To Hell's Heart (Crimson Worlds Book 6) by Jay Allan

Author:Jay Allan [Allan, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: System 7 Publishing
Published: 2013-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

“General Cain, we have a major enemy counter-attack on the left.” Isaac Merrick was walking toward Cain, wobbling a little as he did. Merrick had been an army officer, and he’d spent most of his career commanding Earthbound forces. But he’d served the Corps well, battling alongside them in the bloody fighting on Sandoval, and by unanimous agreement of Generals Holm, Cain, and Gilson, the Corps recognized his commission, and he formally became a Marine.

It was one thing to accept a friend and a worthy comrade into the Corps, quite another for him to function despite the fact that he lacked the years of specific training all Marines went through. Most Marines wore their armor like a second skin, but Merrick faced a long and difficult adjustment period before he was as lithe and agile in his fighting suit as the rest of his new comrades.

Cain liked Merrick, and he greatly respected his tactical ability. But he knew the ex-army man wasn’t ready to be up on the line yet, not until he’d had much more time to master the tools of his new service. So he named him his chief of staff, allowing him to tap the full range of Merrick’s tactical skill while keeping him at HQ, where he was less likely to trip into a ditch on the battle line and get himself killed.

Cain had been giving two aides emphatic instructions, waving his arms as he did. The three of them stood over a large ’pad displaying a section of the battlefield, but none of them was looking down. Cain stopped talking and held up his hand to his companions when he got Merrick’s communication. He waved the aides off and turned to face the new arrival. He frowned a little, though his helmet hid the expression. He was just Erik to Isaac Merrick most of the time, but in the field, the ex-army man insisted on formality. Cain knew Merrick was right, but he’d never been a stickler for military formality, and the older he got, the less use he had for any of it. He trusted Merrick and knew the new Marine would obey his orders…so he didn’t think it meant squat what they called each other.

“How bad?”

Merrick walked the rest of the way toward Cain, stopping about two meters away. “It’s heavy, but manageable. For now.”

“For now?” Cain’s tone sharpened. He liked subordinates to tell him everything upfront. He hated turning what should be a quick report into a protracted conversation.”

Merrick hesitated. “It’s nothing really, sir.” He paused again, not sure he should elaborate. “Just a feeling. My gut says they’re going to hit us hard…and soon.” He shifted his weight, clumsily stumbling in his armor as he did. “I don’t have any data to back it up. It’s just…” He stared right at Cain. “…I guess it’s what I would do, sir.”

“I wouldn’t call that nothing. It’s damned good thinking.” Cain smiled. “It’s what I’d do too, Isaac.”

“You’ve got the first wave of McDaniel’s people down.

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