“So they, too, are warriors,” Lady Che-chee said. “The best warrior is not necessarily the best leader, miss.”
“Clarification,” Miriam said, grinning. “They don’t physically fight for it. They give speeches, participate in debates, things like that. Some have been, as you would call it, warriors, others not.”
“Your society is very confusing,” Lady Che-chee said.
“As is yours,” Miriam said. “So only females can be leaders?”
“Once they pass through the Change, yes,” Lady Che-chee said. “Before that, they are Breeders. Only Mothers can be leaders.”
“The Change?” Miriam asked.
“Young females are only Breeders,” Lady Che-chee said. “We are… very dumb. They can barely speak, but when you are a Breeder you hear and remember much. Families such as mine, in fact, instruct their Breeders despite the fact that at the time they understand very little. Then when we stop breeding, we go through the Change. It’s a very strange time. Suddenly, things begin making sense. Or make less sense. It is said there is nothing more intelligent than a Mother just post-Change nor more stupid. I know that was how I was. My Mother was a Lady of a small farm, my father a priest. I was instructed in many arts as a Breeder but didn’t understand them until I passed the Change. There was no position for me so my Mother obtained a commission for me in the queen’s forces. All of my lands accrued from my service with the queen and other positions I took over the years. But all of that was after the Change.”
“And your son?” Miriam asked.
“He was kept by my Mother and father until he grew large enough to obtain a commission as well,” Lady Che-chee said. “By then I was a general and prepared to retire. He has been posted to one of the cavalry regiments. That was shortly before I purchased the estates. He is a sheshar, a junior cavalryman. Most of the soldiers are males, the officers are all Mothers. I know of only two males considered both wise enough and fierce enough to be officers and they are both very low rank. Good fellows, but not someone you’d make a general.”
“I see,” Miriam said, trying not to grin.
“Okay, I need some of that translated, obviously,” Miller said. “I can tell when there’s something somebody doesn’t want to tell me.”
“It’s sort of complicated,” Miriam said, still trying not to grin.
29
“Third’s going on initial deployment,” Sergeant Jaenisch said. “They’ll be on the ground for two weeks with the science team, then we’ll drop for two weeks. After that, we have to go home. The boat’s running short on spares and our CO2 filters are about shot.”
“Sounds good to me,” Guppy said. “Let grapping Third take the heat this time.”
“I heard that, Guppy,” Sergeant Samson caroled from down the compartment.
“First and Second took a hammering on Runner’s,” Tanner pointed out. “Time for us to earn our pay.”
“Hey, we were on Runner’s too,” Lance Corporal Revells said.
“Yeah, and Two-Gun saved your ass,” Sergeant Jaenisch said. “This time, though, you’re on your own.”
“We’re going to be dropping a Barrett for the SEAL chief,” Revells said. “That should take care of any old demon.”
“Anybody asks me about it on the after-actions report,” Tanner said, “I’m going to recommend bigger guns. Screw these damned 7.62 mm Gatlings.”
“And rocket launchers,” Sergeant Samson said, making a “whoosh” sound. “And claymores.”
“The ship needs a cannon mount, too,” Revells said.
“Yeah, and we need a tank while you’re at it,” Hatt said. “Couple of F-18s with JDAMs wouldn’t be turned down. Make that a carrier. Oh, wait, that won’t fit. Where, exactly, are we going to put a cannon on the ship?”
“We can put it in the bunk area for one platoon,” Guppy said, gesturing at the empty bunks. “Plenty of room there,” he added bitterly.
“I’d rather have the troops,” Jaen said. “But I agree on the heavier firepower. We definitely need .50 calibers. 7.62 mm just don’t cut it.”
“We’ve got ’em,” Sergeant Samson said sarcastically. “Old Two-Gun will always save the day!”
“Sergeant, with all due respect,” Berg said. “Take a flying—”
“Third Platoon!” Gunny Hedger said. “Get your ass down to the missile bay! We need to prep load out!”
“On the way, Gunny,” Samson caroled. “Hold that thought, Two-Gun. I’m interested to see how it ends.”
“How were you going to end that without ending up on report?” Sergeant Jaen asked. “Because if you were going to end it the way I think you were going to end it—”
“ ’Take a flying jump on a squealing chinchilla,’ ” Berg said. “What did you think I was going to say, Sergeant?”
“We appreciate your offer, Commander Beeel,” the queen squeaked. “I understand that you must return to your homes soon. But if the Demons attack, we are united in defense, this is agreed?”
“Agreed,” Bill said through Miriam’s translation. “We normally try to coordinate with local forces in something like this, but we are hampered by language. But in the event of attack, we will respond. We do need some things, however, to remain. Our doctor has determined that some of your food is partially edible. We cannot survive on it, but we have had no fresh food for some months. We would like to get some food from you. We also would like to establish a ground base near the palace so that we can help in the defense of your city. So we will need a spot of land. And it will be dug up because we intend to build a small fort for defense. We will put tents in there that will allow us to come out of our armor. We will put some of our ground forces in that fort. Some will remain on the ship. It will then withdraw into the air. From there it has weapons that can fire down to attack the Demons and also drop the remaining Marines in places where they are needed.”
“This is a wonderful ability,” the queen said. “But can they not use boards?”
“We do not have boards, Your Majesty,” Weaver said. “We are, in fact, interested in how they work. But until we understand them, we must use the ship.”
The queen had brought up one of her commanders to stand equal with the high priest on her other side. She waved him down and there was a whispered colloquy before she turned back, her nose wrinkling.
“They have fourteen boards they’re willing to let us use,” Miriam said. “In fact, if all goes well, we can keep them.”
“Go for it,” Miller said. “Hell, the Wyverns might be able to drop from orbit on those things.”
“We don’t know if they’ll take Wyverns,” Weaver said. “We need to experiment. But, yes, Miriam, offer her our thanks.”
“General Chuk-tuk also points out that we have a disused barracks,” the queen said. “It is based on an old fort. You might wish to look it over and see if you can make of it a sanctuary for your fighters.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Weaver said. “I will communicate that to my commander.”
“We will meet in privy counsel at sunset,” the queen said. “Please discuss this with your commander and if you must use open space, by that time we will find it. We appreciate your willingness to aid us in our time of need. Though we do not have your wonderful devices, we Cheerick are strong, able and courageous. Never will we forget your aid, win or lose.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Bill said, bending over as far as he could in the armor. It was as close as he could get to a bow.