Read Online Epic: Book 03 - Hero by Lee Stephen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lee Stephen
Ads: Link
back, minus a hug, followed by a recapping of the past months’ events. The meeting was strictly professional, and Svetlana took it well.
She asked for and received full medical records, then left to go to the infirmary. Though she had not seen it since its reconstruction after the Assault on Novosibirsk , she assumed it was the best place for a medic to study. She wasn’t wrong.
She examined health records, scheduled examinations, and memorized new names. She familiarized herself with her role. She did her job.
It was the first thing that felt real all day.
6
Sunday, November 6 th , 0011 NE
1959 hours
That night
The call to action couldn’t have come fast enough. Scott stormed into the hangar, assault rifle firmly gripped in both hands, the horns of his fulcrum armor streaking back past his shoulders. Barely a moment after he’d entered, he was caught from behind by slayers Nicolai and Egor.
“ What is the mission, lieutenant?”
“ A Bakma Carrier and multiple Coneships have landed in Krasno-yarsk.”
Nicolai grinned crookedly. “Beautiful!”
Beautiful wasn’t the word that Scott would have used. Overdue, maybe. Welcomed, absolutely. The whole day had been a test of his willpower. After avoiding Svetlana and the rest of the unit, and spending the middle of the day grudgingly getting sleep, he looked forward to firing a weapon.
Several others were already waiting by the Pariah . Max was the first to approach Scott. “We got somethin’ heavy, man. Command says three city blocks are completely engulfed. It’s an all-out attack.”
It was a frigid night; winter was at its worst. “Where’s Clarke?”
“ Right there.”
Scott turned to the hangar’s entrance. The captain was indeed coming in. But he was not alone. Svetlana was walking in step with him. Scott looked away.
“ What other units are coming?” Nicolai asked Max.
“ We’re in the initial callout. But the Eighth, the Thirty-fifth, and the Thirty-ninth are going as well. Thoor’s not pulling any punches.”
“ He never does.”
The Eighth. Scott drew a heavy breath. That was William and Derrick’s unit, led by Captain Ulrich. William and Derrick still ate with their friends from the Fourteenth, in spite of what happened in Khatanga. But Scott wasn’t a part of that group. “Travis, I want a full layout of the target area, down to the cracks in the road.”
“ Already coming, sir.”
Dostoevsky approached from behind. Viktor and Auric were at his heels. “Lieutenant Remington.”
Scott didn’t grace the commander with a response.
“ What are we going into?” the slick-haired Viktor asked.
Nicolai thrust his hand in the air. “Dead bodies! Much fire and blood.”
“ Sounds like your idea of a date.”
“ We are going to Krasnoyarsk,” Dostoevsky said. “At least one Carrier and several Coneships. They have apparently launched an assault against the city.”
Scott had never been to Krasnoyarsk, but he’d heard of it. It was the third-largest city in Siberia—right along the Yenisei River. Forests, hills, and giant rock cliffs to the south surrounded it. The city was heavily built. It used to serve as a military city in the Old Era, though the bases there had been renovated for industrial use. Nonetheless, it had a formidable police force. It was supposedly a breeding ground for Nightman recruits.
When Clarke and Svetlana drew near, Scott deliberately looked away.
“ I take it you’re aware of our situation,” Clarke said.
“ Yes, captain,” said Dostoevsky. He looked at Svetlana; she glared back without blinking.
“ Very well.” Clarke walked past Scott into the Pariah . Svetlana followed him inside.
As soon as they were gone, Nicolai grinned. “She is very attractive. I am glad she has decided to join us.”
Scott tensed. Those words made his veins burn. He looked Nicolai straight in the eyes. “If you touch her—listen carefully—I will kill you.”
His words struck the Nightmen like a
She asked for and received full medical records, then left to go to the infirmary. Though she had not seen it since its reconstruction after the Assault on Novosibirsk , she assumed it was the best place for a medic to study. She wasn’t wrong.
She examined health records, scheduled examinations, and memorized new names. She familiarized herself with her role. She did her job.
It was the first thing that felt real all day.
6
Sunday, November 6 th , 0011 NE
1959 hours
That night
The call to action couldn’t have come fast enough. Scott stormed into the hangar, assault rifle firmly gripped in both hands, the horns of his fulcrum armor streaking back past his shoulders. Barely a moment after he’d entered, he was caught from behind by slayers Nicolai and Egor.
“ What is the mission, lieutenant?”
“ A Bakma Carrier and multiple Coneships have landed in Krasno-yarsk.”
Nicolai grinned crookedly. “Beautiful!”
Beautiful wasn’t the word that Scott would have used. Overdue, maybe. Welcomed, absolutely. The whole day had been a test of his willpower. After avoiding Svetlana and the rest of the unit, and spending the middle of the day grudgingly getting sleep, he looked forward to firing a weapon.
Several others were already waiting by the Pariah . Max was the first to approach Scott. “We got somethin’ heavy, man. Command says three city blocks are completely engulfed. It’s an all-out attack.”
It was a frigid night; winter was at its worst. “Where’s Clarke?”
“ Right there.”
Scott turned to the hangar’s entrance. The captain was indeed coming in. But he was not alone. Svetlana was walking in step with him. Scott looked away.
“ What other units are coming?” Nicolai asked Max.
“ We’re in the initial callout. But the Eighth, the Thirty-fifth, and the Thirty-ninth are going as well. Thoor’s not pulling any punches.”
“ He never does.”
The Eighth. Scott drew a heavy breath. That was William and Derrick’s unit, led by Captain Ulrich. William and Derrick still ate with their friends from the Fourteenth, in spite of what happened in Khatanga. But Scott wasn’t a part of that group. “Travis, I want a full layout of the target area, down to the cracks in the road.”
“ Already coming, sir.”
Dostoevsky approached from behind. Viktor and Auric were at his heels. “Lieutenant Remington.”
Scott didn’t grace the commander with a response.
“ What are we going into?” the slick-haired Viktor asked.
Nicolai thrust his hand in the air. “Dead bodies! Much fire and blood.”
“ Sounds like your idea of a date.”
“ We are going to Krasnoyarsk,” Dostoevsky said. “At least one Carrier and several Coneships. They have apparently launched an assault against the city.”
Scott had never been to Krasnoyarsk, but he’d heard of it. It was the third-largest city in Siberia—right along the Yenisei River. Forests, hills, and giant rock cliffs to the south surrounded it. The city was heavily built. It used to serve as a military city in the Old Era, though the bases there had been renovated for industrial use. Nonetheless, it had a formidable police force. It was supposedly a breeding ground for Nightman recruits.
When Clarke and Svetlana drew near, Scott deliberately looked away.
“ I take it you’re aware of our situation,” Clarke said.
“ Yes, captain,” said Dostoevsky. He looked at Svetlana; she glared back without blinking.
“ Very well.” Clarke walked past Scott into the Pariah . Svetlana followed him inside.
As soon as they were gone, Nicolai grinned. “She is very attractive. I am glad she has decided to join us.”
Scott tensed. Those words made his veins burn. He looked Nicolai straight in the eyes. “If you touch her—listen carefully—I will kill you.”
His words struck the Nightmen like a
Similar Books
