Wolf pushed through the exhaustion as they tallied their dead. His section had lost over half their number on what should have been a cake assignment. Overall, the company had lost nearly sixty percent of their troopers. Another ten percent would need cybernetics to survive, let alone return to combat effectiveness. They had held the field, but to Wolf it was a pyrrhic victory.

  He walked through the mess of the FOBS, distracting himself by making sure his surviving troopers ate and processed the loss of their brothers and sisters. When he finally sat, Ta’lek joined him, setting a tray of food in front of him. “You need to eat as well.” She whispered. He was about to argue when she subtly gestured to his troopers, most of whom were casting subtle glances his way as they stirred their food rather than eat.

  Sighing, he ate. The food was tasteless but warm. He knew the cooks had done a good job, but recent events made it impossible to enjoy the chow. He noticed the ones that weren’t eating began to follow his example. Ta’lek slid a glass of water to him, saying, “be sure to drink as well.”

  Nodding, he took the glass and gulped down the cool liquid. “Thanks Ta’lek.” He said somberly turning to face her. “I did get a chance to ask Ni’lan about you insisting I drink the water you bring.”

  She tensed at his words, but nodded. “Please tell me if I got the wrong idea. You do know that regs won’t allow a relationship while we’re in the same unit. At least not while I’m in your direct chain of command.” He said.

  When she didn’t correct him, he continued between bites, changing topics, “I’m thinking of putting in for retirement as soon as this war is over. This planet seems like a good place to set up a farm. What do you think?” he asked.

  “It sounds like a good idea. My family ran a farm on Hor’inka. I think I would enjoy helping you. That is, if you want it.” She replied.

  Before he could answer, O’gren joined them, his tray rattling on the table. He sat in silence for a moment before asking, “How do you do it, LT?”

  Wolf put on a practiced smile and gestured to the haggard survivors around them. “I do it for them, for the ones still fighting in medical, and especially for the ones that didn’t make it home. Theres never a guarantee any of us will make it back, but I will do everything I can to bring all of my troopers home.” He explained.

  As he studied O’gren, he continued, “There will be times I order my troopers to do something that will almost certainly get them killed. When I do, I make sure their lives aren’t spent frivolously. Even then, I remember each and every one I lose.”

  O’gren nodded, though Wolf knew his words hadn’t quite settled in. “Eat your chow, shower, stop at medical to get your eye fixed up, and get some rack time. This war isn’t over yet and there’s more imps to kill.” He said, picking up his spoon and doing just that.

  Wolf had barely gotten another bite when a fresh faced spacer walked up. “Lieutenant Wolf?” He asked hesitantly.

  Wolf set down the spoon, turning to the youth. “What do you need ensign?” he asked in a carefully controlled tone.

  “Captain Ult’an wants all of the officers an’ NCOs in the briefing room.” He said, looking around in mild shock at the condition of the troopers.

  “Copy,” he said, snagging a sandwich from his tray and using it to salute Ta’lek and O’gren. “Think about what I said, private, and be sure to stop by medical when you can. Same to you, corporal. I know you have at least a broken arm.” He said, raising his eyebrow at her, before taking off for Ult’an’s meeting.

  In only a few minutes, Wolf was at the door to the briefing room surprised to see a pair of marines in full battle rattle standing outside. “Something wrong marines?” He asked as he slowed.

  “Name, rank, and serial.” The one on the left, a corporal, barked.

  “Thomas Wolf, first lieutenant, whiskey-tango-four-three-seven-one-zulu-golf-eight-epsilon-romeo-foxtrot,” he recited.

  The corporal studied him for a beat, Wolf noticing his eyes flicking between his face and something only he could see between them. After he nodded, the marine held out his hand. “I need your sidearm, sir.” Wolf hesitated before unclasping his weapon’s holster, handing it to the marine who assured, “It will be returned as soon as the briefing is over.”

  “Copy that, corporal. Any intel on what’s going on?” he asked as the man stepped back, nodding to his partner, both of them placing their hands on palm scanners on either side of the door.

  “Not sure, sir. Just that they brought in an HVT from the southern assault.” He said before the door slid open with a barely audible hiss. He looked at Wolf expectantly waiting for him to walk through the door. With a weary sigh, Wolf did just that. “Thank you, corporal.” He said, then stepped through.

  Wolf examined the room, spotting Nickelson, Yak’eln, Delamd, and their platoon sergeants seated at the table. At the head of the table was Captain Ult’an and a woman Wolf didn’t recognize. Taking a seat, he studied the woman.

  She was a brunette based on her close cropped hair, several scars ran down her cheek that resembled claw marks, nearly identical to the ones Wolf had seen over O’grens ruined eye. Her eyes were a pale grey that contrasted with her bronzed complexion. She wore loose fitting fatigues with a mottled green pattern that would have blended in well with the sparse forest of their LZ, if it wasn’t for the

  spatters of blood marring the otherwise crisp fabric. He finally noticed her bound wrists, though she still held herself with unrepentant authority.

  She’s a noble, he thought. They remained in relative silence, the only sound the occasional sip from one of the steaming mugs of caff from the pot sitting in the middle of the table. That silence was interrupted by Ni’lan entering the room and taking a seat next to Wolf.

  Ult’an stood then, saying, “Good. Now that everyone is present, I would like to introduce Illani Bezos. Heir apparent to the house of Bezos.” The woman enacted a slight bow at the introduction.

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  “She and her brother are the ones that assaulted our position just before the sappers saved our asses. If they hadn’t landed, we would have lost. Illani was found taking cover inside a blown out APC tending to a group of wounded beast-kin. Those same beast-kin then proceeded to put themselves between our troopers and Miss Bezos. It took one of the beast-kin defectors to convince them we wouldn’t hurt her if she surrendered. Even then, they insisted on attending her until she ordered them to get checked out by our medics.”

  “They needed medical attention and would have bled to death if I didn’t. Besides, I know how the rangers operate and that I would be safe in your care… safer than in my family’s, at least.” She interjected, muttering the last in poorly hidden disgust.

  Wolf raised a hand, waiting for Ult’an’s nod before speaking. “Ma’am, am I to assume you would like to request asylum with us?” he asked skeptically.

  She shook her head. “I’m not asking. I’m the one that informed your command about the limited forces expected in this system.” She said, casting a glare at Ult’an. There were several accusations before Ult’an raised a hand for silence.

  When the group stopped speaking the captain gestured for her to continue. “I told them the optimal time for the assault was in one month when my brother would be on his way back to our home system and I wouldn’t have needed to risk my beast-kin on this foolhardy endeavor.”

  “That’s above my pay-grade Ma’am I was under the impression we would face limited if any resistance. Obviously that wasn’t the case, and command dropped the ball.” The captain said, then nodded to Nickelson. “Go ahead Lieutenant.”

  “Sir, if what she says is true,” He started earning a huff from Illani, “it would explain why it was so much worse on charlie. Even taking into account the fact that Yak’eln and I had a combined front, she didn’t use normal imperial tactics in that assault. She was much too conservative with her axillary forces having the conscripts take most of the heat and keeping the beast-kin in reserve.”

  Illani interrupted again, apparently not wanting her ability to be brought into question. “Those weren’t conscripts. They were regulars my family assigned to me. Whither my brother was here or not, I would have been forced to send them to fight you. If I didn’t get them killed, they would have executed me on my father’s orders. I believe he got a hint of my intentions and wanted some insurance.” She interrupted.

  Wolf felt Ni’lan tense at the words with Ult’an bristling. Both of the Horonak clearly irritated at the blatant disregard for loyalty this woman was showing. “Before calling this debrief, I was given orders from fleetcom to have Miss Bezos escorted to an incoming Valkyrie.” He said, swallowing his irritation and ignoring the noble woman’s words.

  “Wolf, as your troopers took the most losses, I’m sending your section up as a guard detail. She is to arrive safe and whole. Am I understood?” he asked.

  “Copy. We’re to take the HVT to command and turn her over.” He replied flatly before asking, “What’s to become of my troopers, sir?”

  “They will have a rotation through the hospital ships and get some R&R before returning to duty with the fresh detachment en route.” Ult’an said. With a sigh he added, “You’re dismissed Lieutenant, take Miss Bezos and assemble your troopers for embarkation.”

  Wolf stood and saluted before stepping over to Illani. “Ma’am,” he said, gently grasping her upper arm and lifting to get her to stand. She gave him a glare as she followed his guidance and stood.

  “I can walk on my own and get these cuffs off me.” She barked. Wolf ignored her, simply offering gentle but firm guidance out of the briefing room.

  Ni’lan followed, accepting both his and wolf’s sidearms. “Thank you, sergeant. Please lead the way and keep it clear.” He said, gesturing in front of himself, noting the marines that had been at the door taking position at his flank. “Corporal, take second man in case Ni’lan runs into a roadblock.” Wolf barked, still ignoring the grumbling from Illani.

  “Sir!” was the response as the marine double-timed past him to take position his rifle in the low ready. Several troopers Wolf recognized as being in the other sectors cast glares at the woman as the procession passed. They seemed content to simply glare, until one man tried to blow past Ni’lan.

  “That bitch is why Jackson’s dead!” he screamed. Whatever else he wanted to say or do was cut off by Ni’lan slamming him into the deck. Pushing his knee into the prone man’s back, he pinned the man’s arms.

  Wolf continued past at a slightly faster rate, the corporal barking, “Clear the hall! Back to your quarters!”

  Wolf almost missed Ni’lan whisper, “I don’t like it any better, trooper, but remember the creed and honor the fallen.”

  The outburst had finally shut up Illani’s grumbling. It seemed her situation had finally sunk in. Wolf and a pair of marines were all that stood between her and a mob of trained killers that wanted nothing more than to tear her limb from limb.

  In what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, they arrived at the hangar. Wolf was glad either the captain or Ni’lan had ordered the troopers to assemble on the flight deck. Plastering on a neutral mask, he barked orders to his troopers. “Grey-mane, requisition gear for an unarmored guard detail.” The sergeant saluted and corralled the others to get the needed gear.

  Before she could join them, he said, “Ta’lek join me and the HVT. I want you to do a once over and make sure the capture team didn’t miss anything.” The woman nodded, taking position on Illani’s other arm.

  Pulling a scanner from her pocket, she began to go over the other woman. Before they got much farther, several beast-kin in imperial fatigues spotted the odd trio and moved to intercept, only to be stopped by a group of armed marines. “Where are you taking her?!” one shouted only for another to demand, “Let our lady go!” others joining in the cacophony with equal if more profanity laced comments.

  Wolf looked at the woman in his care and asked, “Can you calm them down before things get… kinetic?”

  She scowled at him, but raised her hands in a calming gesture. “I will be fine. Their leaders just want to talk to me. Listen to the rangers and you will be free, just like I promised.” She called when the shouting subsided.

  “I will swear on my tribes water that she will come to no harm while in our care,” Ni’lan called as he entered the hanger, Wolf having kept him appraised of the situation hoping for advice.

  The beast-kin muttered to each other, but the one Wolf had pegged as the leader, an older wolfin with graying fur, nodded. “I will hold you to your word, Horonak.” He called, gesturing for the others with him to follow him into a nearby shuttle.

  Turning back to their Valkryie, Wolf said, “Thank you.” Earning him a confused look from Illani. “We saved a group of beast-kin from your brother, including civilians he had lined up and bound as living shields to keep us from firing on his troops.” Wolf explained, studying her reaction.

  When she gave him a weary look of disgust, he looked to her bound hands. Wolf drew his knife and deftly cut the zip-cuffs she was in before she could react. “I think you’ve earned that much.” He said, as she began to study him.

  The rest of their journey was uneventful. They loaded up the transport. Illani being seated between wolf and Ta’lek, who had given her a clean bill of health and clear of unexpected implants or hidden weapons. Wolf didn’t even notice he had dosed off until the holding brackets jostled the transport.

  They did the hand-off at the ramp and Wolf made his way to the ship’s medical facility to check on the wounded they had already brought up from the planet. Seeing them safe and on the mend finally allowed him to relax. The sudden release of tension made Wolf loose control of his muscles falling to his knees.

  Ta’lek on him in seconds, checking him over and cursing herself for not forcing him to report to Medical on the FOBS. She stopped when he placed a hand on hers and looked at her, his eyes wet with unshed tears.

  “I’m looking forward to my farm.” He said, then stood with a smile. “Come on Ta’lek, I want to see what kind of view they have in the canteen.” He continued changing the topic to something less dangerous, leaning into her for support.

  “I agree lieutenant. I think they have a good view of the southern continent from the port mess.” She said letting him lean on her as they made their way through the ship.