Thessalonica Central Hospital, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado, 22 hours after Dutertre's capture, 1211 Crayter Standard Time.
Richard dodged an attack from Belkhodja's rapier, then he got struck low and he fell to ground. Then he saw Dumont jumping, however he saw all that in slow motion. Then he heard Dumont saying "Wake up, Sir" he got disoriented by that and got struck by Belkhodja in the neck and he fell down. Last thing he saw was Belkhodja's body on him... Then he realised he was dead already and this could not be real. And he woke up with adrenaline pumping and breathing fast. The heart rate monitör beeped almost continiously. Then he realised he was at the hospital and started to calm down. The first thing he asked was a bottle of water. A young woman brought him the water and he gulped it down in a moments notice. Then a doctor came. Richard quickly read her name written on the jacket. Mia Taylor. "Good day Admiral, i see you are finally awake. Well, if you are feeling well enough, i want to start routine checks and see your condition." And she started checking the left knee and the scar on the neck. Saw progress on both. "Turns out the blade of Gallic Captain was poisoned too, according to our analysis and the Marine's information that dragged you all the way from Leeds to Yuma by himself. And it worsened your condition over time. We had to cleanse the toxins from you and stabilize your blood loss. I also heard said Marine literally strapped you into back of her Nyx's seat and flew back without waiting for the Main Fleet. That is partly what we owe to save you, Sir." She took a needle and an injector tube from a desk. Injected a serum into it and went near Richard back. "This may feel a little bit painful. No matter how much it gonna hurt, we must do it. This is to be sure that we cleansed poison from your blood." And she injected it while Richard tried to cope with the burning, boiling serum in pain. Mia looked at Admiral as if nothing happened and added. "By the way, do not ever thşnk commanding your forces on the field for at least three days. You got a bloody tendon ripped off and you can not walk until we produce one that is compatible to you. Otherwise you are risking immense pain and hurting your knee even more." Richard looked at doctor with a rather angry and hopeless face. "I...I understand, Doctor Taylor. If it must be done that way, so be it." He added, "DAMN GAUL SCUMS!" Then he heard a baton and footsteps. And he saw his father's face at the door. "Ah, Father, you did not needed to come at all. Usual battle scars." His father Adam Richard looked at his wounded son with pride and saddened by the pain Michael was experiencing. "Michael, be strong, son. Your...our people can function for three or four days without your aid too. Admiral Henn will do a good job in your absence. Be proud of your deeds and rest. Enjoy your hard earned Victory and that one hell of a beast Gallic ship getting tugged by 8 Atlases." Then Adam sit at the seat right next to Michael and held Michael's hand. "Michael, i am proud of you."
Thessalonica Central Hospital, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado, 69 hours after capture of Dutertre.
Richard dodged belkhodja's attack. Counterattacked and just as he struck, Dumont stroke with a knife at his back. His vision faded...
He jumped and screamed. Then he realised it was not real and reminded himself he was fine. He kept seeing variations of the fight in his dreams for last 3 days. Mia Taylor ran to him as she heard screaming. "Sir! Are you fine?" "I am, Mia. Just another one of those nightmares..." Mia then ran to another room and brought a needle again. "Get ready, sir." "Ah yes. That needle again." As Mia injected the serum, a pain wave enveloped Richard. Richard breathed quick and swiftly as his pain decreased and started to calm down afterwards. "Gods, fuck that bastard Captain for me..." Richard called an officer nearby. Noticed he happened to call Zack Xander. "Zack, contact General Pierre LaFlamme and oversee the operations of Dutertre." Xander saluted and nodded. After Xander left the place, Mia returned. "Sir, i have good news. We managed to clean your blood from Gaul captain's poison. You will be able to return to frontlines tomorrow."
Meanwhile Zack Xander rushed to CFV-Styx to contact Pierre LaFlamme...