Chapter 37

I lay in bed at the royal medical center that is just for the King and family, as do all my other injured Marines. Hal is sitting next me giving me the after action report, and Jahní is standing right next to me. "That's nine Marines that are KIA Sir." He looks at the tablet. "The Helios was hit to Sir, just moments after we left. They hit the engineering section."

My God, it was a coordinated strike. "What are the casualties?"

"Four from the engineering are KIA, plus two wounded." He stops looking at the report and it's as if he doesn't want to read the rest.

"Go on Hal, what's the rest." I say to him.

"A fire broke out and Major Roberts lead the fire fighting operation." He looks down. "They successfully put out most of the fire, unfortunately a junction transformer blew. Major Roberts was caught in the explosion." He lets out a short breath. "They don't think she's gonna make it Sir."

"What?" I look at Jahní who has a sad expression on her face. "Did you know?" I ask her.

She glances at Hal and he nods his head. "I saw when they brought her in. I wanted to tell you, but the Gunny thought it would be better to wait a bit, though she has been asking for you." I look down at my leg.

Jahní has a worried feel to her right now. "Hal, thank you, but I need to speak to Jahní."

"No problem Skipper." He gets up salutes me and inclines his head to Jahní then he turns walking out of the room.

I extended my hand to Jahní and she takes it. "Jahní." She looks at me quietly. "I had a relationship with Mandy. Once upon a time it was romantic." I look at her she nods understanding that Mandy is at deaths door, and she might say anything that pops into her head.

She squeezes my hand and lets go heading for the corner of the room. There she pulls out an anti gravity wheel chair; don't quote me on its actual name, but she brings it over. Then she helps me to get into it and it's not so easy, and I almost fall causing the both of us laugh. God it's good to hear her laugh.

then she gets serious looking around remembering the current status of my Marines and Mandy. Her people are stoic to begin with and with this they seem to become very somber, when those they see as warriors meet their ultimate fate. I finally manage to get in the chair and she starts to push me to where Mandy is.

As we approach the room where Mandy is there are a few crew members there, and they give Jahní the evil eye. I suppose they feel that part of the distancing between Mandy and I is Jahní's fault. The door is open and Jahní pushes me in. She sets me right next to the bed then she puts her hand on my shoulder and I hold her hand for moment. She then leaves closing the door as she does.

She is bandaged almost from head to toe, with what looks like moist linen. She is burned terribly and she lost an arm and her leg. She seems to be sleeping right now, but I don't want to disturb her. Just as I was thinking of leaving she stirs. "Ant... is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." She tries to move but she can't. "No it's ok you don't need to move."

"I'm sorry Ant, I'm sorry." A lump forms in my throat.

I clear it out so I can speak. "Hey, There's nothing to apologize for. You saved the ship, you really did." I tell her.

Her breathing is labored, as she tries to speak. "It was my fault... I should've... more honest." She is working just to keep breathing.

"Hey, hey just take it easy there's no need to get worked up right now." She shakes her head. "don't spend your strength tying to talk."

"Mindini... He-he wants you to fail." She is left breathless. I already knew that about him. He disliked my father because he stood up to him. Now he wants to disgrace me.

"That's not important anymore just relax, ok." I say to her.

"Ant I-I love you I-I always will..." The monitor readings go flat she lets out her last breath; I sit back in the chair and I weep quietly. We were friends, lovers and we wound up as enemies. now at the end she still loved me.

I put my hand on her head. "Goodbye Mandy, till we meet again." I sit back wiping the tears from my face. Mindini will pay one day for everything he's done to my family, to Mandy to the crew of the Hyperion and the Helios. No crime ever goes unpunished and justice will come down on him, and I hope I'm there to witness it.

Dr. Olsen runs into the room with the rest of the medical team. I push off to give them room to work. Jahní stands by the door gazing at me with love and compassion; I know she can feel everything I can. I extend my hand and she walks in and takes it squatting down next to me, she touches my face gently and I close my eyes. "Lets go." I tell her.

The crew members that were there are all in tears, as the realization that Mandy has passed hits them. No one pays attention as we leave, which is better for me.

We get back to my room and Jahní assist me into the bed once more. "I've lost friends to the war back home and now I've lost another." This is not how I had envisioned things would go, but life has it's own direction and we are just actors.

"Please be calm." Jahní says to me. I smile at her because she is not to blame for anything that has happened.

"I'll be fine my Jahní, My wife." She lays her head on my chest, as I start to play with her short hair and smile.

"When I heard that your Embassy was under attack I knew that the Explosion at the palace was distraction." She breathes in quickly. "But, when I heard that your ship was struck my heart went cold." She raises her head. "Then I hear the explosion in the sky, The entire city heard it I think. We don't normally approach those speeds over our cities."

"Oh, you mean the Combat drop we were forced to perform." She nods.

"Is that what you call it, a Combat drop?" She asks. "My father is impressed with that maneuver. He feels it's the reason you and your men won that battle, you took them by surprise." The King said that eh. "He is interested in how you prepared for that rapid response."

P

I shake my head smiling at that request. "Well I think I will have to consider that carefully, because it is an Earth military tactic." She laughs lightly over that comment, but she seems to understand what I mean.

She stands up walking running her finger down my now leg in a cast. She has that look in he eye, I feel the warmth building up in me. But, I've learned a few things about my ring too; I close my eyes and focus then I release my own feelings, causing her to stop and she inhales a couple of quick short breaths. "You're learning to direct your feeling and emotions."

"Well I have a good teacher you know." I relax and so does she, walking over to me she leans down kissing me passionately. I can never seem to tire of her, but maybe this isn't the best time. She stops looking at me she puts her forehead to mine. "I love you Jahní." She looks into my eyes and I can almost read her thoughts. "I won't be killed that easy, I'll fight with all I have to get back to you always."

"I know and I believe you." Jahní says to me. If the little bit that we are separated is difficult I can't imagine what it can be like, when death takes your pledged. The pain of separation must be terrible.

***********************************************

The funeral is with full honors for our fallen. The Marines and crew members are meticulously dressed, and all the caskets are flag draped. The bearers would have been all Marines, but they just lost nine of their own, so fellow ship mates were asked to help.

The caskets are all in place and I'm here in crutches in my dress greys, that have been prepared for the cast on my leg. I open a the Bible to a selected book and chapter with a verse, that I read aloud.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Let us pray I bow my head. "Heavenly Father, we beseech thee to receive into your tender loving care the souls of these men and women. Who gave their lives in the defense their fellow shipmates and friends. That they may find rest from the toil of life, to everlasting peace, Amen."

Each flag is folded then held by one of the Marines at each casket. The Gunny pulls out his saber and gives the command for the four Marines to fire plas rifles in salute to these fallen comrades in arms. I look at all in attendance Most of the crew is here and all of the Marines are present. Then The King is here, as are Jahní and Lahí. Even the crown prince is Zohan has deemed this important enough to be present.

Then The bugler starts to play taps. Jahní has never heard it before but I can see that she's moved by the lonely sound of it. She looks in my direction and she seems to be imagining something. I see the fear of loss in her beautiful face. Then I notice Lahí who is openly tearing up all the while looking at Hal.

Corporal Jeff Higgins steps forward. "Salute!" orders The Gunny. The entire crew, the Marines stand at attention snapping and holding the salute.

The Corporal starts to read off the names of the our dear departed shipmates and friends.

Private first class Timothy L Holt, United Earth Alliance Marine Corps.

Private Joshua Cambell Jr., United Earth Alliance Marine Corps

With each name read off I see a of a young man or woman who's dreams and aspirations have been cut short. I look down then to Jahní and she looks at the young men and women here, who have put it all on the line so far from home.

First Lieutenant John Monroe, United Earth Alliance Marine Corps.

Major Mandy Roberts, United Earth Alliance Air Defense Group. The Corporal finishes Caskets are lowered into the ground and I watch them all go down. My heart sinks with these men and women; I look around at the rest of them and I swear that I will get all of you home, back to your families.

The Salute is completed. "Detail dismissed!" Orders the Gunny. Everyone relaxes and starts to gather in pairs or groups, I move through until I reach Jahní. I notice some of the crew giving Jahní dirty looks. The love she has for me can be seen by all, as we maintain a proper distance from each other, This really sucks, but we have to put up with this until who knows when.

"Are you ok?" I inquire of her.

She politely smiles at me. "Better now that now that you are near."

"Would you care to walk with me?" I look at my leg and the crutches and she covers her mouth laughing lightly.

"Well." she starts. "Perhaps to a chair for you to sit down." I laugh at my own dumb comment, so we head to one of the chairs that are set up out here and we take a seat. We catch up on the past three days that we haven't been able to talk.

A young female Ensign comes up to us, and I look her way. "Sir, may I speak?" She requests.

"Whats on your mind Ensign?"

She looks at Jahní and seems hesitant to speak her mind, but then I see the resolve in her face. "Sir why are you consorting with them? I mean she is the reason the Major was detained." She keeps her voice down, however her attitude and body posture speak volumes. "And now she's dead." She gives jahní a cold disgusted look.

"Ensign, I'm going to say this one time. My personal life is not up to discussion with you or to the committee." she swallows hard sweating bullets. "Don't disparage," I lower my voice. "My wife again." her eyes almost bulge out of her head. "You are dismissed Ensign."

She salutes and leaves heading back to her group and the rumor starts to fly. "Was it wise to tell her, especially since she does not have good feelings towards me." this might be true, then again it could change.

"Give them time, they will accept you." Jahní seems to be doubtful about them accepting her. "Just be who you are and befriend them one at a time and you'll see."

She looks down seeming to be shy about winning over those girls, but she can see my motivation. "I will try to do what you say."

"That's the spirit!" I encourage her. She will win them over and have a great friendship develop there.