The shattered edge

[Yuveraj Khan]

Khan spoke calmly to Santorini through the comms as he donned his spacesuit.

"There are other people here," he answered simply. Nodding in thanks as Razin helped him on with the bulky oxygen pack. "We can't just throw away all their lives in exchange for some glorious, and utterly futile action that no one will every hear about."

Razin shook his head, "You sure, Commissar, that you want to go out there?"

"Ask not of your men something you are not willing to do yourself," Khan answered as he accepted the helmet and looked at Captain Levesque. "This ship is vital to the Coalition, what with both the Havana and the Marx laid up in dry dock for extensive repairs. Simply put, Commissar Santorini, this is the biggest ship we have left. And some of the best officers of the Coalition are here... Do your duty and... earn this." he gestured at the men climbing into the airlock.

Razin helped him on with his helmet. Stepping back to salute the brave men who were going to risk a space walk, not knowing what the alien drones would do next.

"I am assuming command of the Kerimov," Razin announced, as the hatch closed behind them. "Santorini, you're acting XO until Captain Alvarez returns to assume command. I need a fighter screen around the Kerimov while we try to restore weapons and propulsion. Can you get it done?"

Behind him the airlock cycled, and the men drifted away from the ship into space.

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