Prologue

Company clerk Corporal Sparks stuck his head through Captain Barnes' office door and said proudly, "I found him, Captain."

First Sergeant John R Daniels entered and stepped around the corporal. "I didn't know I was lost, sir. What's up?" He grinned as he approached the captain's desk.

"You know any reason why Senator Creel would personally request you, of all people, to lead a two car victory parade into a newly tamed town? Since when have you been on friendly terms with any politician, especially that one?"

"Say what?" Daniels looked at the captain in squint-eyed disbelief. "What would that clown want with me? My people are an assault team, not lace panty baby sitters for that piece of shit I can't stand."

"That will be enough of that, Sergeant," a voice barked from the doorway behind Sergeant Daniels. Major Delmar Randall shoved his way into the small office. "Senator Creel and the president are the staunchest of friends. You should be thankful you'll have a chance to observe greatness in action."

"Begging the major's pardon, sir, but my private remarks weren't meant to be disrespectful of the senator, but rather highly contemptuous. I will be more than happy to answer any charges the Major may wish to bring against me, sir."

The major's face became a mottled study of red on white as he suppressed his anger and struggled to control his temper in front of witnesses. The major bit off his angry retort. "You will meet the senator when his plane lands. You and your men are ordered to escort the senator where he wishes to go and when he wishes to go. That is a direct order, Sergeant." The major, well aware he would be on the losing end of a face down with the intractable sergeant, turned heel and beat a hasty retreat.

First Sergeant Daniels turned back to his company commander. "Captain, this stinks to high heaven. We're scheduled to raid that Tally hideout up in the hills and put paid to..." He got no further.

Captain Darrell Barnes interrupted, "Follow all legal direct orders, Whiskey, and get your ass and your men back here safe." The captain waved toward the direction the major had taken. "Those sons of bitches will still be up in the hills waiting for you when you get back."

As he watched his favorite noncom stomp away in anger, he looked skyward and said, "This is a total load of bull shit. Why would Creel request Sergeant Daniels, of all people... ?"

Two hours later, Jack and his crack squad of assassins were gunned down from ambush...

The small scout vehicle rolled forward at a slow crawl. The sergeant took point and the corporal brought up the rear. "Keep a sharp lookout," Jack ordered in a terse voice.

"This place stinks of those damned Tali-humps. The photographer in the lead vehicle alternated his camera between shots of the senator in the second vehicle and the men on the ground that all walked at full alert. The air was electrified with tension.

Without warning, the day exploded and the whole patrol was gunned down. The photographer, true to his profession kept the camera rolling. He took pictures of the downed soldiers, turned his camera on the senator as two last shots rang out. The senator's left sleeve jerked as if two fingers had plucked at it and the major slumped back with a bullet between his eyes. No one noticed the sergeant was still breathing, just barely.