Kestrel Class by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing, LLC
Published: 2019-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Kim was in the big pilot’s chair, her thin body strapped down tight. The ship was flown using a primary joystick, analog controls, a hand-controlled throttle, and two separate foot pedals. She pushed both pedals forward, which tilted the right and left wing engines from the standard horizontal position, straight down. A large rolling ball on the left armrest rotated the main drive.

As soon as the engines were at fifty percent power, Kim flipped off the safety switches that governed the engines to keep the ship from moving spontaneously. And when Ben radioed in, she shoved the throttle forward. The vessel was shaking hard, breaking loose from the planet’s gravity as the large vessel lifted up into the air.

“Any way to know what the Scalpers are doing?” Kim asked.

“Sorry,” Nance said. “All the working cameras are forward facing.”

“Oh well,” Kim said. “They should know better than to approach a ship that’s taking off.”

Her feet worked the wing engines back to horizontal as the ship rose steadily into the air, rotating the nose upward as she went.

“Kill the art grav,” Kim ordered.

“There was a sudden, nearly overwhelming pressure as gravity pushed Kim back hard into the pilot’s chair. And several hard crashing sounds were heard, followed by the screech of metal grinding against metal.

“What’s happening?” Ben shouted over the com-link.

“We have liftoff,” Kim said. “And we’re free of the junk pile.”

“All systems are green,” Nance said. “Although we took some damage on the outer hull. Looks like some of the heat shield tiles were ripped off.”

“Do we have a breach?” Ben asked, the fear in his voice undeniable.

“No,” Nance said. “The hull is intact. We’re okay.

“Good,” Kim said as the radar began to wail.

“Security forces coming fast from the north,” Nance announced.

“That would be ground skimmers,” Kim said. “We should be able to get enough altitude that they won’t be able to follow us.”

“Is it safe to move to the bridge?” Ben asked.

“Like you could,” Kim laughed. “No way, Benny. Just stay put. Let the girls show you how to get things done.”

“We’re being hailed,” Nance said.

“Put it through,” Kim said, still working the controls. “We’re at five hundred feet and climbing.”

“Do you have to go straight up?” Ben complained.

“No cargo bay driving,” Kim said happily.

Strange voices crackled over the ship’s speakers suddenly. Unlicensed vessel, this is Fleet Security out of Longdale City. You are ordered to return to the ground immediately.

“I don’t think so,” Kim said.

“They can hear you,” Nance said.

“Why? I said put them through, not open a dialogue.”

Unlicensed vessel, I repeat, this is Fleet Security. Turn back now or we will be forced to use lethal force.

“Range?” Kim demanded.

“They’re ten miles out,” Nance said.

“That’s too far for lasers,” Ben said. “They’d have to get within a thousand meters for their laser to be useful.

“Do they carry missiles?” Magnum asked, his voice strained.

“God, I hope not,” Kim said.

“You can bet they’re notifying fleet control,” Nance said. “They’ll be tracking us.”

“Only one way to lose them,” Kim said as she pushed her joystick forward.

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