America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 3: Silent Invasion Read Online Free Page A

been growling across the fence all night. Private John
Iwo Jima Wayne, an ex-Arthropodan Special Forces team leader and
now a legionnaire, did not trust other spiders. “Be ready for
anything.”
    As they approached the spider guard shack, a
large monitor dragon challenged them. It was restrained by a spider
marine pulling on its chain.
    “Sorry if Satan scared you,” said the spider
marine, patting his dragon on the snout. “He does not like human
pestilence or traitors.”
    “It will take more than a fat lizard to scare
legionnaires,” said Private Wayne.
    “Pull your dragon back,” said Guido, as he
tried to control Spot. “I don’t want them to fight.”
    “Of course you don’t,” said the spider
marine. “You would not want your pup to be eaten.”
    Guido sized up the other dragon. Its head was
huge. Old scars covered its face. Satan was larger and more
muscular than Spot. “My dragon has many combat kills,” bragged
Guido. “Spot would tear your dragon’s throat out. That would be bad
for the ongoing peace negotiations.”
    “Care to put money on your brag?” asked the
spider marine.
    “How much can you afford to lose?” asked
Private Wayne. “We won’t risk a combat dragon for chump
change.”
    “It could be millions,” said the spider
marine. “I have many friends who would want to take your money,
too.”
    “No,” said Guido. “Captain Czerinski would
not allow it.”
    “No stomach for a fight?” taunted the spider
marine. “I heard you human pestilence are squeamish. I will give
you two-to-one odds, being that your dragon is only a pup.”
    “Do it,” whispered Private Wayne. “Your
dragon has seen combat. I know this marine’s dragon. He is
pampered, overfed, and fights only at sporting events.”
    “I will give you three-to-one odds,”
challenged the spider marine. “That is the best offer you will
get.”
    “Deal,” said Guido. “How much can you afford
to bet?”
    “As much as you can afford to lose,” said the
spider marine. “My commanding officer will hold the bets.”
    “All bets will be made through Bonanno
Bookies of New Memphis,” said Guido.
    “What?” asked the spider Marine. “I am not
letting human pestilence in New Memphis hold my money.”
    “Then the fight is off,” said Guido. “It’s
the law. We have no choice on the matter.”
    “Then it is not happening,” said the spider
marine. “I knew you would find a way to worm out of the fight.”
    “Ask around,” said Guido. “This much action
has to go through Bonanno.”
    The spider marine conferred with his partner.
Then he made some phone calls. “I have decided to allow all bets to
go through Bonanno Bookies,” said the spider marine, glumly. “You
will lose your money, anyway.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    “The destruction of our shuttles needs to be
avenged,” insisted the Special Forces Commander. “There was crew
aboard those shuttles. This is like a claw slap in the face.”
    “No,” said the Fleet Commander. “At least not
yet. Look at the big picture. When our mission started, we were
arguing with the human pestilence about whether our fleet should
stay in orbit. Now we are negotiating borders on the planet’s
surface. Our marines have occupied half of Camp Alaska, and we have
freed all prisoners. All this happened without a fight.”
    “We cannot let them bomb us without
retaliation,” said the Special Forces Commander. “To allow their
treachery would invite more.”
    “All in good time,” said the Fleet Commander.
“Camp Alaska is just a crossroads. The prize is the oil and uranium
fields. We will extend our zones of influence out from Camp Alaska
until the prize is ours. That is the mission the Emperor gave us.
We will not deviate from the Emperor’s plan. We will follow
orders.”
    “Of course you are right, as usual,” said the
Special Forces Commander. “That General Kalipetsis is a fool. He
will give us what we want. It’s Captain Czerinski I worry about.