Oshbob BK2-Partition 5 (Patreon)

It was a long flight to the true wilderness barracks. Much of the flight I sat and silently seethed. I hadn’t gotten to see my unit before leaving, and I desperately wanted to know why I’d be yanked away like this. Something was amiss, and Elves were at the heart of it.

I came out of my overthinking loop, built on blood and revenge when the pilot spoke over the speaker. It was a small aircraft, with only me, a co-pilot, otherwise known as a body guard, and the pilot. The body guard wasn’t to protect me.

“We’re coming into Base 317. Get ready to disembark, Corporal. We’re touching down and taking off. That’s all.”

I continued to sit in silence, I had all my gear with me, and nothing else to do, until I landed. This ship didn’t even have a viewing screen, which again, I suspected was intentional. At that thought I moved over to the door separating me from the pilot’s cabin, and peered through the narrow visor to see if I could get an idea where I was headed.

My new home slowly came into focus. A disk at least a kilometer wide, suspended on six giant legs of steel. Those legs were in turn surrounded by a hefty reinforced concrete wall, covered in electrified mesh.

I scanned the layout as we made the final descent and committed what I could to memory.

At the very centre of the disk stood a huge central command building with multiple smaller buildings tightly clustered all around it. After that were long wide hangers that stored the assortment of ships and Aerial Vehicles the soldiers here would use.

Next came a ring of clear space, wide enough for those ships to take off from and   for soldiers to carry out drills, as evidenced by the units currently doing drills.

Finally, came the accommodation. It was easy to spot. Long rows of huts that formed the outer rim.

I returned my attention back to the formed up soldiers in the bare space and my attention snagged on a team of APS soldiers marching out from a Heavily armored AV. It was my first time seeing a unit of them in real life. I’d seen the suits, and I’d seen the videos of them in action, but there generally wasn’t any need for them to come into the city.

They marched in step heading for one of the hangers, and then my vision was obstructed by the co-pilot's body.

I stepped back as the craft touched down. The pilot's cabin door opened a moment later. “Off you get then Corporal. Enjoy your new home.

The statement was delivered flat and emotionless and though I couldn’t sense any  malice or even sarcasm as he spoke, I couldn’t help feeling, I wasn’t going to enjoy my new home at all.

As I walked down the ramp into the dry, warm evening air,  I was immediately accosted by a tall, broad human with a voice almost as coarse as my own. On his sleeve he wore the crossed rifles of a Captain insignia.

“Corporal Oshbob! Welcome to Outpost 361,” He announced. “Don’t get many full blood Orcs with that kind of rank. In fact, I think you’re the first one I’ve heard of.”

I offered a respectful salute in an effort to start things off on a positive note. Two years left. Only two years left.

I regretted the effort moments later as he his mouth opened again.
“I suppose you think that makes you special? Well it doesn’t. Out here. You’re a piece of shit. A Corporal in a Scrub Team is worth about as much as a fresh faced private, just out of his basic training anywhere else. Your job will be to mop up anything the APS don’t take out. They’re the business end of the deal here. Don’t get in their way. Don’t talk to them.”

I raised an unimpressed eyebrow at his delivery of my new station, but he neither noticed nor cared as he continued.

“Stay in your quarters until you’re called over the PA. There’s a kitchen in your quarters. Supplies are delivered once a week. Your new team mates know the script.” He pointed past me. “Barrack 16. If I see you again, it’s probably because you did something wrong. Don’t let me see you again. We don’t tolerate no dumb shit here. You understand Orc?

I eyed him and remained silent.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME ORC!” he yelled in my face.

“I worked hard to reach Corporal. While military code allows a certain amount of freedom with how you address privates, you willaddress me as Corporal Oshbob or I will report you to our superiors. Sir.”

He laughed, long and hard. It took a moment for him to speak again. “Oh, I think I’m gonna like you Orc. You’re real fucking funny.” His voice suddenly accelerated, and increased in volume again. “You wanna wind up dead before your first assignment you keep up with the attitude. I pop out tougher shits, than you on a daily basis, and even though I’ve got more respect for them than I do you, I still have no qualms in flushing them.”

I nodded as he spoke, then replied calmly. “At this moment, I have more respect for your shits than I do for you. Show some professionalism, Captain.”

His face reddened. My favorite color for human faces. His mouth opened and closed a few times, and while he tried to come up with a fitting response, I turned and started walking away to barrack 16.

“Don’t you walk away from me until you’re dismissed Orc! I’ll have you court marshalled.”

I turned and grimaced. “I’m only going to say this once. People always underestimate me. But the first thing I did when I was brought back in was to learn all of the rules and more than that, I took the effort to understand them.

“Sure, there are rules that can be bent and rules that can be broken. But it doesn’t matter which major city barracks or outpost we’re at, one of the most basic, and readily enforced rules, is that rank must be acknowledged. Until you recognize my rank and use it accordingly, I do not recognize your authority as a commanding officer. I expected to meet a lot of people like you as I progressed through the military, so while my optics are poor for most things, what they can do is record.

If you wish to pursue this overly aggressive method of putting me in my place, then by all means do. But when it comes to actual repercussions for me for ignoring everything you say. The recording of this conversation will be replayed in its entirety, and your lack of due respect will be taken into account.”

My optics didn’t really record, but it was one of my favorite lines. Especially the reaction of superior officers when I told them.

Except, the Captain, who hadn’t even bothered himself to introduce himself yet didn’t react as usual.

“This is a top-secret base, Corporal. You’ll need to have those removed if they’re capable of recording potentially sensitive information. I will send one of our base's carvers over to see you.”

It wasn’t lost on me that he’d slipped in corporal. “Don’t bother. The eyes don’t record. Standard Milco recon’s at Tier-Two, x5 zoom and thermal imaging. That’s it. You can check my records if you like. All my Mods are military issue.”

“So not just an Orc, but a bullshitter too? Looked like I’ll have to keep my eye on you after all.” He spun on his heel, then stalked off toward the command buildings in the centre.

I watched him go for a moment, and nodded. That didn’t work out too badly after all. Now to check out my new home.

It was well lived in, and nowhere near as clean as the quarters I’d just come from. There was also a very strong, very familiar scent. Orcs. If not for the vague, less pungent scent of human, I would have suspected this was another death sentence. It could still be, but as I lay on the one unused bed of the eight, my mind began to work over the situation and it hit me. Half orcs. Perfect for dangerous work, but too respected to be used as Deaters.

After stowing my meagre possessions in the cabinet by the bed, I sent another message to Leo.

I’m at a place called outpost 361.   It’s damn hot, so North. Don’t bring a Drone into the base. It's high   security. See what you can find on the people here.

With that done, I napped for a while. I wanted to be alert for when my new team mates arrived. With half-orcs, I expected it would need an indelicate touch.

Raucous shouting and cursing woke me up. The door swung open a moment later, slamming against the bed behind the door.

A strong, sharp-eyed half orc strode in. He was a sergeant, which surprised me, but also gave me a little hope. His eyes fell on me immediately.

“Well, well, well. What have we got here gang? Looks like a full blood dumb, dumb.” He marched eagerly toward me, and loomed over my bed. Five other orcs came marching in looking equally eager to roast the new guy. I remained where I was, looking more relaxed than I felt.

“So they think they can just send some city soldier out here as a corporal in my unit, do they? Well I’ve got news for you. My guys here have all proven what they can do. They follow orders from me and me alone. As far as we’re concerned, you’re another private coming in from the bottom.”

“I’m a Corporal. I’ll follow your commands within reason, but you won’t be treating me as anything other than my rank demands.”

A few of the half Orcs jeered at my words, as the Sergeant barked again. “I’ll treat you however the hell I want to treat you until you’ve proven you're worthy of better.”

I noticed one of the half orcs behind the Sergeant looking awfully pale and not joining in. He clearly recognized me, though I didn’t know him. “Captain,” he mumbled. “Maybe not this one for roasting. I think he might do the team good.”

“The hell you talking about, Nozz? You know him or something?”

Nozz nodded, reluctantly. “You know how I was I was telling you I had to leave Portolans when the new gang lord took over.”

The captain’s head bobbed along, but his eyes remained on me. “Is this one of them that kicked you out for being a half-Orc?”

“No. He is the Gang lord.”

The Captain laughed at that. “Then what’s he doing here?”

“You know I let your people back in?” I asked Nozz. “Just had to have a shake up to iron things out.”

Nozz nodded. “I heard. I still have links with the others. Don told me there was a place for me when I get out?”

“There is,” I agreed, then looked back to the furious Captain, who was staring at Nozz now with undisguised anger. “What in the ten green hells is this bullshit? Who’s this guy supposed to be?”

“You’ve never heard of Oshbob?” A female strong female voice asked from behind the captain.

“Oshbob? what kind of fucking name is that?”

“It’s an Orc name,” I said finally moving to get to my feet. My new captain paled as I now loomed over him.

“God damn,” someone further back hissed. “He’s as big as I’d heard.”

The Captain tried to stand his ground in front of me, but had to take a few steps back to give me some space. He now looked at me sourly. “If you're such a big deal, why are you here.”

“Have you really not heard the story?” Nozz asked. “About the gang lord of Newton, and the mech suit?”

“The stolen training mech? The one that got busted in a gang war?”

Nozz shook his head and pointed at me. “There was a gang war, but it was Oshbob who fought the mech.

“Must have been a useless mech pilot then.” The Captain said returning his steely gaze on me. “No way a man can beat a mech.

“Used an EMP I heard.” Nozz said looking at me for confirmation.

I nodded as the captain continued.

“There you go then! He didn’t beat it did he?” He punctuated the point by poking me in the chest. “And he’s no gang lord now? Just another meat shield for the APS.”

I put my hand on his shoulder and met his gaze. “We can play nice and we can all get through our service together the easy way, or you can fuck around with me and find out exactly what I am now. I get out of here in two years so I’m on my best behavior, so if you push any further I won’t just snap you in half. But I can guarantee that you won’t see the year out.”

He surprised me by laughing. “You know the turnover of half-orcs in this unit? If I see the year out, it’ll be a bloody miracle. Your threats mean nothing to me.” He bashed my arm away and set himself for trouble.

I nodded thoughtfully. “Fair point. In that case, any family, or friends you have waiting for you outside won’t see the year out and I’ll make sure you survive for as long as I’m here.”

His eyes widened at those words. He finally didn’t know how to respond. Nozz put his hand on the sergeants shoulder. “He’ll be a good team member, trust me.”

That seemed to snap him out of it. Shaking free of the hand, he squared up to me again. “You think you’re a real big deal, huh? You don’t think I know people outside. You wanna start something, I’ll see to it that your family and friends don’t make it past the month!”

“Go on then. Set them away and I’ll do the same. Do you want recordings of your loved ones last moments? Might make a good keep sake.”

“What?” he asked as if he’d suddenly lost thread of the conversation.

“I’m sending a coded message to my hackers now. They are very good and I’d be surprised if there isn’t someone paying visits this very night. So you’ll have to be quick and tell me if you want recordings.”

“What? I…” after a stammering attempt at a response he suddenly came back to his senses and lunged for my throat. “Call them off, you bastard.”

I blocked his attack and pivoted on my new leg, using his momentum to throw him on the bed. The bed broke in half.

“You do your job and we won’t have no problems, Captain. I’m here to serve out my time and go home. I’m not here for your entertainment. Do you understand?”

He scrabbled up as I spoke and resumed a fighting pose. This time he didn’t come after me again.

“Have you got kids?”

“Are we supposed to be bonding now?”

“No. I just want to know who I’m dealing with. Have you sent the message?”

“Not yet. On both counts.”

Umak, let his fists fall. “This didn’t go how I expected. We normally rough up the new recruits.

“I can see that. Probably best not to do it to people coming in at Corporal level though.

“HOW the hell did you get to be a corporal? I been serving damn near twenty years, and I only made sergeant last year and that’s rare enough.

“Let me guess, you got sent here to be a Sergeant?”

His brow wrinkled up as he thought about it. “I take it you just got made up and sent here?”

“You take it right,” I replied tiredly.

“We thought they’d make Theta up. She’s been here longer than me.”

“That’s because I’m the toughest here,” the muscular woman said. She was as big as tall and as wide across the shoulders as the men, but she was undeniably a woman. She wore her long, purple streaked black hair, braided tight against her skull, and a long plait hung down her back almost to her waist. She even had small tusks which weren’t always evident in half-orcs.

“You look tough,” I replied sincerely, and she beamed a wide smile.

I turned back to the Captain. “We good, Captain?”

“You’ll leave my family be?”

“You have my word that if you don’t cause any trouble for me, your family will be safe from harm. I take no pleasure in having kids killed.”

“But you’d still kill them given a reason?”

“Without a seconds hesitation. If your actions end up getting me killed, there’s a lot of people who I care about, from young to old, who’ll suffer. I can’t let that happen.”

He extended a fist. “I’m Captain, Umak.”

I more than happily bumped it with my own. “Corporal Oshbob.”

“You best take Monek’s bed. Just swap the frames,” he grumbled and made his way to his own bed.

“Drink?” Nozz suggested.

“You better fucking believe it,” Umak replied sitting down heavily.

“What happened to Monek?” I asked as I dragged the frame over, to sad watching eyes.

“Ambush. Arachnid types. About eighty of the bastards and all of them over a meter tall.”

“You kill them all?” I asked.

He shook his head. “About a quarter. APS decided to come back and help us out.”

“After deserting us,” Nozz said, handing both me and the sergeant an ice cold beer.

“Deserting you?”

“Aye, they go out for the big stuff. We support them by clearing up around them, but this time they knew we would be hard pressed when the arachnids ambushed us, but their full team still kept moving after the A Ranker. They and the other Scrub team could have easily helped, but no, they kept on moving. We ended up pinned down for over an hour until they were finished.

I rolled my neck, and groaned contentedly as it clicked a few times. “So they’re assholes and they don’t mind us losing people. “

“Exactly.” Nozz said. Umak fell silent as he replayed the events of the day over his beer. He finally spoke again.

“We need to work on defensive formations. We should have done better, and that’s on me.”

“We would have if we weren’t spread out by the pace them bastards set,” Theta growled.

I wasn’t surprised to hear there were problems with how my new team was being treated. And they all did the only thing they really could do about it. They sat and drank the rest of the evening away until one by one they dropped to sleep, until only I was left awake thinking over the last twenty four hours and how I could make the best of this.