Tech World (Undying Mercenaries Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

dark skull.
    I recalled all the times she and Winslade had made a huge production of filming the aftermath of battle. I’d also heard she wasn’t above doctoring reports to make it seem as if every victory was due to her leadership. She wasn’t the kind who liked to fight or even command in a battle—in fact I don’t think I’d ever seen her fire a weapon or man a line in combat.
    “Well, Specialist?” Turov asked, gesturing toward the door.
    “One more question, sir?”
    She nodded.
    “I understand you got rank and I congratulate you, but what’s happening to Varus? We’re supposed to vote on our independence tonight, and—”
    “About that,” she said, walking to the door and opening it. “I know you’re not the type to take good advice, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. Vote to disband Varus. Don’t stand against what must be. Independent legions are a thing of the past. They’re unwelcome anachronisms. Maybe you’ll be allowed to keep your patches and unit names, but you’ll soon be melded into Hegemony no matter how you vote today. I believe the plan is to assign each legion a number with the names becoming nicknames rather than official designations.”
    I was horrified. I had no interest in becoming a Hog from the 199 th , or whatever they assigned us.
    “I don’t think that’s such a good idea—” I began.
    Sudden anger tightened her face. “McGill, you’ve had your warning, and you’ve had your explanations. Now, get the hell out.”
    She stood to one side, holding open the door. I saluted and marched past her into the hallway. She didn’t bother to return the salute. Instead, she slammed the door so fast it almost hit me in the ass.
    I walked down the passage trying to look on the bright side of things. At least Primus Turov— Imperator Turov, that is—was out of my hair. I should be celebrating. But somehow, things didn’t feel quite right.
    True to his word, Winslade was out in the lobby chatting up Natasha. She wore a polite but bored look on her face. Winslade didn’t seem to have noticed. He was disappointed when I showed up.
    “We’ve been ordered to muster out,” I told Natasha. “Can you drive me to the spaceport?”
    “Sure,” she said, but she looked as confused as I’d been a few minutes earlier.
    In the meantime, Winslade had stopped chattering and was now looking smug. He pulled a jacket out from behind his desk.
    “Secret’s out,” he said. “I guess I can show you this.”
    There was a globe patch on his jacket shoulder.
    “You too, huh?” I asked. I sneered. I couldn’t help it. “True loyalty is a damned rare commodity, I guess.”
    Winslade’s expression transformed in an instant. He hunched forward and showed me his teeth.
    “You’ll switch tonight if you’re smart, McGill. Don’t even participate in the vote. That’s a ruse. The fix is in. If you vote the wrong way, you’ll lose rank and be transferred to Hegemony in the end, anyway.”
    Natasha eyed him in concern. I sniffed.
    “Thanks for the tip, Hog,” I said, heading for the door.
    “I’d kick your ass for that if you weren’t mustering out,” he called after me.
    “Sure thing, sir.”

-4-
     
    Natasha followed me out to the parking lot, and we climbed into her car. She was freaked out, and frankly, so was I.
    “What kind of crap have you gotten me into now, James?” she demanded.
    “Don’t worry, babe—” I began.
    “ No! Don’t even go there. I don’t want to hear any sweet-sounding talk about how everything’s going to be fine. Turov—I always knew she was cast-iron bitch and that she hated you. But something serious is up, and I’m worried.”
    “Yeah,” I said, making a forward spinning motion with one finger.
    She caught the meaning of my gesture and started the car. We lifted up and glided out onto the road.
    The conversation lagged as we both fell to brooding. I watched the streets whiz by out my passenger window. There were signs of Earth’s