“That’s our destination, commander,” Jamthi said, allowing his hope to override common sense, as usual.

“Could also just be a giant shiny rock,” I said and turned away from the window. No one else around cared to comment… probably not caring if it was our destination or not.

They didn't really care after all, why should they? We always reached our destination... at least, we always will until we finally won't. Then it wouldn't matter anyway.

“To be honest my bet was like the rest, that this was going to be just another failed venture,” my cousin spoke with impunity, as usual, while he still studied the far off shining object.

“I'm glad to know my own cousin bets against me and my ventures. But I wouldn't say you've lost your wager just yet Jamthi,” I said.

“Please. His map was pretty clear. A town in a sea of sand. And we're nearly drowning in the stuff.”

While I headed off the bridge, I wondered if he was right. Jamthi was still young and quite an optimist, but there was a reason I had him as my quartermaster. And it wasn't because he was family.

“What were the odds anyway?” I asked as I waited for a pair of deckhands to carry repair supplies into the bridge. The long metal pieces were rather clean, reflecting the Front-Line's azure glow. They must have polished it before bringing it in.

“Pardon us commander,” one of them said, and I had to stop myself from going to assist them. Not only did I not have the time, I'd probably only get in the way.

“Not that bad actually, considering we came all this way based off an old scribbled map from a madman,” Jamthi teased as we exited the bridge.

“He wasn't mad... just a little different,” I complained, and hated how little belief was in my own words.

“Compared to you maybe.”

“Keep it up and you'll go swimming,” I grumbled. Not that I could toss him out from here even if I wanted to. We were a ways from the nearest exit or window.

The Front-Line was one of the larger Lines, but I had constructed it for purpose more than pleasure. The hallways were large enough for several to walk comfortably, or carry items if need be, but there were no windows or décor. It was sometimes regrettable, since I've been on several Lines that were far more luxurious.

“I assume we're headed to see the new Medical Officer?” Jamthi asked.

I paused for a moment, noticing his tone. He nodded and gestured to a hallway that I had almost passed. One that would lead us farther down, to the deeper levels of the Line.

“Why down?” I asked.

“She's currently performing the final rites, should be nearing the end by now,” he explained.

For a long moment I glared at him, but his wry smile didn't falter.

“Did we lose anymore since this morning?” I asked, returning to walking.

“No. I'm told Kaving may not last the week, but he has a chance. It's a small one though.”

Probably as small as the poor man's ability to breathe. He had been very unlucky. Normally in combat ready positions everyone remained in secured rooms and stations where it was safer. He however had been in transit, and had been in a small chamber right as it had been crushed by the large creature the other day. The fact he had survived the initial impact and the many hour process of being pried and cut free from the crushed metal was a miracle all in itself.

I had asked if the man wanted to have the pain ended, or if he wished to keep fighting, and he had chosen to fight. It was a respectable choice, and one I would honor. His death was inevitable, but we'd spare no expense to make his death as peaceful and pain free as possible.

Thanks to the size of the Front-Line, it took some time to find the Medical Officer with us just searching her out. Normally I would have summoned her, or had her position told to me, but it was the duty of the commander to pop in unannounced occasionally.

As Jamthi had said, she was in the last motions of the final rites for the half dozen people who had died a few days ago.

She and a few other medical corpsmen were finishing up the preparations to burn the bodies. A nearby furnace, one used explicitly for our lost, was already hot and waiting.

It pained many to not be able to properly bury or care for the bodies... but we had no choice but to dispose of them this way. Disease was the last thing we needed.

There would be a proper send-off in time, for the family and friends of those who died... one where even I would make a speech as necessary, but not until the Front-Line came to a stop. We were still in alert. We did not have the leisure to do such things now.

“I'm told she's very good, and will more than fill old Tom's shoes,” Jamthi whispered.

“Doesn't look like she can even fill her own,” I said, noticing the loose clothing slung around her thin body.

“Just the way she is I guess, I worried over it too when I saw her a year or so ago. It's not a sickness,” he explained.

“Long as she can do the job,” I said.

“Yes, yes, commander,” Jamthi sighed.

I glanced at him, but his eyes remained on the woman.

I knew better than to judge him for his look. He wasn't looking at her out of concern, but necessity.

One of the dead had been a very close friend of his. The type of close that made me unsure of what to do or say to him.

“You can wait here Jamthi,” I said.

“You know... I think I will. Sorry,” he said with a nod.

I gave my cousin a light pat on the shoulder as I left him behind. Many other commanders of the Front-Line probably wouldn't have wanted such an emotional quartermaster, especially during moments like these... but personally I could think of none better.

After all, I needed someone to counter-balance myself.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Commander!” one of the younger corpsman noticed my approach, giving me a salute. It didn't take long for the rest, even the new Medical Officer, to give me one as well.

“At ease. They deserve your attention right now, not me,” I said, trying my best not let my voice sound too much like an order. I was sincere in my wants, but I didn't want them to do it just because it was an order. I wanted them to understand.

Although uneasy, they all returned to work as the Medical Officer stepped away from the bodies. She pulled back a small mask as she did so, and I noticed that even her cheekbones were somewhat noticeable. She looked as if she was starving, but Jamthi wouldn't have lied about such a thing. She must simply not eat much.

“Hello Commander,” she greeted.

“Kana. I commend you for your diligence, but you have many duties,” I said to her.

She nodded, and I noticed the twitch from the internal flinch. I had chastised her, and she was now worried. I had not meant it that way.

“I know. I'm sorry commander, I just thought... well... My first duty, and...” she stopped speaking, as if she didn't know how to properly phrase it.

“It's fine. Just remember in the future to prioritize as needed. Although the dead are to be handled with as much care, they do not take precedence over the living,” I said.

“Yes, Commander.”

Studying her for a moment, I knew that I had made my point clear... but also didn't quite know what to say next. She was rather young to be a Medical Officer... Old Tom had been thrice her age, and had been the Front-Line's second Medical Officer. Considering the first had only lasted a few years, one could say he had been in that position from nearly the get-go.

She had a massive role to fill, and I wasn't going to be able to treat her like I did Old Tom. It was going to take her time to adjust.

“I came to ensure everything was going smoothly. And to let you know personally that I'm looking forward to your insight,” I said to her.

Kana shifted a little, and I wondered how light she were. She was nearly as tall as me, which was probably why her thin body was so noticeable. “Thank you. I too look forward to my duty. Tommy had enjoyed his position beyond explanation... I know I'm not him, nor do I have the age or experience but I will try my best to not make you miss him too much,” she said with a small bow.

Tommy...? “You knew him well?” I asked.

“Huh? Oh... yes sir. The last few years, since our trip to the Salt-Islands I've been working... or had been working directly under him. You didn't know?” she asked.

I kept my composure as I smiled. “I see. He had mentioned you, but I had not known that it was you who had replaced him. I simply thought he had taken someone else under his wing. I'm glad. I'm sure we'll get along just fine then.”

Before she could say anything else, I pointed to the hallway where my cousin was still hiding. “You know Jamthi?”

“Of course sir,” she said with a matter of fact tone. No surprise, everyone did.

How was it that foolish cousin of mine was more well known than me half the time? “I want you and him to have daily briefings for awhile, just until things become routine. I know you don't need to, nor have the time, but I need it done. I did it to Tom too when he first started... though it hadn't been Jamthi but myself at the time,” I said.

“Yes sir. I understand,” she said, and I could tell she wasn't too insulted by my order.

“Good. I expect great things from you, greater even than old Tom probably did,” I said as I turned away.

“That's quite a hurdle,” she laughed, and I was glad to hear that her laughter had been genuine.

Saying no more, I left the new Medical Officer and the dead behind. I had other places to be, others things to inspect.

The dead were dead. Checking on them was an insult to the ones who were still alive.

“Well, did she pass your stupid tests?” Jamthi asked as I neared.

“Stupid? They're not stupid... and no actually, she didn't,” I said.

“Really? Which one did she fail? Did she not flirt with you or something?” he asked.

“Why didn't you tell me she had been Tom's apprentice?” I said upon entering the hallway.

“Thought you knew. He didn't tell you? He's been training her for a few years now... or had been at least,” my cousin said, catching himself.

Picking up my pace a little, to keep my cousin from being able to see my face, I kept silent.

No. He hadn't.

Tom hadn't ever mentioned her.

Years? He'd been training her for years... to be his replacement, for the inevitable, and he never once told me.

His commander. His friend.

“Is she like him?” I asked.

“Personality wise? Somewhat I guess. She can get stubborn, but she's got a massive heart. It was actually a concern to Catherine.”

That made me pause. “Why?” my question was a swift one, and made me rather concerned. The head surgeon had a problem with my new Medical Officer? That should have been the first thing brought to my attention.

“She cares too much. She'll fight for a life even after it's lost,” Jamthi said softly.

I sighed, and wished I hadn't asked. Now that I knew, I'd have to chastise her for it when it caused problems... sometimes it was better to just not know a person's odd flaw such as that.

Better I hadn't known, now I'd have to be the bad guy. “Better to have one than not, I guess,” I said.

“Coming from you that's quite a statement,” he teased.

“Enough. Now I'm to assume that if I go to the Engine Office I'll find Mark and the rest?” I asked.

“Why wouldn't you?” he asked back.

Giving him a look, he smiled and nodded. “Of course. Everyone is where they should be, currently... except us. Though I guess in theory you can be wherever you want to, and that position is in fact where you should be since it's where you will to be,” he rambled.

“You're never where you should be,” I said as I headed deeper into the Front-Line.

“If I was where you wanted me to be, I'd probably still be back at home,” he laughed.

“Oh, I could think of a few better places.”

While I went down an imaginary list of said locations, I also ran through the mental checklist of the Front-Line.

It was one I really didn't need to think of, having done it so many times before... but I still did it.

I had to check on the people, the injured, the supplies, the repairs, the fuel...

Plenty to do in very little time.

“Not to sidetrack you... but what if we are nearing this supposed city of sand?” Jamthi asked.

“Why even ask? We'll do what we always do.”

“Ah yes. Trade, profit, survive and maybe even conquer. Such a myriad of choices,” he said.

“You'd have us face tribulations?” I asked.

“Of course not... but there is a new bet going around, now that we're nearing a possible city. On what you're going to do. After all, you've not actually said you know.”

“I haven't?”

“Nope. Only that we're following the map of a madman,” he laughed.

“Ah yes... And because we're following the steps of a madman, no one cared to know more,” I said.

“Can't blame us. We've ventured out into the world on nothing at all and had more confidence than this journey. It's kind of funny if you think about it, knowing nothing is better than knowing something from someone deemed crazy or incompetent,” Jamthi said.

“Wisdom,” I said.

“If only. So? I lost the last bet; I'd really like to win this one.”

“Why should I help you? You never give me a share in any of your winnings,” I said.

“Ha!” Jamthi laughed so sharply, a nearby cadet had momentarily looked our way out of concern.

Nearing the Engineer Office, the sound of magical steam started to become more apparent. The soft sound was normally everywhere, but usually never noticeable. It was only in certain parts of the Front-Line that it actually became so loud.

“Oh well, I'll just bet on us finding treasures. Usually a safe bet,” Jamthi said.

“Deserts are known for their jewels,” I said.

“And sand.”

“That too,” I agreed, and entered the Engineers Office to continue my check of my Front-Line.