Cluster Command: Crisis of Empire II by David Drake, W. C. Dietz Read Free Book Online

first. “Father, my name is Viko Keedor, Father!” Merikur knew from talking to Senda that Cernian forces were originally organized along family lines. While this was no longer practical, the titles of “Father” and “Mother” were still used depending on the sex of the officer, and were roughly equivalent to “commander.”
    The marine was next. “Sir, my name is Manuel Costas, Sir!”
    Merikur nodded and turned to the troops. “Now listen up. You just met your officers. Who’s got a coin?”
    “Sir.” Costas fished in a pants pocket and produced a coin. He tossed it to Merikur.
    “Thanks. Heads it’s Costas, tails it’s Keedor.”
    Merikur flipped the coin and caught it. “Tails. Viko Keedor now holds the rank of captain in the Elite Guard. Manuel Costas is hereby promoted to lieutenant. Assuming they keep their new ranks, eventually these officers will recommend some of you for promotion. If I agree with their recommendations, those individuals will become NCOs. Until that time, Captain Keedor and Lieutenant Costas may decide to appoint some of you as acting NCOs. All of you will obey their orders pursuant to the rules and regulations of Pact Military Forces. Copies of those rules and regulations will be made available. I recommend that those of you who haven’t read them do so.
    Merikur paused meaningfully. “This will be an elite unit entrusted with the lives of the governor and his staff. You’ll be rewarded if you perform well. You’ll also be punished if you screw up. If you screw up though laziness, dishonesty, or the use of intoxicating substances, you’ll wish your mother had died a virgin. Do you understand?”
    Merikur heard a ragged collection of “yes sirs.”
    “I can’t hear you.”
    “The response was a ragged mix of “yes sirs,” and “yes fathers,” but at least it was louder.
    “That’s better. Now pair off, one Cernian to one human.”
    For a moment, the two groups eyed each other in consternation, surprised at Merikur’s order, and unsure of what to do. Then, after a moment of hesitation, Keedor and Costas took control. Keedor had a voice like a Nugian swamp bull, and he used it to good effect. “All right, you heard Father Merikur. Pair off. One troll to one guwat.”
    It turned out later that “guwat,” roughly translated, meant “tall pile of feces,” and was what Cernians called humans in private.
    There was complete silence for a moment as members of both races took this in and wondered how to react. Then a marine laughed, a Cernian made a strange coughing sound, and everyone else joined in.
    Merikur let out a deep breath. Keedor’s gamble had paid off. It could’ve gone the other way.
    Merikur addressed them again after they’d split up into pairs. “It’s important that you know each other. So we’re going to have a little get-acquainted session. The object of this exercise is to subdue your opponent. There is only one rule. If you put someone in sick bay, you’ll stay in the brig until they’re released. Your objective is to subdue your opponent, not kill him. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Sir!” Merikur noticed that the Cernians were now using the human response.
    “All right. You may begin.”
    They moved with initial wariness, each waiting to see what the other would do, hoping for some kind of advantage. It was a Cernian who attacked first, launched herself into a forward roll like the one Senda had used against Merikur. Moments later another Cernian followed suit and before long the gym was full of thrashing bodies, grunts of pain, and occasional whoops of victory.
    Merikur saw a pattern start to emerge. The Cernians were quite aggressive, using movements akin to gymnastics, while the humans were on the defensive at first, using a variety of styles that ranged from martial arts to street fighting. As they grew more accustomed to Cernian tactics, they counter-attacked.
    Things were really starting to heat up when Merikur blew his