The Great Martian War by Scott Washburn

Author:Scott Washburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Winged Hussar Publishing, LLC
Published: 2016-01-31T05:00:00+00:00

Secretary Root managed to catch the ball Roosevelt had so unexpectedly thrown him and discussions immediately began on locations and timing. A beaming President slipped out the door, covered by the distraction.

* * * * *

January, 1909, Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory

“We finally goin’ t’move, sir?” asked Sergeant McGill.

“I think so,” replied Andrew Comstock. “Better warn the men to get packed—again.” He couldn’t keep the exasperation out of his voice. They’d been told almost ten days ago that they’d be moving out immediately, and here they were still in Albuquerque. Oh, the army had started moving out immediately, but they were moving by rail and there was a strict order of priorities. First had gone the cavalry, to create a scouting screen in front of the army. This made sense, of course, since they had no real idea just where the Martians were. They couldn’t risk trying to steam straight into Fort Wingate on a train! Then had come artillery and infantry and all the supplies for them and a hundred other items; all deemed vital by someone. Major Comstock’s little band of Ordnance people had a priority so low he hadn’t been sure that they’d ever be allowed to go. He’d been tempted to try to go by road, but it was fifty miles in a straight line just to the first assembly point in Laguna and then another hundred to Wingate. His batch of novice riders and teamsters would never make it; not in this weather. Better to wait for a spot on the trains.

“Yes, sir,” said McGill. “We’re not waitin’ for the tanks, sir? They’re just up the tracks in Santa Fe, aren’t they?”

“Yes, and God only knows when they’ll get the clearance to come forward! No, we’ve got a spot on one of the trains this afternoon and I’m not going to pass up on that. The tanks can follow when they can.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get the lads movin’.”

“Right. I’ll get my own stuff together.”

“You sure you don’t want one of the men to act as your batman, sir? T’ain’t right for an officer to be doin’ his own chores, sir.”

“I can manage, Sergeant. I was a second lieutenant not that long ago. And the men have other things to do.”

“If you say so, sir.” He didn’t look convinced, and as Andrew made his way back to the boarding house, he had to admit that a major really did have an image to uphold. With all his prior duties since graduation, he had people to take care of those things: restaurant waiters, hotel valets, boarding house washwomen, even Victoria or Mrs. Hawthorne if he had a tricky bit of clothing repair. But now, he was going to be out in the field for days and weeks and if he didn’t have one of the men do it, he’d have to do it himself. Not just his laundry, but fixing meals, saddling his horse, and all those other little chores. Of course, he’d done all that stuff while he was a cadet and he remembered how much time it took away from more important things.

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