Reenlistment. Part 17

"Brad, the Legion would respond accordingly to another spider invasion," said Coen. "In fact, I'm hearing that re-enforcements are being sent from the Coleopteran Frontier."

I got up and turned the channel to a movie. "The Emperor wants a war, and he is just looking for an excuse," I commented. "I just hope they don't throw nukes all over the planet again."

"It's all a bluff," rea.s.sured Lieutenant Lopez. "If the Emperor wanted war, he would just attack while we were sleeping. All this talk and threats is just positioning for further negotiations to split the planet again."

"I hope you are right about it just being a bluff," said Sergeant Green. "We don't need a war interfering with business, just when things are getting so profitable."

"Speaking of money," I said. "How much is the dead or alive reward for General Electric?"

"About twenty million dollars," said Sergeant Green. "I was just thinking about that, too."

"The problem with finding General Electric is, we probably killed him in an air strike, and he is buried under tons of concrete," I said. "That is why we have not heard from him since we killed that fool Emperor of the North."

"The marked bills from the Singh ransom are still turning up," said Lieutenant Lopez. "Mostly in New Memphis."

"I'll bet General Electric is hiding right under our noses," said Sergeant Green, winking at Lopez. "He probably got himself a job on an oil rig."

"Shut up," said Lieutenant Lopez.

"What we should do," I suggested, "is shoot Private Wayne, paint him green, and pa.s.s him off as General Electric for the reward money. Haven't you noticed Wayne looks just like General Electric, except he is the wrong color?"

There was about five minutes of silence. Finally, I got up and walked out to see if the armored car was washed yet.

The Special Forces sergeant had led the sniper team attack on the supply column. But legionnaires had reacted quickly, killing all four insurgents he commanded. The sergeant was lucky to have escaped the track of the Legion's monitor dragon by walking up a stream to hide his scent. Lucky. Lucky. That would be his new name. That would be his new name.

After the sniper attack, Lucky hiked back to his base camp. He stayed there a month, contemplating the future. The camp was empty, so he stayed until the food ran out. Then Lucky counted his cut of the Singh ransom: sixty thousand dollars. After packing the money into his backpack, Lucky began his hike into town. There was a bounce to his step. Lucky had fought the good fight, but New Colorado was just too big for one old sergeant to take on all by himself. It was time to live a different life.

When Lucky got to the roadway, he sat down for a rest. He dozed off, but was abruptly awaken by the sound of a large engine. It was a Legion armored car, and a dozen legionnaires had exited the vehicle, pointing their rifles at him. I guess I am not so lucky after all, I guess I am not so lucky after all, he thought. he thought.

"What are you doing here?" asked Sergeant Green. "Tell the truth if you want to live."

"I am an Arthropodan Special Forces marine sent to New Colorado to advise the insurgency," said Lucky.

"Where are the others?" asked Sergeant Green.

"Dead, I guess. You killed them all. Everyone I know is dead."

"Why are you on this roadway?" asked Sergeant Green.

"I was hiking into town to start a new life," said Lucky.

"You had a chance to do that a long time ago," said Sergeant Green. "It's too late now."

"Yes," said Lucky. "I know that."

"Prove you're not just another insurgent sc.u.m," said Sergeant Green. "Why should I believe your tall tale about being Special Forces?"

"I can lead you to my supply shuttle," said Lucky. "It tipped over in a pond west of Finisterra."

Information about an Arthropodan marine Special Forces shuttle interested Sergeant Green, so he radioed in that they had a prisoner with information. Lucky was put into the back of the armored car for the ride back to Camp Alaska. Tonelli, sitting next to Lucky, searched the spider's backpack.

"Hey look everyone," said Tonelli, waving the money he found. "This guy is rich."

"Where did you get all that money?" asked Corporal Williams. "Are you a bank robber?"

It's more likely you were one of the insurgents that ransomed Singh," said Sergeant Green. "I'll bet those bills are marked. Is that where you got this money?"

Lucky hissed. Looking at the legionnaires, he noticed two spiders. The driver was a Green. But the big black spider was his old marine commander also known as General Electric. How funny. G.E. was not saying much. I don't blame him, I don't blame him, thought Lucky. thought Lucky. Maybe G.E. thought I would not recognize him? I'll bet his Legion friends don't know who he is Maybe G.E. thought I would not recognize him? I'll bet his Legion friends don't know who he is.

"Do you hear me?" said Sergeant Green, poking Lucky with his rifle. "Where did you get this money?"

"I have nothing more to say until I talk to your commanding officer," said Lucky. "Harm me and you will never find my shuttle. I have other very important information you will be interested in knowing."

When they arrived at Camp Alaska, Tonelli and Wayne escorted Lucky to a holding cell. Private Wayne lingered behind to talk to Lucky through a small window in the cell door.

"Long time no see, Sergeant," said Private Wayne. "I appreciate you not saying anything about me earlier. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I see you are sleeping with the human pestilence," said Lucky. "How does it feel to be a traitor? Get me out of here or I will tell your new friends who you really are. Maybe I will even be able to collect the reward on you."

"You would betray me?" asked Private Wayne. "Have you no sense of personal loyalty?"

"You join the Legion, and you lecture me about loyalty?" asked Lucky. "I will give you until tonight to get me out of here, or I will tell the Legion everything."

"I will see what I can do," promised Wayne. "But you have to give me a few days to arrange things."

"Tonight!" demanded Lucky. "I want out tonight."

Later Lieutenant Lopez and Sergeant Green interviewed Lucky. Lucky drew a map and gave detailed instructions on how to find the Special Forces shuttle. Lucky also gave lists of insurgent safe houses in Finisterra and Camp Alaska. At the conclusion of the interview, Lieutenant Lopez told Lucky to think long and hard about whether there was anything he wanted to add.

"I don't like surprises," warned Lieutenant Lopez. "You have more to tell me. Spill it now."

"Your Private Wayne is the famous insurgent leader General Electric," said Lucky. "I want to collect on the reward money for turning him in."

"Are you sure?" asked Lieutenant Lopez. "There can be no mistake in your identification?"

"Of course I am sure," said Lucky. "He also used to be my marine Special Forces commanding officer. We landed on New Colorado together."

"I see," said Lieutenant Lopez.

"How much is the reward up to now?" asked Lucky.

"What difference does that mean to you?" asked Sergeant Green. "How are you going to spend the reward money if you are tried and shot for being a terrorist?"

"I am a soldier sent to New Colorado by the Emperor," argued Lucky. "I have been cooperative. There is no reason for you to cross me. I will gladly share the reward with you. It must be millions. There is enough for everyone to be happy."

"First, we will see if you are telling the truth about the Special Forces shuttle," said Lieutenant Lopez. "Then your full statement about Arthropodan marines and aiding the insurgency will be broadcast on TV for propaganda. If everything you say turns out to be true, and if you have not held back any important information or details, you will get the reward that you truly deserve."

That night at about 0200, a timed Legion grenade was dropped down an air vent to Lucky's cell. The grenade rattled down the long vent, finally dropping onto Lucky's lap. Lucky was killed instantly.

CHAPTER 18.

The Arthropodan Fleet beamed unopposed into orbit around New Colorado. Legion stars.h.i.+ps and planetary defenses did not interfere because they were outnumbered and because no one wanted another war. s.h.i.+p to planet communications was soon established.

"This is Imperial Fleet Commander #1. We will remain in orbit around New Colorado indefinitely. My mission is to obtain the return of all prisoners of war held illegally by the United States Galactic Federation, and to protect all Arthropodan citizens displaced by the war."

"This Is General Kalipetsis. We hold no prisoners of war. All POW's were returned. We only hold insurgents. We are doing our best, however, to screen insurgents as we capture them for any ex-soldiers that my have joined them."

"Our intelligence sources confirmed just this week that you recovered an Arthropodan marine Special Forces troop shuttle and captured a marine sergeant. Both have been missing since the war," replied #1.

"What sources?' asked General Kalipetsis.

"Cable TV," said #1. "I demand my sergeant be returned now. I also want access to your concentration camps to search for more of our missing troops."

"You are violating United States territorial sovereignty and risking war by your trespa.s.s," said General Kalipetsis. "I will not just let you go and do as you please on New Colorado."

"The matter is not negotiable," said #1. "But I am not unreasonable. I will submit to an escort. But first you will return my sergeant."

"I am personally looking into the matter," promised General Kalipetsis. Five minutes later he had the information he needed. "Your sergeant was just captured. He had joined the insurgency and had led attacks and partic.i.p.ated in kidnapping. He is currently being held at Camp Alaska."

"A marine contingent and I will beam down to Camp Alaska immediately and repatriate our sergeant," said #1. "I expect you will meet me there?"

General Kalipetsis met #1 at the landing zone at Camp Alaska. He did not look happy. General Kalipetsis was flanked by his staff, a platoon of legionnaires, Lieutenant Lopez, Sergeant Green, and myself.

"Where is my sergeant?" asked #1, bypa.s.sing formalities and getting to the heart of the matter. "I expected him to be waiting here, too."

"Regretfully, your sergeant was murdered in his cell last night," said General Kalipetsis. "I am truly so sorry. The matter is being investigated."

"Who was the ranking officer in charge of his custody," asked #1.

"Captain Czerinski," answered General Kalipetsis.

"You put the Butcher of New Colorado in charge of prisoners of war? Again? Why am I not surprised my sergeant was murdered in his sleep."

"Sir, I had nothing to do with your sergeant's death," I said.

"So, we finally meet," said #1. "You will again be charged with war crimes. I will not let this matter drop. I demand the Butcher of New Colorado be remanded to my custody and transported to Arthropoda City for trial for murder and the many other murders at the New Disneyland Extermination Camp."

"Only the President can order a legionnaire to be placed into your custody," replied General Kalipetsis. "I do not have the authority to make that decision. And frankly, you can go f.u.c.k yourself."

"And why would I do that?" said #1. "Do you have the authority to let me inspect the crime scene and to search your gulags for my missing soldiers?"

"You have already been given permission to search with an escort," said General Kalipetsis.

#1 scrutinized the Honor Guard. He was outraged to see spiders in Legion uniform. "What is this?" he asked. "You have pressed spiders into service? Or is this the result of new brainwas.h.i.+ng technology?"

"Some spiders don't want to live under an Emperor," said General Kalipetsis. "They want to be free."

"Yes. Now that I look closer, I see most of them are traitorous Greens," said #1. "Someday we will find a final solution to them, even if it is to dump them all on New Colorado."

As they walked to the detention center, General Kalipetsis repeatedly said that he regretted the sergeant's death and that there were no more Arthropodan soldiers in custody. #1 seemed to be placated a little, but then a spider stepped out of the ranks.

"I am a Special Forces marine," said Private Charlie Brown. "I want to go home."

"And so you will," said #1, grasping onto Charlie Brown. "What have they done to you?"

"Just take me home," said Charlie Brown. "I did what I needed to do to survive. But now the nightmare is over. Please, take me home."

"How many more of my soldiers do you have?" asked #1, turning to General Kalipetsis.

General Kalipetsis turned to me. "Well? I'll shoot you myself if one more Arthropodan marine steps forward demanding to be released. Are there more?"

"This one showed up with one other," I said. "They're probably from the same unit. They wore the same military style boots, and they hang out together." I motioned for Lieutenant Lopez to summon Private Wayne. Private Wayne stepped forward from the Honor Guard.

"Sir!" said Private Wayne. "Reporting as ordered."

"You can go home, too," I said. "You are not wanted here."

"Sir?" asked Private Wayne. "I have an enlistment contract. I will take the matter to court."

"What?" asked General Kalipetsis. "Are you an Arthropodan marine Special Forces or not? You will go home now, d.a.m.n it!"

"I am home, sir," insisted Private Wayne. "The Legion is my home. I am not going anywhere! Legionnaires cannot be extradited except by order of the President. It's the law. I heard you say it myself."

"He has been brainwashed," said #1. "Is there no end to the atrocities you human pestilence will commit?"

Private Wayne took a threatening step toward #1. "I have not been brainwashed. And you are not taking me anywhere," said Private Wayne. "You sent me here and left me to die! You wrote me off! And now, after so long, you and your greedy Emperor only want to make an issue of my plight because you want a bargaining chip for New Colorado gold and oil. You care nothing for me!"

"You have been through a very traumatic time," said #1. "You will think differently once you are away from the corrupting influence of the human pestilence and are back on Arthropoda."

"You will not take me back to Arthropoda," said Private John Iwo Jima Wayne.

The Fleet Commander turned to General Kalipetsis. "The Team Leader is still an Arthropodan marine. He will be beamed aboard my s.h.i.+p, by force if necessary."

General Kalipetsis shrugged, about to give in. I stepped in between the two and poked #1 with my finger. "Private Wayne is a legionnaire in the United States Galactic Federation Foreign Legion. You want war? Try to take him."

The Fleet Commander did not take well to being poked and threatened. He gave me a shove. Tonelli's dragon lunged at #1, biting off one of his feet. Spot swallowed it, boot and all. When the shoving and pus.h.i.+ng was over, negotiations broke down.