Ghost Fleet (Constellation Book 3) by T. E. Butcher

Author:T. E. Butcher [Butcher, T. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Seeing more Espatiers getting their volunteers organized gave Jim a shot of confidence, just before he saw another Mustang go down outside the perimeter.

“Our top cover isn’t going to last much longer,” he mused. “Those pilots are getting worn down, and their fuel and ammo isn’t gonna last forever.” He checked the crowd outside and looked back at the launchpads.

He found himself working against two timers: how long it was going to take them to get as many people into space as they could versus how long their air cover could hold out. Neither looked good, but that was battlefield calculus. You did the math, and people died either way. Take a bite of the shit sandwich like everyone else and try to live with your choices.

“I wish we could just ask Minerva how long we need to hold out,” he grumbled. “If she had sensors on the ground or looking at the site, I’m sure she could give us an estimate.”

“Thirty-five mikes,” Major Card said. “Ten to get the last of the shuttles in the air, twenty-five to get the bigger ships with the vulnerable dependents.”

“And our ticket out of here?” Oliver asked.

“We’ve got Chief Lane getting your assault shuttle ready,” Card said. “It’s docked on the mass driver underground, it just needs to stay powered. Once you’re onboard, you can just go.”

“I thought that thing hadn’t been approved for testing yet,” Ogden said.

“Technically it hasn’t,” Card replied, “but your shuttle was rebuilt with Constellation’s tech. She has more than enough thrust even if the mass driver’s not powerful enough to send a normal payload into orbit.”

Jim was about to reply when a screaming roar filled the air. Ogden must have seen it first, as he tackled Zhou and Jim to the ground. He caught a glimpse of everyone else going flat except Card, who seemed stunned.

An F-35, burning and having lost altitude control, launched a spiteful missile as it plummeted to the earth outside the wall. The ICWIS’s gun threatened to rupture his eardrums, even in his Espatier armor. The point defense system struggled to engage the missile coming so close.

Finally, its stream of airburst 35-mm made intercept, but the warhead detonated far too close for Jim’s liking. The pressure wave washed over them, and when Jim stood, Card was gone. A glance over the side of the wall told him all he needed to know—he wasn’t getting back up.

Jim debated whether he wanted situational awareness or to go down and get involved in the fighting. Leviathan Group forces hadn’t organized a serious battle line. They drove around in technical trucks—pickups modified for combat—and took potshots at crowds of people and defenders before driving away. And there was still the larger force in the nearby town.

They’re going to move all of their forces right up on us to avoid Minerva erasing them from the map. Their reinforcements will be here soon.

“Stan, Bob, Z, I need you guys to provide top cover,” Jim said. “Grab the M110s from the armory and go to work.

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