Chapter 2
Jer Naddel groaned as the alarm woke him. The hours of sleep had been far too meager and the wine list at dinner the previous evening far too generous. A nasty spike of pain stabbed through his head as he pushed himself upright. He groaned again as he switched on the light and rummaged through his footlocker to find some headache pills. The first faint light of dawn was creeping in the window. Barrayar's axial tilt made for short nights this far north during the summer months. Too damn short, even allowing for Barrayar's much longer day than Komarr's.
He found the pills, swallowed one, and then staggered into the bathroom. He shared a bathroom with whoever was in the room next door, but he didn't know who that was. The other door was closed. He wondered if he could convince the other occupant to switch rooms with Anny. Now that would be convenient! He used the toilet, smeared depilatory cream on his face, and entered the shower. As he washed, he mused on how efficient it would be for the two of them to shower together…
He still could hardly believe they were lovers. He'd fallen in love with Anny back in their second year at the Academy. Well, maybe earlier than that… But while they'd been close friends and clearly felt some affection for each other, she—and he—had never allowed more than that to show. It was against the regulations to fall in love and Anny was under such a microscope as the first woman to ever attend the Barrayaran Imperial Service Academy that she didn't dare even appear to be breaking the rules. But they had broken the rules and they had fallen in love and they had admitted it to each other in their senior year. They hadn't actually done anything except for a few brief hugs and kisses until the night of graduation. Since then… well, since then things had been amazing. Anny was so utterly by-the-book when she was on duty, so completely under control that it had come as a surprise at just how out of control she became in bed. Some sort of emotional safety valve perhaps? Whatever. It didn't matter. Anny was the strongest, the bravest person Jer had ever met. The things she'd had to overcome to make it through the Academy would have crushed most people—they would have crushed him! If he could provide the emotional support she needed, he was more than willing to do that. Willing and ready. Maybe tonight…
"I say, old man, are you going to hog the shower all morning?"
Jer jumped at the sudden voice at his elbow, just on the other side of the shower curtain. He hastily shut off the water and stuck his head around the curtain. A man was standing there wearing nothing but striped pajama bottoms. "Naddel, is it?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah…"
"Vorquinz, here, A Company. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Saw you at dinner last night, of course, but didn't get a chance to say hello. By the by, as senior I get first crack at the shower in the morning. 0530 on the dot. Try to remember, will you?" He turned away and went over to the sink. Jer grabbed a towel and began drying himself.
"Sorry about that; I didn't know."
"I'll let it pass this time."
Jer wasn't sure if the man was joking, decided he wasn't. "Actually I normally shower before I go to bed anyway," he said.
"That would work if you don't leave the place a mess."
"I'll try not to."
"Good man." Vorquinz finished putting on his depilatory cream—except on his large mustache—dropped his pajamas and stepped into the shower. "I don't suppose you have a man of your own yet. Hendly, there has coffee if you want a cup." The water turned on and the conversation ended. Jer looked through the door into Vorquinz's room and saw an enlisted man in there puttering around. A pot of coffee sat on a tray. His stomach was still a little queasy from the previous night and Jer decided he could wait until breakfast.
Jer finished drying himself and (neatly) hung up his towel. He went back into his own room and dressed quickly in a set of black fatigues. The officers he'd seen during the tour yesterday had been wearing blacks and he hoped that would be the proper uniform when he joined his company. The thought of that sent a jolt of excitement and anxiety through him. What would H Company be like? As a weapons company, it would be more technically oriented than a standard 'rifle' company. The commander wasn't Vor. What was he like? Too many unknowns…
He had just finished dressing when reveille sounded on the base. He'd deliberately gotten up early to avoid having to rush. He clicked his computer pad into the holder on his belt, grabbed his cap and stepped out into the hallway. Anny, Alby—and Estaban—were just coming down the steps.
"Morning!" said all four, more or less simultaneously. They went out the doors and saw swarms of troopers spilling out of their barracks and falling into formation for morning roll call. The sun was just peeping over the eastern ridge. Jer was glad that the NCOs handled roll calls. He remembered when it was his task as the first sergeant for C Company.
"What do you do when there's three meters of snow on the ground in the winter?" asked Alby, his question directed at Estaban.
"Well, as you can imagine, we've got some first rate snow removal equipment here—plus a few thousand pairs of arms with strong backs attached to them. But if the conditions are really severe, they just do it in the barracks."
"That's the C Company barracks over there, isn't it?" asked Anny, pointing at one of the buildings.
"Yup. Right next to B Company. We'll be neighbors." He smiled at Anny. She didn't reply and they headed for the main mess hall. Despite the separate entrance for officers, they wanted to beat the mad rush that would doubtlessly ensue once the men were dismissed from roll call.
A few other officers had arrived ahead of them, but they were still among the first. It was a standard mess hall arrangement and they grabbed trays and loaded them with food and coffee and then found a table. "So, your first day with the regiment," said Estaban. "Excited?"
"Yeah," said Alby. Jer and Anny nodded. "Hard to believe that this is the real thing after four years preparing for it."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Estaban. "I felt the same way when I got here, God, it's four years now. But it's a good group of people. I'm sure you'll do fine." They ate in silence for a bit and then Estaban looked at Anny and then at Jer. "So… uh… how did the two of you … manage at the Academy. Must have been a tad awkward, wasn't it?"
"More than awkward," said Jer. "Damn near impossible."
"And against regulation, Mister Estaban," said Anny frostily. "Therefore, in answer to your question: we didn't manage."
Estaban frowned and then his eyebrows shot up and he smiled. "Ah! So this is something recent, is it? Perhaps there's hope for me yet!"
"You don't give up, do you?" said Alby, laughing. "But you might as well, Sven! You'd have better luck getting a date with the Empress than trying to pry these two apart!"
"Really." He didn't look convinced.
"Yeah, really," said Jer.
"Really, really," added Anny.
"Pity. Well, you can't blame me for trying."
"No," said Anny with a small smile. "But only up to a point. And I think that point has been reached. Okay?"
"Fine! Fine! No offense intended."
"And none taken. Let's keep it that way."
"Message received, ma'am!" said Estaban a bit testily and waving his hand as if saluting. "You're a lucky man, Naddel."
"That I am, that I am," said Jer smugly and smiling at Anny. She smiled back and the warmth matched the ray of sunshine that was now falling on his back through the window.
"And Sven?" said Anny.
"Yeah?"
"If any of your friends happen to ask, could you let them know the score? Might save us some… awkwardness."
"Oh. Sure, sure. It'd be my pleasure." The look on his face indicated that he might, in fact, take some pleasure in dashing the hopes of fellow officers.
"Thanks, we appreciate it."
They finished eating and Jer nearly picked up his tray to return it to the kitchen until he noticed that everyone else was just leaving theirs on the table. Apparently they would be retrieved by the enlistedmen working here. They went outside and Jer checked the time. "Five minutes until assembly." He took a deep breath. "Well, I guess I better go meet my boss."
"Yeah, me too," said Anny. She gently punched his shoulder. "Good luck. You, too, Alby. If I don't see you at lunch, I'll see you at dress parade tonight."
"Right-O. Good luck to you, too." Jer winked at her and then headed for the H Company barracks.
[Scene Break]
Anny watched Jer walk off and then she turned and headed toward the building where C Company was housed. Alby said good-bye and trotted off to regimental headquarters. Estaban stayed with her and initially she was a bit annoyed, but since B Company was right next to C Company she could hardly protest since they both had to go the same way. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but she hoped he'd taken the hint and wouldn't keep trying his luck. Estaban peeled off at his company's barracks, giving her a friendly wave, and Anny walked another hundred meters and found herself standing outside a three-story building labeled 'C Company' with a large sign over the door.
Well, this is it.
The barracks were all built with the offices and common space on the ground floor while the bunks of the enlistedmen were upstairs. She took a deep breath and went through the door. As she'd expected, the main company office was the first room she came to. She went inside and saw several officers standing there and a couple of corporals sitting at desks working at comconsoles. One of the officers, though wearing lieutenant's tabs, had the small gold pips on his collar that denoted a company commander. Vorstang, she assumed. She stepped up next to him and when he turned in her direction, she saluted. "Lieutenant Payne reporting for duty, sir."
Vorstang was a bit taller than her, stocky, although certainly not fat, maybe ten years older and he had blond hair and sharp blue eyes. Those eyes were suddenly boring holes right through her. He slowly returned her salute. "Ah yes, Payne. I was informed last night that you'd be joining us." She smiled, waiting for some word of welcome, or perhaps a handshake, but neither was forthcoming. A moment later she heard a bugler sounding assembly outside. This was followed by a rush of pounding feet that actually made the building tremble slightly. "Well, we better get out there, eh?" Vorstang walked past her and out the door and she scrambled to catch up.
Each of the company barracks buildings had a clear space in front of it for the company to form up. The men were quickly assembling in their ranks. Anny noticed they were in their PT—physical training—gear. She assumed that some order had been issued for that. The officers and senior NCOs were all in black fatigues, so they'd guessed right about that anyway.
Each platoon was in its own location with the NCOs and commanding officer out in front. Last night the battalion commander had said something about her taking over for the sergeant who had been commanding 3rd Platoon, but she had no idea if Vorstang would actually want her to command that platoon or if he was planning to shuffle things around. In any case she could see the sergeant out in front of 3rd Platoon and she certainly wasn't going to try and push him aside! She went over to Vorstang. "Where would you like me, sir?"
"What? Oh, just stay right here for the moment."
"Yes sir."
The last few men found their spots and the company was called to attention. After a few moments the first sergeant, a man named Nikolaidis if the roster she'd studied just before breakfast was accurate, came up and saluted Vorstang and reported that the company was formed.
"Very good, Sergeant," said Vorstang. He stepped forward and looked over his company. "Morning everyone," he said.
"Good morning, sir!"
Vorstang hadn't spoken loudly, but the whole company shouted back in reply.
"We've got a routine day ahead of us. PT this morning, a full unarmored kit inspection at 1400 and, of course dress parade at 1700. However, I do have two pieces of news to pass along. The first is bittersweet. Some time in the coming days we'll be saying good-bye to Sergeant Milroy. You all know what a fine job he's done leading 3rd Platoon and as incredible as it might seem, the higher-ups have actually noticed!" This brought a small chuckle from the men. "Milroy will be heading off to OCS where they will attempt to make a gentleman out of him. He probably considers this a fate worse than death, but we all live to serve the Imperium and he will go and he will do us proud, I'm sure. We can hope that he will return to us, but one never knows. In any event, we all wish him godspeed." This brought a murmur of assent and then someone called for three cheers for Sergeant Milroy and this was given with enthusiasm. Anny could see the sergeant in front of his platoon, blushing in the morning sun.
"The other bit of news," continued Vorstang, "is the reason why Sergeant Milroy is going to be able to leave us. We have a new officer joining the company today." He gestured toward Anny. "This is Lieutenant Payne. She will be taking over for Milroy when he leaves. I'm sure you'll give her the same respect and cooperation as you did the Sergeant."
The men just stared at her, not making a sound. Some of their eyes appeared quite wide. Anny stared back at them. Okay, so I'll have 3rd Platoon. Taking over for a popular predecessor. This could be a challenge. She'd already noticed that the commanders of 2nd Platoon and the weapons platoon were ensigns whom she outranked. There might be some resentment there, too. She was going to have her work cut out for her.
"All right, I think that's all for now," said Vorstang. "Dahlberg, Vorgard, Zolek, Milroy, if you'll meet me inside, Payne, you have the company."
"Sir?" said Anny in surprise.
"Carry on, Lieutenant." Vorstang turned away and walked back toward the barracks. The four platoon commanders moved to join him.
Okay…
The officers disappeared inside and the whole company was staring at her. 'Always at least appear to know what you're doing.' Commodore Koudelka had taught her that before she ever set foot at Academy. The advice had served her well there and there was no reason it wouldn't work here.
"First Sergeant Nikolaidis."
"Uh… sir?" The First Sergeant looked at her in surprise. Perhaps he hadn't expected her to know his name. Preparation! Preparation! She'd only survived at the Academy by being prepared. She wasn't about to change now.
"Move them out, First Sergeant."
"Yes sir." He nodded at her and turned to face the men. "Company! Right-face! Forward, double quick—march!" The men started off at a brisk trot and Anny trotted along with them. She suspected they were headed for one of the big fields where she'd seen men doing PT yesterday, but she wasn't sure if C Company had a specific spot assigned to it. If you aren't sure of the answer, try to delegate the job to someone who does. Another lesson from the Commodore.
They left the barracks area and moved down the road. All the other companies seemed to be headed the same way. They reached a big, open field—not the same one where they'd done dress parade yesterday—and each company found a spot. Anny watched as Nikolaidis had the company open ranks and intervals to give the men room for the calisthenics and then put them to work, supervised by the platoon sergeants. Anny stood close to Nikolaidis and they both watched.
"First Sergeant?" she said after a while.
"Sir?"
"I'm guessing that Sergeant Milroy is quite popular with his men. True?"
"Yes sir. He's a good man. Way too smart to stay a sergeant. He'll make a fine officer. But the boys are gonna to miss him."
"Do you think they are going to have a problem with me taking over for him? I could understand some of them being… resentful."
She could feel him staring at her, but she kept her eyes fixed on the exercising men. He took a while to answer. "There might be a few, sir. But if any of them give you a problem…"
"If any of them do, I'm sure I can handle them, First Sergeant. I've been handling hardheads for four years."
"If you say so, sir."
Now she did look at him and there was a slightly skeptical look on his face. She stared at him until he looked away. "What's the usual schedule for this?"
"An hour of the exercises and then a road march, sir. We just take the perimeter road and circle the base a couple of times. One circuit is about nine klicks so we'll do two or three times around."
"Is it two or three times around?"
"Uh, depends on the officer in command, the weather, and what else the boys are gonna be doing that day."
"Well, it's a beautiful day and a full kit inspection isn't very grueling. So I guess it's up to me, isn't it, First Sergeant?"
"It would be up to you in any case, sir."
"Indeed it would. Three then, I think."
"Yes sir."
For the next hour Anny quizzed him about the way things were run in C Company. Every outfit had its own little idiosyncrasies and Anny wanted to know about as many of them as possible before she made some silly mistake. Nikolaidis seemed surprise at the grilling, but Anny learned a lot just in that short time. Finally, after the men were allowed to rest for ten minutes, they were called back into formation. Nikolaidis moved to give the command to begin the march, but Anny stepped up instead.
"Attention-Company! Right-face! Forward, double quick-march!" she bellowed. At the Academy she'd developed her 'command voice'. Her voice was higher-pitched than most men's, but it carried nicely and a few men looked at her in surprise that she could produce a noise like that.
And they were off. Twenty-seven kilometers in about four hours was not an especially grueling pace for men in good condition and these men were in good condition and not burdened with any gear. Once on the perimeter road Anny noticed that there were several places where drinking water was available and she made sure that the five-minute break they got each hour was at one of those spots. The day was turning warm and she felt that depriving the men of water was a needless cruelty for an ordinary exercise like this. Also she needed the water herself. She was discovering, to her dismay, that the last three months without any serious exercise had left her a bit out of shape. She had been in superb shape when she'd left on the training cruise, but between spending two months on the convoy flagship and the last month back at the Academy getting ready for graduation, she'd let her regular exercise regimen lapse. Still, she could handle this. She'd have to ask if there was an exercise room for the officers. There must be…
Many of the men were gawking at her and during the breaks she often heard laughs when her back was turned that suddenly cut off when she looked. But that was normal and didn't bother her.
One time around, two times around. They had nearly completed the third circuit and it was about 1115. She halted the company and let the men rest. Plenty of time to get them back to the barracks, shower, and get their noon chow. The full-kit inspection wasn't until 1400 so they'd have time to get ready for that. Good. She knew that some officers deliberately cut the timing of activities close to make life as difficult as possible for their troops under the theory that it would make them tougher. Commodore Koudelka had told her that the troops referred to that sort of thing as 'chickenshit' and all it did was make them resent the officer. So no chickenshit here.
The men were called back into ranks and she ordered the company's second sergeant to get them moving. As they trotted past her she turned to ask Nikolaidis a question about the coming inspection. "First Sergeant, when we form up for the inspection, do you usually…" EEEP! She froze.
"Sir?" said Nikolaidis in confusion.
One of the passing soldiers had just pinched her on the ass.
A dozen thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.
Did I imagine that? No I didn't! Oh Shit! Do I ignore it? Make a scene? Shit! Shit! Son of a…
"Company-HALT!"
Her order was so loud and so sudden that some of the men actually bumped into each other as the company came to a ragged stop. Many heads turned in her direction.
"Sir?" asked Nikolaidis again, his eyes very wide. Clearly he hadn't seen what had happened.
She didn't answer. Instead, she turned and looked up the column toward the head of the company. How many seconds passed before I halted them? Four, five at the most. A hundred and twenty paces to the minute, eighty centimeter steps, that would put the culprit right about… there! Someone in 3rd Platoon. Oh yeah, that would figure. But she couldn't be exactly sure which man. It could be that one, or the man just ahead of him. Which one?
It doesn't matter.
She slowly walked up to the man she suspected. "Company-front!" Everyone turned to face her. She stared at them, they stared at her. The man in front of her was looking a bit pale. Strange for a man who'd been out running in the sun for three hours. The man behind him appeared to be stifling a laugh. Bingo.
"Well!" she said loudly while stepping back so everyone could see her. "We haven't really had a chance to get to know each other. I can see that you are all in fine shape. But all the time I was training to become an assault trooper, I kept getting told about how good they were at close combat. During the time I spent with the 42nd I discovered that they took their close combat drill very seriously. I'm wondering if the 61st feels the same way." She took a deep breath. She was taking a real risk here. "But there's really only one way to find that out isn't there? We've got a few spare minutes and I was wondering if one of you boys might go a few throws with me? A short, unscheduled close-combat drill. Any takers?" Before anyone could, answer, she moved back in front of the pale trooper. She looked at the name stenciled on his t-shirt. "How about you, Private… ah… Kerbeck? You look like a man who knows how to use his hands." Several snorts of laughter came from the rear rank. "Come on, you're not afraid are you?" The man's face began to redden.
"Lieutenant Payne," said First Sergeant Nikolaidis uncertainly. "What are you…?"
"I just want to see what your men are made of. So how about it, Kerbeck? Can you show me what you're made of?"
The man was looking annoyed now and he stepped out of the ranks. "I reckon I can… sir."
"Good! Right over here should do. Come on." She moved back a dozen paces, tossed her cap on the ground behind her and went into a crouch. Kerbeck looked nervously between her and Nikolaidis. The First Sergeant just shrugged in confusion.
Anny launched herself forward.
Kerbeck wasn't even remotely ready and in an instant he was flying through the air to land flat on his back. A loud oof! came out of him. He rolled over and stared at her in astonishment. "Sorry," said Anny casually. "Guess I caught you by surprise, huh? Wanna try that again?"
The man scrambled to his feet and tried to get into a defensive stance, but Anny was on him in a heartbeat and he went flying again. "Well!" exclaimed Anny, scratching her head. "Maybe I heard wrong." She half-turned to face Nikolaidis. "It looks like we've got some work to do here…" Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kerbeck on his feet and charging her. She dodged aside and slammed a kick into his ribs—just hard enough to send him sprawling again, but not hard enough to break anything.
"At least they seem to have spirit, First Sergeant, hopefully with some training they can…" Kerbeck came at her again and again he landed heavily on the ground. In passing he had managed to punch Anny solidly in the side and she forced herself not to wince. "Okay, that was a bit better! There may be hope for you yet, Private Kerbeck."
The man staggered to his feet and came at her again. But he was stunned and his fury was in control of him. Anny had never liked close-combat training, but she'd forced herself to learn it and she was really quite good. Drou Koudelka and Sergeant Major Szytko had seen to that. Kerbeck probably wasn't all that bad, but he was no match for her—at least not in his present condition. Anny pummeled him for a good five minutes until he was battered and bloody and gasping for air on the ground.
"Lieutenant Payne!" said Nikolaidis loudly.
"Yes?" She turned and stared him in the eyes and didn't blink.
"You… uh… we … we're gonna be late for chow."
"Heavens! You're right! And that won't do! We're all hungry. If a few of you men will help Private Kerbeck back into ranks we can get going." Two men came forward and helped their buddy up. They had very strange expressions on their faces. Anny retrieved her cap and the company got moving again and she had Nikolaidis take them straight back to the barracks and dismissed them. They moved at the normal quick-time pace instead of double-quick and Anny took advantage of that to catch her breath and stop her trembling. She hadn't enjoyed that at all. She really hoped she'd done the right thing.
After the company was dismissed she checked in at the company office, but Vorstang wasn't there and the duty sergeant didn't have any additional orders for her so she headed back to her quarters to get showered before lunch. As she peeled off her sweat-soaked fatigues, she groaned. Despite her easy win over Kerbeck, he had managed to land a few blows and she was going to be black and blue in the morning. She took a pain pill and showered and then put on her undress greens. The First Sergeant had told her that the officers typically wore their greens for an inspection.
In the mess hall she ran into Jer and Estaban. There was no sign of Alby. "So, how'd it go?" asked Sven as they found a table.
"Okay," said Jer. "Just PT this morning—as you know. We'll really get down to things this afternoon: we're having an inspection at the armory. Gonna haul out all the heavy equipment and give it a going over. How about you, Anny?"
"Oh, pretty much the same," she replied. "Full kit inspection this afternoon." She had no intention of mentioning the other incident with Estaban listening. She wasn't entirely sure how much trouble she or Private Kerbeck could get into over it.
They chatted over their food for a bit and Estaban mentioned that he'd heard that the following month would see all the reservists from the 139th pouring in and that there would be a full-scale exercise involving the whole brigade. "Sounds like fun," he said.
"Where will they be holding it?" asked Anny.
"That I didn't hear. But I imagine it will either be up in the mountains or on the coastal plain on the other side of them. Desolate area up there, hardly any people at all. Less property damage that way." He grinned.
Just as they were getting up, Lieutenant Vorstang came by. He had an odd expression on his face. "Everything go all right this morning, Payne?" he asked.
"Yes sir. The men look to be in fine condition. Actually, I was wondering if there's a gymnasium for the officers, sir? I need to keep myself in shape."
"What? Oh, right. Yes, we have a facility attached to the regimental mess building." He paused and looked at her closely. "So you have nothing else to report from this morning?"
"Sir? No sir, it seemed completely routine."
"I… see. Very well, carry on."
"Yes sir." Vorstang moved off but looked back over his shoulder at her.
"What was that all about?" asked Jer.
"Tell you about it later," she said quietly.
The full unarmored kit inspection was also completely routine. Vorstang had Anny accompany Sergeant Milroy as he inspected 3rd Platoon. They shook hands, but Milroy was eying her suspiciously. Was he afraid that she was going to try and steal his platoon? He'd be leaving soon anyway. Was he angry that she'd beat up one of his men? She needed to talk to him, but this wasn't the place.
The men were drawn up in the same area as they used to assemble in the morning. Each man was carrying a full set of field gear, weapons, equipment and supplies. The 61st was an assault regiment which meant that they normally went into combat wearing the impressive and deadly suits of powered battle armor, but they also had to be able to operate like normal infantry if the situation demanded it. A full kit weighed about 50 kilos and included an incredible amount of stuff. The company took intervals and then each man laid out all his gear on the ground in front of him, every item having an exact spot per the regulations.
She and Milroy and the platoon sergeant, a man named Kay, then proceeded from man to man, checking his gear, making comments or suggestions or corrections as necessary. Kay held a computer pad for noting any infractions. Anny had already started memorizing the names and faces of the men in what would soon be her platoon, but now she took the opportunity to look them over in the flesh. The photos in their records often looked different than the real thing. When they got to Private Kerbeck, she saw that he had a few spectacular bruises on his face. She didn't think she'd hit him that hard in the face… He dropped his eyes when he saw her looking at him. But Milroy inspected his gear without comment and passed on to the next man.
As they proceeded, she noticed that while Milroy only closely checked some of the gear, seemingly at random, he opened each and every first aid kit and checked the contents thoroughly. After a bit he spoke to Anny quietly. "We've got standing orders from the Colonel to check the first aid kits. About a year ago we discovered that there was a group of troopers—in the 139th—that were stealing or buying the drugs out of the kits and selling them to a black market ring in the town. It was quite a scandal. So now we have to check. And check closely: they were putting fake ampoules back into the kits so they wouldn't be missed."
"Until they needed them in combat," said Anny, not trying to hide her distaste.
"Yeah. Too damn few combat vets left in the regiment to pass that lesson along. Still, there hasn't been an incident in a long time so maybe the message is getting through."
Aside from Anny, Milroy and Kay, there were forty other men in the platoon so it took nearly two hours to complete the inspection. Anny was pleased to note that it had been done properly, no shortcuts. Milroy was a good commander and she hoped she'd have a chance to sit down with him and really discuss the platoon in detail—and hopefully settle whatever issue lay between them. The fact that he wasn't an officer made that a little more difficult. He couldn't meet her in the regimental mess or in the BOQ. She'd have to arrange some place in the barracks offices, she supposed.
They finished up about 1600 so they had an hour until dress parade. Milroy disappeared into the barracks with the troops before she could suggest a meeting, so Anny headed back to her quarters to get ready for the parade. She checked at Jer's door, but it was locked. So he wasn't back yet. Neither was Alby. As she walked down the hall toward her own room, she saw that the door was standing open. What…?
Remembering an unpleasant incident in her first year at the Academy, she cautiously approached and peered in. There was a man inside and he appeared to be polishing her boots. Ah! My dog robber! No one had mentioned he'd be coming today. She stepped into the room and cleared her throat. The man looked up, saw her, and sprang to his feet.
"Ah, Lieutenant Payne? I'm Lance Corporal Jacowitz. I've been assigned t'you."
Lance Corporal? That wasn't a standard rank in the Barrayaran military. But Anny recalled that some of the long-established regiments clung to some of the old traditions. When she was with the 42nd their color sergeant was referred to as the bannerman. She supposed that lance corporal was a rank shoehorned in between private and corporal. A sort of senior-private position. And Jacowitz certainly qualified as senior. He looked to be in his fifties and a glance at the hashmarks on his sleeve told Anny that he'd been in the service for thirty-six years. He was a good ten centimeters shorter than her and slightly stooped. Gray-haired, where he had any hair—he was pretty much bald on top. He had prominent cheekbones and a bulbous nose that looked rather pink compared to the rest of his face which was wrinkled and weather-beaten.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Lance Corporal," said Anny, coming forward and offering her hand. "I take it that you're going to be working for me?"
He took her hand and shook it. "Yes, ma'am, if you'll have me."
Anny hesitated. Did she really want a personal servant? She'd never had anything like that before—well, when she'd stayed at Vorkosigan House she'd had more servants than she could shake a stick at, but that didn't really count. But to have someone serving her personally felt just sort of… awkward. On the other hand, did she really want to have to waste valuable time doing laundry, shining boots and making her bed? That was the whole reason officers were allowed to have servants: they had better things to do with their time than all the routine stuff that they'd learned so well at the Academy. "Glad to have you, Lance Corporal," she said. "Uh, I'm new at this, so forgive my ignorance. How does this all work? You have regular duties, too, don't you? And I'm expected to pay you, right?"
"Yes, ma'am, I do various jobs at battalion HQ, so I can only spare you a coupla hours a day. As for th'pay, that just comes right outta your pay. You hafta sign a form at HQ and then it's automatic."
"I see." He hadn't mentioned how much…
"But…" Jacowitz hesitated and his face reddened. "Seein' as how you're a woman I'm thinking that we're gonna hafta work out a system so you keep your privacy, if you get my meaning."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Normally, it don't matter if I barge in on one of the young gentlemen when he's in the altogether, but I wouldn't wanna do that with you, ma'am. Shouldn't really be alone with you neither—that's why I left the door open."
Anny forced herself not to laugh. "Maybe I should get one of those little 'do not disturb' signs like they have at hotels and hang it on the doorknob."
"That could work," said Jacowitz brightly. "I'll see about having one made, ma'am." Anny choked. She'd been joking.
"Uh, I don't think we really need to do that." She could just imagine the jokes that would create among the other officers! "We'll just have to work out a schedule so we don't have any… problems."
"All right, if you say so, ma'am." Jacowitz looked disappointed. "Just don't want to do anything improper. M'wife's gonna be upset enough as it is when she hears who I'm workin' for."
"You're married?"
"Oh yes, ma'am! Polly an' I have been married twenty-five years last month. Fine woman, but a tad jealous if you take my meanin', ma'am."
"I see. Well we won't do anything to arouse her suspicions then, will we?" She grinned and he smiled back. "Oh, and the proper form of address for me is 'sir', Lance Corporal."
"Really, ma—uh, sir?"
"Yes. Saves confusion."
"If you say so… sir." The man didn't look convinced. "An' you can just call me 'Jac', everyone else does. Uh, I've laid out your things for the dress parade." He gestured to her bed where her dress greens were, indeed, all laid out for her. She glanced at them and then stopped and looked closer. "You were missin' a few things, sir. The Colonel is a real stickler for everyone bein' properly dressed. I got your record and saw you were entitled to a few more things than you had so I went down to the PX and got 'em."
On her collar, on top of the red lieutenant's tabs, were a brass '61' on one side and 'VG' on the other side. The 42nd wore similar items, but they didn't hand them out routinely. Apparently the 61st did things differently. And on the chest of the tunic, on the opposite side from her medals two new items had been added. There was an Infantry Combat Badge and an Assault Landing Badge with a single tiny star indicating a combat drop under fire. She realized that under the regulations she was entitled to wear them, but she'd never even thought about it before. Along with her other medals it made quite a display for a wet-behind-the-ears lieutenant.
"Thank you, Jac, that was very thoughtful. But you say the 'Colonel' is a stickler. Is that Colonel Vortaglia, or Lieutenant Colonel Fetherbay?"
"Uh, well, both of 'em, sir. But it was Fetherbay who told me t'see to it."
"Really?"
"Yes, sir. A place for everything and everything in its place, that's the way he feels about things."
"And is that how you feel about things, Jac?"
"Pretty much, sir. Makes things easier."
"So how do you feel about me being here? A lot of people have told me that I'm something that's definitely out of place. Do you have a problem with it?"
Jacowitz looked startled. "Uh… well, sir, I'll admit that it does take some gettin' used to. But then," he gestured to the medals on her tunic, "unless they've started handing those things out with the ration packs, it's kinda hard saying that you're outta place here. Sir."
They looked each other in the eye for a long moment and then Anny nodded. "Well, all right then. I guess I better get changed for dress parade."
"Yes sir," said Jacowitz. "Will you be needing me for anything more today?"
"I don't think so."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, sir. Oh, what time do you normally get up, sir? I can be here with coffee ready if you like."
"Oh, no need for that, Jac. I don't usually take my first cup until breakfast. But thanks anyway."
"Very good, sir. I'll see you tomorrow." Jacowitz bowed himself out and shut the door behind him. Anny let out a long sigh.
Well, that could have gone a lot worse. I guess this can work. She went about changing into her dress greens, but she couldn't get Jacowitz's statement about Fetherbay telling him to get all her decorations in place. Why would the acting regimental commander worry about something like that? Was he sending some message? And if so, to whom?
As she was setting her cap in place she noticed a small flimsy lying on top of her dresser. She took it and saw that it was a receipt from the PX for the two new badges and the collar brass on her tunic. Jacowitz had put her name down and the price would be charged to her. It wasn't a huge amount, but if Jac was going to be spending her money on things, she needed to know about it. She supposed she better go and see the payroll officer tomorrow and find out how much she was paying him, too. A lieutenant's salary wouldn't stretch very far.
She bumped into Alby and Jer as she headed out of the building and they compared notes during the short walk to the barracks area. She noted that both had the collar brass and that Alby had the same two extra badges she was wearing. "So, got your own dog robbers, eh?" she quipped.
"Yeah," said Alby. "An antique just like we have at Vorsworth House. I feel right at home." They all laughed. The servants at Alby's home were all in their sixties or seventies.
They didn't have time to say any more as they reached the barracks area. A bugler was sounding assembly and the troops were erupting from the buildings. "See you guys at dinner," she said as they parted. Anny went over to where C Company was forming up. Her post would be in the rear of 3rd Platoon with the file closers. There was an awkward moment when she met Sergeant Milroy there. She outranked him, but he was the platoon commander. She settled the matter by taking a spot a few paces to the left of where the platoon commander should stand. Milroy nodded to her and took his position.
"I need to talk to you after the parade, Lieutenant," he said quietly.
"That would be good," she replied.
Dress parade was a bit different from the previous evening. Anny's viewpoint was different, of course, with her at first behind the line of troops and then later out in front with all the other company officers. With two battalions present and Colonel Fetherbay there, it was larger and had an extra step thrown in where the company first sergeants reported to the battalion adjutants who then reported to the regimental adjutant who then reported to Fetherbay. But it all went off splendidly. Fetherbay didn't have any special orders nor any comments to the officers as they wrapped up. The parade was dismissed and the troops began to disperse.
Except for the 3rd platoon of C Company.
"Lieutenant Payne?" said Milroy. "Could you come over here?" He gestured to where the platoon was waiting.
"Certainly, Sergeant," said Anny, trying to sound a lot more confident than she felt. What was this about? She followed him over to the men.
"Lieutenant? Private Kerbeck has something to say to you."
Anny's eyebrows shot up as the man she'd beaten up that morning came forward, looking embarrassed and glancing back at his mates. He came up to her and saluted. "Lieutenant Payne? I want to… I wanted to apologize for what I did. I'm really sorry and it won't happen again." He glanced at Milroy with an 'okay-I-did-it-can-I-go-now?' expression on his face. Milroy, however said nothing and his face was frozen.
Anny stared at Kerbeck until he was really sweating. "Well," she said finally, "thank you, Private, I accept your apology and I'm willing to consider the matter closed." Kerbeck looked relieved.
"Thank you, sir. It was really stupid of me and…"
"Lieutenant Payne would be quite justified in pressing charges against you, Kerbeck," said Milroy with a note of menace in his voice. "You could have disgraced the whole platoon." Kerbeck looked pale again.
"I could have pressed charges," said Anny, "but I hoped that the… uh… measures I took would get the message across better. It would appear that I was right. And I checked Private Kerbeck's record later, Sergeant, and I see that he's a good man. Just a tad too exuberant at times." This produced a laugh from the rest of the platoon.
"Thank you, sir," said Kerbeck. "And the message was received loud and clear, sir! You really mopped the floor with me!" The man grinned sheepishly.
"She let you off lightly, Kerbeck," said Milroy. "I did some record checking, too. Do you see what the Lieutenant is wearing on her tunic? The gold one?"
"Uh, yes sir."
"What is it?"
"The… the Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry, sir."
"Do you know what she did to earn it?"
"Uh, that fight out in the Merganthal Reaches…"
"She earned it for, among other things, killing three enemy soldiers, in battle armor, in hand-to-hand combat, Private. Hand-to-hand!"
"Holy shit…" There was a stir in the whole platoon and some whispered comments. Anny found herself blushing. The memory of that blood-soaked and terrifying encounter was not one she relished.
"Now all of you listen up!" said Milroy loudly. "Starting next week Lieutenant Payne will be in command of this platoon. I will be leaving for OCS. But I still have my contacts here! And if I hear that any one of you apes has treated the Lieutenant with anything less than the utmost respect, I promise you that I will go AWOL, come back here, and kick the asses of every one of you across the East Ridge! You hear me?"
"Yes sir!" The whole platoon roared in reply.
"Any questions?"
"Uh, yeah, what's 'utmost' mean?" The voice came from the rear rank and everyone laughed.
"It means I kick your ass twice, Soblinski!" snapped Milroy. "Now shut up!"
"Yes sir!"
Milroy turned to face her. "I think that about wraps things up, Lieutenant."
"Yes, I think so. And Sergeant?"
"Sir?"
"Thank you."
"Sir!" Milroy saluted crisply and Anny returned it. Milroy called the platoon to attention, but Private Kerbeck held back for a moment.
"Lieutenant?"
"Yes, Private?"
Kerbeck's voice fell to a whisper. "Howdja know it was me, sir?"
"Lucky guess." Kerbeck looked surprised and then a bit scandalized. "But I figured that even if I guessed wrong, my message would find its way to the right man sooner or later," continued Anny. "Don't you think, Private?"
A smile appeared on his face. "Yes, sir! It sure would have!"
"Kerbeck! Back in ranks!" snapped Milroy.
"Yes sir!" Kerbeck scampered to his spot. Anny watched the platoon march off, a smile slowly growing on her face and an elation growing in her heart. She turned and walked off quickly, hoping to catch up with Jer and Alby. She wasn't surprised to find them—and Sven Estaban—lingering by the edge of the parade ground waiting for her.
"What was that all about?" asked Alby.
"Oh, just a few administrative things we needed to work out," she replied. She moved next to Jer and they headed toward the regimental mess.
"How was your day?" asked Jer.
"Good. Really good."