Alpha One - Chris Burton [131]
* * * *
Back aboard the AUSWAS ship, Jake and the two marines successfully crossed the deck. They defended their position immediately in front of the storage containers. The lead marine was in trouble. He lost a great deal of blood, and battle conditions meant it was impossible to pull him back for medical attention.
He needs help soon, thought Jake. The marine was dying. The second marine continued to defend the position while he waited for several more of his colleagues to join him. Jake crouched down and held the hand of the dying lead marine. He doubted whether he would make it.
After another ten minutes, the cargo area fracas was over and a contingent of six marines, including a medic, crossed to Jake and his companion’s position. The medic arrived too late. Jake had held a dying man in his arms in combat for the first time, his death occurring only moments earlier.
A marine sergeant placed a plastic explosive charge on the storage container door and stood aside while the charge ignited forcing the door off its hinges and backwards into the container. Visibility was limited following the explosion, but Jake and three marines entered. The prisoners gathered on the far side of the container, having heeded the marine’s prior warning of the impending explosion.
In all thirty-six human prisoners were rescued. Jake only cared about one. He held her in his arms and kissed her. He had Carla back and it was time to bring her home.
* * * *
Winterburn knew the battle was over. He prepared to be taken, and all that would inevitably arise from it. He knew he was far too important to the Kryl Queen for her to allow him to be taken. She would order his return imminently. He also knew he had done his job. The blue wormhole was open, and by now the advance Kryl fleet would have entered the Tri-Star system, in advance of something much bigger.
He opened the blast doors and held his hands aloft. He acted the human once again, despite the fact that his facial features had returned to his original Kryl form.
Major De Vere stepped forward onto the bridge and approached Winterburn who sat on the command pedestal.
“Professor Winterburn, I presume.”
“Yes, Major. May I congratulate you on a job well done? Your marines are as good as they say. All you have to do is take me and your human companions off this ship and back through the wormhole. Do you imagine that will be an easy task?”
De Vere did not rise to the bait.
“I am acting under orders from my superiors just as I am sure you have been. You are correct, we will take you back through the wormhole where, I imagine, you will undergo extensive interrogation. Take him away, Corporal Pearce.”
* * * *
Carla was overjoyed to see Jake. She could not believe he had come all this way to rescue her. She told him she should have been cross, since her messages explicitly requested he not come. She always knew he would. Joely, too, seemed genuinely pleased to see Jake. She had met him previously but was heavily influenced by Winterburn, which was not a way to meet your sister’s new love.
Jake sought permission from De Vere to depart the AUSWAS vessel with both sisters aboard the Sabre 4, and within a few minutes he departed on route to Halo 7.
Jake was overcome with emotion. He travelled thousands of light years and got what he came for.
* * * *
Jonathan Hoskins was pleased. The mission to recover Winterburn was a success, and they were on course to return through the blue wormhole fissure and the Tri-Star System. There were losses—fifteen in all, including four jump ship pilots and eight marines. These were acceptable losses, given what they achieved. He would deal with the unpleasant communications to the dead men’s relatives’ later. He was ready to talk to Winterburn.