(These legionnaires are insane…)

---

Exactly five minutes later Tavi was out in the common area of the pod. Gathered around Sergeant Ord were four other legionnaires, all in the standard black day uniforms, which were simply jumpsuits with a bronze “XIII” on their collar lapels, and name tags above their left breast pocket. It was a complete contrast to his Class “A” he’d been told to wear when reporting. Tavi was uncomfortably aware that he was in the wrong uniform, though none of the others seemed to care. Sergeant Ord waited until Tavi was situated before he began.

“We’ll be doing a squad briefing tonight at 1900 hours once we jump. I want Private Tavi here squared away before then. Jabber? He’s your battle buddy, and assigned to Fire Team Two.”

“Aye, bossjna, can do,” a tall, muscular man with a wicked scar running down his left arm said, nodding. “The tasawa from poison world, ke?”

“Yeah, Private Tavi is from Myrkyma.”

“Oh, damn. That’s where everyone lives underground and shits poison water, right?” a smaller man asked, his dark face creasing into a grin. “Navy’s always pissed about our water usage, Ordo. They’re really going to start complaining now.”

“Stow it, Krawdaddy,” Ord growled. “They don’t shit poison, only drink it.”

“Fuckin’ hardcore, man.”

“Introductions,” Ord said as he rubbed his temples, a pained expression on his face. Tavi wondered why. “Left to right. The big man with the funny accent is the aforementioned Jabber. Next to him is Corporal Ray Krawczyk. Call him Krawdaddy. Specialist Alan Voecks, goes by Vixen.”

“I still say Violence is a better drop name for me,” the tanned legionnaire standing next to Jabber complained, running his hand across his smooth scalp. “I bring violence with me.”

“You named your rifle Violence, tollejo. That don’t count,” Jabber snorted.

“If drop names were supposed to be cool, we still wouldn’t call you Violence, you idiot.” Krawdaddy laughed. “Veedee is more apt.”

“Shut the hell up, man.”

“Yellowstain, Jockpox, Clappy . . . those are good, too. Hey, is there one you haven’t gotten yet?” Krawdaddy continued, still laughing. “You’re like the testbed for antibiotics.”

“You know, balara, Jockpox make a decent drop name,” Jabber added helpfully. “But Veedee is good. Real good. Knew a pojata when I was little young thing with name like that. Poor girl.”

“No. No, Vixen’s fine. Really . . .” the specialist muttered.

“And Specialist Ryan Pridgeon, AKA Pigeon, is your fire team leader,” Sergeant Ord said, nodding to the older man as tall as Jabber but skinnier, sporting a rather impressive mustache. It was the first time Tavi had seen any legionnaire with facial hair. While he remembered someone saying it was allowed, the tight confines of the legionnaire combat helmet would make one that bushy uncomfortable on the best of days. “If you have any problems Jabber can’t fix, Pigeon’ll help you. Anything he can’t handle, he’ll come to me and we’ll get this shit squared away. You understand?”

“Yes, Sergeant!”

“Excellent.” He gave the rest of the fire team a look which Tavi could only describe as dangerous. “Go easy on him.”

“Sergeant! I am appalled you think that we would abuse the innocent young private,” Vixen said, clutching his chest in an exaggerated manner. “My poor old heart can’t take such heinous insinuations!”

“We hurt, bossjna. Truly,” Jabber added.

“You little shits drove Morty over to 1st Squad,” Ord reminded them. “You in particular, Vixen, are the reason we had a spot on this fire team in the first place.”

“Morty was balara, Sergeant. Keiche? Not a team guy. All about him. He had it coming,” Jabber countered, though he said it with a grin. The sergeant sighed.

“We’re doing a squad briefing in ten, but scuttlebutt travels fast, so I’ll tell you what’s what now so you will keep your trap shut later, Jabber. Direct order from the Old Man. Work-ups in the Anat system, simulated combat drop, then sunrise liberty call—unless someone fucks it up.” He pointedly glared at Vixen, who looked away. “Then the Perseverance is moving onwards to more interesting points of space. Bravo Company only. Alpha, Charlie, and Delta will be doing work-ups elsewhere. No, I don’t know where, or what their destination will be. I know it won’t be with us, though, so don’t ask, Krawdaddy. Jabber! After the briefing, take Tavi to the Armory and get him suited up. Claw is expecting him. Once that’s done, give him the five denarii tour of Legion country. Show him the mess deck and everything.”

“Is he authorized to have a well deck key, Sergeant?” Vixen asked, an innocent smile on his face. Ord considered for a moment before he shrugged.

“Up to your fire team leader.”

“We’ll see,” Pigeon said as he stroked his magnificent mustache thoughtfully. He eyed Tavi up and down for a moment before grunting. “Seems like the type who doesn’t need to carry one around, but I’ve been fooled before. Let’s hold off.”

“You’re no fun, Pigeon.”

Meanwhile, Jabber was grinning and poking Tavi with an elbow in the ribs. “Hell yeah, bossjna! We going to Sagetnam!”

“Is that . . . good?” Tavi asked quietly, cocking his head. Jabber nodded eagerly. The rest of the fire team was smiling as well, even Vixen.

“Oh yeah, tasawa. You gonna love it there!”

Tavi had a sneaking suspicion this, was in fact, a bald-faced lie.

#

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Missed the previous snippets? No worries, I got you covered.

• Snippet 15
• Snippet 14
• Snippet 13
• Snippet 12
• Snippet 11
• Snippet 10
• Snippet 9
• Snippet 8
• Snippet 7
• Snippet 6
• Snippet 5
• Snippet 4
• Snippet 3
• Snippet 2
• Snippet 1