Bonded Agent by David B. Riley

Author:David B. Riley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mars, science fiction, insurance, alien contact, wolfsinger, riley
Publisher: WolfSinger

18

STRATEGY

The instant coffee was actually better than the stuff people drank on Mars. She put away the empty container for the banana pudding, then waited expectantly. Precisely on time five Tau officers entered the room. Sarah remained seated. A few moments later Marshal Zuto entered. She stood to attention. So much to get right. Being a civilian had been so much easier.

“This is General Meadows,” Zuto introduced her. “Commanders Bercy, Moth, Dinka, and Pence. General Meadows is taking command of Task Force Five.”

“Nice to meet all of you,” Sarah said. She knew immediately who she was going to have trouble with. She’d had enough dealings with the Tau she was starting to understand their mannerisms.

“Human! No!” Bercy yelled. “This cannot be!”

“Commander do you have something to say?” Sarah asked.

He pointed at her. “I no work with that.”

“I see,” Sarah calmly replied. Gompers training don’t fail me now, she thought. She’d been expecting this reaction since she’d arrived. It was one thing to see someone like her riding on a ship. It was another matter to take orders from them. Since he’d entered the room, Sarah noticed Bercy had a tendency to sway backwards on his legs. He probably wasn’t even aware of it. But Sarah was.

Sarah took a leap and kicked Bercy in the chest just as he was off balance. He went tumbling backward into the little creek that ran through the cavern. As he flopped around Sarah pressed her new Earth Marines knife against his throat. He stopped moving. She slid the knife back in the holster and went back over to the table. “Next time, I will not be so forgiving.” She picked up the portable field communicator. “I was appointed directly by the Emperor. If any of you have a problem with my being here,” she threw the device as hard as she could straight at Bercy, who somehow caught it as he climbed out of the water, “then I suggest you call the Emperor and take it up with him.”

She noticed Bercy was heading for the door. “Commander, you have not been dismissed.”

Bercy stopped. He looked very bewildered.

“Sit down gentlemen. This is the plan I’ve come up with.” She looked over at Zuto. She had absolutely no idea what he was thinking. He showed no reaction at all. Everyone, including the dripping wet Bercy, sat down.

“This is the Earthforce maintenance facility at Minion Prime. It is one of two used to repair Earthforce ships. While it is deep inside Earth’s territory, there are no other bases anywhere near it. We will attack it and destroy it, or at least inflict enough damage to put it out of service.” Sarah noticed there didn’t seem to be much enthusiasm.

“Who wants to attack a repair base?” Moth asked. “It’s a low value target.”

“Low value because there’s little glory in it?” Sarah asked. She did not wait for an answer. “Look at it this way. Earthforce is seriously overextended. Between their war with us and their occupation of Chiron, they do not have enough ships and troops.

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