He waved his arms, held the pistol above his head. “Forward,” he shouted. “Over the top, and destroy the enemy.” He took a deep breath, and he lunged forward. “Follow me,” he cried, not even looking back to see if his troops were heeding his urgings.

He ran forward, ignoring the enemy fire, leveling his pistol and taking careful, aimed shots. Then he reached the top of the ridge, and he drew his survival knife with the other hand. There was a cluster of Confeds right in front of him. He fired the pistol, even as he lunged forward, slashing with the knife.

His eyes darted to the side, toward groups of his soldiers, some fighting fiercely…but others…

It was inconceivable. He couldn’t accept what his eyes told him. His troopers were running, fleeing from the battle. Alliance stormtroopers routing. Under his command.

Even in victory, he knew there would be disgrace now. And from the looks of things, victory was quickly slipping from his grasp. But there was another possibility, one that offered its own mercies.

He took a deep breath…then he threw himself deeper into the Confeds, shoving his knife hard under the armor of the man nearest to him, feeling the hot blood pouring out over his hand, his arm. He saw another moving behind him, and he angled his pistol and fired three times, dropping the attacker. But there were more, all around. He felt himself being dragged down, loud cracks from enemy rifles…and pain, bullets piercing his legs, his sides. But he kept fighting, swinging his blade when his pistol ran out of ammo…even as more shots pierced his body.

Finally, he fell into the snow, feeling the wet, coldness on his back. And then silence, the pain gone, a gauzy, airy feeling.

He lay still, eyes gazing up at the ice blue dawn sky.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

CFS Dauntless

Krillus Asteroid Belt

39, 000,000 kilometers from Santis, Krillus IV

Year 58 (307 AC)

“The enemy is stationary, Commander. They’re just sitting there. Waiting.”

“Very well.”

The display was telling Kat the same story Wentus had just reported. But that wasn’t right. She just knew there was something in the data she wasn’t seeing. The enemy captain was a smart one, and she was sure his ship had taken major hits to its weapons systems, damage that couldn’t have been repaired in a few days.

Why would he sit and wait for us? Why not run? If the Confeds are as we’ve been told, they should have withdrawn. He had all the time in the world to escape.

He’s up to something…

“Commander, we’re getting intense radiation readings throughout the asteroid field. Nothing dangerous, but it’s making our scans difficult.”

Is that it? Are you using the radiation to try and mislead me somehow? Or do you think I won’t follow you in there?