Temple of S.A.R.A.H. 5: Debug Mode (13 page)

BOOK: Temple of S.A.R.A.H. 5: Debug Mode

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I was asked to perform The Naming. Sarah helped me assemble the list and the information needed. I decided to part with my own beliefs slightly. Instead of wearing a black suit to the funeral, I would wear the armor they had given me with all the unit crests and holographic ‘patches’ I had been given. However, the shell of the armor would be polished to a bright ivory.

I walked alone to a place before the launcher so I could see each casket as it was loaded. I knelt to one knee and removed my helmet.

It was considered disrespectful to read the names and information from a list, but there were so many that there had not been time to memorize all the information I would need so Sarah whispered to me over an earwig.

As the first casket was loaded I spoke the name out loud to the assembled Marines and relatives. Then I was expected to give their planet of origin, their parents, mates and offspring. That was what I needed Sarah for. I honestly hadn’t known a lot of those who had fallen, but I would not dishonor any of them by forgetting something this important.

However, my voice did crack when I got to those I did know.

“He’rsree; Captain, United Alliance Marines Corp., proud Daughter of the Novan Republic born at the Daitilus Mining habitat to Miner He’veran and Environmental Tech Ver’rsree both of whom are waiting for her at the gates. She has a sister, Ver’veran of Hearlis V.” The casket was lifted into place, then shot out of the tube on a long parabolic orbit that would eventually drop into the Sun.

The next casket was loaded and it was another one of my friends. The Naming lasted for almost two hours. By the end of it, I had a sore throat that had begun to get hoarse from contained emotion.

Later that day, the Marines and I used the beer I had ordered for the wake to say our own goodbyes to those we lost and to welcome our new friends. Not that many civilians had been invited, but the Marines didn’t actually see me as a civilian, although I don’t really understand why.

Although we had lost good people, life had to continue. Our fight would go on. There was still the threat to Earth in the other Arac hive, and the Alliance still had the main Arac hive to deal with. Our work was far from finished.

About the Author

B
en Winston (1965 - ?) was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota on the family dairy farm. Upon reaching adulthood, he joined the United States Army as a communications technician. Before getting out of the military, he decided to go to school for computer electronics.

Shortly after getting out of the military, and after getting a new job with an over-seas company, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. A month after beginning the new job, he was laid off due to budget over-runs on the project he was hired for. Upon returning to the United States, he had difficulty maintaining employment because of the chronic illness.

He began writing as a form of stress release, from being home bound and not being able to work, and found he liked writing erotica. Ben wrote a trilogy called the Talosian Chronicles (Currently in rewrite to remove the graphic sex and finalized his vision of the story). The first book, Star Dancer, won awards and was nominated for many others by the online communities where it was posted.

Ben Winston returned to school for literature, after completion, he began writing professionally. Being an avid fan of science fiction he focused on this genre. He was, and still is, influenced and inspired by Gene Roddenberry, Anne McCaffery, David Weber, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury. Some of his favorite movies and TV shows are; Battlestar Galactica (both versions), Andromeda, Star Trek, Firefly, Star Wars, and many of the B-rated movies that were actually box-office bombs.

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