Musketeer Space by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Author:Tansy Rayner Roberts [Roberts, Tansy Rayner]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780995365124
Publisher: Sheep Might Fly
Published: 2017-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

24 hours later, her feet solidly planted on the ground of Lunar Palais, Dana stared at the mecha-suit. She had been immersed in ships – and darts in particular – for so long that she could barely remember knowing what to do with one of these.

She was going to have to catch up fast.

“Cadet D’Artagnan,” said a voice behind her. “Good to have you back from leave.”

Dana turned, to find her commanding officer behind her. Commandant Essart was a short, solid woman with greying hair. She had a motherly air about her but she could yell loud as Amiral Treville.

“Ready for service, boss,” Dana said, saluting.

“Good to hear. The rosters for the next two months will be posted in the mess later today. Two mecha units will remain here on Lunar Palais for city security, and other two will be shipping out with the Royal Fleet to Truth Space.”

The thought of staying here when the Fleet were going to war was awful beyond words. Of course they couldn’t leave Paris and Lunar Palais defenceless, but Dana could not bear the idea of being left behind. She nodded, without saying anything.

Truth was as close to Freedom and the remains of Gascon Station as she was going to get while still contracted to the military. Would it be worse to be so damned close and still not home?

“You, however, will not be with any of them, if you accept this,” said Essart. She handed over an envelope with a familiar blue fleur-de-lis seal upon it. “Amiral Treville is short on pilots for supply transport. She wants to buy out your contract, if you allow it. Your crew would be printing and ferrying supplies for the troops, providing parts for repair and replacement weapons, and running a medibay for the wounded. No military action expected.”

Dana opened her mouth and closed it again. Treville wanted her. She’d be with the Musketeers, even if she still wouldn’t be one of them. She would have her own ship: a supplies venturer rather than the musket-class dart she longed for.

If anything happened to Aramis, Athos or Porthos, Dana would be right there in the midst of the action, she wouldn’t be left out of the loop. She might even get a glimpse of home.

If she stayed with the Mecha Squad, she had a 50% chance of combat, might have an opportunity to take bloody revenge against the bastard Sun-kissed.

“Can I think about it?” she asked, not realising she was going to say those words until they were spilling out of her mouth.

Essart looked almost sympathetic. “Take three hours, kid,” she said. “Get your head on straight. Then report to me with your decision.”

“Yes, boss.”

Dana climbed inside the mecha suit and opened her thoughts to it, flexing her limbs and trying to get used to the odd sensation of controlling the heavy metal armour. She had been a long time away, but she was more attuned to the machine than when she first started. The reflexes would come back.

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