Galactic Arena Box Set by Dan Davis

Author:Dan Davis [Davis, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-07-06T22:00:00+00:00

14.

Kat slipped into the back of the hall while that mad bitch, Director Zuma was banging on to the assembled masses. The shuttle was almost ship shape but it was irritating to be summoned to the assembly while there was real work still to be done. But people liked meetings, for some reason. Meetings, group discussions. It was like a sickness that some people were unable to shake off. Meetings were a way to defer, diffuse or deflect cowardly individuals from taking decisions. Meetings were the opposite of action.

But, she was an officer in the UNOP Navy. So, she attended, as requested.

“The wheelhunters are massing once again, yes,” Zuma was shouting out to the mumbling crowd. “But we have time. We know they advance slowly, methodically. Once this meeting is concluded, however, we shall all take our posts, yes.”

A voice shouted. “What about the alien already inside? We can’t have one loose, even if some of you are treating it like a pet! What’s to stop it doing what the other one did?”

Around the hall, a few voices were raised in support of the general sentiment.

“The remaining alien prisoner is under control,” Zuma said. “It is safely contained. And it was that alien that killed the other one and saved Rama Seti’s life in the process.”

The giant loomed at the side of the hall, at the front. His eyes were staring at nothing, a thousand yards away. Kat had seen the look plenty of times, most of those times were recent. Maybe half the people in the hall had the same look. But they weren’t covered in dried blood, like Ram was. His short black hair was thick with clots and his armor was caked in flaky, brown blood.

“Now,” Zuma continued, “the most senior military officer is Lieutenant Tseng.”

Around her, Kat heard the grumbles and murmuring about the man’s suitability. While the Marines officer limped onto stage, the crowd muttered questions about his ability, physically and mentally, and Zuma’s judgment for backing him.

“Yes,” Lieutenant Tseng said as he dragged himself upright. “I am the ranking officer on the planet. And I am now in command of the defenses. We have lost Captain Cassidy. Sergeant Gruger survived the attack but is gravely injured. But please, everyone, do not despair. We are as strong tonight in arms and physical defenses as we were this morning and we shall fight off this next attack successfully. You all know the tactical situation. To those of you civilians who volunteered to bear arms, we all thank you. Our medical support teams are fully prepared. You who will carry ammunition to where it is needed and relay messages between fire teams will do so courageously, I have no doubt.”

He stopped, looking around as if searching for what to say next.

Kat winced. No doubt. It was a poor choice of words to end on. It was everyone’s doubt about Tseng that was the problem. She wondered if he would avoid it or address it.

“You were expecting Captain Cassidy to lead you into this battle.

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