Defending the Galaxy by Snyder Maria V

Author:Snyder, Maria V. [Snyder, Maria V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery
ISBN: 9781489252791
Goodreads: 54808605
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: 2020-11-23T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

13

2522:268

Niall notices my stricken expression. “Mouse? What’s wrong?”

“Pingliang is under attack!” I limp-hop up to the cockpit. “Bertie, how much longer do you need?”

She has one of the communicators in her ear. “They’re connecting, but I don’t have a frequency yet. Another hour or so. Why?”

“I need to talk to Officer Radcliff.” I turn. “Niall, can you stay with Bertie?”

The muscles along his jaw tighten. “What are you planning?”

“I’m going to try to convince him to send back up to Pingliang.”

Even though I haven’t moved, he blocks my way. “Promise you’re not going without me.” It didn’t take him long to make the leap in logic.

And I don’t think he’s wrong to assume that. “I promise.”

“Good,” he says. “Because I am the jealous type.”

Not a surprise.

Bertie is glancing at both of us. “She can’t go with that ankle.”

“I can walk. I’ve just been resting it.” Plus I have plenty of pain meds. “I’ll keep you updated.”

Niall helps me from the shuttle and I swoop at speed to Radcliff’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk and my momentum propels me forward so that I almost do a face-plant before skidding to a stop.

“Something wrong?” he asks.

“Pingliang is—”

“Did you read my messages?”

“No. Q told me they’re in trouble.”

“I’m aware.” His tone is flat, but not because he doesn’t care.

No, he cares. By the way his shoulders sag and the exhaustion etched into his face, I know he’s overwhelmed. I can’t remember if he’s slept since the attack two days ago.

“We need to go and help them,” I say.

“We? We who? We don’t have a single person to spare.”

“Bring up more techs—I’m sure there are a few brave ones willing to help. We need to go. Or else they’ll all die! We have the null wave emitters, the element of surprise, and their communicators.”

Radcliff scrubs his hands through his short hair. If it was longer, I’d bet he would fist his fingers in the strands and yank on it. Instead, he lets his arms drop to his lap. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“I do. Assign Beta team to Pingliang. Leave Alpha team here. It’ll be a short detour for Beta team if you enact Operation Desperation.”

“Do you even have that ready?”

“Yes…mostly.” I give him the rundown.

“Planet Ruijin. They could be next on the looters’ attack list.”

Good point. Q? Is there a blockade-in-progress around Ruijin?

NO. THERE ARE SOME NEW PROTOCOLS GOING AROUND QINGYANG.

“They’re not. Qingyang is next. You need to warn them.”

Radcliff sweeps a hand over his portable. “It doesn’t seem to matter. They’re outnumbered.” He rubs the scruff on his chin. “The looters probably changed the frequency on their communicators, the ones we have won’t work.”

“They think we’re dead so they wouldn’t bother.”

“I can’t assign Beta team. It could be a suicide mission. And there’s a chance of being separated from their families. No. I can’t do that.”

“Then ask for volunteers. I volunteer.”

“Then Niall will as well.”

Oh. Right. “The looters won’t be expecting us to come through the portals. That’ll be huge! A super element of surprise.

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