The War to End All Wars

Continued...

�What a freaking backwater.� Creed said, gazing out the window of the dropship. Mar Sara�s primary colony facility spread out beneath him, the agriculture fields and terraforming machinery out near the horizon. As far as colonies went, Mar Sara was still just a fledgling.
�This is Colo 1, the residents still haven�t decided on a name. You will be governing from the military base, three kilometers west of here.�
�I read the briefing and introduction.� Creed told his secretary program. Wirehead, as he called her, was a simple piece of programming designed to make his life a whole lot easier. For now, she was downloaded onto his laptop but he would put her program into the interface in his office� if they had any good computers in this redneck colony.
�Your first order of business as the new Magistrate is to put on a demonstration of the new SCV or Space Construction Vehicle, the T-280. After introducing yourself to the troops of course.�

�What? For whom?�
�The corporate investors sir. The Confederacy feels that it needs new equipment, and where better to show its abilities than on a building colony?�
�Whiny sons of�� Creed trailed off, muttering about showing the investors a Firebat�s capabilities up close.

�� and that is why we have to put on this presentation. Any volunteers?�
A sea of lackluster faces stared back at him. Just his luck, he was replacing a guy who was probably pretty well liked in the system. Fortunately, a few of the Ghosts raised their hands. That was to be expected. They were smarter and less preoccupied with appearance.
�Okay Sergeant,� Creed turned to the Drill Sergeant. �Pick out 10 marines for me.�
�Yessir.� The Drill Sergeant said, throwing up a salute.

�Goddamn backwater.� Creed mumbled, walking away from the soldiers Caius groaned. �How did I let you goad me into t doing this? I don�t care who I�m doing it for, Ghosts should be for espionage, not being the playtoy of some executive.�
Jessie Shrugged. �Guess you�re just obedient to women. �You little fu�� His sentence was cut short as the Drill Sergeant called for the SCV pilots.
He, Jessie, another Ghost and seven other marines had been chosen to pilot the SCVs for the demonstration. Everyone, much like Caius at this point, had begun to gripe about their assignment.
�Why the heck are we doing this dumbass chore?� One marine said softly.

�Cause they need some grunts to make it look more professional. This way they can BS and say it�s useful to the civilians and the military.� Came the reply.
�And the Ghosts?�
�Probably here to make sure we don�t screw up.�
The ten test pilots emerged form the small tunnel to the parade grounds out to the cleared, dusty field where any important military ceremonies were held. Only a mere mile away, the barracks loomed in the horizon. In the grandstand, investors, dignitaries, and a few ranked Confederate officers sat, applauded politely as the group emerged into the bright sunlight. Before a huge stage with a podium were ten brand-new SCVs, polished and shiny with the emblem of the confederacy on each �arm�. Walking up to their designated craft, the volunteers stood in front of each vehicle and saluted the podium.

�At ease men.� The man at the podium, as far as Caius could see, was a little wiry but had a certain air of power and ability about him. It had to be the new Magistrate.
�We are here today,� The man began, �to demonstrate the multi-use T-280 Space Construction Vehicle, or simply, the SCV. Today we will demonstrate the many talents of this craft, including its ability to be the backbone of any military force. Our pilots�� He gestured towards the volunteers, in civvies in stead of uniforms. �Are Jessie Meyers, David Matthews, Gabriel Peter, James Cambridge�� Each soldier stepped forward and bowed to the slight applause as his name was said. �� and our commander, Caius Xavier.�
Caius jumped upon hearing his name listed as the commander for the demonstration. He�d never been chosen to lead anything, and was just barely a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Bowing to the audience, he began to think he could get used to being in power. If only he could find a way to get there again.

This we he could have a chance against the Protoss, Creed added mentally. The top of the podium before him was a replica of command center interface. Barely looking he popped up instructions and locations for the SCVs to begin construction and downloaded the information into the onboard computers of each SCV.
�This is not just a luxury for the military either. SCVs will be an invaluable aid in construction of more and more colonies across Confederation space.�

As long as the eye candy did its work, Creed barely needed to do anything other than run down the prospective costs and wait for the approvals. It was times like this that he was thankful that those with money were so easily gullible.
�SCVs are also fully capable of travel over almost any terrain and will shield their operators from any dangerous material.� Sliding his finger across the display Creed brought up holograms of several SCVs he sent to scout for a good building base beginning construction of a command center. Leaving them up on the hologrids a few feet above the grandstands, he continued to talk.

Continues...

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