MAR

:::Chapter Five:::

Trooper BHJ stared down at me in a way that no trooper had a right to do; especially since he wasn't even human. He was taller than even OAC, though only by an inch or two, and completely dwarfed me in comparison. Sure it wasn't his fault that he stood so tall and had to look down at me, but what was with that smirk?

I was in the middle of inspecting the troops that were to be accompanying the main party planet side, even though we still had a year left to reach Gorizant. Most of the troops were Human, but there were some other races scattered amongst the ranks as well. Trooper BHJ was of a canine descent, most likely from a planet conquered by peaceful means many centuries before my creation. I wasn't at all familiar with his race, a fact that disturbed me.

He was covered in short fur a dark blue that was so dark that it looked near black in color. It was thickest on top his head and around his neck, flowing almost mane like around his narrow face. His eyes were thickly lashed and a light crystal blue, an amazing contrast against his dark fur. He looked wolf like, except for the two ivory white horns that curled from behind his large triangular ears to a sharp end right below his jaw line. And were those two black wings draped over his shoulders like a large leathery cape?

I made a mental note to check his records when I was done here and to look into his race. But for now, I glared back at those laughing blue eyes. "Do you have a problem you'd like to address with me, Trooper BHJ?" I asked him sternly, standing so close to him he almost had to lean back to see me clearly.

"No, sir!"

"Then I suggest you wipe that smirk off your face ASAP, before I make you drop down and give me two hundred. Would you like to give me two hundred push ups, Trooper?"

"No, sir!"

"Then why are you still smirking? Do I have something on my face? Do you find something amusing?" I paused, leaning back as the trooper snapped out another 'No, Sir!' at me.

Glancing down the row of troops standing on either side of Trooper BHJ, I noted the straighter stances of everyone. Their faces looked strained, all of them trying to contain their laughter. My frown deepened at that, knowing that they found amusement at Trooper BHJs' expense.

"You find something as funny as well?" I snapped at the trooper standing to the left of Trooper BHJ.

"No, Sir!" He relpied instantly, thought his lips still quivered slightly with suppressed laughter.

"Are you lying to me?" When the trooper hesitated, I took a step back from Trooper BHJ to get a better view of the troops. "Well, since all of you seem to find me so amusing, extra four hour duty at the mess hall!" This still didn't wipe all the hidden smiles from the formation. "And I'll be reconsidering your assignment planet side, since your lack of professionalism is unacceptable." That took care of the problem. Going planet side on such a high value mission was highly regarded, and very rewarding. The fact that they had been chosen out of all the other squadrons in the 33rd Division was a high honor.

"Trooper BHJ, report to my office after your extra duty. All of you are to report immediately to the mess hall, dismissed!" I turned sharply on my heel, and headed out of the assembly hall. It would have been more dramatic if the floor had been hard metal instead of the dark blue carpet. It muffled my heavy foot steps to a dull thump instead of the loud clacking of metal against metal that many troopers found intimidating.

I paused outside the assembly hall, trying to get my bearings straight. Now that the inspection had been cut short by an hour, I had nothing to do. I straightened my dark blue uniform that was used during ceremonies and inspections. It had taken me forever to press it and get every ribbon hanging from it straight and in proper order. What a waste!
I glowered darkly at the blank metal wall across from me, ignoring the passing of other troopers and civies that cowered at the look. OMC wasn't going to be pleased that the inspection had been cancelled. Though my threat to rethink the positioning of the 18th IN Squadron was an empty one, I still had to make them sweat about it. Can't let the troopers think I was a softy. Already rumors of my being the nice one had gotten around the ship, and I wasn't to thrilled about that.

I could be mean and intimidating too! I upped the darkness in my scowl and was rewarded with the sound of an eep coming from a brown haired Human trooper and his bond mate. They both hurried passed my gaze, no doubt wondering what they had done to warrant such a look.

Feeling slightly better, I headed off to my office. Looking up any information on the Trooper would help when I spoke to him in three hours and fifty-five minutes.


----Three Hours Later----


I tested out the sound, amazed at the feel that danced across my lips and tongue as the strange language flowed from my mouth. It was a low rumbling sound unlike any other language I knew, and I knew over five hundred different languages. I placed my fingers against my mouth, soothing out the sensation in amazement. Why had I never come across this language? I thought I had mastered all in the conquered realm.

I tapped the screen of my computer, bringing up the stats on Trooper BHJ. It was your usual data: name, date of birth, eye color, hair color, etc. His actual name was Karim Aquin. I had always thought that the naming system used by other planets was a waste of breath, why say Karim Aquin when you could just say BHJ? Such a waste of valuable time! I was correct, of course, in my assumption of where he came from. His planet had been conquered two generations before my birth, by peaceful means. Which meant the dominate species on that planet weren't turned into slaves. All of aged males served fifteen years in one of the three military branches belonging to Humans, and we let them live their normal lives on their own planet.

Trooper BHJ was of the Cakrian race that ruled the planet before us. They had been advanced enough in their culture and technology, that they weren't too shocked at the sight of flying ships landing on their fields. Their surrender had been swift and complete. Only three years, which was one of the fastest surrenders I had ever seen on record. While their apperance seemed aggressive, it was obvious from their quick submission that they were a more peaceful race.

The bleeping sound of my door pulled me out of my studies, alerting me that there was someone standing outside my office. Switching off my computer screen, I did a quick once over on my uniform and office. The last time I had let someone into my office with out double checking everything had been embaressing. How did one explain to the Division General exactly why there was an experimental purple demnia sitting behind my desk, while I was frantically cleaning up the peices to a several million dollar comupter system with my hair in disarry and my uniform wrinkled and torn? Some people just don't understand the simplest of reasonings. Besides, how was I supposed to know it was the General and not my bond mate?

"Enter," I said after my check, of course there were no more demnias, but one could never be sure what else I may have left out. The door opened, and my eyebrows snapped down in an imediate frown. "What are you doing here?" I asked the Cakrian as he ambled into the office. His casul persual of my office made my frown deepen.

"I kept getting fur into the soup, so the head cook ran me out," he came to a stop in front of my desk, "so I came here, like you had asked me to, sir."
"Your lack of respect and casul attitude needs to be fixed, Trooper," I stood up, and walked around my desk so that I stood infront of him. "How long have you been in the Space Command?"

"This is my first assignment, sir," Trooper BHJ shifted his weight slightly, his gaze was over my shoulder.

"First of all, look at me when you speak," his eyes snapped to my face, "and secondly, this assignment is not authorized for newbies. How were you able to board this ship without proper authorization?"

"I was transfered into the 33rd because no other slots were open in the other divisions. I didn't know what kind of mission we were going on until we were already under way. Colonel OMC approved my paper work, sir."

"Colonel OMC did?" I frowned in thought.

"Yes, sir. He inspected my paperwork personally, along with the others in the squad."

My frown deepend, and I stared at Trooper BHJ's long fluffy tail in thought as it swayed
back and forth. It was actually kind of cute, the very tip of the tail was lighter in color than the rest of his fur, giving it a near fox like apperance. I could feel the beginings of a headache start to form inbetween my eyes as I thought of the implications of what he said. If higher headquarters learned that OMC let a new recruit - a non-human new recruit at that - onto the ship on such an imporatant mission...

The consequences were to numerous to think about.

Which left only one option: give Trooper BHJ the safest, most low key job on the ship. If he had already been kicked out from one of the more unappreicated and unassuming jobs in the squad, there were not many choices left. But what else was there besides the cook?