Ix Incursion: The Chaos Wave Book 2 by James Palmer

Author:James Palmer [Palmer, James]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Mechanoid Press
Published: 2017-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty:

Aftermath

Hamilton stood amid virtual, holographic fire.

The battle was not going well. The 7th had lost ten ships within the first few hours, their massive frigates either incinerated by the Ix’s plasma weaponry or drilled full of holes by the aliens’ razor winged craft. The small Draconi fleet had done their race proud, but hadn’t fared much better. Hamilton watched helplessly as one by one the blips representing the Dragons’ vessels winked out of existence.

They were beyond protecting Lethe at this point; Hamilton watched through the viewer as hundred-thousand mile wide forest fires started by the Ix’s plasma weapons consumed the planet. The world’s atmosphere filled with thick black smoke, blocking the deaths of millions from view.

Gunner Cade busied himself with taking out as many razor winged ships that got too close with the ion cannons, having way more fun than he should, while the Zelazny’s rail gun hammered at the larger ships without causing much if any damage.

Hamilton’s cochlear implant filled his head with chatter over the command circuit, as instructions and casualty reports went out from the other ships. Amid the chaos he heard the familiar voice of a gruff fleet commander bark. His orders were clear.

“Hudson, get us the hell out of here,” said Hamilton. “We’re to pull back to the Gallas system.”

“Plotting coordinates for the Q-gate now,” said the navigator. Gunner Cade continued taking pot shots at any of the small Ix fighters that strayed too close to the Zelazny’s hull. They had been lucky so far. Every one of the tiny craft that had approached them had either bounced off the deflector field or been incinerated by the ship’s ion cannons.

“The rest of the fleet is following suit,” said Hudson. “The Ix are breaking off.”

Hamilton nodded. “We’re no longer a threat to them, and they have a planet to destroy.”

Hamilton smoothed his uniform front. “Alert me when we are through the Q-gate. I have to go check on something. Cade is in charge until I get back.”

Hamilton left the command deck and through a maze of corridors toward Leda’s quarters. He stood in front of her door for a long moment before it irised open. She was sitting on the bed. She had been crying.

“How goes the battle?” she said, wiping her eyes.

“We lost Lethe,” he said, entering the room. “The Draconi fleet was destroyed, along with most of the 7th. We’re pushing back to the Gallas system. It is believed that will be the Ix’s next likely target.”

Leda nodded. “Sundra. I’ve been there.”

“I want to know about you,” said Hamilton, sitting on the bed beside her. “What the hell happened back there?”

“I don’t know,” said Leda. “This.” She rolled up her sleeve, showing him the line of nanocircuitry running up her arm like a maintenance corridor. The redness had subsided somewhat, but it still itched.

“What did that Swarm probe do to you? Is it malevolent?”

Leda shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“First there was that incident during your martial arts training exercise, then Medic Coleman.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.