“Why do you say that, Sergeant?”
“Because, Captain Christine the Fighting Machine, you are one squared away, hard-a*s. And I mean that in the best of ways, sir.”
“Shut up, Parello.”
“Yes, sir, Captain Merrill, sir.”
Christine inspected everything again, making sure it was all set. Then prelit the torch. No need to conserve supplies, more were scattered far and wide around them.
“Do it already!” Parello’s voice wasn’t so easy.
She was starting to hear the strain beneath his easy surface. It made her like him more. He’d just proven he was capable of being an optimist in a scary situation, but not a gung-ho space jock.
His record showed problems with authority, but a kick-a*s battle record with an amazing ability to survive. One of the reasons she’d accepted him into E Company 5th ba
