J. Robert Hall

Second Star Chronicles

The Cut He looked down at his body and saw the red. Not the red of his long coat, an elegant saffron, but a deeper crimson. Wet and flowing. The din of battle that had once rang in his ears faded to a soft song of swords and cannons as his comrades and crewmen were being put to the slaughter. He had never seen the attack coming. None of them had.