"No one, no one, will discharge his weapon without an order to do so, is that understood?"

"We'll be bloody lucky if these things even fire!" came a voice. His feelings emphasized the poor condition of the weapons they carried by everyone.

"Settle down, men, we've an unpleasant job to do and we'll do it to the best of our ability!" responded Thompson.

With his hands on his hips, he regarded the diverse group of men who stood nervously before him. Some nodded in ...