His grim stance betrayed his feelings. He was a man who had seen many things and yet he needed a moment to steel himself. Most commanders would have moved on by now.
He had worked hard for his position. The men trusted him and relied on his sound decisions. He was making some hard decisions now.
When he looked up he saw the captain was still standing there. Waiting. Would he drop his duty now? Would he surrender?
He hadn’t seen the mutiny coming. Treason simply wasn’t a thought to him, he might be excused for not seeing it in others. Hindsight made it crystal. There was a lack of food, no sign of life and any trail they might have followed ran out weeks ago. Still headquarters had pushed them on. Find the spy or else. His face cracked into a rueful grin as he thought to himself this must be the ‘or else’.
Desperate times, but he hadn’t thought themselves desperate, not yet. He was sure they were close. He’d developed a sense for it over the years. His senses told him it didn’t matter now. He’d lost them. Headquarters had ordered them back a week ago. But he couldn’t stop now. How they found out he couldn’t guess. Well, he could, but that was irrelevant to the present moment.
The captain made a gesture and his crew moved in either side. The commander had run out of time. He steeled himself and grimaced as he let out a pulsewave to kill men he had admired and mentored. Nothing could stop his mission. He was too close now.
C.M. Wellsmore 