Jethro: First to Fight by Hechtl Chris

Author:Hechtl, Chris [Hechtl, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-10-20T07:00:00+00:00

ACT II

Chapter 20

A courier was sent to Gaston two weeks before the Marines began to board the transports. Four Freighters, the factory ship Hephaestus, one modified yacht turned dispatch boat, Hecate, and Firefly were sent in a convoy to Agnosta. The freighters acted as transports, they were stuffed with Marines and the equipment and material needed to set up their new bases on the planet. Three of them were Clydesdales including the one that had taken the first Agnosta Marine expedition to the planet six months ago. One held over four thousand recruits in stasis. All told there were nearly twenty thousand personnel going, eight thousand Marines, two thousand naval personnel to man the navy side and the navy hospital, three thousand civilian contractors, and another three thousand dependents. A lot of Marines quipped that they'd rather ride in baggage like the recruits, at least they'd be able to have their own rack for the entire trip and could sleep.

The Zanzibar class medium freighter Destiny was a last minute welcome addition to the expedition group. The spacebees, the Naval engineers were loaded onto the freighters last. They were the cream of the engineering teams, Marine and naval personnel along with some civilian contractors to liven things up. They had an incredible teamwork ability, and a get it done attitude. No project was too small for them, only small minds. Given enough time and resources they could rebuild a battle planetoid, or an entire planet. They would be invaluable setting up the base and then moving on to civilian projects all over the planet. The experience of working on a planet, with all its pitfalls would do them good. Of course it would probably inflate their egos beyond planetary orbit.

Protests from governor Walker and even from various seemingly flash protest mobs on Pyrax colonies and on Anvil were ignored. Court orders flew, but were all squashed, they had no jurisdiction over Naval deployments. After a while the governor wrung his hands in the press, bemoaning the situation. The loss of the factory ship in the system was a major blow to Governor Walker. He was furious and vowed publicly to bring the military to heel. Commander Logan ignored the threat.

“Commander Logan isn't the factory ship needed here?” April asked during their interview. She was sitting across from him with her legs crossed. For once she had changed out of her normal trademarked yellow jumper in favor of a yellow sundress. Her legs were crossed before her. Both were relaxed and enjoying the tit for tat exchange.

Logan smiled. “Not at all. Oh there are odd jobs here and there but most of the basics have been covered over the past several years. They have upgraded or repaired every colonies life support and power systems as we had planned.”

“But I believe the governor planned on more?” April asked.

“That's unfortunate that the governor planned on using resources he doesn't control. Since the navy has been cut off from funds we've had to recall our reserve vessels.

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