Cauldron Front, Eridani, FDA territories.

  May 7th, 2502

  Captain Kyra Sanders was hugging the dirt while explosions hit around the defensive perimeter of the right battle line. The briefing believed that Eridani’s Defenses on the Cauldron Front were weak, and that it would take a month to take over the entire colony. She remembered when her unit, the 840th Regiment, pushed half-way through the front, just two days ago. She saw her superiors, including the battalion commander she was serving under, having captured groups of soldiers during the fighting. They hoped to break their spirit through live shows of beatings, torture, and execution.

  It was the Dominion’s doctrine during a prolonged conflict. For them to achieve victory, they often resorted to methods that were more akin to war crimes, to break the spirits of the people they wished to subjugate. To show the enemy that defiance came with a heavy cost. To break hope from their enemy, and transform it to despair. Cruel to the highest sense.

  And yet, it didn’t break the Eridani Defense Force. The 480th miscalculated.

  Eridani soldiers weren’t poorly-trained nor have poor discipline. They were dedicated, devoted, and strong. Their spirit was of steel and fury, and more than willing to fight to the last one standing.

  Many of the Dominion soldiers were now dead on the ground. Their bodies mangled from bullets, turret fire, and explosions. She heard the screams of her fellow troopers, their cries of agony in their final moments. Despair and fear washed all over them.

  Her platoon of 50 ready and devoted troopers, turned into 5 tired and weary troopers who felt despair and just wanted to return home. Sanders felt it too.

  She once believed in the cause of the Dominion. Ensure safety, security, and prosperity for humanity. She bought into their speeches of duty and devotion to keep humanity secure, and she wanted to do her part.

  Now, battered, bloodied, and feeling her life fading away as blood seeped from her stomach, she no longer believed in them. In the deepest part inside, she knew. Eridani’s soldiers were braver than she ever will be.

  Then, she saw it. Even with her vision blurry, Her CO came forward with around 5.. No, 7 Eridani soldiers bound and brought forward.

  “To the soldiers of the Eridani Defense Force, this is Colonel Adam Schwarz of the 840th Regiment. We have captured your soldiers. Surrender your Cauldron Front, and these seven animals will walk peacefully.”

  There was no response. Only silence.

  “This is your last chance. Speak up in 3 minutes, or they will die.”

  Sanders couldn’t feel the time, her vision was starting to go black. She wanted to sleep, she badly wanted to. She rolled herself on the stomach

  “Your loss…” She heard the agonizing screams of the captured soldiers, then it all turned to black.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Tor Orbital Hospital, Kero System, UHD territories

  November 5th, 2502

  Kyra Sanders’s eyes fluttered open, then saw herself in a bed. It wasn’t home, for sure. The walls were sterile and colored in white. And she heard the sounds of a heartbeat and other devices. Kyra was in a hospital, she was sure of it

  “Ah, you’re awake. Good.” A doctor with a coat came forward, then checked up on the devices settling near Sanders’ bed.

  “Where… where am I?” She asked, her voice slurry.

  “You’re in Tor Orbital Hospital, mein dear. I am Doctor Robe Costa. You are lucky to be alive.” He introduced himself.

  Sanders was silent for a moment. When did that happen? How long was she out? What happened to Colonel Schwarz, and the 840th regiment.

  “I am sure by now, you are wondering how long were you out.” Costa spoke, then sighed. “It had been 6 months.”

  Sanders felt she was gonna panic, but the beep of her heartbeat monitor kept its current momentum.

  “How did I get here?” Sanders asked. Dr.Costa licked his lips, then answered. “A young man and a number of his guards were. His hair was light-brown and he was wearing a prosthetic on his right leg.”

  “Do you at least have a name?” Sanders asked.

  “Easy, Ms.Sanders. You might not like what I’m about to say next.” Costa tried to reason, though Sanders shook her head. She wanted answers. She needed them.

  The Doctor sighed, then answered. “You’ve been declared as KIA in the Battle of Eridani. The Dominion had lost. Eridani still stands independent.”

  Dr. Costa looked at the woman, and she wasn’t feeling anything at the moment. His brows furrowed. Depending on how she might feel, this might decide for what was next for the young woman.

  “Good.” Sanders commented.

  “Good?” Costa questioned.

  “Yes, Doctor. It’s good. What we were doing, it wasn’t for the good of humanity. It was abhorrent. We tortured and executed soldiers, and we burned civilians alive to. But it didn’t break them. They kept fighting.”

  Dr. Costa left a slight smile, but Sanders was looking down and didn’t care enough to look at anybody.

  “If it makes you feel any better, the 840th Regiment all died out in the battle.” Dr. Costa informed, though Sanders didn’t look.

  “You’ll be fit to leave within the next two weeks. Stay healthy, Major.” The Doctor left the room

  Sanders was alone, with the only sounds of the monitoring devices and the clock keeping her company. And she was smiling in satisfaction.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  With now declared dead by a nation that abandoned her, she can make a fresh start.

  To hell with the Dominion.

  Meanwhile, Costa sighed as he closed the door. He brought his sleeves up, a smart watch on his left wrist. He clicked some buttons, and brought the watch to his face.

  “Sir, it’s time.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Bedroom, Tor Orbital Hospital, Kero System

  November 9th, 2502

  The boredom settled in well with Kyra Sanders. She figured it would happen sooner or later. The food was healthy, but not particularly edible. The TV on the wall mostly had news channels, not much in entertainment. So, yeah, that made things pretty boring.

  She wasn’t sure what to do. Legally, she was dead. She couldn’t come back. She had no reason to, not when her parents were dead and the only link to the family were her two younger brothers fanatically devoted to the Dominion. She remembered the day when she was 16. Her parents were taken by UHD’s secret police. Their crime? They shared doubts with their friends about the Dominion’s war effort, and felt they should make peace with the Frontier Defense Alliance, and they were watched by state agents of the Dominion’s State Department. It wasn’t long until her parents were executed for ‘treason’, and then hung. No due process. And no trial. It broke her, and it broke her brothers.

  Sanders vowed to herself since then to not make the same mistakes. And yet, here she was. Legally dead, and more likely branded a traitor.

  It was more likely the Dominion would’ve made her disappear if she tried to present herself alive. She knew that, and she knew she wouldn’t be given a hero’s welcome if she went back to her homeland.

  Sanders heard a knock on the door, and when it also opened. A young man came in and her eyes turned wide as he took a seat near to her. Mid 20s, sporting light-brown hair, and wearing a prosthetic

  It was the man and his supposed bodyguards that rescued her from certain death. But more than that.

  Prince Evan Werner.

  “Guess by the look at of your face, you know who I am.” He gave a slight smile. “Greetings, Ms.Sanders”

  “Sir.” Sanders greeted back.

  “Please. Just call me Evan.”

  Something about that man. Sanders couldn’t get a good read on him. Still, his presence made her feel safe and out of harm’s way

  “Okay. Evan.” Sanders corrected. “Thank you for…”

  “It wasn’t easy, Ms.Sanders.” Werner interrupted. “We had to stabilize you during our trip to the Tor Orbital Hospital. It was near, and it’s served by people I can trust.”

  “They’re defectors?” Sanders inquired, though Werner gave a gesture that said yes and no. “Officially, no. Unofficially, it has a number of staff disgruntled with the way of things with the Dominion. It’s growing.”

  This was beyond what Sanders previously expected. An orbital hospital filled with staff who were unhappy with how the UHD was running? They would’ve been drawn and quartered. No wonder they kept it on the down low.

  “And I take it you have an offer for me.”

  “I do. Ms. Sanders.” Werner stood up and then stopped in front of her. “I represent a group who believe the UHD have lost its way in its duty to protect humanity, devoting itself to the will of the rich and inflicting suffering on the people they were sworn to protect.. A group who wants to make sure humanity doesn’t end with the Dominion.”

  Sanders felt herself grinning, and Werner’s pitch was more than convincing. She saw how the Dominion treated her parents. She saw how they turned her two brothers from innocent to brainwashed cultists with fanatical devotion. It disgusted her. And it disgusted her that the Dominion willingly kept sending its soldiers to the meat grinder.

  Werner saw that the young woman was already convinced. Given the dossier file he read of her, it wasn’t going to take a lot to convince her to join. He brought a card from his pocket, then moved closer to Sanders and presented it.

  “Once you’re able to leave a hospital, take a bus to Diamond Palace. Show it to the guards on the entrance, and they’ll let you in.” Werner advised.

  Sanders looked at the card, then took it.

  “Duly noted.” She said.

  Werner moved farther away, then waved his goodbye. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Major.”

  The young man left the room, and Sanders was puzzled. She was legally dead, she couldn’t be a Major. Unless he was looking to reinstate her? That’s possible. Still, Sanders yawned and went back to sleep. If that didn’t work, then at least the entertainment channels on the TV would keep her company.

  As soon as Evan Werner left the bedroom, he flicked his eyes to his aide, Colonel Falka Walsh, who joined him, while they walked their way back to their shuttle.

  “She’s joining?” Walsh asked, and Werner nodded.

  “Figures. She’s not the most devoted to the Dominion, sir.”

  “Indeed. But it depends on how far she’s willing to go.” Werner said, which Walsh picked up on.

  “I’m sure she’ll have doubts. But given the way that UHD treated her, treated her parents? She certainly won’t hesitate.” Walsh gave her input.

  “Then let’s hope you’re right, Colonel.”

  The Prince and his Aide reached their shuttle. After flight pre-check process finished up, the shuttle undocked and flew away from the hospital.

  For Evan Werner, his group was growing in numbers. Plotting their moves, working their angles, keeping watchful eye

  And through his assets and establishing alliances in the years to come, he’ll make sure that humanity survives beyond the Dominion