It gave them something to bury of the family member who’d died for money.
The Vikings might have bled for honor and freedom this time, but their traditions were the traditions of a profession that fought for money. Two ships, gone with almost all of their crews. When the dust settled, Brad had lost over a third of his ground troops, as well.
Those weren’t casualties that a mercenary company could walk away from without impact. He’d already put the entire company on furlough, bringing in trusted people from Saburo’s father’s shipyard and the Mercenary Guild itself to take care of the ships while his people rested.
This was the last duty they all had, and they fulfilled it willingly. Each coffin was picked up by a set of four, always people who’d known and been friends with the occupant, and carried out of the bay onto the space station.
One by one. Again and again.
And Brad stood by, watching stiffly. Michelle was next to him, but she knew better than to say anything. No one spoke at all.
This was a moment for silence and remembrance.
“L’chaim!” Michelle barked, slamming back the shot of whisky as the Vikings’ officers gathered. The bar was a long way from their ships, but everyone was here. Even Shelly Weldon, looking just as shattered and exhausted as ever.
“To absent friends,” Saburo replied with his own toast. “To the ones who never make it home.”
Brad drank in silence, watching his wife half-sneak up on Shelly to wrap her old friend in an embrace. He wasn’t sure if it was the timing or the alcohol, but it was…enough. For the first time since he’d told her Jason hadn’t made it, Shelly finally broke, collapsing into Michelle’s shoulder with heaving sobs.
A pile of money had made sure they had the bar to themselves. The rest of the officers gave the two women space, and Saburo stepped up to join Brad in studying the rest.
“You doing okay, boss?” he asked.
“Better than the friends we’ve buried,” he replied. “But no. Not really.”
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?” Saburo asked. “This is on the Cadre.”
“It’s all on the bloody Cadre. Everyone I’ve watched die in the last few years,” Brad snapped. “Sooner or later, there has to be an end to it—but I swear, every time I turn around, they’re just stronger.
“What was that old myth? The beast where you cut off one head and three more grew to take its place?”
“The hydra,” Saburo replied. “You had to burn off the stumps, I think?” He shrugged. “Or that might have been the D&D rules. I’ll admit, I never read the original myth.”
Brad shook his head and stepped over to a “window” that was actually a screen showing the outside of the station. Io filled the bottom third of the screen, and Jupiter blocked most of the rest.
“What an Everdarkened mess,” he whispered.
“You said to ask you if it was worth it after the funerals,” Saburo reminded him. “We’ve buried those without families and sent the rest home. Was it worth it?”
Brad snorted.
“The check cleared. That’s enough for a damn warship all on its own. And I got confirmation yesterday—Fleet is honoring Falcone’s promise. I’m not sure we’re getting the exact ships we captured, but there’s a Bound and three Warriors on their way to Io under my name.”
Saburo whistled silently.
“That’s a pretty nice payday, but it doesn’t answer my question,” he pointed out. “Was it worth it?”
“No,” Brad said very quietly. “It wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth it at all.
“It was just necessary.”
“It’s not over, though,” Saburo replied, equally quietly.
“No. It’s not. And we will finish it.”
About the Author
#1 Bestselling Military Science Fiction author Terry Mixon served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army 101st Airborne Division. He later worked alongside the flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center supporting the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and other human spaceflight projects.
He now writes full time while living in Texas with his lovely wife and a pounce of cats.
Other books by Terry Mixon
You can always find the most up to date listing of Terry’s titles on his Amazon Author Page.
The Empire of Bones Saga
Empire of Bones
Veil of Shadows
Command Decisions
Ghosts of Empire
Paying the Price
Reconnaissance in Force
Behind Enemy Lines
The Terra Gambit
The Empire of Bones Saga Volume 1
The Humanity Unlimited Saga
Liberty Station
Freedom Express
Tree of Liberty
The Fractured Republic Saga
Storm Divers
The Scorched Earth Saga
Scorched Earth
The Vigilante Duology with Glynn Stewart
Heart of Vengeance
Oath of Vengeance
Bound By Stars with Glynn Stewart
Want Terry to email you when he publishes a new book in any format or when one goes on sale? Go to TerryMixon.com/Mailing-List and sign up. Those are the only times he’ll contact you. No spam.
About the Author
Glynn Stewart is the author of Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible–but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Duchy of Terra, Castle Federation and Vigilante, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood.
Writing managed to liberate Glynn from a bleak future as an accountant. With his personality and hope for a high-tech future intact, he lives in Kitchener, Ontario with his wife, their cats, and an unstoppable writing habit.
Other books by Glynn Stewart
For release announcements join the mailing list or visit GlynnStewart.com
Vigilante (With Terry Mixon)
Heart of Vengeance
Oath of Vengeance
Bound By Stars: A Vigilante Series (With Terry Mixon)
Bound By Law
Bound by Honor (Upcoming)
Duchy of Terra
The Terran Privateer
Duchess of Terra
Terra and Imperium
Castle Federation
Space Carrier Avalon
Stellar Fox
Battle Group Avalon
Q-Ship Chameleon
Rimward Stars
Operation Medusa
Exile
Ashen Stars
Exile
Starship’s Mage
Starship’s Mage
Hand of Mars
Voice of Mars
Alien Arcana
Judgment of Mars
UnArcana Stars (upcoming)
Starship’s Mage: Red Falcon
Interstellar Mage
Mage-Provocateur
Agents of Mars (upcoming)
ONSET
ONSET: To Serve and Protect
ONSET: My Enemy’s Enemy
ONSET: Blood of the Innocent
ONSET: Stay of Execution
Changeling Blood
Changeling’s Fealty
Hunter’s Oath
Noble’s Honor (upcoming)
Fantasy Stand Alone Novels
Children of Prophecy
City in the Sky
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