“I will only agree to this if you volunteer, Jake,” the colonel
stated as he called Jake by his first name, bringing his attention
back from the strange men in the other room.
Jake looked at the colonel. “The service has been my family for
nearly fifteen years, sir. It has given me a home, training, even
companionship with my fellow soldiers. It has given me purpose when
I really didn’t have one. If the army needs me to volunteer for a
project that could potentially save our world, consider me a
volunteer, sir.”
Col. Brighten chuckled. “Somehow, I knew you’d say that Jake. Are
you sure?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very good. I’ll have someone go to your quarters and pack your
belongings. In the meantime, come out and meet your new commanding
officers.”
Jake followed Col. Brighten out into the other room and across to
the small group of people standing together in front of the wormhole
entrance. It was only as he got closer to the three tall tawny
haired warriors that he realized that what he thought was dark
golden tanned skin was actually a light covering of tawny colored
fur.
Jake curled his hands in to quell the urge to stroke his fingers
through it.
“General Marten, I have spoken with Maj. O’Connell and he has
volunteered for the project.”
General Marten nodded. “Very good, Colonel,” he said with obvious
relief. “Maj. O’Connell, these are your new commanding officers,
Commander Rhada, Commander Ruvia, and Commander Rayed. You will be
answering to them from now on.”
“Yes, sir, General, sir,” Jake replied, standing at attention. He
turned towards the three warriors and saluted. “Major Jacob
O’Connell, at your service, sirs.”
The tallest and biggest of the three warriors stepped forward. His
voice was low and deep with a raspy gravelly sound to it when he
spoke. “Me, Commander Rhada. You, me, Ruvia, Rayed, matelotage…
yes? You understand, yes?”
“I believe so, sir. Col. Brighten explained matelotage to me
and I have agreed to it, sir.”
The large warrior stared down at Jake for several more moments
before nodding his head. “Good. We continue now, general.”
The general gave a relieved sigh before turning to the men beside
him. “Open the wormhole.”
Commander Rhada and the other warriors took several steps to the
left, Jake joining them and standing behind his new commanders at
attention as the wormhole began to swirl again. Several moments
later a number of large warriors stepped through.
They walked to stand in formation in front of the three Commanders
until all of them had come through the wormhole. Commander Rhada
began talking to them in a language that Jake had never heard—it
sounded much like Old Russian—before nodding and stepping back to
stand beside Jake.
Jake watched as the warriors walked up to the line of volunteers in
sets of three and picked one soldier until nearly all had been
chosen. There were only three volunteers left unpicked by the
warriors.
Commander Rhada turned to the general. “General, these no good. More
please.”
The general looked startled for a moment. “There are no more.”
“Commander, sir, if I may?”
Commander Rhada turned to look at Jake, making him feel slightly
nervous for having interrupting. He nodded for Jake to continue.
“I believe I know of several well trained soldiers that might be
willing to volunteer.” Jake knew of several fellow soldiers that he
had worked with in the past that he believed would be willing to
volunteer for this mission. They were good, honest men that he
trusted with his very life.
Jake looked to the general for permission to continue. Upon
receiving a reluctant nod from the general he went to a nearby phone
and dialed his barracks. Several moments later he hung up and
returned to stand next to the commanders.
“They will be here momentarily, sir.”
Jake felt really uncomfortable as the three warrior Commanders
stared down at him for the next fifteen minutes while they waited
for the other soldiers to arrive. He could read nothing in their
facial expression or body language. Being able to hide their
reactions to things, either mental or emotional, was a good trait in
a soldier. Every soldier desired being able to mask his emotions
during battle. But, in this situation, it was kind of spooky.
At six foot three, Jake stood at over a foot shorter than the three
warriors and had to crane his neck to look up at them. For one as
tall as Jake, that was unusual for him. He also had no doubt that he
was at least a hundred pounds lighter than the massively built
commanders.
Finally, the guarded doors opened to admit five soldiers who quickly
marched forward to stand at attention in front of everyone. They
snapped their legs together and saluted their superior officers.
Before anyone could say anything, nine of the Talamachait
warriors stepped forward and appraised the new human soldiers for
several moments before turning back to nod at their commander. In
sets of three, they went to stand behind one of the soldiers until
only two were left standing alone.
Jake, understanding that these three had been chosen, directed that
the other two could leave. He looked briefly at the general then
Commander Rhada. “Commander, if I may?” Once he received permission,
Jake turned back to the three remaining, and slightly confused
soldiers.
“Gentlemen, you have been asked here to volunteer for a particularly
interesting mission, one of which, I have already volunteered for.”
Jake went on to explain the situation, as told to him by Col.
Brighten, to the three soldiers before asking them to volunteer. It
was no surprise to him when all three agreed. They were all good
soldiers.
When all was done, Jake stood back in line next to his new
commanders, the three other warriors standing behind him as they
waited. There was a lot more discussion between the Talamachait
warriors and the men in suits. During that time, duffel bags with
their personal belongings were delivered to Jake and his fellow
soldiers.
Finally, the general reached over and shook Commander Rhada’s hand,
then Commander Ruvia’s, and finally Commander Rayed’s. Well, seemed
things had been settled between them to everyone’s satisfaction.
Jake nodded to Col. Brighten, a man he respected, before turning
towards the alien commanders.
“Come,” was all that Rhada said as he started towards the wormhole.
Jake took a deep breath and followed him through the swirling gray
mist, Commanders Ruvia and Rayed following him in. It certainly
wasn’t what he expected. Not that he knew what to expect.
He was heading to an alien world.
|