waiter handed Vargev the coffee.
“Kind of, but he’s okay, I’ve worked with him once or twice in the past. He’s tough but a good General, besides you have to be tough to be a commando, it’s kind of in the job description,” he said with a laugh, almost choking on his cigar in the process. “So where is the Liberty heading off to next then?”
“Well, our first mission is to form up with a Solarian fleet to take back Delta base, and to destroy any Krenaran ships in the vicinity. Beyond that who knows, this war is changing day by day. What about the commandoes?”
“My platoons have been ordered to reinforce the colony at Barnards star, in case it comes under Krenaran attack again. The Troop division thinks that since Barnards star is so close to earth, the Krenarans will throw the book at it; try to win the war quickly before the new Solarian Alliance can really start ripping into them.”
“And what do you think?” Michael asked, listening intently.
“That if they did the Krenarans would be foolish,” he paused, thinking. “The Solarians pouring over the border has put them on the back foot, if I was them I would be consolidating what I’ve already got instead of pushing further forward, especially as they are now fighting a war on two fronts,” he said as he took a puff from his cigar. “But I’m just a commando, what do I know eh, comrade,” he said with a rueful smile.
“Yeah I suppose, you think this war will be over soon?”
“I doubt it; the Krenarans are going to fight like dogs to keep hold of those water sources, so I can see it running for a while yet at least.”
Vargev checked his watch, “Anyway comrade; I shall have to bid you farewell for now, I hope to call you amongst my friends. And it would be an honour to fight alongside you on the battlefield once again in the future, should we meet again.”
He stubbed out the cigar.
“Das vidanya,” he said shaking Michaels hand firmly.
With that, the hulking Colonel Vargev left Michael to his work in the coffee shop, and framed by the bright Swiss sunlight continued walking up the street.
Michael stared after him; through all the pain, struggle, strife and torment, they had got through it somehow. And Michael felt a bond there, as though brothers in arms, and he didn’t think it would be the last time that he would see the enigmatic Colonel Vargev.
“Das vidanya, old friend.” Michael whispered quietly.
