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but a cracked mosaic of baked ocher colored dirt. It was a sure bet the moment it rained this place would turn into a sea of mud.
    The steady thump of combat boots on the exit ramp of the last heavy drop shuttle slowly diminished as the last troops disembarked and tramped towards the lone building in a cloud of red dust. The fact they were all human bothered him, as normally they were all part of a mixed group, with troopers from all over the Empire. His sealed orders said nothing about that, just to embark on the first shuttle with all available humans, weapons, and supplies. Even the pilot couldn’t, or wouldn’t tell him where they were going. Just that he had orders to transport them to some undisclosed destination. As usual, there was no explanation. He did note the movement order was signed by none other than the Emperor, and counter signed by Director of imperial security himself. That was unusual, but no one, from the Tellurian commanding general of his unit, right down to the shuttle pilot dared question those orders under the penalty of death, or worse. The question was why was he here? Just then, Sergeant Striker marched up and cut him a smart salute, breaking into his thoughts.
    “That’s the last of them, sir. Your orders?”
    “Cut the crap Bill, I’m not impressed,” Cassidy snapped, eyeing the salute. Sergeant Bill Striker’s mouth pulled into a tight smile, and he nodded.
    “So what’s this cluster fuck all about, Cap?”
    “Beats the shit out of me,” he sighed, “all I know is that we were ordered here for some god only knows reason at the behest of the Emperor and the asshole in chief, Director Markoff of IMPSEC himself no less.” He spat on the ground as he said the names, feeling as if he had something dirty in his mouth.
    “This can’t be good.” Striker frowned.
    “You’ve got that right, and why only humans?”
    “The word on the tac frequency is that all the troopers inside that building are human. Nary a Tellurian or Esterian in sight.”
    “How many are inside?” Cassidy asked in surprise.
    “Right now about ten thousand, sir.”
    “Good god! And all human?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “That makes no sense at all.”
    “True. When has imperial high command ever let us get together in such numbers, and without a bunch of toffee nosed, pencil dick Tellurian officers looking down their long bony noses at us?”
    “Never as far as I know.” Cassidy rubbed his chin, then removed his helmet and wiped the sweat off his brow. “Let’s get out of the damned sun before I start cooking.”
    William 'Bull' Striker fell in step beside Cassidy as they moved rapidly across the landing field to the door of the building. Both breathed a sigh of contentment as cool air hit them as they walked in, finding themselves in a stone lined passageway. Strange, colorful red and gold hieroglyphics covered the walls, but other than noticing them in passing, neither thought much of it at the time. They only made the connection later. Passing through a second door, they stepped onto a catwalk above a vast chamber, packed with troops, and as Striker said, all human. Cassidy whistled silently in wonder, and for a moment saw a vision of his old unit back on Earth before the uprising. He glanced at his command Sergeant, seeing the man stand up a little straighter, his eyes full of pride. This is how it should be, human troops commanded by human officers and NCO’s, not a bunch of toffee nosed Var, who thought they were better than everyone else.
    “What now, sir?”
    “Hell if I know. Stand by and wait for orders I suppose.”
    They didn’t have to wait long, and as if on command, the door behind them opened, and in stepped a woman. Cassidy did a double take, wondering where this young woman had come from. His was the last shuttle, and she hadn’t been on it. The moment they both saw the shoulder tabs they came to attention and saluted, the question fading away. The young woman returned it smartly, unlike