“Chill, Lieutenant,” said the one wearing earphones-Snipe recognized him as the one named Street. “We on lunch break, is all.”
“Lunch break!” Snipe’s jaw dropped. “I never heard such bullshit! This is a war zone, legionnaire, and we’re under attack. Who told you to take a break?”
“Sergeant Brandy said it was OK,” said the other legionnaire. Snipe saw that his name tag read Gears.
“‘Sides, ain’t no attack I can see,” said Street. “Somebody starts attackin’, we be there.”
“And meanwhile you think you can go off and do as you please,” snarled Snipe. “The major will hear of this, you know. Consider yourselves both on report!”
“You can go get yourself some vacuum,” said Street. “I take my orders from Brandy.” He reached down, turned up the volume control on his headset, and proceeded to act as if Snipe did not exist.
Furious, the lieutenant turned around and began to search for the first sergeant. To his surprise, she was nowhere near the two errant soldiers. Finally spotting her unmistakable figure across the camp, he marched over to her, stiff as an overwound toy soldier.
Brandy was standing on the parapet of the trench on this side, looking out over the desert. “Sergeant!” Snipe strode right up to her and put his hands on his hips. “Sergeant, I need to talk to you.”
Brandy turned slowly and looked at him. “We’re in the middle of a situation right now, Lieutenant Snipe. Is this important, or can you wait until we get it sorted out?”
“A situation! I should say so,” said Snipe. “You’ve left the entire western perimeter undefended, except for a couple of men who say you told them to take a break!”