They didn't have any eggs, so he sat in Blain's tent and read the mission bible while drinking a cup of hot coffee and eating a hard biscuit, hot beans, and a few slices of cold bacon. He finished his breakfast and had fresh quid for desert. He washed his mouth out with coffee and lit a pipe full of cannabis. "So, what's your story, Blain?"

"You want it short or interesting?"

"Short. Soldiers are only interesting when they're lying, and I only like to listen to lies when I'm drunk."

"Well, I'm from Vinton, I worked in my father's warehouse, packing and salting fish. I had a few duels; I killed a royal guard was sent to the workhouse. They'd were about to send me to the games to be killed fighting a half-starved creeper. Then EIS approached, they gave me an exam, told me I could be of some use if I made it through training. That was seven years ago."

Damon knew the narrative well. It was common for EIS to pull people from desperate situations; it gave them leverage. "I'm told Vinton is a fine city. I never served there myself. I was in Salton once, it had some fine beaches. I understand Vinton's are even nicer. I came up in the capital. My father was a doctor. I hated seeing sick people in our parlor every day, I got sick of helping to wrap their wounds. So, when I came of age, I entered the royal guards thinking I'd be free of tending to the sick. Turns out I've been wiping the ass of the royalty ever since. I worked my way up to investigations and got drafted by the EIS when I bumped into a couple of their operations. My last assignment, I got sideways with one of the scion's order. I think that's why I got promoted here. This is a gutsy mission, one hell of a gamble, with one hell of a reward. That's probably all you're ever going to hear me talk about myself. Now tell me honestly what you make of the operation as it stands?"

Blain looked away, "Well, we've been under constant assault since we set up the perimeter three days ago. I've personally killed twelve of those minglers. The sooner we get in the air and leave this place behind, the better. I think those minglers are figuring out our weak spots. I don't want to die sleeping in my tent, not when we have the chance to take out a creeper queen."

"You sound optimistic."

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. The plan has its gaps and reads like it was written by an adjutant who never left the capital, but in the end this can work. Even if it was written by some ass clown who doesn't know which end of a stick to use to stab himself."

"How is the crew? What do I need to know? Who is the weakest link? Who is going to come gunning for me?"

Blain scratched his head. "Well, these guys are all hardcore, they all used to be the toughest mother in their squad, now they're all here, they know what this means. They've all been pretty good about following orders, they're good men. The scions order, that crew is a different story, I think it's safe to assume that anything said in their presence is going to go straight to Galleria's scion in a carefully written report."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Damon nodded. "Ok, well let's have a roll call then we'll bring Samuelson in here and divvy them up."

Blain turned and made for the door. Damon noticed his narrow-toed boots. Vinton was famous for pretentious boots. It seems Blain wasn't lying about that part of his origin story. Damon couldn't be certain about the rest.

Blain gave a bellowing order for roll call and the men dropped what they were doing and made a crisp line. Damon stepped out of the tent and looked each man over as Blain called out their name.

Rodney- 286, six two, Imperial Guard, Private

Shroeder- 260, six seven, Imperial Ranger, Private

Randall-305 six nine, Imperial Ranger, Private

Farnsworth-195, six foot, Imperial Ranger, Pilot

Mckinley-290, six four, Imperial Ranger, medical technician

Merrill-250, six eight, Royal Guard, Private

Frasier-245, six six, Imperial Guard, Private

Hueller-270, six five, Royal Guard, Private

Stanton-215, six one, Royal Guard, pilot

Charleston-290, six eight, Imperial Guard, Private

Murry-275, six three, Royal Guard, Private

Samuelson-280, six two, Imperial Ranger, Pilot

Galadreel-220, six six, Imperial Ranger, Corporal

Faber - 195, six one, Imperial Guard, Pilot

Mickleson- 305, Six three, Imperial Ranger, Sergeant

Damon walked down the line and tried not to overdo the head mother in charge bit. He looked each man in the eye as he walked past. He made his voice carry. "This is probably the most difficult mission any of us will ever face. Right now, we are all specialists and experts in our particular skill, but we have to work like we are one. That's the advantage we have over these walking vermin. We are the baddest species out here because together with our skill and training we can be a single entity more dangerous than anything we are going to come across. We have three days, counting today. We all know the forms, but now we are going to know them together. We are going to drill every move we make so that it's faster and more efficient. In three days, we will break into three units and transport on three Angel wings. We will shadow a traitor to his queen and then we'll destroy her and her brood. I have the mission bible here. I want you all to read it, to memorize it. Now prepare for pike formation. We will give you your assignments and break you into five-man crews. After crew exercises, we will work as one squad working our forms. Get your stuff meet back here in twenty." Damon nodded to Blain who whistled the dismissal. Damon locked eyes with Samuelson. "Lieutenant, officers briefing."

Samuelson nodded and followed him into his tent.

"All right Samuelson name your crew."

Samuelson named five of the best.

"All right Blain name yours." Blain took five good men.

Damon nodded. "Very well I'll take the rest. Now let's not get any of them killed. We leave the scions clan here behind the wire. We run through our forms out there. We keep things tight, if it isn't working, we do it again until it is. Tonight, Samuelson and me will go out and collect three larval snipes while Blain holds down the fort. Any questions?"

"No sir." Blain said.

Damon looked at Samuelson. The man spat. "No sir."