Free Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) by Dave O'Connor Page B

scathingly. She put down the rifle and hailed Raitah. Raitah was in her command centre in the basement of the FIA HQ. She too was fuming. The video feeds said it all. She had just sacked the commander of the troops out front and was scratching her head as to what to do now.
    “Yes I know they’ve fucked up. I need you to go and see the First Consul now. It’s time he used his influence to get us some real military muscle to take down these clowns.”
    “That’s not really my job Director. Good luck with that one” and she hung up before Raitah could get a word in. ‘Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong side?’ asked Torine as she threw the sniper rifle into the hopper and jumped in. It was airborne before the door was shut.

Chapter 33. Slidwon 1630, 12 September
    Emilius Quazor wasn’t happy. He wasn’t happy that Raitah had failed to secure the ‘complex’ in a relatively bloodless manner. Not that shedding blood ever concerned him but he did so want to avoid the media circus that was now bound to happen. He also wasn’t happy to hear the reports that the 33 rd Army Brigade had left its barracks. But what really pissed him off was that the agent that was supposed to deal with its commander had failed.
    He knew he had a real fight on his hands in the middle of the capital. What he needed right now was some loyal troops, the type that family, influence or graft can buy. He hailed Nestor Quazor.
    “Nestor my boy. How are you?”
    “Fine uncle. What do I owe the pleasure?”
    “How are the trials going?”
    “Very satisfactory.”
    “Wonderful. I hereby declare your unit fit for action and I have an immediate task for you.”
    “Yes?” queried Nestor, somewhat suspiciously.
    “I want you to deploy to the capital post haste and secure me the ISS ‘complex’. You will also have to deal with the 33 rd .”
    “What’s happened…a coup?”
    “You could say that. The bad guys are the ISS, and the 33 rd seems to have joined them. I need your Division to crush them.”
    “My walkers are not designed for urban terrain. Hell, they have hardly been tested for open terrain.”
    “They will do just fine.”
    “Maybe fine in the streets but you can’t use them in buildings.”
    “Then you’ll have to that the old fashioned way Nestor – up close and personal. Are you a warrior or do I need to get someone else?”
    “Don’t get yourself all worked up uncle. I’ll do it. But I want that third baton now if I am to have the authority over all military assets in the region.”
    “You’ll get it when the job is done.”
    “No. I won’t move without it.”
    “OK. You may think you have me over a barrel Nestor but you better be very careful and you better not fail.”
    “Don’t worry Uncle I’ll save your bacon for you” said Nestor. He hung up, smiled and hailed his operations officer. “Training’s finished. We’ve got real work to do.”
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 34. Cornucopia 0815, 13 September
    “So what is it that you are expected to do when you get back?” asked Merry.
    “Do the rounds with the media” said Charles. “First, I’ll be interviewed about my brush with death, combat, war all that stuff. Then gradually I’ll be eased into providing commentary on military and then political events and then I’ll be nominated to run. Well that’s what my mother has in mind.”
    “Run for what?”
    “The Chief Minister.”
    “No shit?”
    “No shit.”
    “Shit!” said a surprised Merry. “Wow…” She sat back in her chair, the marmalade dripping from the piece of toast in her hand.
    Charles managed a chuckle at seeing her like this.
    “What?” You just find that normal?” she asked.
    “Well yes.”
    “You live in a different world to me Charles. But let me tell you. That is not and I mean NOT normal.” She looked at him like a school teacher correcting an errant pupil.
    Charles just laughed. “You know you look great when you are all fired up.”
    She smiled back but then