“People of Fiera. This is Maria Onoshi. The Concord Navy’s scouts have reported the last enemy ships have gone through the Tunnel. We’ve driven them out of the Bubble.”
Some of the crew cheered. Lane heard the Luzon accent and was comforted by the knowledge the world was holding together behind its leader. That was another change, she realized. In the past the Liaison only dealt with governments. Now she was talking to the people.
“This has been a bloody victory. Many spacers of the Concord Navy and the national fleets gave their lives and limbs for the fight. Worse, the enemy cowardly attacked defenseless civilians, leaving eleven cities in radioactive ruins. Millions are dead. Many more are injured or homeless.”
The camp they were delivering to was one of a score around Xian City. How many of those were there in the world?
“We know they would have done worse if they could. The Censorate made a holiday to boast of exterminating all life on our ancestral homeworld, Earth.
“They will not boast of their visit to Fiera. We hurt them. Hurt them badly enough to make them run away.”
That drew harsh cheers from Roger and Tets.
“The war is not over. But we will be stronger next time. We’re putting more effort into building our defenses. We’ve captured enemy ships to learn their technology from. We’ve taken prisoners who will confess their tactics.”
Marcus had agreed to serve as a prisoner interrogator. Lane hoped it wouldn’t make him cruel. Prison was brutal for the guards as well.
He was the only one of the crew to go. Niko had declared Welly ‘essential personnel’ to prevent her transfer.
“Right now, we must help those most hurt. If your nation was unharmed, please send what you can to the destroyed cities, and offer new homes to those who need them.
“Let us all pray for us to meet this crisis as one people. God bless you all.”
Lane shouted, “That means get back to work. People are dying while they wait for this stuff.”
Other Works by Karl K. Gallagher
Science fiction fans, check out Torchship, a working-class hard SF adventure.
A captain who’ll take any job if there’s enough money in it. A pilot with an agenda of her own. And a mechanic with an eye on the pilot.
The crew of the Fives Full are just trying to make enough money to keep themselves in the black while avoiding the attention of a government so paranoid it’s repealed Moore’s Law. They’re not looking for adventure in the stars . . . but they’re not going to back down just because something got in their way.
The Torchship Trilogy was a finalist for the 2018 Prometheus Award for best libertarian science fiction novel.
The sequels Torchship Pilot and Torchship Captain are included in the Torchship Trilogy omnibus.
Adventure story fans will enjoy The Lost War:
It was supposed to be a weekend of costumed fun. Instead these medieval historical reenactors are flung into a wilderness by magic they don't understand. They must struggle to survive and deal with monsters who consider them prey . . . or worse.
About the Author
Karl Gallagher has earned engineering degrees from MIT and USC, controlled weather satellites for the Air Force, designed weather satellites for TRW, designed a rocketship for a start-up, and done systems engineering for a fighter plane. He is husband to Laura and father to Maggie, James, and dearly missed Alanna.
About Kelt Haven Press
Kelt Haven Press is releasing print, ebook, and audiobooks by Karl K. Gallagher. For updates see:
www.kelthavenpress.com
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Between Home and Ruin (Fall of the Censor Book 2) Page 24