Hard Drop Read Free Page B

planet came into view through the observation deck windows: the hope that, this time, the dream of a brighter future could come true. Even this time, as the shimmering green pearl lay below, even with the derision in the eyes of the Lieutenant before him, Tyco Hale felt that hope.  
    The Lieutenant was only the most recent in the progression of overpromoted academy kids who preferred the way they looked in dress whites to getting their hands dirty. The name on the uniform changed from op to op, but never the starched white uniform itself, or the matching, smug, brilliant white smile that completed it. Tyco, in his standard-issue camouflage, imagined shooting the boy now. Not to kill him, mind you, but just to see his horrified reaction as the deep red blood soaked into the snow-white fabric, never to come out again. Tyco set his teeth to keep from smiling, trying to banish the image from his head.  

    The planet below was like so many others he’d seen, a graceful curve, its mountains and deserts brown and desolate, its plains marked by large, geometric fields of green vegetation. It was a planet made beautiful by design, from horizon to horizon – and marred, now, by billowing clouds of smoke that rose through the sky and into the upper atmosphere. Even from space, the fingerprint of destruction was evident: a wide, high smoke cloud streamed in long, grey trails across the sun-side of the planet. Tyco had barely had to look at the thin intelligence packet in his hand to know they were being sent into a full-scale war. He’d known that since they’d entered orbit. But that didn’t change the fundamental insanity of the orders.
    “And if the Admiralty ordered you to take this jump?” He asked now, his voice hollow and angry.
    The Lieutenant turned to face Tyco head-on, squaring his shoulders so his nametag was clearly visible: Sorenson . Tyco would remember that. Just like the shit-eating grin on the boy’s face and the condescension in his eyes.  
    “With all due respect, Commander, jumping’s your job, not mine.”  
    Tyco shook his head, disbelieving. “It’s a bloodbath down there.”
    Lieutenant Sorenson raised his voice purposefully so the aides around could hear. He had been amused, but now he was tired of entertaining Tyco’s frustration. “Oh, I’m sorry, are you scared?”
    “It’s a question of firepower.” Tyco growled back, matching his volume. “My forty against four thousand, minimum, with no armor or artillery. Seem like a good idea to you?”
    “You’re questioning me - ?” Sorenson snapped, rising to the bait.  
    “I’m questioning the orders.” Tyco answered, sidestepping the issue while pressing his point home. “I’m asking for a minor tactical change, not to abort the mission.”  
    “I know they don’t teach this in the lunar colonies – ” Sorenson answered, accenting lunar as if it were some kind of disease. Tyco gripped the amulet around his wrist more tightly, feeling his knuckles go white. “But let me explain the chain of command.” He paused for emphasis, making sure he had the room's full attention before continuing. “I command, you obey. Understood?”
    “I am responsible for the lives of my troopers.” Tyco responded, and then added, as a resentful afterthought, “Sir.”
    “And you can make this drop with or without your heat shields. Your choice, soldier, but I suggest you make it quickly.”  
    Sorenson was smarter than the others, Tyco had to give him that, and he stood, hands balled in fury, staring down at the younger man.  
    “I’m really damn tired of seeing my men die for your mistakes.” He said, with sudden, unexpected bitterness. One of the aides gasped at that, shocked either by the vehemence of the words or the sentiment they expressed, or both. Probably someone fresh off the central planets, Tyco thought instinctively. A little insubordination always got them hot under the collar.
    “My mistakes?” Sorenson answered, momentarily