Reapers: The Shadow Soldiers by Josh Collins Page B

was right next to Rhett. A good leader would be wise to remember the conflict the two had not more than an hour ago. He was feeling some of it now. Brosi seemed to be compensating for his weaknesses, and Rhett had realized it.  
    “You don’t have to act tough for me, kid, I know how sub-space goes,” he assured calmly, much to Burns’ surprise. He had expected some sort of a comment on how it didn’t matter how tough you were. He had assumed Rhett cared much more about title than he actually did. So, it would seem it was only Burns who was still struggling to march along with the teamwork fife. Except for, maybe, Carmen.  
    As the generated portal collapsed weakly behind them, the transport headed in view of a large, silver carrier below. The carrier was wide and deep, able to transport thousands of gunships and millions of men. Behind her plump front sat her fourteen propulsion engines. She may have been a portly lady, but she was as nimble and fast as any.  
    The others might not have known it yet, but this carrier was a feared Deep Space Eliminator Cruiser. Her name was the Western Duchess, and she was the only ship to have escaped the first assault on Silverset.
    Dropping closer to the large cruiser, she opened her large bay doors and welcomed the transport to set down inside.  
    As they descended, crewmen ran about with magnetized boots, guiding the pilot to a safe landing.  
    Once they had touched down, the magnetized techs “locked” down the transport and cooled it off from its flight. Inside the transport, Burns and company waited patiently for the crewmen to do their jobs. Burns heard the ratcheting of the large bay doors closing. They would only have to wait for the artificial gravity to take hold now.  
    It took a few minutes for the gravity to take hold, but soon Index was given a thumbs-up by the pilot, and the team was allowed to exit.  
    Opening the hatch, the four armored soldiers led by Index stepped onto the open tarmac of the Duchess . Much like the hanger of the Syncopate, the hustle and bustle was familiar to Burns. He actually felt a little at home here.  
    The group was then greeted by a regal looking man with a mustache. He was dressed in a dark gray officer uniform, which was adorned with plenty of ceremonial ropes and ribbons.  
    “Welcome aboard,” he greeted as Index headed to the front of the group.
    “Good to see you again, Fleet Admiral,” she told him as she shook his hand. He bowed his head, silently concurring.  
    Returning to business, Index turned and motioned to Burns. “Colonel Ben Burns,” she introduced as she turned back to the Fleet Admiral, “this is Fleet Admiral James Partinger.” Partinger offered his hand once more, and Burns felt obliged to shake it.
    “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” the man greeted.  
    “Pleasure’s mine, sir,” Burns returned quickly, wanting to skip the formalities and get to the job he was tasked.  
    “Right,” Index began promptly, “I assume you’ve received the dropship,” she said. Partinger bowed his head again.
    “Ah, yes,” he assured. “My men have been tending to it for days now. It’s in the east launch bay, awaiting deployment.” Index gave him a confirming look as she motioned to the others to follow. The four armored soldiers quickly fell into ranks.
    The cruiser halls were an active mass of crewmen running from port to port. Burns couldn’t imagine what they’d been through, having survived the first assault on Silverset and seen the rest of the Eliminator cruisers struck down. It would have been enough to make the most devoted Dominion soldier surrender.  
    These cruisers were the pride of the Dominion military, the image of everything they stood for. The ULC didn’t only stop an invasion, they kicked the air out of the entire military. Stopping the ULC now wasn’t just for justice—no, it was personal.  
    The crewmen had the look of veiled disgust. They were trying to keep it under