Dusts of Avalon - Beastwithin.org

I Fear and HopeFebruary 3, 2632, 10:11 UTC“O, , I' , Hellworth”, Corporal WernerWolff said. e burly, bald soldier gave his superiour officer a friendlysmile — something he could rarely do when he was doing his calm,orderly and murderous sniper work. It was easier to smie while lying in a bedwith doctor's orders to not move mu.In the bright white hospital room in the World Federation Defence ForcesRegional Military Hospital in Le Havre, two soldiers were enjoying a blissfullynon-tenical and unplugged bedrest. Both had suffered similar injuries in thedisastrous trip to Titan — right in front of Daleworth's eyes, a few minutes apart.Wolff had his lower right arm puned through with a plasma beam — big bloodymess, both bones cleanly melted through, strips of skin keeping the hand in place,wounds neatly cauterised. Private Bob Tankerman, in the other bed, had similarinjuries — in the leg. With that sort of precision and firepower, the Planners couldhave just killed the two, so the Planners probably just wanted Daleworth's companyout of the picture — and they succeeded. e two had been in treatment toreplace the removed bone structure and muscles, whi involved some big ma-inery, tons of tubes and fussing personnel. e clean, uncluered hospital roomwas a refreshing ange for the two patients.Daleworth gave the two soldiers a brief smile. Soldiers under her commandusually called her “Hellworth” only when they were suffering from ordinary postmissiongrumbling and moping. When she visited her wounded soldiers in thehospital, they usually just called her the “lieutenant” — a lile bit of stiffnessto cover up their inevitable and understandable underlying contempt for sendingthem to their gory dooms. e fact that Wolff called her with her ninameshowed that the horrors of Titan were already forgiven. “I'm glad you're on theway to recovery aer the last big co-up.”Private Bob Tankerman uled; the tall bla gunner was never too grim,and was likewise feeling relaxed in Daleworth's company. “Did the Captain admitit was a co-up, ma'am? I guess he would.”Daleworth sighed. “e Captain bought the farm, I'm sad to say.”“Really? Shit.” Wolff gried his teeth.“at happened maybe five minutes aer I got you two on evac. I was on thelast evac opper and waiting for him to come aboard — then, just… boom. Hishead was gone. Plasma snipers.”“Holy shit. How's his family?” Tankerman asked.“He was from Mars, and his colony was hit six months ago”, Daleworth said.“No living relatives. Glad they didn't take the whole colony that time…”