John Ringo - Vorpal Blade

“Can you not leave?” the queen asked.

“Our ship has sustained damage,” Spectre admitted. “We could run home, possibly, but we’d rather repair damage first and…”

“And… ?” Miriam asked.

“Just translate it as closely as possible,” the CO said.

“And you don’t care to run away with your tail down,” the queen said, her nose pulling back.

“That too,” the CO admitted.

“Why do you tell me?” the queen asked.

“First of all, the weapon we are going to use is going to do damage beyond the mountain,” the CO said. “We could strike the mountain from space and remove the threat entirely and with no danger. But that would destroy your capital as well.”

“You have weapons that powerful?” General Chuk-tuk asked. “And yet you fight on the ground.”

“Different needs, sir,” Commander Weaver said.

“Yes, we do,” the CO said. “But by putting it in the mountain, it will do less damage. Less, not none.”

“I see,” the queen said, nodding. “The Demons will wipe us out entirely. Do it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the CO said. “We also need three or four more boards. We’re going to drop all our remaining Marines from up here.”

“You have them,” the queen said. “I will lead this force.”

“No you will not,” General Chuk-tuk said. “You will remain safe on this ship. I am your war-leader. I can be lost. You cannot. Your Daughter is still a Breeder—”

“I am your queen—”

“Ma’am,” Weaver cut in. “The general’s right, you’re not. Don’t go gettin’ your fur in a fluff. And, General, with all due respect, I think you should send Lady Che-chee. She’s younger, fitter and less important than you while still being of high enough station that you have participation.”

“Are you sure you want me to translate that?” Miriam said.

“What did he say?” the queen squeaked imperiously.

“You won’t like it,” Miriam said, then translated.

The queen flicked her ears indignantly as General Chuk-tuk smoothed her whiskers in satisfaction, then squeaked in laughter when the general’s nose went back in a snarl.

“Yes,” the queen said, still squeaking in laughter. “The commander has it. Lady Che-chee, do you accept this quest?”

“With delight, Your Majesty,” the Lady said. “But we must make haste. The Demons seem to have retreated for now, but they will be back.”

“Agreed,” the CO said. “My Marines are suiting up now. Commander Weaver, defer most tactical decisions to Captain MacDonald. I hope we all agree that the ground commander is Commander Weaver?”

“Agreed,” Lady Che-chee said. “Your Majesty, could I take a contingent of guards?”

“Ten,” General Chuk-tuk said. “No more.”

“Problem,” Miriam said. “I can’t be in two places at once. None of the Cheerick, that I’m aware of, speak English. Someone is going to have to translate on the boat and someone is going to have to translate on the ground.”

“We try Ekish,” the queen squeaked. “Ko fit.”

“Miss Moon is not a fighter,” Commander Weaver pointed out.

“Is fit,” the queen squeaked. “Ko.”

“Miss Moon?” the CO asked.

“I think I have to go with the ground force,” Miriam said, standing up. “I’ll meet you in ten minutes in the Wyvern bay.”

“I think she’s going to go panic,” Miller said as she left the room.

“I think I’m going to panic,” Weaver said.

“Keep the links straight!” Berg said. “If there’s a kink, the gun will jam.”

“Got it,” Sub Dude said, straightening out the chain of rounds. “Have fun.”

“This is not my definition of fun,” Berg said, resetting his gun controls. On the last test they had been running about a degree off parallax. Most of this was probably going to be short-ranged, but…

“Holy maulk ,” Hatt said quietly.

“What?” Berg said, looking around. His eyes went wide, though, at the sight.

It was hard to describe, even to himself, but Miss Moon had changed. Something in the walk, the face. Subtle but impossible to miss. She strode across the compartment, ignoring the looks and the sudden cessation of movement and walked up to Berg.

“Two-Gun,” she said, looking up at the towering PFC. “My Wyvern needs a gun. And I need someone to carry it.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Berg said, popping to attention. All the “mission specialists” rated officer rank, but nobody really treated them that way. Until now. “I’ll be right back.”

When he got back, Marines were falling all over themselves to ready the linguist’s Wyvern. Two were loading ammo, another was checking the traversing mechanism, a fourth was doing a check of the circuitry. Miriam was standing watching the activity with her hands behind her back.

Berg mounted the Gatling, nodded at her, then returned to his own system.

He hadn’t noticed Lurch follow him back from the armory but as he started to enter his Wyvern, the armorer walked up with two pistols in his hands.

“You forgot your real guns, Two-Gun,” Lurch said, holding them out.

“Gatlings have done it so far, Lyle,” Berg said.

“Take the guns, Two-Gun,” Top said, walking up. “I’ll mount them.”

“If you say so, First Sergeant,” Berg said, getting out. “I’ll mount them. Lyle, I need my reloads.”

“We’ve done some dumbass things in our time, buddy,” Miller said, settling his Gatling in position. “But this about takes the cake.”

“I dunno,” Weaver said. “I sort of thought almost blowing Earth off the map was worse than this.”

“I said dumbass,” Miller replied, checking the traverse mechanism and running the feed into place.

“It’s not that bad,” Weaver said. “They’re not attacking right now. The tunnel could be clear. Besides, Runner found an entrance not far from the mountain. Couple of hundred meters and we’re in.”

“These things tunnel like there’s no tomorrow,” Miller pointed out. “Which means they’re going to be coming out of the walls.”

“You’re such a pessimist,” Bill said, grinning and pulling himself into his Wyvern. “What, you want to live forever?”

“Absolutely,” Miller said, lifting himself into place. “Got a problem with that?”

“No,” Weaver admitted. “But I also know how much you love derring-do.”

“God,” Miller muttered as he closed his suit. “I could be doing flower arrangements right now.”

“Surf’s up, people!” Top yelled, standing at the edge of the open air lock.

The elevator could be moved up and out of the way and it had been. The Marines were about to drop through the resultant hole.

“I cannot grapping believe we’re doing this,” Hatt said.

“What?” Berg asked. “Preparing to assault a mountain full of monsters that just wiped out half our company? Or getting ready to drop from nearly orbit on golden antigravity surfboards?”

“Yes!”

“Marines, this is the CO. Get this one done and we’re home free. Two days and we’re back in the World. Good luck and Semper Fi.”

“Oorah!” the first sergeant shouted. “On the Bounce, Marines!”

His board lifted up and he dropped into the rushing wind.

“Go!” Captain MacDonald shouted. “Go! Go!”

“What the hell is ‘On the Bounce’?” Hatt asked.

“Oh. My. God,” Berg answered, grinning inside his suit.

“Top read that book, too?” Jaen said. “Cool.”

“What book?” Hatt snapped. “What the hell?”

“Just shut up and drop, Marine,” Jaen said. “On the Bounce!”