pain as they freed the blade, a welter of azure blue blood coursed down the Solarian’s arm, he was weak but managed to get back to his feet.
In the main viewing hall below, Dalvosh and Kinraid gradually recovered, and got back to their feet also, the commander looked rather battered, and sporting several bruises after being practically crushed from the panicking crowd.
“ You’re alive, I thought that shot had killed you,” he said to the hulking Krenaran.
“ My battle armour dissipated the energy, just the impact staggered me,” the Krenaran replied, rubbing his sore reptilian head.
The rest of the commandoes had converged on Vargev’s position, and helped the wounded forms of their commander and Eldathar. They were gradually helped back out of the building where a waiting medical team rushed to tend to their wounds.
President Rushfeldt approached them; all that had remained of the crowds that had been there were Michael’s team, the commandoes and a smattering of E.D. F troops.
“ I’ve just heard what happened inside there, my people didn’t think it would be a good idea to return, but I had to. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart; your heroics saved my life.”
“ Just doing our job Mr. President,” Michael replied.
Rushfeldt then turned to Dalvosh, “barely a week ago we were implacable enemies locked in a bitter conflict, and killing each other by the thousand. And now you risked your life to protect a people who absolutely hate you and everything about your race, why?”
“ Because it was the right thing to do, the war was over, and Lathiel was rogue, his actions threatened to destabilise the entire peace process.”
Rushfeldt considered this for a moment, genuinely moved by the actions of these brave few, “maybe one day there could be a lasting peace between our peoples.”
“ Krenarans and Terrans are two completely different societies, with totally different cultures, however in time their may yet be a true peace, however there is a lot of pain and hate on both our sides.”
13. The rebuilding
A week after the events in Prague, Colonel Nikolai Vargev emerged through a set of automatic hospital doors, his arm still heavily bandaged. Fumbling around inside his brightly coloured cotton civilian shirt pocket, he fished out one of his trademark cigars.
Taking out his lighter, he lit the end of it and began slowly puffing on it. Crossing the busy street from the hospital he made his way over to a small apartment block nearby, which was renting for him, while he recovered from his injuries.
Climbing the concrete stairwell up to the fourth floor, and making his way down a dank, dimly lit corridor, he made his way to his temporary apartment. Closing the door behind him gently, and the big Russian poured himself a small glass of vodka, stroked his dark moustache, and sat at the communications terminal. Keying in a few commands with his one good hand he contacted Michael who he knew was overseeing the ongoing repair work to the Liberty at alpha base.
His face flashed up on the screen, “Hello Nikolai.”
Vargev nodded, “Hello captain, how are the repairs going, I guess they are not going to scrap her after all then.”
Michael smiled, “not if I have anything to say about it, it will be another month before she is operational again. I’ve given the crew shore leave while the repairs are completed. There is even talk about a few more upgrades.”
“ You do realise, they will most likely make you an admiral for this.” Vargev said taking a gentle sip from his glass.
“ They already offered; I turned it down. Told them I was perfectly happy commanding the Liberty, besides there is plenty of life left in the old bird yet anyway.”
Vargev smiled, “Guess what, I’ve got another medal ceremony coming my way. This time the star cross for bravery, I’m getting quite a tally,” he joked.
“ You just like all the attention, what’s next for the commandoes?”
“ Mainly peacetime operations, some peacekeeping duties while the outer colonies start to re-build, mine clearing, that sort of thing. The E.D. F are concerned about piracy and looters while the re-building process begins.”
“ Uh huh, well the next outing for the Liberty once she’s back up and running is escorting a bunch of transports returning former P.O. W’s back to their homes, and then anti-pirate duties ourselves. E.D. F command expects pirate cartels to increase while the rebuilding is under way also.”
“ Well my friend, it has been good working with you again, perhaps our paths will cross in the future…who knows?”
“ Who knows indeed, goodbye old friend.”
With that, Nikolai ended the communication, gently sat back in his leather armchair, and turned on the viewer.
“ I am Annika Raumov, and this is the outer colony news service, the headlines tonight. Two weeks after the end of the Krenaran war, one of the bloodiest periods in recent history. The first refugees are beginning to make their way back to the devastated outer colonies that were once their homes, tentative re-building work has already begun however analysts predict that a full recovery could well take up to a decade.”
Nikolai Vargev turned off the viewer, took a sip of vodka and sat back in his chair, humanity will recover, we will survive and we will go on. The thought gave him a warm feeling.
