Fracture Lines (The Glass Complex Book 2) (36 page)

When he informed Stacia of the lack of response from dirtside, she was immediately angry on behalf of her patients.

“I’ll come with you,” she said. “I agree you should take over the central hospital. I‘ll see everything is done properly. Finch will list the patients we should transport; she can come with us. Two shuttles—that should give us room for sixty patients in each. We’ve well over four hundred who need hospital care.”

“We’ll do multiple runs. First trip, though, I’m taking a squad and you and Finch in the smaller shuttle. We’ll use a larger shuttle for patient runs. It will need some conversion work so that it can carry patients. You’ll need to allocate two Fain, and we’ll have fifteen marines, ours or Alliance, to accompany patients on each flight. The flights dirtside will be quick. The teams won’t be able to do much for people while they’re in transit.”

Commander Gillespie supported his plan and arranged a team of
Wasp
engineers to convert her largest shuttle, as far as possible, to provide suitable accommodation. The passengers would be patients who needed more intense treatment or surgery beyond the scope of the Fain and
Wasp
’s equipment.

Steg made further attempts to contact the president and the senior surgeon, and again there were no responses.

That evening Steg held a briefing meeting with Stacia, Finch, Captain Dean, and Major Carter. He said, “No replies from dirtside, so far. According to our Intel team—Major, I sent you maps and flight plans about five minutes ago—the central hospital is adjacent to a large park area. They’re both near the center of the city. The hospital’s not far from the president’s office. We’ll use the park as a temporary base; it has enough room for three shuttles and more.”

The Alliance major replied, “Good. As I messaged you, Montrose agreed we should move injured people off the station. He’s impressed that your Fain have managed to maintain such a high treatment standard under these conditions. We’re authorized to fly as many trips as necessary.”

“I’ll fly our small shuttle in first, secure the area, and move out any civilians. The shuttle’s armed with light weapons, although I don’t expect to use them. We’ll drop an hour ahead of the first load of patients. I’m taking Riddell and some of our most experienced mercs, half of whom are heavyworlders, so we’ll have extra muscle.”

“It might add to your authority if you have an Alliance presence so I’ve arranged for some of my marines to accompany you. Of course, we’ll disown you if you kill anyone. Well, at least take care to minimize casualties. I’ve allocated five to fly down with you, and five to ride with
Wasp’s
medical shuttle. Ten marines will be in our shuttle. I don’t want to remove any more of my marines—we need to continue with our S and R mission.”

“Agreed. Per the flight plans, ETA for the first hospital shuttle is 7:00 a.m. local, an hour after sunrise. Major, your shuttle is scheduled to depart an hour later, unless we encounter difficulties. We won’t overwhelm the locals—well, not too much—if we do this in stages. We can achieve two flights each, today. We’ll follow up with more tomorrow—we may need to find another hospital, though. I’m not sure how they’ll cope, dirtside.”

“Will anyone be in danger, do you think?” asked Stacia. “I don’t want my patients to suffer any more.”

“We’ll convince local law authorities we’re legitimate. The hospital symbols on our shuttles with the patients will help. I can’t imagine anyone is going to shoot at them. If necessary I can defend them. The small shuttle flies like a fighter.”

“I’m bringing my armor, anyway,” said Finch. “And my Gauss. I don’t want anyone attacking my patients.”

Major Carter looked surprised. He was about to comment and decided otherwise.

Dean understood the major’s unasked question and said, “Finch is one of our best shots, even if the weapon is as big as she is.”

Carter stepped back and bowed to the Fain. “Finch, I did not intend any disparagement.”

Finch blinked her lashes at the major and giggled. She said, “None taken, Major. Now you know you shouldn’t get in my way when I’m shooting.”

Steg departed on schedule and dropped the small shuttle towards the planet. He ignored comments from his passengers as he increased power and pace. Stacia’s face was pale, whether from his shuttle piloting or from anger at the silence of the Eos authorities, he was unsure. Finch held determinedly to her weapon as the shuttle bounced. The ride was going to be a record breaker. He wanted to be visible yet too fast for anyone to catch—unless they had missiles, of course. If the shuttle’s sensors detected a missile lock, he’d activate all shields and take evasive maneuvers, flying the small craft out of the planet’s gravity well and back into deep space. He planned then to make a return flight, find a remote location, and approach the capital city more circumspectly. This trip, he was making a statement.

The flight was uneventful, without missile locks. He crossed over the city at a low altitude, breaking the sound barrier as he approached and then as he departed. His return to the city center was slower, with less noise. He located their intended destination and checked for pedestrians. There were none near his planned landing spot, and he settled the shuttle down. To everyone’s relief, it almost floated to a stop. His squad quickly exited and took up defensive positions, weapons ready. The small team of Alliance Marines followed his mercenaries.

One of the mercenaries bent over and tapped the grass with her hand. “So that’s what it’s like,” she muttered.

“What’s up, Sergeant?” asked one of her companions. “Forgotten what a planet’s like?”

“Just reminding myself,” replied Sergeant Velez. “It’s been a while.”

“Velez, you’re coming with me—select two to support you. Stacia, you and Finch, too. Corporal, would you and your marines guard the shuttle?”

The corporal acknowledged the request and placed his men around the shuttle. Steg continued, “Riddell, be prepared to protect our way out. In the meantime, mark out the areas where we want to land the other shuttles. Use the spray paint to indicate the boundaries. If you see any locals, let them know this park is now a hot landing zone—and restricted. Use force, not deadly, and only if necessary. We want to keep some friends.”

Steg headed towards the hospital with his escort of three heavyworlders who were carrying enough weapons to start a war on their own. Stacia wore light armor, although she had decided not to carry a weapon. Steg had brought a spare rifle in case she changed her mind. Finch was armored and carried her Gauss with intent. He ignored the handful or so of staring locals; they were apparently amazed at the presence of the shuttle and armored soldiers in the middle of their city.

There was a security guard inside the hospital lobby, seated inside a glass cage beside a barrier he operated to ensure visitors could enter only one at a time. Steg didn’t stop as he crashed through the flimsy construction. The guard looked appalled.

“I don’t have a pass and yes, I’m entering the hospital. Don’t try to use your weapon, it won’t do any good against our armor and would only upset us. Which floor do I need for the head surgeon? What’s his name—Dr. Dalrymple?”

“Th-th-third floor, s-sir,” the guard stuttered. “He’s not in, yet.”

“Then call him, tell him I’ve taken over his hospital.” Steg, frustrated with the doctor’s refusal to take his comlink, had messaged him the previous afternoon, announcing his arrival time and his intention to move hundreds of patients into the hospital. “When he arrives, tell him we’re in the emergency intake section.” The guard nodded, apparently too nervous to risk his stutter.

Steg checked the directional signs and determined if he followed a solid red line, he’d arrive at the right location.

“Velez, place a marine here—your corporal. No one is to enter the hospital unless they’re a doctor or a nurse, understand?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Follow the red line,” he called back over his shoulder. Stacia and Finch ran to catch up. He knew Velez would follow with the other heavyworlder.

At two hundred yards or so along the red line, he reached the beginning of what appeared to be the outskirts of a series of hospital wards instead of offices. There were beds in side rooms and the antiseptic odor reminded him of the Fains’ medical area on
Wasp
. He stopped a nurse and asked, “Is this the emergency section?”

The nurse did not conceal her nervousness. “Yes, sir.” Steg assumed his armored presence, including obviously high-powered weapons, was the likely cause of her reaction.

“Where’s your doctor in charge?”

“He’s not in yet, sir. He won’t arrive for another four—or maybe five hours.”

“Who’s in charge in the meantime?”

“The senior nurse, Nursing Manager Bollard, sir.”

“She’s in, I assume?”

“Oh, yes, sir. Nurses are always on time.”

“Lead me to her.”

“Oh—but—very well, sir.” Sergeant Velez had stepped forward as the nurse was about to refuse. The presence of the large offworlder seemed to change her mind.

“It’s this way, sir.”

Steg, the two Fain, and his mercenary escort followed the young nurse for another fifty yards or so, intruding further into the wards. Most of the beds, he noted, were empty. Their guide stopped outside a small office.

“Nursing Manager Bollard, sir—this is her office.”

“Thank you for your assistance.”

The young woman scurried away, an expression of relief on her face.

“You frighten everyone, sir,” murmured Velez.

“Only if they don’t realize how soft I am,” Steg murmured back. He indicated the desk and the anxious receptionist. “Sergeant, take over this desk—we don’t want the nursing manager to be diverted from her critical tasks, today.”

“Yes, sir.” Velez looked at the receptionist. “Miss,” she said, “I’m sure you’d like to have a coffee—or even a sip of something stronger perhaps, to restore your nerves.” The sergeant used one hand to lift the receptionist out of her chair. She pointed her away from the office. “Go!” she commanded. The receptionist ran. Velez indicated her slightly smaller fellow marine should sit at the desk. The armor created long deep scratches in the desktop as the private sat down. The chair creaked. Exo-armor was not light.

A voice called from inside the office. “What’s going on out there? You don’t have time for—”

Steg’s appearance in the middle of her doorway silenced the remainder of her sentence.

“Nursing Manager Bollard?”

“Y—yes. Who are you?”

“I’m Captain Steg de Coeur. In approximately forty minutes, you will receive sixty injured patients, survivors from the way station. An hour after that, you will receive another sixty. Later, another sixty, and so on. We have two hundred and forty patients scheduled to reach you today. I tried a number of times to contact your Dr. Dalrymple; apparently he decided to ignore my communications.”

“I can’t—you cannot—this is impossible—you don’t have authority to tell me what to do.” The woman pressed her lips together. She was in her mid-fifties; her hair was tied back, and she had what Steg assumed was a chronic frown on her face. He wondered what she’d eaten to cause the sour expression. Her white uniform was crisp and clean.

“Ma’am, you either work with me to admit and treat these patients or you lose your job, immediately. One of my associates will take over.” He indicated Stacia and Finch. Finch held her weapon at the ready and, in armor, looked a most unlikely candidate to run an emergency ward.

“Impossible—” began the nursing manager.

“Sergeant Velez, restrain this woman.” The sergeant stepped forward with plastic ties in her hand. Steg continued, “Bollard, if you co-operate, today is going to be one of the most exciting you’ll experience in your lifetime, If you don’t cooperate—” Steg shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

Velez said, “Turn around, hands behind your back.”

“No, wait, what is this all about?”

“I told you. We have hundreds of patients requiring emergency care. I tried to contact Dalrymple to make arrangements. There was an alien attack on your way station, and we’ve been conducting search and rescue operations. The people we’re bringing here are seriously injured and need your care. Will you help?”

The nursing manager stared at Steg for almost a minute. At last, she wet her lips and said, “Very well. Who—what—”

“Stacia has the patient details. She is our lead surgeon. The other lady—Finch—is equally well qualified, notwithstanding the armor. However, before we start—understand, we’ll be landing shuttles in the park next door to the hospital. Can your people help move the patients from the shuttles into your emergency department?”

“Yes, sir. Mr. Nicoll can handle that. My receptionist will contact—”

“Um—I think you’ve lost her—she’s gone for a coffee, or something stronger. Give Private Thornton his number; she’ll contact him.”

Bollard provided the man’s number and returned her attention to Steg. “You said—you have patient details?”

Stacia stepped forward. “Nursing Manager, my name is Stacia. My associate is Finch. We have a list of the patients on our compads, with details of their injuries and our treatment so far. Here, you can see these details. Perhaps I can transfer the file to your compad?”

The nursing manager started to read the details on Stacia’s screen. “Oh, my—yes, transfer it now. We need to call out some of our emergency staff—indeed, yes.”

Steg shook his head and turned and left the office. He signaled Velez and said, “Sergeant, only interfere if someone causes difficulties for Stacia or Finch. Then call me. I’m going to look for Dalrymple.”

The sergeant looked back at the three heads bent over their compads, smiled, and said, “Yes, sir.”

As Steg left, two men—doctors, he assumed, given their uniforms—rushed towards him and into the nursing manager’s office. Another man was running towards the same office, carrying a compad. Steg smiled to himself and followed the red line back to the front desk.

The main lobby was full of blue-uniformed police and gray-uniformed security personnel. The corporal deployed by Sergeant Velez stood at the end of the lobby, weapon leveled, his threatening posture preventing anyone entering further into the hospital. Steg nodded his approval at the mercenary and stepped forward. He used the amplifier in his exo-armor.