Backlit by the morning light, the figure was little more than a silhouette.
'Soldier,' the voice was a woman's, the accent Korelri, 'which squad is this?'
Bottle's mouth opened and closed a few times, then he said in a low tone, 'This is the squad that will start making plans to kill you, once they find out what you've just done.'
'Allow me,' she said, 'to clarify matters for you, soldier. I am Captain Faradan Sort, and I cannot abide scorpions. Now, I want to see how well you manage a salute while lying down.'
'You want a salute, Captain? Which one? I have plenty of salutes to choose from. Any preference?'
'The salute that tells me you have just become aware of the precipice I am about to kick your ass over. After I shove the sack of bricks up it, of course.'
Oh. 'Standard salute, then. Of course, Captain.' He arched his back and managed to hold the salute for a few heartbeats… waiting for her to respond, which she did not. Gasping, he collapsed back down, inhaling a mouthful of dust.
'We will try that again later, soldier. Your name?'
'Uh, Smiles, sir.'
'Well, I doubt I will see many of those on your ugly face, will I?'
'No, sir.'
She then walked on.
Bottle stared down at the mashed, glittering pulp that had been Joyful Union and half a capemoth. He wanted to cry.
****
'Sergeant.'
Strings glanced up, noted the torc on the arm, and slowly climbed to his feet. He saluted, studying the tall, straight-backed woman standing before him. 'Sergeant Strings, Captain. Fourth Squad.'
'Good. You are mine, now. My name is Faradan Sort.'
'I was wondering when you'd show up, sir. The replacements have been here for days, after all.'
'I was busy. Do you have a problem with that, Sergeant?'
'No, sir, not one.'
'You are a veteran, I see. You might think that fact yields some relief on my part. It does not. I do not care where you have been, who you served under, or how many officers you knifed in the back. All I care about is how much you know about fighting.'
'Never knifed a single officer, sir… in the back. And I don't know a damned thing about fighting, except surviving it.'
'That will do. Where are the rest of my squads?'
'Well, you're missing one. Gesler's. They're on a reconnaissance mission, no idea when they'll be back. Borduke's squad is over there.'
He pointed. 'With Cord's just beyond. The rest you'll find here and there.'
'You do not bivouac together?'