Post by thomas on Jun 2, 2010 18:18:12 GMT -5
"Exemplary... Truly exemplary. Remind me again why you decided to enlist rather than sit for the officer's exam?"
Miriam Bogoraz answered without batting an eye.
"Personal reasons, sir. I don't wish to discuss them."
The Federation colonel nodded and looked at her over the top of his spectacles before returning his eyes to her file. "Fair enough. It's clear you would have made a fine officer, and we ought not to rule that possibility out right now." He scratched his greyed head. "You're still young. But that's not what we're here to discuss--at least not right now."
The colonel and Miriam sat in an office in one of the ruined buildings of the recently captured Odessa. The office lacked four walls, having only three, and so opened up right onto the street. Nonetheless, clerks and orderlies still trooped in and out dutifully, as if nothing were amiss.
"Anyway, you performed prodigiously in the battle--" and here the colonel gestured towards the missing wall. "Your first battle and five kills--it's very impressive."
Miriam wanted to blush or smile but forced her face to remain still.
"Thank you, sir."
"We'll be transferring you to a new unit. One where, I think, you'll be of more use. You'll see more action, certainly. Have you heard of White Base?"
Miriam's eyes widened. "Sir, you can't be serious? You're transferring me to White Base? This is such an honor--"
The colonel burst out laughing. "Don't get so excited just yet. We've commissioned another Pegasus Class, under the command of Nigel Ferdinand--perhaps you met him; he was at the battle. It will be called Orange Base and it's set to launch in a few weeks. Have you heard of a pilot named Thorvald Siggurdson?"
"Err... I believe so, but only in passing."
The colonel smiled. "It's alright. You've heard the rumors?"
Miriam just nodded. "Some...rumors. They say he's rather odd. Very talented but odd."
"Odd doesn't even come close," the colonel said. "But he's in need of talented individuals who can keep up with him. I believe you'd work well with him."
Miriam nodded again. "Yes, sir. If you think so, sir."
The colonel began to write out the transfer order. "You'll get a few weeks of leave, so feel free to return home. You may want to get your affairs in order--we beat the Zeeks here but they're not going to give up Earth without a fight."
"Yes, sir. I will, sir."
~
The plains of Africa breathed quietly, only whispering gentle rushes of wind across the grasses. If you were to pass over in a plane or a helicopter, you'd be forgiven for missing the speck that was a broad, low bush, and the Federation soldiers crouched underneath it.
"Now I've found the secret to taking down these antelope is just to lead 'em a bit more," Harry Kimbo said. The three soldiers next to him were totally silent and nodded dumbly, focused on his movements as he smoothly cocked the .308 survival rifle's bolt and pressed his cheek against the stock.
"And you gotta' aim for the neck... Just a little bit under the chin..."
With a sudden crack, an antelope nearly a kilometer away crumpled.
"Not bad, you sunuvabitch..." one of the soldiers grumbled in disbelief. The rest of the herd scattered but that didn't matter--with rations in Africa running low, they knew they'd still eat tonight. They crouched around the corpse and began to field dress it. In the distance, they heard a jeep but just ignored it--they could tell it was their lieutenant from the way it tore across the grassland.
"Kimbo!" the lieutenant roared as he came to a halt almost on the antelope corpse. "Orders just come in. They're transferring you. You got two hours to get your shit together."
"Where's he going?" one of the soldiers called out.
"No fucking clue, but I heard something about a fellow name of Thorvald Siggurdson..."
The soldiers next to Harry exchanged glances but didn't say anything.
Miriam Bogoraz answered without batting an eye.
"Personal reasons, sir. I don't wish to discuss them."
The Federation colonel nodded and looked at her over the top of his spectacles before returning his eyes to her file. "Fair enough. It's clear you would have made a fine officer, and we ought not to rule that possibility out right now." He scratched his greyed head. "You're still young. But that's not what we're here to discuss--at least not right now."
The colonel and Miriam sat in an office in one of the ruined buildings of the recently captured Odessa. The office lacked four walls, having only three, and so opened up right onto the street. Nonetheless, clerks and orderlies still trooped in and out dutifully, as if nothing were amiss.
"Anyway, you performed prodigiously in the battle--" and here the colonel gestured towards the missing wall. "Your first battle and five kills--it's very impressive."
Miriam wanted to blush or smile but forced her face to remain still.
"Thank you, sir."
"We'll be transferring you to a new unit. One where, I think, you'll be of more use. You'll see more action, certainly. Have you heard of White Base?"
Miriam's eyes widened. "Sir, you can't be serious? You're transferring me to White Base? This is such an honor--"
The colonel burst out laughing. "Don't get so excited just yet. We've commissioned another Pegasus Class, under the command of Nigel Ferdinand--perhaps you met him; he was at the battle. It will be called Orange Base and it's set to launch in a few weeks. Have you heard of a pilot named Thorvald Siggurdson?"
"Err... I believe so, but only in passing."
The colonel smiled. "It's alright. You've heard the rumors?"
Miriam just nodded. "Some...rumors. They say he's rather odd. Very talented but odd."
"Odd doesn't even come close," the colonel said. "But he's in need of talented individuals who can keep up with him. I believe you'd work well with him."
Miriam nodded again. "Yes, sir. If you think so, sir."
The colonel began to write out the transfer order. "You'll get a few weeks of leave, so feel free to return home. You may want to get your affairs in order--we beat the Zeeks here but they're not going to give up Earth without a fight."
"Yes, sir. I will, sir."
~
The plains of Africa breathed quietly, only whispering gentle rushes of wind across the grasses. If you were to pass over in a plane or a helicopter, you'd be forgiven for missing the speck that was a broad, low bush, and the Federation soldiers crouched underneath it.
"Now I've found the secret to taking down these antelope is just to lead 'em a bit more," Harry Kimbo said. The three soldiers next to him were totally silent and nodded dumbly, focused on his movements as he smoothly cocked the .308 survival rifle's bolt and pressed his cheek against the stock.
"And you gotta' aim for the neck... Just a little bit under the chin..."
With a sudden crack, an antelope nearly a kilometer away crumpled.
"Not bad, you sunuvabitch..." one of the soldiers grumbled in disbelief. The rest of the herd scattered but that didn't matter--with rations in Africa running low, they knew they'd still eat tonight. They crouched around the corpse and began to field dress it. In the distance, they heard a jeep but just ignored it--they could tell it was their lieutenant from the way it tore across the grassland.
"Kimbo!" the lieutenant roared as he came to a halt almost on the antelope corpse. "Orders just come in. They're transferring you. You got two hours to get your shit together."
"Where's he going?" one of the soldiers called out.
"No fucking clue, but I heard something about a fellow name of Thorvald Siggurdson..."
The soldiers next to Harry exchanged glances but didn't say anything.