Demontech: Gulf Run by Sherman David

Author:Sherman, David [Sherman, David]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2003-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

Spinner and Haft tried to make it look like the decisions had been theirs, but in reality all they did was sign off on the decisions the sergeants made. By morning Captain—formerly Sergeant—Phard, was in command of Company A, which consisted of most of the Skraglander units, and Captain—formerly Sergeant—Geatwe commanded most of the Zobrans in Company B. Company C consisted of the soldiers, formerly sailors, who had escaped from New Bally with Rammer, the half-trained fighting men, and the rustiest of the veterans, under the command of Captain—formerly Sergeant—Mearh. Sergeant Rammer—he refused to accept an officer’s rank—had Company D, the training company. Veduci and his surviving men were also placed in Company D, where they would be secure under Rammer’s watchful eye. The sea soldiers who had escaped New Bally with Rammer were the company’s other officers, though they didn’t call themselves officers—they called themselves drill instructors. As soon as Rammer thought his men were trained well enough, he and his officers would hand command to someone else and form a new company of untrained men. The Border Warders and Borderers were combined into a reconnaissance/sniper platoon commanded by Lieutenant—formerly civilian hunter—Jatke. Each company had a lancer platoon, although most of the Skraglander lancers were variously armed with swords, axes, and spears rather than proper lances. Lieutenant—formerly Corporal—Armana retained command of the Dartmutter Earl’s Guards platoon, which was placed in Company A. The Earl’s Guardsmen appeared to seriously dislike the arrangement, but were wise enough not to object loudly. The odds and ends of other sea soldiers in the caravan were appointed lieutenants, commanding platoons in the newly formed companies. The Bostians who came with Rammer became a platoon within Company B, while the Penston Conquestors went into Company C.

Sergeant Rammer somehow became the battalion Chief of Staff as well as training company commander. Captain—formerly civilian—Zweepee was in charge of logistics; Lieutenant—formerly civilian—Doli was personnel; and Captain—formerly veteran—Fletcher had intelligence, which meant Jatke reported to him.

Silent flatly refused to accept any rank or formal position within the battalion. And Alyline considered herself above such things.

Spinner and Haft didn’t adopt new ranks. Neither felt comfortable about calling themselves “General,” or even “Colonel.” Besides, nearly everybody in the caravan called them “Lord"—except for the Bloody Axes, who continued to call Haft “sir.”

The caravan, by now nearly seven thousand strong—of whom more than a thousand were men under arms—got moving an hour after sunrise, more quickly than the previous two mornings. The effect the new military organization had on the time it took to begin moving wasn’t lost on Spinner and Haft.

“Do you think he’s trying to take over?” Haft asked softly as he sat astride his mare next to Spinner before heading out with the point squad.

“The better question is,” Spinner replied, just as quietly, “do you think they’re letting him take over?” Spinner asked his question with relief; he always felt on the verge of being overwhelmed by being commander.

Haft looked back at where Sergeant Rammer was, in the best

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