A Relentless Fury (The Great War Book 3) by Ralph Kern

Author:Ralph Kern [Kern, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: military science fiction, Science Fiction, mechs, space, fighters
Publisher: Ralph Kern
Published: 2020-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Major Corla – Bellerophon Three

“It was hardly a resounding success,” Lerger said coldly, gazing over the operations room table at him, “considering the resources which were poured into the attack. Resources that I burned a substantial amount of my political capital to obtain.”

Corla fought the instinct to snap at the woman. He didn’t fear her, not exactly. But he was fully aware that even his status as a hero of the Hegemony couldn’t completely protect him from the Executor. If she truly wanted his hide, she’d find a way. He’d have to play it smart.

The enemy of my enemy, Corla thought, as he looked across at Colonnello Farodia for support. The Colonnello simply stood, his eyes locked on the holo table between them. His hand reached into his flight suit breast pocket and he pulled out a packet of nicsticks and lit one with a trembling hand.

He took a long draw on it before expelling a juddering breath of smoke. The stench of the stick filled the command center.

Corla wafted a hand irritably in front of his nose. Maybe this coward wasn’t worth thinking of as an ally. From the state of his shakes, one little attack had given him the jitters. The war looked to have inflicted him with cowardice.

The Colonnello took another draw on his nicstick before uncaringly stubbing it out on the edge of the table and giving a little shudder.

“I beg to differ, Executor,” he finally spoke. “The damage to their carrier, Caracaras, will further, and sorely, deplete their aerospace cover. This attack may not have been a huge success against their freighter shipping, but it has laid the path for the next to be.”

“Perhaps.” The Executor sighed. “Lest I remind you, we don’t have infinite amounts of aerospace craft to maintain endless assaults. My question to you, Colonnello, is when the Iconian Regime will reciprocate and have the rest of your forces engage.”

“Relax,” the older man said patronizingly with a dismissive flutter of his hand, a hint of his initial attitude coming through. “Now that the Kingdom’s aerospace cover is much diminished, the Regime’s fleet can be brought to bear. The best cruisers, the finest destroyers. Our fast-attack craft. All of them will play their part.”

“When?” Lerger repeated in exasperation. “Because it would be nice if it were before their fleet arrives at Valestra, unloads, and voyages back to New Avalon.”

“I said to relax,” Farodia retorted, his voice growing harder. “They will—”

The rising wail of the aerospace raid siren suddenly erupted from the speakers around the room, reverberating through the command center.

What the hell? Corla turned sharply to the main screen. Dozens of Hegemony fighters and bombers circled, still waiting their turns to land on the congested runways. But further out, ten red symbols speared toward the base.

“Probably stragglers...” the Colonnello said weakly, false hope in his voice, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed nervously.

“It’s not fucking stragglers!” Corla shouted. He needed to get into a fighter. He grabbed his

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