His stomach sickened when he saw Savra young, still lizards in appearance, swarm over fallen men to finish them off. It was time to retreat and obliterate the planet. He searched for Tae. He needed the lieutenant to operate the laser. Hesher saw him fall and flew across the field to retrieve him. Standing over him was a Savra female. She had a handful of his hair, pulling his head back, and was prepared to slit his throat. Hesher's talons clamped on her shoulders, piercing them. He lifted her into the air, tossed her high, and seared her with dragon fire. He wrapped those same talons carefully around Tae, signaled a retreat, and carried him to the ship. It was a dangerous endeavor. The talons could easily puncture a vital organ as he maneuvered through the battle, but it was a necessity. Other weredragons lifted the injured or dead and carried them as well. No one was to be left behind. The planet would be wiped from the universe, but it would not take a Talonian with it.
Tae was still alive, though gravely injured. He went in and out of consciousness as Hesher flew. He wanted to live and fought against the pain. Eveline was waiting. He could not leave her yet. Hesher needed him as well. He could not control the laser in this condition, but it was his duty to tell the commander how to use it.
With all Talonians accounted for, the ships rose from the Savra's world. The enemy thought they were victorious and were celebrating as they continued to send halfhearted shots toward the ships.
Hesher shouted orders as he carried Tae below. "Bring medical equipment to the weapons area. We need to stop the flow of blood or we will lose Tae."
"Commander, let me take him to the infirmary. He will receive better care. You should go as well. You are bleeding," one of the soldiers declared.
"My wound was to a wing. In this form, it is only a scratch. I need Tae in order to know how to use the laser. Stop arguing and get the equipment."
Weapons were shoved off a metal shelf so that Hesher could place Tae on it. He demanded that a soldier press hard against the chest wound to slow the bleeding. "Tae, can you hear me?" he asked.
"Yes," Tae moaned.
"What do I do first?"
"Change level," Tae whispered. "Slide lever to red. Highest limit." He coughed, and blood seeped over the soldier's fingers.
"Done," Hesher replied. "How do I aim it?"
Tears ran down Tae's face as he fought to answer. "Sight on top. Put Savra in center where lines cross. Fire on full. Wait for green light, aim, and fire again." Tae lost consciousness as the first laser beam hit the planet. Medical equipment arrived, and he never felt them dig out the bullets.
Savra's surface blackened. It cracked with the second beam. The third made it tremble; fire rose from its center, then it exploded. The vibration rocked the huge Talonian warship and sent the smaller ships out of control. But, the pilots were excellent and regained control within seconds. The aftershocks would be felt far into the solar system.
Hesher prayed they did no harm to other worlds. The disturbance would bring unwanted attention to this area, risking Talonia's secrecy. For now, he would take his men home. They were triumphant, but at what cost? An entire planet was gone. Talonia's atmosphere was infected. They had lost more comrades, and Tae was near death. Why could not each species stay isolated on their own world and live contentedly? Why must they seek to destroy or control others? Where was friendship, cooperation, and trading? These were odd ideas for the commander of the military, especially one who had just obliterated an entire planet.
Tae's blood, the bullets that had been removed, and blood-soaked cloths littered the floor of the weapons area. He ordered the attendants, "Take him out of this mess. Do whatever you must to keep him alive. Let us go home. The war with the Savra is over, but I fear other issues are arising. If I am needed, you can reach me in the command center."
Tae was put on a lifter and taken to the infirmary. His wounds were clean and bound tightly. The bleeding had finally slowed, but he had lost so much that his chance of survival was slim. Yet, his heartbeat was strong. The bullet had missed it. Several times he awakened to moan, "Eveline."
