Hunter, Warrior, Commander

by Andrew Maclure

  “Well I don’t want anything to do with them.”

  “At our level in the army you won’t have to. If you move up the chain of command, you will. And talking of chain of command, I’ve just been told that Si’ir Monn and Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg are on their way here.”

  Chapter Fifty One

  Sergeant Dorsh

  Sah Lee saw two people walking down the street. One was unmistakably Si’ir Monn, the other was considerably shorter than him, with an oval shaped body and short legs. As they drew closer, she could see it was an insectoid, similar to a large beetle, walking upright on its rear legs.

  “What’s that?” she asked Ren Deel.

  “That is Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg. She’s tough but fair. Good fighter too, but it’s best not to be next to an insectoid in a fight, they tend to go crazy and attack anything that moves. That’s a sweeping statement of course, they’re not all like that.”

  “Does she go crazy in a fight?”

  “I don’t know, I always make sure I’m not next to her.”

  “You were telling me why we need to be skilled at close combat and unarmed combat.”

  “Later. Be on your best behavior now Private. Call me Corporal and Si’ir Monn Sergeant while she’s around.”

  As the two sergeants approached Sah Lee saw that Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg was the same height as her.

  Si’ir Monn said, “You know Ren Deel, and this is Private Sah Lee.”

  Sah Lee snapped to attention. “At ease Private. So, you’re the rookie Ker Din Ser Forn made us take.” Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg said.

  “Yes Sir!” Sah Lee said, still standing at attention.

  “Sergeant Si’ir Monnen Dak told me you are not the inept liability we were expecting. Is that right Private?”

  “If the Sergeant says so, it must be right, Sir!”

  A high pitched clicking noise came from Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg.

  “Laughing.” Sah Lee’s AI informed her.

  “You’re either diplomatic or a brown nose. Which are you Private?”

  “I’m not the best person to judge that Sir. Sergeant Si’ir Monnen Dak will give his opinion.”

  Si’ir Monn said, “She’s as diplomatic as a kick in the balls. I’d hardly met her when she attacked me. I don’t know why she’s being polite to you. Maybe she’s not feeling well.”

  “Why are you being so polite Private?”

  “Corporal Ren Deel told me to be on my best behavior, Sir.”

  “Good to hear you can take orders Private. I heard about the incident with Fauren Ess. You ruptured his eyeball, so he’s had to be taken off planet to get it fixed. It must have hurt. He had it coming though. One day he’s going to end up as a bump on the forest floor. Just remember you’re in the army to fight enemy combatants, not your comrades.”

  “Yes Sir!”

  “Stand easy now Private. I don’t go in for this ‘Sir’ stuff. Call me Sarge or Sergeant.”

  “Yes Sir!” Sah Lee snapped, then more calmly, “I mean, yes Sarge.”

  “Two of my troopers are going to join you here to reinforce your position. Try not to get into a fight with them.”

  “Yes Sarge. I mean, no Sarge.”

  Sergeant Dorsh Ab Morg turned to Si’ir Monn, “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.” Turning to Ren Deel, she said, “Try to keep her out of trouble Corporal.”

  “I’ll do my best Dorsh. Any chance of you getting Si’ir Monn under control?”

  “I gave up trying a long time ago. Good luck Ren. Come on Si’ir Monn, let’s meet the rest of your unit.”

  As the two sergeants left, Ren Deel said, “Well done Sah Lee. You didn’t offend her or try to attack her. You did come across as a bit weird, but that’s OK.”

  “This is all new to me, I’m not used to being told what to do. Apart from when I was very young, people have always followed me, and even back then, the other cubs used to look to me to tell them what to do. When I say I was the best hunter in my village apart from the hunt leader, I’m not boasting, I was. Even the older hunters followed me and Tef Dor, she was our hunt leader, let me lead the hunt most of the time. It was the same at university, so it’s difficult for me to know what to do or say.”

  “Nobody joins an army when they are young. I doubt you’ll find another soldier less than a thousand years old, and you’re just seventeen. Soldiers die, and you’re too young to die.”

  “I’m old enough. A lot of my people who died were younger than me. I owe it to them.”

  “Well, you’re a soldier now. I’ll try to teach you how to stay alive. Now, about these new troopers who are joining us. They won’t cut you any slack. They will assume you are a lot older than you are and have been around the galaxy a few times and know how to behave. Try to be polite to them and don’t attack them, however much you think you should. If they are giving you a hard time, come to me, I am your line of command and I’ll deal with it.”

  “OK Corp.”

  “And you can drop that, call me Ren.”

  Sah Lee smiled, “OK Ren.”

  Ren Deel busied himself cleaning and checking his KE weapon. No maintenance was necessary or possible on Sah Lee’s pulse rifle, so to pass the time she walked to the end of the street to look over at the separatists barricaded buildings. A wide pathway in front of the shops, cafes and restaurants followed the curve of the road. It was two hundred meters across the ribbon of parkland that straddled the road, so she thought it far enough away from the separatists that it would be a safe place to run. The road, like all the buildings on the side she was on, was deserted.

  She returned to where she had left Ren Deel and saw two figures dressed in the black jumpsuits of the army walking toward him from the opposite direction. She arrived at Ren Deel just before the other two.

  Chapter Fifty Two

  Hostile Friendlies

  “Private Por Aruf reporting Corp.” said a short, stocky avian. She had a long bald neck and face with feathery gray down on the top and back of her head. Her face was dominated by a large yellow and gray hooked beak and two piercing brown eyes.

  “Private Seltet Rass Corp.” A tall, odd looking mammal introduced herself.

  “Good to have you with us. You know the score, there’s nothing happening here. Kick back and make yourselves comfortable.”

  The mammal called Seltet Rass looked at Sah Lee, who had just joined them. “You must be the rookie.” she said.

  “I’m the new recruit, yes. My name is…”

  Seltet Rass, interrupted, “Have you got any food here?”

  “Just our field rations.”

  “Water?” Seltet Rass demanded.

  “Only what we brought with us.”

  “Get some more.” she ordered.

  “Back off soldier!” Ren Deel barked. “I’m in command here. Don’t forget it or you’ll be on the next shuttle back on a charge! Sah Lee, stay here. You two, come with me.” Without waiting for an answer, he stomped off up the street. Por Aruf and Seltet Rass looked at each other, then followed him.

  Sah Lee watched them walk away. “Be polite Sah Lee. Don’t attack them Sah Lee.” she mimicked Ren Deel when they were out of earshot. She sighed. “This is going to be difficult.”

  Ren Deel and the two new soldiers stopped way down the street, well out of earshot of even Sah Lee’s acute hearing. Sah Lee stood watching them talking. She had nothing else to do. After several minutes they turned and walked back. They approached in silence and Sah Lee braced herself for more aggression from the newcomers.

  Seltet Rass was the first to speak. “Sah Lee, I’m so pleased we will be working together. Have you got enough to drink? I’ve got some spare in my backpack. When you’ve done as much soldiering as me, you’ll always pack more than you need. These things tend to go on longer than planned. Have you eaten recently? I believe my biochemistry is similar to yours, perhaps we can share our field rations and get some variety.”

  “I’ve heard there will be landers comi
ng in close to us soon.” Por Aruf said. “They’ll have synthesizers, so we can get fresh food then, hot if you like. We’ll show you what you need to do there. Stick with us and you’ll be fine. We’ll make a good team.”

  Sah Lee was to say the least a bit surprised by this abrupt change of attitude. She looked at Ren Deel who stood by, silent. She couldn’t read his expressions, she’d never had any social interaction with birds before, but she thought he was looking pleased with himself. What had he threatened them with?

  “Uh, OK.” she replied tentatively, not fully trusting them. She turned to Ren Deel. “There is a pathway alongside the buildings. It looks like a good place for a run.”

  “I think if the separatists see you it might seem provocative. This part of the town seems deserted, you can go for a run back to the landing area.”

  “You run?” asked Seltet Rass. “I love running. We can go for a run together. Can we go now Corp?"

  “Are you ready for a run now?” Ren Deel asked Sah Lee.

  “I’m always ready for a run.” she answered, unsure about disappearing off with this initially hostile alien.

  “OK. I’ll call you on the unit comm link if you’re needed back here.”

  Seltet Rass slipped her backpack off and said, “Come on Sah Lee, you set the pace. How far do you like to run?”

  “I can run all day at a steady pace, although I don’t know how long the day is on this planet.”

  Seltet Rass laughed. “I can’t run all day. I’ll let you know when I need to turn back. We’ll keep to the middle of the road, there’s no traffic and we’re less likely to be surprised by anything there.”

  Sah Lee set off at a steady hunting pace, Seltet Rass fell in alongside her.

  “How are you finding life in the army? It must seem very different for you.”

  “Yes. It’s, uh, interesting.”

  “There is a lot to learn about how to survive in the army. The officers will help, but it’s different when you’re a grunt. That’s what we call ourselves, the ordinary soldiers. Have you made many friends yet?”

  “Not really. Sergeant Si’ir Monnen Dak is friendly, and I’ve made friends with a Krendor and Corporal Ren Deel has been friendly. Two friends joined at the same time as me, they were with the Boran Medical Emergency and Recovery Group, I’m quartered with them but haven’t spent much time with them.”

  “Stick with Por Aruf and me. We’ll teach you everything you need to know and look after you. Life in the army can be quite risky.” she laughed. “I don’t mean when we’re in action, that’s dangerous of course! I mean when you are with other soldiers. Some of them can be quite cruel, some of them are just a bit mad, like Si’ir Monnen Dak. He’s good to have as a friend, but best avoided if you’re not. I heard about your encounter with Fauren Ett. I thought that you were mad and dangerous when I heard about it, but Ren Deel said he was being a shit to you.” She turned and grinned at Sah Lee. “He’ll be more careful next time. But watch out for him, he’s a nasty bastard. Don’t let yourself get caught by him by yourself.”

  “Seltet Rass,” Sah Lee started.

  “Just call me Seltet. Do you shorten your name? Should I call you Sah or Lee?”

  “My people use both parts of our name, Seltet. I was going to ask, what did Ren Deel say to you? You weren’t friendly when we first met, but you have completely changed now.”

  “Oh, uh, nothing really. Forget that. Por Aruf and I will be your family in the army. I’ll make sure we are assigned together.”

  “You can do that as a private?”

  “Yes. You wouldn’t know this, but there are two separate structures in the army. The formal command structure are the officers, starting at Corporal and going up to General, but there is an informal structure that gives seniority for length of service, experience and ability. Por Aruf and I have both been in the army for a while and have a lot of influence. Neither of us want to be officers at the moment, so we take no part in the command structure and take orders like you do, but we have a lot of influence and with your connection with Ker Din Ser Forn we’ll easily be able to swing it to stay together.”

  “I’m not asking Ker Din Ser Forn for any favors!”

  “Ren Deel said you weren’t fond of him, but he has an interest in you.”

  “Oh yes, and what else did he tell you?” Sah Lee was getting suspicious.

  “Nothing, nothing really.”

  Sah Lee stopped and stood with her hands on her hips. “Come on. What else did he say! Tell me or I’ll beat it out of you!”

  “Sah Lee! Behave yourself! If you must know, he told us you are from Aarn and that you are just seventeen. He also said you have a habit of threatening people. You have got a lot to learn and the first thing is that you should never threaten an experienced soldier. I know that you think you are a pretty good fighter, but I could put you down without blinking. If we’re stuck here for long, Por Aruf and I will help you train in unarmed and close combat fighting, but at the moment the best thing you can do if we get into a fight is step back and keep out of the way. In your culture I’m sure you are almost an adult, but in galactic culture you are a child. You've got so much to learn that you are not safe, you need protecting. I have brought up seven children, Por Aruf has brought up fifteen. We know what we are doing.”

  “What! I am not a child!” Sah Lee said angrily.

  “Yes you are! You know nothing about how to behave or survive. If you don’t start acting in a civilized manner, you’re going to have a short and unhappy life. Now stop scowling and start running again.”

  Chapter Fifty Three

  Night Out With Seltet

  Seltet turned and broke into a sprint, her long legs taking her at a pace that Sah Lee had difficulty in keeping up with. She kept up the blistering pace for hours, running right past the landing area and into increasingly wild country. The paved road had run out long ago and was now no more than an overgrown path through leafy woodland with patches of grasses and ferns. They startled small animals and groups of grazing animals as they pounded along.

  At last, as the sun started to sink below the horizon glimpsed among the trees, Seltet slowed to a halt. She bent over with her hands on her knees, her barrel chest heaving as she breathed deeply. Sah Lee stumbled to a halt and collapsed on the soft woodland floor, gasping desperately for breath, her lungs unable to supply as much oxygen as her body was demanding. Her leg muscles burned and now she had stopped moving, she felt as though she would never have the strength to get up again. She was so exhausted she almost cried.

  After several minutes she heard Seltet moving behind her but was still barely able to move.

  “Did you enjoy our run?” Seltet asked. Sah Lee was unable to speak and after a few moments Seltet continued, “Silence implies assent, so I’ll take that as a yes. I’ve spoken to Ren Deel on the unit comms. We’re spending the night here. When you’ve got your breath back, you can show me how good a hunter you are and catch our dinner. Pity you’re not a water diviner, we’ll both need a drink. My AI hasn’t got the local ecology loaded, so I don’t know if there’s anything dangerous out here.”

  “I have full information on the planet.” Sah Lee’s AI told her. “In this locality there are stinging flying insects, biting terrestrial insects, poisonous snakes, small packs of predatory mammals, much like the vulpen of Aarn but smaller, and a larger solitary cat like predator with an average size a bit bigger than you, so you should have no trouble overcoming one of those if it attacks.”

  “Great.” Sah Lee replied. She could still communicate with her AI as that didn’t require any breath. “Any tips on how we can survive the night?”

  “There is a plant you should be able to find in woodland clearings that you can rub on to deter the flying insects, the terrestrial insects are unlikely to trouble you unless you disturb their nests, the snakes will avoid you unless you tread on them, so be careful where you step. The predatory pack animals will keep well away from fire and as I said, you sh
ould be able to overcome an average solitary predator even without your knife if one attacks.”

  “That’s a good start. Are there any edible animals in the locality?”

  “There are plenty of small animals like the ranuals on Aarn. There should be spring fed pools of clean water somewhere, the underlying rock is limestone and although you didn’t stop to enjoy the landscape, the woodland you have been running through covers low rolling chalk hills.”

  Sah Lee pushed herself up into a sitting position. She was still breathing heavily but able to talk. “Were you trying to kill me?”

  Ignoring the question, Seltet asked: “Are you up to hunting?”

  “Give me a few minutes and I will be. Have you got anything you can start a fire with?”

  “Of course not. Why do we need a fire? It’s not that cold.”

  “To keep the predators away. My AI knows about the local plants and animals. There is a plant we can rub on us to keep the stinging insects away, so we need to find some of them. A fire will keep the packs of predatory animals away and I need to find some water. The underlying rock is limestone so there should be a spring somewhere, hopefully not too far away. I can smell water and should be able to find some. We’ll have to drink straight from it, I haven’t got a container, have you?”

  “I have nothing with me except the clothes I’m wearing. How will we start a fire?”

  “There is a wide area of limestone near Aa Ellet, the city where our university is - was. There is a type of stone in it which shatters easily and has sharp edges. If you strike it against steel, it sparks. With luck we will find the same type of stone here. My hunting knife is made of steel, so I can start a fire with that. Do you know how to make fine tinder?”

  “Yes, I can do that. You really are a hunter. I’m impressed.”

  “It’s all simple stuff.” Sah Lee said dismissively, but she was secretly pleased to be praised by Seltet. “We’ll find the leaves first, I don’t want to be stung. Careful where you tread, there are poisonous snakes around, but they’ll avoid us as long as we don’t tread on them. Our boots will protect us from a bite, but I don’t think the jumpsuits will if we get bitten above our boots. Then I’ll find water while you get some tinder and firewood together. When we’ve had a drink, I’ll start a fire and you can build it while I find something to kill for us to eat.”