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(Page 3 of 10) The Crimson Heart Part 7 by Cameron Olson Our marines have all the surviving ships secured, and the enemy destroyer crews have been transferred to nonfunctioning ships for safekeeping, but we haven't begun interrogation yet and the computers were all wiped clean."
"Seems to me pirates wouldn't bother to wipe their computers," Kirika said.
"Correct," Tevvin replied, giving her a sardonic smile. "These are MCLS regulars. The only question is which side of the civil war they're on."
Kirika thumped him on the helmet and said, "Don't be gloomy. Most of us are alive after a fight with at least 3 to 1 odds against us. I'm gonna be happy about that whatever happens."
Tevvin looked up at her and grinned. "Thank God."
"Already did," Kirika replied. "Now, when do you think we can get those supplies delivered so we can collect the rest of our pay and get started figuring out how to get all this salvage home?"
"The freighters should be here any minute," Garret said.
Right on schedule a trio of hyperspace exits appeared amidst the quiet field of wreckage and starships and the three Salvation Army freighters popped in. Captain Dave Kent contacted Tevvin and asked,
//Will we be able to land soon?||
"It will be a little bit longer," Tevvin replied. "We've done long range scans of the space over the planet and its clear as far as we can tell. We'll hyper in ahead of you then call you in. Shepherd's vineyard isn't far, so if it IS clear I expect you'll be on the ground in the next couple of hours."
//Let's get to it then.||
Two hours later the small fleet of ships was in low orbit directly over the coordinates given for the groundside starport. It was obvious even without a scanner that something had gone horribly wrong though. That part of the planet was currently turned to the mild yellow sun of the Vine system and the scorch marks covering the remains of the spaceport and large areas of the surrounding city were visible to the naked eye even from space. They had spent an hour trying to make contact on all the available frequencies, but if there was anyone on the surface capable of responding, they were remaining silent.
//This does not look good,\\ Captain Kent radioed to Tevvin who couldn't help but nod.
"Can you land in some of the grassland near the city and set up a basecamp?" Tevvin asked him.
//Absolutely, but if there's no survivors...\\
//There had better be survivors, or one or the other side of the MCL is going to regret it...\\ Teska said, cutting in on the conversation.
"There will be survivors," Tevvin said. "Land those freighters and I'll send down some marines to help with the unloading and watch over you in case these rats left any ground forces down there."
//I'll be going down there too,\\ Teska said.
Tevvin gave her permission. "I'll come too. Kirika?"
Kirika was still on the bridge, seated near Tevvin. "I'll come," she replied softly, looking at the scorch marks that showed on the planet's surface.
"Alright," Tevvin said. "Garret, I want our dropships to begin shipping the supplies to the surface as soon as Captain Kent picks a landing site.
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