Run the Gauntlet (Echoes of War Book 6) by Daniel Gibbs

Author:Daniel Gibbs [Gibbs, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

“Conn, communications,” Taylor said. “One-word transmission from Major Mancini. Message reads: Goliath.”

David’s head snapped around. He’d been deep in thought as the mission clock continued its march onward. “Does it authenticate, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, sir.”

With a final glance at Ruth, he punched the button on the CO’s chair for 1MC. “Attention all hands, this is General Cohen. General quarters, general quarters! Set condition one throughout the ship. All hands, man your battle stations. I say again, man your battle stations. This is not a drill.” The alarm klaxon blared, an ear-splitting sound loud enough to wake the dead, while at the same time, the lights on the bridge dimmed and turned blue.

“Conn, TAO. Condition one set throughout the ship, sir,” Second Lieutenant Victoria Kelsey, the Lion’s second watch tactical officer, reported from her console.

It all came together in David’s mind as he took in the information displayed on his console and readiness indications from across the fleet of ships. “Navigation, reconfirm Lawrence drive coordinates.”

“Aye aye, sir,” Hammond said. A moment later, she continued. “Coordinates confirmed, sir. All ships in formation report ready.”

The six Constantine class anti-matter cruisers will jump in formation, while Aibek takes up the rear. David still didn’t like leaving his friend behind, unprotected by the rest of the ships. He forced those thoughts out of his mind and punched the intercom button for engineering. “Engineering, status of power shunt to Lawrence drives?”

“Ready on your command, sir,” Hanson’s voice crackled through the commlink.

“Engage the shunt.”

“Aye aye, sir.”

“Receiving maximum power from the anti-matter reactor, sir,” Hammond called out.

David leaned forward. “Navigation, activate Lawrence drive.” Come on, Lion. One more small miracle.

Almost immediately, the deck plates began to hum. Typically, the stress on the hull didn’t rise above what would be considered minor by a military engineer. As power built up in the artificial wormhole generator, the hum turned into a whine. Outside of the ship, visible through the transparent alloy “windows” on the bridge, the bright maw of a tunnel through space itself opened. Seven others joined it. A kaleidoscope of colors filled the blackness of space, with breathtaking beauty.

“Navigation, take us in.”

The massive warship started to move as its engines came to life. It picked up speed as the forward thrust continued and plowed into the visual display. A second later, the Lion emerged on the other side. Unlike most other jumps, the level of turbulence was high. Anything not secured into a console flew. The few enlisted ratings that weren’t seated found themselves knocked on the floor. Sparks exploded from an overloaded console, aft of the CO’s and XO’s chairs.

“TAO, report.”

“Sensors coming online, sir.”

Data flowed into David’s tactical viewer, along with an astrological map of their current location—Teegarden solar system, well within the Lawrence limit of the planet the shipyard orbited.

“Conn, TAO. Sensors online, no hostile warship contacts, populating the board with enemy orbital assets. All friendly vessels transited successfully and are designated Sierra One through Seven.”

We did it. Holy crap, we did it. For a moment, David allowed himself pride at the execution of the crew to get them as far as they’d come.

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