"No, sir," Clarke said with a slight cough. He read the columns once more. "May I pick my Officers?"
"And have the Dukes clamoring about a coup? No, Colonel, but you may make requests." Wilhelm stood on shaky legs and grasped the edge of his desk. He shook the hand of the young Colonel. "I'm attaching you to General von Aster, he should be receptive, at least. Do Vasilov proud."
"Thank you, Lord Darcy," Clarke said, and saluted the old man.
Wilhelm returned as crisp a salute as he could and watched Colonel Clarke march out.
He couldn't help but feel cynical about it all. He'd designed the system to be rigid, to keep stability, it just simply didn't react well to change. But yet, he felt a touch of hope. What was the worst that could happen? A penal battalion destroyed? They would have been dead men, anyway. They probably still will be.
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Trial by Ice (A Star Too Far Book 1) Page 28
