Black Guard, The Read Online Free PDF

eyes narrowed,
evaluating me as the door closed, leaving us alone.
    "Welcome, Captain Sapir. There are
drinks on the sideboard. Please help yourself." He already had a cup of
something on his desk. I chose hot tea and sat in one of the two commando-blue
padded armchairs facing him. "It appears we are going to the same troubled
area, you to guard Governor Li Ho Lew while the army chases the rebels."
    "Do we have an estimate of their
numbers and types of weapons?"
    "It depends on who you talk to.
The rebels claim to number over two thousand. The Governor says it’s far less
than a thousand. The weapons are purported to be standard military grade
rifles. And except for a few air-scooters, they have no air capability."
    "What’s their objective?"
    "According to the rebels, it’s to
replace the local government."
    "What about the ruling party on
Lanzhou?"
    "They hired us. For their own
reasons, they don’t want to send government troops. Probably want to be able to
blame the Jax for any killings rather than the government. Since they hired
you, I assume they don’t want the governor killed. It feels like political
machinations."
    "What forces does the governor
have?"
    "A police force of several hundred
and an army of five hundred who are no better trained than the rebels."
    "That sounds like the rebels have
support from outside the province. Do you think it’s more complicated than it
appears and might have planetary ramifications?"
    "That’s my assessment. I know the
Guard is already paranoid, but when rebels are involved, you never know who you
can trust."
    The colonel was right. Since the Guard
were always outsiders, they could not afford to trust anyone. Guard rules one
through ten—trust no one. We coordinated our Interface devices, and I
left to get settled. The same lieutenant waited and took me to the commandos’
training bay, pointing out exercise equipment in the gym, a shooting range,
fighting mats, and mockups of cruiser compartments. As I stood surveying the
area, a Guard corporal spotted me.
    "Guard, attention," he
shouted and all the Guard in the area shot up and braced to attention. Everyone
else in the room also stood, although not at attention.
    "At ease," I said. By the
look at the number of army personnel in the bay, the cruiser had twice its
normal one hundred. A Guard lieutenant marched up and bowed, his eyes lowered.
    "Captain Sapir, I’m Lieutenant
Ceder, your second-in-command." He was several centimeters taller than me,
sinewy, and lean. "It’s a good team, Captain. We were assembled for a
contract on Jasper, but it was canceled at the last moment, so we were
transferred to the War Horse and reassigned to you.
    "Lieutenant, I’d like to meet with
the team after I’ve had a chance to settle in my quarters. Say in one hour.
Send someone to get me, when you have everyone assembled, somewhere private."
    His eyebrows rose, but he gave me an
amiable smile as he bowed. Normally, a captain would not concern herself with
anyone below sergeant. That would be tradition. But this was my command, and I
would make the rules.
    "Certainly, Captain. This
way."
    My room was in close proximity to the
bay. When I entered, he bowed and left. Space on cruisers was limited and with
the extra army troops everyone probably had to double up. I was therefore
surprised to find I had a room to myself which could easily accommodate two: a
standard bunk, comfortable chair, small storage cabinet, and a separate toilet,
which standard rooms didn’t have. I unpacked my luggage, washed, and changed
into a fresh uniform. In fact, the Guard had only one uniform for work, guard
duty, and special occasions. The only difference was on special occasions you
were allowed to wear decorations and awards.
    I had just finished dressing when there
was a knock at the door. When I opened it, an older, broad-shouldered sergeant
bowed, his weathered face and eyes down cast.
    "Captain, Lieutenant Ceder sent me
to show you to where the team is