Wandering Storm by Steven Anderson

Author:Steven Anderson [Anderson, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, Romance, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780999178843
Published: 2018-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

The Esprit Orageux was on orbit half a kilometer out from Costrano’s Redoubt at 16:00 local time. I waited outside the transit dock while one of her shuttles maneuvered to grapple to the Redoubt’s airlock. There were no hydrostatic sprayers and I stood with my eyes closed, trying to feel for any pieces of the Puca colony that might be planning to board with me. I felt nothing other than Sam waiting for me. I knew he would always love me, but there had been frustration and disappointment in his thoughts when I had told him that I still wanted to stay on Kastanje and that it was important.

Winona hadn’t answered at all when I tried to call her, and I was terrified that I might have lost her forever. Her words kept echoing in my brain, I’m done with you. I shivered, not sure I could survive without her. I always did stupid things when she wasn’t around to hold me together. Things like requesting a transfer to the Kastanje shipyards.

I boarded the empty shuttle at 16:35 carrying nothing but a small duffle, and Storm flew me home. Captain Rostron was waiting for me when I walked down the ramp. I saluted and requested permission to come aboard. She returned my salute and then regarded me with eyes squinted almost shut. “I see you finally found a combat uniform, Engineer.”

I glanced down at the mottled Kastanje black and gray. “Yes, ma’am. I wasn’t able to get their printers working, but they had these in my size. My only other choice was a peasant dress with…” I touched my chest as I trailed off. I tried to smile, but couldn’t quite get my mouth to agree to it. The Captain’s expression hadn’t changed. “I’ll change as soon as I get to my cabin.”

“You do that. We’ll review your After Action Report first. Walk with me.”

I sat across from her desk on the bridge while she read from the display in front of her. I kept trying to guess what part she was on by the look in her eyes as they scanned back and forth, but her expression never changed.

She glanced up at me after what seemed like hours. “Do you know that lying in an AAR is punishable under article 107?”

“Yes, ma’am.” My face flushed and I could feel my ears glowing red.

“This report says that Major Alaoui and her Marines killed Artem Costrano.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I have reports from a Kastanje Lieutenant Colonel, an NCO, and a Private stating that you were the one that killed Costrano.” She touched something on her display. “The Colonel’s report says, ‘The Union officer, Lieutenant Mala Dusa Holloman, stabbed Mr. Costrano to death with a large knife. She eviscerated him while he was trying to rape her. No charges are anticipated in the case due to the circumstances of his death and the state of war then existing between the Union and the Kastanje Home Collective.” She tapped the display again. “The other reports are more…graphic.

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