Alliance of Outlaws (The Augment War Book 1) by Ben Hale

Author:Ben Hale [Hale, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2023-11-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

From the cockpit of the Bleak Night, Siena watched the approaching Worldforge, a construct of such tremendous size that it surpassed planets. On one end was a narrow funnel where derelict ships would be stripped and the seracrete melted down into sheets for export. The forge expanded into great pipes that widened until it cupped a partially built planet. Pieces of mountains bordered empty oceans, the crust pockmarked with great crevasses. Most of the western hemisphere was missing, leaving a gaping hole that led to the planet’s core. Their escort sent a nav beacon to enter.

As Jent’s scavenger ship entered the gaping maw, Siena had never felt so small. Mora released an explosive curse, drawing out the syllable as she craned her head to watch the edges of a massive aperture pass above the forward window. Hundreds of mismatched ion cannons were mounted around the edge. More plasma cannons were tucked under the lip and out of sight. Anyone attempting to attack the base would have to run a blistering gauntlet.

The planet’s interior was a mesh of enormous pipes positioned to shape tectonic plates, but the long-dormant metal had deteriorated from extended exposure to the cold of space. Much of the outer crust was complete, although the mantle had yet to be added, leaving a cavernous interior. Their escort angled towards the planet’s core, gliding between great frozen pipes. A quick scan showed the core to be hollow, with an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

They passed through and entered the planet’s core, which resembled a space station. Light filaments threaded along with the raw formed metal, the complex weaves bathing the entire core in artificial light, revealing the arena.

The sphere hovered in the center of the planet’s core, its walls made of starship windows, its superstructure built of bulkheads. Docking anchors extended out from the sphere, and hundreds of other Antox-class scavenger ships were attached. Their cargo bays and windows were open, turning the vessels into viewing platforms for the battleground.

Jent appeared in the hatch. “You’re going to die today. You know that, right?”

The krey’s features were tight with fear, his eyes never leaving the arena that was their destination. He twitched and checked the plasma pistol on his hip for the thousandth time.

“I know what I’m doing,” Siena said.

Jent issued a derisive grunt.

“Shouldn’t the planet’s core be solid?” Mora asked, eying the station they were approaching.

Jent rolled his eyes. “A planet’s core is liquid. Its motion creates a magnetic field. After the planet is built, it’s obviously what is added last.”

“You don’t have to say it like I’m stupid,” Mora snapped.

“You are stupid,” he retorted. “Coming here is a death sentence.”

Siena motioned back to the Boneyard. “Would you rather I let Gendrik fill your skull with plasma?”

“At least I’ll get to see you die. They always put the humans in first.”

He sneered and left.

Mora grunted and turned to Siena. “Please tell me I can kill him.”

Siena didn’t respond as she guided their ship towards one of the appendages extending from the arena, the location marked by a nav holo sent by their escorts.

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