Machine Gods by Michael G. Thomas

Author:Michael G. Thomas [Thomas, Michael G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
Publisher: Swordworks & Miro Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Teresa waited at the observation level that looked down into the training hall. It was technically in the early hours as the ship was running on Terra Nova time, as was normal throughout the Navy, and most of the ship was quiet. Unknown to any but those immediately below her, this was a well-planned training mission that had required modifications to the internal layout of the ship. Over the last week, she’d drilled the marines, and knowing there were only two more weeks left before they reached the Helios Gateway made her nervous. Captain Llewellyn waited alongside her, as well as the gruff drill instructor for the ship, Gunnery Sergeant Hacket. There was a great deal riding on this operation, not least to see how the marines were progressing.

“No Commander Gun?” asked Captain Llewellyn with surprise.

Teresa shook her head.

“No, he’s working with the marines on ANS Sentry. You’ve seen what some of them are like and Gun has, well, a rather unique way of instilling discipline.”

Gunnery Sergeant Hacket heard the last part and laughed to himself. Any other marine would have stayed silent, but this old warhorse of a warrior felt comfortable around Major Morato, and in the time she’d been aboard, he had found more and more to like about her and her methods.

“Something to say, Gunnery Sergeant?” asked Teresa.

The man looked up at her and simply grinned at her.

“Nothing much, Sir, only that the Commander is just the kind of guy we need. I’ve been saying for years that we should be using the Biomechs to improve the quality of our marines. Instead, we get safety nuts from logistics telling us what we can and cannot do. Don’t do this; it could hurt them. Don’t do this; it could harm them psychologically. We both know about combat, Sir. If you don’t work like a bastard, you’ll be buried, and fast. Now this Gun, he ain’t no tactical genius, but he’s tough, has seen action, and won’t take shit from anybody. This is a new unit, and we need people like him to get these slackers into line.”

Both Teresa and the Captain were taken aback by the vulgarity from Hacket. He noticed them both but refused to apologize. It was something that only a well-decorated gunnery sergeant could even consider to try. Not that it mattered though, Teresa was only interested in getting the unit ready for whatever uncertainty awaited them through the Helios Gateway. She’d been through enough unknown scenarios in the past to know that preparation was key. She didn’t care what the jarheads themselves thought of her.

What were those names? Teresa thought, remembering what she’d heard from the other men in the unit. Yes, Iron Bitch was one. Ball Breaker was another. There were others she suspected but that was fine, just as long as they didn’t try using them around her. She looked back at the training hall from their position on the observation level. Captain Llewellyn moved closer to her.

“Have you seen

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