Two soldiers dug at the tires with their bare hands while another guarded Kordus, who stood on the far bank, cursing at the men to work faster.
Sheridan crept as close as he dared before arming the grenade and tossing it into the back of the stuck ATV. One of the soldiers saw the explosive land and tried to warn his comrades. The device went off, taking the ATV’s gel fuel tank with it, sending a fireball surging out into the forest. Struck by the blast wave, Sheridan flew back and hit a tree with his right shoulder. Searing pain swept over his body, just before he blacked out.
Sheridan wasn’t sure how long he had been out when he rolled over and looked up at the singed leaves. He tried to sit up only to moan in pain when he attempted to move his right arm. Sheridan turned his head and grimaced. There was a fleshy lump where his collarbone should be. He reached over with his left hand, grabbed a branch for support, and tried to haul himself to his feet. It took several tries to work through the pain before Sheridan could stand. He opened his shirt and tucked in his injured arm. Sheridan looked down at the rest of his uniform. It was burnt, still smoking in several places. The skin on the right side of his body hurt worse than he had ever experienced in his life. It was then that he realized how badly injured he truly was.
A moan from the far side of the stream caught Sheridan’s one good ear. He drew his pistol in his left hand and staggered out of the woods. There was only a muddy crater where the ATV had once been. He limped through the water and crawled up the muddy bank until he was on dry ground. Each breath he took pained his sides. Spots filled his eyes. He was close to passing out.
Another pained groan came from behind some tall ferns.
Sheridan dragged his right leg behind him as he pushed himself onward. He brushed the undergrowth aside and shook his head. Kordus was trying to crawl his way to safety. His legs were bent at odd angles.
“Stop right where you are,” said Sheridan, bringing up his pistol.
Kordus rolled over and looked up. He let out a fatalistic sigh and said, “You and your people will one day pay for interfering in Kurgan politics.”
“Perhaps,” said Sheridan. “But not today.”
A shot cut through the trees.
Sheridan had seen enough death. He tossed his pistol away and hobbled back to where he had tied up his ride. The beast was no longer there. He looked down and saw tracks heading back the way they came. Sheridan tried to walk, but the pain and his growing fatigue soon reduced him to a crawl. He sat down and rested his back against a tree. His eyelids became heavy, and no matter how hard he tried, Sheridan couldn’t stave off the inevitable. His world narrowed into a tunnel and then nothing as he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 43
Tarina held Kobak’s hand tight in hers. Her heart ached. Everywhere she looked there was death and misery. At least two thousand Chosen soldiers and Kurgan warriors lay still on the battlefield. Hundreds more limped or crawled away from the valley seeking help. The pitiful moans of the dying seemed to be all around her.
“Where’s my sister?” asked Kobak, worried.
“I don’t know,” replied Tarina, wishing it were otherwise.
A chill ran down Tarina’s spine when she saw scavengers of all sizes creep out of the jungle or descended from the sky to gnaw on the remains of the dead.
“Look,” said Kobak, pointing at a crimson and green flag. With a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around his shoulder, Kyrran rested beneath the banner.
They walked to the warrior’s side and looked around in vain for their missing friends.
Kyrran could see the look of concern in their eyes and pointed back toward the mound of Chosen soldiers further down the valley. He patted Kobak on the arm and said, “Go, and leave us in peace.”
“We will,” replied Kobak.
Tarina walked toward the grotesque pile of bodies. When she saw a dead Kurgan with a bullet hole in his head, she knew that Sheridan had at least made it this far. She led Kobak around the dead and looked toward the tree line. The young prince let out a cry of joy when he spotted his sister sitting on the ground with her leg raised on a stump. They ran as fast as they could to join her.
Katin’s face was turning pale. Blood soaked the ground beneath her. She was going into shock. Tarina ran back to the Chosen dead, grabbed the crimson flag, and wrapped it around Katin to keep her warm.
“Michael?” she asked.
Katin pointed at the trail leading into the jungle. Barely above a whisper she said, “Kordus.”
Tarina took Kobak’s hand and placed it on Katin’s shoulder. “You have to stay with her and keep her awake.”
Tears filled the prince’s eyes. “Is she going to die?”
“Not if you stay with her.”
Kobak nodded and wrapped his arms around his fading sister.
Tarina picked up a rifle, checked that it was loaded, and prepared to search for her husband.
From a radio lying in the mud came a familiar voice. “Any call sign, this is Captain Alan Cole, come in, over.”
Tarina scooped up the radio. “Alan, this is Tarina. Where are you, over?”
“I’m less than a minute from your location. What is your status?”
“Princess Katin is hurt and needs immediate medical attention, or she’s going to die. I’m not sure where Michael is; he went into the jungle after General Kordus.”
“Don’t worry about him. I’ve got him with me.”
In an instant, all her fears vanished. “How?”
“We detected his life sign on our way to your position, so I dropped down through the jungle canopy and hauled him back up to the shuttle.”
The sound of the craft’s engines flying overhead made Tarina look up. “Thanks, Alan, I owe you.”
Cole’s voice turned sober. “Tarina, he’s in a bad way.”
Tarina brought a hand to her mouth. “Get down here right away. I need to see my husband.”
“I’ve got eyes on you. We’re on our way down.”
As soon as the struts of the shuttle touched down, the ship’s side door slid open. A team of medics ran over to help Katin.
Tarina walked to the ramp. Cole was waiting for her. “How bad is he?” she asked.
Cole gently placed his hands on Tarina’s shoulders and looked into her troubled eyes. “Tarina, he’s going to live. However, Michael has second-degree burns to a third of his body,” explained Cole. “His collarbone is broken in two places, and one of his lungs was perforated with a piece of his ribs.”
Tarina’s lower lip trembled. “Where is he?”
“The medics are still stabilizing him in the back of the shuttle.”
“I have to see him.”
Cole nodded and stepped aside.
Tarina took a deep breath and held it. Each step seemed to take forever as she walked over to the two medics working on her husband. His clothes had been cut away and silver burn bandages covered his right side. An IV tube dripped saline and painkillers into this body.
“He insisted we wake him up when you and Captain Cole were together,” said one of the medics as she injected a solution into his IV.
Tarina looked down at Sheridan’s blackened face and saw his eyes open.
“Hey there, that sad look isn’t for me, is it?” asked Sheridan.
Tarina let out her breath and dropped to her knees. “My God, Michael, what happened?”
“I’ll tell you later. Get Alan to come here before I pass out again.”
“Alan, Michael wants you,” said Tarina, waving to him.
“What’s up, boss?” asked Cole, trying to sound calm.
“Who’s in orbit?”
“Admiral Killam.”
“When did he get promoted?”
Cole shrugged. “Beats me.”
Sheridan’s voice began to trail. “Peace, we must have peace. Kobak respects you. You have to advise him what to do next.”
“Sure thing.”
Sheridan motioned for Cole to lean in. “He has to speak to
his people, but not from one of our ships. Get him onto a Kurgan ship as soon as possible.”
“I’m sure we can arrange that.”
Sheridan’s eyes shut.
“Okay that’s enough; please step back,” said the medic. “Major Sheridan is out cold and needs his rest.”
“Watch out,” said another pair of medics as Katin was brought onboard the shuttle.
“I’ll get us into orbit as quick as we can,” said Tarina to Cole.
“Tarina, I know that you’ve had a godawful day,” said Cole. “But Wendy’s in a bad way too. It looks like the people we care the most about are going to need us when they wake up safe and sound with our fleet.”
“I know. For their sake, let’s get out of here and help bring an end to this war so we can all go home.”
Cole nodded and looked over at Kobak. The young prince had a vacant look in his eyes. He stood and walked over to Kobak’s side. The heir to the Kurgan throne saw Cole and threw his arms around his waist.
“It’s over,” said Cole, consoling the youth. “And now it’s time for you to step up to the plate and become the man I’m sure your father always knew you could be.
The shuttle’s engines roared to life as the side door slid closed.
“What am I going to do, Alan?” asked Kobak. “I’ve never been so alone in my life. Up until today, I could always count on my sister for advice.”
“Son, we’re on our way to rendezvous with a Kurgan ship. Let’s find a quiet corner and talk about what you need to do.”
Chapter 44
Kobak took his seat at a long metal table and looked up at the camera trained on him. He wore the uniform of a Kurgan soldier without any rank insignia on it. Behind him stood two flags, one for the empire, the other adorned with his family crest.
Cole stood next to the camera operator and smiled at Kobak. “Just read the notes we prepared together, and you’ll do fine.”
Kobak nodded, picked up a sheet of paper from the desk, and cleared his throat. “Citizens of the empire, my name is Prince Kobak, son of the murdered Prince Regent, and grandson of the late Emperor Kasten IV, and I order you cease all hostilities at once. As the rightful heir to the Kurgan throne, I am on my way home on board a Kurgan destroyer to assume my duties and responsibilities as your emperor. I would caution anyone who wishes to intercept this vessel that it and I are under the protection of Admiral Kaar, the empire’s greatest and most powerful warrior. In order to ensure a smooth transition of power, I want the following to occur within the next six hours. First, Chancellor Kordus, the architect behind this sorrowful chapter of our history, will publicly renounce any claim to the throne. Secondly, he will withdraw all his forces from the capital. Lastly, the Old Guard will assume control of the capital region until I arrive. There will be no retaliation by the Old Guard against Kordus’ soldiers as they were only doing their duty. Chancellor Kordus, however, will be held accountable for my parents’ death.”
Kobak paused to take a drink of water. He continued. “Citizens, things must change within our empire if we are going to survive these turbulent times. Within days of arriving back on our homeworld, I intend to sign a lasting treaty of peace and friendship with the Terran Federation. I will also reach out to those star systems still in open rebellion against the empire and offer them complete religious freedom. Should they refuse this, I will sever all diplomatic and economic ties with them and allow them to leave the protection of the empire. The only proviso is they must allow Terran forces to look for people still listed as missing from the war.”
Kobak paused for effect and looked straight at the camera. “Over the past few days, I have witnessed brutality committed by Kurgans on their fellow Kurgans that will haunt my dreams for as long as I live. Therefore, effective immediately, no Kurgan will ever again set foot on our ancestors’ home. Chancellor Kordus’ men and all their equipment will soon become the responsibility of my new Chancellor, Grand Admiral Kaar, and will form the nucleus of a peacekeeping force which will patrol the borders of the star system Ki-9A to ensure the Kurgans living there do so in peace.”
Kobak placed his paper down. “Together, we have been presented with a golden opportunity to shape our future. The question you need to ask yourselves is quite simple: As a citizen of the empire, what can I do to make the life my children will have safer and more prosperous than the one I had? Citizens, we blindly marched to war based on a lie, and what did it get us? Aside from millions of dead on both sides, we are weaker today than we have ever been. It’s time we changed that. I ask that you help me change our society and work toward a peaceful coexistence with the Terrans and those Kurgans who no longer wish to be part of the empire. I look forward to working with all of you to achieve a peaceful future for all Kurgans.”
“Transmission off,” said the cameraman.
“How did it sound?” Kobak asked Cole.
“You did great,” he said honestly. “If you weren’t a politician before today, you sure are now.”
“I wish you could be my new Chancellor.”
Cole smiled. “We’ve been through this. Trust me, Admiral Kaar is the best man for the job. He’ll guide you wisely and has no ambitions other than to serve the empire. Besides, I have some friends who are going to need me when they wake up from their drug-induced comas a few days from now.”
“I’m still going to ask that Major Sheridan’s father becomes your people’s first ambassador to the empire.”
“He’ll do well in that post. Like his son, he’s very pragmatic and is a close friend of your new chancellor.”
“I take it you’ll be leaving me soon?”
“I’d love to spend some more time with you. But I must go before I get too far away from my own fleet. This has to be a Kurgan-led transition of power. If some of your people saw me hanging around, they’d claim you were a pawn of the federation. No, it’s better if you and Admiral Kaar do this together without me.”
“For a former sergeant, you’re the smartest and bravest man I have ever had the privilege to meet, Alan Cole.”
“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not. Truth be told, back home it’s really the sergeants who run things. They just let the officers think they do.”
Kobak chuckled.
“How is your sister doing?”
“She’s sleeping right now. The surgeons managed to remove all the bullets. I’ve been told that she won’t lose her leg.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yes, I guess it is.”
Cole knew it was time to take his leave. He came to attention and bowed slightly. “Prince Kobak, may your life be one filled with peace and happiness.”
Kobak returned the bow. “Captain Cole, I echo your sentiments and will always consider you to be my friend. I hereby bestow upon you the title, Lord Alan Cole, and promote you to the rank of Colonel in the Kurgan Army. Just be aware I may call upon you should I ever require your services, Colonel.”
“I would be honored.” Cole could just imagine the look of disbelief on Sheridan’s face at being outranked by a Kurgan Lord. He took a step back, stood up straight, and walked out of the room. A Kurgan lieutenant, waiting in the hallway, escorted Cole to the shuttle bay. He walked inside the craft and buckled himself into his seat. Cole couldn’t help but feel a touch melancholy. He had made a friend and hoped the young prince would be able to bring peace to his troubled empire.
“Ready to go, sir?” asked the shuttle’s co-pilot.
“You’re damn right I am,” replied Cole. “Take me home.”
Chapter 45
The doors to the medical bay slid open.
Alan Cole walked inside and came to a sudden stop. “Woah,” he said, waving a hand in front of his face. His nostrils burned from the strong odor of antiseptics hanging in the air.
“We’re over here, Alan,” said Tarina, sitting in a chair between her husband and Wendy. Both were sleeping.
Admiral Sheridan stood next to his son’s bed, look
ing down at him.
“Admiral,” said Cole, saluting.
“Colonel,” replied the admiral with a smirk on his face.
“How are our patients doing?” asked Cole.
“Wendy was awake for a few minutes about an hour ago,” said Tarina. “She asked for you, but I told her you were not available.”
“What did she say to that?”
“I can’t repeat it in front of my father-in-law, but I strongly advise you to be here the next time she opens her eyes.”
“I’m going nowhere. How’s Michael doing?”
“They replaced his bandages with type nine burn gel earlier this morning,” explained Tarina. “They say it’ll take about a week to ten days for the gel to heal his burns. His ribs and collarbone will just have to heal on their own.”
“That’s good news. Wendy’s leg?”
“A robotic specialist saw her yesterday and sized her up for a prosthetic limb. He told me once all of her fittings are complete it’ll be near impossible to tell where her leg ends and the robotic limb begins.”
Cole ran a hand through his short hair. “What about their mental health? Has anyone addressed that with you?”
“No, but a trauma counselor is coming to see me this afternoon. I think you should be here as well. You may act and talk tough, but I know under that gruff exterior there’s a man with a heart.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be here.”
“Alan, can I have a word with you outside?” asked the admiral.
“Certainly, sir.” Cole followed him out into the corridor.
“It’s getting to be a bit of a routine to visit you and my son in the hospital at the completion of your missions.”
“At least we’re alive, sir.”
Crimson Fire (The Kurgan War Book 8) Page 19
