by Clyde Key
* * *
Several more loads of weapons showed up at Kingman over the next few days. Most were like the first weapons that had arrived. Then came the troops. Several hundred young recruits, along with a few very old former officers and NCO’s—the newly reformed United States Army.
Captain Baines was promoted to major (he assured Ed that major was the next rank up) and Baines was given command of the recruits. The old soldier selected several other officers of approximately equal age to lead the companies and Camp Kingman soon looked like a military base of old, with drills and formations and orders barked everywhere.
Ed (Col. Halloran) and Lt. Sharp reviewed the training progress each day, noting carefully each day’s improvement. Of course, it had been so long since the nation had a standing army that one could not be quite sure what grade to award the trainees. There was no recent standard for comparison and, even if there had been, only Ed, Marilee, and the first few old soldiers had any experience with the aliens.
“But I think it’s exciting anyway,” said Marilee. “There’s real progress every day, and I think we’re about ready to see some action. Don’t you?”
“We can’t be sure,” said Ed. “We could hope it won’t come to action, but I’m afraid there’s no other way.”
Then Private Brady came with a message from Major Baines. “There are visitors for you, sir. Just arrived from Washington.”
“Visitors? I wasn’t expecting anybody. Do you know who it is?”
“I’m not sure but I think it’s some AABC people. Do you know somebody named Sisk and Tilman?”
“Oh, no!”
20
June 12, 2112
“This is your fault, Halloran!” Arlene Sisk glowered in the ray of sunlight that poured through the only window in Ed’s office. Merrill Tilson stood quietly at her side, staring at the gaunt furnishings of HQ command office.
“It’s nice to see you again, Arlene. What precisely is my fault?”
“Do you want the whole list? Or just why I’m here?”
“I take it, it must be my fault you’re here. But you’ll probably give me the whole list anyway.”
“I think I will, when I have time,” said Sisk, “but you still won’t listen. It’s your fault I’m here, you old redneck! You talked the president into ordering me here!”
“That’s not true, Arlene. Lane thought you and Tilson ought to come down here and talk to the aliens. I told her she should just send Tilson, because you’d probably get hurt.”
Tilson looked up at the mention of his name. “You can’t be serious. It’s a bit late now, isn’t it? After you’ve already started a war?”
“I’m quite willing for you to talk to them,” said Ed. “I’ll be happy to provide transportation to their camp, but you’ll have to excuse me if I stand back while they eat you alive.”
“Ms. Sisk has assured me that they’re basically peace-loving and completely non-aggressive, and that they’re probably confused by your belligerent actions. She said the only problem will be if I let you attack them while I establish lines of communication.”
“Okay, then. I’ll take you there and let you handle it. But you can take a comphone just in case you need to be rescued. It’s a bit late now, but we’ll arrange it for tomorrow morning, and now I’ll get somebody to show you to guest quarters.”
“Ah... Are you coming with me, Ms. Sisk?” asked Tilson.
“The president ordered it,” said Sisk.
“Not a good idea!” said Ed. “That is not a good idea at all!”
