It had been several months since
Alex Redfern had been at Red Legion's HQ, his unit had been involved in a few "discreet" operations on behalf of Rokkenjiman intelligence but it seemed that was now over and so Redfern had been rotated back to Aldfield along with his Hunter Team. The Hunter's were the base units of the elite Legion, Alex's was made up of his faithful Sergeant
Olly Thomas one of the most experienced operators in Red Legion, and therefore as far as Redfern was concerned one of the best on Mundus. There was then Corporal
Thomas Barks, a man who firmly believed there was no problem on Mundus that could not be solved by the correct application of High Explosives, and he'd solved many a problem in exactly that way. The final member of the team was Legionnaire
Tom Saxby something of an oddity in Red Legion that he had at one point been an Airmen in the Air Force rather than taking the usual Red Legionnaire route of Army or Marine service. The problem was they were a man down,
James Gillespie the lieutenant that Redfern had firmly believed would one day fill his shoes had turned out to be a Bene Gesserit, a traitor who had probably helped those Truthsayers attack East Moreland. He'd not been seen in months now and his name had just a week ago been removed from the roll of honour listing those who had passed what was considered Mundus' most challenging Special Forces Selection test. Brigadier Kelly had called Alex into his office as he'd seen him stroll through the gate, his customary duffle bag slung over his shoulder. "Prince Alex," the Brigadier teased using the fake title his colleagues gave him since marrying the King's sister. "Office"
"Yes boss" Alex dropped his bag in with the guys on the front desk and made his way through to the Commanding Officers realm. He took the low seat opposite the grizzled old veteran without being asked and waited for Kelly to hand him the cup of coffee that always came with these chats.
"We've binned Gill....he never existed, he never will exist if I get my blood hands on him." the Brigadier had, just as Alex had, believed that Gillespie would be a future leader of the unit, the man had won medals for bravery for Helus sake so how could he have been such a traitor. It was a matter that had provoked a lot of soul searching among many in the Legion's ranks. "So you're a man light, you've also been busy so I know you need to get your shit back together. As it stands then I'm making your team the oversight for the next round of selection, as you know its a double edged sword, it'll mean a lot of physical stuff, but frankly you're looking a little more tubby....all that married Palace living taking its toll?" Kelly was in on the joke the men where that since being married Alex was getting soft, following Freya around to royal functions. In truth Alex looked as fit as he had ever done. "So you'll get chance to get back in shape, and you get the pick of the litter.....well from the officers anyway."
"Oh thanks" Alex knew Selection Oversight was an important role but he didn't particularly like it as it meant sitting around and missing out on lots of potential action. Yes you were the standby unit for any emergency or things like hostage rescues but it meant no day to day deployments. "We got any good ones coming in?" Alex asked knowing the Brigadier would have scanned the applications himself.
"A couple at least." He said dropping a sugar cube into his coffee adding some cream and then swirling his spoon to mix them. Alex leaned for the sugar bowl and found the old man's surprisingly quick reactions slid it just out of reach, "You need to cut down on sweet stuff.....its not done you any favours" he shook his head disapprovingly. "I've taken the liberty of having Thomas, Barks and Saxby assigned to help you out, figure they can help you get in the gym a little" Alex was about to protest but bit his tongue, he knew raising to the bait would only egg the lads on more but he was surprised that Kelly was in on it he generally rose above such childish mockery. The pair chatted about a few of the candidates and then Alex headed back towards his room, he passed one of the mirrors up in the halls to allow Legionnaires to check their uniform and found himself stood side on checking his profile, had he put weight on? He couldn't tell but heard sniggering from the far end of the hall and spotted Barks and Saxby, knowing what lay ahead he walked across the parade square to avoid them.
"YES....THE ANSWER IS YOUR ASS DOES LOOK BIG IN THAT......COS IT'S FUCKING HUGE!!!" He heard Barks yell from a window, Redfern carried on walking and just flicked the V's over his shoulder as he entered the corridor on the far side. "LOVE YOU TOO SIR" Barks voice drifted across through an open window. Alex unpacked his gear, put his picture of himself, Freya and their hopefully soon to be adopted little girl Evie on the wall before settling down to look through a selection of the officer candidates. It was getting dark by the time he'd finished and as he was considering what to do he heard a gentle knock on his door.
"Evening Al" Robbie Peacock one of his fellow officers was stood there, spotted you were back, fancy a beer" he asked. Alex indeed did and the two men headed back towards the gatehouse to sign out and stroll the short distance to the small towns local pub. It was a regular hang out for all the Legion and the owner, a sixty year old bald man, was a former Red Legionnaire himself who'd lost a leg to the Borlanders, on particularly rowdy nights he'd even challenge people to neck a leg full of beer but tonight the pub was quiet. "Howdy Tom" Robbie slid into a bar stool and began to order as the proprieter walked over only a slight limp giving away his injury. Robbie ordered a couple of beers and was informed that two of the customers sat by the fire place where heading for Selection the next day. All new recruits were ever told was that the Red Legion Barracks was in Aldfield, its exact location never given out, it was in essence the first test of a recruits skills of intelligence gathering. The locals of Aldfield, all of whom were fiercly proud to be the home of the unit and many of whom were veterans or widows, never gave the location out either.
"It's ok" Tom whispered leaning over the bar, "I told them its hidden away on that new industrial estate." the new industrial estate to the town did indeed look like a military complex, that was because at one time there had been talk of establishing a regular army training centre here that could also make use of the facilities in the local area Red Legion had but the plan had been scrapped and the site turned into small industrial units. The three men chuckled wondering whether the two men would indeed make it by the 8am deadline to be inside the base. Every selection a handful didn't make it, some missed trains, some got lost, one year they even had a lad who had turned up three minutes late because he'd been helping with a car accident, all of them were denied entry and sent home. After a few cheeky beers Robbie and Alex made their way back to the barracks. As they approached the guard house there was a shape slumped by the first guard post.
"Evening gents" the Legionnaire on guard duty grinned, "Keen and eager to join your merry band in the morning" the Lance Corporal pointed to the shape which was a man wrapped up in a sleeping bag on a camping matt. "Turned up about an hour ago, presented his joining instructions and was told he's too early and to piss off until tomorrow, proceeds to say he doesn't want to be late and so curls up here."
Alex poked the man with a boot. "Piss off" was all that came back, followed by an intake of breath as the cocoonesque shape slithered round, "Oh shit" the face showing in the bags hood exclaimed recognising Redfern. "Sorry Sir" he said. Alex squatted down to be at the same level.
"Name?" Alex asked in a rather stern tone.
"2nd Lt
Joe Wolfe...Sir" the man was trying to undo the drawstrings of his sleeping bag to get out. "Sorry sir" he apologised again as Alex waved a hand telling him to not bother.
"You coming on selection? Your a little old for an officer" Alex observed
"I'm joining Red Legion yes sir" he said rather more confidently than he felt, "Was frightened I'd be late, or overlay or something so guessed if I was on your front door step then I'd got woken up by people coming past and wouldn't miss the deadline." he explained his situation. "And as for being old sir, thats because I worked my way up from the ranks so to speak. Was a little dumb in Seaforth and well, found myself at Officer Training, did good so figured why not see just how good I am." A broad grin spread across the mans face. "I can go away if this isn't allowed" he added sheepishly not wanting to make a poor impression.
"Nah" Alex stood up again. "Let him in" Alex instructed, "He can sleep in the brig" the Legions jail cells had never been used, except for when drunk officers not scheduled to be on base had turned up and needed somewhere to crash. The man followed Alex and Robbie inside and was shown one of the cells, they were old fashioned, still bars rather than a solid door, a wooden bench attached to the wall with a gym mat for a mattress, a silver metallic toilet in the corner. "It's not the Hilton but it's better than outside, you'll get a good nights sleep and you'll need it." Alex flicked the light off for the man as he settled down. "Well if we get a batch like him then I just may have something to work with. " He mused to Robbie as they headed back to their own rooms.
"Yeah....it'll be good you doing selection, safe pair of eyes.....and the exercise will do you good" he playfully tapped Alex in the stomach as he shut the door to his own room leaving Alex feeling once more a little self conscious.