|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 6, 2005 6:27:40 GMT -5
"Is this 'Legate' military or civilian?"
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 6, 2005 11:56:20 GMT -5
"Mili'ary," Milo answered. "He's the 'ead man, is the Legate. He told me a bit about the forces when I joined up,"
He paused for breath. "Th' Legate controls the 100-somethin' men, who are split int' two groups o' 50, called Cohorts. A co'ort is led by one Colonel, an' th' co'ort is split int' five groups of ten called sections, led by an Overseer."
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 7, 2005 3:06:38 GMT -5
"For a guy who doesn't know anything, you sure know a lot."
But he had got Cane interested. Only 100 soldiers? Without masers? It was looking more likely that an attack could be mounted successfully, even with a garrison as weak as Penkoons.
"How many other hermits live in the mountains foothills?"
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 7, 2005 8:47:06 GMT -5
"Don't know fer sure," Milo answered, now feeling more like an informant than a prisoner.
"All I know is that there ain't not many mines in the mountain 'xcept mine, an' there be a river where the fishermen catch our food; wouldn't surprise me if th' Legate had an agen' there too,"
"Bu' I've 'eard tell of a new invention they're trying out; quite new to th' colony, I must say. Somethin' called a cannon, I think."
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 8, 2005 15:29:06 GMT -5
Blackpower weapons? An unwelcome development, certainly.
"What colony is this?"
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 9, 2005 1:09:32 GMT -5
"Well, when I say 'colony', I mean't the mountain," Milo corrected himself. "But that's all I know, an' don't ask me where they be keepin' it, cos I don't know."
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 9, 2005 3:08:15 GMT -5
Cane thought for a moment. Usually he'd send another group of soldiers out to try to find other penguins who had wondered away from the fortress. Unfortunately the conscripts he had to hand would be likely to make a mess of it, and either get themselves killed or at least give away their position. Neither did he want to leave them with a prisoner while he investigated himself. He really needed Kvetch for this sort of thing.
Cane stepped away from Milo and activated a force bubble. A dim blue wall of light surrounded the penguin.
"Pilot! Take this runt back to Penkoon base, and find out if Kvetch is back yet. If he is, tell him to come here. If not, stay put until he come back."
Cane turns and walks out of the ship.
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 10, 2005 8:54:00 GMT -5
"Ere now!" bellowed Milo, shocked at the imprisonment. "What th' bloody 'ell are ya doin'?"
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 10, 2005 16:39:40 GMT -5
Cane turns around, ignoring the swirling snow as the transport uses its repulsors to get airborne. He raises his hands to his mouth to shout over the noise.
"Sending you for processing! If you're lucky, they'll put you to work mining! You'll hardly notice the difference!"
The rear door to the ship closed, and it headed back towards Penkoon base.
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 11, 2005 11:55:50 GMT -5
"Oh, no I'm not!" Milo snapped, and tried to fight his way through the barrier, but just ended up with a sharp electric shock running through his flippers.
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 11, 2005 17:15:49 GMT -5
Cane turned to look at his conscripts, who were looking decidedly less happy now that it seemed they were not going home any time soon.
"Break out the shovels and start digging! Trenches are the most basic form of defensive structure and today you will learn how to build them!"
Cane picked up a spade himself. You can't order people to do what you aren't prepared to do yourself. And maybe prolonged physical exercise will turn these wimps into real soldiers.
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Oct 12, 2005 1:32:04 GMT -5
Milo slouched back inside his bubble and sulked.
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Oct 16, 2005 9:39:47 GMT -5
"Put your back into it!"
Cane was enjoying the work, and if the conscripts didn't they were doing their best not to show it. The pit was almost dug, and in acceptable time as well. After it was finished they'd put a grate along the bottom, and sandbags for sides. Then it would be time to go out and try to find more lonely penguins to interrogate.
|
|
|
Post by Norris on Jan 2, 2006 2:21:15 GMT -5
Ximenexs' Double Bubble hovered over Major Canes' camp and soon came to settle on what appeared to be a launch-pad that was partially covered in ice.
Landing was no trouble, but finding Major Cane was another.
|
|
|
Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jan 2, 2006 5:07:33 GMT -5
Cane pulled himself out of the now complete trench, waiving at a group of conscripts.
"Get some camo netting over that ship!"
He drew level with the wing as the Admiral opened the canopy.
|
|