Anzio: Book 1 by Allen Wes

Author:Allen, Wes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

26

Anzio Bridge, Outside of Gelbok

The Anzio was now in Gelbok’s galaxy, the enemy planet visible from their current location. Three enormous planets sat in close proximity of each other, and the farthest visible one was home to the Mimic. The Anzio was at full thrust, on the outer orbit of a turquoise-hued, ringed planet. If you didn’t know better, you’d have thought the galaxy was lifeless like every other rock they’d passed on their journey to the enemy’s home. But Renson and the others knew it was probably the calm before the storm.

“Touchdown time to Gelbok?” Renson asked Polino.

“Seventy-six hours to contact. Cap, what’s the plan here? Are we actually taking the bird down, or are we using the Slayers?”

“If we had a better idea, or any idea at all, of the topography of this place, then I would take a chance on landing the bird, but in our current position, we’re gonna have to take the Slayers down.” Renson looked over at Lieutenant Volarv, who was on the bridge to debrief, and asked, “Are your men and women gonna be up to it?”

“This is why we’re here, Cap. We’re at your service.” Volarv said the words with a straight face that hid the pain in his heart. He cared deeply for all his pilots, and having just lost a portion of the crew stung.

“After your debriefing, go eat a good meal with your crew and get some well-deserved rest.”

Doctor Hernandez walked over to Baker, who was sitting in his chair drinking green tea, and leaned into his right ear. “I need to see you in my office right away.”

The XO didn’t engage in the normal, playful banter, clearly sensing the urgency in the doctor’s voice. Renson and the rest of the bridge crew watched as the two shuffled off the bridge into Hernandez’s office.

“Your lab work came back. We have to talk.” Hernandez didn’t waste any time. He looked into Baker’s eyes. “Your immune system is weak. Your white blood cell count is seriously low.”

Baker sat down on a hard wooden chair against the wall. “I’m not following. I feel fine. I mean, yeah, my eyes are blurry, and I haven’t been feeling as well as I normally do, but I’m still strong as an ox.” He beat on his chest a couple of times with his closed fists.

“Let me level with you. Even a common cold can kill you with these numbers you have—”

“Why is my immune system so low?”

“Repeated long-term radiation exposure. That’s my best guess. I’m not sure what you may have been exposed to in your time on Weldon, but I do know these jumps and the time out here in deep space is literally killing you.”

“Is that why my eyes are blurry, and I have these insane headaches?” Baker dropped his head deep into his open palms.

“It’s one and the same. Your inflammatory issues are causing an eye disease known as Uveitis. Inflammatory cells have entered your eyes. That’s why they’re red, painful, and blurry.

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