Read The War for Profit Series Omnibus for Free Online Page A

perceptible, but somewhat irritating, high-pitched noise filled the room he stood and extended a hand and a warm smile to the three friends.
    “Glad you’re all here, I need all three of you.”
    “Glad to be here,” said Galen. He had been drafted by Spike and Tad to do most of the talking.
    “I’m Mister Burwell, your Designated Agent to hire personnel for Colonel Theil’s Panzer Brigade. Look at the plaques, degrees and certificates on the wall behind me. I’m trained at it and I’m good at it. I’m fully certified to take care of your employment needs as well as the needs of the units I represent. Yes, I do represent more than one unit, but that works to our advantage. If I see a better deal for you, I can let you know about it. So let’s talk. What kind of work do you young gentlemen want?”
    “More than one unit? I mean, I thought…”
    “Yes, it’s no problem at all.” A broad smile, arms open wide as he stood, “I’m an agent, your agent. The better the deal you get, the more money I make. The longer you live, the more money I make. Sure, I’m on retainer to recruit for the Panzers, and they do want three new recruits right now, but I’m flexible.”
    Galen thought a moment too long before replying. Tad jumped right in and asked, “So what else, what’s better, I mean, what else have you got?”
    Spike grabbed Tad by the arm and pulled him back. Tad remembered his promise to keep his mouth shut and stepped back to lean against the wall with Spike.
    Galen nodded at Burwell, so he replied to Tad’s question. “Training cadre on a new settlement on the periphery. You’re green here but you’d be drill instructors out there. It’s a two year contract, starting as a Corporal with unlimited advancement potential. You’d provide basic training for their militia volunteers. Finish that assignment as a Sergeant or higher and you’ll have a handy entry on your resume.”
    “Please, let’s skip anything that doesn’t include tanks,” said Galen.
    “Okay. You three at a spaceport, maneuvering tanks around from cargo ships to storage bays. It’s a one year assignment with a great chance to get hands-on experience with all sorts of different fighting vehicles.”
    “No.”
    “Here’s another chance. Members of the police force on Kalidasa. Patrol the military factories to prevent industrial espionage, and then if the planet is attacked you jump into a tank and defend it.”
    “Security guards? That’s no job for academy graduates; that’s where academy dropouts end up!”
    Burwell winced at the criticism, “Listen, hotshot. I was quite the soldier myself for a while. So when I ask myself how I would do it, if I had it all to do over again, this is it. I’m trying to get you to ease into the system, get a feel for the mercenary business. Get you feet wet before you plunge in. Spend a year or two of your youth being young, find a woman, start a family before you throw your fortunes to the stars. Go into it with your head on straight and with someone to come home to.”
    “Never mind that, mister. Tell us about the Panzers.”
    Burwell waited a full minute before speaking. He hit a few keys on the computer; it spat out three sheets of auto-copy paper and he handed a sheet to each of them.
    “That’s the standard contract, no flexibility for you guys. You sign away the next five years of your life, total loyalty to the Jasmine Panzer Brigade. Because of your status as academy graduates, you will enlist at the grade of Sergeant. However, if you are involved in disciplinary action your rank could go as low as nothing and you could spend your whole enlistment cleaning toilets. Good luck, gentlemen.”
    Burwell handed them boarding passes to a ship leaving in less than three hours. “Now sign those pieces of trash, give me back the original and last copy, and get out of my office.”
    Spike, Tad and Galen pressed their contracts against the wall and shared an ink stick to sign them. Just as