Alder sat in a too-small chair, nervously clicking his front teeth together. The meeting between the commanders had started with a tension so thick it could be cut it with a knife and had only gone downhill from there. There were about ten officers, ranking Major or higher who were split straight down the middle between offensive or defensive action. And they had called in Alder to break the tie.
After officially welcoming Alder to the Reserve Sentinels, the unit's unofficial designation, the meeting had started, with Vanessa staying as Alder's official escort. The main opponents of the RS were the LR, or the Legion of Rebirth.
"We shouldn't. . . bull our way through this!" A chubby, red-faced colonel in favor of defense yelled at the opposition. "We need to take our time!"
"Aye," started a young female major, weighing in for the offense, "But, we can't just sit in one spot an' wait. That's askin' for trouble, not only from the LR, but from the local populace. We need to win hearts an' minds, gather as many recruits as we can, then rip their ill-gotten gains away!"
"Let's ask our super-soldier, then," a cruel-faced brigadier general sneered, turning to Alder. "What say you, Mr. Ward?"
Alder glowered at him as unnaturally strong feelings of hatred bubbled in his chest. "I prefer Alder, General," he spoke, attempting to restrain his emotions.
"Very well, Alder. What do you think should be done?" The general snarled in response, pushing himself out of his seat and stalking around the table. "Because as far as I'm concerned, you shouldn't be here. You shot down a Duchess VTOL and threatened the lives of a whole company of men." He was around the bench now and in Alder's face — oblivious to Alder's simmering desire to punch him in the jaw. "Speak then, Alder. I want to know what you think."
Red spots dotted Alder's vision as the dam broke. Acting unconsciously, he wrapped one hand around the officer's entire neck and raised himself to his full seven feet, lifting the smaller man's feet off the ground. "I think," Alder growled, relishing the fearful look on the general's face, "that you speak too much and act too little, like any other person of your station as a commanding officer."
The only thing the general could do was squeak in terror, wasting precious breath. "And I think, that all of you should bite your tongue, stifle what you think is the best course of action, and reach a compromise. Maybe something like, I don't know, keep a vanguard at the back of your advance, just in case your forces do need to pull back. Is that suitable, sirs and madams?" Alder finished, glancing round the silent table. A plethora of rapid nods ensued.
He held the general even tighter for a moment or so longer, then dropped him like a child letting go of his toy. The officer fell to the floor, and after catching his breath, returned to his seat, trying his best to retain some dignity despite the wet spot spreading through the front of his fatigues.
Alder sat back into his chair, his arms crossed. "So, are we done here?"
The ruddy-faced colonel nodded quickly. "Yes, Mr. Ward. I believe we are."
Alder grinned in satisfactory grimness. He stood, and went to the door to open it. He smiled at Vanessa. "Shall we?"
Her shocked expression morphed into one on amusement. "Aye," she answered.
YOU ARE READING
The Collapse
Science FictionLong ago, humanity ruined its home world of Gaia with quantum weapon fire and synthetic production of soldiers. High-ranking officials were able to board battleships and disappear into the stars, but the rest of the population were left to fend for...
