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how to fight. If you
don't think you can do ground combat you can always teach,” Irons replied.
    “Huh,” the tiger growled softly. “I don't do space stations
admiral,” he growled after a moment.
    The admiral nodded. “Then you can go to Agnosta. There is a marine
base there. Several hopefully, I haven't gotten the last report so I'm not
sure,” he said raising a hand. “The plan is to have several training bases
there to train marines in basic combat. But we also need army. We need
Rangers,” Irons said simply.
    Nohar grunted. “I'll think about it,” he growled looking away.
    The admiral sighed internally but turned, looking around. Some in
the room looked interested or at least amused. “The navy has a policy of free
education, full medical for you and your family, and will even pay part or all
of your transportation costs. Some with the right skill sets can even get sign
up bonuses,” Irons said to the room at large.
    “I think you made your pitch,” Nohar chuffed, sitting back and for
the first time moved his right arm to rest it onto the table. He looked down at
it and slowly clenched and unclenched the fist. He raised it and stared at the
artificial hand. “It's like new,” he said softly.
    “Not as good as mine I admit, but it's useable for now,” Irons
replied.
    “I've got a client to get to,” Nohar admitted reluctantly after a
moment. Irons nodded.
    “Just think about it. If you want someone to talk about old times
with let me know,” Irons said nodding as both of them got up. “Nice to meet you
Hank, I'll try to remember to get you that replicator when I get the chance.”
    “Thank you um, Admiral,” the Neolion said nodding. Irons realized
he had been putting a pocket watch together while they had talked. He snorted
softly. He turned and Nohar was already gone.
    “Gentlemen, ladies,” Irons said, nodding to the other patrons as
he made his way out. He heard the voices pick up as people talked about him and
what he had said as he left. A few of the skeptics made him itch to wade back
in but he forced himself to move on.
    “Well! That was interesting,” Sprite said.
    The admiral smiled as they made their way through the crowd. “Was
it?” he asked, sounding amused but slightly disinterested.
    “Tell me you didn't plan that?” Sprite accused, sounding amused as
well.
    “I didn't expect gratitude if that's what you're probing about.
But yeah, the pitch was part of it. I wanted to one, impress him and the
others, and two, get the word out. Even with the skeptics people will talk
about it and some will take an interest.”
    “Well, I do admit you did make an impression,” Sprite admitted
with an amused sniff. “I think setting up a recruiting poster would work better
though. It would lay out all the facts for anyone to read. Relying on organic
word of mouth is... troubling. Your feeble memories tend to distort simple
facts.”
    “Which can work to our advantage,” Irons replied with a small
smirk as he crossed the street at the corner. He nodded as a horse drawn
carriage slowed for him to get out of the way. When he and the older lady who
had been just behind him had stepped onto the wooden side walk the carriage
moved on.
    “Ma'am,” Irons said, stepping aside and nodding politely to the
woman behind him. She sniffed and turned walking primly away.
    Irons sighed softly watching her leave.
    “Somehow, something tells me that wasn't the response you wanted,”
Sprite chuckled.
    “Oh shut up,” he growled back.
     

Chapter 3
     
    Irons noticed something was up when the people in the street
started heading to the sidewalks and into the buildings. Someone bumped him in
passing, he turned to protest and saw a pair of figures down a hundred meters
away making their way purposely into the street.
    “Sprite?”
    “Yes Admiral?”
    “What's going on?” he asked as a nearby store slammed its door
shut and the proprietor clicked the lock as he flipped the sign to closed. “Is