Dusts of Avalon - Beastwithin.org

I. F H“Now that just sus”, Tankerman said.“Can we go to the Cap's funeral?” Wolff asked.“As long as the doctors give you the thumbs-up, I guess. You're bound to beoff the company for the next two months at least, anyway, and I guess most of thesquads will go there too — unless something really weird happens. He be buriedin the aid Plateau Colony in Mars in two weeks.” Daleworth sighed. “I guess Icould make the arrangements for you. I'll let you know how it works out.”“Uh… so, who's going to be our new captain?” Tankerman asked.“Don't know yet. I'm supposed to see Major Plaerman about that in a fewdays.”February 6, 2632, 13:31 UTC“Sir, I knew this was probably full well within the Corps's rights, but I still mustprotest this, sir”, Daleworth said. “I have my rights to shore leave, and it was dulyneeded, sir. I could get a psyologist's statement to that effect if it came to that,sir, but I know you are a reasonable man, sir.”Major William Plaerman — “Flat Earth Major”, as many called him, due tothe fact that he was clearly off in his own worlds, though admiedly only in thestrictest physical sense — confused most people who ventured in his office. edark-haired officer that was seemingly rectangular in almost every conceivablefashion — perhaps his maker had used Leonardo da Vinci's drawings as blueprintsand had forgoen to remove all those Golden Ratio rectangles — had a good deskand a comfortable air, whi obviously meant he enjoyed the office far toomu. But the walls of the room were covered with large display screens andhis holographic computer display, hovering above the table, was simply huge,covering almost every direction the major looked at from his air; he definitelywas one of the few Space Marine Corps commanders who could actually leada bale on the far reaes of the Solar System from his comfortable seat baon Earth with great competence, and not get grumblings from the rank and file.He was, at the same time, a competent Space Marine officer who had lead manycompanies of the starship Mannerheim in several glorious bales, while neverreally leaving his office ba in Earth. And now, he was known to be jumpingaround the world, too. It seemed to the people under him that as long as he couldlink up somehow to the companies on the field, there was no reason for anyoneto worry: he was the kind of a commander that could lead a glorious, successful,no-casualties assault from the shower if the need was great enough.Plaerman smiled; he was not a man who was known for big and cordialsmiles, but those who knew him, knew the smallest smile was a good sign ofthings to come. “I know, lieutenant, and your complaint is very understandable.