Retreat Hell by Christopher Nuttall

Author:Christopher Nuttall [Nuttall, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Galactic Empire, Military, Space Marine, Space Opera
Amazon: B00IATJTG4
Published: 2014-02-06T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Unsurprisingly, this destroyed relationships between the outsiders and the local factions. The Imperial Army’s soldiers rapidly became convinced that the locals were unrepentant thugs, parasites and generally untrustworthy, while the locals became convinced that the outsiders were either covertly on the opposing side or manipulating events to ensure as many locals as possible died. They were unable to comprehend the simple incompetence of those issuing orders from thousands of light years away.

- Professor Leo Caesius. War in a time of ‘Peace:’ The Empire’s Forgotten Military History.

“This reminds me far too much of Han,” Jasmine said.

Mandy’s image frowned. “You said it was bad,” she commented. “Is this going to be worse?”

“I honestly don't know,” Jasmine said. She shook her head. She'd hoped to help the local government win enough breathing space to cut the insurgency’s ground out from under it, but she was starting to have the very definite feeling that it wouldn't be easy. “The hatred might be too deeply ingrained for anything other than a sustained bloodletting to cure.”

Mandy looked shocked. “It's unlike you just to ... give up,” she said. “You never gave up on me.”

Jasmine smiled, humourlessly. “I don’t think the same solution would work,” she said. “And you had less baggage than the people on this blighted world.”

She sighed. Two days of consultations with the local government and military officials had left her convinced that Thule was in deep trouble. Their system had been designed for endless growth, as if they’d assumed the good times would always be there. When disaster had struck, the system had proved unable to handle it without causing major hardship and unrest. And none of the haves wanted to concede anything to the have-nots. Why was she not surprised?

Earth, she thought. Many of Earth’s problems, rightly or wrongly, had been blamed on the countless billions of useless inhabitants who collected their support payments from the government while churning out the next generation of burdens on society. Once, they'd even voted for politicians who’d promised them even more benefits, before the farce that elections had become was eventually brought to an end. After all, who could trust the people to make the right decisions for themselves? Only the most insightful, caring and considerate politicians could hope to serve the population properly.

But Thule, in many ways, was a reverse of the problems facing Earth.

Mandy cleared her throat. “I believe that we’re currently surplus to requirements,” she said. “Unless you have a strong objection, I would like to begin my reconnaissance of Wolfbane’s border systems today.”

Jasmine hesitated. She did have an objection. The situation was far more complex than she’d been led to believe and she would have preferred to have as much fire support as possible under her direct command. And someone she could vent to without either compromising her position or alienating the local government. But she knew that her selfish objections couldn't be placed ahead of the urgent need to gather intelligence on Wolfbane.

“You may depart when you’re ready,” she said, formally.

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