Columns of infantry marched toward them. Thousands upon thousands of Vasilovian soldiers drove a line through the mud like migrating animals. They stared at the convicts like they were animals: muddy, blood-covered, ragged, torn animals.
The description wasn't far off.
***
Colonel Clarke led the column as they marched into the starbase complex. He steered them around dead Emflife tanks, rows of Kadan corpses, and burnt-out ruins. They sidestepped craters and shrapnel. Finally they halted at the stargate.
All around were trucks, supplies, heaps of crates, and the gear required for an army to fight. It was a massive endeavor. This wasn't simply a reinforcement, but had the looks of an invasion.
The stargate burned bright, and soldiers poured through. They were clean and wore the uniform of Duke Kell's planet. The light green stood out against the mud. More and more marched past and streamed away.
Colonel Clarke called the regiment to a halt. The captains down the line transmitted the order, and they rested.
At the very rear, the walking wounded collapsed. They'd transferred the worst of the wounded into the care of the hospital services. For most of the trip they'd carried makeshift stretchers. The moans of the wounded were a constant companion.
A sergeant came stomping up. "Hey! This is a transit zone! The hell do you—"
Auroch stood up and marched toward the sergeant. His arms were puffed out, and he was cruising for a bruising.
Arap hobbled over before Auroch could reach the sergeant. "Sergeant!" Arap yelled. "Do you see the rank on my arm?"
The verbal lashing continued for a minute and was worse than the brief thumping that Auroch could have leveled. The sergeant saluted and sprinted away.
Colonel Clarke watched with a smile and sat back against a wall.
The next thing he knew, he snapped his eyes awake. Major Bresov was gently shaking his shoulder. "Colonel?"
Around him stood a group of uniformed men. He recognized General Makinen, along with Colonel Carco and Colonel Karling. The rest were either nobles or officers. One man in particular stood out: he was totally bald, with a chiseled face and a scar across his chin. He wore no rank.
Colonel Clarke knew why. The man didn't need it. He stood slowly, painfully, and his muscles protested the whole time. He saluted. "Duke Kell."
Then behind them all, he saw another man that he knew. The People's Lord, Wilhelm Darcy. The People's Lord, the leader of the Vasilov Worlds, looked small in his jacket. He looked at the troops down the line and then wandered off.
"Colonel," Duke Kell said. His voice was deep. He wiped the mist off his bald head and nodded. "You've done some damn good work."
"I'd say my soldiers did, m'lord, and our armor."
"Of course," Duke Kell said. He looked down the line at the sleeping, half-collapsed, and mud-covered soldiers. "You get a soldier in combat, and when he comes out he's changed by that moment. Do you know what I mean, Colonel?"
"Yes, m'lord."
"And in that moment, that great and terrible time, they're all alone with themselves, their crimes, their loves, their wants." Duke Kell stared at the line of soldiers. The mist ran down his face. "This is a terrible war we're in now. It's going to get worse."
Colonel Clarke said nothing. He turned his head and watched the People's Lord work himself down the line.
The People's Lord stooped down and handed a flask to a group of soldiers. He patted one on the shoulder and took a sip when they were done. Then he did the same to the next squad. The soldiers all down the line watched him with tired smiles.
"Duke Makinen has requested you to be a part of the Kalivostok Army."
Colonel Clarke looked at Maki. Maki was a mass of bruises, one eye was almost swollen shut. His face and hands were covered in scratches. A duke? Was that the game then? When Kornilov fell, one way or the other, they'd put Maki in his place?
Duke Makinen wore a half smile and gave a nod to Clarke. "The Kalivostok Army is in shambles. Almost all of the staff officers were killed in the orbital strike. Cole, I could use you."
Colonel Clarke glanced at Carco and Karling. Both wore general's stars. He looked again down the line at the People's Lord. He'd followed that old man for a long time. If he joined up with Makinen, then he'd be a duchal soldier, and not with the Vasilov Army. Then came the politics, and of all the things in the world, he hated politics the most.
Laughter broke out down the line. The People's Lord wore a great smile and finished up some story. Then he pulled out one more flask and continued down the line.
"Duke Makinen, Duke Kell. I have an oath to the Vasilov Army, and that is where I shall stay."
Duke Makinen raised an eyebrow. "Cole..."
Duke Kell held up a hand. "I respect that, Colonel. Should you change your mind, let me know."
"Thank you, m'lord."
Duke Kell nodded, and the officers walked back toward the command complex.
Colonel Clarke watched them go. He looked back down the line. The People's Lord was still shaking hands and passing out a never-ending flask.
Now it was the time where the nobles could shake hands, slap backs, and proclaim a job well done. Clarke knew it was the time to mourn those they'd lost. This at least was different from Lishun Delta. While that was a never-ending hell with no purpose, this was something different. A chance to secure the borders and finally get what all soldiers want. Peace.
He looked down the line at his mud-covered soldiers and was proud. They'd done more than he asked. They'd done more than anyone asked.
As he stared down in pride, the smile dropped from his face. How many more would he lay down to win this war? How many more soldiers would perish in battle from wounds or wear the scars for life? He didn't ponder on the rights or wrongs. He knew better than that.
He knew to lose was to suffer annihilation. This was a different war.
"Bresov, Arap. Start drawing up the proper requisition. We're going to need more tanks."
"Yes, sir!" Major Bresov said.
"Cole?" Arap said.
Colonel Clarke looked up.
"We'll be needing more convicts."
Colonel Clarke smiled and looked down at his troops. Now they were only convicts in name and term, but soldiers without a doubt. "Yes, I suppose we will."
#
Chapter Forty-Four
Planet Squire, Kalivostok System
Squire-Kali Stargate
With the taste of Lord Wilhelm's whiskey still in his mouth Tomi marched toward the stargate. Every step was an effort. He ached from head to toe. Not to mention the mud that had soaked into every nook and cranny.
"I'm gonna get drunk," Puck said. "Really fucking drunk."
"You always say that," Hutchins said.
"Yah, and I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna drink for Bosovitz, Veriha, and maybe even Waslinski too."
"She's still alive," Hess said. He shrugged his pack up and tapped on Wellington's tablet. A hand of poker was on the screen.
Puck turned and shrugged. "Well, she very well can't drink with us. So I'll just drink for her!"
First Sergeant Palich strutted past. "Look sharp! Gate fire in five minutes!"
Tomi looked around for Mick and Kallio. They were both missing from the lineup. The last he'd seen of Mick was him stomping off without a word. Waslinski's screams still stuck with him.
Sophia yawned wide and ended it with a whoop. He swung his arms from side to side. "I want a bath."
Gous scowled. "I want my fucking money."
Private Vinovy rolled his eyes at Gous. "I just want a good night's sleep. On a proper bed."
"Passed-out drunk," Puck added.
"How 'bout you, Tomi?" Hutchins said. "What you gonna do?"
Tomi opened his mouth to speak when he saw Mick walking alongside Kallio. "There they are!"
Mick gave a half wave. Kallio fell into line at the back of the squad.
"Thought you were staying behind, eh Mickey-boy?" Puck said.
Mick grunted. "Not likely. There's not enough booze here to keep me happy."
Tomi looked back and caught Kallio's eye. He eased out of the ranks and stood next to her. She looked thoughtful, with one eye on the gate. It had to be tough, to not be able to help a friend in horrible pain. "Kallio? You all right?"
Kallio sighed and looked past Tomi at nothing.
Tomi squinted at her. "Hey?"
Kallio turned and looked at Tomi with tears in her eyes. She reached out and squeezed his hand. He felt the grit on his hands. Her eyes spoke the truth. She couldn't talk; she just sobbed quietly.
Mick walked slowly down the line and shook the hand of everyone as he went along. He stopped at Tomi and glanced at Kallio. "Waslisnki's gonna make it."
"It's fine," Kallio said. Her voice was just a rasp.
"You did all right," Mick said.
"I keep them alive. I don't want. I don't want them to suffer," Kallio said.
Mick locked eyes with her for a hard second. Then he nodded. "We know."
Kallio sobbed harder. Tomi threw an arm on one shoulder, and Puck hugged her around the waist. The three stood as best they could in the moment.
"Listen up," Mick said. "Come round."
The squad came close to Mick until they all stood shoulder to shoulder. Kallio stood on the outside until Mick pulled her in. Everyone was still as they watched Mick.
"We took some licks here. This has been a damned dirty bit of business."
The squad watched Mick.
"When Wass gets out, everyone help her out, eh? We're a family here. Remember that." Mick pointed a finger around. "What one lives through..."
"We all live through!" everyone else answered.
"That's fucking right."
"Whatcha gonna do on Kalivostok, Mickey-boy?" Puck said.
Mick licked his lips. There was a twinkle in his eye. "Drunk. Seriously drunk. Mind-shattering drunk."
Mueller pulled off his backpack and dropped it onto the ground with a thud. He opened the top and knelt down next to it. There was a grin that kept growing as he reached inside.
"Oh Christ," Mick said. "What'd you steal this time?"
Mueller pulled out the change jar.
The squad roared in laughter.
Mueller handed it over to Vinovy. "It's yours."
Vinovy looked around at the squad with a crooked smile. "I, well, I suppose we could buy a round with a bit of it."
Mick rubbed Vinovy's head. "Thatta boy! Next time we'll mind our fucking language and get a proper fucking drunk out of you."
"You shoulda took the other crate," Gous grumbled.
The call came down the line. The gate was opening. Technicians swarmed around the stargate, and it crackled to life. The smell of fresh-cut grass wafted through.
"Tomi, what you doing when we get back?"
Tomi thought on it and watched ranks of fresh soldiers march in. "Oh I don't know. A bath, some wine, a new jacket, a proper pair of boots, maybe—"
"Fuck, man, just get drunk," Puck said.
First Sergeant Polich called out. "Move out!"
Tomi grinned. "Yah, yah, that sounds good too."
Then the 19th ACR marched off Squire through mist and drizzle.
#
Chapter Forty-Five
Sigg Orbital, Sigg System
Sigg Orbital came into view. Tugs gently prodded the starships like beached whales. They looked even worse against the fresh paint of the space station. Beneath them Sigg Prime was a green-gray jewel.
They arrived to a hero's welcome. Umi and Vik waited inside. They waited with Vaughn. The sounds of the celebration echoed down the hall.
Umi stared down at the floor. He was home. Or at least as close to home as one could get in orbit. A line of ancient poetry came to mind: Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill.
The ship was strangely silent. A single crawler chattered past on some unknown mission.
"Kelly should be here soon," Vik said. He stared down the hall, still wearing the patched-up EVA suit.
And he was right. Kelly walked through the main access with a wide smile. In one hand she clutched a bottle of champagne. She stopped abruptly and champagne sloshed on the floor. Her smile faded away. "Vaughn..."
Umi leaned over and grasped a corner of the bag. His friend deserved better, and he couldn't give it to him. Not yet. A tear ran down his face. He set his jaw and adjusted his grip to carry both sides.
Vik grasped one corner while Kelly took the other. They struggled to pick him up. The weight of the corpse was deceptively heavy.
"Let me help," Rachel said. She grasped a corner opposite Umi.
Umi looked at her but said nothing.
They carried him through the hall and out the airlock. The sounds of celebration were gone. A line of Sigg Marines stood at attention just through the door. There were a dozen on each side, with an officer at the head wielding a saber.
"Detail attention!" the officer called. He snapped the sabre up and held it before his face. The cold steel sang just in front of his nose.
The line of marines snapped to attention with a forceful crack.
Umi stepped ahead slowly. He locked his eyes straight ahead. They passed the line of Marines and halted at the officer. Umi knew the ritual; he'd seen it many times before.
The officer closed his eyes and bowed slightly. He turned the sabre on its side and snapped it in two. It was a special sabre, pre-etched to snap. He laid the two pieces onto Vaughn's chest. "Thank you for your sacrifice," he said softly.
They carried him through the silent hall to where a transport was waiting. Marines helped them set Vaughn's body onto the back.
Umi watched it drive off and turned to Kelly and Vik. Rachel stood off a few meters away. "We're home."
Kelly rubbed her eyes; they were puffy and red. "What's next, Cap?"
Umi glanced at Rachel. He pulled off the pendant he wore around his neck. The same pendant Lady Atli had given him on Vasilov Prime. The weight of Terra was heavy in his palm. He handed it to Rachel. "I'm done with that."
Rachel took the pendant. "This war isn't over. We need people like you."
"No," Umi said. "That ain't my kind of fight. My duty is here. If you really want to fight a war here, then I've got a duty to stop that. Sigg Prime isn't a battlefield."
"It offers the best defense—"
"Shut up," Umi said.
Rachel stopped talking.
"This is my home. It's not an abstract point on some galactic map where a tactician has chosen to make a stand. He's got no skin in this game. You people can get fucked."
"It doesn't change the reality," Rachel said. She narrowed her eyes. "Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it won't happen."
"Go back to Terra. Go and tell them we need troops, we need tanks, we need technology, but most of all tell them that we need to fight this. You can't hold a defensive line, Rachel. Look at the Vasilov. There's one option here, and that's to attack."
Rachel let out a deep breath and then smoothed her shirt. She straightened herself up and offered a hand to Umi. "Thank you for your service."
Umi turned away without shaking her hand. "You can thank Vaughn."
Kelly and Vik followed after. They went down a few halls and exited a side door into the main concourse.
"What now, Cap?" Kelly said. She and Vik both looked at Umi.
"I think the Vasilov are going to need some help."
"I think you're right," Kelly said. She hooked a thumb toward a tavern. "I could use a drink."
"For Vaughn," Vik said.
"For Vaughn," Umi replied.
Umi led the way. They sat amid the ship riggers and tug pilots. The bartender brought a set of glasses and a bottle of schnapps.
"So how we gonna keep this fight from coming home?" Umi said.
"Easy," Kelly said. She popped off the cork and poured the schnapps into each glass. Then she slid a glass to each of them.
Umi picked up the glass and raised it up. "For those who fell."
They snapped the glasses back and drank.
"Gonna be a helluva fight," Vik said. "We're gonna have to get everyone together again. Riga, Tollefson..."
"You ready for this, Cap?" Kelly said.
Umi nodded. He'd never been more ready for anything in his life.
<<<<>>>>
Hello Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Steel Storm.
The second installment of the convicts was just as exciting to write as the first. Thinking up schemes and plots was half the fun for this novel. It just wouldn’t be any fun if they weren’t trying to discover a way to screw the system. The convicts of the 19th ACR will definitely be back.
As an author I love honest feedback. So, tell me what you loved or hated. You can write me at [email protected] or find me at http://caseycalouette.com.
Sign up for my mailing list here! http://eepurl.com/DN21H
Finally I need to ask a favor. If you’re so inclined, I’d love an honest review of Steel Breach. Loved it, hated it, - I’d just enjoy your feedback.
As you may notice on my books reviews are hard to come by. You, the reader, have the power to make or break a book. If you have the time, here’s a link to my author page at Amazon. You can find a list of all of my books here : http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004IWHH8O
I’d like to thank the Colonels. You guys have been an inspiration, a motivation, but most of all good friends.
Thank you so much for reading Steel Breach and for spending your time with me.
Graciously,
Casey
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Steel Storm (Steel Legion Book 2) Page 27
