Empires at War (Star Crusades: Mercenaries Book 6) by Michael G. Thomas

Author:Michael G. Thomas [Thomas, Michael G.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Swordworks
Published: 2017-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Spartan Class Landing Ship Dock ‘ANA Agincourt’

January 27th 2473

Spartan shielded his eyes from the bright lights aboard the ship. It might be two days since the end of fighting on the Helios System, but he’d found little time for rest in the intervening hours. He’d taken a beating, as all his people had. Months of combat on Karnak had introduced physical and mental conditions to his people, one that even time and rehabilitation might never be able to resolve. He was numbed to most of it, but no man, not even him was completely invulnerable to its effects. The klaxon sounded, and then the lights flickered three times.

“What’s happening?” asked a marine as he limped near Spartan. A medic spotted him and grabbed the wounded man before he could stumble.

“Nothing to worry about, just the power systems fluctuating again. The old lady took a lot of fire in the fighting. We got stuck between two cruisers. You should have seen it.”

“That wasn’t very clever, was it?” replied the marine, with a thinly veiled attempt at humour. The medic chuckled while signalling for help. At first glance, it looked like disorganized mess, but the reality was far from that. Spartan knew what real chaos looked like it, and it was nothing like this. The pair moved away, and Spartan watched them leave in silence.

“Medic!” yelled a woman far off into the distance.

Spartan held back as four medical orderlies ran past him. A Byotai officer went with them, carrying a heavy case on his back. Spartan winced as one brushed past him and bumped against the synthetic stitches and glue along his flank. The man looked to him and lowered his head.

“Sorry. Uh, I mean, Sir.”

Spartan waved him off with a grunt and waited for a few seconds in the long passage. The ship was supposed to lead the charge into battle, and now it was being used for something entirely different. He watched as the men and women went about their duties. The ship bore the same rough layout as the Confederate Class ships, though fitted with more medical bays and barracks due to the lack forward and rear particle and bombardment cannons. Designed as assault vessels to put troops and landing craft into battle, the ship now functioned as a floating hospital, sickbay, and holding area for the hundreds of wounded personnel. It was so busy few of the officers and crew even noticed the legendary major moving among them.

“Excuse me.”

A door opened, and two more crew appeared, along with a wheeled diagnostic system. Spartan had no idea what the thing did, but from the way they moved it the thing was either incredibly fragile, or very expensive. In his experience, it was probably both.

“Major,” said a man from a doorway.

Spartan strained to spot the man, but as two marines stepped aside, he spotted him.

“Over here, Sir.”

It was a Navy officer and clearly trying to find Spartan. He soon vanished from view as yet more people pushed past. Spartan made his way through the many people, narrowly avoiding stepping on a man lying on a stretcher.

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