Marine: The Last Empire by Nick S. Thomas

Author:Nick S. Thomas [Thomas, Nick S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swordworks
Published: 2019-05-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Six days later

“Up, get up!”

King could hear Sergeant Stone as he passed through the platoon barracks. The Lieutenant awaited them to form up, as they had bright and early every morning since they arrived. Finally, they began to materialise, but many were missing equipment and looked sloppy. They didn’t want to be there, that much was certain. They looked weary and tired, but he didn’t understand why.

“In two lines, form up, form up!” Stone roared.

He drew near to the Lieutenant as the lines began to assemble, but not at a particularly quick or orderly rate.

“Sergeant, these men are not fit for service. Look at them,” whispered King.

Stone grit his teeth. He knew it to be the case, and also the limits they were reaching.

“I fear for what will happen if we press these men further,” he replied.

King was surprised to hear it and pulled him further aside to assure privacy.

“What the hell is going on here? Give it to me straight.”

Stone sighed.

“These are Prians, at a time of increased restlessness across Rhamprox. Many of them don’t want us here. The attacks we have both seen, those are not isolated or unique. The people of this world will pick off Empire troops at any opportunity.”

“But why?”

Stone looked surprised he even had to explain it.

“This is their world, but we’ve come here to rule them. Would you accept that if the roles were reversed?”

“Well, no, but we’re…”

“Superior?”

King was ashamed to say it, but it is what he was thinking.

“We cannot have this sort of insubordination. How can we rely on these men to have our backs in a fight, if they will not even submit to training exercises?”

“We can’t, not fully.”

“What?”

“When you first arrived, I was out with a squad.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“We came under attack, and aside from Sandu, not one of them wanted to fight. They did nothing until they had no choice.”

“What? Does the Colonel know of this?”

“He knows exactly the problems we face out here. But he also knows we can’t expect these locals to act like regulars. We take them for what they are.”

“Cheap labour, you mean?”

“Exactly.”

King rubbed his chin with worry as he tried to work out what to do.

“Giving them some leeway is one thing, but we can’t allow insubordination. I want them worked today, worked hard, and get them in order. Remind them who is in charge.”

“Yes, Sir,” he replied as they both took up position in front of the platoon. He went to the nearest one who was missing his tunic.

“Rosca, where is your tunic?” There was no response, “Go and retrieve your tunic now, and that goes for all of you!”

Nobody moved.

“No,” Rosca replied quietly.

“What! What did you say?” Stone demanded angrily.

“No.”

Stone’s angry face turned even more furious as he looked to the others who were missing equipment. They weren’t moving, and so he went to Baclu.

“Kavildar, get your people in line, or I will.”

But Baclu looked dismissive.

“We do not train today.”

“I don’t give a damn what you want. You’ll do as commanded.

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