The third day after the attack Elias found himself up at dawn running the recruits through PT. Running through once was not enough his wandering thoughts still unable to reach that mindless state exercise had the ability to bring. His continued running as squad one swapped out with squad two the new recruits blended in with the old to make each group eight strong. Pushing harder he caught and overtook the slowest of their number who were still adjusting to the harsh regime. Allowing himself to rely on the muscle memory his mind finally settled. One exercise blended with the next as he stopped thinking about what was next, what had happened, lists and priorities.

The first day had been hectic, trying to collect and salvage as many of the Swarm as they could before the dropship came to take away the parts. Other than taking a break to supervise the transfer of Harmon and the elite soldier to the ship on departure he kept himself busy and away from any indepth conversations. The afternoon found Elias immersed in the practical task of driving to a group of Swarm and helping with the salvage. He was avoiding the harder tasks of leadership and trying not to think beyond the present. By the time he returned to base Mouse had disappeared with his friend Gary who had arrived in the ship and Slim was busy conducting a round of interviews with the recruits. In the evening they held a short ceremony honouring Maia. Elias excused himself from the celebration that followed allowing the others to let their hair down without concern of repercussions. He avoided Oberon to head straight to bed surprised that sleep took him as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The second day had been a literal trial. Meetings dawn until dusk sorting allegations and counter allegations with Prevail who were trying to claw back face and resources. Elias and Slim were locked in the command tower until the proceedings were complete. They had successfully argued that the contracts of the seventeen recruits transferred to Nidus as their commander had handed over control and withdrawn before the end of the battle. They were also able to negotiate a fee for retrieving the equipment left by Prevail on the field getting a quarter of its value. This was where the positives ended, there was no compensation for the attacks. The kick in the teeth being that Prevail had reported the clearance of the ziggurat on leaving the fighting around Libertas and therefore earned the clearance reward for this. As well as receiving a reward for work Elias's platoon had completed Prevail was also awarded thirteen thousand credits in compensation. One thousand for the 'attack' by Ginge on the passing convoy and another twelve for the attack on the elite soldier. It was technically Oberon's fine to pay his argument that the attack was in self-defence falling on deaf ears. Given the reason for the attack it was a small price to pay. There was a second, as yet unknown fee, of the medical bill to restore the man to full health which Elias had agreed Nidus would be paying as well.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Elias avoided everyone again that evening. He would have rather had another day of battling Swarm than being part of the back and forth trying to tear apart every mistake Nidus had made. Using each of those mistakes to squeeze them for more money. It was late when the final discussion with the lawyer concluded. The bitterness that this final discussion was to settle the bill they had incurred only left Elias as he fell once more in to sleep as soon as he lay down. The exhaustion of broken sleep and the pressure of being responsible for every decision to this point catching up with him.

He got back to doing what he knew recreating the routine from when they first established Libertas. He spent time with each squad, watching them shoot, advising on technique as they sparred and drilling the new men on their formations. He took them out on the Crust in the afternoon sweeping round the settlement at ten kilometres, their greater number making it possible to clear further than they had before. Twenty Swarm fell to their attacks, the parts swiftly and efficiently salvaged and stored in the troop carrier. Of these twelve had been approaching from the east reminding Elias of the mystery of where those Swarm were coming from. He dropped off the platoon to run back to the settlement giving him time to consider this as he drove back.

He noticed the difference to Libertas in only a few short days with Mouse and Gary given free reign to make changes. He had been aware of the work but not put any thought to it until now as he drove back to in to camp with nothing to distract him. The blocks from the ziggurat had replaced metal panels on the command tower, allowing them to increase the height with the materials they had already. New buildings were in place around it also with the strange mixture of blocks and panels forming their walls. These were only the changes he could see, what other changes had taken place or were planned that he was ignoring? He made a decision as he got out of the cab.

He smiled as he felt better with the decision made and gave a wave to Mouse who was on top of the nearest building, one of his idiotic grins on his face. Slim was coming out of the command tower, console in hand shooing off one of the recruits who had been left behind from the training exercise so she could interview them. Lastly, the newest member, Oberon was leaning against the outer wall keeping himself to himself. It was time to catch up with the others. Time to step back up in to his position as the head of the company. What better way than as they had done before, over their evening meal.