Big Pete (Privateer Tales Book 4) by Jamie McFarlane Read Free Book Online Page A

…”
    “Sergeant!” Colonel Pertino interrupted.
    “My apologies, Ma’am.” Frak, I’d forgotten ‘Skampers’ was a bad thing to say. “Well, like I was saying, the enemy blew up both of our transport ships and ended up dropping a platoon of armored Marines into the city. They then occupied a building in order to gain a tactical advantage. Methane, Mulehog and Patch were pinned down. My intent hadn’t been to knock down the building. That said, I absolutely wanted to distract them long enough to get my squad out of there. I think the data streams pretty clearly show this.”
    “I see. Anything else?”
    “As to the disregarding of a lawful order, I agree. I did that. Lieutenant Bentrod gave me a perfectly valid order. However, I also knew perfectly well that the odds of Irawan being alive were very high. You see, AIs do a great job of counting the dead and the AI told me that it had lost comm with her, not that she was dead. For me it was simple, we don’t leave our people behind. So yeah, that one’s on me. You want to know the most embarrassing part of all that?”
    Pertino looked at me like a schoolmarm addressing a rowdy student. “Certainly.”
    “I didn’t save her one bit. Lieutenant Irawan had to save me.”
    “Is that all?” Pertino asked.
    I tried to think if there was anything I had missed. Nope. “I think that’s about it.”
    “Sergeant, your term is up. Have you decided what you’ll do?” It was an unexpected question from Captain Raffe.
    “Honestly, sir. I think I’m done. I love my men and I love the Corps, but I’ve seen too much.”
    “I find that disappointing, but I understand. You’ll be missed,” he replied, looking down at his pad.
    There were more questions and more talk, but nothing of real significance and the panel excused themselves after half an hour.
    “How do you think we did?” I asked Sterra.
    “I might have been a bit more subtle, but your honesty was compelling,” she replied.
    The panel returned and I stood at attention to hear their judgment.
    Colonel Pertino surprised me by starting almost casually, “Sergeant Hoffen, were you serious about leaving the Corps?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I believe I’ve served with dignity and to the best of my ability.”
    “This panel agrees with that statement and commends you on your honesty. You will be missed as a leader. As to the charges, we are dropping the count of destruction of property. We agree with your assessment. As to the charges of disobeying an order, we find you guilty. The order was lawful, although in the view of this panel, also poorly considered. Your actions, regardless of your view of them, ended up in the safe return of Lieutenant Irawan. The problem is that you are still guilty, which I believe you understand.”
    “I do ma’am. Might I add that it is not a sacrifice if there is no payment required,” I said.
    “Well said. It is the judgment of this panel that you should be released from active duty immediately, with an honorable discharge. A disciplinary note will be added to your jacket. If you should desire to re-enter the service this might prove to be a roadblock, but not insurmountable. These proceedings are closed."

RETIREMENT
     
    I shook Sterra’s hand and thanked her for her time.
    “It was my honor, Sergeant. You’re a remarkable man and I wish you all the best.”
    I was happy to find Lieutenant Irawan waiting in the hallway. She stood as I walked up to her and quite unexpectedly gave me a hug. It was outside of protocol, but I appreciated the gesture. If only we didn't have the whole Lieutenant / Sergeant thing going on. It wasn't until much later that I realized we didn't. I'd missed my opportunity. We released and I stepped back. We both tried to start talking at the same time.
    “You go first,” I said.
    “How’d it go? It’s good you’re walking free, right?” she asked.
    “I think it went like it should. I’ve been given an honorable discharge,” I