The Better Part of Valor Read Online Free PDF

while to shake three different species and twelve different personalities into a smoothly functioning unit.
    Although there’d be common ground the moment they knew who was commanding.
    Might as well get it over with.
    *   *   *
    “That was Staff Sergeant Kerr giving us a ten minute warning,” Corporal di’Marken Nivry announced, upper body leaning through the hatch. “She wants us all. You two better get some clothes on and get in here.”
    The two dripping Marines on the shower platform exchanged glances as identical as Human and Krai physiognomy allowed.
    “Briefing’s tomorrow morning,” Werst growled, turning the air jets on. “She can’t wait?”
    “She doesn’t have to,” Nivry reminded him and disappeared.
    Lifting both heavily muscled arms over his head, Werst turned and scowled at the man standing next to him. “What?”
    August Guimond scrubbed his fingers through the maximum amount of thick blond hair the Corps allowed, smiling broadly. “She was checking out my package.”
    “Dirsrick anbol sa serrik tanayn.”
    “That’s Krai, isn’t it?” Guimond turned off the air and stepped down. “What does it mean?”
    “Roughly: who the fuk cares.”
    *   *   *
    Torin glanced around the compartment. Five di’Taykan, five Humans, two Krai—pretty much the usual split for the Corps. The engineers, Lance Corporal Danny Johnston and Corporal Heer, were sitting together, slates out. The two highest caste of the five di’Taykan—Privates First Class di’Por Huilin and di’Wen Jynett—appeared to be playing “my family compound is bigger than yours,” and looked as though they’d been interrupted in the midst of getting to know each other better. Which was pretty much standard operating procedure for di’Taykans and a heartbeat after she left all five would be in the communal compartment. For a moment it looked as though Pfc di’Sarm Frii was having a small spasm and then she saw the earphones almost covered by swinging ocher hair—although his hair seemed to be keeping a different beat than either hands or feet.
    And Private First Class August Guimond, who was one of the biggest Humans Torin had ever seen, must have found something or somebody pretty funny given the size of his smile.
    The rest were waiting more or less attentively for her to speak. The other Krai, who therefore had to be Pfc Werst, cradled a mug of
sah
in both hands. It took a security scan to release the stimulant to the Krai and, given the effect on Humans, Torin was glad to see Werst also wore an expression that promised critical damage should anyone try to take it from him.
    She drew in a deep breath, noted that the silence becamemore attentive, waited for a blocky blonde—Lance Corporal Lesli Dursinski—to drive an annoyed elbow into Frii’s ribs, and began. “My name is Staff Sergeant Kerr and I am your Senior NCO for this mission. Like you, I got dragged away from my team and my friends and the job I was doing and, like you, I know that doesn’t matter one goddamned bit. The Corps calls—we answer. This is your new team…” A sweeping gesture with her right hand. “…these are your new friends…” Followed by a sweeping gesture with her left. “I don’t care if you like each other, but you will respect each other’s abilities and you will work together as Marines. Whenever that seems too difficult for you, remember there’s sixteen of us and over two thousand sailors out here.” Her left eyebrow lifted and her tone dried out. “I’m not saying that it’s us against them, I’m just saying that sixteen Marines, working together, should have no trouble with two thousand sailors.”
    “Bring ’em on, Staff!” Pfc di’Benti Orla was on her feet. “I could do two thousand sailors myself before breakfast!”
    One of the Humans, Corporal Harrop, snickered. “Yeah, I’ve heard that about you.”
    Orla flipped him the finger, a Human gesture the di’Taykan had adopted wholeheartedly.