AMP Private War by Stephen Arseneault

you needing some help? Someone giving you trouble son? Just say the word and the Ghouls will handle it for you."
    The Colonel pointed to the skull with fangs that covered the front of his t-shirt. "Just say the word and I'll rip out somebody's spine and beat them with it! Hahahaha!"
    Jeb took half a step back due to the intimidation factor. "No Sir, it's not any trouble like that. It is something that I think you will be very interested to hear though. And I'm sure I can count on you and the Ghouls to be discrete... Sir. Mr. Bumbalee will fill you in."
    The Colonel looked at me with a mean snarl. "Bumbalee? What kind of a name is that? Malcom-5? Hahahaha!"
    I managed to not flinch as he stared at me for several seconds. He continued, "I'm sorry son, just funnin' with yah! Now what is it we can do for you?"
    The Colonel took a bite out of an Omega root as he continued to stare me down. Omega root was a foul habit that many in the Grid Marines picked up when on off-Grid duty. It was one of those rights of passage that eventually became habit. The green stains around the edges of their teeth and the foul breath were only two of its consequences, a heightened edginess was another.
    The Colonel chewed on the root as he grinned. I felt as if his breath was beginning to melt the hairs of my nostrils. He then turned and spit a green wad of Omega root down onto the pant leg of the Marine standing next to him. The Sergeant didn't say a word. I glanced around the room and saw the green stains on a third of the pant legs in the room. It was truly a filthy habit.
    I cleared my throat before I spoke. "Colonel Harper. I'm sure you know that we are close to another Milgari war Sir. And I'm sure it angers you that the politicians on the Grid seem to be oblivious. Some are even calling for a truce and a pact to become part of the Milgari Empire. All of which you know will not happen."
    The Colonel's face began to turn red as he spoke. He began looking at his hand as he opened and closed his iron fist. "Don't get me started on those tools. Every time I think about the idiots that run this place it makes me want to squeeze the dumb-ass out of their pointy little heads. It's a constant battle with them for us Vet's to get care for our service injuries."
    "Jones over there has a re-cast right forearm and hand that clinches up whenever an ion generator kicks on. He's always in fear that it's going to happen when he's in the middle of taking a piss."
    The colonel went silent with a stern look on his face for several seconds. "Hahahaha! I love telling that one. Never gets old!"
    I pursed my lips and then began to speak again. "Colonel, I'll get right to the point. How would you..." I pointed around the room. "and the Ghouls, like to kick some Milgari ass?"
    The Colonel began to grin. "And you would be doing it while using Jeb's guns." The Colonel's expression turned to a hideous, evil smile.
    "Son, if you can put one of those shotguns in my hand and a Milgari a couple yards away, you would see a bloodbath like you have never seen before. The first shots would be to blow off those feral glands that they foul up the air with and the rest of the damage I would do with my fist. It's been ten years since I had a tangle with one of those green tri-heads and that has been ten years too long. Just point us at 'em son and the Ghouls and I will take care of the rest."
    As I continued to speak I began to get a smile of my own. "Colonel, I can have a transport here in a week if you and your crew are interested in discussing this further. I would like to take you out to our home base and to show you around. All expenses paid of course; along with a generous pay package should you accept the challenge."
    The Colonel grabbed my shoulder and squeezed to the point of almost breaking my collar bone. "Generous pay? Son, look around this room... these grunts would be willing to pay you! Hahahaha! You bring a ship now that can handle 44 of us, and if you need more, I'm