Ancient Hunter

Despite the chaos the Medbay was a welcoming haven of light. It stands to reason that the Medbay had its own power supply independent of the ship. This Medbay housed a dozen beds all occupied. Against the back wall were a number of Cell Stitchers all full. Trying to cope with this was a T’Arni nurse. The Confeds had a different name for nurses they called them Caregivers. Her blonde hair in a bum, a harassed expression on her face. Her white uniform showed traces of dirt from dealing with so many patients. There was a blood drop within a circle on her shoulder a symbol like the Red Cross. Quickly I assessed the situation.

“Sergeant?” I called. “Any of your squad trained in first aid?”

“First aid?” The sergeant said confused.

I realised I was talking to a Confed on a ex-Empire ship. I changed words. “Medtechs?”

“Basic only,” the sergeant replied.

The Confeds placed too much reliance on their Cell Stitchers. Their basic aid was enough to get the casualty into a Cell Stitcher and let the machine do the rest. “Basic or not it will have to do.” I pointed to the harassed nurse. “She needs help.”

“Yes ma’am.” The sergeant saluted. He ordered the survivors to help the nurse and she seemed grateful for the help.

I slipped out of the Medbay it was a place for the wounded and I wasn’t one of those, With my sword in my hand I headed towards where I’d thought the bridge would be. I hadn’t gone far when I encountered another squad of Marines who had their guns at the ready. I doubted they’d do much damage against those creatures.

“Find a safe place to hide!” The leader of the Marines said. He was a corporal from the chevrons on the shoulder of his combat armour.

“I’m heading to the bridge,” I announced cutting off whatever he was going to say next.

I couldn’t see his expression his helmet hid that. I could see from his stance that he was taking in the state of my clothes and the fact I was carrying a sword.

“Do you know how to use that?” he asked.

“I’m Valkyrie trained.” I showed him my bracelet. “I’m also an initiate with the Silver Guard.” I wasn’t sure how much my bracelet meant to a Human. But any Valkyrie would know its significance.

“Are you now?” the corporal questioned me. Apparently he didn’t get the memo about how the Valkyrie operated. His Coil Assault Gun swung in my direction. The barrel pointing at me menacingly.

I took a deep breath wondering if he was a agent for the Black Stripes or the ATL (Anti Terran League made of those Humans from the Confederacy that hated the Empire. A fact I considered ironic considering how Human centric the Empire was.). I took note none of his squad were pointing their weapons at me. It wasn’t easy guessing their motions or intentions while they were wearing helmets. “Check with Captain Xenai I’m on her investigation team.”

“Now why would I do that spy.”

I winced at the despite being fluent in Galactic I had a strong Imperial accent. It had got me into a number of dangerous situations. I wondered why an Imperial hating Marine got a place on an Alliance ship. Xenai and her other telepaths should have filtered out trash like this.

“Lieutenant Hunter!” A welcome and familiar voice called out.

I looked down the corridor to see Sergeant Hollen and her squad approaching. I was relieved. Hollen and her squad were Valkyries, two of her squad had been assigned as my Guardians while I was Demeros. That was only because Sergeant Hollen and Joyce Neilson had decided that I had to represent the Landottir Clan. I was the last of that Clan and according to Valkyrie thinking I was the Clan Mother of that Clan. I was vaihdokas not even a full Valkyrie. Her squad were holding various improvised melee weapons.

“Sergeant Hollen!” I called out watching the corporal out the corner of my eye.

The corporal stiffened on seeing Hollen. “I’ve apprehended a spy.”

I was obvious he didn’t know I knew Hollen even when I called out to her. Either that or he had selective hearing.

“Spy!” Hollen barked at him hefting a slightly bent metal bar. The spatters on it and on her armour indicated she’d encountered on of those creatures. “You got rocks for your brains!” She waved her bar at the corporal and snorted. “Lieutenant is a Valkyrie. Not only that she is a Clan Mother and a member of the Silver Guard.”

Hollen took a step forward. I saw the corporal’s squad move aside. No one in their right mind wanted to confront a pissed off Valkyrie. That was if they wanted to survive in one piece.

“This is a spy!” the corporal insisted. He must have had a death wish.

“Oh really?” Hollen said taking another few steps forward. She was almost nose to nose with the corporal if that could have been possible. She towered over the smaller Human.

Suddenly without warning she lashed out with her fist. I was sure the corporal lifted off his feet before flying backwards.

“Anyone else feel lucky!” she growled.

“Sergeant Hollen!” I shouted getting her attention.

Hollen automatically saluted. “Sorry ma’am?”

I recognised Frialmold and Rodrifa with her. As to that I wasn’t sure how I did so I just knew.

“Mother Gwen?” Frialmold said. I was right.

“Frialmold?”

“We should have been here earlier.”

I acknowledged their concern. “That’s ok I had fun.” I lied. I was still quaking inside but I had to show a different face. People were relying on me and I had to woman up. I turned to the corporal’s squad. “Pick him up and throw him in the brig. Captain Xenai will deal with him later. She doesn’t tolerate that sort of behaviour on her ship.” I took a deep breath. “We are in danger from an unknown we can’t afford to fight amongst ourselves.”

Reluctantly they complied I was relieved by that. Although it was not like they had the choice with Hollen’s squad looming over them. I turned to Hollen regarding the odd improvised weapons they had.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Looking for you of course.”

“I meant on this ship?” Sergeant Hollen’s squad came from the Elafi, Captain Kyrikia’s ship.

“Captain Kyrikia sent us. Captain Xenai asked for extra help. That was before this shit happened.”

I saw Hollen glance at my sword. “Shouldn’t you have cleaned that?”

That was mild to what Thirika would have said and it was a lot less painful. “I haven’t had the time.” I was sure I looked a lot worse.

“You should have made the time. It is an insult to your Clan.”

I felt a second of confusion then realised that she was playing to an audience. The Corporal’s squad was still within earshot.

“Of course I’ll attend to that now.”

Hollen produced a piece of rag. I don’t know where she’d got it from? I wiped down the blade as I was about to hand it back I had an idea. It was the same idea I had when I got the blood sample from the so called Prophet on Alfheimir. “Mind if I keep this? We’ll need a sample for analysis?”

Hollen looked me up and down. “You’ve certainly got enough to analyse from,” she said with a smile.

I knew I was covered in the creature’s blood if it could be called blood. I turned serious. “I need to get to Captain Xenai.”

“Of course,” Hollen replied without a second thought. “If you follow us we’ll take you. After all she did ask us to come find you.”

I thought about the logic of Hollen’s statement. Xenai knew that I trusted Hollen but the question I was asking myself was why hadn’t she sent Jervic and Kelli? “Let’s go!”

We hurried towards the bridge I was actually glad of the company. Close to our objective we encountered more Marines at least these were friendlier. I noticed that they were carrying sacks. The leader of the squad stopped us.

“Orders from the captain.” The squad leader said opening his sack. He passed Hollen a Coil Assault Gun magazine. This one had a red stripe on the bottom. “Cap says use these sparingly.”

I recognised that the magazine contained explosive ammunition slower and heavier than conventional ammo. Standard ammo had the power to punch through armour. Explosive ammo was deadlier it caused concussive damage to body parts. Tissue and bone damage, internal haemorrhaging and that was against an armoured target. Against a non-armoured target it could blow a hole the size of a basketball. A head shot against an armoured target was an instant kill. It would turn a skull to mush. I understood the need against the creatures’ normal ammo had no effect. My sword had because of the way I used it. Which explained why Hollen’s squad, were using melee weapons. The Coil Assault Gun was a versatile weapon it could be converted into a sniper rifle. I’d witnessed this first hand when it was used against the rebels attacking the Hall of the Elders on Alfheimir.

I waited while half of Hollen’s squad loaded up the new ammo. While the remainder used normal ammo. I understood Hollen’s reasoning. Equipping her whole squad with explosive rounds was a bit of an overkill when having to engage other targets.

“Move out!” Hollen commanded.

We left the other squad behind. We reached the bridge just as the power came back up. I was glad of that it was difficult to navigate in the dim light. There was a loud cheer from the dozen or so Marines guarding the door to the bridge. I guessed there were at least a dozen Marines guarding the opposite door to the bridge. I edged past the Marines surprised that they didn’t stop me. I was splashed with gore and carrying a large sword. It was probably because I was with Hollen and her Valkyrie. The door slid open at me touch and I was in. The bridge was rectangular structure with rows of occupied consoles. At the far end was a large view screen. Towards the back were three chairs the central one for the captain so she could overlook her crew at the consoles. The bridge of the Valorous Star was centre of the ship. Unlike Confed ships where the bridge was perched on top of the hull. A design flaw if ever I saw one, a prime target for enemy gunners. They even had windows that peered into space.

Xenai stood by her chair assessing her crew.

“Comms are back up,” her Human male Comms Operator shouted to her. He added. “Elafi, Orion and the Topakri are driving off the last of the attackers.”

Xenai nodded to him and turned to her comms. “Engineering I need a damage report.” Xenai looked across to one crew. “I’ll need a causality report.” She looked across to me regarding the state I was in carefully. “Lieutenant Hunter you need a shower.”

I noted that she was being formal. I understood in the context of the situation.

“Yes ma’am!” I saluted.

“Use the washroom in my ready room. I’ll make sure you have a uniform. Now wash that gunk off and report back here.”

“Yes ma’am!” I saluted again. What surprised me was the lack of response for Xenai’s crew to my disarray. It showed their true professionalism I felt pride for Xenai. I exited through the opposite door Hollen and her squad following. Xenai’s ready room was across the corridor between two groups of Marines. Like the one on the other side no one commented about my sword.

I’d been inside Xenai’s ready room before. Her semi circular desk was the same with it’s floating holo screens. On the floor before the desk were the outlines of the chairs that could rise through the floor when she needed them. I hadn’t taken much attention of the door behind her desk. I strode over and opened it. Inside was a washroom replete with a shower, a toilet (called the head in naval parlance. I don’t why they called it that) and a washbasin with a mirror. There was even a towel rack with towels. I checked myself in the mirror I did look a sight with a blackish ichor sprayed over me. Little wonder Xenai ordered me to clean up. I stripped out of my clothes placing the dirties on the washbasin and stepped in the shower cubical with my sword. Not that I thought it would get stolen or I was going to be attacked but to wash off the blade. I turned on the shower letting the water cascade over me. I lathered my skin with Xenai’s shower gel. Vowing to replace what I used not that Xenai would mind. Feeling clean I stepped out and used Xenai’s towel to dry myself off and dry my sword. I looked in the mirror to check if I was clean noting the red patches where the ichor had touched my skin. As I stood there looking at myself I saw the red patches fade. It was obvious the nanobots in my blood were still working.