Guardian (War Angel Book 1) by David Hallquist (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📕

It looks like I’ve made a mess out here. The lights go out on Griffon, my frame having finally given his all. Alarm systems in my medical augments are demanding I get immediate medical attention.

Yeah, I should do that right away. The fleet’s out there…somewhere. I think I’ll just rest for a bit, though. I’ll just rest my eyes…just for a second…

* * * * *

Chapter 5 Changes

I’ve been in this medical chair for far too long. I can move, but not very much, as the medical tubes and straps keep me tied to the chair like an umbilicus. I can talk (now) after they removed the tube down my throat. There’s still tubes in and out of me all over the place. You’d think by now that medicine would have moved on past their love of tubes, but no, we’ve got more than ever.

It’s been an hour since I woke up. I’m hungry and thirsty, but it’ll be a while before they chance letting me eat or drink anything. The good news is that none of the Saturnine nano actually got into my system. The bad news is they’ve had to wipe and reprogram my augments and replace a lot of my medical and support nano. My concussion and broken ribs are already sealed up, but the doctors want to fuss over me before I return to duty.

I will be returning to duty; Commander Rackham made that clear enough when he visited me. We need pilots, so an injury that would normally ground one of us only puts us out of commission until we can fight again. He mentioned that he was recommending me for a commendation and the Calisto Star. I tried to tell him I was just doing my duty, but I had tubes in my throat, and my augments were offline, so my protest sounded like “Mupblefutz!” I think he took it as “Thank you, sir!” so that award is likely on the way. I’ll have to try to be worthy of it.

The informal debriefing was bad. Real bad. While the Marines took the asteroid without casualties, that all changed once the dead enemy got up and started fighting again behind their secured lines. Then they had to deal with deadly nanotech and the Saturn virus at the same time. It was ugly.

The Saturn virus had been introduced into Squadron Leader Bertrand’s frame Chimera almost at the outset of the fighting. It had quickly overwhelmed and paralyzed him, and through him, the rest of his reserve flight, which had been in a tight communications link with him. When I entered communications with that network, that’s when it hit me. The other four of his flight are recovering in the sick bay now, but Bertrand is still in a coma.

All of that from one Saturnine cyborg.

Just one.

No wonder they’re giving me a medal for taking it out. I just happened to be the one in the right place to take it out, so I get the credit for all the work everyone else had already done, fighting its various ambushes and traps until it had to flee. They did the work, and I get the medal, but any one of us would have done the same. I guess we all need heroes in times like this.

Because of the damage done to Eros and the people who live there, we’ve detached some medical staff and engineers to help them and established a secure quarantine zone in the asteroid. Eventually, a hospital ship and more supplies will arrive to help them. Some of the Marines and Angels are also going to be on detached duty to keep the place safe when we leave.

We can’t stay, though, however much they need us.

We’ve got to leave them behind because we’re on the way to the Earth–Luna system. Yes, the political tinderbox that’s always ready to start a fire of wider conflict across the solar system. Luna’s our ally, and the State of Terra is Saturn’s largest client state. Things are heating up between the two, so we’re on the way. Maybe we can extinguish the sparks before it turns into a fire. Apparently the Terrans and Lunars got into some kind of battle on the surface of Luna that ended up wrecking a hospital. The Lunars are furious, and the Terrans are insisting the Lunars started it. Now, both sides are mobilizing and getting ready to throw down. With Terra being as important to Saturn as it is, you can bet Saturnine ships will be on the way, too.

So now we’re boosting toward Earth–Luna at 3 Gs, and there’s nothing to do but stare up at the softly glowing walls and ceiling of the sick bay.

I send the command to turn on the news, and the ceiling overhead projects the latest interplanetary news.

The hologram shows an ugly male Terran face, with a shaved head and cold, gray eyes. I know the look of a killer when I see one. “Brandt Wills is believed dead at the scene of the fighting at Shackleton Research Hospital.” The announcer is a pretty blonde Terran managing to somehow convey gravity in spite of her cheerful disposition. “Wills has a long criminal record with both Terra and Luna. A wanted fugitive for an earlier attack on Shackleton Research, he is also wanted for multiple homicides in Shackleton. His true motives remain unknown, but mental illness is the current theory of law enforcement officials.” What a psycho; I’m glad they managed to put that bastard down.

“In other news…” The announcer changes the image to a hologram of Eros, under giant red letters saying “CRISIS!”

“A deadly nanotechnology plague has been unleashed in Eros. Deaths may be in the thousands, and all travel to and from the infected asteroid is prohibited. Reports are coming in that the