Flight of the Reaper by J N Chaney & Scott Moon

Author:J N Chaney & Scott Moon [Chaney, J N & Moon, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2019-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

15

"Novasdaughter," I bellowed. "We’re going to need the Nightmare in this fight. Make it happen. Tell Henshaw to do whatever it takes!"

Explosions rocked the Jellybird.

"The Nightmare is not responding," Jelly advised.

"She’s completely gone, as far as I can tell," Elise said. "Either destroyed, fled the system, or she has completely defeated our detection protocols."

"Let’s hope it’s the last option and that Novasdaughter and Henshaw are putting the ship to good use," I said.

"We’re splitting power between stealth mode and the shields," Tom said. "We can’t keep it up for long."

"Elise, is there a way out of this mess?" I asked. "If we can slip away, the shields won’t be as important."

"I know that." She rolled her eyes and went back to work. "Why don’t you try plotting a course through a thousand years of wrecked ships, around a comet, while avoiding Union stealth ships and micro-fighters."

I gritted my teeth. "Locke, can you help her?"

"Ship operations are not my specialty. I would better serve you in a fighter if that were an option. Or better yet, leading a boarding party," he said. "But I will do my best to help. Elise, what do you need from me?"

Elise pointed at a small workstation on her right. "Help me predict where the next collision will happen if we stay on this course. There are patterns in the trajectory of the debris."

"In time, most of this will be far away from us and not a problem," Locke said. "All we need to do is wait a few years."

"You made a joke, Locke. Good for you." Elise laughed a bit crazily.

Another salvo of rockets rose from the surface of the Black Wing and streaked toward us.

"She’s firing blind," I said.

The next impact on our shields was less intense than the first attack but still dangerous.

"Captain, I have dire news," Jelly advised.

"Go ahead," I said, suspecting the worst.

"Some of the rockets being launched are long range variations. They’re headed for the Bold Freedom," Jelly said.

"Fuck me up a tree," I said, causing Elise to snort a tense laugh.

"What are your orders, Captain. The Bold Freedom lacks the shields to withstand more than a cursory bombardment. We can hold out longer," Jelly said.

"How much longer?" I asked.

"At least an hour."

"Plot a course that puts us in a better position to help the BF," I said. "And get Novasdaughter or Henshaw on the holo. We need to get them in the fight."

"I have been attempting contact every five minutes," Jelly said. "No results thus far."

"Elise…" I began.

"I’m on it," she said. "We really need a normal-sized crew. I can’t do everything by myself.”

“It’s on my list, right after not dying,” I said.

“Reaper Cain,” Brion Rejon said. His voice was so soft, I almost didn’t hear him, but once I realized he’d spoken, something about his tone demanded my attention.

"I need to be with my people. Give me a shuttle or a life pod or anything that will get me to the planet," Rejon said.

"I can’t do that," I said.

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