Under Darker Suns: Star Bright by Martin M. Clark

Author:Martin M. Clark [Clark, Martin M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

Five

I hadn’t checked in with any other member of the squad and, although Henderson was just along the corridor, I wasn’t expecting visitors. Call me paranoid, but I drew my pistol before moving to answer the knock, holding the weapon down against my right thigh.

This was basic accommodation, so the entrance didn’t have a view screen or intercom, just a low-tech spy hole to see who was outside. I didn’t take a peek, or even stand in front of it, in case the light change as viewed from outside triggered a welcoming shot. Instead I eased up to the door and jerked it open suddenly.

And stared. “Big Dog? What the fuck?”

Marine Sergeant Don Mackenzie, call sign ‘Big Dog One’, stood there grinning. He brandished an unlabelled bottle of clear liquid. “Woof, woof, asshole. Gonna invite me in or what?”

I laughed and stood aside, waving him in with my gun hand. “Mi casa es su casa, dickhead”.

He eyed my weapon. “You expecting trouble, Coop? I can make a few calls if you need to put together a reception committee, no questions asked.”

“Cheers, Mac, but I guess I’m just jumpy. Not enough down-time lately.” I placed the gun on the shelf and gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa. Then it hit me. “Out of uniform, bro? Jesus, I didn’t know you knew the meaning of smart-but-casual. Don’t tell me you got busted?”

“Hey, at least I own a suit, unlike some people I could mention. Nah, but you’re right, Coop, I’m not a marine no more. Put in my papers two weeks ago.”

I flopped down in the armchair opposite him. “You? No way. I had you pegged as a lifer.”

He placed his bottle on the low table between us. “Yeah, me too, but, well, things change. After your crew rotated off Leander the Four-One kept stomping on the insurgents until the whole Earth shit-storm went down. Man, talk about panic amongst the brass. We were confined to barracks and everyone with strong homeworld ties got transferred out. Then they recognised the new provisional government and then, I kid you not, they announced we were to train-up the new Leander militia. Permanent assignment, with a bonus if you transferred into the home-grown military.”

“The militia? As in former terrorists?”

“As in those assholes we’d spent months fighting, yeah. Well, that was it for me and I decided to get out ahead of any ‘truth and reconciliation’ hearings.”

I let out a long sigh. “Man, end of an era. End of. An era.”

“You’re telling me. Cairo Station was the nearest point I could muster out, and I only just made it before the admin infrastructure folded. Trying to get passage off this junker when you’re not in uniform has been a pain in the fucking ass, meaning a lot of time sitting around, just waiting. So, when I saw your name on the list of billeted personnel I decided to come calling.” He gestured at his bottle, “As a Greek, bearing gifts. Approximate vodka, the best that a marine avionics workshop can furnish.

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