The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Vol. 2

"Listen, Des Grieux," Lieutenant Grimsrud said. "We don't want any of your cop in this company. If you get cute, you're out. D'ye understand? Not busted, not in lockup: out!"

"I'm notinHotel Company," Des Grieux snapped. He was confused. Besides, the adrenaline sparked by a chance of action had made him ready—as usual to fight anybody or anything, including a circle saw.

"You are now, Sarge," Daniels said as he handed Des Grieux the hard copy.

"Get over to the depotsoonest,"Grimsrud ordered as Des Grieux stared at his orders. "Jailor, you've got transport, don't you? Carry him. We've got a replacement tank there with a newbie crew. Des Grieux's to take over as commander; the assigned commander'll drive."

Des Grieux frowned.He was transferred from Delta to Hotel, all right. It didn't matter a curse one way or the other; they were both tank companies.

Only . . . transfers didn't occur at finger-snap speed—but they did this time, with the facsimile signature of Colonel Hammer himself releasing Sergeant-Commander Samuel Des Grieux (retinal prints attached) from detention and transferring him to H Company.

"Look, sir," Daniels said, "it's not my job to dr—"

"It's bloody well your job if youdon'tget him to the depot ASAP, buddy!" Lieutenant Grimsrud said. "I can't spare the time or the man to send a driver back. D'ye understand?"

Des Grieux folded the orders into the right cargo pocket of his uniform."I don't understand,"he said to the holographic image."Why such a flap over the Thunderbolt Division? We could put truck drivers in line and walk all over them."

"Too right," Grimsrud said forcefully. "Seems the towel-heads figured that out for themselves in time to hire Broglie's Legion. Colonel Hammer wants all the veterans he's got in line—and with you, that gives my 3d Platoon one, I say againone, trooper with more than two years in the Regiment. Get your ass over to our deployment areasoonest."

Lieutenant Grimsrud cut the connection.Des Grieux stared in the direction of blank air no longer excited by coherent light. His whole body was trembling.

"Don't sound like she's lookin' for excuses," Daniels grumbled as he got to his feet. "C'mon, Sarge, it's ten keys to the depot from here."

Des Grieux whistled tunelessly as he followed the jailor to an air-cushion jeep as battered as the equipment in Daniels' office. His kit was still in D Company. He didn't care. He didn't care about anything at all, except for the chance fate offered him.