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Chapters (44)
  1. The Crimson Worlds Series
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  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Epilogue

He stared back at the ship’s commander. Then he simply said, “You can count on me, sir. And on all the Marines. I will help the captain get them ready.”

Barron nodded. He was about to answer when one of the Marines on the other end of the room spoke up.

“Yes, Captain…you can always count on the Marines.” It was Rodrigues. “Whatever you need, sir, we’ll be there for you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Message from Unidentified Marine to his Mother

(Played for Each Class of New Marine Boots)

We’re trapped, Mom, all of us. The Union forces are all around, and there are just too many. We’ll fight…we’ll fight like hell, but we ain’t gonna make it. I don’t know if this message will get to you, but if it does, just do one thing for me. Don’t cry. I know you’ll be sad, Mom, but remember I died as a Marine, with all my brothers and sisters. I died fighting for my country. I died with honor. And there are a lot worse ways to go…

Near the Ruins of Base Tom Wills

Planet Santis, Krillus IV

Alliance Year 58 (307 AC)

“I want the patrols doubled. Every millimeter is to be searched, out to a hundred kilometers from base. I want those Confeds found!”

“Yes, Praefectus. Immediately, sir!” The officer stood at attention, unmoving.

“That will be all, Optio. See to it at once.”

The officer thumped his fist against his chest in the Alliance salute. Then he turned and walked swiftly to the door, opening it and stepping out into the swirling snow.

Millius sat at his makeshift desk, and he shivered as the door swung open. The small portable shelter wasn’t what he would have called toasty, but it was a major improvement over the frigid conditions outside.

The commander of the Alliance ground forces had been reviewing the latest casualty reports. He’d landed with two hundred eighty-six stormtroopers, including himself, but not including the technicians assigned to take over tritium production and storage. Now, less than a week later, he had ten KIA, and sixteen wounded and in the field hospital. He was sure his people had drawn blood too, though he’d only been able to confirm two kills. Whatever other Confeds had gone down in the fighting—and he was sure at least some had—their fellows had dragged off the bodies.