The sins of the father

[McKarnigan]

8:00pm
Faith Haven Mustering grounds, Guard complex, planet Pygar.


Martin got out of the official car in which he had arrived, an old industrial model, the guard was not what it was and everything that fell into his hands was used, no matter how out of place or inappropriate for his rank of Field Maestre of the guard.
The weak sun of Omicron Theta began to shine through the dome and the chaotic and hurricane-like weather outside.
His assistant waited in a standing position holding the door, his impeccable uniform, ironed and ornamented, contrasted with that of the figure waiting for him ahead.

"At his command, Maestre!" said the man, standing at attention, "Lieutenant Colonel Ben Padilla, sir!"

He was overweight, around 60 years old, and his mismatched and worn uniform from years of use only increased the difference between him and his Master dressed in the traditional power armor, with the red sash and the baton, both insignia of his position.

"Rest," he said, waving his cane and without stopping walking, "are the recruits in formation?"

"The volunteers lack experience and discipline, but they make up for it with will and enthusiasm, we will turn them into excellent soldiers Sir, as your father said, we will mold them until they bleed discipline"
"Follow me, they are waiting for you sir," he said as he began to walk and grabbed his cajon hands. "Sir, I must tell you that it is an honor to have you here, you are the living image of his father, I served under his command, an exceptional man if you allow me to say it"

"You have already given permission yourself, Colonel, and yes, many served under his command and they all say the same thing," he responded in a sharp tone.

Again the same refrain, that he was indeed a great man, that he was a severe but close leader, a great soldier... soldiers do not flee.

They continued walking without exchanging another word and soon they reached an improvised platform on the side of the training field, in front of which were the volunteers who would form the 1st Faith Haven Rangers Battalion.
Their appearance was anything but soldiers, their uniforms seemed to be sewn with different patterns, many were too big or too small, and the faces of the men and women present showed that despite trying, they were not even able to maintain a closed order as they did. Deux commands, and even less standing at attention as expected of a true soldier.

Martin, standing on the improvised lectern, looked harshly at the group in front of him, his valet stood aside and Colonel Padilla stood below and in front of the platform.
His cold blue eyes scanned the front rows as silence spread across the field like a pond of oil.

Taking a deep breath he began with a modulated voice to give speeches.
"Men and women of the 1st Faith Haven battalion, the task at hand will not be easy, the future may hold a long and costly war.
The tools for it have already arrived and will be distributed as soon as possible.
If Deux wants it that way, there will be no combat and all the precautions taken will be unnecessary but you are all volunteers, you all know what is expected of you and as the volunteers that you are I will tell you the truth.
If the barbarians land on the planet they will do so with overwhelming force, do not expect a war like the one with the holotapes, there will be no fronts, the entire planet will be the front! There will be no rear guard or evacuation, if we lose orbit there will be no reinforcements or rescue... But you will not be alone, look at the men and women around you, they will be your family, take care of them and they will take care of you, give them trust. that a comrade in arms deserves and you will never be alone, keep them alive, without heroism or seeking glory, surviving to continue fighting will be the norm.
You will not be trained as regular soldiers, you will be trained as guerrillas, hit fast, hit hard and retreat to start again, that requires intelligence, requires agility and requires the will to resist, without faltering, for as long as necessary until the enemy bleeds from the thousand wounds that you will inflict on him.
Many will die, many will suffer wounds, but you will continue to fight, wherever and however it may, without giving up for a moment in the effort and in the belief that victory is not only possible, but necessary.
Many of you have already experienced this, when the Bretons invaded Gran Canaria we did not resist, we packed up and left, this time it will not be the same! This time we will fight! This time we will win! Never again a Gran Canaria!" he said, raising her voice almost to a scream.

The smiles and hopeful eyes of the crowd were replaced by faces of cold and somber determination, the memory of Gran Canaria, although distant, was still fresh and the wound had not healed.

Gran Canaria, that was the beginning and the end of everything, after that his father left with the best of the guard to an incomprehensible exile, leaving his people behind, he was not the man who had raised him, he was a pale shadow and thin of the man everyone remembers with pride, Martin knew the truth, his father was not worthy of such praise.

After the words, silence spread across the field again, only the rustling of the wind on the dome generated by a growing storm of dust could be heard.

"I... -Martin lowered his voice to a whisper- I.... I have made my decision".

"And I will be by your side!" He said, raising his voice.
"When the time comes, I will not take a ship and leave the planet!"
"I will share your joys and your hardships!"
"I will not surrender to despair or death!"
"I will not abandon you!"
"On this planet I have dug my grave!"
"And I will only leave here with victory in my hand or in the hands of Deux our lord!" he said raising a gloved fist.

Colonel Padilla took a step forward and shouted.
"Battalion!, in life or in death!"
"We serve!" the crowd shouted in unison.

With a slight smile, as the future soldiers cheered and shouted the battalion motto, Martin, again whispering, said.

"Because I am not my father."