Was Once a Hero

by Edward McKeown

Book Opening:

“Enshar is a world of the dead,” Captain Veela said, turning to face her officers.

“Gods,” Telisan whispered, chills running through him.  He fought off a wave of sickness.  Billions of Enshari- most of the race-gone, along with thousands of other Confederate citizens.  The scale of the catastrophe numbed the mind.

The other officers filling the cramped bridge of the escort carrier, Earhart stared at the multiple views of Enshar displayed on the ship’s viewscreens.  Telisan, a golden-skinned Denlenn, was taller and more slender then the mostly human crew.  He looked over their heads at the green and blue world that they had come to rescue.

Veela dropped into her chair, looking weary for the first time in Telisan’s experience.  She waved a hand at the expedition’s Chief Scientist, a gray-haired human male.  “Fill them in, Doctor.”

“Our probes show millions of corpses on the upper levels of the underground cities,” the scientist said, his voice subdued and grave.  “We see trains wrecked and strewn off grav-rails.  Thousands of  ocean-going  vessels are still afloat but drifting or steaming to no purpose.  Destroyed aircraft litter the planet’s surface.  All movement we’ve detected is either robotic or animal in nature.  All forms of intelligent life on Enshar are gone.  We are assuming some sort of chemical or biological attack, though there is some evidence of direct-fire weapon being used.”  Veela nodded to the Scientist who sat down at his station and stared at the deck.

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