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the sharper laser swords. Frames were distorted, sometimes visibly bent where
near-misses had tumbled them.
The mathematically neat puncture wounds of high-velocity kinetic rounds
disguised the melted chaos beneath. And overriding everything was the droning
warning of radiation detectors. That enormous, dirty fusion explosion had
pumped out a lot of energetic quanta. They d sleeted through the Speeds,
unstoppable by shield fields at that point-
blank range, ripping through tissue and producing a storm of secondary
radiation whenever they struck metal.
Anyone with even minimal first-aid training, Raeder included, had been drafted
to help. This was a medical emergency greater than even the most pessimistic
had planned for and there was some doubt that there would be enough
regeneration tanks.
Well, it won t be hard to identify the ones that need them most, Peter told
himself. Severe radiation burns sort of spoke up for themselves. He drew his
lips back from his teeth in a parody of a grin when he saw
Givens Speed. Half the right lobe was missing, and components showed naked
through sheered plating; the port thruster cone looked like something had
taken a bite out of it.
How the hell did he even get it to fly?
he wondered.
That man is an amazing pilot, Peter thought with deep respect, and started his
team forward.
Givens hadn t lowered his ramp, so Raeder tapped in the override code on his
remote, then leapt aboard as soon as there was room for him to
enter.
Givens lolled in his chair, his helmeted head dropped forward onto his breast.
Peter gently raised the pilot s head until he could see through the faceplate.
And wished he hadn t. Givens opened his eyes slowly and after a second
registered who stood above him.
The lieutenant gasped. Are you trying to kill me? he demanded suspiciously.
No. Raeder said. I m going to take you to sick bay. Hang on.
Moving you is going to hurt, but we ll do this as quickly as we can.
Thank God for regeneration tanks, he thought fervently. Less than thirty years
ago a man in Givens condition would have been dead in two harrowing days.
Givens fainted before they got him down the ramp.
Which is just as well, Peter thought. It was necessary to strip him of his
suit and helmet before he was sealed into the special gurney they would be
using to transport him.
And I d hate to think of what he d be going through if he was awake.
Screaming, for starters. Patches of skin were coming away with the suit, and
there was no time to be gentle.
The burns were extensive. Raeder glanced around quickly. It looked like every
Speed had borne a casualty home, though most were at least able to walk with
aid. They d finished with Givens and closed up the life-support bubble that
would maintain him until he could be slipped into the regeneration tank.
Good luck, Lieutenant, Raeder murmured as one of the techs guided the
floater off to sick bay. Then he turned to the next Speed and the next
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casualty.
All in all, Lieutenant Commander (Medical Corps) Goldberg concluded, things
weren t as bad as they seemed at first. We ve been able to utilize two of our
units to aid the less wounded without having to stint those in need of more
intensive care. Everyone is progressing normally. And despite the
understandable grief over lost colleagues, morale is better than anticipated.
I expect to be able to discharge the first two by week s end. The doctor
folded his hands before him and beamed
at the captain like a bright schoolboy who knows he deserves a pat on the
back.
Excellent, Dr. Goldberg. Thank you and your staff for doing an amazing job,
Knott said with a warm smile, offering the man the support he deserved. He
didn t know exactly what logistic and technical miracles the doctor had pulled
off to be able to make that bland, positive report, but the captain was aware
that they d happened. The specs allowed for almost the number of the serious
casualties they d actually had to treat. A less capable physician would have
been overwhelmed.
Certainly Goldberg had lifted the spirits of Knott s other heads of staff.
They looked far less tired already. Even Raeder, whom the captain expected to
make a most unwelcome report.
It was extremely regrettable that Goldberg had been unable to save the last
surviving Fibian. Have you anything to report on the alien? Knott asked.
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