Read Star Traders (Corporate Marines Book 3) for Free Online Page B

effectiveness.”
    Patroe looks at them both curiously. Beside the security chief, the boys’ mouths are hanging open. “Well, I can’t say I understand everything behind that thought process, but it obviously works for you and your fellow troops, and that is all that is important.” He turns to the boys again, “Derek, Snyrl, stop gawking and wake up! Take two and eight here to their rooms and run them through the full briefing.” He grins. “I am guessing that they will run through it faster than the other two newbies to the ship. After that, show them around the ship and find out what they need, and submit the requests to me in triplicate so that I can get them any necessities quickly.”
    The boys brace themselves to attention and with grim looks on their faces, bow to the Marines. The Marines, equally grave, bow back, and then the small party walks down the hallway.
    Patroe just watches them leave with a quirky smile on his lips. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.” He turns and strides to the intersection and heads in the opposite direction from the one everyone else had taken.

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER LOADING
    T he captain pours himself a cup of coffee and adds some of the 18-percent cream, his sole weakness. He stirs using a spoon and heads for the table where the security chief is eating with his wife. He thinks to himself how they could not be further apart in likes and tastes, and yet they are husband and wife. He’s big and burly and a fighter with almost unlimited patience and she is small, petite, with strawberry-blonde hair and the nickname Terry “The Scary.” There was a story a long time ago of a huge brawl and little Terry in the middle of it with a chair leg, facing off against four Earthers while she stood over a downed shipmate. She has the energy of a nuclear reactor and the drive to go with it, yet they sit there quietly eating and just enjoying each other’s company.
    The captain smiles and asks, “Patroe, Terry, may I sit here?”
    Terry smiles at the captain. “Well, of course you can, captain. Pat and I were just talking about the personnel that came aboard yesterday and how interesting they are.”
    Patroe solemnly nods. “I heard that both the man and woman almost cried when they had their heads shaved.”
    The captain chuckles at that. “I understand that the crew were a bit more energetic than was strictly required. Would this have fallen under the banned hazing ritual?”
    Terry smiles sunnily. “Nonsense, Bill! Those two should never have left Earth without a proper spacer’s haircut. Whoever let them get out this far with that hair should be punished by chanting regulations for a full day! The crew were just making sure that those two newbies are safe!” Her smile turns a bit less cheerful. “Of course, if they are such delicate flowers that they can’t handle it, then they should get off. Especially the new girl. For shame, allowing herself to get attached to hair. Women are better than that and should be showing the little powder boy how it’s done!” Then her smile disappears completely. “Perhaps she should be wearing heels and focussing on her nails and how they look instead of coming out here to do research on another star.”
    The captain holds his hands up in surrender. “I am glad that there was clearly no hazing going on and it was really just my wonderful crew looking out for their safety in the event of a hull breach!”
    The three of them chuckle while the few other people in the mess hall continue eating and drinking around them.
    The captain tries again. “No, actually, my question was a bit more for Patroe. How are the two Marines working out so far? Demanding? Bored?”
    Patroe shrugs. “No problems at all so far, captain. They want to fit in and gave me a schedule of their activities for every day. Two hours per day working on armor and equipment. An hour in the gym, where they will be putting the gravity up just past Earth-normal.” He