Anger seethed inside him and before he knew it he had struck out, the butt of his weapon shattered the old man’s face, blood ejaculated from his shattered nose and he flopped to the ground. Sam brought the pistol up and pointed towards the next surgeon, a young, handsome man, who seemed like he wouldn’t be out of place on a glamorous show about medics saving lives. Calmly he pushed the barrel against the man’s forehead.
“Now I don’t have time to mess around anymore, so I will make this simple, you will save this woman and the child she is carrying, or I will kill all of you.” He glanced over at Naomi, “She is my life, my family and the only person in this universe that I love.” He pivoted back and fixed the young doctor in his stare. “Just look into my eyes doctor, do you think I care about regulations, or punishment. She’s a human being for fuck sake.” He screamed.
A diminutive figure in a nurse’s uniform moved through the pack and towards Naomi.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The young surgeon asked.
She turned back a plain, pale face and eyes that had clearly seem misery before.
“She’s a patient doctor.” That was it, her simple and yet profound reply.
Slowly others from the pack began to move, they began to activate arrays of monitors and robotic scanning devices.
“You can put that away now,” The nurse said softly.
“Thank you,” Sam removed the weapon from the doctor’s head and placed it back in his holster.
As he strode back the tiger moved languorously to his side, it nuzzled its head against his leg, and instinctively he reached down and ran his fingers through the thick fur.
“She’ll be ok now boy,” He whispered.
Behind him the old man spits angrily through a mouthful of blood and broken teeth. “You’ll fucking pay for this, marine, do you hear me?”
Sam glances back, “My name is Captain Sam Collis, Empire Marine Corp seven, four, six, five, two, alpha.” He barked angrily.
He edged to Naomi’s side, around her, doctors shouted orders and nurses moved quickly, he looked up at a floating screen, which showed, two distinct heartbeats, both weak but alive.
The nurse came to his side, “You have to leave now marine, we have to sterilise, this room and then we can operate.” Her voice is low and gentle, developed he’s sure from a life time of caring for the injured and their loved ones. “We’ll take good care of both of them, you can trust me.”
Sam feels tears pool within his eyes and begin to trickle down his face. “Thank you,” he manages to splutter, before the emotions overcome him. He stumbles outside the warm, arid air, dries his tears and saps his remaining strength.
His legs buckle and he slumps unceremoniously to the dirt. He sits there for a moment and stares off towards the horizon, thick clouds of astringent smoke still rose from all sides of the battlefield, creating a low hanging miasma of black and grey.
The tiger was suddenly at his side, it glanced at him and then gently lay its heavy head down in his lap, its tongue hanging haphazardly from its gapping mouth. Sam began to rub behind the animals ears and it let out a satisfied yawn.
“They’re both going to be ok now, boy, we all are.”
The tiger roared softly and then settled back down.
Sam sat for a moment, within this surreal landscape, with a robotic animal laid down next to him. His memory fired and he saw Naomi again, her beaming face burnt within his soul.
“I have to get them both out of here, boy.” He spoke the words slowly, as if trying to convince himself, he didn’t know how, or even if he would get the chance now. After what he had just done within the medical tent, he was pretty sure that the purity officers would be coming for him. There wouldn’t be any trial, this was a battlefield after all, so the justice would be swift and immediate; he had seen it before more times that he wished to count. Men and woman kneeling within the dirt, as a purity officer reads the charges, in front of his company and then the judgment is past. The single gunshot rings out and a life ends.
He shuttered his eyes tightly and grasped at ideas, if Naomi made it and he could travel with her, maybe they could make for the spaceport he knew that there were several transport ships there. Reserved for any of the true citizens that may have been left behind in the first evacuation, it was possible, he could fight his way onto one.
He opened his eyes and stared down at the tiger, who had closed his real eye and powered down his robotic one. Sam lay his hand on the animal’s side and felt its heart beat. He knew he was reaching for straws, even if he could somehow, make it to the spaceship, where would they go that the Empire wouldn’t find them.
No, his fate was sealed now, he would die on this miserable piece of rock, yet, hopefully Naomi would live and so would their child, and he would make sure to get them off this planet. He could make it look like she died, make sure that no one would come looking for them, make sure that they could have some sort of life, away from this war and it’s never ending slaughter.
It was then he saw the flash in orbit, just one at first, then two, then ten then what appeared like a hundred. To him it looked like fireflies loosed within the shade. Yet he knew exactly, what they were, jump points were being opened high above the planet and he knew it wasn’t any Empire units they were still two days away. Which only left one other option.
He barred his eyes, and sighed heavily. “Separatist’s,” he moaned, anguish, and terror mixed in equal measure.
He nudged the tiger, softly and the animal came awake instantly. Sam was on his feet in seconds.
“You go in there boy and wait for Naomi to wake up, you protect her,” he knelt down and fixed the animal in his gaze, he was drawn to the side of the Tiger’s face where the metal exoskeleton could be seen and the mechanical eye gleamed. “You understand me, don’t you?”
The tiger roared once, its tongue lapped from its mouth and moved softly over his face. Sam could feel the calloused flesh move over his cheek and then the animal shifted around and stood in front of the door. Sam strode over and opened it, inside was a hive of activity, the Tiger squeezed past him and went to Naomi’s side and sat down, its eyes scanning the room. Doctors and nurses stopped working and looked upon this strange intruder.
“Don’t worry,” Sam said quickly, “He won’t hurt any of you, he just going to keep an eye on her.” He marched to Naomi’s side, already the doctors had begun to cut away her armour. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he lay a hand lightly on her bleached forehead.
“You really can’t be here,” One of the surgeons exclaimed his voice, muffled by a translucent face guard.
“I’m sorry I’m leaving, the Separatists are here in force.”
The petite, gentle nurse was at his side, “What do you mean the Separatists are here?”
He stared at her for a moment, unable to find the words, “They have come back in force.” He grabbed her shoulders, “Please save her and then if you have a way off this miserable world I would take it, they won’t be able to put a full screen up round the planet for some time.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
He sighed, “I don’t want any more blood on my conscience.”
He didn’t wait for a reply, he turned and left the tent. Once outside he keyed his coms unit, flash traffic was pouring in, from the sounds of it, the fleet in high orbit was being decimated, yet that was not something he could worry about.
He flicked it over to a private frequency, which only the troopers used.
“Eyes one this is Stalker how do you read over?”
A blast of static then a familiar voice, “Stalker, this is eye one go ahead?”
“I’m at grid fifty-four by sixty-seven, at that medical clinic they set up, for the true citizens, Naomi’s there, she’s hurt pretty bad, I need you to get a few troopers you trust and watch out for her.”
“Roger that Stalker, I’ll make it happen.”
“She’s pregnant Valus,” he said cautiously. “I don’t k
now what’s going to happen, but if she makes it, the purity officers might be after her.”
“Don’t worry Sam, I’ll watch her back and they won’t ever touch her, eye one out.”
Sam glanced towards the sky and saw more flashes, this time explosion, he didn’t know how many ships they were losing, all he knew was that they had just lost their ride off this planet and now their war had once again become simple. Fight or die.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Simon strode quickly through the throng of troopers, excited to be seeing Gemma again, there weren’t usually a lot of things worth getting excited about in this universe, so when something like this happened, you had to make the most of it. As he drew closer to the vast medical tent, he saw a large group of troopers peering up towards the sky.
He shifted his own gaze and it was then he saw them, thousands of drop ships tearing through the upper atmosphere, each cocooned by resplendent flames.
“Jesus Christ!” he exclaimed, without thinking he found the cross in his hand, the faded metal, felt reassuring. He had never really been religious, that had always been his Mothers department. Yet since her passing, he had found strength in the faith she had given him, not of a particular God, it was more of a sense, that something was out there, a power, a being, a spirit, which watched over all of us.
He didn’t know what was going on, yet he was sure of one thing, they were enemy ships and that meant that Separatist’s reinforcements had arrived.
“Listen up!” He shouted, groups of soldiers swung round, he didn’t know who was in charge but he couldn’t see any officers. “Get back to your units and prepare for an assault.” At first most just stood, frozen with fear or uncertainty. “That wasn’t a fucking request,” he bellowed, “Move your fucking arses.”
Troopers snapped back to reality and although most wouldn’t have known who he was, they were used to following orders and set off to their various platoons. He turned and ran around to the back of the tent.
He saw Gemma, sitting alone by the fire, which had burnt down now to little more than glowing cinders. She was rubbing her hands together, against the chill that was rising as night began to set upon this alien world.
As he approached she shifted to him and she looked even more beautiful, in the soft twilight. Her lips curled and her face seemed to brighten.
“Hey there you,” She purred as she stood up slowly.
He tried to control the fear that was now spreading within him like a cancer. “Gemma, do you have a way to get off the planet?” He asked bluntly.
Her face dropped, “What do you mean?”
He was in front of her now and her sweet aroma filled and aroused his senses in equal measures, “Do you have a way of getting off the planet?” he asked again, more forceful now.
“No,” she whispered, her features drawn a mask of apprehension and worry, “We get evacuated with the medical frigate, why, what is this about?” her hand reached out and drifted over his.
The charged touch of her skin, sent shockwaves through his body, he stared at her deeply. “The Separatists are back,” he wanted more than anything to lie to her, to tell here than everything was going to be fine. Yet he couldn’t, “There are a lot of them and that must mean that the fleet is either gone or badly damaged.”
She gripped onto his hand. “What are we going to do?” her voice was secure and steeled.
He beamed, “What we always do, were going to fight and keep fighting until we can find a way to get off this miserable rock.”
Her hands found his face and softly brought his head down to hers. She kissed him tenderly on the cheek, the feel of her lips upon his skin, set his very soul ablaze.
“I have to go,” She whispered, “If there’s going to be more fighting, then there are going to be more injured troopers.” She drew back slightly.
“Listen,” he reached out and took her hands in his, “Stay here and close to the other staff. You’ll be safe here behind the lines, whatever happens I will find you.” She moved her thumb tentatively over his wrist.
“I know,” She coughed.
“This has got to be like the worst first date ever.”
There was a brief pause, then they both started to laugh, the kind of nervous laughter, that helps to relieve the tension.
“I’ve had worse,” She spluttered.
“Really, now I can’t believe that.”
She grinned at him and he felt his heart thunder within his chest, “Take this,” he murmured as he pulled off his flak jacket.
He dropped the body armour over her shoulders and chuckled to himself about how oversized it was. She had the look of a child, whose parents had told, she would simply grow into it.
She squirmed under the added weight, “I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to work with this.”
“Don’t worry, you get used to it”
She drew her hand back and edged towards the medical tent, “I will see you soon Sergeant.”
“Yes mame,” he replied and watched as she marched back to the relative safety.
He turned and set off to find his brother, once again. His war had become simple, a fight not only for survival but to save those that he cared about.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ilius burst out of his cabin and found Kirken sat sluggishly on the steps, dried blood still flexed over his face. Before he could even say a word, his attention was drawn to the sky, where he could see the battle now being waged in orbit, above this miserable rock.
“Sir!” Kirken said as he heaved himself to his feet.
Ilius didn’t respond, instead his mind was still trying to come to terms with the events that were now unfolding. Only a few minutes ago, his entire life had seemed to be moving along perfectly, as had this conflict. Yet what should have been his crowning glory, was abruptly shifting towards abject failure. High above his head, the entire battle fleet was being destroyed and he caught sight of the enemy drop ships now hurtling down towards the surface.
“NO!” he screamed his own ire palpable.
“What is it sir?” Kirken enquired meekly.
He shifted towards his adjutant, raged inflamed within his eyes, the corpulent man, edged away under the weight of Ilius’s anger. “You ask me, what is it,” He spat, “Have you not looked around, you weak, insipid little man, have you not borne witness to what is taking place.” He gesticulated towards the heavens, “Our mighty fleet has been decimated and now the separatists, mount a major ground invasion.”
Kirken smiled timidly, “Perhaps sir it is time for us to leave this place?”
Ilius sneered, “Do you know something, my rotund friend that is perhaps the only suggestion that I will ever take from you.” He glanced towards the distant vista, to where the Separatist troops were forming a beachhead, “Inform my honour guard that I wish to be under way within the hour, before the enemy can form a defensive ring around this miserable place.”
“Of course, sir” Kirken replied and then shuffled away to begin the preparations.
Ilius couldn’t help but think that perhaps he had been right to keep the little rat around for this long at least. Yes it was certainly time to leave this barren planet. Still he felt pangs of regret, this could have been his great victory, his chance to gain all the support he would need to finally take control of his house.
Still he mused to himself as he headed back into the security of his armoured car, at least he would still live, and after all wasn’t that the most important thing. You couldn’t have a general dying, especially after the tragic loss of the fleet, yes perhaps he would be able to make this narrative work for him still. The Empire would need to cover up such an immense loss, the populace wouldn’t be able to know about such a monumental defeat, which would of course be bad for morale. So might there be another tale that he could spin, a way to make himself once again the hero.
He edged over to his display screens and caught sight of his troopers rushing towards the frontline.
“Fo
ols!” he spat derisively, what did they think that they could accomplish. There was no hope for them, still when he thought about it they had little choice really, unlike him they didn’t have a ship hidden away just for such eventuality.
It was then his attention was drawn to one of the smaller images, he drifted his hand closer to the screen and brought the picture into clearer focus.
“What are you doing?” He pondered, as he watched Tara, strolling nonchalantly away from the battlefield and towards his own private vessels.
Tara strode across the dirt towards the camouflaged ship. Through her auditory implant, she could hear snippets of the battle that was being waged high above her in orbit. It was most certainly a massacre, already three-quarters of the fleet had been wiped out and those Empire vessels that were still operational were beating a swift retreat. The mighty realm was abandoning this tiny piece of rock to its fate, already the word was flooding over the command net that this planet was sanctioned. She could see the wheels of the public relation wing of this mighty war machine already turning, tales were beginning to leak, of a pandemic that had wiped out most of the troopers and enemy, of a valiant last stand by the mighty marines against the separatists and this unknown disease.
“Very clever,” she sighed under her breathe. It was clear now the narrative that Empire had begun to thread and the end result was the same as always.
A buzzing within her implant, indicated an incoming communication, she keyed her relay and before her a holographic image burst to life. Her father stood tall, still imposing even in his advanced years, his face as always a blank slate, of hard angles and deep furrows.
“Father,” She bowed.
“Officer,” was his terse reply.
The Last Foxhole (The Forgotten War Saga Book 1) Page 23