Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1) by Brian Dorsey Page B

with. As his people geared up for war, the Humani military swelled quickly and the data links had not been fully updated with new officer billets, so Stone would have to get to know his principal officers face to face.
    First to enter the room was Senior Major Barilus Bruni. Stone had heard a little about Barilus through the grapevine. He apparently had a solid record and led a company as a captain during the mining uprising.
    Bruni represented himself well in person as well. Close to two meters tall, his well-groomed, dark mustache showed a peppering of grey. A scar from a bullet wound on his left cheek indicated his combat experience.
    “Greetings, Colonel Lucius—”
    “Come in, Bruni,” interrupted Stone. “If we have to go through the formalities of introduction, the meeting will take a week. Besides, political niceties do little good in the field.”
    “Very well, Sir,” smiled Bruni. “I am here to answer any questions you have.”
    “So, Major,” asked Stone, “what is your assessment of the unit?”
    “Honestly, we are in pretty good shape, sir. Although clearly not up to par with a Guard unit,” added Bruni.
    “I understand, Major,” replied Stone, accepting the compliment. “Please continue.”
    “Of course, Sir,” Bruni continued. “We performed very well in our last exercise, scoring especially high in insertion methods and battalion coordination. We were also evaluated as above average in marksmanship.”
    “What’s your assessment of the exercise parameters?” asked Stone, attempting to dig a little deeper.
    “Parameters, sir?” he asked.
    “Yes. Did the exercise provide an adequate opportunity to both train and evaluate the
    unit?”
    “Well, Sir,” started Bruni, “these exercises are designed by High Command to fully—”
    “I don’t want the political answer, Major,” interrupted Stone. “Give it to me straight.”
    “No B.S.?”
    “No B.S.”
    “Well in that case, I would say it was hard to properly gauge our performance.”
    “Why is that?” asked Stone.
    “The parameters, Sir. They didn’t really challenge our initial tactical plan. The insertion was not adequately resisted and follow-on logistical support was never interdicted.”
    “I see, Major.”
    “I have more, Sir,” replied Bruni. “Furthermore, our ammunition supply was effectively endless, our wounded were allowed to return to our ranks following each day’s scenario, and our opposing forces were two new regiments; they actually placed themselves in a crossfire situation in one scenario where they would have inflicted more damage on each other than us.”
    “So it was a typical High Command exercise,” said Stone with a smile on his face.
    “Pretty much, Sir. All flash and no substance. That is not to say we did not perform well, we just were not pressed in a manner to fully evaluate our combat readiness against anything other than an armed mob.”
    “Fair enough, Major,” said Stone. He liked Bruni’s honesty regarding the status of the unit. He seemed to be a man he could work, and hopefully go into combat with as well.
    “Who else have you brought with you, Bruni?” continued Stone.
    “I have brought both battalion commanders, the captain recently assigned as our staff and intelligence officer, and the commander of our recon platoon.”
    “Let’s bring them in and see what we’ve got,” replied Stone.
    Next to enter was Major Victor Gates. Stone was instantly impressed.
    “Major Gates, according to your record,” stated Stone, “you have reached terminal rank due to your commoner status but have stayed in the service and apparently…” Stone paused as he flipped through Gates’s record. “…have ranked well even against your First Family counterpart, Major Atticus Vatarus. That either speaks volumes about your abilities or Vatarus’s incompetence.”
    “I like to think my record speaks for itself, Colonel,” replied Gates. “And I am honored to be ranked alongside an