Decker's War Omnibus #1 by Eric Thomson

Author:Eric Thomson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: alien invasion, conspiracy, starfleet, space privateer, space marine, space pirates, janissaries, slavery, rebellion
Publisher: Sanddiver Books
Published: 2017-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

“I don’t know how you Marines do it.” Jase Resson wiped the sweat from his brow with an already damp cloth. “Living for weeks on end in a tin can, using the strangest nooks and crannies to keep in shape.”

“Nothing to it,” Decker replied with a pleased smirk. “You just have to imagine you’re training to take over the red light district in Niew-Amsterdam.”

The XO snorted, eyes following the troopers of Decker’s Demons as they raced through the hold along a parkour that Decker had laid out among the packed vehicles. Boredom was the worst enemy in deep space, but lack of exercise came a close second.

“That’s the other thing with jarheads. Sex seems to be the first and only thing on your mind.”

“Like a wise man once said,” Zack replied with mock solemnity, “a man who won’t fuck, won’t fight.”

“In that case, you should be a one man army, the way you’ve been going at it with Lora since we lifted off.” He jerked his chin towards Cyone, who was starting her run through the parkour.

“Jealous?”

“Nah, but well done, Zack, going where few men have gone before.”

“She’s not that scary.”

“Frightens the pants off me, if you want the truth. You know that none of the troops dare bring back broken ordnance. Our Captain Cyone’s basilisk stare is more than they want to face.”

“She does love her weaponry,” Zack nodded agreeably.

“And yours too,” Resson added, laughing.

“Excellent parkour,” a gruff voice boomed behind them. “No doubt the laggards will complain about all the sprains and bruises, but it’s the best idea I’ve seen for keeping fit during a long crossing.”

The two officers turned around as a sweating Lieutenant Kidder skipped off the top of a logistics skimmer, rivulets of perspiration running down his face.

“I had an even better idea,” Zack said struggling to keep a straight face, “but it involved convincing the crew to open the airlocks during FTL travel.”

“You may safely keep that one to yourself, sir,” Kidder replied, leaning over to place his hands on his knees while he fought to recover his breath. “Some of us aren’t getting any younger, and that includes you.”

“Any idea how much longer on this leg?” Resson asked.

“A few hours at best,” Zack replied, straightening his back with a quick grimace. Kidder hadn’t been wrong with his quip about age. “We should emerge to fix our leg through the nebula before the end of the watch, if not earlier, then it’ll be a clear run to the Peralka system. Captain Berand said we’ll need to stop there and buy new parts for the environmental recyclers. Dragonfly wasn’t built to carry this many eating, breathing and crapping humans. Plus we need food. Lora says we’re within a few days of going down to ratpacks.”

“Ugh.” Kidder made a face. “We go there, the environmentals are going to die an ugly death while we’re still in deep space.”

As if on cue, the emergence klaxon sounded three times and Zack quickly scanned the hold to make sure all the troops still on the parkour course froze in place.

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