missiles simply don’t prepare a framer for the first combat hits.”

“Sure doesn’t!” Jared stated. “So, I’ll take the shocks of the neural pathway reset if it means I get shot less.”

Stasik grinned as both Luna and Robin nodded at Jared’s comment. “I agree, comrades. And we have what we need. The Medicorim frame not scramble code so can do full computer for reset with gauntlet key. I drop one down just before I come in here. Yegor shoot pilot before it close hatch. We have full access. Just need adult or two to talk on radio as we get close so it not sound like kids. We close, pound adult EC frames, send code to lock other frames, and give control to get out only. We win. He smiled as he looked at the wide-eyed adults. “We get the control things to stick in frames to not let them lock others out and we all go do it again at ship. But with more of us!”

Sergeant Jorgan blinked. “And your plan is to walk in and take out the adults?”

His voice turned giddy as he asked, “Uh huh! At least get close before we shoot. Take many um… what is word? Off guard?”

Nire nodded. “Yes, catch them off guard.”

Stasik grinned. “Thought so. Um, so yes. Make them think we be those we take down here. Get close so Lukas shut down many kid frame. But need someone who has adult voice to radio as we come up. Make it sound like we have no weapon and the ship left without us!” his grin was huge as he asked, “So do any of you old folk know how to sync and use Earth Core frame?”

“Hell yes!” Nire jumped up and activated his radio, “Black, we need the Medi frame Stasik just took down! And get techs on two of the easiest-to-get-up EC frames in our sizes. All others hold up. We have a new plan!”

“Make it three adults,” Tanner barked out as he stood and patted Stasik on the back. “Thanks to a tech in Pen’s unit, I spent a few weeks in a captured Lancearim. It’s in bad shape, but still on the Grey Stallion in the upper storage hold.” He paused and grumbled. “At least it better be when we get her back.”

He looked over to Sgt Jorgan. “Command Sergeant Black was going to handle things here but sounds like he is now with me. I know you and Iona are hurt…”

Caleb’s mom gave a dismissive flip of her right wrist. “We’ve got this. I’ve handled the kids in this unit for years and used to be one. So even with a pieced-together lower back, I can handle a bunch of greenies.”

Tanner snickered then glanced over to Robin, “So you all took a class on how to use EC frames, huh?”

“Yes, sir,” Robin nodded. “Only Neil, Glen, Zane, Caleb, and Dante didn’t.” Robin paused. “Oh, and neither did Cody or Jessie.”

Stasik spoke up, “Um, actually, most sure Jasha and Yemelyan didn’t either. Jasha for sure. I stay for summer semester while he went to wilderness survival camp instead.” Stasik sighed. “I wanted to go with him, but Mom say it too dangerous.”

“Too dangerous?” Nire asked.

“Yes, sergeant.” Stasik nodded. “There was legal um… paper… It say something like serious medical cost not include. My mom said no. Jasha’s mom not find out till after Jasha went. His dad sign when she on trip to see her sick mom.” He smirked. “Jasha mom not happy… at all.”

Caleb’s mom snickered. “It would have been pretty much the opposite had it been Kay. His dad would have thrown a fit and I would have wanted to let him go…” She paused and frowned. “So why didn’t Kay take the classes on how to use EC frames?”

Luna answered. “He and the others elected to take the nineteen weeks of battle armor familiarization instead. The Battle Armor side of the Q VII academy wanted to get more to join them, so they offered battle Armor familiarization as a free elective, even for mercs. Once we found out they got basic certs in it, we all were going to try to take it next semester, but never got the chance.”

Luna muttered as she added, “Zane and Neil both managed to get a base cert in B.A. martial arts during the class. I heard Jessie paid for it so they could have a ribbon no one else in the academy did. Jessie hoped it would get us more accepted… Didn’t work, but at least he tried.”

Luna let out a long sigh. “I should have gone battle armor, cause I bet I could have gotten advanced Martial arts.”

Tanner cocked his head to the side, “The bright green ribbon on their dress uniforms?”

“Yeah,” Robin responded. “They gave them the ribbons without any kind of ceremony. So, most didn’t even know what it was. Neil shrugged it off, but Zane was real mad at himself. He almost didn’t wear it, but I reminded him Jessie paid and hoped it would help, so he stuck it on his uniform. But he didn’t talk much about it, since he was mad and embarrassed when he missed getting the advanced cert by just a few points. He was going to try to get more time in B.A. so he could get the ribbon with the star in the middle when Q VII threw in the towel.”

“Does his dad know?” Tanner asked.

“No.” Luna shook her head. “Zane was afraid he’d be mad or disappointed in him only getting the basic cert. We tried to tell him he was nuts, but he wanted to wait until he got the advanced B.A. martial arts cert before he said anything to his folks.”

“He’s not the only one who kept his mouth shut. Not only is Kay certified as a IPSC pilot, he certed in battle armor and didn’t tell me. I don’t know if I am going to beat him or hug him when I see him!”

“Probably both!” Luna teased.

“Probably,” Sgt Jorgan smiled. “But we need to find a way to screw Zane’s head on straight… at least straighter when he gets back. There ain’t a Grenadier who wouldn’t a given him some credits for getting a basic cert in B.A. Martial Art! He and Neil are the first to ever get it in our unit!”

“That boy…” Tanner tossed up his hands. “Not only would he have easily gotten a couple thousand credits from the whole crew, if he would have said something, we could have found someone to work with him so he could have…” Tanner stopped and sighed. “Never mind. We’ll deal with it when he gets back. In the meantime, I guess once we get back on stable financial footing, we’ll need to find a way to buy a few suits of B.A. and someone to work with you all so you can get certified.”

“It’d be great if we could,” Robin admitted. “We were all kind of jealous of those who got certs. But now it seems like we made the right decision in learning how to fully use captured EC frames.”

Tanner nodded. “Extremely fortunate. But we’ll see if we can find someone to get you all at least basic BA certs. It is becoming more popular. Maybe some of the new hires will be willing to teach.”

“All of us from Brave Humanities can help. We’re fully certified.”

“I can help teach as well, comrade sir,” Stasik grumbled. “While Jasha learn track, hunt, glide suit, and more at fun camp, I got base and advance B.A. certification over summer in academy.” Stasik managed a smile. “Mom paid ’cause she would not let me have good fun. But I guess it good since I took hostile frame with the others while he got base cert in B.A. this last semester.”

“It is very good,” Nire stated. “However, since there is such an interest I’ll see if we can find some B.A. in your sizes. Brave Humanities uses it a lot for station security in hostile environments. I’ll also let Blood’s Honor know they probably have several kids who have familiarity with B.A. at our ag station. It’s not something they asked about. Nor is it something we supplied.

“And while Battle Armor is nowhere near as powerful, versatile, or comfortable as a frame, it has lots of benefits. It provides much better protection and firepower than an e-suit and gives the same benefits, if not better. It’s also far more versatile than any normal infantry in e-suits.”

Tanner scratched at the back of his head as he looked around the table. “Along with way more expensive…. But we need to stay focused. We have a camp to take.”

“Yeah, we do!” Jared spoke up as he stood. “But speaking of battle armor, since when did we let B.A.’s in the Grenadiers?”

Tanner shrugged. “Kipper sent us twenty-three, all with guard-class battle armor. Records show all of them were with the Elysian Argonauts. From what I’ve heard and read at AIM, they were part of a combined arms team. Sounds like they got their asses handed to them when they tried to raid an NFC observation post in the Nova System. They got cut off by a surprise Blood’s Honor counter and scattered. Survivors managed to grab a shuttle, get to space, and traded it with a fold ship captain for transport and a couple of million in credits. They came here and bought enough to try to become a unit. They were in the process of setting unit structure when Kipper posted to reinforce us. They all signed on.

“We have a handful of their framers, nineteen platform jocks, and two score of their infantry as well. It’s the closest things to veterans we got out of what Kipper sent us.” He gave Stasik’s shoulders a squeeze as he walked past the boy. “Now let’s see if my favorite new Grenadier and Rebel can make this idea work.”

Tanner piloted a mostly repaired Earth Core heavy Peditatim frame, but with a command module taken out of a Medicorim since the unit in the frame he piloted was damaged. He took some time to fully understand the control computer. He was told the replaced control module belonged to a junior adult leader, so it had a limited range. However, there was an upside as it became clear Pen, Sarah, and Lukas all knew enough to talk him through the control computer inside his frame and even knew the verbal codes to activate it. He wanted to know why they knew how to use it but figured it could wait. What was important, if he could get within two hundred and fifty meters of a gladiator frame, he could activate or deactivate every function in it. The big thing would be knowing what frame he was doing it too since all frames within range appeared in green with a number.

Because of this, he got the numbers of the frames with him, so he didn’t accidentally shut them down. Or conversely, if they acted up, he knew what number to deactivate key systems on.

He practiced the features of the control computer on the kids with him, shutting off and turning on access to weapons, food, and water to get a good feel for how it worked. It surprised him that none complained as systems inside their frames turned on and off.

Even as he continued to get a better feel for the control computer, he followed Lukas up a rocky hill. With him was Jared, Yegor, Valerie, Kerri, and Stasik, Nikki, and Ruslan. All in hastily repaired light, mostly Plug, EC frames. The difference was the heads had been replaced with standard EC frame heads, so most of the Grenadier kids had opening faceplates and no computer lockouts. Many of the extremely light weapons had also been replaced to better suit the kids and gave them considerably better and longer-range firepower.

Augmenting this core group, seven former gladiators, all in largely repaired gladiator frames with a few better-substituted weapons, moved alongside them. None spoke, nor complained. Instead, they moved up the hill with determination all but dripping off them.

One hill over, Sarah led Nire and Black. They also had seven Rebels including Robin, Luna, and Glen. Six other gladiators were with them.

Tanner scanned the area with the Frame’s HUD. It had both IR and telescopic enhancements, so it allowed him to occasionally zoom in on the other group. He nodded in satisfaction at the progress of Black and Nire. It was clear to Tanner, Lukas, and Sarah, with Pen and Sev’s help, had selected thirteen of the best to join them.

Suddenly Lukas held up a hand and took a knee.

Tanner moved up even as Lukas flipped up his faceplate, pointed, and spoke so nothing would go out over the radio. “There. You see the dirt road winding up the side of the next hill?”

Tanner took a closer look with telescopic mode. “Yeah, sure do. Does it lead to the mine?”

“Yes, sir. The mine is on the other side of the hill. Two of the shafts are dug into the back side of it. A third, where they liked to keep us when they let us out of frames, is in the rocky grey hill you can see sticking up behind it. If you look to the left of the last switchback toward the top of the hill and follow the hill down, you will see the platform the red patches rolled. Looks like they sent a salvage crew because it’s missing the front micro missile rack and its engine compartment is open.”

Stasik moved up with Jared. He pointed to some scrub trees and dense underbrush. “Captain, I see three frames guarding the road. All have shoulders painted red. Can’t tell type from here. I also see move of foliage well behind us but to northeast. It might be gladiator trying to make it back to where we go.”

Tanner focused his telescopic mode toward the area Stasik pointed. It didn’t take long to see what the boy had spotted without visual enhancements. “Got ‘em. Real good eyes kiddo. Three frames. One limping really bad. The limping one is what you all call a Sicaim. The others are a Gladiusim and a Munifex with a Sicaim head.”

“The third must be a Plug,” Lukas stated. “The Gladiusim is either Hanna or Denton. They are the only two unaccounted-for Imbellics from our ship. Can you tell if it has a Micro Missile launcher on the left shoulder?”

Tanner focused on the largest of the three frames. “No. It has two barrels: one on each forearm and carbon spikes on both hand units.”

“Hanna.” Lukas stated with clear disappointment. “Be careful. Unless we talk her down, she is a big threat. She’s only nine or ten redsmokes from taking a shot at the highest rank of Bellatic. The only reason she hasn’t, she has more actual kills than anyone else in her Ludus.” Lukas glanced around and sighed. “She has redsmoked everyone out here with us, other than Quartic and Holly, at least four or five times. Some of us, more than five. Way more. Holly and Quartic are lucky. They’re in the same Ludus as her.”

“What about you,” Jared asked.

“Hanna has redsmoked me nine times. I have only redsmoked her twice.” He motioned for Quartic and Holly to join them. As soon as the younger boy took a knee next to them, Lukas pointed. “Hanna’s down there. Can we talk her down?”

Quartic had to shout so he could be heard outside his frame since his faceplate couldn’t be raised. “You, no. Me, possibly… Hopefully… Holly would be a better choice since they are in same squad. We sure don’t want to fight her. She’s a killer and has two rocket guns and spiked fists!”

“Rocket guns?” Tanner asked. “Not something I see very often on light frames!”

“Yeah,” Lukas responded. “Those two barrels are standard rocket guns she snagged off an assault frame just over a week ago. She took it down by herself, so her Lanista gave her first choice of weapons off it. Those are what she picked. We changed the connectors, so they worked on EC frames. And she has plenty of ammo for them. The ammo bins for them held thirty-five kilograms each and were full.”

“How’d she take it down without it firing either rocket gun?” Jared asked.

Holly answered. Like Quartic she had to shout since they weren’t using radios. “She jumped off a low ridge onto it. The force of the impact knocked it down. Hanna jumped onto its back and pounded its head in with her spiked fists. When we removed the back hatch and pulled the pilot out her face wasn’t recognizable. Not at all.”

“Neither was the head unit,” Lukas added. “It was the only major damage to the frame. The rail gun and carbon knuckles on Sev’s frame came from the same frame.” He eyed the area. “Since she has a limper with her, we should get to the camp first. If we can secure it before she gets there, talking her down will be easier… Not easy, just easier. One thing is for sure. She’s the only gladiator left who I don’t want to have to get close enough to try to shut her down.”

Stasik spoke up. “It sounds like she does not trust you, Lukas.”

Lukas shook his head. “She hates me. I beat out a kid in her Ludus for this Gladiusim in a one-on-one battle. They were as close as any of us are allowed to being… a couple. After I beat him, her Ludus sold him to an upstart Ludus. I bet she again tries to kill me the next time we face off in an arena.”

“Those days are done, Lukas.” Tanner reminded the boy.

“I can only hope. But Quartic is right. Me being with you isn’t a good thing.”

“So why not cut her off and take her now?” Valerie asked.

Lukas shook her head. “She will radio as soon as she sees Lanista Sedgio’s Peditatim.” He pointed to Tanner. “And we all know his voice and… attitude.”

Stasik shrugged. “Do you know her frame number in the control computer, Lukas?”

Holly responded. “I do. I am in her gladiator squad. It’s LGLC14. Why?”

Stasik shot Lukas a bemused smirk. “Holly, you, or someone else she know need to radio over. Lukas stay way back so she cannot see him or changed head unit. If Captain Tanner tap his head when he moves up on her, it will let her see problem. You tell her he can receive but not send. He has the computer so he can order shutdown. The rest of us move forward to cover the other two while you shut down the other two and talk them all down.”

Quartic once again shouted so he could be heard. “Should work. Lukas just don’t let her see you or your frame. The good thing is Hanna was part of the attack on the water station. She has no idea Lanista Sedgio was redsmoked.”

“And took head hits from you, Stasik.” Jared noted. “So while armor got fixed, it show fresh hits. It will give a reason for radio to be bad.”

Lukas shrugged. “It sounds too easy, but the more I think about it, it should work. I know it would on me. No one questions a Ludus leader.” He forced a tight smile, “And it would be nice to have Hanna on our side if we can talk her into it.”

“But if we can’t, at least we wouldn’t have to worry about her showing up in the middle of the fight for the camp,” Quartic shouted. “Cause without our Ludus leaders, she will shoot you if she sees you.”

Tanner let out a sigh. “OK, but we can’t ignore the guards. They may see something and send the alert. Jared, I need you, Stasik, and Quartic along with a couple of others who will allow Quartic to lead them to angle over to the road. Take Yegor since he is in his frame and it has ECM. You will need to jam their radios. We need those guards to fall fast. Keep your ear on your radios. I will send a signal on basic band nine the second we have control of the three gladiators. Have Yager engage his ECM. Hit them and drop them before they can send out any alerts. Looks like a pair of Munis and a Hasta.”

“We’ll try to not to go for the heads,” Quartic spoke up. “We can use those head units instead of taking up a hard point with control mods.”

Tanner glanced around before he continued. “Good idea, but don’t go risking yourselves to get a head unit. I’ll keep Kerri and Val with me. Holly, you’re also with me since this Hanna knows you. But, kids, if this plan doesn’t work; those rocket guns could take down many out here with a single volley. So the second she goes hostile, like her or not, she needs to go down.”

A girl by the name of Dana snorted. “As many times as she has redsmoked most of us, it won’t be a problem, sir.”

Tanner angled down the hill to get into a good spot should they have to fight the three frames. Dana and Holly covered his flanks. It made him nervous to have two kids he knew nothing about with him, but he was told it would look better if he had a couple of known gladiators in their own frames with him. He also took some comfort in the fact several of the Rebels seemed to like both already.

He nodded to Holly to open radio communications with the group as soon as he saw movement in nearby underbrush.

Holly nodded. “Imbellic Hanna, it is Aemulatic Holly. We have you on your 270! Can you hear me?”

The largest of the three frames dropped to a knee and panned both arms to track Tanner and the other frames. At the same time, the radio crackled. “Soto and Jake get behind trees!” The two framers instantly did as they were told.

The female voice came back over the radio. “Holly, who is with you?”

Holly moved into the open and held her frame’s arms out to the side. “You can see Lanista Sedgio’s frame to my right. The other is Aemulatic Dena.”

“Why are you talking to me if you have Lanista Sedgio with you?”

“Lanista Sedgio’s frame has radio problems. It can receive but not send on basic bands. It also has limited power to the control module. I was told to get your status and get a report as to what happened with the water station attack.”

Before she could answer Tanner came up from behind Holly and smacked the side of his head unit with his hand a couple of times. He then pointed forcefully to Holly and clenched his fist. He verbally pulled up LGLC14 on the lockout unit. It came up as red. She was not in range and Holly was totally exposed. He fought the urge to rush forward. Instead, he listened to her response.

The girl’s voice showed frustration and anger. “Reinforcements showed up. I took two down, but they dropped all but Medici Vardre, Magistri Folmar, and Lanista Poyell. It happened very quick. Two framers close to me were clearly very skilled. They took the arm unit off Medici Chima-law while annihilating four Plugs and Tirics Lorina and Kurtis.

“Lanista Poyell sent a full unlock except egress to all remaining frames as he redsmoked and fell to a nasty barrage from a huge frame. Before he went offline, he told us to head to the mine. Many surrendered after he fell. But I took two of the hostiles down as we backed off. He gave me back panel access because of it just before he went offline. Lanista Poyell said we were close to capturing the ship and to abandon the attack and fall back to it. We took a look. There was no ship there and there were heavy numbers of unknown frames. Several of us were also down. Was Lanista Poyell not correct?”

“He was, but the red patches lied to us or failed to spot a much larger supporting force. We think they might have been on the ore ship. But wherever they came from, they ripped into us. Only about half made it to the ship. Many injured. We were cut off, so Lanista Sedgio ordered all remaining gladiators to head to the camp. There were more of us, but Inbellic Pen and Bellatic Brock fell covering our retreat. Don’t know what happened to some of the others. And then we saw the ship get hit by fighters as it gained altitude. It was on fire and smoking as it disappeared over the hills to the west. It is unlikely it made it.”

Hanna paused and seemed to look past Holly. “I see other movement. Are others with you?”

“Yes.” Holly responded with no hesitation. “Inbellic Lukas has a handful of others watching our back.”

“Lukas…” The girl hissed out with clear disdain. “I don’t know why they promoted him. That Gladiusim should have been handed to our Ludus. I’ll make sure he doesn’t live to make it to the grand tourney!”

Tanner fumed as she threatened to kill Lukas. He charged. The frame number changed to green on the HUD, so Tanner barked out, “LGLC 14; Full lockout. Set all systems to offline!” Moments later the frame the girl was in froze even as she continued to try to move back. Her frame fell back and slammed into a tree.

The girl clearly saw Tanner dart forward and stumbled back while holding up both hands. “Lanista Sedgio! I didn’t mean to anger you!” Her radio cut off but everyone close still heard her shout “No! Please! No!” as all her systems shut down.

He spun and pointed his left arm-mounted sonic blaster at the closer of the two remaining frames.

Next to Tanner, Holly pointed all her weapons at the other frame. Both moved into the open with hands held in front of them

Dena spoke. “Soto, Jake, do as you are told, and you will not be hurt. Give me your frame numbers.”

As the two boys spoke out their frame numbers with shaky voices, Tanner pulled them up, shut down weapons access, and allowed them permission to open their back hatches. “It’s OK, kids. Get out and leave your frames open.” He then switched radio frequencies, “Ensign Warley, take out the roadside trash!”

“Get out?” A young terrified-sounding voice sputtered out as Tanner refocused on the frames in front of him. “You are making us get out?”

Holly spoke up. “Soto, it’s OK. Get out.”

“I did nothing wrong! Really, I didn’t!”

“No one said you did,” Dena answered. “Now do as you are told and get out!”

“But… Here? In the open?”

“Yeah, Soto,” Holly responded. “Right here. Come on.”

“Aemulatic Holly, I am not going to be taken, beaten, or shot, am I?”

“No!” Tanner barked as he flipped up his faceplate. “Why would you think such a thing?”

Wide eyes stared out through the thick faceplate. “You… You are not Lanista Sedgio!” He took a step back. His frame hands trembled. “Please do not take, beat, or shoot me! I submit to your Ludus!”

“Son,” Tanner spoke while motioning for the boy to lower his arms. “Nothing of the sort is going to happen to you. Now relax, get out, and tell me why you think I would hurt or shoot you.”

Lukas moved down the hill, keeping a couple of weapons pointed at the immobile frame just to be sure. He radioed over to Tanner. “He is expecting bad things because you are in a Peditatim frame, only Ludus Lanista’s have them. Lanista Sedgio was known for being extremely good in combat and exceptionally cruel and violent, especially to newer and younger gladiators. Since he now sees your face, he probably thinks you beat Lanista Sedgio and he’s about to be taken into a new Ludus. This could be very bad because he would have to start over and Soto barely avoided being made a Plug. Would have been without me, Sarah, Sev, and Brock. Let me handle this.”

“OK, but be nice.”

“Once we get them out of their frames, we can be nice,” Lukas responded as he continued to move closer.

Lukas’ voice took on a sharp edge. “Discipulic Soto, you have been commanded to get out of your frame! Do so or face me!”

The back panel of the frame in front of Tanner opened within moments. A dark-skinned boy with a sweat-drenched electrostatic and his hair matted to his head jumped out and instantly went down to his knees and held up both hands. However, even as he did so he took several deep breaths and looked around wildly.

Lukas turned his attention to the other frame. “Plug Jake, you are a disgrace! I don’t know why I was ever nice to you! You should have been tossed to the worker pits instead of given the rank of Coactus! You are at eight months and you still can’t pilot or shoot a frame worth a crap. We should put you on full lockout like Inbellic Hanna and leave you here to rot!” he patted his head unit. “And note, I have the head of a fallen junior Magistri! I have been promoted. Therefore, you answer to me, not as a higher-ranked gladiator, but as a Ludus leader. I will not ask again. You are to exit your frame now or…” Lukas’ left fist took a huge chunk out of a tall woody plant. Moments later there was a series of cracking sounds. The tree-like plant fell. “You exit now or will lay here to wither and die just like what is left of this tree! Do not make me repeat, Plug!”

Tanner glanced over sharply, only to see Holly and Dena lightly shake their heads. Both put up a frame finger to their faceplate.

The other frame opened even as Tanner forced himself to hold his tongue. When it did so, a skinny teen peaked out from behind the frame. He appeared pale and his face had nasty thick peeling skin on his cheeks, nose, and chin. His long sandy hair looked like the consistency of plaster and was stuck to the sides of his head and neck. His clothing was nothing more than a plain brown two-piece electrostatic set of underclothing with brown electrostatic booties. All of it was filthy with sweat and stuck to him like an extra layer of skin. His green eyes had a sunken look. Adding to the horror facing Tanner, the kid’s lips were covered with thick crud and cracked. It didn’t end there. His teeth looked crusty and yellow.

Tanner took an involuntary step back at the horrible condition and the smell of stale sweat, urine, feces, and rancid breath.

Before Tanner could get his brain to reset, Kerri and Nikki both jumped out of their frames and rushed over to the kid.

The boy shook his head and seemed to shiver even though the air was warm and humid. He blinked a few times and staggered. He would have fallen if Kerri hadn’t caught him. With Nikki’s help, they lowered him to the ground. Both had to turn their heads but quickly forced themselves to comfort the kid even as both of them made faces and swallowed hard. Tanner bet both had just swallowed bile.

Lukas moved up in his frame and knelt. “Jake, take it easy. I only barked at you to get you out. No one here is going to hurt you.”

The kid looked up, “I’ll… I’ll do whatever you want please… please… no more…”

“It’s over Jake,” Lukas stated. “It’s over. You’re out.”

“I… I still have three more days… Magistri Gōmon-sha will be mad. He’ll make me start over! I… Can’t… no more… Let me do my last three days. Please, Lukas. I will do whatever you want after. Anything.”

“No. You’re done. Gōmon-sha is dead.”

The boy blinked, “Dead? Really? But what about the others or the red patches? They’ll…”

“They’re my problem. You’re done and with friends. You’re safe.”

“Safe?” The kid tried to stand only to fall back into Nikki, who crinkled her nose but still helped him to sit again. He looked around, “Friends? I don’t know you two…” He tried to push off and stand only to fall into Kerri and get lowered to the ground yet again.

“Jake, stop!” Lukas commanded. “You’ve been through this before. Not as long, but you’ve been locked down before. Your body needs to adjust to not having a frame around it. You need to get clean, eat real food, drink electrolytes, not just water, and get a few days of exercise outside of a frame. Hell, as long as you have been in your frame, you may need a couple of days to remember how to walk. And as before, eat some solid food, but supplement with food paste for a few days to let your body adjust to solids.”

“And don’t stay in sunlight for too long you’ll burn fast.” Holly added. “At least I did after long lockdowns.”

At this, the kid nodded. “OK… but…” he looked around. “What’s going on?”

“We’re outside of EC space and you have been rescued by a merc unit I happen to have friends in. They will take care of you.”

“Outside of Earth Core?”

“Yup,” Nikki stated as chipper as she could force herself to sound given the fact the kid reeked. “Out of EC and your nasty gladiator crap. Welcome to the Ruffian Rebels merc unit.”

“I’m not a merc…”

Kerri gave a dismissive flip of his wrist, “You’re a friend, so you are one of us. Now let us help you.”

“Friend? I… I don’t even know you.”

Nikki took a hydration pack from Ruslan and held it up so Jake could drink it. “Lukas said he was friendly to you, and I am good friends with Lukas. I’m Nikki. The girl holding your head is Kerri.” She patted Jake on the back. “Now you know us. So we’re friends.”

“No one wants to be my friend. I’m a useless Plug.”

“Not useless, comrade.” Ruslan stated. “You live through fight with Luna, Robin, Dante, and other Rebels. No one can say you not tough after what you go through and make it out away from them! We will help you.”

Jake started to cry. “The red patch XO… Centurion Posterior Ritic and his Tesserarius… they will come for me again. No matter where I go.”

Tanner’s eyes narrowed as Kerri wiped a few tears off the boy’s cheeks, taking some scaly dead skin off as she did so. “Son, the red patch XO is our problem now. My problem. A personal one. Very, VERY personal.”

“Then the Tesserarius is mine,” Nikki growled.

“Ours,” Kerri jumped in with clear anger in her eyes.

At this, Nikki nodded even as she turned her head from the smell, but still rubbed Jake’s back.

Tanner paused and took a couple of deep breaths to reduce his seething rage. “We need to get you two to medical.” He looked around. “We can’t leave them here. And these two are in no condition to come with us.”

Lukas glanced over to Holly, “He’s in no shape to do anything. Get him over to the stream we crossed a couple of kilometers back. Let him… No, he won’t be able to. You’ll need to help him get cleaned up and carry him back to the mining camp. Take him to the medics and explain what a lockdown is. It is unlikely they know and the information of what Jake has been through will help them give the proper care.”

Ruslan spoke up. “Let me. You need comrade Holly. I not know those we try to free. I protect them on way to mine.”

“Good points, Ruslan.” Tanner pointed to Ruslan. “He is in command of you two. Understood?”

Both boys nodded wildly.

Lukas cleared his throat, “Soto, Jake, treat him as if he is a Magistri or you will deal with me.”

Soto gulped. “As ordered, Lukas!”

Lukas paused and glanced around. He stepped over, grumbled, stared down at Hanna’s frame, and shrugged. With a shake of his head, he used the strength of his frame to roll Hanna’s frame over so it was face down and gave her access to egress. “Get out. Just… Just get out.”

When nothing happened, Tanner spoke up. “Young lady, get out or I will do what Lukas threatened to do to Jake. I WILL lock your ass in with no power and leave you.”

Before he stopped speaking, the back panel slid open, and a girl pulled herself out. She glared at Lukas for a second only to have Tanner move up and lightly shove her back a few paces. “Knock off the attitude. You’re free of the gladiator crap and have Lukas to thank for it.”

Hanna looked around. It was clear she wanted to say something but held her tongue. Tanner bet much of it had to do with the fact several frames had pointed weapons at her. Instead, she crossed her arms and frowned deeply.

“How much ammo do you have left for the rocket guns,” Lukas asked.

She sent him a glare. This came to a quick end as a laser slashed into and through a tree-like plant only a meter above her. A clump of vegetation fell narrowly missing her. She dropped to a knee and covered her head. “What the hell!?”

Before Tanner could even figure out what had happened, Valerie stepped forward. “Look bitch. Lukas is a friend of ours. You ain’t. And you threatened to kill him. You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you for even hinting at trying to kill a friend. Now are you going to answer, or do I drop pieces of these plants on you until you do or can’t?”

Another laser followed and one more tuft of the plant fell.

Hanna ducked even further down, “Shit! OK, OK! Everything has a full ammo load and I repatched mine and the idiot Plug’s armor. Nothing I could do for Soto’s foot, Ankle rod is bent and needs to be replaced. One of the frames kicked him and almost took him out. But the rest is good. I have a basic repair kit in the lower back hatch with three armor rods left and a couple of extra kilos left for the rocket guns in the upper right. I didn’t even bother to fire the light machineguns with as heavy of frames as we faced, and how well armed they were. I ordered melee but found a few of them were every as bit as good as we are. Their heavier frames gave them too much advantage, so I pulled back with these two. So my machineguns are full as well.”

Valerie shot Tanner a smirk as he stared at her with wide eyes. She turned to a kid by the name of Anker, “I like you; you say you were your squad’s best physical frame fighter and you’re cute. Her frame has carbon spikes and good weapons. How about you take her frame, and we give her yours, on full lockdown, except movement and ability to get in and out.”

Dana spoke up. “How about she takes Jake’s, we give mine to Soto, and I take Anker’s and Anker takes Hanna’s?”

Valerie grinned, “I like that even better! What do you say, Captain?”

Tanner let out a long breath. “Sure, why not. As long as Anker is OK with it.”

“Oh, more than OK!” Anker announced as he looked over to Valerie. “As scarred up as I am, you really think I’m cute?”

“Oh yeah. You got a date as soon as we get some downtime,” Valerie announced with a big grin.

Tanner started to say something, stopped, turned his back, and tossed up his arms.

At the same time, Hanna looked over at Jake’s frame. “You’re going to stick me in that disgusting thing?” she questioned with exasperation and horror. “It’s gotta have mechanical problems and smell like crap and be all nasty! He’s been in there for almost three weeks!”

Jake spoke, “Everything is in the green other than the left arm microlaser. Power output problem. Still shoots but don’t think it’ll do anything to a frame. A person yeah, frame, probably not. You’ll need to do a waste dump. It’s full. No one would unlock it, so someone who has access here would have to let you. Oh, and grab more water.”

“That or you can walk back without a frame,” Tanner stated. “Your choice. I’ve already unlocked most features including the waste dump. You can wipe it down with some cleaning solution, flush the waste storage with water from the stream, and give it a once over. I’ll let you keep your repair kit and give you some of the repair stuff I have in the back of my frame.” He looked around, “But I want another frame to help guard Jake, Soto, and Hanna.”

A hand went up. A young-sounding boy spoke up from inside a small Pugioim frame. “I will.”

This got some snickers out of the other gladiator kids.

“I gather I am missing something here?” Tanner asked while knowing in his heart he really didn’t want the answer. He was correct.

Lukas responded. “Sammy redsmoked Becker with a headshot a few months back. Gave him a nasty laser scar on the back of his neck and almost killed him. Hanna’s made him pay for it every time they have fought each other since.”

Tanner shook his head and blinked, “Damn, this just gets worse and worse! Lukas, I gather this Becker is the same one you beat out for this higher rank or whatever it is?”

“Yeah,” Holly answered for Lukas. “Hanna and Becker were a known pair. Hanna protected him in every fight. But when he got hurt, she took it out on whoever did it, or on the best friend or partner if she couldn’t directly get them. She always gave orders on who she wanted to redsmoke. Over the last four months or so she always singled out Sammy when we faced his squad.”

Dena turned, “So Sammy, how many times has she redsmoked you now?”

“Two before I nailed Becker. Eight since. Three in the head. It’s only a matter of time before she kills me. The shot she put into my cheek two weeks before we left the Obsidian system would have, but it shattered some of my teeth and deflected down. The bullet ended up in my lower jaw. Thought they were going to move me out to the worker pits, but they medicaled me. Longest I’ve been in medical since I got branded. And it still hurts to chew on the right side of my mouth.”

“You’re too good to medical out,” Lukas stated.

“They wouldn’t have bothered to fix you otherwise.” Holly added. “A wound like you had isn’t worth fixing for a pit worker. They’d have injected you and sent your body for flash cremation like they did to Brandt back on Panderhaus III.”

Tanner covered his faceplate with his hand. “Dear God. OK, fine you can go too. When you get back to the mine, have medical take a look at your jaw. But Sammy, no shooting her. Even though it sounds like she deserves it.”

Hanna glared at Sammy, “It’s still coming, shithead. Next time those titanium teeth they stuck in will help kill you.”

“Screw this,” Valerie snarled as he pulled up a sonic rifle with a stun setting. She popped a stun shot into Hanna’s face, watched her drop, fired again, and waited for a response. “Come on get up. I wanna do it again!” She sighed at the lack of movement.

As Tanner blinked in stunned silence, Valerie moved up to Jake’s frame. “Looks like a light machinegun, three microlasers, a laser torch, saw, a couple of pistols… and a light shotgun. Geesh, what a shit loadout!”

Lukas moved up and lightly kicked the frame. “Gladiator fights are meant to be long and brutal. They didn’t give us anything to redsmoke anyone fast. Keep in mind, we had crowds to please.”

Val shook her head as she continued to look down at the frame. She glanced over at Jake. “How much ammo is left?”

The boy looked up as he all but inhaled another hydration pack. “Just some pistol ammo.” He coughed and took a few deep breaths. “Water is almost empty, and three days of food paste left. I… I figured I would have to beg and agree to do whatever the red patch XO or tesserarius wanted for someone to flush my waste disposal and get me more water to make it my last three days… But the red patches were put over all us Plugs. I couldn’t ration it the way Centurion Posterior Ritic told me to… I just couldn’t.”

“He does it on purpose,” Anker announced. “It let him tell the Ludus leaders you all submitted in exchange for something. He and the tesserarius did the same thing with the rest of us when they could get away with it. It was us begging, therefore, there was no argument that we belong to them for a few days after we are given a multi-day lockdown. Pretty sure it was a game. I saw bets exchanged between the red patches regarding how long someone would last before they begged. Most of the Ludus leaders laughed about it all.”

“Oh, some asshole EC Centurion Posterior is so gonna die,” Tanner growled. “So what are you thinking, Val?”

“Move water over to Jake’s frame, refill the food paste, and drop her repair kit in. Add a survival kit with a light sidearm, a few rags, some cleaning solution, and maybe a few more armor repair rods, so she has some basics. When we take the camp, we can come back here and toss her a head unit without the lockdown crap so she can have a frame of her own. We don’t want her.”

Tanner looked down at Hanna. He let out a long breath and nodded. He looked over at two of the gladiators with him. “Anker, Leif, you two are about the same sizes as Soto and Jake. Give them the spare survival kits we outfitted you with. We’ll get you replacements when we get back to camp. They have basic sets of Electrostatics and jackets in them. Both badly need something else to change into. Ruslan, Sammy, get them back safe. Shoot anyone who so much as looks at you wrong…” He pointed down at Hanna. “Twice! Just like Val did to her.”

He turned to Soto. “I’ve unlocked most of your frame but kept weapon locks in place. If you think you can limp it back to the mine, feel free. Or you can make the switch that was recommended.”

Sammy spoke up, “Sir, I don’t know if I am allowed to say anything…”

“You don’t have to ask permission to speak, young’an.” Tanner stated with a warm grin.

“I just don’t want to get punished…” he paused until Tanner rolled the wrist of his frame for the boy to continue. “Sir, you can completely trust Soto. Please leave his weapons unlocked.”

Tanner turned to look over at Lukas.

“Soto’s good, sir. He was a dependent in the Harvesters of Havok merc unit back on New Bravaria. Everyone will really like him.”

“He looks too young to have been taken on New Bravaria.”

“He wasn’t even nine when they took him. He was one of a very few his age to not become a Plug.” Leif responded. “He got redsmoked a half dozen times before he turned ten.”

“Way closer to a dozen,” Soto grunted out. “First was a laser into the left butt cheek.” He shot Lukas a grin and snorted, “Thanks again for that, Lukas.”

“Thanks?” Kerri gasped out. “He shot you in the ass and you say thanks?

Lukas smirked. “His butt was breached, and we all knew it. I used a microlaser, through the corner of a block of ice, so it did as little damage as possible. I knew if I didn’t, someone else might shoot something heavier.”

Soto nodded, “So yeah, like I said. Thanks. A degraded laser burn had to be better than someone putting a full micro or worse, a laser torch, into me.”

“Or a few bullets,” Holly stated. “I had to get bullets pulled out of my butt along with some frame armor shrapnel twice. No fun at all!”

Tanner cringed at the back and forth. “I’m running out of lines of anger to cross here guys. I… Soto, what frame do you want to take?”

“I’ll stick with mine if given the choice, sir. I just need a new ankle and know my loadout. But if anyone has any machinegun ammo or pistol ammo…”

Leif moved up, “I took some spare of both. Grab some out of my back two lower panels.”

Tanner watched as the boy reloaded his frame to make sure he did so safely. He nodded as Soto relocked his ammo compartments. “Releasing weapons, and Soto… really well done on reloading properly. Just make sure you all stop at the stream and help Jake cleanup as much as possible.”

Tanner patted the boy on the back carefully. “I know you already told Lukas you would, but now I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me the same thing. You do what Ruslan tells you. Understood?”

The boy held up both hands. “As you command, sir!”

Tanner drummed his finger on the back of his frame’s head. After a few seconds to sort out his thoughts he glanced over to Hanna and frowned. “Soto, you have full access to the frame. Keep it until you can talk to Brave Humanities. I hear there may be a deal in the works regarding all these EC gladiator frames.

“Kerri, if we are going to leave Hanna here, she needs a survival vest too. I know you shoved several into the storage areas of the frames with us… She’s pretty well built and tall, so give her a female adult medium. Also, move a quarter of your water over so she has decent onboard stores. Ruslan, put in new food paste tubes so she has a full food load. I’ll call in and pay for an AIM medivac for her and the frame.”

Tanner got out of his frame and dropped a container of cleaning solution along with some rags into the back of the open frame. He pulled what was left of the repair kit out of Hanna’s frame and added it along with the spare survival vest with a collapsible ballistic rifle. After a few moments of thought, he pulled the hand saw out of its sheath and put it next to the frame. He looked down, sighed, and added six hydration packets, three more armor rods, and six AIM basic ration packs. He started to turn away, shook his head, and added two hundred in AIM Credit bills out of his own pocket. Finally, he jotted a quick note to have her go to AIM Training and Intake and to have someone there contact him when she got there. The note offered to arrange to pay to get AIM licensed and compensation to get tested in frame piloting and up to three weapons.

Then, as Hanna moaned, and managed to get up on all fours, Tanner climbed back into his frame and pulled the large plant Lukas had dropped and placed it over the back hatch, totally blocking access.

Tanner waited until he was certain the girl was coherent enough to understand. “Everything you need to get a new start is inside the frame. We’ll get you a Muni head and bring it back here. All you have to do is get the tree off. I left the saw out so you can cut through and climb in. Once you have the new head on, it’s yours. I’ll radio in for AIM to pick you up and get you to the nearest AIM station. I’ll even vouch for you with AIM. Should you wise up, contact me through AIM. I will come and talk to you.”

Valerie let out a long breath, “Captain Tanner is being real nice. I’d have left you here with nothing. But, since you have the frame and Captain Tanner is willing to let you sign up as an AIM merc, you could probably change that in for something like a Partisan or Bandit frame. EC frames are hard to find parts for, but because they are rare, AIM always wants them for parts by people who capture EC equipment.”

Tanner continued to watch Hanna, hoping for an attitude change. After several seconds of her glaring at everyone, he radioed over, “Ensign Warley, what’s your status?”

Quartic responded. “He is outside of his frame collecting salvage, sir. All three down. Two to Stasik. Two of us took bullet and laser hits, but nothing breached armor.” There was a pause. “Sir, I’ll do whatever you want if I can get an auto disk rifle and lessons from Stasik on how to shoot one.”

“Son, I’m sure we can find you one. As far as Stasik teaching you, that’s between the two of you. Now, is either Munifex head good and still powered up?”

“Yes sir. Both.”

“Good. Bring one back here.”

Tanner switched to a long-range encrypted frequency. “Black, we hit some guards and had to deal with a trio of gladiator kids. Hold back until we get there.”

“We’ve been watching. At least Nire and I have been,” Black responded. “And everything Nire has told me about Stasik is confirmed. That boy can SHOOT. I know you’re suspicious as hell about us, but I am getting him a REAL frame even if it comes out of my bonus. But it looks like you have a problem child down there.”

“Big one. But we are dealing with it. Be aware, when we hit these bastards, they have one Medi frame up and running. I’ve got confirmation. It’s the red patch XO, a Centurion Posterior. Everyone leaves that bastard to me. The kids with me say the red patch Tesserarius is in a captured Commando. It belongs to Kerri and Nikki.”

“I’m assuming you don’t want vids of those two?”

“Um… Actually, just the opposite. There are at least a few of the kids we rescued who deserve to see what happens to them.” He paused and glanced around. He nodded to himself as he added. “Unlikely, but should I go down, one of you two take out the Medi with extreme prejudice!”

“Consider it done,” Black stated firmly. “But I’d prefer to see what you’ve got!”

“A burning anger to do something very dark is what I’ve got.” Tanner responded. He glanced over at Jake as the boy struggled to stand and fell only to get caught by Kerri again. “Extremely dark.”

Tanner eyed Jared and Stasik as they directed the others to drag the three downed EC frames over to a clearing. All were closed and red around ports showed all three had been ‘redsmoked’. A term he was starting to use since the gladiator kids used it constantly as part of normal conversations. On each frame were two badly wounded men or women in EC infantry uniforms. They had bandages over their wounds. Six others walked behind the frames. Three had fresh bandages. All occasionally glanced back at Stasik’s frame since it was clearly guarding them.

Jared hopped out of the frame he was piloting. “Sir, need your Medi key. None of these three are getting out on their own.”

As a couple of the gladiators moved to take over guard duty on the EC infantry, Tanner moved up to give access to the back hatches. “Val, get some help, but double-check the captives for weapons and secure their hands behind their backs.

Jared spoke to the others. “Guys, help cover the infantry while we patch armor. And if we can get into the frames, we should take time to upgrade if you want anything from them. All three have a standard and two light lasers. They also have heavier ballistic weapons.”

He glanced over at Tanner, “Sir, I figured we could take thirty and switch out. It will give us time to pull a head off one of the Munis.

Tanner eyed all three frames and nodded. “OK, but let’s try to keep it to less than twenty minutes.” He glanced over to Kerri, “You’re the best med-tech we’ve got. As long as they let you give them a once over. I need a volunteer to escort them back to the mine.

Soto spoke up, “We can take them with us, sir.”

Tanner knelt so he could push the gauntlet in place so the back panels of the frames would open. “OK, but… while you may be tempted to shoot them, I expect all to make it back in one piece. Unless they run or try to do something real stupid. Then all protections we give them are off the table. Ruslan, they are your responsibility.”

“Understood. Can we keep hands free so they can help or even carry those who can’t walk?”

“Good idea,” Tanner stated, then focused on the downed frames. He pulled up the subroutine to open the frame he was kneeling next to. It was clear the legs had been the focus of most of the fire. One had multiple breaches. Streaks of hydraulic fluid mixed with blood could be seen on both legs. However, both Munifexims had serious damage from disks. One had a half dozen disks still sticking out of the upper leg and hip unit. The other had a trio of disks protruding from the thigh and two more in the knee unit. In addition, both Munis had flaking blackened metal indicating they had been hit repeatedly in the same locations with an electron weapon. Only Stasik had either weapon. It was clear both had been badly breached by the devastating combo attacks.

He eyed Stasik, “Damn, son. Save some for the others!”

Stasik glanced over from where he was reloading his disk rifle with spare ammo from one of the lower storage bins. “As long as I can get the left knee, the others can split the salvage on the one with the hip damage, comrade Captain.” Stasik responded with a huge grin. “The knee can move over.”

Jared pointed down, “It’s yours if you want it. It’s not like any of the rest of us put more than a shot or two into it.”

Quartic snickered at Tanner’s wide eyes. “The first fell before the rest of us fired. Stasik told us he had the second one, so we focused on the conscripts and the last frame. And he did it with ECM up so most of our targeting and all of our electronic enhancements were offline or badly diminished! Not much left of the legs on it. But I’d sure like one of the standard lasers if he’ll let me…”

Stasik didn’t hesitate. “Take what you want. But if we can get the other up fast, it would give one of you a much better frame. Soto, you should do ankle replace. This one has good one. Just hip bad.”

Tanner nodded, “Stasik’s right. But we keep track of what we pull off the frame Stasik wants and track damage so we can repair it. It’s his.”

Stasik shrugged, “No need. I will take down more to repair and reequip, comrade captain.”

As Tanner stared at Stasik with an arched eyebrow, Jared snorted. “I’ll place fifty credits on him being able to get enough parts to fully repair it AND replace every weapon on the Muni two times before we finish at the EC base, a hundred and fifty for four times if we include the attack on the ship.”

Tanner cocked his head to the side. “A hundred fifty credits against him getting enough to fill all the hard points four times, with functioning weapons?”

“Yeah.”

“Deal. Bet made.”

“Bad bet, sir.” Quartic chortled.

Tanner glanced back at Hanna one last time. The girl was busy with the saw. Next to her, a mostly scrapped Munifexim lay in pieces. A salvageable head unit was laid out in the dirt. Beside it was a heavily parted out Hastatim frame without a head unit. A small pile of replaced lower-powered weapons along with some ammo, feed belts, and other basics made up the remainder of what was left of the frames. He gestured to the pile of weapons, “Feel free to take what you want. If you load the shell of the Hastatim with what is left, there’s probably a couple thousand credits worth of salvage. I already sent an encrypted message to AIM about you, so you will not be seen as hostile when they come for you. However, you fire on them, you will be taken down.

Hanna gave a sharp nod of understanding, yet said nothing. She glanced at the head unit and went back to work with the handsaw. However, Tanner noted her eyes continued to shoot daggers at Lukas whenever she glanced in his direction.

All three of the EC pilots, two men and a woman were laid out not far away. Only the woman still lived. Her knee was a mess and she had two deep slices into her leg. Tanner had her bandaged and put on a collapsible stretcher so the EC infantry could transport her.

Tanner watched as the kids finalized upgrades to their frames. There was no question all of them could easily pass AIM basic frame repair. However, as he started to give the command to move out, Stasik once again surprised him

Stasik took a few minutes to have every kid do the same basic frame calisthenics. When a couple had minor issues he couldn’t handle, he got help to fix the problems. Finally, he checked with each one to verify they were as ready as their frames were.

Next, he moved them all down to the stream and had them throw mud on each other. This helped hide the better weapons and made it appear the frames were in worse condition than they were. Tanner couldn’t help but smile as some of the kids tossed globs of mud at each other and clearly enjoyed it.

He kept a close eye on Jared, fully expecting him to take a more direct role. Instead, he saw quite the opposite. Jared moved up a couple of time, gave Stasik a friendly nod, and in one case a fist bump but didn’t interfere. It was odd and surprising to see a lifelong Grenadier dependent so easily allow an outsider to all but take over. Even stranger, at least to Tanner, was the way the other Grenadier youth and even the ‘gladiators’ took to his leadership. Simply put, everyone listened and fell in line when Stasik moved up and said something.

After several minutes of studying the interactions, Tanner moved up to Jared and spoke directly to him. “So what’s the deal, lieutenant? I have never seen any Grenadier, ever, take to someone the way I see you and the others welcome Stasik.”

Jared flipped up his face shield and shrugged. “I know he helped a few of us get some extra range time and worked with several of us when we were on the range together back at QVII academy but didn’t really know him. Not sure anyone other than Zane did. But he… He’s…” Jared grinned and pointed over to Stasik as he helped a kid plop some extra mud on a couple of the frames with switched-out head units so they would not stand out as easily. “He’s different. Um, confident, but not snooty… and real smart but not geekish… Ya know?”

“Such as I am starting to understand. We’ll bypass ensign and bump him up to junior Lieutenant as long as he is willing to join the rest of you in AIM officer training. But he will be even with you in rank if we do so.”

“I’m good with it, and I’m sure he will go for it, sir. He really wanted to be an officer at the academy, but he was too nice to mercs to get a promotion beyond senior sergeant… And he wasn’t all that nice. Just… kind-a, but we all really like him. He fits in… Ya know?”

Tanner nodded in understanding then hung back as the group got to the top of the hill. Just before they crested it, Stasik once again went to work. He pointed to various frames and showed them what he wanted out of them. A couple he had hang one arm down. Another he had keep an elbow bent. Yet two others he had limp, but one looked like a knee problem while the other walked as if it had a hip unit malfunction. Yet two others drug the frame he had shot the hip out of like they were struggling much harder than they were.

Finally, he put three of the former gladiators as a ‘rear guard.’ They walked backward keeping arm weaponry pointed back down the road. As soon as they crested the hill so they could be seen by those below, the three at the back dropped to their knees and panned weapons back down the road. At the same time, those toward the front picked up the pace. All of them kept looking back over their shoulders.

Combined with the mud, even Tanner had to admit had he been on watch his first instinct would be to move forward to see if he could help. Seconds later, six EC framers did exactly that.

Within seconds, an alert was clearly sounded. Several men and women bolted out of a large building with obvious weapon fire damage and ran toward something directly under the switchbacks the kids with Tanner were heading down. Most failed to get there.

Black and Nire’s group opened up from high ground to the south.

The six frames that had moved up to assist turned. They opened fire at long range at the surprise attack. In doing so, they turned their backs on the kids with Tanner.

Moments later Yagor killed his ECM. This gave the signal for the others to fire at close range into the lighter armor on the back of the six frames. Four of the six dropped and spit out red smoke. The other two managed to fire off a couple of snap shots.

At this point, Tanner lined up on the larger of the two surviving frames and unloaded. The frame he targeted fell from multiple laser, missile, sonic, and ballistic hits. He turned to fire at the second only to see it was already down. Red smoke rolled out of both its ports. Half a dozen disks stuck out of its upper chest and right arm. It also had sparks popping from around the neck.

He glanced down at Stasik, who was down on a knee, only to watch the kid line up both arms at a light EC Auxiliarim frame running to get behind cover down at the mine complex. Even at long range, several disks, a laser, four micro missiles, and an electron rifle shot lanced into the frame’s left side. It fell spitting out red smoke. Even as the battle was joined by other EC frames from below, Stasik switched targets and dropped an already damaged EC frame with the same devastating effectiveness. If the plethora of incoming fire bothered him, he showed no signs of it.

Instead, Stasik twisted his frame’s torso, tracked a heavier EC Munifexium, and sent another barrage of death down at it. It staggered and fell from multiple impacts. It started to stand back up only to get a trio of missiles and a spread of disks in its back. A couple of other former gladiators added firepower to the doomed frame. Red smoke erupted out of the back even as the injured pilot tried to claw and crawl to get out of the line of fire.

Suddenly a voice pulled Tanner away from watching the 155-centimeter, 45-kilogram grim reaper in a frame. It was Kerri’s voice, “Captain, at your sixty-five. Medicorim!”

Nikki’s voice was next, “He’s using the gladiators for a screen! So is the bastard in the commando! Commando’s mine and Kerri’s. Quartic, Lief, open us up a path, but leave it the hell alone!”

Tanner panned his gaze to the right. His eyes narrowed as he spotted the Medicorim frame surrounded by five Hasatim frames with the heads of gladiator Pugioims. Nikki was right. The son-of-a-bitch was using kids, Plugs, to give him cover while he fired up at those with Nire and Black. The darkness and rage he felt as he looked at Jake were compounded more than he could fathom as he saw one of the frames next to Nire topple and spit out red smoke. “Lukas! Do what you can to get the kids away from him! Black, take over command and control!”

Before he even finished, Tanner charged. He heard a few hits on his frame but felt nothing. Flashing damage indicators on his HUD were disregarded. A cold murky fury had taken over. His fixation on the EC officer was total. His subconscious took note that someone was behind him. He also noticed at least a couple of the Plug frames moved out of his way. But nothing else.

The Medicorim turned as Tanner took a couple of hits from one of the remaining Plug frames. It took a few steps back as Tanner grabbed the nearest of three Plugs by the arms, crunched arm-mounted weapons, and tossed them to the side. The other he pulled close, grabbed it with both hands, and tossed it into the remaining Plug frame. Both fell hard. They then froze up.

The Medicorim continued to back off. It managed to send a burst of machinegun rounds into Tanner’s chest. A laser and pico missile spread slammed into his legs. Its cover fire fallback didn’t last long.

Tanner sprinted forward taking a few more weapon hits as he did so. The maneuver caught the Medicorim pilot off guard. It stumbled back and missed with a pair of lasers while a tracered stream of machinegun fire arced over Tanner’s head.

Tanner closed quickly and grabbed the outstretched arm. More tracered rounds sprayed the foliage up on the hill behind Tanner,

He ducked down, shoved his frame’s left hip out, and yanked with everything he and his frame’s systems had. The metal on metal clang made his ears ring. He grunted with extra exertion as he took the opposing frame off the ground with the hip check. His other arm reached up and grabbed the held arm as he went lower.

This left him open to a punch for the frame’s other fist. He hissed at the dented armor on his upper chest. Yet it only added to his rage. He made an overhand throw as he rolled to give him even more momentum.

The Medicorim frame flew into the side of the rocky ridge over eight meters up and less than a meter from the top of the mine opening. A few timbers at the mine entrance cracked from the impact. The frame slammed down onto the rocky ground spewing hydraulic fluid from the right elbow and left shoulder and trickled down from the neck unit. The arm-mounted machinegun’s muzzle was badly bent and the pico missile launcher on the shoulder smoked and sparked.

Tanner moved up as the pilot rolled over and wobbled as he managed to get his frame to its hands and knees. However, it managed to fire a gyro and laser into Tanner’s chest and torso. This was as far as it got before Tanner left foot connected with the chest. The frame fell onto its side while the right hand grabbed at where the dent from the kick was.

The pilot managed to roll away from a stomp and get up but was clearly dazed. The frame stumbled haphazardly.

Tanner stepped up, kicked the knee unit, and, as it started to topple, he hooked his arm under the armpit of the frame to keep it standing. He planted his right foot and stomped down on the side of the Medicorim’s right leg. It bent outward at an odd angle.

Another hip check and toss sent the frame back into the ridgeline.

The frame crashed back down and twitched a few times even as Tanner closed. There was no remorse in him as he stomped down on the other arm, mangling a laser and totally rupturing the elbow. Red smoke billowed out of both ports. If there was a scream from inside the frame, Tanner didn’t hear it. He reached down and grabbed the left foot. He then snarled as he started to spin. He continued to do so until the Medicorim was off the ground. He spun another full circle and released the frame. It smashed into the rocky cliff a third time. Only this time it was much higher up. Rocks cracked at the point of impact and a few large ones fell on the frame from above. Tanner stumbled to his left from the dizziness of the spin but stayed focused. He moved up, grabbed the frame yet again, and pulled it to a standing position. He then grabbed the faceplate and smashed the back of the head into the ridge face several times. The eyes he saw looking back at him through the cracked faceplate were dazed and unfocused. Blood ran out of the nostrils and mouth.

As he felt some anger abate, he let go. The frame dropped into a smoking pile at his feet. Still not satisfied, he knelt and drove his fist into the back panel a half-dozen times until there was no chance it could be opened. The pilot inside couldn’t get out until some cut him out.

To guarantee the frame couldn’t go anywhere, he used laser fire to destroy hydraulic rods to both knee units. He also ripped the second laser and gyro off, leaving it without any remaining weapon systems. He stood breathing hard. His eyes sought out another target. Nothing was close. There was some sporadic fire from the east. A few of the gladiator kids fired up at a smattering of frames as they fled.

One of the escaping frames twisted violently and let out red smoke as it tumbled back down the hill. Tanner noted at least six discs could be seen on its side as it came to rest at the base of the rocky hill.

Tanner’s lingering anger continued to fade as he watched a gladiator frame turn and give Stasik a raised fist.

With eyes still thinly open, he scanned the battlefield. There were frames, EC uniformed infantry, EC battle armor and wheeled platforms down and or smoking in all directions. He quickly focused on those he knew. He noticed Valerie was on a knee holding her left thigh. Jessie’s wrist was sparking, and he held his arm tight to his frame’s abdomen. Luna was kneeling next to one of the Kiplings. He wasn’t sure which. Robin was up but pulled a Deputy frame behind one of the shot-up buildings to get it behind cover.

He started to move up to Luna when he noticed Nikki and Kerri standing over what was left of a Commando frame. Both girls had substantial damage to their frames, but nothing looked internal and neither had ‘redsmoked.’ He started to nod and continue over to whatever Kipling was down when something in his brain caused him to stop and take a second look. The Commando was down, mangled every bit as badly as the Medicorim he had dropped. Close to it, two other frames, both light Resistance frames, painted in grey and green, were still putting out some red smoke. However, it was the Commando that his gaze finally focused on.

The girls had, somehow, managed to rip the head off without killing the pilot. The man’s face was a bloody mess, but he looked around wildly.

The problem was, without the head unit and the controlling computer he could do nothing. Absolutely nothing other than turn his head and look around.

Dante moved up. His frame showed several hits but appeared fully functional. His voice was enthusiastic. “They were both great fights, sir! I think yours was better, but not by much!”

Jared also moved up, “Your frame’s beat to hell, sir. Let’s get you behind some cover while the rest of us clear the hills to the east.”

As he spoke another EC Auxiliarim fell and put out red smoke. Lukas’ voice came over the radio, “Holy crap, good shot! That’s seven confirmed Stasik!”

Jared snickered as he helped Tanner get behind a small building. “And pretty sure you are going to owe me the 150, sir!”

Tanner managed a snort, realizing he probably had a cracked rib or two as he did so. Fighting back the discomfort, he patted Jared’s frame on the shoulder. “Never bet against a double D.”

A fold gate opened beyond the edge of the outer asteroid field of the New Brunswick system. The Desert Eagle came through moments later. Before communications cleared from the close by the opening of the fold gate, another gate opened. Seconds later the Black Javelin came through. Both ships launched a quartet of Archimedes medium fighters and heavy assault ships.

One set of ships angled for the yacht. The other formed into an attack formation and headed straight for the water transport ship. The second assault ship joined with those heading toward the liquid transport. Minutes later two more ships emerged from the back of the warships. They started popping out large dark globs out their back.

On the bridge, Alyona let out a squeal of fear as the fold rips sent strong bursts of static through the radio

The lack of any warning meant the girl could do nothing but stare with a dropped jaw. Fortunately, Lina was able to grab the girl’s foot, so she didn’t slam into anything on the small bridge as the shockwaves from the fold gates caused the ship to shake and get pushed back from where the rips in space opened. The Black Javelin fired its main drives and turned toward them.

Lina wrapped Alyona in a protective hug. “Nothing to worry about. They’re Brave Humanities warships, sweetie.”

“But…” The girl’s voice broke as she shivered. “Where’d they… come from?”

“Deeper in system. I guess Commander Bennet wants to make sure we get the best protection possible.”

“But… They’re HUGE!”

Lina nodded, but other than continue to hold onto Alyona she did nothing but watch. This was far more than she expected. The emergency fold coils took almost a week to recharge, probably longer this far out. This meant the two warships could only fold with main coils, which were not designed to be used inside a planetary system. Because of this, the two ships were stuck out here with her. They would have to burn back in or, if things went totally bad, could fold to another planetary system.

As Lina continued to watch, Jules entered the bridge with Arkady clinging to him. Behind him, Gamble floated over to a side portal and looked out with wide eyes.

Jules spoke. “Lina, what the hell is Commander Bennet doing? The White Tiger is down to two escorts!”

Lina swallowed hard, “Yeah, but unless I miss a guess, the liquid transport is a major target. Those are Valhalla Class boarding assault ships. We’re also dropping proximity mines. So, we do nothing until we get proper IFF codes. One of those bastards will vaporize a ship this size!”

Finally, the radio came back online. A female voice came over, “Senior Warrant Officer Mendelson, this is Senior Lieutenant Defanasia, comm officer of the Black Javelin, do you read? Over.”

Lina tapped her headset, “Black Javelin, this is Mendelson. We have you four by five. Over.”

The voice came back stronger. “You are in the yacht, correct? Over.”

“Affirmative. Over.”

“Stay where you are. Once we assure the security of the water transport we will grapple and tow you in. While you wait, get all who need medical ready for transport. We will have two full medical teams ready on a med shuttle. We will send it out once we guarantee there are no hostiles up here capable of shooting at it. Be advised, you will need to eject the life pod on the starboard side to give us access. Black Javelin Out.”

As Lina continued to watch with her arm around Alyona, she noted two more transports launch from the back of the warships. Both headed toward the asteroid field.

Arkady pointed to them, “Where are they going?”

Jules pulled the boy in tighter and rubbed his shoulder. “Those enclosures are detachable command and control posts. They can be used to establish an environmental space for starting mining operations, research, or many other uses when there is no atmosphere. My guess is, they will be set up with line of sight to the anti-ship mines you see being disgorged. Should some unwanted ship enter this zone, they will activate the mines nearest to the encroaching ship with lasers. While we are here, this fold area is closed for business.

Minutes later a box-shaped ship fired grapple lines onto the yacht and extended a link tube to the starboard side airlock. While medical teams quickly took the injured kids, Lina, Jules, and the two kids with them watched as the assault ships slammed into the liquid transport hard enough to punch through the hull. While it was quite a distance, the four watched as flashes of light blinked in several of the portals.

It didn’t last long. Before yet another ship started to tow them toward the Black Javelin, the flashes of fight tapered off to a rare blink. Well before they lost sight of the liquid transport, there were no more signs of fighting. However, another ship emerged from the Desert Eagle, fired grapple lines, and started to pull the liquid transport toward the back of the large warship.

Gamble let out a sigh as the liquid transport disappeared from sight. “How come it didn’t vac when the ships slammed into it?”

“Those are assault boarding ships,” Jules answered. “Their noses are meant to punch through hulls and then they open to make a huge hole when the nose unfolds, the sides release a sealant. It locks the assault ships to the ship they attack and prevents air loss. Once the ship is clear, the noses will close up and leave large areas open to space. But, hopefully, there won’t be anyone left to get sucked out into space when it happens.

“What could have been on a liquid ship that needed two assault teams?” Arkady asked with a whisper of clear awe.

Lina shrugged and shook her head. “No idea, but it was important enough to emergency fold two warships out here to take her. So whatever Brave Humanities was after must be real important.

“Understatement of the year,” Jules stated. He smiled down at Arkady, “So, I need you to hold onto me until we get on the platform. I have seen way too many fall when they try to exit a small ship onto one of our warships.

“Fall?” Alyona frowned. “How do you fall while in space?”

“Yeah!” Arkady shouted. “There be no up or down in space!”

Lina snickered. “Oh, just wait. Alyona same for you. Hold on and let me help you off this ship.”

She shot Gamble a firm stare, “And merc or not, you hold onto Jules as well. No one is ready for their first few minutes on one of our capitol ships.”

A few minutes later, with all three kids tentatively jumping up and down on the docking platform the two warrant officers smiled and exchanged a quick kiss.

Tanner kept a hand on the left side of his chest as he eyed the aftermath of the battle at the crashed ship. Medics tended to nine kids who had taken part in the assault on the ship. Twenty-six other kids, gladiators who had been on the ship, were also being worked on. Many were wounded when the ship crashed, but eleven had taken wounds fighting the Rebels. One of the gladiator kids, a Plug, had been killed. Another was critical.

Command Sergeant Black moved up as Tanner stared down at the covered body and shook his head. “Nothing anyone could do. She wouldn’t come out. Even when Lukas tried to talk her down she continued to fire and dropped Peter Kipling. Cody did enough damage to get her frame to pop red smoke, but she continued to fire at Peter. Cody did what had to be done. But he’s clearly shaken by it.

Nire moved up and let out a long sigh, “She couldn’t have been more than twelve. Cody is still in tears.”

“We’ll get Cody as much PCH as he needs,” Tanner stated. He started to remove the blanket to look but stopped himself. He really didn’t want to see. “What’s the status on Peter?”

“Arm and side took light shrapnel,” Nire responded. “Nothing horrible, but he fell and must have smashed his face. Broken nose and bit all the way through his lower lip, along with a minor concussion. Frame’s left side needs lots of work. Oh, and the faceplate is also cracked. Probably from the fall.”

Tanner cringed, “How’s Peter’s brother?”

“Sam’s already been released from medical. He’s fine. His frame not so much…” Black grinned, “But neither is yours.”

“Yeah, probably best to part it out,” Tanner turned away from the covered body and gazed around again. After a long pause, he spoke again. “What’s the word from your ships?”

Black let out a long and clearly aggravated breath. “The Desert Eagle confirmed what we suspected. Actually, what you suspected. The liquid transport was the mercury ship captured from the Black Ball Crusaders. We secured another forty-three kids and killed over a dozen of their adult leaders. The last ones took a few kids and escaped into a life pod. When we refused to let them flee, they blew the damned pod up. No idea how many kids were aboard. They were desperate not to get captured.

But we secured two more kids with the gladiator rank of Inbellic and one Bellatic. Like Lukas, Sarah, and Pen they know lots more than the rest. They say those who got pushed back from the ship went to a small tungsten ore facility tucked back into the hills only a few hundred kilometers from the southern spaceport. It’s where we’re going next.”

Tanner shook his head. These were kids. Many physically and mentally wounded teenagers. It shouldn’t have happened. Shouldn’t need to ever happen. Nonetheless, like it or not, there was still another target and the only resources available were a handful of Grenadiers and Brave Humanities troopers and a large group of kids. Everyone else was either over a day out or needed to defend Kipper and the surrounding facilities.

Tanner did a quick headcount. “Four Rebels and five of the gladiator kids we rescued from the mine are wounded. We have three more Rebels and eleven gladiators in need of medical care here. And no way can we let Cody go out. Do you think we have enough to assault the place?”

“Yeah.” Black answered without any hesitation. “The kids from the mercury transport say there are only a few adults and no more than thirty kids left, many if not most are so-called Plugs. Sarah and Lukas both say the color of the frames is from small gladiator troupes with few skilled fighters and below-average trainers. Pen thinks one of the troupes is the one that bought Hanna’s boyfriend. Pen says if we can rescue him, there’s a good chance Hanna will forgive Lukas and Sammy. Sev believes the same and assures us, like the kids here, once we take out the adults, the kids will listen to Sarah and Lukas.

“In addition, your people report they have them surrounded. Overhead recon shows limited activity and no easy escape routes. Six got away but are being tracked. The rest are pinned. They fired on your people but quickly backed off to the buildings when they realized there was no easy way to escape.

“I think the best idea comes from Stasik. His thought is to make it look like they break the blockade on the south side. Since we have so many gladiator frames and override modules, he wants to move in close. Let them think they have access to the frames that saved them, then, as soon as everyone who can heads out, they’ll activate the overrides so they can’t be shut down and hit the overseers. Once the adults are down, Sarah and Lukas can talk to the others. I’m sure it will be a lot like here. We’ll have to put a few down, but it should work. If not, we’ll have to surround them and force capitulation. But if we do so the kids will certainly suffer.

“I love the way Stasik thinks, but we’re short people,” Tanner countered as he panned his arm over the wounded kids.

“Yeah, but we still have the security detail your people put in place, and we can use seven extras Robin picked up. There are also several more gladiators who want to join and both Pen and Sev have greenlighted. But once we clear this target, all these kids are going to get downtime. Yours, the gladiators, the kids you brought in from the Quaker academy, all of them. If we locate more, we’ll have to figure out a plan until we see how all these kids handle what they have been through.”

“Good, ’cause I didn’t like hitting this ship and I really don’t like the idea of yet another assault… But I get it. These kids need this. But they also need adult support.

“They’ll have a few more Brave Humanities adults manning the ships,” Black reminded Tanner. “And of course, most of us… and I’m certain you know you shouldn’t come but I’m not about to try to talk you out of it. But you’ll have to hang back until the fighting starts… and use a different frame. No chance we can get what you piloted here repaired in time.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m out. Major O’Connell won’t let me fight until I am med-cleared and not even our med people will clear me with a rib injury like I have. He’s pissed off that I joined on the ship assault.” Tanner forced a smile, “Pretty sure he will get over it. If not, I’ll apply to Brave Humanities.”

Black laughed hard, “Anytime you want a spot with us, you got it, captain!”

Tanner cringed and put a hand to his chest as he chuckled. “Good to have options, but it won’t be necessary. Anyway, you won’t be without Grenadier adult oversite. My replacement, Master Sergeant O’Sullivan, Zane’s dad, along with a handpicked squad is already on the way to the first mine the Rebels cleared.

Black nodded. “Good. I hear he’s quite the frame pilot. We’ll pick him up when we drop you, the rest of the wounded, captives, and freed kids off. He scanned the battle aftermath and shook his head, “The former gladiators didn’t hold back…”

“Do you blame them?”

“No,” Black sighed, “but it cuts down on those we can interrogate. And you didn’t do us any favors either. The only EC officer didn’t make it. We couldn’t get him out of the frame before he bled out. And the adult who shot at one of the gladiators here is pretty much paste inside what you left of the frame she was in. Our only good intel capture is the tennerarius. And he is in med with multiple broken bones including his jaw.”

Tanner shrugged. “Damn, what a shame. And I can’t even do what I really wanted.”

“Which is?” Black asked with a look telling Tanner he was afraid of the answer.

Tanner growled as he looked back at the covered body. “I looked forward to tossing the Jackass EC officer and the wench here, in one of the mines and collapsing the entrance.”

“We thought that was what you were trying to do on the first throw with the EC commander.”

“Nope.” Tanner’s eyes narrowed. “It would have been too quick. You didn’t see the kid they locked in his frame… Jake. What I did… it was for him. And if we can’t find a family member or home for him, regardless of planetary laws, I’m taking him in.”

“If needed Brave Humanities will bend some arms. But as a member of the Knight Stalkers, the faster path might be for me and a couple of my buddies to walk into the needed government office and threaten to twist said arms into interesting shapes.”

Tanner raised an eyebrow. “I like the way you think. But here you go again! Why are you getting so personally involved with us?”

“Hopefully keeping a happy daughter.” Black responded with a smirk. “Karen adores Neil. So as long as he comes back safe, and your unit comes out of this in better shape than before you got here, I will have done my job. Therefore, keeping you, as the XO, happy is part of said goal.”

“So your daughter likes Neil, huh?”

“Major understatement. She all but worships him. Before my daughter took a field study with no access to AIM message boards, I spent more money for her to stay in contact with Neil than I do between me and my wife!” Black chuckled. “Her going on the advanced field trip has saved me hundreds, probably, thousands of credits.”

So are you the one who helps keep an open tab for our kids to message their buddies at Blood’s Honor Academy?”

“One of them, yes. But Colonel Price and General Scott pitch in way more than I do. From what I hear Valerie is enamored with Joel Price, which is something Joel’s father supports since his son is very girl-shy, and Brandon Scott keeps a picture of Luna, a hard copy, with him.

“But it’s nothing compared to my daughter’s infatuation with Neil. Judging by the return messages, Neil is more than happy to keep communications going strong. There was a huge disappointment from both when Karen told Neil she would be out of contact for three to five months. So, yeah, I have a very personal vested interest in you all.”

Tanner lowered his head and shook it. “It explains some, more than some, of the chatter I have heard about your daughter and her BH academy friends.”

Black pointed up the hill toward Stasik. “Bet my daughter and her buddies will like him as well.”

Tanner looked over and nodded. Regardless of Stasik’s roughness with English and strong church leanings, it was clear all the kids, Gladiator and Rebel, really looked up to him. Once again, the youngster took a lead role as he helped organize things for the next assault.

The more he watched, he couldn’t help but wonder about Jasha. From everything he had heard, Jasha and Stasik were best friends. And there was the fact Zane stuck up for Jasha. It made him wonder how he, Neil, and Zane were doing.

Neil floated through the lounge as soon as the ship folded into Damien’s Glade system. Much like the prior fold, a couple of the kids were very Ill. Once again, however, Wiles handled it with sheer exuberance. The teen pumped his fist and grinned. He also used his growing comfort in zero-G to float around and offer help.

Zane glanced over while patting Coryn on the back, “Wiles, you really are meant to crew a space fold ship. I’ve never seen anyone coming out of any fold as happy as you are!”

“Best thing ever!” Wiles stated with a huge smile. He helped Sekrena close up her vomit bag and used a porta-vac to suck up a few chunks that escaped her and a couple of others. “I don’t get how it makes other sick.”

Jasha managed to swallow some bile before he took a long pull out of a hydration pack. “Most wonder how you be so happy. Fold no fun. Not at all!”

Kylem let out a juicy burp and covered his mouth while Neil moved over and handed him a hydration pack. Neil put his arm around the younger boy and held him protectively. “Better than last time, Ky.”

Kylem took a long drink and managed to nod. “Better, but still yucky.” He blinked “Tummy all knotted and I’m still seeing spots.”

Neil ruffled his hair, “A few of my friends say they see spots after every fold. So you may be one of those who always will.”

Zane agreed. “Both Valerie and Jared say it goes away faster if they don’t try to blink them out. I’ve heard the same from Denny before Quaker VI killed him.”

“Something they will pay for before I die,” Neil stated with a snarl.

Before Zane could do more than nod, the intercom let out a static hiss. “Fold complete. No ships within hazardous proximity. Welcome to Damian’s Glade star system. Stat boards show fully green. Please follow standard procedures and report any malfunctions, damage, injuries, or extensive sickness. Barring any significant damage or injuries, burn toward Damian’s Glade will commence in ten minutes.

“All crew and passengers prepare for detach. Estimated time to gravity is 66.4 Earth Standard hours. Planetary standard time is 0238. Target spaceport time is 1938. Planetary hours are 1.24 Earth standard. Internal clocks and lighting will adjust in thirty minutes to match expected landing time zone. Expect external communications in fourteen Earth standard minutes.

“Information we have says system briefings and tests can be found on standard beacon frequency 3. DG3MF3. Supplemental information can be found at DG3FM5 and should include basic instruction and testing for youth. Basic system testing is free and is required to access areas beyond the spaceports. As with most systems, training and instruction vids can be jointly monitored. However, there can be no joint tests. Therefore, you will have to go into an isolation pod for actual testing with no study materials available during testing. Testing pods can be found in section four, room nineteen. This ship has 50 testing pods for passengers. Testing time for youth is expected to take twenty-five minutes; advanced youth, forty; and adults fifty-five. System testing can be taken in English, Spanish, Russian, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, and Mandarin. Planetary language is English. Handheld auto voice translators can be purchased at all spaceports if needed.

“Finally, since we are on a scheduled stop, you may access AIM communication boards and receive and send messages. Only stipulations are no talk of any fighting here and computers will prevent any messages from going over to AIM that mention Tarvos, shipyards, boneyards, or Earth Core. Those who do not understand operational security should see your unit officers or NCOs before sending any message through AIM boards. Star Sliders bridge out.”

Neil glanced around, “If you want to check AIM message boards, fine, but send nothing that says more than where we are and what merc unit you are now with so they can more easily communicate with you. Questions?”

Before anyone could answer the speaker came to life again. “All mercs, we have information about additional required testing. AIM requires all licensed mercs to take a legal assessment of the expectations of the planetary council. It also includes a section on planetary hazards with an AIM test. Information, instructional vids, and tests for this can be found at DGAIM5. Ship computers and monitors will provide full access to all material at no cost. However, there is a fifteen AIM credit fee for merc tests. AIM requires this for any mercs who leave any spaceport armed. Furthermore, there will be no AIM recognition of any mercs outside of the spaceport areas without Damian’s Glade certification test with a score of at least 75%. As standard, all AIM tests must be taken in English, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, German, or Arabic with English being preferred. There is an extra five credit fee for taking the AIM tests in anything but English.

“The Death Warriors will submit payment for all mercs for first testing in English only. Any failures must be retaken and will be at the expense of the person who fails. Captain Lomo expressly passed on to announce he expects all mercs to pass in English. Merc tests are extensive, so two hours and thirty minutes should be allotted for them.”

‘Two and a half hours?” Neil grumbled. “That’s brutal! We need to make sure we’re ready for it. Zyden, as soon as the testing vids are available, I want all of us to take and talk through the lessons, all of them. We will also take the kid tests, even the young kids’ ones, adult tests, and any optional advanced tests before we take the merc tests.”

Zane frowned deeply, “The kid tests? I could pass them with a quick glance through the vid stick you handed out!”

“We can, yes. But most of those with us have never been to another system before. We need to know what the classes show, what is on the tests, and be ready to help anyone here. Also, taking the kid tests will let us know what they see as important and reinforce things we will see on the adult tests.” Neil glanced over to the others. “How many of you are about to take planetary testing for the first time?”

All four kids from the mining station held up their hands.

Moments later Lucya spoke up. “The Death Warrior commander make us take test for New Brunswick. I fail, so did Antone. Vadim Pass.”

“Only by little,” Vadim stated. “Three point. Only reason me did because I do kid vid and class first.”

Antone let out a long breath, “Did very bad. New Brunswick rules all messed up.”

Jasha nodded, “Didn’t do great but passed everything. But Zyden’s Dad and mom help…”

Zane gave him an elbow, “Our mom and dad.”

Jasha nodded, “Yes, and my adopt mom and dad… Um, they went over tests in much detail. Made me watch all… um, what are extra vid called?”

“Supplemental,” Neil answered.

“Yes, supplemental,” Jasha nodded. “They help very much.” He shot Zane a smile “So did our mom and dad. Did test second time got almost perfect grade. But still, mess up on vehicle operation. Too many category of what could be operate by what license, where, and at what age.”

“It’s normal for farm worlds,” Zane answered. “Kids on largely rural worlds often operate farm or ranch equipment and drive to get supplies. So, there are rules for when kids can drive what and go where on their own. New Brunswick wasn’t as confusing as some worlds I’ve been to.”

“Piccadilly III had like twenty-three different licenses for farm kids, ranch kids, city kids, and rural-non-farm kids. All also had three categories for when and where they could drive,” Neil announced. “They had another nine classifications for merc kids depending on AIM certs.”

Jasha cringed. “The seven kid license category on New Brunswick almost make me fail.”

Neil patted Jasha on the shoulder while eyeing Zane, “I really don’t want Captain Lomo demanding we all spend time with him because those in this room didn’t do well on the tests, Zyden.”

Zane lightly winced, “Nope, not something I want to deal with.” He glanced around, “OK, guys, let’s secure in place. Space Hammocks for everyone. Once we stop the hard burn, we will log on in here and pull up all the lessons…” he sighed, “even the kid ones.”

Four planetary hours after detach, SrWO Gregoran floated into the room. He stayed at the door and watched as Neil paused an instructional vid and spoke. “OK, guys, what did you all just hear?”

Lucya was the first to speak. “High Water pH will leave build-up on metal. We have to be careful to clean off frame much. Hydraulic rods could be bad problem.”

“So could gun barrel,” Jasha interjected.

“This mean handgun must be clean careful too.” Vadim chimed in.

“And check metal arounds laser crystal seating.” Antone answered after a few seconds of silence. “Could make not accurate or degrade power.

“Not just projectile weapons,” Zane stated as he pulled his blade and spun it before resheathing. “Any metal, including blades, will need careful attention. Last thing we want is to pull a blade and find it’s dull because crap built up on the edges.”

“Nothing is more dangerous than a dull blade,” Neil agreed.

Gregoran spoke up. “Lt Polzin was wondering why none of you have tested in anything yet. I’ll let him know why and glad to see you all study hard. However, spaceport time is almost midnight and Twin Polder time is nearing 0200. I need you all to adjust to the time we will be entering.”

“Just need a few more minutes, sir.” Neil stated. “This is the final merc vid. We’ll all take the standard planetary tests after breakfast, go over what was missed, then take the merc tests after lunch. We set lighting to get us up at 0800 spaceport time tomorrow and will switch to a 2230 bedtime with a 0700 wake-up the following day.”

“Why not just do quick switch like academy teach, young corporal?”

“Sir, have you ever been to a world with a 1.24 Earth Standard hour?” Neil asked.

“No. First time off Quaker VII was New Brunswick moon. Why?”

Zane answered, “Sir, New Brunswick’s moon was real close to Quaker VII. Both had slightly shorter hours than Earth Standard. This means planetary-based internal clocks on all of us are way off. The eight hours we will get for rest tonight, based on planetary times, will seem like a 10.18-hour night of sleep on New Brunswick’s moon. Tomorrow will be even longer.”

At this, Gregoran raised an eyebrow. “We will not be there for long.”

“No,” Neil agreed “but we will, probably, be on Tarvos XIV much longer and it has an even longer day, thus longer hour. As a merc, adjusting to planetary time while also keeping track of Earth Standard is very important. I have seen what happens when mercs land on a world without trying to adjust to its patterns of light and dark. It only takes a few days for them to become combat degraded.”

“Mom and Dad made me adjust to each world we were going to the moment we were in space and knew where we were going,” Zane stated. “Every kid in the unit was forced to do the same thing. The hardest is adjusting sleep schedules to match planetary hours. So even if we wake up because we feel we slept enough we were required to stay in bed and rest until planetary hours were in line with our normal sleep schedules.”

Neil quickly agreed, “Yeah, and the hardest part is forcing a body to stay in bed longer. Shorter isn’t much fun either, but longer is torture, so we did it over five to ten days. But we really only have two, maybe three sleep cycles on this trip. So, we planned it out this way to get all of us as acclimated as possible.”

“Only us.” Wiles admitted. “Our corporal, specialist, and senior private adjusted their planetary timers for Tarvos before we even left New Brunswick.”

“We tried to tell you all…” Zane snickered. “Not our fault you didn’t listen.”

“As a person over them it is your fault, Zyden,” Gregoran barked. As Zane and Neil both winced, the man’s tone lightened up. “It is also something rest of us should have listen to when you talk to us about being mercs and what we would need to adjust to. Nonetheless, from now on, you need to do what I see here. Teach those under you to be ready. I am sure Captain Lomo would be impressed by this study session.”

As the man left, Neil sighed. “He’s right. Sorry, guys. I should have demanded a full sleep schedule adjustment as soon as we were in space.”

“Nothing you can do now, Finn,” Sekrena responded with a shrug. “Probably best you didn’t ‘cause it will make us listen more to you going forward.

Neil continued the vid. “Still, I need to do better, so sorry. Now, I know this is the second time through, but let’s make sure all of us can ID the twenty most dangerous planetary creatures because we will be outside settlements and need to keep an eye open for all of them.”

“And most planets like to put those on the tests for both kids and mercs,” Zane added.

Robin moved up on a trio of gladiator frames as they surrounded one of the Maslow brothers and dropped his frame. Even as red smoke spit out, Robin was able to knock two of them back. He sent a pair of lasers into the third which caused more red smoke to blanket the area, however, he went down to a knee as another hostile frame sliced into the side of his already damaged frame with a saw.

The offending frame went down hard as it was pulled back and slammed to the ground by Luna. She then moved up and elbowed another small frame in the face hard enough to crack the faceplate. As it fell, she kicked it in the head. Red smoke spit out moments later. Her voice came over the radio, “Robin! You OK?”

“Saw blade breached me. Definitely cut. Don’t think it’s too bad. But it hurts. You need to take over command, Luna!”

The voice of Zane’s dad came over the radio, “Ranks, kids! Use ranks!” This was followed by an, “Oh, no you don’t!” and a grunt.

A moment later a small frame flew through the air and crashed into two others sending all three to the ground. Two spit out red smoke. Sergeant O’Sullivan growled as he continued, “Captain you’re done. Stay put! Specialist Brookshire, cover Captain Lerrik until we can get him medical. Lieutenant Sala, command of the Rebels goes to you!”

Luna stayed next to Robin until Kerri moved up to take her place. “We kill before anyone gets close to him,” Luna barked. “Understood?”

“With extreme prejudice!” Kerri answered. She turned to focus on Robin as Luna charged and knocked down a frame angling to get behind Dante. She knelt and drove a fist into the frame’s upper back causing it to spit red smoke. Her voice was full of anger as she sent a burst from her chaingun into an enemy adult frame.

The offending frame spun from the impact and then fell hard as a trio of disks sliced into its already damaged side from Stasik.

Luna stood, “Sergeant Saulsky, you need to watch your back.”

“I knew he was back there,” Dante answered with heavy breathing. But I needed to finish this wench! She pulled a plug frame in front of her, and it got redsmoked cause she kept it as a shield!” His fist went clean through the already badly damaged faceplate of the adult leader. The fist came back coated in gore. “Think she’s the last one!”

“Neyt!” Ruslan’s voice came over the radio. “Four more back side of smelt building. Think with five Plug. Use as shield like at camp we take. And got three more small frame by metal hut. Um, and one in what Lukas pilot!”

“Gladisium!” Lukas shouted. “Only best of us get those! Back off until we get you support!”

“I’m on it!” Sarah responded. “Dena, Holly, Sammy, with me!”

There was a large amount of fire from behind the tungsten smelter. Robin pulled up telescopic as a Medicorim stumbled backward. He pulled up his arm and speared it with a large laser while speaking, “Medi Frame. We need those codes!”

“Captain, I got this!” Luna snarled. “And good shot; but stay down and out of the fight before I embarrass you!”

“You focus on the other frames, Lieutenant!” Sergeant O’Sullivan commanded. “I got the Medi!” His Patrol frame moved up to the staggering Medicorim, punched it in the side of the head, then dropped and did a leg sweep. The Medicorim slammed to the ground.

Before Robin could do more than blink, Sergeant O’Sullivan wrapped the opposing frame’s arm into a lock with his legs and pulled on the hand with the gauntlet key. At the same time, his left fist smashed into the Medicorim’s elbow at least five times in rapid succession.

The Patrol frame then rolled and stood. It held the entire lower right arm of the frame.

Robin noted Sergeant O’Sullivan look down, then stomp. At this point, he wished he had dropped his telescopic since he bore full witness to the fact Zane’s father had just stomped on the exposed hand of the Medicorim pilot. Blood blasted outward as the foot of the frame flattened the hand and pushed it at least half a meter into the soil of New Brunswick.

The voice of Zane’s dad showed no remorse. “You tortured your last kid, you EC son of a bitch!”

Sergeant O’Sullivan’s voice became even harder, “OK, Rebels, I got us a key and there is no way the pilot had a chance to scramble the codes. Take all other adult frames down! Lukas, try to talk the others down. Let them know they stand down or they get taken down! I am done with letting more Rebels get wounded!”

Sarah’s voice came over the radio next. “Gladisuim pilot hold! It’s Inbellic Sarah!”

A male voice responded, “Inbellic Sarah, why do you attack us?”

“Because we can!” Sarah snapped. “Now stand down and submit!”

“No! I will not! I am the lead gladiator of this troupe!”

This was followed by an exchange of fire.

“Crap, it’s Becker,” Lukas stated on the main frequency. A moment later his voice came over the frequency the opposing gladiators were using. “Becker this is Imbellic Lukas. Imbellic Sarah said stand down. Do as you’re told or the two of us will help Aemulatic Sammy put a laser into the back of your neck… again.”

“Who…” Becker’s voice wavered at the threat, “Who is the Lanista ordering this assault on us, Imbellic Lukas.”

CSgt Black barked into his radio, “Me, and unless you want to be stuck into a Plug frame instead of a Gladisuim in this troupe, you will do as Imbellic Sarah or Lukas commands! You will also order the others in your troupe to do the same or they, too, will join you in Plug frames!”

“As you command! I am sorry Lanista! I submit to you! I submit! All frames in Lanista Giohan’s Lanista Stand down! Stand down!”

A pair of lasers lanced into the side of Becker’s frame from one of the last two adult frames. At the same time, Becker’s frame locked up and fell face-first.

The other adult frame fired at another gladiator frame that had taken a knee. The frame toppled with red smoke pouring out of the back.

Lukas, Sarah, Luna, Ruslan, and Dante all turned on the frame that had shot Becker and unloaded with everything they had. Over a dozen other former gladiator frames did the same. The opposing frame literally disintegrated under the withering fire.

Behind the frame, a small craft lifted off, spun sharply, and buzzed the treetops as it fled to the north.

A fighter spiraled out of the sky and fired a pair of lasers at it.

Nire’s voice came over the radio, “Rebel Aerospace, don’t break air support ops over us! It’s a small shuttle. Stay high!”

A young voice came over the radio, “But it’s getting away!”

“Let it go!” Nire ordered. “We’ll try to track it later. Your job is to keep air superiority over this battlefield! Chasing a lone shuttle places you and all ground forces in extra danger!”

The small fighter banked back into the sky with a string of curses muttered by the pilot.

“Gonna need to get Rockland to talk to that one,” Nire grumbled over the command frequency.

Black responded, “You’re right, but we need to cut her some slack. She’s green and exuberant. I’d also bet she’s never had any air support and Combat Air Patrol training. At least she followed commands. We’ll have to work with them on air ops as part of the whole when we get a chance.”

“I’ll add CAP training into our classes.” Nire paused as he spotted some frames turn and run in the direction the shuttle went. “But for now, we have three runners.”

Black knelt on the back of a small gladiator frame he had knocked down so it couldn’t get back up. “Stay still or get redsmoked!” he barked loudly.

His head turned. He spotted the trio of frames., “Sergeant Dante, three Sicaims, angling toward rocky hill to the northeast, Take your squad and cut them off. Corporal Ruslan, take two of the gladiators and help see if you can talk them down! If you can’t, pin them with long-range fire until either Sara or Lukas can talk to them!”

“Just don’t open yourselves up to counterfire,” Nire added. “We have too many wounded on both sides already!”

Nire snorted as he changed over to a private frequency, “And you need to learn last names.”

Black chuckled, “And you need to cut me some slack too. It’s hard enough to call out rank when I look at a kid who I should be tossing a ball with, throwing around in a lake, tickling, or showing how to shoot a bow!”

At the same time, Zane’s father tackled the final adult frame. Even as the two frames slammed into the ground, Sergeant O’Sullivan’s whole frame became a physical weapon. Fists, knees, elbows, and even the top of the head unit hammered into the Munifexim with devastating effects. At the same time, Sergeant O’Sullivan took opportunities to fire weapons at point black range as they recycled. Even as armor crumpled inward and red smoke popped out of both ports, Sergeant O’Sullivan continued the assault with relentless fury. After nearly two minutes he stood. As he did so he grabbed the mangled leg of the Munifexim. He swung it upwards and slammed it down into the New Brunswick soil a half dozen times until the lower leg, at the knee unit, ripped loose.

He flipped the lower leg over his shoulder, sidestepped, and dealt a trio of devastating kicks to the head. It came off with the pilot’s head still inside. Blood and hydraulic fluid flowed out of where the head unit had been. He glanced around. Sparks and some smoke came from some damaged areas on his frame. He ignored them and the damage readouts on his HUD. No one was shooting. Every frame head on both sides of the fight was staring at him.

Sergeant O’Sullivan’s anger radiated out of the radios of those listening. “As of now Imbellics Lukas and Sara are in command of all in the opposing troupe or troupes! You were told to stand down by them. Do so or face me!” His rage continued to exude from him. “And the next one to shoot at any of my kids will wish they had died ten times over!”

All around the battlefield hostile gladiator frames went down to a knee and held up hands. Sounds of puking could be heard over the radio from several sources.

“That’s what I thought!” Sergeant O’Sullivan snarled as he moved up to the head unit and stomped on it with everything his frame had. The detached head unit was crushed under the assault. “Sarah, use the key and get these kids out. Red-smoked ones first! If any of them so much as twitch the wrong way, send them to me!

“Lukas, I’m done with this crap! Get to those three pinned frames and make them stand down. Red smoke them with non-lethal hits if needed. Preferably no lasers… Preferably.”

“Lieutenant Sala, I want a status of all Grenadier wounded. Any unwounded with ammo above fifty percent, report to Lieutenant Sala for guard duty and perimeter securement. We take care of our own, then we tend to the gladiators unless they have laser burns or something is life-threatening. If there is either, get them to med ASAP. Any surviving adults get nothing. NOTHING.”

He took a few deep breaths. “We’ll deal with them after every kid out here has every scratch fully tended and all of us get cleaned up and a meal in us. Then…” His voice took on a quieter, yet fury-filled tone. “Then we’ll pull ‘em out and hand them over to Brave Humanities. If they don’t want ‘em, we’ll see what Major O’Connell wants to do with them. But nothing for any of them until then. If they bleed out, too damned bad!

“All squad leaders prioritize care by seriousness of injury. Now, let’s get this area cleaned up before I get more pissed off and decide to make an example of… of…” He took a deep breath and stomped on what was left of the headless frame. “You Rebels are stuck with me until we deal with every remaining ass-wipe over the EC gladiator kids in this system. When we get back to your base, we will recoup, repair, reorganize, and train while those above us figure out where the others are. I want to get my hands on a few more of these bastards!”

He then sent Black and Nire a hard stare, “Unless you want to pull rank or argue?”

Both men took steps back and held up their frames’ hands.

“Didn’t think so.”

Neil glanced up from an overhead view projected up from a holocube view of Twin Polder as Coryn floated into the room. “You’re not supposed to go anywhere alone, Cor.”

Coryn took a deep breath, “Um, I wasn’t…”

“You not with us,” Jasha noted with a frown.

“No… I… um, I was with Boudicea, um the Death Warriors Lieutenant…”

Zane’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

Coryn looked away, “Um… I know you don’t like or trust her Zyden, but… Um… I had some girl questions… And I… Sorry I talked her, but the women in the Q sabers don’t really care about me and I know she has or had kids…”

Lucya spoke up, “You want detail, Zyden?”

Zane held up both hands, “Nope! I’m… It’s OK, sorry I snapped at you Cor!”

“Didn’t think so.” Sekrena stated as she pushed off a wall so she could move up to Coryn, “Looks like cry. She not hurt you, right?”

Coryn shook her head hard. “No! It’s… Just needed someone to talk to and she saw me and… She’s not as mean as you all seem to think… But I won’t talk to her again if you don’t want me to Zyden… But… I needed to talk to female…”

Neil shot Zane a frown and a firm stare. All this got him in return was a roll of eyes.

After a couple of uncomfortable seconds, Zane let out a long breath. “Sorry, Cor. But she’s Earth Core. I can’t trust her.”

“We must, Comrade,” Jasha interjected. “She over us and… your mom and dad, my mom and dad now… and you and Finn all say unit is family all the time. Lieutenant Boudicea is part of unit.”

Neil looked up to force his voice to remain even. “She is part of this unit until we break off and head back to New Bravaria. She is also a senior officer. And Zyden, you know Jasha is right. Unit is family. Lieutenant Boudicea says she has as much reason to hate EC… Almost as much as we do. Other than being EC she has given us no reason to hate her. Although I have to admit, being EC, even former EC is a good reason to hate anyone.

“However, like it or not, she is right about the need to force this mission on us. We need this contract to jell. Hell, Lieutenant Polzin hasn’t even commanded this unit yet, not really. He took over as we fled the mine, but we have yet to see him in command during combat. What’s worse, none of us have fought with or under him. We need to know how he commands before we push into the fringe of EC space and fight them.

“I, for one, sure don’t want to have my face painted and shoved into a shuttle as some kind of EC prisoner again.”

Wiles glanced back and for a few times before he cleared his throat, “Um, I know you all don’t really like me, but…”

Zane turned, “You’re wrong Wiles. We do like you. At least I do. I like you even more after the way you handled the folds. It’s just… you’re not really the normal merc type. But you sure as hell have it in you to be a merc spacer.”

“Zyden’s right, Wiles,” Neil agreed. “It’s not about us not liking you. It’s way more about us not wanting to see you hurt or worse. I know you are not the most physical, but you really need to understand what we are putting you through isn’t us being mean or disliking you. It’s because we KNOW what happens to kids and even adults who join a merc unit without any combat or self-defense skills.”

Zane growled, “They don’t last long. What we’ve done is to try our best to keep all of you out of body bags. I just wish you, Sakrena, and Vadim would take what we are trying to show you more serious.”

“We do,” Vadim argued. “It be hard. Not want to be in mech unit. Hate all of this. Want to be home, not here… And I not good at what you teach.”

“You’re getting better,” Neil chimed in trying to temper some of the anger he saw in the boy’s eyes. “All of you are. We just need you all to keep working at it.”

He turned to Wiles, “So you were going to say something?”

Wiles nodded. “I know I am not good at fighting stuff. I will try harder. But… um… Me, Rena, Cor, and Ky got taken. We could have let you buy our freedom, but then what? Go where? To a farm, another mine? I still wouldn’t be with family.

“It’s not your fault, Finn. You tried. You got us out alive like you promised. And… Well, I’ve only talked to Rena about this. But I miss my folks already and I need someone to talk to, not with kids who works us bloody, but someone I can go to. Lieutenant Plozin and the rest of the Q Saber don’t really seem to care about us. Ky has you, Finn. But he still needs adults. Same with Cor and Zyden. But Zyden, you can’t be a mom or dad. Boyfriend, yeah, but you can’t get mad at her… or any of us if we need to go to an adult. And right now, the only adults who really seem to listen are the Death Warriors.”

“I bet the same goes for Sekrena, Vadim, and Antone,” Rena added

“Warrant Officer Gregoan is nice,” Antone offered.

“He is,” Wiles agreed, “but he’s from your world and understands you because you were a cadet or whatever at the academy he taught at. He doesn’t really… I don’t know… Maybe understand us or something. Maybe if I spoke Russian, but even then… Don’t you two… three…” He gestured to Neil, Zane, and Jasha. “Don’t you need to talk to adults?

Neil let out a long breath. “We do, and like it or not the person who is doing the most for me happens to be Captain Lomo. But for me and Zyden… Well, we are used to having to deal with lots of stuff on our own. Jasha, how about you?”

After a few seconds of silence, Jasha wiped at some tears and spoke softly. “After misfold and what happen aboard Wagon, I rely most on Zyden’s… um, our dad and mom. And now… I have not need anyone, not really. This seem like family now. Much like my new dad say early on. The whole unit family. He say I can go to anyone. Whoever be best for me, even if it not him. But right now… If I do want to talk to adult… Um, I like Ensign Miwa. He talk to me when he teach me more of frame repair. Say he sorry about Quaker VII. Talk to me about academy. Tell me about him boy and girls. Got tooken by wife. Him no have contact. He miss them.”

“Ensign Miwa say and show he care and teach me fun thing like let me pilot frame in no gravity with tether. It was fun.”

Zane nodded, “Mom let me do it a few times. I bent a few walls in upper cargo hold, but it was not used so no one cared.”

Jasha smiled. “Tether only let me get to empty crates so me no hurt wall, but break some crate. Had to help clean what me brake, but it be worth it. Um, Warrant Officer Gregoran also nice, but like Wiles say. He from academy and knows some about me. But do not think him want to be here. Only here because Brave Humanities ask him and gave him suit of Battle Armor, frame, and pay him extra to teach us schoolwork.”

He paused and glanced over to Zane, “What about you?”

“I like Lieutenant Horri,” Zane admitted with a sigh. “Not fully trust him yet, but like him. He has worked with me on fighting styles a couple of times and listens. He also has tossed in a couple of AIM deluxe ration packs when I work hard with him.”

“Best way to get Zyden to like you,” Neil snickered. “Feed him.”

This got some laughter out of everyone.

“What about me?” Coryn asked while sniffling. “I tried to go to Ensign La’Rose, but she was busy. Always busy with the infantry and armor and junk. Um, are you going to keep working with me after I talked to Boudicea?”

Zane floated over, “I’m sorry Cor. I… No. Go to her if she can help. I don’t like her. Can’t like her. But that doesn’t mean others can’t. And we are in the same unit. We can’t let feelings get in the way of the mission. Back on the Grey Stallion, there are a few in our unit who we don’t want anything to do with and a couple I flatly hate, but in combat, they are there for us and my folks are there for them. When I join, I will be as well. We need each other even if it is only on the battlefield. The same thing must hold here.” He gave Coryn a hug. “Don’t let my disgust of her being EC. Former EC… stop you from going to her if you need to.”

“But I don’t want you to hate me,” She surprised everyone in the room by giving Zane a quick kiss on the cheek. “I don’t ever want you mad at me!”

Zane’s eyes went wide, “Um… no… no I won’t get mad at you Cor!”

“After that you better not,” Neil joked, causing Zane’s cheeks to flare an even deeper crimson. Before more could be said the main terminal in the room blinked. A second later the holographic display lit up saying all test scores had come back.

Neil moved up to the terminal. “Looks like I got access to everyone’s scores here since I am the NCO over you all. You want me to hit display all or…”

Wiles spoke up. “Pull it up so everyone can see. It will let us see who needs help in what.”

“Agreed,” Zane stated then smirked, “Besides, I know I passed everything, so I got nothin’ to worry about!”

Neil tried to punch Zane in the shoulder only to get his punch blocked. He snorted as Zane stuck out his tongue at him. “OK, last chance. Anyone not want all of us to see your test scores?”

Both Antone and Sekrena cringed but said nothing.

“OK, here it goes.” Neil tapped a key and spoke, “Display all scores for everyone under me. Use voice ident to verify.”

Seconds later the holographic display put up a bar graph of scores of every test with names and pictures of the test takers under the graphs.

Neil pumped his fist while Zane let out “Oh yeah! Kick-Ass. Clean sweep. None of us failed anything!”

Neil grinned at the results. Everyone had passed all the tests with grades well above the minimum. Even Coryn and Kylem had easily passed most tests. It surprised him the lowest scores came from Antone, but he still got above 80% on all but the merc test. Which he passed with a 77. And while average scores were slightly higher, Sekrena eked out a minimum passing grade on the merc test of 75.

What surprised him the most was Wiles. The kid scored above a 90 on all the tests including all the comprehensive AIM merc test. In fact, Wiles had the highest average score by a seven-point margin and edged out Neil for the top score on the AIM test.

Neil let out a long breath and checked the system clock. He turned to those under him. “Well done! No retests needed. And Wiles, you can test as good as you can fold. Great job!”

Wiles’ grin was huge. “Thanks. I thought I did good.”

“Good my ass!” Zane spoke up. “I did good. You smoked me! For a non-merc, you sure showed AIM you have the makings to be one!”

“Yeah,” Vadim let out a relieved sigh. “You did great, comrade. I worry. No sure. Glad I pass. Not know how, but I did.”

“Only because Zyden and Finn had us go over the hazards twice last night and again during breakfast,” Coryn responded. “I counted seventeen creatures, eleven plants, and six parasites on the AIM test that I knew because we took the younger kids’ tests!”

“Only reason I pass was study of you make us put in on planet hazard sections,” Antone admitted. “The rise of tide and loss of land questions… I not know some. Can we go over again before we land so I understand?”

“I’ll take you through those sections again,” Zane stated. “I think I missed a couple of them as well.”

Jasha nodded, “I know I did. Would got more wrong if we not go over young kids’ class stuff.”

Wiles surprised most in the room, “Many of the answers came from the ten- to twelve and thirteen- to fifteen-year-old study courses. There were some extra courses for kids who would be staying long enough to go to school here. It was on the same beacon but listed under Planetary School Prerequisites. All have practice tests at the end. The AIM test pulled at least two dozen questions directly from those practice exams. I would have missed more had I not gone over all the long-term visitor practice tests a couple of extra times before breakfast.”

Wiles moved up to the terminal and pulled up one of the subsections. “There is some good explanations in this supplement study section and the vids with it made it easy to understand what a high-water mark is and how to identify them on plants, land features, and even building stilts. I can’t wait to see this world!”

Neil couldn’t help but shake his head and snicker at the same time. “I think we should all go over this and let Wiles be the teacher since I’m certain I messed up some on this section. Wiles, if you like Damien’s Glade and Tarvos, you really do need to sign on with a spacer crew.”

Wiles let out a sigh, “If it wasn’t for the bone shots I’d agree.”

Zane shrugged, “Believe it or not you will get used to them. They’ll always hurt, but it is what it is. Let’s hit the workout equipment, grab lunch, and go over basic frame maintenance again. Tonight, you can talk us through the high-water mark stuff and environmental dangers that come with changing tides.”

He patted Wiles on the shoulder, “We can do a second hard workout before bed then prepare for atmosphere and a new planet tomorrow.”

“Good idea,” Neil stated. “We get two hard workouts today and take tomorrow off. In two days we’ll be in gravity and some of the highest humidity I’ve ever heard of. It’s going to drain us, so we will need to be as rested as possible.”

Vadim floated over to the door, “I know it rained on the way to AIM station, but I was locked in the vehicle. I am looking forward to feeling some again.”

“Enjoy it while you can, Vad,” Zane warned. “Tarvos looks and sounds super dry. If we can get a decent salvage payout, and the AIM station on Damien’s Glade has electrostatics in kid sizes, get some extras.”

“All of us should,” Neil agreed. “If available, I’ll front everyone here a couple hundred credits to get one or two sets. Even those of you who are not framers.”

“Why?” Kylem asked.

Neil gave the boy a hug and ruffled his hair, “Because they pull moisture away from the body and hold it. It allows for better connection to the neural network sensors in frames, but it also keeps your skin from drying out. On wet worlds, they’ll absorb a lot of sweat that can’t evaporate. But with the moisture on Damian’s Glade, they’ll get nasty quick. Having extras to change out and wash is real important. If you keep them on too long, they start smelling bad and they start to stick to your skin and itch when they get sweaty and dirty. So super wet or dry, electrostatics are the best thing to wear.”

Zane continued the conversation as they made their way to the workout room. “Finn’s right. On Damien’s Glade, we’ll want extra electrostatics because they will absorb moisture from the air as well as from us. Also, I don’t have much cash, but I am going to try to find electrostatic shorts and tees for both inside and outside my frame. We’ll also need to pick up decent sets of boots since vids are real clear most of the land is waterlogged. Nothing worse than having wet feet for too long.”

Captain Lomo exited the exercise area with Lieutenant Horri and Master Sergeant Shoda. He paused at the door, “Extraordinary observations young warrior.” He tapped his wristband computer. “I also congratulate you all for your exceptional exam results. For all of you passing devoid of failure, I will provide each before me with an inducement for your achievements.” He paused and shot Zyden a smirk, “And will increase stated enticement in exchange for an agreed upon established challenge from Finn and Zyden’s squad.”

Neil and Zane exchanged glances for a moment and shrugged in unison. Neil turned. “I’m game. But I want to know what you’re offering and what challenge you wish to give us, sir.”

“I will allocate a respectable disbursement at the spaceport AIM station for each of you to procure items for both Damian’s Glade and Tarvos for diligence and exemplary rumination dedication to comprehensive accomplishment in your examinations. I will increase said expenditure should the two of you, in accompaniment of your squad, consent to two of us chaperoning you on a precursor supplemental AIM established operation.”

Zane blinked a few times, “Um, sir… Are you saying you want to take our squad out on a separate AIM contract before we even go after the primary target?”

Lieutenant Horri floated closer, pausing to pat Coryn and Kylem on the shoulder. “I suspect my captain feels very much like I do, young specialist. None of the three of us have worked with youth warriors out in the field of combat. In training, certainly, even in sparring with each other. In full combat, no. We have seen Finn’s exemplary mission success vid. We have also witnessed vids of three of your certification runs. In addition, I have seen both of you, along with Jasha’s skills at repair. However, none of us have directly watched you fight nor command others.”

Shoda joined the conversation, “While I have no idea what mission our captain has in mind, there is one thing I am certain of. You have yet to fight as a squad. This is through no fault of any of you; there hasn’t been time for you to train in frames as a squad yet. A lighter pre-mission where you can do so, with two of us backing you up, should you need it, will certainly aid you in future engagements.

Horri gave Coryn a shoulder squeeze while smiling warmly at Kylem. “Your conscripted underlings, especially these two younger ones, would also benefit from seeing what frames they will be responsible for basic cleaning and upkeep on will look like after an engagement before they are pressed into service caring for all of your unit’s frames and other equipment following the primary mission.” He focused on the four conscripted kids. “Wouldn’t you all agree?”

Coryn gulped and nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m real nervous about helping to clean everything. It’d probably help to get a first taste with just a few frames. But I don’t want them getting hurt…”

“Some of us will get hurt,” Neil interrupted. “Maybe not right away, but sooner or later it’ll happen.”

“What about Lieutenant Polzin?” Zane asked while scanning all three adults with nervousness.

“We have a retainer clause,” Neil countered. “I bet it was put in as unlimited since our Lieutenant probably didn’t realize what it was. But I’m sure he’ll want to join us…”

“Your supposition is accurate,” Lomo stated with a smirk. “However, worry not young corporal. I acquired this as a dual-faceted contract. The remainder of the Q Sabers will need to achieve mission accomplishment on a significantly larger objective. I will detail my subordinates to assist in the post-warfare restoration and refurbishment procedures for the mass of the Sabers. This will give you the use of these four conscripts to assist in a full restoration of your equipment up to battle readiness standards. Ensign Mawa will administer oversight of the larger operation. However, this squad’s contribution will require fineness and subtlety to achieve AIM renumeration for the entire contract. Therefore, two of us will accompany your squad while the other supplements the majority of your Sabers in order to spot deficiencies and correct them. Since Young Zyden clearly has misgivings about me, I will reluctantly agree to forgo chaperone duty to this squad. Ensign Miwa and I will join the aggregate of the Q Sabers.”

Once again Coryn spoke up, “Zyden, let the captain go with you!”

“Why?” Zane asked with a deep frown.

“Um, He needs to see you all fight and… um… Well like he said you need to fight as a group and… and because he’s their leader! I bet he is the best in his unit, and I want you to come back safe. And… um, you said he is going with you on the other world, so you need to know him… I mean… you have to learn to work with him, right?”

Horri gave Coryn’s shoulder another squeeze. “Relax, young one. Any of us will do our utmost to take good care of them.

“But she make good point,” Sekrena interjected. “As commander he can fix what he see us do wrong to make better. Or should?”

“Oh, worry not,” Shoda snorted with a smirk. “Take it from someone under him; If Captain Lomo sees a problem, and he will see them, he will point them out and instruct diligently on corrections, so they do not resurface.”

Zane shot Neil a nervous glance. “You’re squad leader, so your call.”

Kylem jumped in. “Finn, go with the captain so you come back… You’re all I got left! I need you.”

Neil floated over to Kylem and pulled him tight into his side. “You have all of us Ky, even if something happens to me the others will help take care of you.”

“But I…” A few tears slid out of Kylem’s eyes.

At the same time, Coryn moved over and hugged Zane. “Please? I know you will be safer with him. I just know it.”

Zane let out a long breath. “Alright… If Finn agrees…”

This got him another, harder, kiss on the cheek, “Thank you!”

Neil gave Kylem a tight hug, “OK, fine. Captain, how about you join us? But if something does happen to me, you have to guarantee Ky will be taken care of.”

“Nothing will happen to him or any of the conscripts in this room as long as a single Death Warrior remains,” Horri stated.

Shoda spoke up “Any preference of which of the two of us you would prefer with you, corporal?”

Neil turned to Zane, “You’ve worked out with them more than any of us. You pick.”

Zane answered without any hesitation, “Lieutenant Horri.” He cringed and turned to Shoda, “No disrespect meant Master Sergeant…”

Shoda snickered, “None taken. You choose wisely, for if there is anyone in the Death Warriors who might be able to best our captain, it would be Lieutenant Horri.”

Robin woke up in a bed. The only light came from above and behind him. The window to his right told him it was dark out. He blinked and reached for his side with a cringe. Even as his hand came in contact with a hard bandage, he realized his leg had a conduit inserted in it running to the bed. His leg was also loosely secured so he could move it but not accidentally pull out the tube. Next to him was a glass of yellow juice in a cooling sleeve. A deep breath caused pain to radiate down his side. An attempt to sit up was even worse. His head hit the pillow.

He took a few shallower breaths, blinked out some tears, and looked around again. His brain finally started to make sense of things. “Hospital.” He muttered as he focused on his last memories. “I am in a hospital.”

His hand went back down to his side as he remembered the feeling of it getting cut by a saw blade. His medical training kicked in as the fog continued to clear from his thinking. The hardened bandage told him he probably had been in surgery and had a skin culture patch over his side. It would eventually melt away and slow the recovery but would prevent a major scar. They were grown from skin cultures of the patient and were expensive. Very expensive. It was not something the Grey Stallion’s med bay could do, and he bet it wasn’t normally available in hospitals on New Brunswick.

He studied his surroundings with more care. There was a touchpad on the arm of the bed. He played with it for a few minutes. Finally, he got the feel for it and propped himself up enough to easily grab the juice. The cold liquid helped his dry throat, but the taste left a lot to be desired. The texture told him it was most likely an electrolyte package like he had to drink up on the moon. This also told him there was a good chance he was in a Brave Humanities medical facility.

Another look around told him he was in a private room. The small pile of AIM fruity sour-burst candy wrappers and a trio of empty bottles of New London Grape drink told him Glen had certainly been in the room watching him recently. This brought out a weak grin.

He fiddled with the bed’s control unit until he found the holocube controls. It lit up with a rotating message asking for verbal input or to tap the main button three times to enable eye movement activation.

Robin was tempted to try the eye movement features but decided it could wait. “Holocube, outside comm. I want to talk to Luna Sala, Lieutenant Ruffian Rebels.”

The glow from the cube faded to a dull maroon. This changed to light green as Luna’s voice came over the speaker. Her voice told him he had woken her up. “Robin? What’s wrong? Isn’t Glen with you?”

Robin glanced over to the table and let out a pain-filled snort. “Judging on junk food leftovers, he’s probably on a bio stop.”

Luna giggled as she woke up more. “Probably right. That or making another stop at the vending machines.”

“If he has cash, both,” Robin managed to weakly joke.

“Yup!” Luna’s figure appeared in the cube as she rolled out of bed. Robin could make out someone in a bed next to her who was rubbing their eyes.

“Sorry to wake you… Both of you…”

Nakitia rolled over and looked over from behind Luna. “No need to be sorry, comrade. How you feel?”

Robin reached over and touched the hardened shell over his side with a cringe. “Like my side got cut… Cut a lot worse than I thought.”

“It was deep, Robin,” Luna responded. “You lost consciousness shortly after we helped you out of your frame. Command Sergeant Black thinks your auto-med unit activated full pressure so the padding stayed inflated enough to stop most of the blood, but it gushed when we got you out. You were airlifted to the Brave Humanities agriculture station with several others. Glen, Kerri, and Erin are all there to help take care of you all. Give me a second and I’ll get someone to you.

“No… No need. Just want… um, need an update. How did it go? I don’t remember much after I forced the frames back from Nahum and I got cut.”

“Sounds like you may have gotten to Nahum just in time. He is there with you. So is Vannic, Mitchell, Zolyar, Lukian, Sam, and nine of the gladiators who helped us.”

“Damn…” Robin tried to move, bit back a curse, and laid back. “Not going anywhere quite yet…”

“You shouldn’t!” Luna barked. “You took a saw blade to your side! They had to do a bone fusion.”

“Bone fusion? Why?”

Nakitia answered. “It cut through one rib, comrade captain!”

“And nicked two others,” Luna added. “Any deeper it would have been into your lung. I’m amazed you stayed up on a knee. We patched your frame but we had to pull the padding. It was a bloody mess. Brave Humanities sent for new inflation pads for your entire right side. It should be fully up by the time you heal up.”

Robin cringed. “No wonder I hurt so bad… Um, Luna, did we lose anyone else?”

Luna ran her hand back through her hair and took a long breath. “Two of the gladiators at the ship and three more at a facility they were based out of… Foreman and Avalia fell at the ship. Daniss, Kyto, and Bomkner at the mine. Although, there is some hope for Kayo and Bomkner. They were inside the mine when part of it came down. Last I heard BH has a crew digging for them and whatever else may have been in the mine. The worst part is I didn’t even get to talk to any of them other than on the radio…”

Luna let out a long sigh, “And I’m still waiting on news about Laura. She was also transferred to the facility you’re at. It sounds like Nahum is touch and go as well. There is talk about sending him and Laura up to the White Tiger. But they don’t think either can handle the trip at this point.”

Robin closed his eyes and wiped at new tears. These were not from physical pain. “We didn’t do any better than we did at the water plant… And we had a good plan!”

“They charged us as soon as we opened fire on ‘em. It wasn’t expected. We didn’t have codes like we did at the ship, so we had to fight a brawl. And… whatever EC put them through… they know how to fight up close and dirty. All the frames had saws, cutting torches, or laser drills, many had two or even all three. They also had multiple microlasers. At long range, it would have been like at the water station. We would have dropped them with no problem, but the kid Lukas told us about, Becker, saw what was going on fast and they mobbed us. Only the Gladiators and a few of us Grenadiers had a clue what to do, and ALL our frames look like they went through a starship crash.”

Luna tapped on her console and brought up a picture of a mine. “And we tried to hit this place. It’s where the shuttle that fled went to. But it was almost all red patches and a few of what the gladiators call plugs. It didn’t go well. They dropped part of the mine on themselves and us. If Nire hadn’t ordered us back several more of us would have been caught in a cave-in. Best we can tell all the plugs were inside when they blew the entrance.”

“How many?”

We saw at least six, but there may have been more. Dante and Nikki both ended up with rocks on them, but we were able to pull them free. Nikki’s frame is a total loss.” Luna smirked. “Dante thinks his can be fixed. I ain’t so sure. Oh, and you should see what Sergeant O’Sullivan’s frame looks like…”

“Not look like it should even work,” Nakitia spoke from behind Luna. “He couldn’t even take it to the mine. It still spark and smoke hours after we get back.”

Luna managed to snicker, “Pretty sure at least one of the Brave Humanities techs cried when they were assigned to fix it.”

This caused Robin to smile despite the pain, “I want vids… Um, Zane’s dad is OK, though, right?”

“Super pissed off and has some nasty bruises, but fine. But now we’re stuck with him. Major O’Connell transferred him to us as one of our adult shadows because Sergeant O’Sullivan demanded it. Sounds to me like he, Command Sergeant Black, and Sergeant Nire are working on some training drills so we know what to do if we can find any more gladiator troupes in the system. We also sold lots of salvage to BH, so they are going to get repair or replace frames as needed. One way or the other, we’ll be ready if they rush us again. Caleb’s mom and Major O’Connell are also going to help. They are going over all the frame and overhead vids of the fight.”

“Between school and training, I bet the next few weeks are really going to suck,” Robin noted.

“Yeah, and school officially starts in eight days, so rest up and get better so you can join us,” Luna ordered as she tapped on her wristband. “Glen is trying to talk to the lead kid, Becker. He’ll be with you shortly… after a pitstop and a jaunt to the hospital cantina… He said he’d grab you a couple large packs of AIM Choco mint caramel balls and a few bottles of amber berry hydrators.”

Robin signed off with a relieved pain filled nod as he finished the drink next to his bed with a cringe at the taste.

Neil had the feeling of dé·jà vu as he entered the command meeting room. Lt. Polzin looked furious. Ensign La’Rose seemed bewildered. Other NCOs of the Q Sabers were exchanging looks of concern. Lt. Boudicea floated at the front of the room by the podium. And, like the last meeting, Neil was one of the last to enter. The difference was he had a good idea why the meeting had been called. He floated around to the spot at the table with his name digitally displayed on the back of the chair. He said nothing and didn’t bother to do more than give nods to a couple of the Q Sabers who were starting to accept he was indeed a unit NCO.

Neil didn’t hesitate to grab an AIM deluxe ration pack as he listened to Lomo. The man was reminding Polzin of the contract he signed. In fact, the clause in question was displayed in front of each seat at the table. It caused Neil to cringe as he read it. Not only was it unrestricted as to nature, it clearly stated it was open-ended. If his reading was correct, they were basically part of the Death Warriors for the duration, not to exceed seven months. During this time, any additional AIM-approved contract could be placed upon the Sabers as long as the additional stipulations within the main contract were abided by.

However, the Q Sabers stood to make a great deal of money with repairs of equipment and bonuses guaranteed by the Death Warriors. He studied the contract details. Suddenly he was glad his parents had forced him to take an AIM course on understanding basic agreements, with a heavy emphasis on AIM contracts. At the time it had been part of his punishment for almost drowning because he hadn’t paid enough attention. Now, enough stuck for him to read deeper. He nodded to himself as Boudicea went over the basics of hitting a bandit camp along with the supplemental goal of attempting a rescue of six listed VIPs.

This was interrupted by Polzin, “This is a waste and endangering my people in a creature-infested swamp world! From what you are telling us, this is a rabble group of bandit lowlifes who are using the invasive vegetation and low population to base itself out of a world that doesn’t seem to care. We already have a target and…”

Lomo made a slashing motion, “What the objective is and why the commission is obtainable on AIM documentation is not your contribution, it is mine, Lieutenant. Satisfying your contract to the Death Warriors is your obligation.”

Neil listened to Lomo and Polzin exchange some sharp words with a slight shake of his head. Polzin was beyond angry at another mission and furious about breaking off Neil’s squad for the assignment of rescuing the VIPs especially since it was listed as a secondary objective. The mission itself would only be a success if the bandit group was rendered inoperable by an AIM mission success team.

As Lomo pointed out the unlimited retainer clause again and reminded Polzin of what a breach of contract meant, Neil’s eyebrows arched. He looked up from the contract with a smirk.

Next to Lomo, Lieutenant Horri cleared his throat, “Commander, Lieutenant Polzin, If I may interrupt this verbal sparring match?”

As both men turned to Horri, the Death Warrior’s lieutenant nodded in Neil’s direction. “Commanders, unless I am mistaken, it appears like a small eruption just went off within the young corporal’s brain. His facial expression tells me he has had a revelation.”

Boudicea paused the central display briefing and stared directly at Neil. “How could you possibly have a question when I haven’t given anything but a limited synopsis up to this point?”

Neil glanced at the clause in the contract and looked up with a smirk. “Because, ma’am, before we go further, there is a clearing up needed on what you have said so far versus what our contract to the Death Warriors is.”

“And that would be?”

“Permission to take over the central display?”

Boudicea glanced over to Lomo.

Lomo cocked his head to the side as he glanced between Polzin, Boudicea, and Neil. “Young warrior the contract terms for initiation of the retainer are identical. The Death Warriors will once again pay 250,000 AIM credits, grant a flat stipend to every surviving member of your unit and award an incentive to the top three performers as stipulated. However, if you believe this is not within the preview of what your commander signed, I consent to your request. Lieutenant Boudicea, turn control of the central holoviewer over to the corporal.”

Boudicea shrugged and tapped a couple of buttons on the console. “All yours.”

Neil’s grin only grew as he changed the holo-display to list the retainer stipulation on the wall to his left so everyone could see it. He then highlighted a subsection within. “Right here. ‘Retainer activation is per contract, not precluding internal contracts. Pay and incentives are to be supplemental and based individually, not overall when subcontracts are stipulated to be paid out as additional objectives. All embedded supplemental objectives shall be enumerated, established on the percentage, by the entrenched contract/contracts completed’.”

“So unless the classes my folks made me take on Red Surge isn’t letting me see something, or I am misunderstanding some of these fancy words, this means you have to pay us for both missions separately as long as we complete the primary one. The mission you give to my squad is an embedded or internal contract and thus, once complete, you have to pay out on it as if it’s a separate mission. But if I read this right, only on a percentage of the completion of it. Now we haven’t heard anything but some basic stuff, but my read on this is a hundred percent completion of the rescue of the hostages would be if we get all six of the named targets out alive. But, um, I guess that also means it would go down by one-sixth for each one we don’t find or rescue.

“So first, am I right? And second, is that the way the Death Warriors want to base the percentage of the subcontracted mission that is complete? We need to know because the percentage isn’t spelled out in the contract my commander signed.”

After several seconds of silence, Master Sergeant Shoda was the first to speak. “After rereading section gulf, subsections nineteen and twenty a few times, I admit, the young corporal’s read on the contract seems accurate. Does this supplemental mission pay enough for us to cover such costs?”

Lomo shrugged, “Irrespective of the provisions I consented to, the contract is endorsed. Honor, obligation, and personal responsibility to my name and heritage demand the fulfillment of terms to the utmost of my capacity. Should necessity require reduction of Death Warrior’s reserves, procurement of a subsequent vessel at the inactivation station may be added as a secondary objective of the original operation, and full recompose, based on the stipulations within this document will be fulfilled.

“Furthermore, while I concur with our young warrior’s reading, the embedded rescue of hostage has been, by my mandate, designated to Corporal Lockley’s squad. Therefore, while the entirety of the Q Sabers will receive the overall pay, only the participants in the submission will be entitled to the individual specified stipends. I furthermore concur with the young corporal on aggregate payout respective of the embedded supplemental task will be based on percentage surviving itemized hostages extracted per stipulated clauses within the entirety of the approved agreement.”

Across the table, Polzin’s eyes narrowed. “You may be able to use my unit, but they are my people. It’s my job to assign squads to tasks, not yours.”

Horri spoke up, “An accurate statement, nevertheless, you delegated them to us for the assault on the engine storage on Tarvos. We need to see them in an engagement and work with them prior.”

Boudicea spoke up, “Success on Tarvos is a must. I cannot afford to be found on what Earth Core considers within its borders. Furthermore, I am certain none here wish to find out what being a guest inside an Earth Core detention facility amounts to.”

Polzin’s eyes darted between the three Death Warrior officers as he breathed hard in anger. After several uneasy seconds, he growled. “If you pick the people for the secondary mission, the kids… I want a guarantee of payment since I am being pushed out of the decision making.”

Lomo shrugged, “My supposition is a guarantee of half compensation, irrespective of accomplishment, will defuse your irritation. Correct?”

Ensign La’Rose glanced over, “125,000 AIM credits is good by me sir. But I think we should have one of our adults with them. I offer to be that person.”

Polzin’s jaw moved back and forth as he eyed all the Death Warriors. “No. I need you with the infantry. They know you as a trainer. But I also agree. I want one of my adults with the corporal’s squad.”

Neil noticed Horri glance over to Lomo who simply nodded. Horri then spoke. “Agreed. My suggestion would be their academic instructor from the Quaker academy.”

Senior Warrant Officer Gregoran spoke. “I wouldn’t be much good in a fight.” He held out his burned arm. “I still have several more weeks in this burn sleeve. It is not electrostatic, nor has nerve tissue rebuilt enough for me to make good contact with the arm sensors. It is why I signed on as an instructor and intel analyst, not a combatant.”

Sergeant Zak quickly spoke up, “I volunteer.”

Boudicea raised an eyebrow, “Your frame is better suited to support the main attack.”

Neil couldn’t hold his tongue, “We don’t need…”

Master Sergeant Shoda interrupted, “Young corporal, such a decision is not yours to make.” He turned to Lomo, “Commander, we have a spare War-tech Industrial Gladiatorial class frame. It is one of the few frames Sergeant Zakharovich could utilize given his size. I would be willing to help him adjust system loadout to better suit him.”

A trace of a frown briefly crossed Lomo’s features. “Not ideal, nonetheless agreed, under stipulation of transfer of his artillery frame to our inventory until re-procurement of Death Warrior property.”

Boudicea responded. “While a better frame for the task assigned to the youthful combatants of Corporal Lockley’s squad, it leaves the bulk of the Sabers light on fire support.”

“I can switch out to longer ranged support weapons and fill in with my Marauder class frame,” Ensign Miwa interjected. “As long as the Saber’s commander agrees to such support if needed.”

Neil watched as Polzin chewed on his top lip and glanced around the table. His eyes finally settled on La’Rose. “What are your thoughts?”

La’Rose’s voice was guarded, “Sir, given the circumstances what they are, this option is better than what I could come up with. And regardless of my misgivings about both this raid and the attack on the wage convoy, the Death Warriors make valid points. Honestly, the combat will do us good. The bigger problem is, I am certain we will lose people. We will not have much time to recruit replacements here. Worse, the humidity and climatic differences between here and Tarvos will play hell with anyone recruited on Damian’s Glade unless they have not been on planet long.”

Boudicea glanced down and tapped on the console in the podium. “Should there be a need, we have an extended stay in the Ishkur system. While we do not have a planned planeside stop, we have time for one. It may also be a good place to sell and or exchange salvage before we head to Tarvos. Reports show it has two planets and a moon with AIM stations. Furthermore, AIM information says it is a common jump-off point for raids into the Mining Federation and Earth Core from the Damascus Union.”

Neil cringed, “The Damascus Union? Ain’t it in the Hyades Star Cluster?”

“Yes, why?” Miwa asked.

“Because… from what I’ve heard from other mercs it’s supposed to be dangerous to fold into and… My unit had several chances to go there, but our commander wanted nothing to do with it. From what my dad said, it’s known as one of the most brutal alliances, probably because it’s all former EC worlds with the only line of prisoner transfer between EC and humanity.”

Boudicea’s eyes narrowed briefly, but she pulled back her anger quickly. “It was lost to Earth Core during the second reunification war thanks to the precursor of the Mining Federation who subsequently stripped most of the habitable worlds of easy-to-acquire valuable resources. Because of this, it re-established diplomatic ties to Earth Core. However, the twenty-eight habitable to semi-livable systems and over a score of marginally habitable worlds are now an independent alliance and do act as a neutral ground for negotiations, prisoner swaps, and limited legal arbitration between Earth Core and the outer colonies. You are also correct, it is a dying cluster and because of close proximity of stars, a dark matter subhalo, and low metallic composition of the cluster, magnetic fields are unstable. This means space folding craft have to carefully plot good gravitational wells. This also makes it a danger because it is more likely to have multiple ships aim for the limited number of safe gravitational ingress and egress points within systems.

“While you once again surprise me with your wide knowledge base, your fears are largely unfounded.”

“But it is a nasty alliance to fold into,” Neil argued.

“If we were shooting in unexpectedly, possibly. However, the gravitational and magnetic volatility of the Damascus Union is an exceedingly limited reason for concern, since we are linking with a scheduled fold ship. Its schedule is known so other fold ship commanders can access this information and should know not to fold into a designated commercial lane without prior clearance.”

Boudicea glanced around the room, “However, this means we will have to enter the system on alert since pirates also know schedules and are a consistent threat to space lanes. All able-bodied combatants who handle folds well will be required to be armed.

“The Star Sliders said all their guns will be manned and we will go on combat lockdown before we fold and stay that way until we get an all-clear.”

“OK…” Neil’s brow furled, “Um, but I’ve heard the Damascus Union is one of the few places outside of Earth Core where buying and selling of people is allowed. Other than deep fringe space…” He stared at Boudicea, “At least it is said it is allowed in EC space…”

She shrugged. “Yes, the rumors you hear are correct, but only the upper classes or those given permits are allowed to deal in such trade. It is exceedingly rare. Most are criminals who commit crimes against the upper castes. Others are combat captives. The last two are the most common, and almost never see autonomy retracted for more than ten years. They are the ones who are confiscated to pay debt, or those who are caught trying to infiltrate a higher caste. However, regardless of reason, there must be a path to join freeman caste for all, regardless of the reason of total subjugation.”

She smirked, “Yet you point fingers when you have taken four young ones on this ship.”

“Along with three cadets who were given a degree of freedom in exchange for signing on under your leadership. The four non-combatants I hear you offered to pay for their freedom, correct?” Miwa added.

“But…” Neil gulped, “but they’re not owned…”

“Really?” Boudicea snickered. “They are here because they were… what is your word?”

“Conscripted or impressed,” Miwa answered. “Other ancient Earth terms include crimped or shanghaied.” He tapped on the station in front of his chair. The holocube projected an image of men, with hands tied, being pushed aboard a ship while men with clubs stood on both sides, forcing them forward.

Miwa pointed out, “Forced labor, impressment, conscription, or crimped, it all amounts to making someone unwillingly perform services. Many were paid something, but others were not or had to pay back a ‘fee’ established by those who took them or paid those who took them. Ransoms were often taken to release those taken. Regardless, they were forced. They had to perform whatever duties, normally military in nature, or they were beaten, starved, or imprisoned. What is the difference between what was done to the four you offered to pay release for, forced penal labor, or even slavery?”

“But they…” Neil started to argue only to stop. “I offered them…”

“To free them, yes?”

While Neil reluctantly nodded, Miwa continued. “So you offered money for them. You were basically buying them only to free them, correct?”

Neil felt trapped. He took several deep breaths and pushed his lips tightly together.

Boudicea smirked again. Neil could feel the heat in his cheeks and knew his face was flushed. He missed part of what the woman said but managed to catch the last part. “…were lucky. Just like within Earth Core, most become freeman laborers. A select few achieve a higher caste, while a limited few remain permanently within property caste.

“For only a decree by the emperor, one of his council, or a member of the high senate in good standing is this possible. There are less than a thousand within the empire with such powers at any given time and few decrees are made by them for such harsh consequences. Yet, I have heard it said it is better to be one of these unfortunates than criminally imprisoned. Life expectancy is said to be drastically shortened within the penal system. For the Earth Core Empire is exceedingly harsh to those who commit crimes worthy of imprisonment.

“This is something I may face if caught. While it is a risk I willingly take, it has led to my desire to see you and your unit at peak performance. Thus, while you may mistrust or even hate me, much of what you face now is, in my mind, a driving prerequisite by procuring these antecedent missions for the Sabers and, in particular, your youthful squad.”

Miwa quickly added, “And is at significant expense to us. However, I have no want to find what Earth Core would do to me or anyone one else here should we get caught. Therefore, the expense is, in my opinion, worth both the risk and obvious reward of having you all more combat effective.”

Neil found the conversation maddening, scary, and frustrating. He was glad when the subject was changed.

“With such an extensive downside to the primary objective, why not hire a more experienced unit?” La’Rose asked with confusion.

“There were none,” Boudicea responded dryly.

“The obtainable mercenary directories at the procurement facility were all but barren.” Lomo chimed in. “It was dissimilar from anything anticipated. Acquisition of your organization’s services was the only realistic alternative accessible.”

Polzin scowled deeply. “Why not wait for a more veteran unit?”

“The intel I have on defenses at the Tarvos system is limited in duration,” Boudicea responded. “A new rotation is scheduled for arrival in…” she pulled up the current Earth Standard time, “Just over ninety-six days and sixteen hours.

“I have been there. I know it well. Too well. The first couple of months, the new command staff aggressively kept the assigned detail sharp. However, it gets limited supplies and the duties become routine. Wear on equipment from heat and dust also take a toll. The last few weeks, everyone, including the command staff, counts down the days till relief. However, if those from sector high command see anything lacking, extra punishments are likely to be handed down. Hence, a week or two before replacements arrive, those in command on Tarvos will resume more stringent discipline and expectation schedules. Therefore, everything from maintenance to patrols will become more diligent, so when the upper echelon leadership come in with the replacements, they will see what appears to be a tightly controlled post.”

Sergeant Zak smirked, “So the idea is to hit this boneyard facility when the garrison is at its lowest performance.”

“Correct.” Miwa stated. “However, while those stationed at the facility are there for lack of performance, poor attitudes, dereliction of duty, or other failures, they have seen combat. We need to hit them with a seasoned force. Something we do not feel you have at this point.”

Lomo nodded, “The Death Warriors require all under us to be freshly weathered and tempered by authentic warfare. Something else the guardians of the Tarvos facility have not been solidified by in over 200 days. Additionally, our other intel informants say garrison guardians consumed exercise munitions rapidly upon arrival. This leaves them degraded in warfare efficacy since resupply has been diverted to other unforeseen fields of conflict perceived to be of superior consequence. Thus, only provisions such as sustenance have persisted. Therefore, munition and repair components are accessible, yet exceedingly diminished.”

Neil continued to listen, take notes, and transfer files about the six hostages his squad was tasked with recovering. However, he couldn’t help but think about those under him. Lomo, Miwa, and Boudicea were right. He was taking an untested group into combat. Zane he could count on. Jasha he trusted to fight hard. The other three… They were Quaker cadets, yet largely unknowns. The more he thought about it, the happier he was Lomo and Horri were going to join them. It was also a comfort to have Sergeant Zak backing him up. He liked the big man and it gave him someone else in the Sabers to help watch over those under him.

By the time the meeting ended, his gut churned. Part was the discussion about the four conscripts and his three other squad members. Was Boudicea correct? Were they like slaves? Begrudgingly he had to admit there were similarities. Miwa was correct. He did offer to buy their freedom. If freedom had to be paid for they were basically property. He couldn’t help but wonder what they thought. The three from Quaker Academy were in the same boat. They had no choice. He was given no chance to buy them… Buy them… It made his skin crawl to think of how he would feel if the tables had been turned. It wasn’t comfortable. He realized, really for the first time, there was a high likelihood one or more of those he was responsible for would not walk off of Damien’s Glade. It made rest hard and sleep impossible even as the ship hurtled toward a growing grey and green dot in space.

Luther groaned as he woke. Pain was not the right word. There was certainly discomfort from injuries received from the fight aboard the Wagon transport ship. But this… It was different. Nothing felt normal. He tried to open his eyes. He couldn’t seem to do so. He thought he felt his eyelids flutter but wasn’t sure. He attempted to rub them, but his arms jerked oddly and didn’t want to work.

His throat was dry. He tried to call out for water. He felt his jaw move, however, it did so with an uncontrolled spasm. Moments later his tongue quivered then cramped up. He tried to scream. A sound came out but what he heard was more like a warble of high-pitched screeching. He sat up but didn’t make it far. His head hit something hard. He blacked out.

Luther felt himself drift back from semi-consciousness to being awake. His head hurt. It took a few seconds for his brain to fully activate. When it did, he had a vague memory of his mouth being in pain, sitting up, and hitting his head. He tried to open his eyes. He could tell they had crusted over, but he felt his eyelids flutter as they tried to pull apart. He reached for his eyes. His hands quaked uncontrollably, but he was able to use the back of his hands to wipe his eyes enough to pry them open.

His eyelids continued to tremble, but he was able to see light. It seemed to pulse behind him. It was at this point he realized he was in a tube. He closed his eyes and focused. Where was he? Hell, who was he? Why was he in a tube?

Sounds of crackles and snaps came from outside the tube as he continued to think. Much of his memory cleared, but there were gaps. Several seconds, maybe minutes passed before he remembered boarding the Earth Core Corvette. He and several others had been taken directly to medical under guard.

Luther remembered Boris talking to the crew. They gave the man an eye scan. It verified Boris was indeed an EC Immuns commander. The medical crew became more receptive but were far from nice. Those from the captain’s craft and one escape pod that had fled shortly after the attempt to prevent the ship from leaving the Quaker system were evaluated. The kids were treated first. Luther remembered this annoyed him. However, even he had to admit they weren’t in the greatest shape. All had been roughed up. Most had some malnourishment and had started to lose some bone density. Once the kids received nutrient packets and bone shots, they were escorted to the recovery bay under guard. He heard they were going to be provided with basic care, including high-nutrient IVs and induced rest so their bodies would more readily accept the high level of care they needed.

Luther remembered Boris pointed out who was most important. Those three kids had been given extra medical care and taken into a separate area. Boris then expedited which adults got advanced care. Luther was one of those three. After careful evaluation, Luther’s injuries had been deemed bad enough to put him into one of the two rejuvenation chambers. It was the last thing he remembered.

As snaps and other noises combined with flashes of light continued to come from behind him, he pulled himself out of the tube. It was far more difficult than it should have been. His hands continued to tremble, and he had limited strength. Every part of his body felt rubbery, and his muscles simply refused to fully obey commands.

He guessed the process of extracting himself from the tube took over ten minutes when it should have taken only seconds. When he got out, he felt his blood go cold. The medical bay was in ruins. Broken panels with sparking equipment were everywhere. Two med techs and the doctor who had evaluated him were floating in the compartment with lots of other items. Blood, lots of it, floated around two of the bodies. The third was bent unnaturally backwards and the neck was at an odd angle. Luther didn’t have to check. He knew from a glance all three were dead.

Other items had broken loose including a pair of auto-treatment tables with people still strapped to them. Two other auto-treatment tables were still secured with people on them. However, the last one had a nearly headless body on it. The neck and upper chest had been ripped open with something. It was Mathlia, one of the Quaker VI royal guards. Blood floated all around the gruesome wounds.

He ran his hands down his face and looked around again. The room was literally filled with blood, bodies, and debris. Much of what he saw floating around him were medical instruments. Directly across from the tube he pulled himself out of, occasional electrical arcs danced around the opening to the second rejuvenation chamber. He could see someone inside. Occasionally the body jerked as electricity jumped from the tube to a ceiling panel that had wires attached to it.

Boris forced himself to grab onto a long piece of something non-metallic. He wasn’t even sure what it was, but it gave him enough reach to swipe at the power connection to the other rejuvenation chamber without getting close enough for the arcs to reach him. It took dozens of attempts, partially because his own body seemed to want to betray him with every movement. This combined with zero-G made the task daunting, but finally, he jerked the power connectors out of the tube.

He waited to make sure there was nothing else causing the electrical discharges before he pulled at the sliding bed. It only came a third of the way. Something was broken. Still, it gave him enough access to evaluate the person inside. It was André. The burns across the face and down the side told him the man was either dead or soon would be. He shoved the body back into the tube and shuddered. As his mind continued to clear, he put his medic training to work.

Next, he moved to the two beds. One had Taras, the former Quaker VII academy instructor. The man was unconscious but breathing. Amazingly enough, the bed had broken loose from mounts but remained incredibly intact. This allowed Luther to get bio-readings and some basics of the care the man had received since being put onto the bed. Taras was stable. Even better, the bed had enough power and medicine to continue the prescribed regimen for well more than the remaining five hours the bed had been programmed for.

Luther let out a sigh and moved to the second bed. He looked down at the face of Chloe, the female Q VI Royal Guard squad commander. Much like Taras, the bed had broken loose but was fully functional. However, while the bed continued to provide the care input, her right wrist was clearly broken, and she had a chunk of a wall panel in her upper right arm.

As his brain cleared more, he found sterile sheets and managed to secure the corpses and much of the remaining floating blood. The more he moved around the greater control of his body he got. He took this as a good sign but also realized his arm injury had not been fully repaired. He moved to the shower and checked. It was online and showed access to warm and cold water. He gave it a test cycle to verify. The last thing he wanted was to get scalded. He took a quick warm vacuum shower and found a packaged set of medical garments to change into.

He then dug through the room for several minutes. He found a splint for his own arm, a bonesetter for Chole’s wrist, and removed the jagged chunk of paneling from her arm. He used an auto-suture unit for the wound and typed in instructions into the bed to add an antibiotic to the medication already specified.

With all the basics covered, Luther sucked on a food paste tube and looked around. He couldn’t help but speak aloud. “What the hell happened… and where is the rest of the crew?” He paused as he realized his voice was high-pitched. He tried to clear his throat but instantly wished he hadn’t. It was extremely sensitive and felt raw.

With more control over himself and greater cognition as to his situation, he moved up to the control panel. He tried to press several buttons, but it gave no readout. An attempt at giving verbal orders only caused it to buzz. It was then he realized this side of the panel had a fingerprint scanner. With a shrug, he pulled the man he took to be a doctor over to the panel and tried all his fingers. It buzzed each time. It was then he guessed the panel also had some kind of life sign detection for security. He sliced the fingers off, pulled out the bones, and carefully pulled the skin over his own. He tried again. The left thumb turned out to be the key. The panel turned green. Luther let out a relieved breath, “Get me the bridge.”

“Doctor Anther, the primary computer is offline, and your voice is not identifiable to the backup. In fact, your voice doesn’t correspond to anyone including visitors aboard the Drusus. Stress analysis suggests you have sustained injury. I need two more readings.” Luther muttered but pushed his fingers covered with the doctor over the sensor. The panel again turned green “Doctor Anther, were you injured during the fold?”

“Yes,” Luther answered. “My throat is very sore.”

“Do you wish to change voice authentication to your current damaged tone and adjust as you recover?”

“Yes.”

“I have requested a second authentication, but no other officers have responded. Therefore, I am going to do an emergency override on your request to change voice authentication since I cannot confirm there are any other officers operationally active. Therefore, your request for voice change is confirmed, Doctor Anther. I am also marking you as a senior officer until a higher-ranking officer becomes available. Do you still wish to contact the bridge?”

Luther blinked in shock at this but managed to squeak out, “I do.”

Fifteen seconds of silence passed before a metallic female voice responded. “Doctor Anther, there is no response to your request. Life support on Epsilon deck, bridge level, is functioning but shows no life readings. Should I attempt another station?”

This caused Luther’s whole body to quake in fear. “Um, yes… Umm security, any station!”

This time there was almost a minute’s delay before the voice spoke. “Nine of the sixteen security stations are functional. There is no response and no life signs at any station. Should I attempt another station?”

Luther gulped as his eyes darted around the room. “How many life signs are showing?”

The voice took almost five minutes before responding. “Running full sensor sweeps now, Doctor Anther. However, thirty-six percent of all deck sensors are offline. Additionally, approximately eighty-one percent of Alpha deck is exposed to space. Seventy-three percent of Zeta deck is exposed to space. Fifty-two percent Delta deck is exposed to space, forty-one percent of Gamma deck is exposed to space, and fourteen percent of Beta deck is exposed to space. Numbers are based on extrapolations because of non-functional sensors. Note, since life cannot be detected on internal grids in exposed sections, there is a possibility of more alive than this system can identify. Additionally, the lower docking bay is fully exposed to space with two craft still detected as tethered inside the bay. A third is inside the bay, but not tethered. This system cannot identify life inside those craft. Computer extrapolations predict a total of 231 crew and passengers are alive, but only 71 can be confirmed.”

Luther gasped, “Seventy-one? How many crew are assigned to this ship?”

“The crew of the Drusus is designated at 963. This craft left Port Acrom fourteen crew short. There are also a registered 1592 combat survey troopers with 18 officers, and 93 non-combatants destined for New Brunswick to support upcoming assault operations.

“Additionally, thirty-one visitors, under the orders of Immuns Commander Boris were allowed entry. All thirty-one are confined to medical and long-term sick bay beds. Forty-three of the life signs detected come from the long-term medical beds in bays three and four. Three others from the primary med bay you are in including yourself. Therefore twenty-five of the seventy-one, are not in this medical wing, Doctor Anther.”

“Um, what about the combat troops?”

“The combat survey troopers are assigned to the barracks section of Alpha deck during transport. There are no life readings from Alpha deck. Extrapolations of areas exposed to space suggest the barracks section, along with main thrusters, is no longer part of the existing structure of the Drusus.”

“Son-of-a-bitch, what happened?”

“Doctor Anther, there is no one registered with the name ‘son of a bitch’ on board the Drusus. Is there someone else I can direct your question to?”

Luther’s head dropped. He had the rogue thought the computer was mocking him but dismissed it. “Um, no… um… Can I get a scan of the docking bay, and can the bay be closed and repressurized?”

After another delay, the computer responded, “Doctor Anther, scans show one bay door is missing and the other non-functional. There is no way to secure the docking bay. However, if you wish to egress, docking tube four shows functional and intact. It can be extended to the Scorpio, a Navis Iusoria class troop transport ship. Aft link tube is online and can transport you to the lower docking area and directly to docking tube four.”

Luther moved his jaw back and forth, “OK… um… can you establish communications with the Scorpio?”

After several seconds the computer responded, “There is no response from the Scorpio.”

Luther clenched his fists and took a few deep breaths, “Can you run diagnostics on the Scorpio?”

Again there was a lengthy delay. “The Scorpio has some minor outer hull armor damage, but is fully intact and the computer is responsive. I cannot gain access to life support readings, but the system shows fully functional. Because the Scorpio is set at low power to all stations, the extrapolation of facts says it is currently uncrewed.”

“What are its fuel and water levels?”

“Maintenance logs show it had repairs to the hull and several maneuvering thrusters while in the docking bay, so it was not supplied. However, there are ample stores that can be transferred to fill the Scorpio’s fuel and water supplies, and the links to do both are intact. Do you wish to fully resupply the Scorpio, Doctor Anther?”

“I do, and can you reset its computer to make someone else the commander?”

“I can, Doctor, do you wish it to be you?”

“No, one of those brought aboard.”

“You are listed as the current commanding officer of the Drusus thus you can alter who is in command. Have the person you wish to be the commanding officer of the Scorpio press all fingers against the control sensor of this unit and either input a voice or retinal scan.”

“I will have him do a retinal scan. Like me, his throat is damaged.”

“Understood Doctor Anther, awaiting inputs.”

Luther pulled off the fingers from his own, wiped his hands clean, and placed himself as commander of the ship in the lower docking bay. There was a series of beeps and chirps before the computer spoke again. “Commander of the Scorpio has been changed and authenticated by both the primary and backup computers aboard the Scorpio. Do you wish this individual to have officer-level access to the Drusus as well?”

Luther let out a long uneasy sigh wondering if some surviving security person or marine would shoot him because he took over the ship, but quickly said, “Yes, confirm Luther Serpa as an officer of the Drusus. Rank assigned as high as possible.

“Highest rank you have access to promote to, Doctor Anther, is Centurion Pilus Posterior.”

Luther shrugged. It was the lowest Earth Core officer rank, one normally used to promote a non-officer member within Earth Core to an officer position. It’s really all he knew, but if it would give him access to vital functions, nothing else mattered at this point. “It will have to do.”

“Actions confirmed, Doctor Anther. There is now a second, field-promoted, officer listed as operational aboard the Drusus. Since the new officer cannot currently talk, I recommend syncing a wrist unit with a holographic typing screen for him should he need to ask questions. There are a couple listed in the medical storage locker Alpha nine.”

Luther retrieved the wrist unit and checked to make sure it worked. It became vital to have the holographic unit because the computer could send him images of the ship functions of the Drusus. It also let him look at the power and overall condition of surviving sections of the ship. At least there was some good news in this. There were large sections, mostly in the upper fore portions of the ship, fully intact with no signs of leakage to space. Additionally, there were still two fusion plants online and large sections of the ship had primary life support that could pull from water tanks that were showing three-quarters full. This gave the Drusus weeks before it would run out of air and water.

However, this was pretty much the extent of the good news. The ship was a specter of its former self. As he gained access to surviving internal cameras, all spaces showed damage and widespread death. Bodies and blood floated everywhere. Many corpses appeared to have died screaming, as they grabbed their heads tightly. Others were curled into balls. The vast majority of them appeared to have died puking out blood. A camera on the bridge showed many had strapped in, including dozens at gunnery stations, yet all were dead. The why and how didn’t make sense until he found access to a camera in the engineering section. The whole compartment was breached, and the camera had a view of part of a hole in the hull. Outside bodies and debris floated well beyond the breach. However, the camera also showed the main engineering section. Red lights blinked on a large holographic display warning of extreme magnetic fold instability.

Luther found a second camera in the same area. This one he was able to pan around. He zoomed in. A shudder went down his spine and he cringed as he saw a display warning ‘magnetic instability beyond human tolerance levels on all decks’. It recommended releasing sleeping gas to be pumped throughout the ship. Another showed the entire ship was on battle stations, and finally, another showed both the primary and backup pipes to send the sleeping agent throughout the ship were breached and had sent all of it into space instead of the compartments of the ship.

This explained what had transpired. Everyone, other than those on medical beds or put into medically induced sleep, had been killed because their bodies had iron pulled from vital areas and they died of agonizing pain. Those who were asleep experienced the pain, but because they were medically induced their bodies didn’t, couldn’t, react. It was like surgery. A person awake couldn’t handle the pain, one under anesthesia could because they didn’t feel it. It also explained why his body didn’t work right at first. The iron in his body wasn’t stabilized properly. The medical beds must have detected a problem and sent needed enzymes and added iron supplements into the bloodstream to allow the body to properly amalgamate iron back into the blood or it would be days for a full recovery and chances are he would have internal damage. He also bet some remaining iron would be passed out through urine and solid waste over the next few days.

If the medical texts he had read were correct, it would be like passing scores of bladder stones over the next week or so and nothing other than pain and time would help. He shuddered, having seen a fellow medic get kidney stones out in the field without access to the ultrasonic stone shatter unit that would normally break up such a problem. Only with this type of iron de-amalgamation, there was nothing known to break up the iron deposits of a massive magnetic fold instability. He would just have to deal with it. He wondered if he would be pissing blood before it was over. He bet he and all the other survivors would. He shuddered again.

He turned his attention to the long-term medical bays. Cameras in the first two infirmary rooms showed him large chambers with thirty beds each. A few of the beds had broken loose, but most appeared to have people in them. Both rooms had three floating lifeless-looking bodies wearing medical uniforms. The second also had five in combat uniforms. He bet they were security marines based on uniforms. A sixth body had a mask on and had a tube from one of the beds hooked to his arm. The arm was secured to the bed with a weapon’s belt. Additionally, the body didn’t appear to be weirdly contorted like the others. He wondered if the man had managed to hook himself to the bed and get something over his face that put him to sleep. If so, there was a good chance the guy was alive. He found a second camera in the med bay. It allowed for a closer inspection. Luther shook his head as he zoomed in and found himself looking at Boris. Somehow Boris had managed to put himself under.

Luther couldn’t help but smirk as he snorted. The guy was amazing.

The last two rooms had usable cameras. They showed some beds, but they also showed extensive damage and as he panned them around, he found himself staring at stars and a large planet with rings. This instantly told him two things. Part of the deck he was on was breached and he was in a different star system. New Brunswick didn’t have any planets with rings.

Accessing other cameras close to the medical room he was in allowed him to see more. The passage beyond the door to his room was secure. Bulkheads had dropped just over fifty meters aft of his current location. Much like the room he was in, there was lots of debris and several dead bodies. Luther continued to move from camera to camera. The passage was intact just past the aft elevator. A deck-by-deck visual scan showed every exit from the elevator was secure just like the computer told him. This gave him more confidence in what he was being told.

The next thing the explorations of the cameras told him was that the kids who had been brought aboard with him were hooked to medical beds. A couple of the beds had broken loose from the walls. However, because it was an infirmary bay with auto medical beds with independent power, he bet most were alive. He also bet some of his team were hooked to some of the other beds.

He moved out into the passage hoping at least some of those he had come with were in good enough condition to help. The other thing he realized was he and any other survivors badly needed to be in a system with a habitable planet. Otherwise, the only hope of survival would rest with being lucky enough to have another fold ship enter the system and notice the wreckage.

He eyed the computer station again, “Is the Drusus sending out a distress signal?”

The computer answered, “No Doctor Anther, this ship is designated as a clandestine operational craft. As a senior officer, you can authorize outside communications. Do you wish to activate a low-spectrum or broad-spectrum distress signal?”

Luther didn’t hesitate. It could take hours or even days for a repeating signal to reach across the entirety of the star system, and there was no way to know when or where other ships would fold in. “Initiate broad spectrum distress and location signals at max power.”

“Confirmed Doctor Anther.” This was followed by. “Primary systems are offline. Extensive damage to the primary array. Secondary systems show full capability. Do you wish to switch to secondary?”

“Yes. Same orders.”

“Broad spectrum distress signals will begin in thirty seconds unless overridden by another officer.”

Luther let out a sigh of relief when the computer voice spoke again. “Distress beacons activated.”

Neil glanced up from his workstation as SrWO Gregoran barked out, “Kylem! You fill out less than half of this last placement test. Did you submit by mistake?”

Ky’s head lowered as he whispered, “No…”

“No?” Gregoran snapped. “No, what?”

“I don’t know half the stuff I tried to answer…”

“Unacceptable!”

“I don’t… understand… I tried. I really did!”

“Try harder!”

Wiles’ voice took a high nervous pitch as he spoke up, “Sir, he can’t read very well. He mixes up his letters…”

Gregoran frowned deeply. “Then how you pass the Damian’s Glade spaceport entry and AIM tests?”

“Verbal mode,” Wiles answered. “He switched it to verbal mode… We all pitched in to pay the hundred from what little we have in our AIM accounts so he had enough credits so could study and take tests on the verbal mode…”

“No better than cheating!”

As Kylem teared up Neil floated up from his desk, “Sir, you may outrank me, but…”

Horri’s voice came from the door, “Corporal, do not do something you may regret. Let me handle this.”

Horri entered the room and motioned for Gregoran. “Warrant officer, we need to talk.”

Gregoran’s eyes narrowed. “You are not in my unit, lieutenant. I have a…”

“You have a discussion with me to hold.” Horri rubbed his knuckles and gave a hard stare. “And this is not a conversation you wish to have in front of those you are entrusted to instruct.” There was a short pause followed by, “Now, warrant officer.”

Neil thought he heard a low growl out of Gregoran as the man tapped his instructor’s console. “Kylem, you test is rejected. Retake!”

The man floated out the door. Moments later, Horri’s left hand touched the panel causing the door to slide shut.

Zane cringed, “That’s not a talk I’d want to have!”

“Nope!” Neil agreed then turned to Kylem. “Hey, it’s OK.”

“I can’t read good. Letters get messed up unless I take lots of time and… I keep looking at the clock showing time left… I’m gonna be in like year two!” Tears floated out of Ky’s eyes.

Neil moved over and hugged him, “Relax. Not your fault. One of the girls in my unit had the same problem. AIM has a kit. It really helped Nikki. I’m sure it will help you.”

“It’s expensive,” Sekrena warned. “His dad tried to get Iron Horn to buy it, but they wouldn’t. It was cheaper to get the verbal interface. Even then his dad and one of the other kids had to pay for half of that.”

Neil held on to Ky tightly. “I don’t care how much it costs. If I have to take down an extra frame or a few EC hunters for salvage, then I will.”

“You take the frames,” Zane grinned. “The hunters are mine.”

Neil shook his head, “The very fact you look happy to know you are going after more of those bastards scares me!”

“It should and I do,” Zane sighed, “It’d be a lot better with Sev, but killing a few more of those murderers will be as much for whatever happened to him as it will be for everyone else EC a-holes killed on New Bravaria.

Neil guided Ky back to the boy’s workstation securing the chair. “Come on, just do the best you can. Skip what is hardest to understand for now.”

Neil returned to his testing station, but couldn’t help but look up at the door while occasionally glancing over the clock showing the time to planetary orbit. Less than three hours remained before the ship would be in position for orbit and would stay there until clearance for the targeted spaceport was granted. Those two things combined with the sniffling from Ky made it hard to concentrate on his own test.

He studied a complicated word problem and tapped out the beginning of a formula to answer the question when the door slid open. However, it wasn’t Gregoran on the other side. It was Boudicea.

He frowned and started to speak only to have the woman put up her hand. “Continue testing. Conscript Kylem, return to the home display, and type in your full name and Earth date of birth. Then hit continue. She floated over and handed the boy a headset. You should see a grant verbal interface code. Enter it. I grant you a full-time reset modification to finish. You need to speak softly, as not to interfere with other test takers. I will stay and monitor until all in this chamber complete their positioning assessments.”

Vadim glanced up, “Ma’am where be Warrant Officer Gregoran?”

Neil detected a slight smirk as the woman answered, “Your instructor developed an excruciating bout of gastrointestinal distress. Very acute. One could even say debilitating. Since I am the only other non-battle effective combatant, along with full achievement of accreditation in Progenitive Development with a specialty in Intermediate Trooper Indoctrination from Earth Core Mars Special Warfare Academy, I have been assigned to mentor you in all aspects of your studies until he recovers.”

While she continued to talk, Neil audibly gulped while Zane’s eyes went wide.

“Once you complete your placement examinations feel free to verify this new education assignment with your commanding officers.”

“Will…” Lucya gulped, “Um, ma’am… he be OK?”

Boudicea’s eyes seemed to glint as the briefest of grins crossed her lips. “My understanding on medical is limited to initial combat aide, so I must defer to those who now tend to his needs of such urgent care. However, my understanding is it will be a considerable rehabilitation period before he has the remotest chance of extracting himself from the medicinal bay Lieutenant Horri was kind enough to escort him to.”

Boudicea focused on Zane then Neil, “Is there an issue boys?”

Neil blinked, he knew even as he spoke it was a bad idea, but he was so rattled he couldn’t stop. “Progenitive Development from Mars Academy?… You’re a brood instructor, right?”

“Finn!” Zane gasped. “You…”

“He what?” Boudicea asked while staring straight at Zane.

“Noth…” Zane stopped and blinked. “You… You were, weren’t you?”

“Brood?” Wiles asked. “What the hell is a brood?”

“A artificially bred and birthed EC disposable killer,” Neil managed to verbalize even as his fists clenched.

“Not disposable!” Boudicea barked with fury in both voice and eyes.

“I met several rescued from certain death,” Zane fired back. “They were taken as their ships exited the atmosphere and angled back down. The lead two ships made it to the atmosphere. Blood’s Honor tracked one to where Shadow Brigade crushed an EC platform group. It was taken down. The other landed on the edge of the minefields mercs set to defend the crash of the Fluvius Camillus! You can’t tell me they were not sent there to die!”

Boudicea floated back and gasped as if she had been punched. “Rescued? Who…? How…?” she shook her head as if to clear it. “How many?”

Neil snorted, “Almost sounds like you care.”

Boudicea pushed off a wall to float toward Neil with a raised hand. She pulled the hand back as Neil took a defensive unarmed fighting posture. “Do not ever accuse me of not caring, boys!”

“The ones I met were sent to attack from the mined side without any protective gear!” Neil snarled. “Each had an EC light rifle, three twenty-round magazines, a combat blade, and a hydration pack. Even if they made it, the rifles wouldn’t have gone through body armor let alone anything heavier. Worse, they would have faced machineguns set up on the edges of the crater made by the crash of the Fluvius Camillus. EC command knew it, because a company, probably more, of red patches were wiped out during the first attempt to break the lines. No one who gave a shit about the brood would have given such an order!”

Zane jumped back in. “And that is where the other ship went! From what I saw after they were rescued, some were so badly hurt they couldn’t carry weapons properly. I heard directly from some of them, a few were given range pistols because they couldn’t carry rifles. Range pistols. They would have done nothing to mercs in any protective gear. They were going to be nothing but a blood-splattered distraction so your EC thugs could assault us from the north side!”

Neil glared and Boudicea. “Fortunately, Colonel Price realized what you were up to and sent enough info to General Scott to outflank the main EC force while Shadow Brigade took out your supply caches.

“Your reinforcements were wiped out before they could be dispatched from your primary base outside of Ludwig. It let the mercs crush your frontal assault. Two full combined armed EC regiments pounded into twisted ruin before they even reached the defensive perimeter put up around the back side of the crash crater.”

“Yeah,” Zane snarled. “They were blasted to hell while your entire command group and reserves were irradiated along with the whole city of Ludwig including a huge chunk of the countryside.”

“All because your command station went up in a thermonuclear wave because EC did something to the fission plant!” Neil seethed. “But whatever you did also wiped out your ionic planetary defensive batteries and eliminated a massive chunk of your reserves, supplies, and the bulk of Kromar’s elite shock forces.”

Zane jumped back in. “Which let the surviving mercs hold long enough for Blood’s Honor reinforcements and the ABR come in with enough strike troops to pound the rest of your murdering ass-wipe hordes into bloody puddles!”

Neil smirked as he added, “And ripped over a dozen EC warships to shreds as they folded into the system at two failsafe points… Positions a… um… source… managed to grab intel on. From what I heard and vids I saw, the first waves were blasted before they could even fire thrusters, let alone turn guns on the Blood’s Honor fleets.”

Zane interjected his own thoughts while Neil took a couple of calming breaths. “And, because most of the brood were in the same kind of ships, Blood’s Honor knew what to look for. The brood ships were singled out while other ships and the escorts were reduced to reentry debris. Blood’s Honor space strike teams took at least half a dozen more brood ships because they were lightly armed and armored non-combat Bezaisen class ships.”

Neil couldn’t help but smile as Boudicea floated in front of him with wide eyes and her jaw hanging up so far that some drool floated out of her mouth. He decided to take another couple of pokes. “Actually, it was nice EC sent in so many of your Bezaisen class freight ships in. Several brood and a score of non-brood Bezaisen ships were taken. Many as they tried took the remaining food, probably so the whole of the New Bravaria system would starve. Many of those ships were given to surviving merc units so they had space transport. Didn’t know some were brood ships, but lots of mercs have them throughout the ABR and nearby alliances because of how many were captured.”

Boudicea’s eyes moved back and forth between the two with a stunned expression. “Brood ships and full broods captured? How… How do you… Are you sure?”

“Oh yeah.” Neil snorted with a mixture of anger at the memories and satisfaction over getting under Boudicea’s skin. “I was there… Helped get the information about the failsafe fold points to Blood’s Honor and saw the wreckages of your EC ships at the nearest fold point! Hunks of warships and a few almost intact ones that slammed into the wrecks when they folded into what they thought would be a safe fold point very close to the planet. The first few nights the burning hunks could be seen from the planet. Even if you didn’t know about what Kromar the Butcher did at Ludwig, you had to have seen your ships as they burned just outside planetary orbit!”

“No…” Boudicea shook her head vehemently. “I… I was not there.” She took a deep breath, “I was replaced at the staging base on Alabaster IV after we were told our broods were going into full war zone…”

She shook her head as if to clear it. “And there’s no way EC, or anyone else, would do anything thermonuclear! No way!”

“Oh, so you’re saying the main fission plant just happened to blow up and sent radiation over the entire city and at least a hundred kilometers downwind?” Neil growled. “Thousands dead. Probably more. A huge chunk of land unusable for… probably forever! All because Kromar before his death, or someone under him after he was killed, was too chickenshit to face Blood’s Honor. A final act of horror from your former Eye of Mars Field Marshal!”

Zane spoke up, “Wicked-looking medal. It’s good the animal who was awarded it is dead.”

Neil shot Zane a glare and gave a warning shake of a finger pushed against his side so Boudicea couldn’t see. He also wondered how close Boudicea was to losing it. He watched and readied for her to come at him as she took a couple of deep breaths, closed her eyes, and gritted her teeth. However, she seemed to force a calm after several seconds.

Neil wanted to back off but felt he had to keep the focus away from Zane’s comments about the Eye of Mars. “How many you claim to care about were sent into the slaughter by your replacements, Lieutenant?” He demanded to know. “I bet they were in the first wave and were blasted to shit with all the other EC red patches we found splattered all over the back side of the crater. I heard there were pieces of kids. I bet some of them were yours.”

Pure rage flashed through her eyes. It started with a head shake and ended with a wipe of a few tears. A sudden snarl escaped her lips. With clenching of a fist, she smashed her good hand into the computer station in front of Neil, smashing it.

Neil floated back, “What the hell?”

She ignored drops of blood floating up from pieces of the workstation sticking out of her hand. “Be careful what you say, young one! I cared about every one of those girls. All of them!”

She took a few breaths through clenched teeth which caused the air to hiss as she inhaled. Finally, her fist came down onto the ruined station a second time. When she spoke, anger saturated her tone. “My girls… I was responsible for them. I should have gone and died beside them. My abandonment of them is to my shame. Yet, I know nothing about what actually happened. I was relegated and sent to Tarvos for my attempt to pull them out of the battle order plan.

“And as far as what happened within the New Bravaria system, I would put nothing past the command responsible for enacting the recovery following the loss of the Emperor’s bloodline. Nothing. The pressure and threats of what would happen if the boy or his cousin wasn’t recovered, alive or dead, was repulsive enough to cause not-so-veiled talk of the emperor no longer being suitable to rule. On the other hand, the reward for the person or persons who recovered the boy… boys… was enough to send men, women, and dare I say young brood, into combat with depraved, irresponsible, and reckless abandon. Nothing was off the table if it would have led to a recovery. Possibly not even overloading a fission station.”

Boudicea let out a long breath. “How causing a failure of a fission plant critical enough to explode would help in such a recovery, I cannot fathom. Nor is it something I knew was possible, but I will take you at your word. And if what you are saying is true, it explains why word came down about Kromar’s remains being unavailable for eternal internment in the Crypt of Legends. Instead of his body, a hologram sits in its place.”

“Just like EC to glorify a mass murderer,” Zane snarled. “How can you look anyone in the eye and say there is a damned thing worth… anything… about EC?”

Boudicea took a couple of deep uneven breaths. Her eyes closed as she clenched her fists, driving some of the bits of Neil’s workstation deeper into her hand. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and looked calmer. “While it is clear you have reasons to be angry, even furious, I have lived longer and know how to look beyond what is shoved in front of my face.

“With age and experience, comes enough wisdom for me to separate what a few do and have done from the whole, young ones. Something you need to understand how to accomplish, or you will see nothing but disgust where there is also greatness. Some of the greatest military leaders put together fantastic battle plans still studied centuries later, yet their forces perpetrated horrors on those they crushed. However, there seems to be one thing we have in common. For there is nothing… NOTHING anyone can say about Kromar to dissuade my sentiments about his final acts of depravity! He was the… bastard… who activated brood all the way down to eight years of age… Declared them ronin, and shoved them into the fray with every unit with even the slightest black mark on their records. Over three hundred thousand men women, brood, and academy level kids… the largest single purge of the EC military since the end of the fourth reunification wars… Included within were those I was tasked to mentor.”

Zane and Neil exchanged glances again as Boudicea used her sleeve to wipe at her eyes. While the rest of the room stayed silent, she frowned at the workstation. She regained full exterior composure quickly. “Looks like I owe the Star Sliders a replacement fee. Corporal switch station. I will transfer your completed portion of your tests over to station eleven.”

“So…” Zane started then stopped.

“So, what young warrior?” Boudicea responded as she used her teeth to pull pieces of the testing computer out of her hand. Before she could get more than a couple out, Wiles and Lucya moved up to assist.

“You… didn’t… um, you weren’t on New Bravaria?”

“Never put a boot onto any soil within the star system.”

“And…” Zane took an uneasy breath. “You are happy the butcher, Kromar is dead?”

“Happy is not the correct word. Satisfied. Relieved. Possibly even comforted.” She shook her head. You both were in the New Bravaria system. Word has reached me one of you even met a lone brood. Apparently, this information was faulty, for both of you have actually met multiple brood. How this is possible I cannot fathom. However, this means you only know what happened from yours and their perspectives. Nevertheless, I must also concede you have a far deeper understanding of them than most could hope to.”

Neil took a deep angry breath, “If you really feel the way you say, how can you not be happy Kromar is dead?”

Boudicea cocked her head to the side. “Corporal, his final decrees were as immoral as any I have ever heard come from any Earth Core leader. Yet, I also know there were threats, dire, or at least his cousin not be recovered. The orders went on to say when found any trace of Remus Quartus Britannic and Remus Octavius Britannic must be eliminated from within the wreckage of the Fluvius Camillus. Therefore, it is possible the fission overload was a last-ditch attempt to fulfill the emperor’s orders.”

She paused as Neil and Zane exchanged sharp surprised-looking glances. Her voice sounded exasperated as her eyes darted back and forth between the two. “Now what?”

“Quintus and Octavius?” Zane asked.

“Yes…” her eyes arched, and she spoke softly, “Why?”

“Um…” Neil spoke quickly, “Nothing… But the radiation didn’t even get close to the ship.”

Next to him, Zane gulped while he sucked his lips inward leaving him with a guilty look.

Boudicea let out a long breath as her shoulders dropped. “Nothing?” She let out a snort as both Neil and Zane remained tight-lipped. “Nothing my ass! Your exceedingly rare silence gives you away boys!” She gave a dismissive flip with her good hand, “Get back TO YOUR TESTS!”

“Yes Ma’am!” both boys stated in unison.

“Ma’am with no complaints?” She snickered. “Now I know you two are hiding something! And I would bet my primary frame the two of you knew and know each other far better than either of you have let on.”

As Neil tried and utterly failed at stopping his eyes from going wide. Boudicea let out a long laugh. “Yeah… So, let me guess, you bumped into each other while in the care of Blood’s Honor?”

“Before,” Zane stated to the shock of Neil. “We were both part of the merc kids who kicked the crap out of your Hunters.” Zane smirked deviously, “And I was better which is why Finn pisses me off. He’s higher rank while I killed at least twice what he did, and he knows it!”

“But not as many as Zane and Sev combined to kill,” Neil quickly countered.

“No four others killed as many!” Zane agreed without missing a beat. “If Sev was here…” He sighed. “I’m going to kill a few more of those bastards for him.”

“Sev? I gather he was a friend of both of you?”

“Best friend a guy could have…” Zane grumbled, “Taken by your blue beret jackwads.”

“Then he may still be alive,” Boudicea stated. “If you two stay focused and complete all the missions, I will put out some feelers with my contacts still in Earth Core. Can’t guarantee anything, but if you can get me a vid file, I’ll see what I can do.”

“What about the others?” Neil asked with sudden hope.

“I can’t put out too many feelers without someone none of us want taking notice, but if you get me some vid files and last knowns, I’ll see what I can do, but no guarantees. If you do extremely well, others in the unit may be willing to risk some of their contacts as well.”

Neil’s brow furled, “How many Death Warriors are EC?”

“Several,” Boudicea admitted. “Most came from my unit. But a few from others when we were hit by an unexpected, extremely precise, raid by the Free Planets Association. We got out by the skin under our nails, then were put under sanction because we surrendered the space station and base equipment rather than get it blasted out from under us. It’s where I dislocated my wrist, shoulder, and elbow. I slammed into the garrison bulkhead as we tried to get to our stations. For me and several others with any kind of black mark on our records, it was either muster out and leave EC space forever or become what you two keep referring to as a red patch, what we call survey troopers.

“So while you have a reason to hate Earth Core, I have my own reasons.” She tapped on her good wrist with her bad hand. The wristband displayed a holographic image of four kids and a man missing his right arm. “My family. The two girls are mine, the boys to my husband, but they are all my kids. A family I am forbidden from having any contact with. If I attempt, they will be reduced to freeman and sent to a farming, mining, or like world where they will toil on an existence level, probably for life. As things stand now, I am considered mustered out but with a ronin tag, meaning a for-hire warrior not sanctioned by Earth Core. Not illegal, but badly tainted. My family stay citizens. And trust me, should that status change, I will find out, and then… whatever Earth Core officer who does anything to harm them will wish for death long before it comes.”

Zane blinked and cocked his to the side. “Yet you still seem to defend Kromar and what EC did on New Bravaria. How? Why?”

“Young one, you need to push your rage aside and look at reason. For, as far as my feelings, you need look no further than your own words.”

“Huh?” Zane barked out.

Neil spoke slower, “What words?”

“You, both of you, are blinding yourselves. For, have I not heard both of you say several times unit is family?”

Zane’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, so?”

“So?” Boudicea responded calmly. “Certainly, there are some in your prior units you detested, yet if or when they were killed, were you, or would you have been happy about it?”

Neil’s lips pressed tightly together. After several seconds he reluctantly shook his head.

Zane let out a long drawn out, “noooooo,” in an annoyed tone.

“Precisely the same thing applies to me with regards to Field Martial Kromar. I was Earth Core. He was powerful, and while I never served directly under him, was said to have been a very skilled leader. While his cruelty in the new Bravaria system was beyond reason… And his orders to send ungraduated brood and academy-level youth into full conflict was a repugnant act of barbarity, his persona was portrayed as legend. His victories number in the hundreds. Some were quite spectacular. Kromar’s demise sent a ripple of fear and despair through the ranks. Much, I am sure, would happen to any mercenary unit that lost a capable leader, regardless of personal like or dislike.”

Boudicea paused and looked at both boys. Yet Neil couldn’t find his tongue. He actually thought about how he would feel if someone like Dante’s father was killed. The man had, per Neil’s father’s own words, saved the life of both his mother and father with his hard fighting. The master sergeant’s death would be a huge loss to the unit but at the same time a relief. But would he be happy? Neil wasn’t sure.

Boudicea’s eyebrows arched when there was silence. “It is good to see you both consider my words for once. As you continue to think this through, let me add in a couple of other things I hope you will consider. You have grown up as sons of for-hire warriors. Additionally, you have firsthand knowledge of the horrors visited upon New Bravaria, atrocities I only heard rumors of. How you not only survived but escaped Earth Core enforced recruitment is a testament to your will, character, tenacity, and dare I say, luck.

“Yet you have put a banner on me incorporating what you experienced. Understandable given circumstance. However, I lost almost as much. My refusal to take my girls and I did and still do consider that brood mine, into combat before they were ready got me sent to where we now go. What amounts to a penal oversight duty to a group of troopers on their last chance of redemption. By being given such an assignment, I was only a step away from having a patch of disgrace put on my own uniform.

“I also wish to add, many of the Bezaisen class ships certainly were refurbished Third and Fourth Reunification War supply ships. For one thing, you have not yet been told is Tarvos serves as a station to refurbish old ships for second-line units. Our task is to procure two. One large enough for the Death Warriors and the other to sell. However, there is also a possibility we can procure a third for your Sabers. While not ideal, they are combat-ready. Additionally, since Earth Core lost two manufacturing stations for Bezaisen ships, one to the free Planets and the other to Brave Humanities, parts for them are readily available through Earth Core and the outer colonies.

“On Tarvos, the best quality ships are set to be put into service as backup ships for front-line units. The majority are not as combat worthy. They are put back into service with brand new academy graduates and graduated broods for their first missions. The worst are handed to those relegated to new survey trooper units. Bezaisen class transports are the most common ships for this since they are easy to work on and can be churned out quickly. Every rotation through Tarvos repairs at least three of them because there is a quota to get five ships up, three of which can be relegation quality ships.

“However, if you get seven ships certified as combat ready, there is a monetary reward to the officers in command and only the bottom fifteen percent are assigned to Survey trooper duty, so there is always the attempt made. One my rotation missed, but allowed the current garrison to achieve because one was only weeks away from certification status.

“As it was, as punishment for refusal to commit the girls under me to combat, I was tasked with weeding out the worst fifty percent of the Tarvos garrison. The lowest half or twenty-five percent of them were assigned to Survey trooper status. The others were given a second stint at the Tarvos boneyard where the next commander would once again select the bottom fifty percent. Some to stay on Tarvos, the worst relegated to wear red patches. Some of those we will face have been stationed there for five or six stints.”

“Wow…” Jasha stated with a shudder. “You think they learn and do good…”

“One would think.” She paused to look over the bandage on her hand and gave Lucya and Wiles nods of thanks before she continued. “Yet, I discovered some wanted to stay just above the line to be relegated to survey troopers.”

“Why would anyone want to stay on barely habitable nasty world like the vids for Tarvos show?” Sekrena asked with true bewilderment.

“Because after eight years of service to the empire, any EC trooper, regardless of rank, with a continuous honorable record of service, can muster out without taint. This is regardless of their level of performance or combat duty. They not only keep full citizenship they receive basic veteran benefits. This gives them rights beyond a basic citizen and even a full citizen when it comes to everything from job preferences to level of taxation, to travel privileges. And while Tarvos is a wretched duty assignment, there are only a handful of weeks at the beginning and end of each rotation where there is any intensity to the garrison duties. The occasional raider or scavenger provide chance for action, along with combat awards, yet is not terribly dangerous. And Tarvos is still considered honorable service.

“Additionally, there is a chance, not a good one, but a chance of promotion should someone of a higher rank fall, die, or desert. One of the women in the garrison was on her fourth time when I got there. She had been promoted twice during that time. When it came time for me and my command staff to put lists together and hand over command, I found she had made sure she angered my ops officer in the weeks leading to replacement. It was not egregious enough for her to be assigned as a survey trooper. My contact says she is still there, after doing almost the exact same thing to the next operations officer. Additionally, she is a better-than-average frame pilot. By keeping her there, it gives the incoming command group a framer who is extremely familiar with the boneyard, the station, and has gained a reputation as an able combatant with leadership potential to get her possibly promoted a third time.”

Boudicea swiped at a few floating blood drops from her own hand. “Nonetheless, I was relegated there. With a blackmark already on my record, and after the surrender of the space station I was given chance to muster out and leave as ronin or receive a stint leading survey troopers.

“The choice was given because I had ten years of service to the Core. And believe it or not, had I done anything I felt was disgraceful, I would have taken the Survey trooper detail and served until I died or worked myself back into normal troops. But this,” she lightly tapped her bad arm, “was because others in Earth Core allowed the entirety of our defenses to fall into the hands of the Free Planets Association. They knew where to fold in, how to hit our defenses, and wiped out any chance of resistance before the alarm could more than be sounded.

“Over eleven thousand troopers fell and at least four warships were destroyed or taken during the FPA assault that lasted only 38 Earth Standard hours. There had to have been a few thousand more casualties on those ships.”

Boudicea took a couple of angry breaths before she continued. “Yet those of us who were injured, killed, and taken captive were blamed. Not those who allowed the defenses to be leaked. Information classified beyond what all but the highest in Earth Core Command could have knowledge of. Yet only those who were on the front lines of a slaughter were fingered as responsible. I will never claim responsibility for something so clearly not within my purview of knowledge, nor could I stay in, under the command of those willing to shove survey trooper duty to thousands who never stood a chance, but still did what they could.”

Boudicea paused and tossed up her good arm. “Nor will I ever say refusal to lead the girls of the Brood I was tasked with completion of their training into a massacre. The mission as given, combined with an appalling lack of equipment, was the equivalent of sending them into a meat grinder. Dumping their blood into the soils of the of New Bravaria system was immoral… And I am ranting while you all should be focused on testing. My apologies young ones.”

“What happened to the brood you were teaching?” Zane asked after a few seconds of silence.

“We can talk more once your testing is complete, young warriors. We are now under two and a half Earth standard hours before we enter orbit, and there is no telling how quickly we will get clearance to land. I need all of you done with placement testing before landing, so I can get with the education system within AIM to get you needed lessons.”

An hour after the ship entered orbit, Neil let out some long breaths as he pulled up the next testing module. The first several were easy, the last two had been far more difficult, but he understood them. The current one pushed every aspect of his schooling. A few he entered answers but put a question mark after, which told the computer he wasn’t sure of the answer. He finally hit submit and got a notice of testing complete. He looked up and let out a long sigh. As he did so, he realized only he, Vadim, and Wiles remained in the room. He blinked and looked around again, “Where are the others?”

“Back in your squad room, or should be,” Boudicea answered. “The tests end when it sees you have reached the upper edge of your abilities and knowledge or you time out on a section. Most did not make it as far as you. She glanced down at her terminal. “Well done corporal. You tested out of standard basic and secondary education by a few points. You will be in pre-university, so you need to pick a professional course and an academic track before you are dismissed.”

Neil glanced down at his workstation. It listed a long list of possible professional lines of advanced vocational education with an even longer academic line. He pulled up the ‘recommended options’ along with ‘optimal combinations’. This left a much shorter list.

He cringed at the topics the computer thought would best match his interests based on testing. He didn’t like any of them. He pulled up ‘other optimal combinations’ and scanned the list. He nodded slowly at one of the last on the list. He pulled up the two-course study lists and let out a deep breath. He tapped and hit submit.

Boudicea glanced down as her terminal beeped, “Pre-electric Era History with a specialization in Pre-Mechanized Warfare Tactics for the academic side and Neural Interface Design and Repair for your technical side? You sure?”

“Yeah, as long as it’s ok…”

“One thing I can guarantee you is Commander Lomo is all about self-improvement. However, these will be expensive modules which will require a great deal of study. Once we pay for them, there is no turning back unless you pay for the initial cost, all taken tests, and a brand-new curriculum line.

“I also feel I should warn you Commander Lomo will most certainly be your instructor for part of the Pre-mechanized Warfare Tactics portions. It is one of his specialties and dare I say hobbies.”

Neil winced then shrugged. “Both of these are what I really want. So I guess I will be able to get some of the language lessons he offered me when he teaches me.”

“Indeed you will. And I gather the neural interface is to get you to where you can eventually be a master frame tech?”

“Yes, ma’am. I love working on frames, but the neural stuff…”

“I am sure Master Sergeant Shoda will be your lead instructor, for I have only basic frame repair knowledge. He, however, is a certified Master Frame, and Master Battle Armor tech… Both by AIM… and Earth Core. Neither men will be easy on you if you choose these paths.”

Neil’s eyebrows arched as he gulped, “Um… Geesh… EC… I should have guessed…” He took some uneasy breath even as he shrugged. “Well… I guess I get to learn from the best on both sides… and hopefully, get to learn something extra about EC tech… Um, so yeah. Those are my choices.”

“Your willingness to receive instruction from someone formerly of Earth Core shows a willingness to give us a chance. And I am certain Commander Lomo will be impressed with your choices. We’re in orbit, so get to your room and get the others ready to strap in. Information I am getting from the Star Sliders says it could be a rough entry with heavy weather once we push past the stratosphere.”

Neil nodded understanding, glanced over to Vadim, and then Wiles. He could tell Vadim was about where he was toward the end of testing. The boy had a tightly clenched jaw and shook his head often. Wiles, however, showed nothing to indicate he was struggling. He bet Wiles was going to place highest out of any of them. The kid was again proving to be wicked smart.

He started to exit then turned to Boudicea, “Ma’am how’d Ky do?”

“Not great…” She sighed. “Verbal interface helped, but he is well below the rest of you. I will order a learning disability battery of tests so we can pinpoint his problems and try to provide the needed remedies. I have already submitted his tests for review by AIM academic processing to get a baseline. We are fortunate Damian’s Glade is an AIM academic hub for this sector, so we have access to everything up to Advanced University remote courses.”

“Um, I heard those special disability tests are real expensive… I have some credits if it will help.”

Boudicea gave a dismissive flip of her wrist. “Commander Lomo will take care of it, corporal. If not, I will. You focus on completion of the upcoming missions. Let me handle getting young Kylem what is required to advance academically.”

Less than an Earth Hour later the speaker in his squad’s billeting room came to life. “All crew and passengers, we have been cleared for atmospheric entry. Time to gravity is twenty-one Earth minutes. Secure all remaining floating items and strap in with full harnesses. We are getting word of extreme weather at lower altitudes, so it is going to be a rough one. Recommend all passengers get portable sickness vacuum bags ready.

Zane and Neil made a quick pass through the room and even checked the hall. Once they verified the area was hazard-free and everyone was strapped down, they took spots in landing seats.

Zane smirked, “I love a rough reentry!”

Most in the room shot him a wide-eyed stare while Neil snickered. “It is kind of fun once you do it a few times. It’s like a amusement park ride, only lots longer.”

Kylem frowned, “I’ve watched holos of fun parks, but never been to one. Are they as fun as they look?”

Zane nodded, “Oh, yeah. There is one on Red Surge that is amazing. It has a air tube you lay in and it shoots you through this clear tube with holographic displays all around you. There were dozens of options so each one was different. It make it look like you are shooting through things like water with lots of huge fish with big teeth, a forest with reptiles as big as buildings that look like they are trying to come after you. But the best was like you are in a aero-fighter shooting down at a big battlefield.”

Neil grinned, “Think most of us spent all our AIM credits plus advances on allowances at that park. We were broke for weeks. But SOOO worth it!”

Sekrena let out a long breath. “Sounds super scary, but I’d like to go there and try sometime.” She paused. “Do you think Wiles is still testing?”

“Yes, comrade,” Vadim answered. “I timed out right after Finn finish. Wiles still not look like he… um, struggle?”

“Good a word as any,” Neil agreed. “Did you get into pre-university?”

“Just missed. Test out a fourth quarter of year nine. But Lieutenant Boudicea make me pick pre-college. I not go hard as you. Took Advance Mathematic and Beam Weapon Design and Repair. They be my best two subject at Quaker Academy… But not design part.”

“She made you pick two?” Zane asked with an undertone of horror.

“Yeah,” Neil answered. “An academic and technical. It didn’t give me an option for just one, so I’m guessing she set the basic parameters. By the way, she either slipped up or just flatly told me Shoda is EC too…”

“Not surprised at this point. I still bet Lomo is too. But nothing we can do about it.”

“Nope, and you’re right. She said several of the Death Warriors are former EC. Ronin. Which I thought was rogue EC units, but the way she described it is they were kind of like kicked out and given an option to be mercs. Doesn’t make sense.”

Wiles entered the room and quickly strapped in. The fact he handled the Zero-G with much less difficulty was not lost on Neil. He was about to comment when Wiles spoke. “Overheard you. And it does make sense, corporal. At least as I understand it. She was allowed to leave Earth Core service and become a merc under the condition she doesn’t return to Earth Core space. This means she can’t fight against them. They hold family’s futures against them, so they don’t return. I bet it allows them to get rid of those who might give them problems by letting them go do what they are good at while also not having to worry about fighting those they trained.”

Zane’s left eyebrow went up. “Good points, Wiles. That actually does make sense. But what a bunch of buttholes. They can’t even see their kids. EC needs to be wiped out… forever.”

“Yeah,” Neil agreed. “But it sure seems like a big risk to go to Tarvos. If there really are lots of them from EC, the Death Warriors are risking a lot of family and probably friends by doing this.”

“But they will get a ship they probably know lots about and without a ship or ships they would be like those that guarded our mine. From what I saw at the Starport, the units with space transport were the ones going after the good contracts up on the boards.”

“Space transport is something all merc units strive to get…” Neil stopped speaking as the blower fans kicked in and the downward pull of gravity took over. “Hold on… Sounds like Damian’s Glade has a denser atmosphere than most worlds, so it’s going to get warm this close to the outer hull.”

As the temperature in the cabin climbed, Sekrena looked over, “How’d you know it was going to get hot?”

“They put the fans on high from the start.” Zane answered. “Means the hull temp is close to max. I’ve heard there is enough heat during the average reentry to provide power for a large city for years. Almost put fusion reactors and magnetic fold coils to shame.”

Wiles grinned, “I will be learning more about that. The lieutenant said I scored high enough to submit for some advanced space travel sciences. And since I like to fold, I would make a great ship crewman. She also said I scored high enough to bypass pre-university so I can go directly into Magnetic Propulsion and Dampening and Magnetic Mathematical Theory. If I get past the prelim courses, she said the Death Warriors would accept me as a ship crewman and pay for full degrees in Aerospace Thermodynamics and Magnetic Fold Coil Calibration, Dampening, and Repair as a study combo. Can’t wait to get started.”

Neil and Zane both let out a ‘pffftt’ sound as a couple of the others whistled.

As Wiles started to frown, Neil spoke up, “Dude, we’re not looking down on you. We’re impressed!”

“And jealous,” Lucya added. “Much better than I could ever hope to do, comrade.”

“Yeah, and very costly course set,” Vadim joined in. “The Death Warriors must have lots of money…”

“But…” Zane spoke in a warning tone. “If they pay for a full degree, I bet they will make you sign a multi-year contract to put you through those courses.”

“She said I’d be under contract from the time I start the full degrees till five years after completion, but with pay as senior tech as long as I continue to get passing grades on Magnetic Propulsion and Dampening and Magnetic Mathematics. Once I pass both, I get bumped to Lead Tech pay and rank. If I get the full degrees and have five years of crew experience under me, she says there isn’t a ship in the galaxy who wouldn’t hire me as a master tech!”

“Fold ships and large PLCs all have magnetic dampening specialists. They monitor folds and adjust dampeners to cut down on fold stress. Everything has to be done on the fly because there are like, um, extra stresses put on different parts of the ship and it has something to do with a positive and negative attraction that counters the fold or whatever.” Zane shuddered as he spoke. “I’ve heard a couple of kids in our unit, Caleb and Dante, talk about it… Makes my head spin just to think about it. But I heard from Caleb’s dad it is extremely important, especially on folds of over six light years. Mr. Jorgan is always in engineering during folds. I bet he saved the Grey Stallion during the mis-fold.”

“Sure he did.” Neil stated. “Dante is starting to learn the basics, but under an apprenticeship that he has to take certification and knowledge tests at some point… But even after he gets certified it will be as a journeyman, not like getting a degree. Good luck Wiles. And seriously, we’re impressed.”

Talk ceased as the PLC started to shake. Neil pulled on a quick-close pouch on this harness and pulled out a mouthguard. “Everyone, chew on these! It’ll prevent you biting yourself or chipping teeth!

Kylem looked at Neil with wide eyes. “Is this normal?”

“Nope!” Zane managed to get out as the hair on his head flared out. Everyone else in the room found their hair doing the same.

While others in the cabin blinked, Neil spoke through the mouthguard, “Lighting strikes to the hull. We must be dropping through a bad thunderstorm! Tighten down your straps until they dig into you and give them another pull! This is gonna be a rough one!”

“Keep your mouth closed and teeth clamped onto the guard!” Zane added. “A hard jolt can cause it to pop out!”

The ship continued to buck wildly for several minutes. Lucya, Sekrena, and Antone all lost their last meal. Antone didn’t or couldn’t let go of his seat so his upheavals covered his front and the floor in front of his chair. A couple of mouthguards went flying. Kylem sobbed. Wiles looked around with a strange grin and kept trying to push his hair down. Vadim and Jasha lost control of their bladders. Suddenly the main thrusters fired. The descent slowed so rapidly, the G forces caused enough pain for some to cry out while a few in the cabin blacked out.

Neil braced for landing when suddenly there was a hard burst from the main engines and thrusters to his right roared. There was a deafening clang and the ship jerked. The ship shot back upwards, pushing him down hard into his seat. Another roar from side thrusters jerked him hard to the left as the ship flung itself to the right. Several seconds later he felt the landing gear come down hard. He was pretty sure he even heard them hit as he was badly jolted one last time.

The speaker came to life before Neil could pry his hands off the armrests of the chair. He knew the speaker said something, but he missed it.

Next to him, Zane twisted the harness disconnect and bolted over to Coryn, who had blood running down her chin. A voice came over the speaker again. This time Neil caught most of it. “… Crews to Charlie Deck! Wear respirators! All cabins report in. We need a list of injuries and obvious damage.”

Neil shook his head, realized he was seeing some stars, and took a few deep breaths. “Injuries… Who’s hurt.”

Wiles spoke, “Coryn’s mouth is bleeding… and Ky and Vadim aren’t moving…”

Neil managed to hit the disconnect on his harness but stayed seated. “Zane… um … You OK?’

“Yeah, you?”

“Feeling a little dizzy…”

Wiles stood, “Stay put until we get someone to check you. We hit hard. And… I think something hits us! You may have a concussion.”

“He’s right Finn,” Zane spoke. “You just called me by the wrong name so take it easy. Wiles, get me the med kit. Coryn bit her lower lip bad and is out cold.”

Wiles pulled a first aid kit off the wall and handed some bandages over. He angled over to Antone who had his eyes open but hadn’t moved, had blood coming out of his mouth, and looked badly dazed.

Neil blinked as the speaker repeated the command to check-in. “Jasha, get the bridge. Let them know… what you are seeing.

Jasha bolted over to the ship comm console and spoke “Passenger room Delta three has some hurt.”

“Anything serious?” a male voice asked.

“Possible concussion… guess more than one… Um three who pass out before we hit and not wake… one bad bit lip… maybe two or a tongue… lots of puke… um, and I think one or two other… plus me… peed…”

A different voice responded. “Nothing to be ashamed of. Several adults are going to need to clean themselves. Is there anything you can’t handle short term, son?”

Jasha glanced around, and got a shake of his head from Zane, while Neil pointed to Vadim, Sekrena, and Antone.

Lucya shook her head as if to clear it and blinked a few times before she moved over to Vadim. “His eyes are fluttering. Think he passed out…”

“G forces,” Zane commented as he applied a wad of self-adhesive insta-clot bandage on Coryn’s lower lip. “Leave him, Antone and Sekrena buckled in. Same For Coryn. They were out before we landed, so they couldn’t brace themselves. Their heads had to bounce around worse than the rest of ours.”

Neil let out a long breath, “Give me a sec and I’ll help.”

“Stay put comrade corporal,” Lucya barked. “Let someone give head and neck scan first.”

Wiles spoke firmly even as he put a dissolving bandage on Antone’s tongue. “She’s right Finn. It’s probably nothing, but if you’re really hurt, you’ll only make it worse. A quick head scan with a helm imager will clear you or not. And, um, Antone bit his tongue, lower lip, and has a couple of busted fingers. Looks like he was holding onto the harness and they snapped at some point.”

Jasha looked over to Neil. “Not good. Not good… But we OK, right?”

“Short term, yeah,” Zane answered. “But Coryn and Antone are going to need real med care. Vadim might as well.”

Jasha spoke into the comm again, “Ok for now… um, need head scan… on maybe three or four. Two need sick bed, maybe three. But we got covered for now.”

A third voice came over the comm unit. “No one with any indication of a head injury moves. The rest of you stay in your quarters unless you need waste facilities. We’ll get help to you as soon as we are able. If anyone gets worse let us know.”

A couple of minutes later the speaker again came to life. “The captain just authorized water showers for you, no charge. Use if able and needed or even wanted. Bridge out.”

Neil took some deep breaths and let Wiles give him some water. By this time he was certain he was fine but also realized Zane, Jasha, Lucya and Wiles had the basics under control, but Lucya kept rubbing the back of her neck, which worried him. If anything, Wiles once again surprised him. The kid knew his way around a first aid kit extremely well. It helped a great deal when Vadim and Sekrena both woke and seemed coherent. He was also relieved to see Kylem calm down enough for Jasha to help him to the water shower room across the hall.

Fifteen minutes after landing, the cabin door slid open. Much to Neil’s surprise, Lieutenant Horri came in with Sergeant Zak. Horri had what appeared to be a full medic kit.Horri looked around, “Where are Jasha, Rena, and Kylem?”

“Shower, sir.” Lucya answered as she pointed. “Um, they…” she pointed to her crotch with a blush.

“The Death Warriors were not without some self-soilage,” Horri responded with a dismissive flip of his hand. “Sergeant, check to make sure they are OK and provide help if needed.”

As Zak left, Horri moved up to Neil, “Corporal. You are still partially buckled in…”

“Saw some stars and called someone by the wrong name… Lucya and Wiles told me to stay put.”

Horri dug into the medic kit and pulled out a headband. “They were right as was your willingness to listen.” Neil felt the big man check his head and neck before he slipped a metal collar around his neck and attached the headband. Neil heard a hum and felt a light vibration and his hair move as the scanner moved back and forth over the top of his head a half dozen times.

Horri looked at the scan results. A few seconds later he pushed an air injector into the base of Neil’s neck. He patted Neil’s shoulder with one hand while his other brushed a few tears out of Neil’s eyes. “You handle the pain of a spinal decompression shot well. No concussion, some impact to your spinal cord, corporal. No strenuous activity for three hours so the shots can expand your neck disks. I will scan you again and almost certainly release you to full duty.” He glanced over to Zane, “Specialist you are in charge until I clear your corporal, understood?”

“Yes sir!”

Horri gave a hard nod and moved over to Antone. He quickly put on a neck brace and used a bone setter on the boy’s fingers.

Half an hour later Horri and Zak secured Vadim, Coryn, and Antone to transport beds. As Zak put the scanner away, Horri activated his comm with a tap under his ear. “Commander, the adolescents from the Sabers are fully secured… No, nothing life-endangering. We have two light-duty combatants including the corporal. Both for three hours… No, they will not be combat effective in time. The youngster Vadim will all but certainly be cleared within two or three day-breaks. The adolescent, Antone, will need a med bed with heavy care. One of the conscripts needs bedrest confinement with head brace and monitor. Probably four to eight planetary day cycles before light duty assignment will be possible. My estimate is two weeks before Antone can assume light-duty, at least two additional weeks before he can enter combat.”

There was a pause. “No commander. The one called Wiles came through remarkably well. I also surmise he has received high quality aid rendering classes the Q Sabers are not aware of. He has been an asset to the others… Yes, commander, I agree.” Horri glanced over and shot Wiles a surprisingly warm grin as he spoke. “Conscript Wiles seems to have a knack for all aspects of space travel and other highly useful skills. And while not yet combat effective, has handled this event with an admirable reasoned calmness… It is far better than some of the ship crew and techs we brought with us… No self-soilage… I concur… Yes, we should put a reasonable offer to the Q Sabers for transfer to the Death Warriors.”

Horri glanced over to Neil, “No sir. Our corporal can handle light duties. It will not be a problem… Yes, the Saber’s sergeant and I will be happy to escort and provide oversight…”

Horri focused on Zane “I concur. We need to verify combat effectiveness rapidly. Specialist Zyden is fully cleared and capable of running diagnostics on this squad’s frames… Agreed, if there is a problem beyond his capabilities, or he needs help with the dehumidifier units, he can contact Shoda. We should also put our technical resources into verifying the rest of the Saber’s equipment while La’Rose finds temporary replacements for their wounded… No sir. I think it would be acceptable to have Boudicea moved over as temporary second officer. Her tactical skill will certainly assist… While we are burning through reserves much faster than expected, I acquiesce. Unit funds are secondary. We need the Sabers at full to be up and moving before nightfall tomorrow.”

As the medical beds were taken out of the room by men and women wearing Death Warrior technician uniforms, Sgt. Zac and Lt. Horri talked out in the passageway. Once the room was cleared of wounded, Sgt Zak came in with Horri behind him. When the big sergeant spoke, there was no doubt he wasn’t asking for input on his commands. “All able combat operations Sabers are to be always armed and fight ready until told otherwise.

“Corporal, you are with me and Lt. Horri. Specialist, you, Lucya, and Jasha get down to the Moonrunners and verify your squad’s equipment is undamaged. You should get the dehumidifiers within the hour. Foot extenders for deep mud will be on same delivery. All of you had specs set, so adjust loadout and install them. For now, ignore Antone’s and Vadim’s frames. Lucya, 3 hours of light duty. No lifting over five kilos. A Death Warrior medic will come to repair bay and give you a scan to full duty before night comes.

“If you need help or there is serious damage to one of your frames, contact MSgt Shoda. He will make himself available. We need all your frames up.”

A head jerk from Horri was all it took to get Neil moving. However, as he pulled on his vest with a sidearm and combat blade, he looked back, “Zyden, verify the filters for underwater breathing are clean and ready just in case.”

“On it!” Zane stated as he grabbed his combat vest.

Neil looked back and forth between the two men as they rapidly moved down the passage. Both were talking into comm units. He guessed by the conversations Horri was talking to Shoda while Sgt Zak was on with La’Rose. He had a hundred questions. However, listening to half of two conversations gave insights or flatly answered many. First, the ship had been hit by a smaller craft shortly before landing. He had already speculated this, however, what surprised him was Horri’s responses suggested it hadn’t been an accident. In fact, Lomo had taken out three uninjured Saber framers to track down an escape pod that jettisoned just before the other ship impacted with the Star Slider’s ship.

Furthermore, it sounded like Star Slider crews managed to avoid a direct hit with a combination of quick maneuvering and point-defensive fire. The smaller ship glanced off the side of the hull and ended up in the hills to the north of the starport. At the same time, the quick actions and hard maneuvers of the ship’s crew meant the Star Sliders ended up landing at the outer edge of an old spaceport, well outside the walls of the new one. If he understood correctly, the Star Sabers had managed to put the craft down on remnants of one of the three original landing pads which had been abandoned decades ago. They were over 35 kilometers away from the main spaceport and couldn’t take off again until the ship had been fully checked. All ship guns were being manned.

In addition, Ensign Miwa was just about to depart with one of the Saber’s hovers loaded with uninjured infantry and three other Saber framers to secure the small craft that had glanced off the side of the ship.

Both men had the same questions; Who had been behind the attack to bring down the Star Slider ship? If it was the noble house behind the wage convoy they were tasked with hitting, it meant the mission was probably already a bust. If it was the bandits, it meant they were going to be ready for an attack. If it was someone else, the next questions were: Who? And why?”

Neil didn’t get a chance to ask any questions before they got to the central lift. The door slid open revealing SrSgt. Afonin and Lt. Boudicea were already in the lift holding a conversation. They paused, glanced down, nodded at him, acknowledged the others, and continued to talk to each other.

The additional talk allowed him to figure out Lt. Polizin had been badly injured while Ens. Antonovich was unconscious and still being worked on. Because of this, Boudicea had done a temporary transfer over to the Sabers while AIM granted La’Rose a spot promotion to Lieutenant. This meant Boudicea was his acting XO while La’Rose was the temporary commander of the Sabers.

Much of the conversation between Boudicea and Afonin centered on recruitment to fill twenty-nine slots in infantry and armor. Additionally, three other frame pilots would also be needed to bring up the rest of the Sabers to full, not including his squad. Between the storm, collision with the smaller ship, and hard landing the Sabers were under fifty percent effectiveness. Afonin and Boudicea talked about whether to try to get unattached retainers or longer-term contracted mercs.

At the same time, Neil was able to pick up on bits and pieces about needed supplies, damage to equipment, and what the ramifications of the attack on the Star Sliders would be to the signed contract to them. There were even conversations about getting permission to put security on Saber and Death Warrior injured in one of the local hospitals. It gave Neil a never-before-seen glimpse into the myriad of behind-the-scenes workings and complications of merc unit command.

At some point in all the conversations, he realized what he was going to be doing. It was his job, with the help of Sgt Zak and Lt. Horri, to find, recruit, and sign at least two replacements for his own squad. Since his squad was basically on a sub-mission attached to the Death Warriors, combined with the fact it had such a young squad leader, it was going to be up to Neil to convince two or even three frame pilots to sign on with him as their squad leader. Neil couldn’t help but look at his reflection in the lift’s operation console and wonder how he could convince any frame pilot to join his squad.

Fortunately, as the lift came to a stop and opened up to a ramp leading down, Afonin must have noticed something in Neil.

Neil jumped as he got a pat on the shoulder. “Corporal, may I recommend first stop before hire hall?”

Neil turned and looked up. He felt his heart beating hard. “Yes, sergeant.”

“Get to main center first. Get ID verify. Lt. Polizin talk often of how much change at AIM Grey Sands when your Blood’s Honor number was announce. Let talk trickle. While you wait, get the patch your record say you award. Between talk and Blood’s Honor combat patch, and AIM mission victory patch, there will be much less… resistance.”

Neil took a nervous breath, “Kind of seems like… Cheating… and my dad… He won’t like it if he finds out.”

Horri snickered, “Corporal, perception of leadership is often as essential to a new recruit, seasoned or raw, as the factual capability of the leader. Your persona will soon verify why Blood’s Honor granted you a combat patch and Blood’s Honor AIM number. However, your youth both in appearance and reality, will be a detriment not easily overcome unless something overshadows what would normally be their initial reaction.”

Sergeant Zak held out his hand. “Finn, give me your ID.”

Neil complied with a confused cock of his head.

Zak crushed the hard metallic card in his hand proving once again his strength was on par with his size. He dropped the mangled card back in Neil’s hand and pulled out two twenty-credit notes. “Ten for the replace NCO card, twenty for Blood’s Honor, and ten AIM patch to be make.

“Tell desk ID attendant it got crush in hard land of ship. Need replace. Say nothing more. Do eye scan. Let whoever behind AIM counter announce, and like before, they will. Then put Blood’s Honor Combat patch on combat vest so it can go above name in front. Everyone see. It will go with talk as it spread.”

This wasn’t what he wanted. The way everything had stopped at AIM Grey Sands when his number was announced was embarrassing enough. He couldn’t help but finger the card from the Major who said he could contact him for a squad leader position. A major of a large merc unit willing to bring him on with a bonus because of his AIM number and combat patch from New Bravaria… He realized Sgt Zak was right. Once word got around, and it would, he’d probably get some framers coming to him.

He glanced up to Lt. Boudicea. He hoped she would say something. Maybe she’d agree it was cheating or something. But all she did was shrug. It was up to him. And, like it or not, Lt. Horri and Sgt Zak had valid points. After a few seconds, he shoved the AIM credits and mangled ID card into his pocket and nodded. Talk continued for several minutes. However, Neil only heard bits and pieces. His primary focus was on how he would react if he saw himself trying to recruit others.

His thoughts came to an abrupt stop as the outer hull door slid up. A wave of hot wet air assaulted him. At the same time, there was a roar. At first, he thought a ship was arriving or departing from nearby, but the sound remained constant. He looked out. Nothing was visible past the first few meters down the ramp. Everything was greyish-white. Fog the likes he had never seen combined with heavy driving rain cloaked everything. He blinked as he realized the raindrops were so large, they fell so hard and fast, they splashed several centimeters into the air creating an illusion of the ground, including the ramp down being in constant motion.

A hand on his shoulder prevented Neil from stepping out into the tempest. He was pulled off to the side. Even with the blowers pushing the rain and fog out, the inside of the bay quickly became damp, warm, and misty.

A couple minutes later yellow strobes cut through the fog. A boxed hover transport parted the greyish cloak. Neil couldn’t even hear the blowers over the driving rain. It also took him a few seconds to realize it had backed up the ramp. The back had ‘A.I.M. Damian’s Glade, South’ on the back door.

Much to Neil’s surprise, the door lifted up and had lips on the sides. It backed up to where padding on the bottom of the lifted door pushed into the side of the ship. This provided a seal. The lips then dropped metallic-looking thick curtains to keep those exiting or entering the back out of the rain. A red light came on in the back. A woman driving a small lift pulled into the ship with a trio of large crates. Two more lifts with crates followed. Once the back of the hover platform was empty, a green light appeared. Neil was gently pushed forward. He wasn’t even sure by who.

He entered the back. It had lockers on the sides between seats with combat gear, along with prices. He eyed a couple of items, but quickly switched focus as the back hatch closed. He took a seat and looked out. All he could see were flashes of yellow as the strobes of the vehicle reflected off the blanket of fog. Less than thirty seconds after the vehicle moved down the ramp, the outline of the ship disappeared behind the rage of the storm and fog. He leaned forward so he could look around the armament cages, Horri, and Zak. The front was open enough to see the pilot was looking at a console in front of him with a holographic display, not out the window.

His curiosity was not lost on Boudicea. She spoke up. “AIM pilot, we have a young corporal who is about to fall out of his seat in an attempt to figure out how you are navigating within this tempest. Is there any chance…”

The man motioned with his hand and tapped the copilot seat.

Neil didn’t hesitate. He scrambled forward, took a seat up front, and strapped in. Behind him, there were several snickers.

The man, wearing AIM SrSgt rank, glanced over, looked back at the screen in front of him, and glanced over again. “Um, seriously? You’re what, ten?”

Neil’s shoulders dropped. “Almost fourteen…”

Behind him, Horri snicked, “Almost? Expanding the definition of almost, are you not?”

Neil felt his cheeks flare. “Maybe…”

This got lots of laughter out of the back.

“Call him a solid thirteen, pilot.” Boudicea got out between bursts of laughter. “However, appearances are deceiving. He is frame combat certified with an Unattached Retainer mission success to AIM and other notable awards under him.”

The man glanced over to Neil with raised eyebrows. “Combat frame certified, huh?”

“Expert,” Neil answered with a grin.

The man whistled, “Damn, son! Call me impressed. Here, take the controls and I’ll show you how to drive with land sonar.”

Neil quickly focused on the lesson. The sergeant even let him take the hovercraft into the dense growth instead of following the remnants of the road. The AIM pilot glanced into the back, “He’s a natural. For 350 credits, each, for basic hover operations and ground sonar navigation. He has passed both with what he has shown me.”

Neil started to say he’d pay, but was surprised when Boudicea spoke up, “I will provide disbursement of funds. He already has platform gunner and tracked piloting combat certs. Hover operations will make a good addition to his AIM record and contribute to his continued advancement. When our missions are successful, I will, with your approval, authorize testing at a combat level for hover operations for our youthful corporal as well.”

At this, the sergeant shook his head, “Combat certified in platform gunnery as well?”

“Ballistic and heavy ballistic, only basic in laser,” Neil responded even as he glanced back in surprise.

Boudicea gave him a slight smile, “Eyes forward and on the sensors, corporal. Focus on getting us inside. I would hate to have to compensate for repairs moments after I agreed to lighten my personal finances for your certification to operate this craft.”

While Neil returned his focus on the sensors and was shown how to navigate toward the AIM vehicle bay beacon with the sensors, those in the back once again laughed.

The pilot pulled up the front lasers. “Lower right side, you will find the fire control for the twin light lasers. I gave you control. I will designate some plant life as targets. Show me what you have.”

Five minutes and several dead plants later, the pilot turned off the controls and glanced into the back. “He definitely has what it takes to attempt a combat course in hover operations with lasers.”

The man took over as the reflected sound waves started to show buildings. Neil pointed to one off to the right. Is the image off, or is it damaged?”

“And abandoned. The original starport was designed for small ships with pilons drilled down to bedrock. But the amount of rain and saturation of the soil still caused problems. Large craft like what you came on constantly damaged the pads and the ground heaved enough to damage nearby buildings. So the spaceport was built on solid bedrock just over the next hill. You are on some of the highest ground on Damain’s Glade.”

Neil continued to look over the images on the display, “Are those pipes above us?”

“Indeed they are. Because of soil saturation, ground piping for refueling, water, and waste transfer constantly shifted and created major problems. The solution are the pipes above us. They are run overhead using the buildings as support. The new spaceport has the same design. But as larger ships started to come, the damage to buildings here also damaged several of the pipes.” The sergeant pointed to some partially collapsed huge pipes.

He patted Neil on the shoulder. “It’s why I took control. The reaction time to avoid problems is greatly diminished in here. Unless you know where you are going it can lead to complications.”

The man pointed to another building. “Inside there were the pumps to keep pressure up to the pad you all landed on. Most of it has been scavenged long ago, but my daughter and a couple of her friends still like to poke around in there. My guess is they know several other structures as well, but the less a dad knows the better.”

As Neil grinned, the sergeant patted him on the shoulder. “I’ve seen the same look in Allie’s eyes when I ask her about what she did out here.” The man snickered. “Her and her friends know this place better than the people who built it in the first place.”

He shook his head and grinned. “I’ve heard enough to know they even climb up the access ladders to the pipes and cross from building to building. “If you have a couple of spare days, I’m sure she and her friends would be willing to show you around. But you have to go armed. There are some nasty critters and even occasionally dangerous scroungers out here.”

“Sounds like a blast, but I don’t think we’ll be here long enough. Maybe I could come back…”

Neil stopped as the sergeant held his hand and tapped his headset. “Understood, command. What do we know?”

The sergeant quickly pulled the hovercraft up close to a building and cut the sonar. He also reached over and killed the beacon lock to the AIM station. “How long, command?”

He frowned deeply. “Can you give me numbers or…” This was followed by, “Crap. I’ll try to get us to sector eight and… Understood.”

The sergeant pulled up the lasers again as he spoke loudly so everyone in the transport could hear him. “You all seem to have made some friends. While command cannot or won’t give me full details, it sounds like the Q Sabers are the primary target. Command sent out a general warning about not attacking an AIM transport, but it has been ignored, so they have put us in contact with the Warriors of Purgatory.”

“Who?” Boudicea asked.

The SrSgt responded even as he darted deeper into the ruins of the old starport. “Command states a Warrior of Purgatory outpost got hit hard about the same time your ship did. The OpFor was a combo of light hover, battle armor, and infantry. Survivors from the Warriors of Purgatory attack say none of the light hovers survived the attack and only a handful of battle armor, but the Warriors had six upgraded Wendigo hover APCs stolen from them. The upgrades include land sonar detection and beacon tracer locators. However, they also installed homing beacons. One of their specialists sent locations. Four are headed toward your ship. The last two veered off and angled this way. Sounds like someone wanted to set this up to look like the Warriors attacked you instead of whoever is behind the contract.”

“What more can AIM tell us?” Horri asked.

“This is as far as AIM command is willing to go. So, it must be an authorized contract against you.”

He held up his hand and pushed on his earpiece even as Sergeant Zak radioed a warning to Lieutenant La’Rose.

The pilot nodded and spoke again. “They must have spotters in the ruins of this old spaceport, they are still heading for us even though I killed the sonar and beacon! We are badly outgunned. AIM is sending help for us, but because of current weather, all they have available are ground units and they’re over twenty minutes out…”

Neil spun in his chair, jumped up, and headed into the back. “Sergeant, are these live samples in your sales cages?”

“Yeah,” the pilot stated with a frown, “but…”

Neil eyed the third locker back. “Can you get us direct comms to the Warriors?”

“Those coming this way may be able to trace…”

“If they know where we are, who cares?” Neil asked as he knelt and typed in his AIM number into the cage keypad.

“Good point.” The man spoke into his comms and verbally changed the frequency. “Comms coming up now. Warriors of Purgatory this is AIM supply transport Niner Eight, how do you read me?”

A young-sounding female voice came over the speaker between bursts of static, “Three by five AIM Niner Eight. We took some damage to our comm antennas during the attack. We are working from an old CIC hover but got you clear enough. We aren’t in a position to help…”

“Yes, you are!” Neil shouted. “Your Wendigos, are they on standard Antares Industry undercarriages or did you upgrade? over.”

An older voice spoke up. “Can’t upgrade to hardened undercarriages here, kiddo. They would be too heavy with the sogginess of the ground. In many areas mud would get pushed outward above the height of the air cushion, so standard bases only on Damian’s Glade. Why? Over.”

Neil typed in permission to take credits out of his account and opened the cage. His voice hardened “Because I’m about to kill two of your hovers. Over.”

“They’re stolen, so salvage is open. We will pay to get them back in whatever condition you leave them, son. Full AIM salvage offer plus five percent. We’ll also pay for anyone who has real information. We want to know who the hell hit us! But be warned, we upgraded weapons as well as electronics.”

“What am I facing, sir? Over.”

“Master Sergeant, not sir, but thanks for the momentary promotion. Anyway, they have two front pulse lasers instead of standards and a top gunner position has two heavy machineguns instead of four lights. Over.”

Neil opened the cage as it verified credits in his AIM account. At the same time, Horri spoke. Did you secure any captive, Master Sergeant? Over.”

“A few, but they were hired as UR’s, and don’t know a damned thing. They each got 4500 credits with a promise of 3500 more if they got our Wendigos. They would then have a chance for another mission. Most came out of an AIM infantry class that graduated less than a month ago. So darned green they’ve never been shot at for real until today. Battle armor same thing. All were in Salamander Battle Armor.”

“Salamander? What is that?” Neil demanded to know.

The AIM Pilot pulled up stats on the holographic display. “Specialty Battle Armor made by Swift Wind Industries for wet worlds like this one. Only came out a year or so ago.”

Neil glanced over, “Wow, that’s heavy stuff, but awesome!”

“Dangerous, kid,” The Warriors of Purgatory sergeant responded. “If I was them, I’d put battle armor on top of the Wendigos to operate the top machineguns. They’d be a pain in the ass to get in and out of those cramped back infantry compartments. All things considered; your best bet is to run from them unless you got some real firepower behind you.”

Neil let out a snort. “Just be ready to place orders with a Antares sales rep. At the very least you’ll need to buy new fan brackets and air intakes. Probably a couple of top gun mounts as well. AIM Niner Eight out.”

As Neil pulled out a set of four class two explosive spike strips with a backpack case for them and darted over to another cage, Horri spoke up, “Corporal, what are you doing?”

“Getting ready to kill me a couple of Wendigos.”

“You’re on light duty,” Sergeant Zak barked.

“You can either tackle me and hold me down or let me off it for a bit. I can go back on when someone isn’t trying to kill us,” Neil fired back as he pulled out five fast retractable repelling lines from the other case. And sidestepped to yet another.

“You are well above your weight restrictions with what you procured,” Boudicea growled.

“Breaking med restrictions vs being dead or worse, captured again. I’ll take the risk of the first every time…”

Zak moved up toward Neil with a deep frown. Afonin quickly moved to step between the two. “Sergeant, sound to me like Finn has idea, and we be in a tight spot.”

Horri tossed up his hands, “How about we act like the combatants we know we are? Finn, how sure are you about being able to take out one or both platforms?”

“I got this,” Neil stated with certainty. “But we need to get back to those pipes with the ladder… and what color of light shows up best in the fog?”

“Infrared,” Boudicea answered without hesitation.

“Don’t know infrared operations…”

“I do.” Horri’s posture hardened as he moved to a cage and selected some infrared goggles and a few other items. “Corporal, I’ll go with. I’ll carry the pack… you do whatever…. Sinisterness is all but exuding out of your posture.”

Neil grabbed a heavy gyro pistol out of the third locker along with two five-shot clips, a small flack vest with an adjustable holster, and a heavy infantry laser carbine along with a spare clip. He also secured four timed fragmentation grenades and a pair of infrared glow sticks. He then spoke into his comm, “Zyden, you on?”

Neil rolled his eyes as Zane started talking about the expected attack and that he and Jasha were framing up to help in the defense. As soon as he could get a word in edgewise, he barked. “NO! Listen for once! We have confirmation they are Wendigos. I know the Sabers don’t have spike strips but I’m sure the Death Warriors or the Star Sliders have some for perimeter defense!”

Neil shook his head. “Nope, also got confirm on that, standard undercarriage. Use class twos or we lose salvage. But heavy machineguns top and pulse lasers front. Top guns may be manned with something called Salamander battle Armor. Look it up. It’s pretty heavy.”

Neil laughed at the response. “Yeah, me too, so make sure Jasha is ready to take out those on top.”

As he cleared his pistol and handed the vest he had been wearing over to Lt Boudicea, the pilot stared back, “OK, how about you fill the rest of us in.”

“Get us back to the fallen pipe.”

The man frowned but pulled back out. “On the way, but they’ll be on us fast…”

“Just get us there quick enough to drop us off. After you do, pull up the sonar, then go back around. When you start to go back through, kill the sonar and spin hard into the building with the hole in the wall. Sonar showed it was big enough to fit.”

“Barely, and I’ll be without sonar, so I’ll scrape the crap out of the sides.”

“I’ll fix the armor later. There’s no way the top gunner shield on a Wendigo will fit so they will have to tear it off if they try to follow. So just spin and put your lasers on the hole in case they try to cut in. Aim for the cockpit. But if we do this right they’ll think you went under the small section you took us through where the two pipes were still above us. If they do, be ready to pull back out and pound the back ramp hatch. I’ll take care of the rest.”A couple of minutes later Neil jumped out with Horri right behind him carrying the pack of spike strips and also a newly procured infantry heavy laser carbine. Neil sprinted over to where he was about two dozen meters behind the overhead pipes. He glanced back. Horri was speaking into his headset, but the roar of the rain prevented him from hearing what the man was saying.

However, Horri caught up quickly. Neil had Horri hand him a pair of spike strips, both about twenty meters from the pipes. On each, he set a remote detonator and cracked infrared light sticks and put them in the middle of the strips.

He then bolted over so he was directly under the large overhead pipes and dropped down a pair of spike strips, attached repel lines to detonation pins, and scrambled up the ladder trailing the repel lines.

Horri moved up behind him, making sure to not touch the unspooling repel lines. “As soon as you get up top, hand me the remote detonators for the first two!”

Neil nodded, “You know what I’m planning?”

“Do now, but we still have to deal with probable battle Armor on top…”

“We got repel lines to drop down on one of them along with heavy gyros and infantry lasers,” Neil responded as he wiped at his drenched face. He had never seen rain this intense. It pounded on him relentlessly, making the climb up treacherous and even painful.

However, as he got up to the pipes he realized he could move across the lower one while the upper two shielded him from the direct impact of the massive droplets. He set one line and tapped the controls just enough to pull it in so it was not sloppy loose, but still had some play. He moved down the massive pipe, almost slid off at one point, only to be caught by Horri, and got above the second spike strip. He did the same thing while giving Horri a wide-eyed nod of thanks.

The man took the remote detonators, used his soaked sleeve to wipe his face, and gave Neil a pat on the back. He then pulled on the goggles and looked around until he spotted the imperceptible to the naked eye infrared glow sticks, “Not even fifty meters away and barely visible. Even if they have infrared, they would have to be looking and get extremely lucky to spot them! Now keep low!”

Neil glanced over, “We have to keep rifles ready! They have spotters!”

Horri shook his head, “No, they tagged the transport with a homing beacon.”

“Did you pull it off?”

Horri shook his head, “Need it on and working for this to work, but we have an extra advantage.”

“We do?”

Horri nodded even as Neil attached one of the remaining repelling lines to his flack vest and double-checked the connection. Less than five minutes later the AIM transport went to the right where one of the pipes had partially fallen. The supply transport could get under the pipe at that location, but there was no way the Wendigos could because of their gun shields.

Neil watched in confusion as the outline of the AIM transport stopped for only a few seconds. Someone jumped out, went to the back left side, and then darted to the large hole in the wall of the far building. Neil couldn’t see what the figure did, but whoever it was quickly returned, jumped back into the passenger side of the transport and it took off.

Confusion ripped over Neil’s face. He started to protest, but Horri pointed in the direction the transport had come from. “First one just passed over the strip to the left! Go!”

Neal scrambled back down the pipe, got to where he had secured the first repel line, and saw it go taught. Less than a second later there was a muffled boom, followed by the sounds of metal against concrete. He looked down. The top of the hover was only a couple of meters to his right. A Suit of Battle armor was dangling over the side and holding onto the edge.

Neil smirked as a second boom came from somewhere behind the hover under him. This was also followed by metal on concrete sounds. He sidestepped so he was right over the top of the hover, attached his repel line to a pipe support strut, and jumped. As he did so, he pulled the gyro pistol. As soon as his feet hit the top of the hover, he spun and fired at near point-blank range into the faceplate of the battle armor. There was too much water on the face shield to make out the face of the person inside, but the pilot let go just as the gyro impacted the faceplate. Because of this, the entire suit was blasted back. It hit the crumbling concrete with a loud metallic clang.

Neil jumped behind the gun turret and spun it so he was facing the other hover. It would have been almost impossible to see, but there were flames coming out from under it which gave him a clear outline. He flipped off the safeties of the twin heavy machineguns and strafed the front of the second hover. He ranked the guns back and forth with over two score of rounds into the and through the pilot compartment. He then adjusted so the guns under his control ripped into a figure in battle armor who had managed to pull himself back up on top but failed to spin the gun shield to get behind the cover.

The suit fell under the withering fire, but Neil wasn’t taking any chances. He continued to fire until the heavy rounds pushed the motionless figure off the side.

Neil felt the hatch come up. He stomped down the moment he saw fingers. There was a scream. He bet it was a woman. However, this let him know the hatch was unsecured from below, so he pulled a grenade, set it for long detonation, pulled up the lid just enough to shove it in, and dropped the hatch. He heard and felt lasers hit the hatch as he did so.

He then pulled both machineguns down so they would fire as high as the top gun shield turret would allow. This put the shoulder rigging down over the hatch so no one could open it far enough to climb out. He quickly sidestepped to put the gun shield between him and the hatch. Moments later the hatch shot upward as the grenade went off. He moved back to the guns, pulled them down, so he could get at the hatch, and dropped in an EMP grenade. A few seconds later he saw a flash from the side portals.

He pointed the machineguns back at the trailing hover and fired as someone tried to get out of the side hatch. The outline of a figure jerked under the onslaught before it fell motionless beside the hover with flames licking at it. The hatch slammed shut.

Neil glanced back to where the battle armor had been blasted off the side of the hover, only to see smoke rolling out from the faceplate and from around the helmet seals. It was close enough to see laser burns. He glanced over as a flash of laser light came from slightly behind him. Horri was on top of the hover with him, laser carbine up. An outline of another figure could be seen where the top hatch of the second Wendigo was. Whoever it was thrashed around. Both hands were over the right hip. A second laser shot stopped the wild movement.

“The AIM transport has the back covered!” Horri ordered, “Get to it and put the second grenade down inside!”

Neil slid down the side of the Wendigo, sprinted to the back of the second Wendigo, and scrambled up the ladder even as Horri sent another laser into someone as they tried to get out the side compartment. As he got close, he could see the AIM Hover. It fired lasers into the back even as he pulled himself up the side. Once on top, he pulled the second fragmentation grenade, cracked the top hatch, and dropped it in. He then did the same thing with the badly damaged top guns.

It was clear someone noticed since the side hatch flew open and two figures dashed out.

A third was almost out when the grenade went off. It flung the body over a meter. The two survivors were quickly cut down. One by laser fire from Horri, the other from a long burst of automatic fire from a rifle held by a massive outline. Neil knew it had to be Sgt Zak.

This was quickly confirmed. Zak sprinted over, pushed his assault rifle into the open hatch, and finished off the clip. He reloaded and poked his head inside. The cringe on his face told Neil the back was a mess.

Zak let out a long breath. “You be a crazy bastard, corporal! But my type of BASTARD! You OK?”

Neil pulled up his flack vest collar, lowered his head so the rain would slam into his back, and wiped his face. “Think so, but this rain is NUTS! It hurts even with a flack vest covering my neck.”

Zak motioned for Neil to jump down. The big man caught him with no problem and carried him back to the AIM transport. Neil tried to protest, but all this got him was a hard flip on the bridge of his nose. He winced, rubbed the spot, and remained silent.

Zak put him on one of the back seats while Boudicea moved up and started to towel him off. He was too drenched and sore to argue. He slid down in the chair even as she pulled off his boots. He started to complain as she used her good hand to open the securing buckles of the flack vest.

The pilot moved up on his right side, “Back to light duty for you corporal. Everything comes off, we dry your insane ass off, and get you into something dry. I’ll take a scan and have a fresh uniform waiting for you the second we pull in.”

The AIM pilot then helped to strip him down. He said nothing. Between the rough landing, the driving rain, and the end of the adrenaline rush of the fight he was simply too tired to argue. Besides, a look into the AIM pilot’s eyes told him any complaint would be a really bad idea.

Minutes later, in a camo jumpsuit a few sizes too big for him, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

He woke in a med bed with Sgt Zak sitting in a large chair not far away. The big man glanced up from whatever he was reading as Neil sat up. “Relax, corporal.”

“What…? Where…?”

“AIM medical. Lt. Horri gave you something to keep you asleep. The AIM doctor gave you another spine decompression shot and enough to keep you under for three hours so it would actually work this time. Stay there. I’ll get one of the medics to give you a scan and hopefully clear you.”

“What about the ship and Jasha and…”

“Relax Corporal. Seems Zyden knew exactly what to do with the spike strips he borrow from Star Sliders. The spikes took out two, while Jasha knock out the top battle-armored gunners. Remaining Q Sabers backed up by Shoda eliminated a third. The guns of the ship took out the fourth. The ship took a few more hits, but nothing that breached. We are secure.”

Neil started to pull the covers off but stopped as he realized he had nothing on. “Um, where are my clothes?”

“In the locker.” Zak pointed to a small upright cabinet in the corner of the room. He held up a digital push key ring and slid it back into his breast pocket. “Which is where they stay until you are cleared.”

You’re not going to let me wear anything?”

“Nope.” Zak smirked, “Lt Boudicea’s orders. She figured it may be the only way to keep you in a bed until cleared.”

Neil blushed, “This is stupid!” He then stopped as another thought occurred to him. “Who undressed me?”

“Boudicea,” Zak snickered as Neil’s eyes went wide. ”She said you are even cuter in the buff.”

“AHHH!” Neil shouted as he tossed a pillow at Zak as the big guy busted up in laughter.

Major O’Connell ran his hands down his face and rolled his neck. His mind raced and his gut churned. He tried to calm himself by focusing on what he did best.

He eyed the status board and shook his head. All was quiet in and around the Kipper facilities. Further out, at a few of the smaller mines and natural resource extraction excavations, spotters reported nothing. The only thing up on status boards was a heavy meteor shower over the farm communities just east of the Tanberry Bluffs. Aerospace was grounded in a 1,625,000 square kilometer area for the next fourteen hours. His jaw clenched. It would be easier to clear his mind if he could crush an incursion into the territory around the Kipper facility, but it was just not meant to be.

Without a direct enemy to face, he turned his attention to something else to help him focus. The excessive meteor activity was something none of the vids on New Brunswick talked about. Well, Major O’Connell had to admit, there were visitor and vacation holovids. They all talked about the beautiful displays of nature’s fury. They talked extensively about shooting star tours, meteor hunting expeditions, and even special space flights to get ‘an out of this world’ view of meteorites as they hit the atmosphere.

What wasn’t openly talked about was the hundred or so victims a year killed by small chunks of space rocks, the lack of satellite coverage, or the absence of space stations for the repair of craft above the main planet. All major ship repairs had to be done above the semi-habitable moon at a space station defended by scores of pulse lasers and long-range missiles to protect it from meteors, just nowhere near as many as the primary planet. More troubling was the abysmal state of New Brunswick Planetary Defense to control unauthorized ingress and egress. Even now there was a massive section of space where a craft could come or go with a good chance of not being noticed. Yes, it would be dangerous for the ship, and if the PDF detected it, they would try to stop it from entering the atmosphere. However, from all reports, if a ship decided to leave during the current storm, detected or not, it would not be challenged.

On the other hand, if the ship took hits no help would come until the danger was over. Additionally, since the craft was in an unauthorized area, any wreckage was forfeited to the planetary government. He couldn’t help but snort. Any craft caught in a meteor storm wouldn’t have much left to salvage. Still, it was troubling to know even as he sat in his command center, hostile ships could be entering the atmosphere.

After a few minutes of going over quiet status boards, he decided to file a complaint with AIM about the lack of information regarding the uncontrolled state of New Brunswick’s aerospace lanes. It was, after all, AIM’s responsibility to provide merc units with such information even if the planetary government didn’t.

Major O’Connell moved up behind one of the women monitoring activity in the Grenadier’s assigned area. “Corporal Femna, see if the PDF will give us access to radar and space scans over any areas affected by meteorite storms. They’ll probably deny us, but it will give me something else to file with AIM about cooperation or lack thereof.”

The woman nodded, “Right away sir.” Femna looked back over her shoulder, “Sir, what are protocols should we find ourselves in the area of such a storm?”

“Good question. One I need to figure out. From what I can glean, there are a few hours’ notice on major meteor events. For now, if we get such a warning, we will need a seek cover protocol. Very few rocks are larger than a fist, so my first thought is to pull all but a few observers into the hills on the back-side of the direction the storm comes from. Doing so should give us good cover but will cut down on response times so we will need to be at full alert should one come over our areas of operations.

“We just need to figure out locations depending on the direction the storm comes from and have engagement rules should we be under such a storm when we get attacked.” He patted the woman on the shoulder, “It would be a good project for you to work on. After your shift, get with Ensign Hanray. I’ll let her know you are going to lead the team on this.”

The young woman smiled, “Be happy to sir!”

O’Connell patted the woman on the shoulder and moved back to his station. He tapped on several watch outpost communication buttons. All turned green within seconds. He nodded to himself at the reaction times. All the guard posts were alert enough to notice they were getting pinged. It was a good sign. It was easy to get complacent as things calmed down. However, it also gave him nothing else to focus on. His mind continued to send rogue thoughts.

Once again he tried to look at the big picture. The prior forty-eight hours had been a series of probing attacks and hit-and-run operations against the outermost perimeter. However, once the Rebels crushed the group of Earth Core and their captive gladiators at the tungsten mine, hostilities diminished noticeably. The reduction in aggressive activity faded altogether after Nire and Black led a raid on a small secondary target with a handful of Gladiators and Rebels.

It was as if the holdouts at the Knabotic yttrium oxide mine were some kind of key no one could yet understand.

The odd thing about this was the Knabotic facility had nothing to do with the Grenadier’s contract. It wasn’t even in the same planetary district. In addition, intel reports from Brave Humanities suggested the group at the Knabotic mine was seen as smaller, weaker, and less significant to the ‘gladiator circuit’ than the first group Robin’s Rebels had crushed at the water purification facility.

These reports were verified through interviews with several of the freed gladiators, including a couple of kids Major O’Connell knew firsthand. Even more importantly, several of the double digits knew the kids and trusted them. Trust… No, it was more than trust, it was much deeper. Several Grenadier kids cried on, fought with, and survived because of a few of those recently rescued.

Was it possible the two years in captivity had… Major O’Connell shook his head. There was no doubt the two-plus years of forced combat had done horrible mental, physical, and even spiritual damage to the gladiators. However, there was no question as to where loyalties lay. Even kids shot by former friends didn’t blame them. Quite the opposite. They hugged, leaned on, and even praised the Rebels. It was not something that could be faked.

Furthermore, since first contact many had fought side by side with the Rebels. None had backed down or left a Rebel in a tight spot. In fact, since their rescue, only gladiator kids had been killed. A few Grenadier kids came close and at least three were not out of the woods yet, but the loyalty of those rescued had been proven in blood.

So, the question again became what had changed? Yes, there was a chance one or more of the kids who joined the Rebels was loyal to EC. It would not be hard to brainwash a youngster over the years. Nor would he put it past EC to commit such an atrocity. But what intel would such an asset be able to give and how would he or she get word to handlers? One thought caused his gut to churn more than the other thoughts hounding him. One asset could cause a large group of Rebels to be captured and taken to fight in the twisted EC games. Just to be on the safe side, he sent orders to have Grenadier technicians change out radios on all Rebel frames so there would be a log of all channel changes in Rebel frames. He ordered any changes in preset frequencies, authorized or not, sent to him for review. Even as he did so, he realized he was probably being paranoid.

He looked over reports and vids of all the skirmishes between Grenadier and hostile forces. He added in vids and reports from Ruffian Rebel engagements. Nothing stood out. The probing attacks against Kipper and surrounding targets were admittedly quite good. All four had forced the redeployment of some forces. Two of which then allowed for deeper probes that had to be blunted by reserve forces. Yet when outnumbered the hostiles faded back into the deep hills with great skill. Thermal imaging allowed scouting units to track them for a while but then they vanished.

O’Connell bet they had stockpiles of thermal disruption foggers. With the natural resources of the area, a mediocre scientist with a basic lab could make more. From there, the rough landscape made tracing difficult and dangerous. He couldn’t afford to send out scouts too far. It would be too easy to cut them off and drop them.

He yawned as he went over vids and detailed reports of fights the Rebels engaged in. They were right in line with the after actions reports. The ‘gladiator’ kids fought hard and were way better up close. Part of this was because their frames were set for close combat. But those who had been upgraded stuck to close in and dirty fighting the moment they could. It was equally clear the young ‘gladiator’ squad leaders knew what to do and how to handle those under them in a brawl, but not at range. It was a weakness to exploit and would certainly cut down on Grenadier and Rebel casualties. Training would have to focus on long-range battlefield tactics.

One thing that was clear. The ‘gladiators’ pulled back to adult frames when they realized they were beaten. It made him wonder if the kids were ordered to defend their handlers or if they started to panic when they realized those who could let them out of their frames were targeted.

His thoughts were interrupted as Corporal Femna spoke up. “Sir, bit of a surprise for you. New Brunswick PDF says they are willing to send a rep over to do an integration with our systems so we can get a holovid of radar sweeps anywhere on the planet, but we have to pay. Cost is expected to run 127,000 credits for equipment, and we’ll have to pay extra for the time their people do the installation. Additionally, they will require an assignment of five PDF personnel, on our pay, to make sure their data stays in military hands only and isn’t used for actions against New Brunswick.”

O’Connell let out a growl. He closed his eyes and took a couple of calming breaths. He was helping protect a section of the planet and… There was nothing he could do about it. AIM would certainly find the fees and stipulations reasonable, and it was the only way he could get a full picture of what the Grenadiers had stepped into. “Approved. However, this has got to be the last major expense until we start getting salvage payouts for the wagon and fold ship. All budgets are razor thin, so any expenditures beyond pay, medical, fuel, armor, and ammo must go through me or Captain Tanner until I say otherwise. No promotion pay increases and no pay advances will be granted for a bit either. I’ll backdate all pay for promotions and payout in bulk once we get some salvage returns. Send to all officers now!”

“At once sir.”

O’Connell scanned the bridge one more time before he moved back to his private command room. He looked over battle damage to Rebel frames. Robin and company had racked up over 530,000 credits in medical, repair, rearm, and replacement costs so far.

The contract and salvage gained would more than cover it, but the minutia behind getting contract and salvage payouts would normally cripple a fledgling unit. It was a damned good thing Brave Humanities was being so helpful, otherwise, there was little doubt, the first few days of Rebels would have been their last. At the very least they would have had to disband and reform once the funds came in. However, Brave Humanities had waved off all fees for taking a loan to cover everything. He didn’t necessarily like it, but unlike Tanner, he also realized the reasons given were solid.

Brave Humanities wanted those gladiator frames for the tech inside them. They also had a valid point when it came to the rescued ‘gladiators’ being valuable in and of themselves. It sounded like most had been deep inside EC and therefore had intel, realized or not, about what went on deep inside EC space. The other thing he couldn’t argue was some of the kids would have rewards for their return. It was the main reason for his lack of focus. If his own kids had suddenly been found, he wouldn’t hesitate to find the funds to get his sons and daughters back and pay every credit he could scrounge to reward those responsible for their rescue.

However, the Rebels had stumbled into something more. For Blood’s Honor had jumped on with a supplemental contract. The addition of the Blood’s Honor contract, backdated to when the first ‘gladiator’ had been freed, would give the Rebels a huge cushion. In fact, Blood’s Honor made it clear they would cover any needed loans to get the Rebels fully back on their feet. With such assurances, massive quantities of supplies were already en route from AIM to the Rebel’s base.

The problem was, he wasn’t sure the Rebels were ready for more. Not physically and certainly not emotionally. The Grenadier youth were furious to find out that friends they thought lost, had actually been captured and treated horribly. They wanted to go and hunt more of the ‘gladiator’ groups most certainly on New Brunswick and possibly the moon. Their anger needed to be tempered.

Those from the Q VII academy who had joined were still reeling from the loss of parents, the missfold, and their new home with the Grenadiers. They entered battle with other emotional wounds festering and had done remarkably well. But now… They needed downtime. The addition of kids who had been forced to fight each other over and over were… O’Connell didn’t even know what. He had no idea what they needed, or wanted, or… the list of possibilities was more than he wanted to consider. He needed to find out more about them.

Another thought kept entering his musings which he was certain was clouding everything. It was a hope coupled with horror. He clenched his fist and forced himself to calm. However, the thoughts wouldn’t leave. He stared out a window into the night. Outside the windows, a swarm of strange New Brunswick insects blinked on and off with a bioluminescent glow. It was both beautiful and creepy. Again, it mirrored his deepest mental images.

As much as he wanted to push the underlying thoughts to something else he couldn’t. Finally, he tapped his comm unit, “Captain, you up?”

“I am, sir. Sleep is hard to come by when there are no comfortable positions. What do you need?”

“This is a want way more than a need, Captain…”

“OK… not at all like you… Not since you were an up-and-coming double-D.”

This got a snicker out of O’Connell, “And well into our twenties.”

Tanner snorted, “Yeah, miss those days. So what do you want, sir.”

“A miracle… I want a miracle. In the meantime, I want to talk to a few of the gladiator kids. In person. Tonight.”

Tanner’s voice grew stronger. “Sir?”

“Yeah, I… Look, just get me a few of the kids. Not just the ones we and our double-D’s know. And not just the best. I want a sample… the good, the average, the bottom of the barrel, I think they are called plugs or something… and at least one kid from each camp you and the Rebels hit… across the board representation.”

“Sir, they need a break…”

“Yes, they do… and they will get it. Just not tonight.”

“Alone, or do you want…”

“You should be there. Bring the kid you demanded guardianship over. I want to meet him.”

“Sir, he’s under heavy medical care. How about….”

“Captain, not a request. If he needs a bed and medic with him, fine. I have my reasons.”

“Understood. I’ll round some of the gladiators up and arrange transport. What do you want me to tell them and the others who don’t come?”

“The truth. I’m being an ass and want info. O’Connell out.”

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Kyle is a bit different than most of our other Authors. He does want feedback on his stories but the type of feedback is a critique of the story and chapter. What did he do right but more importantly, what did he do wrong? You may email him at: LeeColo at Gmail dot Com

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