Storm Force: Book Three of the Last Legion Series by Chris Bunch Page A

The report had barely been made, and alarms were gonging, when the patrol reported a missile launch from the larger ship. All three intruders fled, using the closest nav point to vanish back into N-space.
    The missile was aimed at D-Cumbre, and projections of its orbit suggested it was homing on Dharma Island.
    The patrol ship launched countermissiles, and the attacking missile evaded them. A second launch missed as well.
    The missile’s orbit was further analyzed, and Leggett City, D-Cumbre’s capital, was determined to be the target.
    Three
aksai
, two piloted by Musth, drove for space. Just out-atmosphere they were in range of the missile, and fired countermissiles.
    Two struck home. Nuclear fire in D-Cumbre’s skies brought early dawn to the planet.
    • • •
    “Change one,” Hedley said. “Angara’s approved your run against Kura. PlanGov’s in major hysteria with what happened this morning. Nobody wants to grow up and glow in the dark, and nukes are for barbarians anyway.”
    “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
    “For what? A chance to get flipping killed?” But Hedley said that under his breath. “Go get your goddamned volunteers.”
    • • •
    “There’ll be me,” Monique Lir said. “Nectan, Irthing, Heckmyer, Jil Mahim for medic, Montagna as sniper, al Sharif, a couple more with electronics cross-training.”
    “Mostly noncoms, I see,” Jaansma said.
    “You don’t think we’re gonna let the pooptitties in the rear ranks have all the fun, do you?”
    • • •
    “Might I ask what you two want?” Garvin said, rubbing his eyes. “It’s late, I’m sleepy, I’m only half-through with … with whatever I’m doing, and I don’t have a lot of time to waste playing.”
    Ben Dill slid into the chair in front of Garvin’s desk, Dr. Danfin Froude remained standing.
    “Understand you’re going out looking for trouble,” Dill said.
    “And that you could use a couple of volunteers,” Froude added.
    “Doesn’t this frigging Force have any goddamned security?”
    “Not against Ben Dill.”
    “My answer’s a swift, unqualified go away. I’m full up on hee-roes.”
    “Not a chance,” Dill said calmly.
    “You’re a ship driver,” Garvin said. “We’re going to be hoofing it. You always snivel when you’ve got to lug all that poundage around on primary drive.”
    “I’ve been known to walk through a jungle or two,” Dill said. “Carrying a couple of fagged-out I&R types, come to think about it.”
    “And you didn’t see me falling back when we were stranded on that Musth world,” Froude added. “Besides, you’ll need someone capable of analysis when you’re down on Kura.”
    “Yeesh,” Garvin said. “You, Doctor, I could probably use. But you still ain’t convinced me, Ben. Don’t you want to stick around here playing zoomie? Think of all the medals and glory and nice clean uniforms, not to mention your fan club. Jungle sluts are definitely not for high-class folks like you.”
    “There ain’t many medals when nothing’s going on, and especially since somebody else got all the glory for zotting that A-boomer of Redruth’s,” Dill said. “Look at it this way, Garvin. I’m bigger than you, faster than you, I used to be your CO, and I’ll bust your frigging arm if you don’t change your mind, and then
nobody
gets to go play in the bushes.”
    Garvin snarled in wordless defeat. “Go wake up Lir, and draw the gear she’ll tell you to.”
    • • •
    “How long will you be gone?” Jasith asked.
    “I’m not sure,” Garvin said. “A month. Maybe more.”
    “Was this whole thing your idea?”
    Garvin shifted uncomfortably on the soft couch, looked out across the Heights, across the bay at Camp Mahan. “Uh, yeh. It was.”
    “You really want to get killed, don’t you?”
    “I don’t believe,” Garvin said honestly, “there’s anybody mean enough to kill me, yet.”
    Jasith got up, went to the sideboard, started to pour herself another drink, changed her