Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price by Dale Musser

devices on the ground or inside a ship,” I said.  “Rory this is a great discovery that you and Reide made!”
    Rory beamed, but added, “It was mostly Reide’s idea.  But I helped!”
    “So then Reide must be the one responsible for the fog as a means of finding the snipers and other cloaked enemies,” A’Lappe said.
    “It certainly looks that way.”
    “Tibby, is Reide alright?” asked Rory as I was about to end the call.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “But as soon as I find out, I’ll let you know.”
    Over the next hour, we monitored the battle in the 3D hologram and received reports of action on the ground.  Thirty-one people were killed in the explosion at the parade grounds.  One cadet was killed shielding Admiral Windangar and eight more were wounded either by flying debris from the blast or wounds received in battle.  Commander Ircart received a flesh wound.  Seven civilians died in the stadium seating, thirteen were wounded at the base Cantolla Gate Station and, miraculously, only three people died in the area of the armory.  The latest report indicated six wounded and zero deaths at the base War Room.  At other locations around the base the cloaked snipers managed to kill twenty-two additional staff, officers and cadets before they were finally located and stopped.  All but one of them were killed.  The last was hit by an armored vehicle as he tried to flee.  He was transported to the base hospital and was in critical condition.
    Although I didn’t ask him to, Marranalis checked on Reide’s status.  Reide was doing fine and it was indeed Reide's doing when the fog generators were utilized to find the enemy snipers.  I asked Marranalis to send Rory a message on my behalf, letting him know Reide was safe.
    When it finally seemed that everything on the base was once again under control, Marranalis turned to Kala and said, “Captain Kalana, as the only person here that is able to give orders to Tibby that he is likely to follow, I respectfully request that you order him to go immediately to the infirmary.”
    Kala chuckled and then looked at me sternly.  “You heard what the Admiral said.  Do I need to order troopers to drag you there or will you go willingly?”
    “Alright, alright!  I surrender,” I joked back.  Then I turned to Marranalis and quipped, “I won’t forget this… traitor.”
    Marranalis let out a loud laugh, and I could have sworn I saw tears of relief in his eyes that I was going to be alright.  I struggled to keep from groaning as Kala helped me to my feet.  By now, the pain and soreness had amplified and was many times harsher than when I arrived.  I would have preferred going back to the NEW ORLEANS to be treated by A’Lappe, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen; so, slowly and painfully, I leaned on Kala as we made our way to the infirmary.
    Healing broken bones in the Federation was faster and easier than it was during my days on Earth.  The Federation medics used an impressed current system therapy, one far superior to the experimental versions that were being developed before I left Earth.  Instead of taking more than a month to heal a fracture, only a few days were required.  After electrodes were placed on the affected areas, my upper chest was wrapped in a transparent, yet still breathable plastic wrap that I was told would need to be changed in three days.  In the meantime, I could shower, as the bandages were not affected by moisture and would dry the same as the rest of my body.   It would take a total of six days to be completely healed.  I was given medication for pain and told I needed rest, but the medic relented on the last order when I expressed the needs of the current situation.  Marranalis contacted me, saying that the news services were asking for comments from me regarding the events of the day.  I told him to contact Admiral Wabussie and pull together all the facts that were available so that he could provide me with a