The Black Guard Read online

  * * *

  The next day, I was told to wait in a small room, while Hada was led away. I tried to meditate in order to have a clear mind for whatever was to come but failed. The thought that Hada’s help had caused her to be punished had me pacing the room, my mind churning with ideas of how I might convince them she hadn’t cheated. I franticly searched for something I could do or say that would put the total blame on me. But I couldn’t think of anything that could change what was about to happen, and lying might make the situation worse. My clothes were damp from sweat when they finally came to get me. When I faced Tzadok and the captains, Tzadok shook his head.

  "You’re in no condition to fight. Freshen yourself, meditate, and return when you’re ready to fight me."

  I gave a small bow, went off to my favorite spot, and stayed until my mind had quieted and my tension faded. Then I went to the barrack, changed clothes, and returned to the area Tzadok had designated. He and the three captains returned shortly afterward. The fight with Tzadok was… interesting. He chose to spend a lot of time Pushing before he switched to a more conventional, separated fight. He scored several blows, but I managed to deflect them enough that they weren’t disabling. Then I misjudged an attack and woke up lying on the dirt, my head throbbing.

  "You are dismissed, Rivka. I’ll give you both my decision tomorrow," he said, and the four walked away, leaving me and my returning black mood. I still hadn’t moved when Hada flung herself to the ground besides me.

  "Tzadok was good. I think he held back, judging me as we fought, but I think I did well. I loved fighting him. My mind was clear and there was only him and me, dancing."

  "Aren’t you worried about what they are going to decide?"

  "No. Tzadok beat me, but I held my own against a Dragon. A dream come true."

  "You’re crazy."

  "How did you do?" she asked.

  "You see where I wound up."

  "Oh, he dumped me on my ass too. He’s better than us but not way better." She laughed and pulled me to my feet. "Let’s go eat. I’m starved."

  "And crazy."

  * * *

  "I haven’t told anyone my conclusion. I thought you had a right to hear my reasoning, not just the final decision," Tzadok said. The three captains stood behind him with Hada and me facing them. "I’ve reviewed your six years with us and the eight before that. I believe the reason neither of you could defeat the other was because you have trained together for so long you know what each other is going to do before they do. Yesterday was a test to determine which of you is the better and should advance. I found you both somewhat better than you should be for your stage of training. I attribute that to Hada’s father. I’m sure he trained her in the basics, since she was too young to do more. But he never received advance training and the two of you have developed your own unique techniques, which have been further modified by our training. I found them very effective. I overcame Rivka with a technique Hada countered effectively, and I overcame Hada with a technique Rivka countered. My conclusion is that neither of you cheated and that you are as close to equal as possible. Captain Kluger, I recommend both be allowed to continue."

  The three captains walked out of hearing and talked for what seemed like an eternity. When they returned, Kluger nodded to Hada and me.

  "Congratulations. You will both be allowed to continue. Of course, your promotion to Captain will depend upon your performance in this segment."

  I lay in bed that night unable to sleep. No matter what happened in the upcoming last segment, the little girl who no one wanted was an officer in the Black Guard. I had family—an adopted sister who I loved and who loved me—and we were together. Instead of destroying her dream, she had made me a part of it. Perhaps, her dream was becoming mine, too.

  * * *

  The next two years flew by in what seemed like months rather than years. Our fighting was confined to the captains and occasionally Dragon Tzadok when he stopped in. He became our mentor, showing us techniques he had developed over the years and critiquing our performance after each fight. We still practiced a lot on our own. By the end of the first year, we were much better than the three captains and our fighting was limited to Tzadok and another Dragon, Dorbin. We practiced weapons speed and accuracy daily, so I seldom missed what I aimed at even when both the target and I were moving. We continued to practice establishing security for a variety of situations with emphasis on command, and we had a lot of ’what if’ situations in the classroom and exercises where we were in command of a team. I loved those years.

  CHAPTER THREE

  First Assignment - Lanzhou

  Hada stood beside me waiting for my shuttle. We had said our goodbyes more times than I could count over the past week, but she had still come to see me off. I was being assigned to the planet Lanzhou to guard the governor of a state involved in a rebel uprising. Hada would leave tomorrow for her assignment on the planet Odesso to provide palace security for a prince who had several recent attempts on his life. I felt ten feet tall standing there in my new uniform: black pants tucked into black-leather boots, black shirt with a two red stars over a red dragon on the right sleeve. Guns strapped to both thighs: a Jax laser and multi-functional weapon, Mfw. The Guard’s standard multi-functional Interface, Mfi, strapped on my left arm, and a Dragon Whip around my waist like a belt.

  When the shuttle landed, Hada and I gave each other one last hug. "I’m going to miss you," I said, my voice gravelly with emotion.

  "I’m going to miss you, Rivka," she said, as I stepped back and bowed. I owed her my life. Then I turned and entered the shuttle. The navy petty officer saluted as I entered. There were several men and women already on board, all noncommissioned commandos. The first two rows were empty, so I took the first seat as was my right as the ranking member on board.

  The shuttle flight took several hours, during which time I used my Mfi to review the layout of the cruiser, the War Horse, that would transport me to Lanzhou, and the twenty-three person team I would command: a Lieutenant, my second in command; two senior sergeants, one for each ten person unit; and twenty privates and corporals—seven of which were women. I would command, I smiled. Hada had trapped me in her dream, and it was beautiful. It was time to quit feeling sorry for myself and enjoy life. I was no longer a victim subject to the whims of others. I was in command.

  The shuttle slowed, and when I looked up, we were approaching the Jax space station, Adamah. I had seen pictures of the structure but they couldn’t capture its magnificence or its size—six massive silver wheels glistening against the blackness of space. Even with forty or more cruisers and merchant ships attached, the station appeared empty.

  Under the station’s control, the shuttle slid into an open bay and settled gently. A few minutes later the green light came on. The petty officer opened the door, and I strode down the ramp. A commando corporal and lieutenant immediately came to attention and saluted. I nodded. The Guard did not salute, since that took the hand too far from their weapon, and never bowed lower than their ability to see the other person’s eyes, unless it was a superior in the Guard. The guard were taught to be paranoid, as they protected very important people and places and were always outsiders.

  The bay currently held four shuttles like the one I had arrived in, standard transportation to and from the ship. Only a few navy types were in the bay, clustered around one of the shuttles.

  "If you will follow me, Captain, I will take you to the commandos’ area where quarters have been prepared for you. Colonel Wolfson would also like to talk to you. I’ll stop there first if you don’t mind," the lieutenant said, waiting for my consent. The corporal was apparently waiting to escort the other passengers to their quarters. I nodded and the lieutenant began walking toward a door at the rear of the bay. I watched my Mfi as he negotiated his way to the commandos’ area. When we arrived, he stopped at a door with a commando guard, who knocked, stuck his head inside, nodded, and opened the door. "Colonel Wolfson will see you now, Capt
ain."

  The colonel stood, and I gave the lowest bow I could without my eyes leaving his. His square, bulldog face matched his broad shoulders and stocky, muscular physique. His eyes narrowed, evaluating me as the door closed, leaving us alone.

  "Welcome, Captain Sapir. There are drinks on the sideboard. Please help yourself." He already had a cup of something on his desk. I chose hot tea and sat in one of the two commando-blue padded armchairs facing him. "It appears we are going to the same troubled area, you to guard Governor Li Ho Lew while the army chases the rebels."

  "Do we have an estimate of their numbers and types of weapons?"

  "It depends on who you talk to. The rebels claim to number over two thousand. The Governor says it’s far less than a thousand. The weapons are purported to be standard military grade rifles. And except for a few air-scooters, they have no air capability."

  "What’s their objective?"

  "According to the rebels, it’s to replace the local government."

  "What about the ruling party on Lanzhou?"

  "They hired us. For their own reasons, they don’t want to send government troops. Probably want to be able to blame the Jax for any killings rather than the government. Since they hired you, I assume they don’t want the governor killed. It feels like political machinations."

  "What forces does the governor have?"

  "A police force of several hundred and an army of five hundred who are no better trained than the rebels."

  "That sounds like the rebels have support from outside the province. Do you think it’s more complicated than it appears and might have planetary ramifications?"

  "That’s my assessment. I know the Guard is already paranoid, but when rebels are involved, you never know who you can trust."

  The colonel was right. Since the Guard were always outsiders, they could not afford to trust anyone. Guard rules one through ten—trust no one. We coordinated our Interface devices, and I left to get settled. The same lieutenant waited and took me to the commandos’ training bay, pointing out exercise equipment in the gym, a shooting range, fighting mats, and mockups of cruiser compartments. As I stood surveying the area, a Guard corporal spotted me.

  "Guard, attention," he shouted and all the Guard in the area shot up and braced to attention. Everyone else in the room also stood, although not at attention.

  "At ease," I said. By the look at the number of army personnel in the bay, the cruiser had twice its normal one hundred. A Guard lieutenant marched up and bowed, his eyes lowered.

  "Captain Sapir, I’m Lieutenant Ceder, your second-in-command." He was several centimeters taller than me, sinewy, and lean. "It’s a good team, Captain. We were assembled for a contract on Jasper, but it was canceled at the last moment, so we were transferred to the War Horse and reassigned to you.

  "Lieutenant, I’d like to meet with the team after I’ve had a chance to settle in my quarters. Say in one hour. Send someone to get me, when you have everyone assembled, somewhere private."

  His eyebrows rose, but he gave me an amiable smile as he bowed. Normally, a captain would not concern herself with anyone below sergeant. That would be tradition. But this was my command, and I would make the rules.

  "Certainly, Captain. This way."

  My room was in close proximity to the bay. When I entered, he bowed and left. Space on cruisers was limited and with the extra army troops everyone probably had to double up. I was therefore surprised to find I had a room to myself which could easily accommodate two: a standard bunk, comfortable chair, small storage cabinet, and a separate toilet, which standard rooms didn’t have. I unpacked my luggage, washed, and changed into a fresh uniform. In fact, the Guard had only one uniform for work, guard duty, and special occasions. The only difference was on special occasions you were allowed to wear decorations and awards.

  I had just finished dressing when there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, an older, broad-shouldered sergeant bowed, his weathered face and eyes down cast.

  "Captain, Lieutenant Ceder sent me to show you to where the team is assembled when you are ready.

  "Name, sergeant?"

  "Rosin, sir," he said, and waited. The Guard did not distinguish men from women—your superiors were "sir" regardless of their gender.

  "Lead on, Sergeant Rosin." I followed him down several hallways to a large conference room.

  "Room, attention," he shouted as he opened the door, and the room went deathly silent.

  "At ease and sit." I looked around the room at each person before continuing—this was now my family. I chose to remain standing. "We are the Guard. The elite of the Jax military. We understand tradition and duty. Tradition is important. It helps to maintain discipline which is essential in the military, and it helps guide us in our day to day interactions. That makes it easy to believe tradition and duty are the same." Looking around the room, I had their attention but lots of questioning looks. "Let me give you a simple example. You and the person you’re guarding, say a governor, are in a room when four men burst in with guns. Jumping in front of the governor would be in the best tradition of the Guard, but you would be doing your duty?" Most looked like they would like to shout "yes" but understood that wasn’t the answer I was looking for. And I was sure that had some of them were concerned about their new captain.

  "You kill a couple of the attackers, maybe, and the attackers kill you… and afterward, the governor, since you’re dead and can’t protect him. The same governor it was your duty to protect. Of course, it depends upon the situation in the room, but better to push him to safety, giving you the freedom to move, making yourself harder to kill, drawing attention away from the governor, and positioning yourself to kill all four. Duty versus tradition." I took a drink of my water to give them a chance to think about what I had said.

  "Another example. Private—" I pointed to a tall, young female, who looked attentive and interested.

  "Nadel, sir."

  "Private Nadel sees a missile coming at the building we are guarding. Imagine it’s a slow missile, and she has sixty seconds before it hits and explodes. She contacts Corporal—" I looked at a thirty-something man in front of me.

  "Preis, Captain."

  "Corporal Preis immediately contacts Sergeant Rosin. Tradition. By now, the sixty seconds are up. Who benefits, Nadel?" For several seconds, she stared at the table worrying her lip with her teeth, then jerked her head up with a slight smile on her lips.

  "Me, Captain." Most of the people around the table stared at her in disbelief.

  "Correct. Private Nadel will have a few seconds to find shelter, while Corporal Preis and Sergeant Rosin can’t because they are trying to contact Lieutenant Ceder, who will die never knowing a missile is coming. Following the chain of command—tradition. Running screaming that a missile is coming would be duty—trying to save as many of her team’s lives as possible." I took another drink of water while they wrestled with their new commander’s idiosyncrasies. "Of course, those are simple examples and circumstances would dictate the correct response, but my point is that tradition and duty are not necessarily the same. And under my command, duty has the highest priority." Along with ensuring we don’t waste lives for tradition. These are my family and there are no least favorites or throw-aways.

  * * *

  Over the next five days, I talked to each member of my team. Lieutenant Ceder had been on two assignments, one where his team had foiled an assassination attempt. The senior sergeants, Rosin and Solow, had both been on multiple assignments, a couple where one or more Guards had been killed. All but five had been on at least one previous assignment. The sergeants conducted training exercises every day, which Ceder monitored. I merely watched, wanting to see them in action.

  Captain Drezner, commander of the army contingent going to Lanzhou, and I dined together twice to get to know each other. He was an experienced leader, having been a captain for over ten years and involved in multiple contracts. I found his stories about some of those encounters interest
ing and enlightening. Reading about battles isn’t the same as talking with someone who was there when friends and comrades were dying around him.

  * * *

  Colonel Wolfson and Captain Drezner were looking at a map as I walked into the shuttle bay. On the other side of the bay, my team was assembling to leave the War Horse.

  "Any news, Colonel Wolfson?" I asked.

  "Nothing good. The Captain of the War Horse has agreed to stay in orbit for five days while Drezner assesses the situation on the ground. I’m not sure if the one hundred contracted to Lanzhou will be sufficient. If necessary, I can deploy commandos for additional support. From the reports I’m getting, the rebels have captured the towns of Baotou and Hefei and appear to be massing for an assault on the capital, Ebao. The current estimate of the rebel force is at one thousand, which makes it unlikely the governor’s forces can stop them without our help."

  "To make matters worse, the governor has pulled back most of his five hundred military and split them to protect his estate and the administrative complex in Ebao, which means they aren’t going to be much help to Captain Drezner when his troops drop in behind the rebels," Wolfson said in disgust.

  "I’d prefer not to have to engage the rebels in street-to-street fighting in the city." Drezner said. "And you could have problems depending upon the effectiveness of our initial attack, and how the rebels choose to split their remaining forces. With half their present force, they could easily overrun the couple of hundred guarding the estate."

  "We will drop you and your team at the governor’s estate, but I can’t afford to assign any commandos to you based on the rebel force Captain Drezner appears to be facing," Wolfson added with a shrug. "Sorry, Captain Sapir."

  "I understand. I think that’s a wise decision. Captain Drezner, in which shuttle would you like the Guard?"

  "CS6, over to your left. I’ll keep you posted on our status, and I’d like you to do the same. If it looks like you’ll be overrun, I’ll try to send you support."