week

not want to end up like Sergeant Rutherford,” he smiled grimly once again. “I think I was supposed to overhear it. One of the first pieces of paperwork the operations NCO gave me was the record of desertions. Losing a staff sergeant with eight years in the Army Airborne and a chest full of medals stands out.”
Pappas shook his head. “Fuck, sir. It’s the seventies all over again.”
The officer wrinkled his brow. “What?”
Pappas shook his head again and took another scratch. He dusted the resulting dandruff off the table. “Never mind, sir. Way before your time.” He thought for a moment and glanced at his own watch. “When does Morales usually show up?” he asked.
“He usually manages to roll in by nine,” the lieutenant said with a chuckle. “Officially he does ‘solo PT.’ The one remaining staff sergeant handles the formations. Sergeant Ryerson is probably all right, he’s just learned to keep his head down and his eyes shut. I don’t know about the CQ, though, he might have tried to contact Morales.”
“Well, sir,” Pappas said glancing at his own watch, “in that case maybe you could come on over to the barracks with me. I need you to verify the fact that I am now in the chain of responsibility. After that you can just sit back and watch. Sir.”
“Oh, with pleasure, Gunny,” said the acting company commander with a tight smile. “And I think we will make a stop by the Arms vault,” he continued, the smile going quite feral. “It only responds to properly coded individuals. Morales was never coded for it and he has been asking me for my codes for the last week.”
“Weapons, sir?!”
“We don’t have suits yet, but we’ve already received our full supply of weapons. M-200 grav rifles, M-300 grav guns, terawatt lasers, mortars, grenade launchers and a basic load-out came in one package including the vault.” The lieutenant smiled tightly again. “If I had to brace him this week, I was preparing a coup de main with certain elements of the company. As it is I’m glad to have you aboard; it would have gotten messy. We need to hurry. I doubt he knows you are here yet, so do you think we can do this without a full Operations Order?” he finished with a wry grin. His eyes were somber as he slipped his silks top on over the holstered .45.
“Aye aye, sir,” said the gunnery sergeant grimly, standing up and heading for the door. “Semper fuckin’ Fi. Adams! Front and center!”

34
Andata Province,