Though the Stars Fall (United Humanity Marine Corps Book 1) by Bill Roberts

Author:Bill Roberts [Roberts, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

A cloud of smoke wafts past me as I open the hatch to the officer’s pub. With nanites smoking tobacco posed as much of a health risk as breathing pure oxygen. Consequently, it has made a massive comeback. I personally find a bar devoid of tobacco smoke about as interesting as a bar devoid of alcohol. I suck in the smells of refined revelry and make my way to the bar.

From an operational point of view the day has gone extremely well. 2nd Heavy Armored and HMH-461 have loaded without a hitch. In fact, the Stern had been ready for takeoff for well over an hour before the Marines aboard the Dunham were ready. Right now my Marines are unpacking, hanging out, or sharing beers with 461 and the Stern’s crew in the various enlisted pubs aboard the ship. In the old days the United States Navy did not even allow beer, let alone pubs, aboard their ships. I am so glad common sense has prevailed in the United Humanity Navy and we have adopted the old Royal Navy tradition of carrying enough booze to keep everyone properly motivated.

I order a pint of lager from the steward manning the bar. He pours me one from the tap and hands it to me in a mug with the Stern’s crest, a stylized Abrams tank superimposed over an angled and fouled anchor, etched into the glass. I nod my thanks and head for the corner table reserved for my circle of friends. Gloria sits there alone nursing a glass of whiskey on ice. The XO and Bennie will be here soon, they are just wrapping up the final details of getting things settled. I imagine Mbiraru will also be here shortly. He is probably just doing the same sort of thing with his squadron. It has only been a month since we have last hung out together. We all worked up for this deployment together. A month ago we conducted our final pre-deployment evaluation exercise together. We had aced that evaluation as a matter of course. Across the breadth of the Navy and Marine Corps there are few command teams that can match our ability and experience working together.

I sit down across from Gloria and ask: “How was your leave?”

“Great,” she replies. Her simple Midwestern accent reminds me of times long past. She smiles and continues: “I spent the whole two weeks in Chicago. The food was great. The company was great. And the city looks as fantastic as ever.” She reaches across the table and touches my hand briefly before asking: “How about you?”

Part of me wants to unload my troubles on my old friend. But, I remain determined not to drag her into my emotional disarray. Besides, she would probably kill me if she found out. I fix a smile on my face and reply: “San Diego. I sailed, I surfed, and I tried to drink the town dry.”

She laughs and responds: “Drink San Diego dry? That would have been quite the accomplishment.

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