March of the Legion

'That's a big ten, sir.' Redhawk lit up like a lamp. 'She's panting on the sheets.'

It didn't sound so bad to me. A Systie ship, but under Legion control. We could do that.

'Who's the half-squad?' Boudicca asked.

'Two-Three Delta. They're a good bunch. They were on the Andrion 3 drop with us.'

'And the Systie crew—they're with us?' Coolhand wanted to know.

'That's a ten. They're under Legion control.'

'What does that mean?' Boudicca interrupted.

'It means they'll be there when we ask for extract,' Snow Leopard replied. 'That's what it means.'

'We can do it, One,' Dragon concluded. 'It's a bit unorthodox, but we can handle it. What's the problem?'

'The problem,' Snow Leopard said, 'is the VIPs who will be accompanying us, and who will be teaching us about the O's, prior to our arrival. The people we are going to be keeping alive. They're Systies, too.'

'What?' Boudicca looked as if she was about to explode.

'You heard me.'

'Systies?' Boudicca snarled, 'Systies! Systies are going to be telling us what to do? Systies are going to accompany us on the drop?'

'That's a ten—three of them. They are official reps of the United System Alliance, and they are just as interested in the success of this mission as we are.'

'Deto!' Boudicca exploded. 'Who cares what the System wants? They caused this mess! Official reps? Are you crazy? Is the Legion crazy? We're going to teach the System how to kill O's? Who's the lunatic who thought that one up?'

'The Systies know all about the O's, trooper! Or at least they know a lot more than we do. They are going to share this knowledge with us—knowledge that could keep us alive! And we, in return, are going to share with them what we learn about killing O's. That's the deal! The orders are coming at you from the highest levels, but they're coming through me. You have a problem with your orders, you see me, trooper—but I wouldn't advise it!'

Laughter. Evil, guttural laughter, from Sassin the Assassin, Gamma Seven. His sharpened white teeth flashed as he spoke. 'Dead meat. They're dead meat.' Valkyrie raised a fist in agreement.

'Let's understand one thing,' Snow Leopard said quietly. 'I will personally execute—on the spot—anyone who harms these Systies. Badboy is charged with their safety. I've given my personal word to the Second that these three Systies will accompany our survivors back to report on our mission. I have never before had to threaten my men, and it upsets me that it appears to be necessary this time, but that's the sit. You got that, Seven?'

'Yes sir.' Sassin was suddenly quite subdued.

'Gamma Two, you get that message?'

'Yes sir.' Valkyrie was cold and distant.

'I am completely serious,' Snow Leopard continued. 'You have no idea how important this is. A successful mission could forge an alliance with the Systies against the O—and it could also lead to the collapse of the System itself—since their policy of appeasement directly led to the Omni invasion. Failures on that scale have consequences. Important consequences.'

'Snow Leopard—I don't quite understand one thing.' Merlin said.

'Yes, Four.'

'If the System is with us on this, then why the elaborate cover story, the civilian freighter—why are we worried about port clearance, if the System is with us?'

'Four, this mission is top secret, both here and on the Systies' side. Nobody on Mongera will know what we're up to. The System has always been more afraid of its own people than of anyone else. If it got out that the System was cooperating with the Legion to solve a problem it had created in the first place, it could lead to political problems of the highest order.'

'But if we're successful, won't it get out?'

'I'd say—offhand—that the Legion will publicize it heavily. No matter what we promise the Systies.'

'The Systies must know that.'

'I think they do. But I believe they have reached the point where they feel they have no choice. And if the mission fails, they've lost nothing. We're dealing with the highest levels of the Systie regime. They apparently believe the potential benefits of this mission outweigh the possible political backlash. I think they're wrong—but what I think doesn't matter.'

'May I say something?' Boudicca was trying to control her temper.

'Go right ahead, Gamma.' Snow Leopard was tense and touchy. They might have been lovers, in bed, but there was no love showing in the capmod that day, between those two.

'Just for the record, I want you to know what I think. I think this stinks. I think this is a rotten setup. I think if this works, and we get the O, those three Systies are the only ones who will return to the ship, and the Legion is never going to get the word. I don't like Systies. I don't trust Systies. And they feel the same about us. I'll make a prediction. If our O goes down, the Systies turn their guns on us. Immediately. And if that happens, Gamma is shooting back. Do you have any problems with that?'

'It won't be necessary, Gamma. This is a Legion op. The Systies will be unarmed.'

Boudicca was quiet. Stunned is more the word. Unarmed! Going to face the O's, unarmed. They were certainly putting themselves at our mercy. I wouldn't do that, with Systies. No—I was not that trusting.

'Right, if there are no more bitches I'd suggest we get to work.' Snow Leopard stood up, aggressive and confident once again. 'Hit your quarters and start working on the mission orders. See the ship for your bunks. When I want you, I'll let you know.'

Chapter 9: Volunteers

'How'd you like a ship like that?' Dragon asked.

We were in a troop shuttle from the Spawn, gathered around the screens, approaching a prize of war. A private starship, a fabulous toy for galactic plutocrats; a wonderful, shimmering white ship, stunningly beautiful. It was a slaver and had been seized by a Legion interceptor. Now a Legion prize crew was aboard. This was to be our transportation to Mongera. I knew this ship. I had visited it in orbit around Coldmark. This was the Personal Ship Maiden, and it was Tara's ship. My heart beat faster as we approached. It was a ship of light, a beacon of hope and life floating in an infinite, black ocean of death. How could such a lovely ship be a slaver? Tara—how could she possibly be involved in such an unholy venture, even as a Legion asset? I could hardly comprehend it. I had attended midschool with Tara in our own impossible past. How long ago it seemed!

'Slavers!' Merlin remarked. 'Nice company we're keeping.'

'We need them,' Coolhand commented, 'to get port clearance. So let's be nice!'

'Slavers and Systies!' Boudicca spat. 'Scut! Some mission!'

'Thinker.' Dragon was right next to me, grinning happily. 'You meet any hot slave honeys when you were on board her?'

But I didn't really remember much about the slaves at all. What I remembered was Tara, her face glowing out of the dark. She was certainly cooperating with the Legion—but at what cost? The Tara I knew was as bright as a sun—compromise was not in her vocabulary, and slavers only lived until they met the Legion. She would have gladly shot them dead, herself, and felt good about it.

'Prep for docking! Secure all personnel!'