The Guardians of Sol by Spencer Kettenring Read Free Book Online

honored for this opportunity and I won’t let you down.” But I’m afraid it may have gotten jumbled since my brain was suddenly firing only half its cylinders. This was a step for my career that I could have only dreamed about. The Specials were the best of the best. Regardless of what escaped my mouth, the Sentinel gave me a smile, clapped my back and told me that he was glad to hear it.
    “You will, of course, still have your two weeks of R and R, although I would appreciate it if you visited Bay Chief Ruiz in block three, sooner rather than later, so he can get working on your new armor. Once you’re done with your leave I’ll send you orders. So go out and enjoy. You’ll have plenty of work soon enough. I understand you have plans with your friends that Christoph and I interrupted. You’re dismissed, Captain. Enjoy yourself.”
    I saluted and walked back the way I had come, numbly hoping I wouldn’t get lost and so lose out on the delicious food offered by Stacie’s Restaurant, but obviously still a bit preoccupied with what just happened. Jimmy and John weren't going to believe me.
    *****
    After Captain Castle was safely out of the room the conversation continued, and the consequences of that conversation would be felt within months.
    The High Sentinel turned to Telamon. “I’ve got a good feeling about this one. But I still can’t believe my predecessor put Joshua in the specials at all. Let alone as Captain of the First squad. The man is a mad dog who shouldn’t even be in the service.”
    “But you can’t argue with his effectiveness. The First Squad has never lost a man and never failed a mission. That has to stand for something, right? I’m not going to defend him though. You did right by putting your son in charge of the group. Of course, you realize that since the battalion is going to have a full company now that you’ll need to put someone who is at least a colonel in charge, right?”
    “I do and the newly promoted Colonel O’Neal has already been approached by Venator Simeon about the job,” Michael McCulloch looked at one of the holographic displays that listed the squads and captains in the Specials battalion. “Christoph is taking his squad out to the Pluto outpost. We need a new recruiter. Who do we have on the station that’s stable enough to take that over?”
    Telamon called up a manifest from his personal pad. “Cari’das and the second squad are back with the tech from that Republic assault. I don’t think they completely understand how we operate yet or normal human behavior so he’s probably not a good choice. Joshua is still taking his time harassing that AEU army even though he was due back three weeks ago… It looks like Jacob and Frank just got in from an intervention in the Sudan. Everyone else is on assignment elsewhere. Do you want me to send those two over?” The Captains of the Fourth and Fifth squads never did anything without each other. They were old friends and highly competitive. They even argued about who was inducted into the Specials first.
    “Yes, do that. They’ll be able to cover more ground than any of the others, and thank the Light that their feud won’t let them accept just anyone for this. Imagine what one would do to the other if he recruited an inferior unit. I’ve been getting some reports from around the system that bring up questions without answers and I have a bad feeling that we’re going to need Beta Company up and running as soon as possible. We’ll need all of them, mark my word.”
    “Word marked,” Telamon replied. He checked a data pad that he pulled from his belt. “The Liberation is on schedule with its refit. We’ll be riding in style to this year’s summit in Kyoto. Anything else you need me for Mike? Delilah’s shuttle should be here soon and I’d like to meet her at the airlock.”
    Michael McCulloch smiled gently at his friend. “Give her my love, and I expect a full report on all the children and grandchildren