— 8 —
Bromley shook his head clear of such thoughts. "That won't be necessary, sir. I've never known Lieutenant Smyth to put personal situations above his men or the other Slammers."
"But will he obey you?" Hammer asked coldly.
"I'm willing to bet on it," Bull told him.
Hammer stroked his chin in thought. He started to say something more but Bromley stopped him.
"Sir, Foxtrot's been a team. It's been a team because I can depend on Pete Smyth to obey my orders even if he knows some of his men are going to get killed because of them." Bromley swallowed. "Even after last night, he still knows that I'll never needlessly sacrifice him or his men. He'll obey me, sir."
"Very well, Lieutenant," Hammer agreed. "I hope your faith is well founded." He paused. "My men will die if you're wrong."
Before Hammer could say anything more, Smyth rushed in with news from Operations. His purposeful stride had a tense air to it. With one look, Bromley gathered that Smyth had guessed their conversation. A tentative smile played across Smyth's lips.
"What are you so happy about, Lieutenant?" Hammer snarled.
"Sergeant Major Ogren is leading the softskinned vehicles in the rescue convoy, sir!" Smyth retorted instantly.
"Is he?" Hammer growled, then softer: "He is? Good. That means that at least you won't have to worry about your ass."
Sergeant Major Ogren was a legend in the Slammers. He had turned down a commission so many times that it was rumored Colonel Hammer had threatened to retire him if he did it again. Rumor also had it that Ogren's reply was immediate: "And who'll run your regiment then?" Ogren was known to lecture young lieutenants with his fists. It was whispered that Ogren had trained Hammer himself.
"What are the rest of our forces?" Bromley inquired.
"Your platoon of tanks, another from Training, my infantry platoon and two more from Training," Smyth ticked off on his fingers. The look he gave Bromley was grim. "I couldn't get much more from Major Pritchard, sir. He was busy trying to arrange medical support from the civilians—we don't have enough."
"Eight tanks, twelve squads of skimmers! Damn!" Hammer swore. "I'll never be caught with my pants down like this again!"
Pete Smyth gave the Colonel a worried look.
"It's not that bad," Bromley corrected. "You've got my Team Foxtrot plus Foxtrot Alpha Tango, Foxtrot Alpha India, and Foxtrot Bravo India. Those are the three fully equipped training platoons, right, Smyth?"
"Yes sir!"
"I fail to see the reason for your confidence," Hammer replied flatly. "The training troops haven't seen combat, most of their officers and non-coms have just been promoted, and you haven't been on exercises with them yet."
"Yes sir!" Smyth agreed. "But the two infantry officers were sergeants in my forward squads. You gave them battlefield promotions. And the lieutenant in charge of Foxtrot Alpha Tango platoon was the track commander who held the pass against Jebbitt's retreat."
"That is better," Hammer agreed. "But they're still green."
"I agree, sir," Bromley replied. "This isn't the best time to put people into a new position. They need all the time they can get. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to do my best to provide it."
Hammer returned their salutes, and they departed.
Time is of the essence.
If Bull decides to go immediately to his assembled forces, turn to section 9.
If Bull decides to consult with Operations first, turn to section 10.