The Sagittarius Command by R. M. Meluch

Author:R. M. Meluch [Meluch, R. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Published: 2011-09-09T04:31:19+00:00

T H E S A G I T T A R I U S C O M M A N D

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177

“What? So we can learn to live among them?” Fredrika’s tone betrayed her disgust with the usual LEN line of live and let live.

“No,” said Farragut. “So we can kill them all.”

Met with amens, hear-hears, and a Hoo ra.

“We depart Fort Ike at eight bells. You’ve got the rest of this evening to get your ships in order, watch Magnus’ funeral on the res feed, let your crew go into Fort Ike, or do what you need to do.”

At the meeting’s end, Commodore Farragut and Jose Maria de Cordillera walked Herius Asinius and Marcus Asinius to Merrimack’s displacement chamber. Caught furtive expressions of the Marine guards flanking the hatch. Some harassment that didn’t happen because Farragut was there.

Jose Maria waited until the Romans were safely away and he and Farragut were out of earshot of anyone to speak. “Is it not asking much of your Marines to serve side by side with the killers of their comrades, young Commodore?”

“Hang it, Jose Maria, about all I do out here is ask folks to give more than they got! And I got no room for eyes for eyes and teeth for teeth!”

Jose Maria lowered his eyes, penitent. “I am out of line.”

“No. No, you’re not, Jose Maria.” Punched his own palm. “If you weren’t right, you couldn’t have torqued me off.”

Saw him in the main concourse on the eve of her leaving. Calli had heard he was here. Come to Fort Ike directly Magnus had been assassinated. Ostensibly to tour the battlefront in this time of crisis.

Calli knew it was really to avoid the long knives.

Gaius Bruccius Eleutherius Americanus.

He had brought his wife and his children.

During the last peace, Gaius had been an instructor at the Imperial Military Institute. Like Numa Pompeii, Gaius Americanus had been one of Calli’s instructors. Unlike Numa, Gaius had given Calli every chance to succeed, gave her his wisdom, gave her his respect.

Calli wished she were John Farragut that she could run up and throw her arms around her old mentor in an unbridled hello. But Captain Carmel kept the bridle on. “Gaius.”

Gaius looked for the source of the voice. Caught sight of Calli with a warm sad smile. Crossed to her. Took her hand in both of his. “Cal178

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R . M . M E L U C H

lista.” He glanced at her uniform, its insignia. “What are we now? Captain Carmel?” No surprise in his voice. Entirely expected.

“Numa told me you were here,” said Calli.

What Numa had actually said was, “Your patron is here.” And had commented that Caesar Magnus was not even cold and here’s Gaius Americanus suddenly seized of an urgent need to observe the Deep End.

Calli had refrained from commenting back that it was telling in the Roman Empire when it was safer to be closer to the Hive than to Palatine.

Gaius’ face looked old, pinched with tight lines. Maybe he was even ill.

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