Read The Battle for the Ringed Planet for Free Online Page B

their highly advanced precision munitions there was always collateral damage, but he knew the pilots and warship commanders never intentionally tried to harm civilians, though he suspected the enemy used them as shields, “We try not to miss military targets, but mistakes happen.”
    “A lot of mistakes.”
    Grumbling, he sighed, “I never did any of that.”
    In the distance at the outskirts of the city, a wide column of fiery black and grey smoke dominated the view. Hiking on the open expressway meant they were exposed, but they had good command of the surroundings and faster travel time cutting through the center of the abandoned city.
    Striding by another vehicle, a hoverbus with bones strewn all over the seats and aisle, Torian paused and read his Con, and then glanced at Siiri, “What do your people say killed everyone?”
    She shrugged, “Sky Demons.”
    “Well that explains my popularity,” but he added, “Some survived?”
    “Yes, some did, in the caverns and tunnels underneath.”
    Torian was pensive, and then abruptly began to walk ahead. The two continued in silence until they came to a ramp that led off to the large four-spire administration building Siiri had pointed out earlier. She stopped to stare for a moment and Torian turned back and followed her gaze.
    “It’s probably not good to dwell on the bad memories,” he cautioned.
    “I just don’t understand why the voices picked me. They must have known what the priest and the council would do, because so many were cast out before me.”
    Her talk of voices was starting to unnerve him, so he tried to change the subject, “Did you venture into the city much?”
    “A couple of times mostly armed scavenging parties. Father Jarlan would take us on school trips, though. That was exciting because we got to keep what we found as long as it wasn’t dangerous. Everyone would want something different, cans of food we couldn’t grow, medicine, portable devices; the city holds so many mysteries. But there are many things to fear.” Then she peered at him curiously, “What about you? What is your world like?”
    “We farm. I live in a small town near a big city, so we go in to scavenge, except we have to pay for things.”
    “But you don’t have leopards living in the buildings or packs of wolves running in the streets.”
    “No, that’s true.”
    They walked without speaking to each other for a while, passing more vehicles and skeletal remains. She studied his flight suit quizzically, “So what do all those colored patches mean on your uniform?”
    “Which one?”
    “That one,” as she touched the symbol over his right breast pocket of a silver wing set against a human eye and encircled by small stars.
    “I am the eye in space.” smiling slightly he explained, “I am a recon specialist, officially a LRRS tech, which is short for Long Range Reconnaissance Space. I operate surveillance equipment, as well as the guns when we come under attack.”
    “And that one is the symbol of your bigger sky ship, the Callisto?” the girl pointed to his shoulder with the same symbol on the mug Torian had given her earlier in the Hawkeye.
    “Aye. It’s the symbol for the C.S.S. Callisto, and on my other shoulder, the symbol means I am assigned to a Hawkeye squadron.” The symbol was of a hawk head with a bright eye.
    “In the war holo stories the boys would watch some soldiers got medals …”
    “There are only the ribbons on our flight suits. The actual medals are only worn on dress uniforms.”
    “So what are they for? That red and gold one?”
    “That means I’ve been in combat before.”
    “The purple heart shaped one?”
    His voice tensed imperceptibly and softened, while his gaze drifted away, “For wounds.”
    “I’m sorry …”
    “No, you asked,” then lowering his pack he pulled out Chang’s Con and brought up some floating screens. “Here. I’m going to give this to you, but let me wipe it first.” He touched several virtual