Sandorn's Prison: A Military Space Opera (Sandorn's Allegiance Book 2) by Thom Bedford

Author:Thom Bedford [Bedford, Thom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independently published
Published: 2023-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

In warp, the fleet was out of harm’s way. At least what remained of it. Between Hanford and Exeter, only thirteen of the original thirty-two ships would be returning. A heavy loss in terms of equipment and personnel, but fleet HQ would look at the higher-ranking officers rescued from Hanford as a major victory.

Sure, thirteen hundred Alliance officers lost their lives today, along with three hundred marines. But over seven thousand ranking officers were on their way back home, and would soon be back on rotation. Thousands of captains, commanders, and lieutenants were worth far more to the war effort than a thousand crew members and NCOs. War was a numbers game to the admirals sitting comfortably on Earth. The price of a human life depended on how quickly it could be replaced.

“Comms, send a tight-beam to Exeter Station. Heavy losses, but en route with seven-K ranking refugees. Arriving in twenty-four hours.” Sandorn spoke from the captain’s chair, garnering an acknowledgment from Vasu. “Lieutenant, how are our guests?”

“They’re settled now, sir. Happy to be aboard and on the way home, but a lot won’t be fighting-fit for a while.” Muniz responded, then started reading off her console. “We’ve been sent a lot of the injured at Flynn’s orders. Thirty-or-so coma patients, a couple hundred recent amputees, many internal injuries, radiation sickness. I’ve no idea how Rosso managed to load and unload her shuttle with this volume of sick and disabled people so quickly.”

Sandorn’s expression dropped on hearing Rosso’s name. He looked to the floor and slumped back in his chair, leaning his head on his fist.

She was gone.

There was no chance the Alliance would send another fleet out to Hanford any time soon. Not for just seven hundred POWs or whatever remained. Especially not since Flynn’s orders had been to extricate the higher-ranking officers first. What was left? A bunch of crew members and NCOs? Chefs? Cleaning staff? ‘Sure, let’s send several thousand officers and trillions of credits-worth of starships to bring back a few dozen low-ranking officers and one brilliant pilot who just happens to be my girlfriend,’ he sarcastically argued internally.

That’s if she was still alive. The Union could’ve easily just decided Hanford was worthless after losing over ninety percent of their prisoners. Just blow the station and leave that Hell-forsaken system.

“Ami,” Sandorn said out loud unknowingly before catching himself, “Aspirant Rosso was an expert pilot. Let’s hope she’s safe in Hanford. We’ll come back for her as soon as we can.” He lifted himself up from his chair slowly as guilt and worry ate him from the inside. “Take care of our guests. I’ll be in my stateroom. Lieutenant, you have the conn.” He walked across the bridge to the exit, tapping the control panel to the side of the door, and walking through.

Along the corridor, he heard all the sounds of a starship, but listened to none of them. He struggled to keep his gaze level as his heavy head pulled it towards the floor. Officers

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