Five by Five 3: Target Zone

Author:Kevin J. Anderson [Anderson, Kevin J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, science fiction, alien invasion, High Tech, Military, Space Fleet, Space Marine, Hard Science Fiction
Publisher: WordFire Press
Published: 2014-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

Teach Your Children Well

An Unincorporated War Story

Eytan Kollin and Dani Kollin

Year 4 of 7 of the Unincorporated War

Fourth Battle of Anderson’s Farm

The assault transport was flying through a debris field of similar ships from three battles past—unfortunate victims of a questionable tactics, shoddy armor and a determined enemy. If the heavily armed occupants of the current transport had any reservations about returning to the floating war memorial, they gave no indication. And if any glimmer of hope existed at all it would be that if the third time hadn’t been the charm (which clearly it hadn’t) then perhaps this, the fourth battle of Anderson’s farm would do the trick. The only other advantages they could be said to have was that they were soldiers, very well trained and motivated by an almost unparalleled hatred of the enemy as opposed to a once inestimable fear.

Inside, most of the UHF assault marines were quietly checking their gear and more than one was sound asleep despite attempts by the Alliance missiles, lasers, mines and directed rocks to jolt them awake one last time before tossing them into space. It was the advantage of a veteran crew. The only marine up and moving was the sergeant. Her ancestry was mostly Southeast Asian, which was not a branch of the human race known for its giants. It was however known for its share of implacable warriors and the good sergeant, tiny though she may have been, had no intention of letting her ancestors down. She was absurdly young for the rank but had earned it by dint of not dying in the two years she’d served the UHF. The sergeant was now walking up and down the length of the transport, stopping by every trooper, checking to see if they were ready, looking into their eyes for the emptiness that told her they would kill without mercy. She hadn’t bothered performing the ritual with “Daddy” or “Baby Girl,” the team’s two latest additions. They were only with her unit temporarily and she already knew there was nothing she could teach them.

O O O

“Hey, Cookie,” Daddy said to Baby Girl. “Don’t forget, we may come in upside down. Do you remember how to detach and flip?”

“Yes, Dad,” groaned Baby Girl. “You only made me practice it a dozen times … yesterday.”

“That’s ‘Corporal Dad’ to you, Private Daughter and considering what happened at the last rock we took you have no right to complain.”

“So unfair,” she muttered.

“How so?”

“I saved your life, that’s how so!”

Daddy shook his head, mouth formed into a knowing grin. “Only after I did a proper flip from the harness in order to save yours.”

“Not going to let me forget that, are you?”

Daddy pointed to the extra stripe on his armor. “Corporal.”

“Fine, Corporal Daddy. I know how to flip from the harness. I’ve practiced it so much I could do a double flip in armor and fire from a prone position. Hell, at this point I could probably do it in my sleep. I am so good at the flippin’ flip!”

Daddy smiled, content.

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