Free Black Guard, The by C. R. Daems Page B

my Mfi to Lieutenant Ceder’s channel.
    "Lieutenant Ceder, you have two,
ten-man teams attempting to circle you to the left and right," I said.
"The front is clear." Five minutes later, he replied.
    "Thanks to your warning, Captain,
we were in position and killed several. After that they took off running."
    "Well done, Lieutenant. Collect
everyone and come to us. We will have verified the area is clear by then."
I switched to an open channel. "Make sure everyone on the ground is dead."
I walked, surveying each body as I went, shooting anyone who moved, moaned, or
had a hand on a weapon. Before too long everyone but Lipkin had assembled.
    "Anyone seen Lipkin?"
    "She’s dead. A shard through the
eye." Glick said softly. A half hour later Ceder and his party came into
sight. They had taken a beating. I counted eight dead including Sergeant Rosin
and most were wounded. My first command, and I had lost almost half. Brave men
and women of the Black Guard who had given everything in the name of duty. Men
and women who will live in my mind forever.
    "Captain," Ceder said, bowing
low. The others also bowed. Then he straightened, smiling through the dirt and
blood. "I think we owe you and the women a round… or three when we get
back."
    "You did your part, Ceder. You
entertained a hundred while we partied." I couldn’t help a grin.
    "Where the hell have you
been?" Li Ho Lew shouted. "We were almost killed."
    My laser beam hit the ground between
his feet, spraying dirt and debris. "Governor, the next one will be
higher, although I doubt you have any balls to hit." I stared at him until
he lowered his eyes. Li Ming was standing off to the side, watching her son
with undisguised shame.
    "Li Ming, who is Po Tong?" I
asked as I neared her.
    "Thank you, Captain Sapir. You and
your Guard are very brave." She bowed low. "Po Tong is one of the
ministers who is on the Lanzhou governing council."
    "He’s a dead man," I said to
no one in particular.
    * * *
    After treating the wounded, we returned
to the estate in order to give Colonel Ou Yang time to reorganize the Yuan
military sufficiently to provide the governor reasonable protection. When we
arrived, I was notified that Colonel Wolfson was sending a shuttle for me to
return to the War Horse. I left Lieutenant Ceder in charge and worked out a
schedule to rotate the Guard to the War Horse for examination and medical treatment
based on their current condition. Everyone had been injured but some were more
serious than others. I had no sooner finished than a combat shuttle landed. I entered
with the four we considered needed immediate attention. Lost in my thoughts
over those who had died under my command—following my decisions—the
trip seemed to take only minutes. I rose as the shuttle door opened, feeling
the weight of those deaths, renewed pain from the multiple shard hits, and bone
tired.
    "Captain Sapir." Captain
Drezner stood a few meters to the side. "Thank you."
    "It’s good to see you, Captain
Drezner. Thanks for what?" I didn’t know what he meant, but just seeing
him lightened my mood.
    "For reminding me, we are Jax and
they piffling rabble, and there was no reason to die fighting when we could
kick ass." He laughed although his eyes were sad like mine must be. "The
survivors and I stand tall today because of the many who died in the finest Jax
tradition. Many faces I’ll never forget."
    We walked in silence to the commando
area where we found Colonel Wolfson in his office waiting for us.
    "Come in, Captains," he said,
acknowledging Drezner’s salute and waving to the chairs. "Have a seat.
Normally, I would wait for your action report, but I need your report
immediately. The contract with the ruling party on Lanzhou was a disaster. I
need to understand the extent to which they were negligent. That will determine
the penalty due the Jax."
    "They weren’t negligent; they lied
to us—" I started to say, but he interrupted me before I could
continue.
    "How do you know