Requiem for the Conqueror by W. Michael Gear

Author:W. Michael Gear [Gear, W. Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, General, Fiction, Epic
ISBN: 9780886774776
Google: ngUJAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0886774772
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1991-07-01T18:30:00+00:00

"They'd do anything for you, Sink," Gretta told him as they walked away. "I never would have believed it. You've worked a miracle with the First."

"Just sense . . . and the only option I've got." He shrugged. "Considering the odds against us, we've only got one asset."

"And that is?"

"We have one assault Division." He hugged her close. "Two thousand men and women, armed, and, hopefully, after we get to Vespa and settle the affairs on Targa we'll be as tough and disciplined as the blood-soaked Companions themselves."

"You tried to tell me all this when we were training outside Kaspa. I thought at the time it was just to build morale." She clasped his fingers in hers.

"Now the search and destroy teams make sense. I love you, Sinklar Fist."

"And you thought I was crazy when we risked Fourth Section to recover those five privates cut off on the ridge that time the Targans hit us during training," he reminded lightly.

"Getting those people back won you the entire ourth Section. They'd walk through fire for you now." She studied him through the IR visor, eyes alive with speculation. "What made you think of that?"

He stopped to smell the fresh air and enjoy the woman who leaned against him.

"It's symptomatic of the age, I guess. Tybalt has built a throwaway army. Ever since the beginning of the Imperial period, one hundred and fifty years ago, armies have been trained to strike a planet, stun it into paralysis, and wreck the ability of the people to resist. Call it shock war. The enemy was impersonal and a soldier's only duty was to cower in fear until his LC grounded, jump out with his rifle, and blast anything native that moved. If he lived, he went home and relaxed until the next time."

"But that only works when you conquer worlds," Gretta said. "The Star Butcher does the same, doesn't he? Stuns planets, that is."

"Not quite. His responsibilities include finding defensive weaknesses and he exploits his reputation. The other difference is that his people stay with him. He has their loyalty. The Companions function within a strict code of honor and duty to each other." Sinklar kissed her and added, "And they have never been defeated."

"The First has."

"And I intend to see that it never happens again," Sinklar said as they continued walking down along the creek bottom. Patches of deciduous trees mixed with grassy meadows.

"Who goes there? Advance and be recognized." A man rose from a ditch, waiting, blaster ready as they walked up.

"Were I an enemy who got this close, you'd be dead." Sinklar's voice sounded like cracked ice after he'd passed recognition. The soldier's shoulders dropped meekly. "Anyone within five feet of you, trained properly, could kill you with their bare hands."

"But I ... I didn't think—"

"No, you didn't," Sinklar told him hotly. "By the corrupted Gods, man! How can I keep you alive if you act like a fool? I want to see you healthy and in one piece after this. Tafft knows better.

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