“Yes,” the major continued, as if in response to an unvoiced objection from Santana. “Gross insubordination. Which, if it weren’t for the pressures of combat, I would feel compelled to put into writing.”
My God, Santana thought to himself. He’s speaking for the record! On the chance that I’m recording him!
“But it’s my hope that a verbal warning will suffi?ce,”
Quinlan said reasonably. “When I give orders, I expect them to be obeyed, regardless of the circumstances. Understood?”
There was only one answer that the cavalry offi?cer could give. “Sir, yes sir.”
“Good,” Quinlan said contentedly. “It’s my hope that you will prove to be a more reliable leader than your father was.”
The surprise that Santana felt must have been visible on his face because the other offi?cer reacted to it. “Yes,” Quinlan confi?rmed. “Back when I was a newly hatched lieutenant, and your father was a staff sergeant, we served together. Unfortunately, I found Sergeant Santana to be a somewhat hardheaded young man who was frequently disrespectful and occasionally insubordinate. Which is, I suppose, how you came by it.”
“Top” Santana had been killed fi?ghting the Thraks inside the Clone Hegemony. During the years prior to being admitted to the academy, Santana had spent very little time with his father. No more than twelve months spread over eighteen years. Just one of the many disadvantages of being born into a military family. But Santana remembered the man with the hard eyes, knew what he expected from the offi?cers he reported to, and could imagine the extent to which Second Lieutenant Quinlan had fallen short. “Yes,” the cavalry offi?cer replied gravely. “My father made a strong impression on me.”
“Enough said,” the major replied, as if conferring a favor.
“We’ll be back on Adobe six days from now—where we can build on this experience to make the battalion even more effective. Dismissed.”
Most of us are going back, Santana thought to himself. But four of our legionnaires will remain here. The dark- haired offi?cer rose and saluted.
Quinlan made use of his swagger stick to acknowledge the gesture, let the back of the chair absorb his considerable weight, and watched Santana leave. I own you, the offi?cer thought to himself. And, when the need arises, I will spend you as I see fi?t.
2.
And a great pestilence will be upon the stars, as billions are born, and billions must die.
The Pooonara Book of Prophecies
ABOARD THE RAMANTHIAN CARRIER
The carrier was in hyperspace, so the enormous hangar bay was pressurized as General Oro Akoto looked out over the two thousand eight hundred members of the Death Hammer Regiment. The Hammer, as it was popularly known, consisted of three battalions of crack troopers who were all standing at attention as they waited for the new Queen to appear. They were dressed in ceremonial attire, rather than combat armor, and stood with their wings respectfully vertical. The air was thick with the combined odors of chitin wax, cold metal, and ozone.
Akoto’s division included two other regiments as well, each on its own ship, as a Ramanthian Battle Group that consisted of more than fi?fty vessels prepared to strike deep into the Clone Hegemony. A powerful force, or that’s how it appeared, but the general knew better. The truth was that only one-third of the division, the regiment now before him, was truly battle-ready. The other regiments had been cobbled together from support battalions, reserve units, and so-called veteran volunteers. Meaning middle-aged warriors who were fi?t for garrison duty but not much else. However, the choice to use such a force was not motivated by desperation, but the Queen’s belief that it would be adequate for the job, even if Akoto wasn’t so sure. Would the previous sovereign have overridden his judgment? No, the old warrior didn’t believe so, but the new Queen was very different from the “great mother,” the much-loved monarch who had sacrifi?ced herself in order to bring more than fi?ve billion new citizens into the galaxy.
Akoto’s thoughts were interrupted by a ceremonial blare of foot-powered battle horns as the Queen shuffl?ed up a ramp to join him on the speaker’s platform. In marked contrast to the great mother, who had been incapacitated by her egg-swollen body during the fi?nal years of her life, the new monarch was not only extremely fi?t but dressed in spotless combat armor, signifying her intention to take the same risks her subjects did. It was a decision that horrifi?ed her advisors and thrilled the Ramanthian populace. As the so-called warrior queen arrived on the platform, and Akoto bent a knee, the offi?cer felt his body respond to the cloud of pheromones that surrounded the royal. The chemicals caused him and every other Ramanthian who came into contact with them to feel protective, receptive, and willingly subservient. The royal’s space black eyes glittered with intelligence as she motioned for the offi?cer to rise. “Good morning, General. . . . Or is it afternoon? It’s hard to tell sealed inside this ship.”
It was a simple joke. But one that made her seem more accessible. The banter was captured by the hovering fl?y cams that were present to record the moment for both historical and propaganda purposes. It was just one of the many tasks for which Chancellor Itnor Ubatha had responsibility. The civilian followed the monarch out onto the platform, took his place behind her, and felt a sense of satisfaction as he looked out over the warriors arrayed in front of the royal. Ramanthian citizens everywhere would feel a sense of pride as they watched their Queen address her troops prior to battle.
“Greetings,” the Queen said, as she stepped up to the mike. And that was the moment when the members of the Hammer realized that the royal was wearing armor identical to theirs. The high honor elicited a loud clack of approval as 5,600 pincers opened and closed at the same time.
“Seek approval, and enjoy its warmth, but under no circumstances come to rely on it.” That was one of the many teachings that the Queen had learned from her predecessor, which was why she made a conscious effort to discount the applause, and went straight to the point. Her much-amplifi?ed voice was piped into every nook and cranny of the ship. “By this time tomorrow, you will be on the surface of Gamma014 doing battle with the Clone
