Of War and Honor by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780671720483
Amazon: 0671720481
Publisher: Baen
Published: 1991-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

3

Gain stood at ease in the SC's office as the Sub-Unit Officer arrived. Even a shavehead knew that SUO's were the real power in any military organization. Officers might issue orders, but it was up to the noncoms to get things done. A good SUO could make you look real sharp, if he or she wanted; they could also make you look like a sunbleached old white dog turd if they didn't like you.

Sitting behind his desk, the Old Man nodded at the SUO as he stepped inside and came to attention. "At ease, Chan."

The man relaxed. He was maybe forty-five T.S., a head shorter than Gain, had a lot of smile wrinkles, black hair cropped in a spacer's buzz, and a look of having seen and heard it all. His skin was coffee-and-cream-colored, and the whites of his eyes were remarkably clear. A forty-year man halfway through, Gain figured, and not somebody to screw around with. He'd know the system backward and how to get what he wanted out of it.

Everything Gain had learned at the Academy wasn't theoretical—the Subs had run things there, too.

"SUO Chan Singa, this is Light Unit Commander Stelo Gain, just assigned to Oasis II."

Gain gave the other man a military nod. "Sub."

"Luck," Chan said. He turned back toward the Old Man. "What's up, Pil?"

Gain wanted to shake his head. What, was the Old Man on a first name basis with everybody? Discipline must be hell around here.

"Usual FU. I've just given the LUC here a very sensitive mission, and I want you to volunteer to go along and make sure he has proper backup."

"A sensitive mission. What are we talking about here?"

"Oh, a little trip down to the water. A few days of R&R in Oondervatten. A few odds and ends."

"And you let me out of brig to tell me this? Come on, Pil. Fire the other barrel."

Out of the brig?

"Well, I can't give you all the details—we're talking commissioned-ears-only—but you might be paying a little visit to the Hot and Moist."

"What? You want me to go to Fishtown? Officially? To Jaskeen's place? Have you lost your mind?"

"You're still on speaking terms with Limos, aren't you?"

"When the uniform's in the locker, yeah."

"So leave it in the locker. You have some cit clothes, don't you?"

Chan shook his head. "I don't like the sound of this, Commander. Maybe I'd be better off in the brig."

"Well, I can tell you that the future of the Petit Harriers may be in jeopardy."

"Yeah, so? It's always in jeopardy, what else is new?"

Gain was holding himself in check, but barely. Who was this noncom to talk back to the SC like this? But—what could he learn from listening to a noncom who could talk back like this without getting cashed and booted out of the service? He listened.

"It's a matter of galactic importance?" the Old Man tried.

"The brig ain't so bad. Good food. Nice bed."

"How about, if we pull this off, we'll put a big fat dog of a problem right on the Grand Harriers' new Marshal-in-Chiefs lap? Maybe get him fired?"

SUO Singa grinned.

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