Sparrow was dead, vaporized; out of play. But his driver had survived, and she could transfer him to Blue Three. Take over from the inexperienced driver—or perhaps for Sergeant Wager, also inexperienced with panzers but an asset to the understrength crew of One-six.
Mix and match.
Something jogged her arm. She could see again.
The tracked landing vehicle had backed into a cross-street again, making way for the lead tank. The dust was far behind
A helmeted major in fatigues the color of mustard greens—a Yokel Marine—waved toward them with a swagger stick while he shouted into a hand communicator.
"Booster, match frequencies," Ranson ordered.
She saw through the corners of her eyes that Stolley and Janacek were exchanging glances. How long had her eyes been staring blankly before Stolley's touch brought her back to the physical universe?
" . . . onsider yourselves under my command as the ranking National officer in the sector!" the headphones ordered Ranson as her AI found the frequency on which the major was broadcasting. "Halt your vehicles now until I can provide ground guides and reform my defensive perimeter."
"Local officer," Ranson said, trusting her transmitter to overwhelm the handheld unit even if the Yokel was still keying it,"this is Captain Ranson,Hammer's Regiment. That's a negative. We're just passing through."
The Yokel major was out of sight behind
A little man who'd held la Reole with a battalion of recruits against an attack much heavier than that which crumpled three thousandYokels at Camp Progress. Maybe not so ridiculous after all . . . .
"Local officer," Ranson continued, "I think you'll find resistance this side has pretty well collapsed. We'll finish off anything we find across the river. Slammers out."
La Reole had been an attractive community of two-and three-story buildings of stuccoed brick. Lower floors were given over to shops and restaurants for bridge traffic. Shattered glass from display windows now jeweled the pavement, even where shellfire had spared the remainder of the structures.
