Part 8: Fiction Contest Runner-Up

Aboard the SLDF WarShip McKenna's Pride
Zenith Jump Point, Otho
Benjamin Military District
Draconis Combine
11 May 2784

The doctor made an oft-practiced sound of mild concern. "General, I don't like the look of these lesions on your scalp. Lord knows you must have been exposed to any number of carcinogens on campaign. I'd like to take a biopsy and send the samples off to an on-planet facility for analysis as a precaution."

General Aleksandr Kerensky paid little attention, his mind firmly fixed on the coming rendezvous with his men and women at New Samarkand. Doctors were always fussing over something, and he felt perfectly fine. Physically, anyway. "Whatever you need, Doc. Make it quick."


HQ, ComStar 394th Division
Glen Shadix, Otho
Benjamin Military District
Draconis Combine
19 February 3041

"Adept, we have ten pallets at the spaceport marked 'Perishable, Medical Supplies,' but where do you want them shipped, bec...."

Adept-XXIV Kelso didn't bother to look up from his desk. Unsurprisingly, the ComGuard's first deployment was not without its logistical challenges. "Acolyte, surely you can find something more profitable to do with your time than provoke me with stupid questions? Medical supplies to the medical bay, fool. Now, get back to the spaceport and get on with your work, or I'll arrange an appointment for you with Precentor-Omicron O'Meaghan."

"B-but, Adept, the cases are banded and wrapped with SLDF markings! They didn't come off the DropShip from Terra. I think they might have been in cold storage here a l-long time."

Kelso sighed and steepled his fingers. "Ah. A curiosity. The DCMS have been good enough to donate some warehouses to us. In a swamp. That seems an appropriate place to dispose of these relics, don't you think? Do be sure to file the appropriate documentation by HPG; perhaps the First Circuit will someday wish to tour our wetlands medical museum."


Aboard the WarShip Exposition
Wolf Clan Occupation Zone
2 February 3052

"Star Commander Ward. Stand at ease. A great opportunity for honor has arisen, perhaps so great as to wipe out the stain of your dezgra behavior with the thermobaric bomb. You are eager to do so, quiaff?"

"Aff, House Leader! Will it be possible to share the glory with my Star on this occasion? They are deserving of honor as well, and-"

"I am surprised, Star Commander! Your habit of bidding only yourself against even the most well-defended targets has come to be regarded as your trademark, perhaps matched only by your barbaric waste of ammunition! In any event, no, Star Commander, this is an operation so sensitive and critical to the future of Clan Wolf that we can risk neither failure, nor discovery. As such, you will be attacking alone."

House Leader Ward activated the holotank, which showed a slice of space at first unfamiliar to the Star Commander.

"House Leader, are we to assist the Smoke Jaguars in their invasion, quineg?"

"Neg, Star Commander. We must seize our rightful prize out from under their honorless noses." The holotank zoomed in on a planet deep in the Combine.

"Intelligence gleaned from the databases of Jerome Blake's children led to a desperate Watch raid to seize the target you must extract. Those elite operatives acquired the cargo, but were intercepted by what the barbarians call a "Level One," no doubt some top-level defensive unit, and were wiped out. Happily, their identities were not discovered, but the base will be on alert. It is a genetic sample of the utmost importance to Clan Wolf and its legacy that is the object of your raid, but there will be no batchall or Trial, lest its importance to us become obvious.

"Your DropShip leaves immediately, Star Commander. The rewards for victory will be beyond your imaginings, but if you fail, death will not save your genetic heritage from my wrath. Good luck!"