Stark's Crusade by John G. Hemry Read Free Book Online

advice with expressions of varied discontent. "What you're not saying, Mendo, is that our attackers basically have the entire resources of Earth to hit us with, and all we've got is what's on this particular patch of the Moon. Right?"
    Mendoza nodded. "We can inflict immense losses on our foes, time and again, and still lose eventually." He stopped speaking, obviously pondering his last statement. "Much like the Carthaginians. Hannibal's people. They defeated the Romans over and over again, destroying armies and fleets. The Romans always came back, though."
    "Very cheerful," Stacey Yurivan remarked. "But you're leaving out the political aspect of this, aren't you? Just how willing is everyone on Earth to spend their lives and treasure trying to beat us?"
    Vic Reynolds nodded. "That's a good point. Our former bosses, the government and Pentagon, want us beat something fierce. But does everyone else? Especially if the cost rises too high."
    "Don't forget the corporations who just about own the government," Sergeant Bev Manley advised. She'd been sitting quietly, one eye on the debate, while she tried to catch up on her administrative duties with the other. "On the one hand, they want us beat, too. On the other, pure revenge won't help their profits any. We make the cost of beating us too expensive, and the corporations should want to make a deal with us. Any word on that yet?"
    Yurivan shook her head, then glanced sidelong at Stark. "Maybe our boss's civ buddies can clue him in on that. They worked for corporations before we let them kick their bosses off this rock, right?"
    "They did," Stark agreed. "And I'll be meeting with the Colony manager and his assistant later today, to brief them on the raid's results. I'll ask what they know about things back on Earth."
    His staff exchanged glances, then Manley put into words what the others were obviously thinking. "Are you sure we can trust them, Ethan? I know they've hung with us so far, and that surprised the hell out of me I can tell you, but they've gotta be feeling trapped right now. If the civs get scared they might try to cut a deal that leaves us hanging."
    Stark stared back with a confidence he wasn't sure he really felt. "I trust them. Remember, the civs gave us warning about that raid that hit this headquarters. Warning that probably made the difference in keeping us alive. They've also been giving us materiel assistance. They volunteered their medical facilities to help handle our casualties. And some of them are even enlisting. Right, Vic?"
    "Right. Damnedest thing I've ever heard of. You should've seen the expression on the face of the corporal the civs asked how to enlist." The military had grown too separate from society as a whole, too isolated from the civilians it had been formed to protect. A closed club, where military families raised children who joined, while civilians looked on with worry at the people who carried weapons and were willing to kill if ordered. Almost as incomprehensible to the Free Lunch Culture, the military were willing to die, if ordered. "I agree with Ethan. I think we can trust these civs. They've been right behind the front lines for years. They know we're here to protect them."
    Stacey Yurivan smiled insincerely. "You'd be expected to agree with Stark, wouldn't you, Reynolds? You being old pals and all."
    "I tell it like I see it, Stace."
    Sergeant Gordasa cleared his throat. "I have to agree with Stark and Reynolds. I'm working with the civs a lot to get spares and food and stuff since our normal supply routes are closed off. They're trying to get decent deals, sure, but they're not trying to cheat us. They treat me okay, one-on-one. And the stuff coming in is good quality. Hell, the food's better than we're used to. Verdad ?"
    Everyone around the table nodded. The soldiers had recently actually been able to identify the source of some of the meat in their meals. "Still and all," Manley persisted, "I've got to ask; what do the civs want?