2671.015 Masa system Border Worlds Marine base K-146: The Confed shuttle set down on the tarmac and two people stepped out. The ground crews were surprised to see a Confed General and a Kilrathi in a Confed uniform. A border world's officer came up to them and saluted, "Sir, Lt. Alex Mitchell. I'll be your liaison while you're here General."
The two of them returned the salute, and then the general looked at the Lt. "So where can we find Col. Dekker?"
"Sir, Col. Dekker is on maneuvers with the new officer cadets right now."
"Well then Lt. I think you should take us to him, or get him back here. Which shall it be?"
The young man looked a little nervous, "Ah General, I should warn you sir, that Col. Dekker doesn't really like Generals all that much."
Both Taggert and Kirha laughed at that, "Tell ya the truth laddie neither do I. Now are ya goin to take us to the Col or do we have to find him ourselves."
"Right this way General, I have a hover truck waiting for us."
The three of them got in the truck and were soon speeding over the countryside. After 3 hours, the truck came to a stop at an isolated military campsite. As the three of them got out of the truck, the guard at the perimeter challenged them. The three of them presented their ID's and were escorted to the command tent.
As they stood outside of the tent, they could here someone inside the tent begin to yell at the sentry, "I don't care if the leader of the f .,> ?g Confed senate is out there, I'm in the middle of maneuvers here."
The sentry came out a moment later, "I'm sorry General, the Col. can't see you now."
Major Kirha chuckled and looked at the sentry. "Sergeant, I want you to tell Col. Dekker something."
The sergeant looked at the Kilrathi Major for a moment, "What would that be Sir?" the dislike of the Major apparent in his voice.
"Tell Col. Dekker that he is a puny hairless ape that can't hold his Khorvas."
The sergeant smiled and looked at Major Kirha, "Are you sure you want me to tell him that Sir?"
"Yes sergeant, tell him that exactly as I said it."
"Yes sir." and the sergeant went back inside the tent. All that the three of them heard was a loud voice, "He said WHAT?"
Then the tent flap was thrown back and a man charged out. The officer was a white haired man, who had the look of someone who had seen a lot of action in his years. He looked at the Major, and got right in his face and shouted. "WHY YOU FURRY SOB, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I CAN DRINK YOU UNDER THE TABLE ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TRY!"
General Taggert looked a little worried now, and he wondered what the Major was going to do. But the man then stepped back from the Major and extended his hand, which the Major took and shook. In a much quieter tone the Col spoke to him, "It's good to see you Kirha, how has life been treating you?"
"It has been good to me old friend, and you."
"I can't complain, wouldn't do any good if I did." Both of them laughed at that.
"Col Dekker, I would like to introduce General Taggert, he has an interesting proposition for you."
The three of them stepped into the command tent and Dekker picked up a comm. link
"Attention all personnel, stand down from exercise for the next hour."
Then he looked at the staff in the tent "Give us the room people." and they quickly exited the tent.
"So general, what is it that you want from an old GroPo like me?"
Taggert looked the man square in the eyes. "We need you Dekker, we want you to take warriors that are Human, Kilrathi and Firekka and mold them into a cohesive fighting force. And you have less than a year to do it in."
"How large a force are we talking about general?" "At least 4 battalions of warriors Col."
"That's a lot of GroPo's sir. Can I ask what the target is?"
"If you except Col you and your senior staff will be briefed, not until then. Also, if you do except, you be promoted to Brigadier General."
Dekker looked at them, "Me, a freakin general. You must really be desperate." and he began laughing.
Taggert looked at him now, "Well Col what do you say."
Dekker looked at him, "Ok General, I'll do it, But I want to pick my own command staff."
"Done."
"So when do we leave general?"
"Is tomorrow good for you General Dekker?"