Chimera Company: Rho-Torkis. Issue 2.: A sci-fi adventure serial by Tim C. Taylor

Author:Tim C. Taylor [Taylor, Tim C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Human Legion Publications
Published: 2019-05-06T22:00:00+00:00

OSU SYBUTU

“What are we going to do about the spy drone?” asked Zavage.

“The alleged spy drone,” countered Stryker, who was huddled next to the Kurlei in the bivouac of camo sheets stretched between the circled bikes. “I haven’t seen any drones. All we’ve picked up are two tight-burst transmissions, and the last was over an hour ago.”

“What else could it be?” asked Zavage. He sounded distant from within the shadows of his hooded cloak. They all did.

“We will assume it’s a drone for now,” said Osu, “but that’s not the most urgent question. What are we going to do about you, Urdizine?”

Everyone looked at the Zhoogene legionary whose answer was a groan of pain that had been held in for far too long.

“Sorry, Sergeant. Think I caught a fragment of Yergin’s bike when he blew it up. Thought it would self-heal. Didn’t want to be a burden.”

“Injuries are to be reported and assessed. It’s my place to decide whether you are a burden, SOTL Urdizine. Not yours. What’s your status?”

“Shrapnel caught me upper-left abdomen. This armor I’m wearing smells like boiled slug hide but it managed to soak up most of the energy. I thought the hydraulic bands that underpin my muscles would push it out. They haven’t, which means the fragment must have worked its way into the bands themselves. Someone needs to take a look who’s skilled in Zhoogene field treatment.”

“That would be Jonson and Bulmer,” said Stryker wistfully. “None of us is skilled in patching up talking shrubbery like you.”

“There’s a Militia base forty klicks northeast of here,” said Osu. “Fort Iceni. We could detour and drop you off.”

“Allow the Militia to poke inside me?” Urdizine sounded indignant. Beneath his hood, the stems growing out the top of his head would be waving angrily. “I’ve a better idea. There’s a town ninety klicks to the east called Raemy-Ela. It will be a much shorter detour and I can make it that far. Believe me, I’m not as fragile as you humes. All I have to do is harden my hydraulics around the wound. Can’t do sit-ups, and I dread each bowel movement, but I won’t die on you.”

“You and your hydraulics,” murmured Stryker. “If we’re operating under cover, we should be using codenames. Hydro. That’s your cover, Urdi.”

“Hydro,” Urdizine repeated, testing out the name. He laughed and immediately winced in pain. “Don’t make me laugh. You’re killing me. Hydro. Hey, it’s not bad.”

Why didn’t I think of that?

Osu beat himself up. There hadn’t been time to stop and consider such practical details, but of course that was no excuse.

“Good thinking, Stryker,” he said. “If we really are being followed by a drone, it will have cameras, and in clear daylight it may be able to lipread. You will each have a cover name and from now on, we use them exclusively until I say so. Even inside your own head, think of your comrades by their codenames. Use your new name when thinking of yourself because one slip could make the difference between success and failure.

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