America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 5: Insurgency Read Online Free Page A

slapping claws
with Wayne. “Welcome to G Company. Just so there is no
misunderstanding, I do not particularly like you spiders either. I
do not even like most humans. But the Legion is my life now. Follow
orders and do not mess with me, and you just might survive.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    A month later, I ordered Lieutenant Barker
and G Company to guard the grand opening of the new Window Rock
Post Office. I also sent a Legion band to assist with the
ceremony.
    The Mayor of Window Rock gave a speech on the
steps of the Post Office. “I hope we can build a foundation for
peace as solid as the bricks and mortar of which this fine new post
office is built,” bellowed the mayor to a small crowd gathered out
front on the street. “From the ashes of our downtown, a new Window
Rock is being built, bigger and more impressive than before.”
    “Politicians are nothing but old windbags, no
matter what species they are,” commented Lieutenant Barker to
Sergeant Toock. They sat comfortably down the street atop the
turret of an armored car, watching for trouble.
    “Encouraging democracy among spiders is a
waste of time and effort,” added Sergeant Toock. “Their low IQ
requires authoritarian leaders to guide them. That’s just common
knowledge.”
    “I agree,” said Lieutenant Barker. “That’s
exactly why they have an Emperor. How about I appoint you Mayor of
Window Rock?”
    “An ant mayor?” asked Sergeant Toock. “I
would be lynched, or they would send you a video of my slow and
painful death by beheading.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Phil Coen of Channel Five World News Tonight
provided commentary for the grand opening of the Post Office. As
Coen listened to the mayor’s speech, a spider rushed forward from
the crowd and pointed a pistol at Coen’s head. The gun jammed. The
spider fumbled with the pistol, trying to force the slide back to
clear the round. Its human design made the attempt awkward. Private
Valdez, standing next to Coen, working crowd control, shot the
spider several times. The crowd scattered as errant rounds went
past or hit dirt. The mayor stopped his speech and ran down the
street.
    Dynamite charges hidden under the Post Office
steps exploded, killing several city council members and most of
the Legion musicians. Insurgent snipers atop the new Window Rock
Hotel fired at legionnaires below.
    Sergeant Toock fired a 50 cal machine gun at
the hotel roof. Bullets pinged off his armored car. A blue Toyota
pickup truck sped around the corner on a direct course to ram
Toock’s armored car. Sergeant Toock swiveled the turret and fired
at the approaching truck, riddling the truck with bullets and
killing the driver. However, momentum carried the truck forward,
and it crashed into the armored car. Explosives in the truck
detonated, knocking the armored car on to its side. Fuel ignited.
Lieutenant Barker was knocked unconscious. Sergeant Toock lay
seriously injured.
    A Legion jet flew low overhead, dropping
five-hundred-pound bombs on top of the Window Rock Hotel. Other
buildings were rocketed by helicopter gunships. Corporal Wayne ran
through the smoke and debris to the burning armored car, pulling
both Lieutenant Barker and Sergeant Toock out by their shirt
collars.
    “I predicted you might see me die,” said
Sergeant Toock, looking up as Corporal Wayne dragged him away from
the fire. “But I did not think it would be so soon.”
    “Too bad, but I think you will live,”
commented Corporal Wayne, dropping Sergeant Toock on the sidewalk.
“We should have nuked Window Rock a month ago.”
    “My injuries are compartmentalized by my
exoskeleton,” advised Sergeant Toock, removing duct tape from his
first aid pouch. “Leave me. Get medical assistance for Lieutenant
Barker!”
    Air strikes continued. G Company withdrew to
the edge of town, where it directed artillery at suspected
insurgent positions. By the end of the day, most of Window Rock lay
in ruins or was burning. A long column of refugees could be