TW06 The Khyber Connection NEW Read Free

commando, I'd have had his ass a long time ago—begging your pardon, sir. The fact that he coldcocks an occasional first lieutenant fresh out of OCS, or gets into a drunken barroom brawl, is of less interest to me than the fact that he's a first-rate soldier when the chips are down. You can't take a fighting cock and put him in a henhouse and expect him to lay eggs. If! want a man in the field calling the shots. I'll pick Priest. If I want someone at my back, I'll take Delaney. If I can have them both, I'll bring you results, as their record shows."
    Vargas smiled. "A most impressive argument, Colonel.
    According to the records, you have interceded for Lieutenant Delaney in almost every case. I was curious to hear your reasons."
    "And having heard them?" said Forrester.
    "Having heard them, I am satisfied," said Vargas.
    "Which brings us to the third member of this team, Sergeant Cross. Her dossier makes for truly remarkable reading. A 12th century woman relocated to the present and programmed with a modern education. Fascinating.
    Official records aside, however, what is your personal opinion of her?"
    Forrester smiled. "Frankly, sir, if I were seventy years younger, I'd be tempted to take a highly personal interest in Sergeant Cross. She's sharp, quick thinking, possesses a high degree of initiative, and is utterly fear-less. She grew up an orphan in the 12th century, totally disadvantaged, yet she managed to become literate, at least by the standards of her time, and to survive in a hostile society. She fights as well as any man and better than most. She's highly adaptable, so much so that she can, and has, easily passed as a man in male-dominated societies. She is the only case of Plus Time temporal relocation on record, and the fact that she is where she is speaks for itself in regard to her abilities. The three of them together function as a well-integrated whole.
    Whatever it is they are being considered for, sir, I can give them my unqualified endorsement, but I can tell you right now that I'd fight like hell against having them removed from under my command. I'd stake my life on those three. In fact, I have."
    "Excellent," said Vargas. "I am satisfied that we have selected the right people for the job. I merely wanted to reassure myself by speaking with you, because this time a great deal more than just your life may depend on their performance, Colonel. If they fail, we may all die."
    The mission briefing was held in Forrester's quarters, not in one of the briefing rooms, as was usually the case.
    Forrester's orderly was not present. There were only the four of them. The three commandos were dressed in black Temporal Army base fatigues, bare except for their insignia of rank on narrow black armbands and their division insignia, a stylized number 1 bisected by the symbol of infinity, pinned to their collars. Forrester was still wearing his full dress uniform, having sent for them immediately following the director general's departure.
    Since their commander always dressed in black base fatigues and never wore his many decorations, the sight of him in what Delaney referred to as "full goose turnout" had their curiosity aroused.
    They sat around the table, drinking coffee, while Forrester stood. It was not unusual for them to sit in the presence of their commanding officer. Forrester preferred to stand while conducting briefings, so that he could pace back and forth, a practice he claimed helped him think more clearly.
    Lucas Priest somehow managed to look as if he were sitting erect, even while he leaned back against the sofa cushions. His fatigues were crisply pressed and his dark brown hair neatly combed. He was slender and fit, the perfect incarnation of an officer and a gentleman. His left eye was natural, his right bionic, though not even the closest physical inspection would have revealed the difference.
    Andre Cross was a tall young woman with straw-blonde hair. Her outward symmetry belied the fact that she