Osdal (Harmony War Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

Osdal. The cryo facilities were the first things to be destroyed. We are getting some information, but it’s slim; they control all of the information here. We know that they have powered armor and they can use it to bully people, but I don’t know if they’re any good with it in a fight.”
    Mark pulled an empty water pouch from his leg and spat into it.
    Here’s why he called us up here. Mark thought,
    The whole room was focused on Ortiz. “Your platoon is the only group of Troopers that have used powered armor, ever. We will be linking up with five other carriers, not including Fearless and Reclaimer. Higher wants people to be trained to take down powered armor. We’re supposed to get more in a few years, but it will probably be too late.”
    “So you want us to train people to take down powered armor?” Haas confirmed.
    “Yes. Be prepared to be used for clandestine operations, and bring your platoon up to strength. Nerva’s cooking up something,” Ortiz said, pausing, looking conflicted by what else he had to say. He looked up at the men and women in the room.
    “You need to understand that these are five different carriers, that’s five new generals and sets of people we need to deal with. Nerva is going to be doing his best to get us the best Troopers. Reclaimer and our people have shown that we’re good, time and time again. We look good. That makes other generals and Troopers look bad, so be ready for hostilities,” Ortiz’s voice was light, but all of them saw the warning in his eyes.
     
    ***
    Tyler ran his finger over Alexis’ new stripes on her smart clothes, two bronze lines over a bronze dot, identical to the insignia on his own arm.
    She wandered out of the shower drying her hair, naked as the day she was born.
    She was the most beautiful woman Tyler had ever met, and not just for her body, but for her mind and smile too.
    “Husband, clothes,” she said, towelling herself and holding her hand open.
    He grabbed her hand and pulled her down.
    “Will you two please get a room!” Waz, her second in command called; the rest of her section were out and taking in the last of their leave, sleeping, reading or playing a card game.
    Alexis hit Tyler’s arm.
    “Way to make me look like a sergeant,” she said. She got off of him, putting on the shirt and pulling her pants out from under him.
    The section didn’t even bat an eye lid; they’d fought across Masoul, they’d bled together and seen their friends die, so a bit of nudity might get a few interested looks, but communal showers were nothing to get excited about. It was just a shower. There were handsome guys and beautiful women and the showers had been used for more than just casual looking.
    Troopers respected one another like brothers and sisters. They usually saw people outside of their platoons as possible one night stands and a bit of fun, but few committed to anything serious, and sexual misconduct got you shot. No one wanted to have a would-be rapist on board.
    Tyler and Alexis had gone down the commitment route, as shown by the tattoos they’d got on their ring fingers. Rings got in the way of their armored gloves, but tats were fine.
    She sat on the bed and pulled her boots on her smart clothes, which clung tight to her form. Tyler sat there with his hands behind his head, smiling the entire time.
    She crawled on top of him and kissed him, and Tyler felt his arms wrapping around her, pulling her body to his own.
    “Maybe we should go to the library tonight?” he asked, biting her ear.
    He felt her body tense in pleasure, but she pulled away.
    “You know we have to do all of the paperwork for the transfers,” she said, and her eyes went distant for a moment. “Two hours till they arrive,” she said apologetically.
    “Plenty of time to go right now,” Tyler grinned.
    She tried not to smile, her face betraying her as she bit her lower lip and moved against him.
    “What do you say Mrs. Victor?” he asked, his large hands