BattleMaster (The BattleMaster Corps Book 1)

by Nathaniel Danes

  Leech was silent as they cut through the gardens to head straight for the presidential residence. Kyle wasn’t aware of another meeting with the president but would take it in stride, like everything else on this trip.

  Pebbles shifted under their feet and the air was filled with a bouquet of floral aromas from the assortment of colorful flowers lining the path. He recognized several — roses, tulips, and daisies, to name a few. He looked at them in awe of the centuries-long effort they represented.

  The colonists hadn’t brought those beautiful, though non-vital, seeds with them on the generation ship that carried them to the Eden System eight light years from Sol. They, along with a proverbial Ark of flora, preceded humans by a hundred and fifty years aboard the terraforming ships.

  Astronomers discovered in detail the four earth-size worlds in the Goldilocks zone of their yellow sun in the late twenty-first century, putting it high on the list of systems marked for probe survey missions.

  Thousands of wafer-thin spacecraft, accelerated to twenty-five percent the speed of light by orbital lasers, zipped through Eden in the early twenty-second century. The data sent back to Earth was beyond amazing.

  The four planets had liquid water and thick atmospheres. While none had enough oxygen to support human life, not to mention containing cocktails of poisonous gases and other issues such as temperature, they were within the realm of mankind’s ingenuity.

  The opportunity represented by such prime real estate in our cosmic backyard was too great to ignore. An international panel granted colonization rights to each of Earth’s major powers, who went to work designing methods to reshape their new holdings.

  Progress was slow but sure. In 2251, the terraformers launched, each carrying a payload of genetically-engineered algae and seeds to transform their target hostile environments into habitable ecosystems.

  The colony ships left in 2403. A network of gigawatt lasers staggered across the home system pushed the four-kilometer long vessels to point-two c. Fifty-nine years later, the children of the original crews reached Eden. Deceleration alone took a decade. Stores of frozen embryos filled the worlds with wildlife in addition to the human animals.

  Fast forward to today. Kyle was breathing the crisp clean air of a developed, spacefaring colony with a population of over a million.

  “General?”

  Kyle whipped around toward Leech who’d stopped three paces back. He gestured down a turn leading to the president’s office.

  “Oh, sorry, Mr. Secretary. I was daydreaming.”

  “Quite all right, general. I do suggest you avoid drifting off in front of the in president. She can be prickly about such things.”

  “Yes, of course. It won’t happen again.”

  A scanner buzzed overhead as they breezed through security. An aide rose from her desk to open a pair of carved wooden doors and gestured for them to enter. “Please take a seat. The president will be here shortly.” She closed the doors with a heavy thud.

  Kyle studied the office. Blue carpet, creamy white walls, couches, and a large desk that dominated the space were the first things he noticed. He found the paintings depicting American history from the Revolution to the founding of Liberty to be the most interesting.

  He was drawn toward a scene of Pickett’s Charge. A wall of blue held firm against the oncoming gray.

  “That’s one of my favorites also,” a woman’s voice said from behind him.

  He spun on his heels to snap to attention. President Barb Dodge was a trim fifty-something woman but didn’t look a day over forty. She had short, almost boyish hair and was shorter than he’d expected from seeing her on the news.

  “Relax, general.” She waved him off, then extended a hand. “The three of us are alone here. No need to be so formal. Frankly, it makes me a little uncomfortable.”

  He shook her hand, careful to apply enough pressure to appear strong without overdoing it and seem like he was trying to exert control. “As you wish, Madam President.”

  She stepped closer to the painting. “You know why I like this one?”

  “There are many possible reasons. Do you study the Civil War?”

  “No. Honestly, I’m not much of a military history fan. I leave that up to people like you, general. I’m more of a cultural and political history buff. The Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention of 2051-type stuff. No, I like it because it shows the measure of humanity’s resolve.

  “Pickett’s Charge was insanity.” She shook her head. “How anyone could look across that mile-long open field and think we can do it, I’ll never understand. But thirteen thousand men gave it their all. If nothing else, we must respect their courage, even if one disagrees with their cause.”

  “Lee was desperate.” Kyle gestured toward the painting. “Vicksburg was about to fall and he knew the South couldn’t win a prolonged contest. He needed a dramatic victory to change the course of history. Maybe force the Union to the negotiating table or curry foreign support.

  “It was a gamble, for sure, but I don’t think he felt he had much of a choice. Take a long shot at winning now versus losing for sure later by playing it safe. Fortune favors the bold, as I like to say.”

  Dodge stared at him and grinned “How fitting you’d say that. I suppose you believed yourself in a similar situation when you disobeyed orders to make a final desperate stand against impossible odds.”

  “I was hoping for a miracle.”

  “And you got it.” Leech sat down.

  Kyle and Dodge turned to face him. Kyle sighed. “I can’t argue that. I got lucky.”

  “No.” Leech spread his arms wide. “We got lucky. If it wasn’t for that BattleMaster and her merry band, we’d all have been screwed. You, dead or courtmartialed and us kicked out of office.”

  Not to mention more dead grunts. Kyle cleared his throat. “The reports I read indicate that that ‘merry band’ was just as critical to the mission’s ultimate success.”

  “Details, general.” Dodge sat on the couch across from Leech.

  Details my ass. Those details are my soldiers.

  Dodge gestured toward a spot. “Please, have a seat. The public adores their warrior women, particular ones as attractive as Captain Butler. It played well to highlight her role.

  “I do wish she could’ve joined you on this goodwill tour, but our forces were far too thin to voluntarily take a key asset completely off the board. If the Chinese were to launch a major offensive…” Her body shuddered. “I don’t even want to even think about it.”

  Kyle sat across from her and next to Leech. “Our defense in depth worked brilliantly against their assault. It will be some months before they’re capable of a major offensive.”

  Dodge and Leech paused, glancing at one another. Leech locked eyes with him. “Which is why we want you to launch a major offensive of our own in six weeks.”

  Kyle’s back was forced into the cushion. “What? We don’t have the men or materiel for an assault of that magnitude.”

  “You’re right, general.” Dodge stood and headed for a small table of crystal decanters filled with brown liquor. “We’re in bad shape.” The stoppers clanked as she poured several ounces into three rocks glasses. “But the enemy is in worse shape.

  “At this moment, the Euros are finished on New Calcutta. That might not be the case if we allow the Chinese to stay on-planet. They could cover the landings of new allied troops as their own forces rebuild.

  “Two years from now, we could be in the same position we were a few months ago, with two fronts and souring public opinion. No, we need to end it now.” She slammed the stopper into the decanter, sending a loud clank through the room.

  Kyle accepted the drink. “That’s a valid point, Madam President, but we still need the equipment and infantry to do what you’re asking. The Chinese could easily turn the tables on us. Defense in depth and wear our limited resources to a nub.”

  Leech took hold of his glass, savoring the aroma before taking a sip. �
�We must be bold, general. As you’ve shown us. If the president’s prediction is true, which intelligence believes it is, given time, we’ve already lost the war. Public opinion won’t support another decade of conflict. We either win now or lose later.”

  “I can’t fight with spitballs and grit.”

  Leech took a long draw. “And we’re not asking you to. Tell me, general, did you take a look at the four colonies’ orbits on your way here?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  Dodge took a sip and let it linger on her tongue. “We have a window of opportunity. Right now, we are closer to New Calcutta than the Chinese by a wide margin. We have reports they’re scrambling to scrape together everything not bolted down and ship it there to reinforce their position.

  “They’re pulling retirees back into service, stripping home defenses, transporting raw recruits. I’m not suggesting we go that far, but we need to send everything we can. Our forces will beat them there. By the time Chinese reinforcements arrive, they won’t have any support on the surface. The planet will be ours.”

  Kyle opened his mouth but Leech cut him off. “The fleet will be on high alert and in position to intervene, in the unlikely event they decide to break the space warfare truce.

  Kyle gazed off, staring at nothing behind the president as he sipped his whiskey and toyed with the proposal. It was bold and carried a great deal of risk, though they were correct. Not acting, playing it safe, carried its own dangers. Yes, they did need to move while the advantage was theirs.

  He kicked back the last of his drink, enjoying the burning sensation mixed in with the sweet oaky flavor. “I take it you’re telling me all this because you want me to command the offensive.”

  Dodge got up and grabbed the decanter. “A bold commander for a bold plan. I think it makes perfect sense, don’t you? Tell me, general, what do you think of the plan?”

  Droplets of the amber liquid splashed his wrist as she poured him another drink. “On the surface it makes sense, and I believe it’s doable. I’ll need to take a look at the forces you can send back with me before I can form any real opinion. You need to understand that this is all or nothing. If we lose this battle, the Chinese reinforcements will steamroll us.”

  “Then you understand the situation perfectly.” She refilled Leech and sat back down. “Now, what do you need from us to ensure victory?”

  ***

  Leech shut the door behind Kyle and turned to face Dodge. “At least he’s onboard.”

  “Please. He’s a career general with a history of making rash decisions.” She stood behind her dark wood desk. “He loves the idea of taking it to the enemy and the thoughts of glory it will bring him. Yes, he is the best man for the job.”

  “What do you think our honest odds are?”

  She flopped onto her chair, slouching into it. “Fifty — fifty.” A sighed slipped from her lips. “And those are the best odds we’re ever going to get. We need to win and we need to win now. New Calcutta and all its treasures have to be ours. Croatoan is coming and we need to be ready.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Stephanie awoke with a yawn that pulled her jaw wide open. Her fingers searched and found warm flesh which brought a smile to her face. I was hoping you’d still be here after that dream I just had.

  Their first night of passion had sparked an intense relationship. After all, before the physical intimacy, they’d shared more than most couples ever do. They were lovers forged in the furnace of combat and they’d stuck up for one another at a stiff cost to themselves.

  She was also grateful for finally having access to regular sex. The testosterone affected her like everyone else, but she hadn’t found a release she was comfortable with.

  Her greedy fingers ran across Stanner’s skin, finding their way to his member. Gentle strokes brought both of them to life.

  His eyes fluttered open. “What are you doing?”

  “You.” She giggled and mounted him to have her way with him.

  Time was short, so Stephanie attacked him vigorously with her hips until they lay panting next to each other. A layer of sweat slicked their bodies.

  He gulped air. “That’s a nice...way to start the day.”

  “I thought you’d appreciate it. Probably will be our only chance to be alone today. Some emergency shipment is arriving from Liberty today and it has my new aerial units. I’ll be busy taking ‘em out for a test drive.”

  “Why do you say emergency?”

  “I overheard some guys in supply talking about it. Said the freighter got one hell of a push from the Liberty navigation lasers and was braking like a son-of-a-bitch to avoid slamming into the planet. Said they’d never seen a ship in such a hurry.”

  He turned on his side. “Wonder what that means?”

  “That we won’t have too many more mornings like this together.”

  “Yeah.” He sighed and flopped onto his back.

  She curled up to him. “What’s on tap for you? Joint exercises?”

  “Ugh, yes. I’ve been running maneuvers with your girlfriends and a company of infantry for two solid weeks now. We’re like clockwork. Can’t wait till someone says good enough and I can get away from them for a while. Go back to running my own drills.

  “I’m so tired of their crap. I mean, just get over it already. I’m here to stay. Every time we run a mock mission, my Wasps kick ass. You’d think I’d start to get a little respect by now.”

  “It’ll come, baby.” She patted his chest. “But don’t expect it until you save their butts in the field. Just keep an eye on your boots until then.”

  He scuffed, rolling his eyes. “I still can’t believe that. I took them off for a minute and someone pissed in them. What woman does that? Isn’t that kind of hard for a girl to do?”

  Stephanie laughed and climbed over him to get out of bed. “Never underestimate a well-motivated woman. You’d be shocked by what I’d do if you screwed around on me.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  She leaned down to peck him on the lips. “You don’t want to know. I’ve got to go.”

  “Me, too.”

  She paused in the bathroom door, pressing her stomach against the frame as she slid her leg up the wall. “You could join me in the shower to save time.”

  He smirked. “That might cost us more time than we save.”

  “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

  He leapt from the bed and chased after her as her giggles echoed in the bathroom.

  They were both late and it was worth it.

  Stephanie almost broke into a skip as she reached the supply depot. Shuttles in the background were lined up to land and take off.

  The supply clerk checked her in and escorted her to her new drones. Ten shiny, triangular-shaped aircraft were parked in neat rows for her review. The sounds of a bustling spaceport faded away as she walked around each one, dragging her fingers along the hulls.

  Closing her eyes, she connected with them to begin initial system diagnostics. The program had just begun when a voice interrupted her line of thought.

  “Well, well, well...what do we have here?” Stephanie faced the source to see Captain Reba Chandler strolling toward her. “Looks like an ape-loving slut.”

  Stephanie turned her back. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

  “Nope, I’m still waiting for my bots to be off-loaded. The idiot muscle at the dock decided to take a break.” Reba stepped into the corner of her vision. “So, I hear you’ve been shacking up with that pretender. I can’t imagine why you’re bothering with him. Did he knock you up while you two were behind enemy lines or something?”

  “Go fuck yourself, captain.” Stephanie turned to keep her back to her tormentor. “I’m busy getting my birds ready to fly.”

  “Can’t say I blame you for fooling around with him. He’s got some skills in the sack. Tell me, when he goes down on you, does he do that thing with his lips? Boy, I miss that. He could really eat...”


  Stephanie’s blood pressure went atmospheric and her fists clinched on reflex. All she could remember thinking was, that fucking cunt! before her balled hand swung around and connected with Reba’s open jaw.

  The whole thing happened in slow motion. Fist to chin impact, Chandler’s bulging eyes, jaw shifting sideways, and spittle of saliva flying. Then Stephanie was standing over the object of her rage, red-faced and ready for anything. “I’d stop right there, if I were you.”

  Reba chuckled and rubbed her chin. “I didn’t think you had it in you. Not a bad right hook for an ape-loving whore. Does he hit you like that for fun before you two fuck like equals?”

  It took great concentration for Stephanie to unhinge her jaw enough to eke out words. “I don’t know why you hate men so much, and I stopped caring a long time ago, but you will not talk about Stanner like that around me and get away with it.” She jerked her head to the side. “Go! Leave me alone and leave him alone, ‘cause I promise you, the next time I won’t stop with just one punch.”

  Reba held her palms out and stood. “Fine, have it your way. I was only trying to have a conversation with an old friend.” She took three steps and regarded her. “I know you’re in love with your ape boyfriend and he has the right people fooled about him being a real BattleMaster, but maybe you should start thinking about what will happen if they send him in and the shit hits the fan. He’s gonna get a lot of people killed. Including many of the apes you seem to care so much about.”

  That comment buried itself deep into Stephanie. Was she right? Commanding a swarm in drills and in a fight were two totally different things. Would he get men like her father killed? She pushed those concerns aside for now. “Go screw yourself, Reba — or find another boy you can force yourself on because no one else will have you. I don’t care. Just leave.”

  “Whatever.” Reba shrugged. “Just don’t come crying to me when your boyfriend fucks up when it counts.”

  Stephanie’s nails dug into her palms as she watched her walk away. What if she’s right?