‘Three companies of Imperial Marines are being flown here by jet. They should arrive momentarily.”
“But we have no airfield.”
“They’ll jump from the planes and come down on jetbelts. When our task unit from the Mobile Force arrives, we’ll be able to drive the Komani out of the city—if all goes well this morning.”
“Very well,” Clanthas said. He turned to the mayor, “We must inform our people about this plan of battle. We have to move swiftly.”
Within a moment, the veranda was deserted, except for the Terrans.
“They seemed to accept your plan,” Vorgens said to the brigadier.
“They’d better.”
Sergeant Mclntyre asked the Watchman, “Sir, when the airborne troops get here, they’ll need somebody t’ show *em where they’re supposed t’ set up … won’t they?”
“Very well. Sergeant,” Vorgens said, “you may report to the brigade commander. I didn’t think I’d be able to keep you out of the fighting.”
Mclntyre saluted brisldy. “Thank you, sir!”
Aikens said, “If you’re going back to the Mobile Force, Watchman, you’d better start off right away. There’s not much time left before the shooting starts.”
Vorgens met the older man’s eyes. “When are you leaving?”
“When the battle’s done.”
“Then I’ll stay too, if you don’t mind.”
They stood facing each other in silence for a moment. Then Aikens turned away.
“Look!” shouted one of the brigadier’s aides. ‘The jets.”
They could see three fine, white contrails hurrying across the morning sky. Within minutes, the planes had come low enough to flood the city with the thunder of their engines. Tiny figures began to jump from them, with crisp military precision, and float slowly downward.