Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service by Raymond L Jennings Page B

ebony-skinned Aldar, behind him. He started to come to attention and salute
the admiral and the captain.
    Ken’Rathel
waved down his salute. “At ease everyone, if anyone should be saluting it
should be us.” He looked around the med bay, his eyes taking in all the injured
pilots on the beds. His gaze came to rest on Crineal. “I thought you might like
to know the analysis of today’s battle. The rebels lost twenty-five Archer
bombers and thirty-seven Axe fighters. They only managed to launch twenty
torpedoes against us which were all successfully intercepted. Our casualties
total all of the injured here and the two pilots missing, although I fervently
hope that they are found alive.” The admiral continued gravely, “Projections show
that without your attack on the bombers, the Annihilator and Earth Orbital
Three would have taken significant damage and massive casualties. I cannot
thank you enough. I’ll be forwarding recommendations for commendations to Space
Corps Headquarters in the next few days. But, as of right now, Hera Squadron is
off flight duty and you are all on leave until our departure from Earth
Orbital. For those of you confined to medical bay for any of that time then the
extra leave will be added to your records, instead.” This elicited a tired
cheer from the pilots who were able to. “The captain and I are proud to have
you serving on this ship.”
    Ken’Rathel
and Aldar then made the rounds of the pilots, injured or not, guided by Crineal
and Strieger. When they were done the admiral stopped and turned to Crineal.
“General, I’d like to see you in my office tomorrow if you would?”
    “Certainly,
Sir. At what time? I have an oh eight hundred meeting scheduled with Commander Del’Tarim
but that could easily be rearranged.”
    The
admiral chuckled. “Yes, I heard about your… meeting with the good commander. I
don’t think you should put him off. Would eleven hundred be suitable?” he
inquired.
    “Yes,
Sir, I’ll be there,” said Crineal.
    “I
look forward to it, General. Make sure your people have everything they want.
If anyone objects then send them to me.” With that the admiral turned and left
the med bay with Captain Aldar following.
    Strieger
moved up beside Crineal. “Who is Commander Del’Tarim? And why are you meeting
him that early tomorrow?” she asked Crineal quietly, her voice burning with
curiosity.
    Crineal
stared at the retreating figure of the admiral. “He’s our new flight bay
commander and I’m meeting with him so I can decide whether to take up
Lieutenant Perl on his offer and have him, Staller and Muscovy shove the commander
out of an airlock.”
    After
contemplating this for a few seconds, Strieger said, “Ok, now you have to tell
me what I missed. I never get to have any fun.” Crineal looked down at her and
saw she was pouting. It looked both comic and very sexy to him. He was about to
reply when his comm link buzzed again.
    “Crineal
here. Go.”
    “Flight
Control, Sir. SnR One is just about to dock in Bay Beta One. I thought you’d
like to know.”
    “Thank
you, Flight, I’m on my way. Crineal out.” He turned to Saphya. “Fill the major
in on our new flight bay commander would you, Lieutenant?”
    Saphya
saluted him “Yes, Sir, my pleasure, General.” Crineal returned her salute and
headed out to meet the arriving Search and Rescue craft.
     
    He
arrived at Bay Beta One just as the ramp was being lowered on the Search and Rescue
shuttle. Crineal strode over and stood there waiting as two med techs pulled
the floating med unit out of the craft. A doctor was checking the readouts
attached to it. Crineal winced as he saw the form on the bed. Lieutenant Feldea
laid there, her coppery red hair damp and limp on the pillow beneath her head.
He saw that her left arm and leg were pulped and her right flight boot was
melted. The damage looked horrific. He knew it could be repaired using the
wonders of Imperial medicines and technology, but Feldea