Star Crusader: Knighthawk Squadron by Thomas Michael G

Author:Thomas, Michael G. [Thomas, Michael G.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Swordworks
Published: 2015-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Alliance Armoured Assault Ship 'ANS Relentless'

Orion Battlegroup, The Trinity Sector

The fleet had been inside Byotai space for more than a day, and though external communications were still off-line, it was at least now possible to see outside via the myriad of external cameras. Nate and his four friends waited in the corridor outside the briefing room and looked out at the artificial window. Though they were deep inside the ship, the window still seemed very real. By using a modified dual view material, it was possible to create a stable image that gave the illusion of true depth.

"It's beautiful," said Cassandra.

Nate watched as the lights and hues shifted to give the region an odd look. It reminded him more of swirling fluids in a tank of water than of space. The large Alliance warships were the ugliest things in sight, showing up as black smudges set against such a colourful background.

"Weird more like," said Rex, "You've seen the stats on this territory, and according to our survey ships, it will only get worse."

He turned to Cassandra.

"Remember the cloud assault mission?"

She laughed immediately.

"The one where you put your fighter into a dive, and then never came out of it? Yeah, I remember."

Billy chuckled to himself as he listened, but Rex seemed to have mellowed over the last few weeks. He'd always been different to the others, and had stayed well away, with just his friend Jack at his side. With their new role as actual combat pilots, he'd either had a complete change of heart, or more likely decided it was better to be with the other four, than against them. Whatever the reason, as Nate watched him talking, he was nothing but happy they were all back to something civilised.

"This is a problem," said Matilda.

Rex lifted his hands up in mock exasperation. Matilda was the least inspired of them all by the view, but even she had something to say as she examined the key components while checking the data on her Secpad bracelet.

"The origins of the clouds are unknown, but they do present a major hazard for our sensors. Wherever we're going, it's going to be interesting."

Billy moved closer to the unit and looked far off to the right.

"What is that thing?"

Nate moved closer, and then so did the others. Only Matilda had the foresight to activate the panning feature. The image slid to the left at high speed, quickly bringing a view further to the rear of the ship.

"That is not a warship," said Rex.

Matilda tapped the window, and a series of icons and diagrams appeared. She dragged two of them about and started a search routine. It took less than three seconds to locate a match, and then place a wireframe around the ship.

"It's a Prometheus flagged civilian ore hauler. She's big. The figures give her a length of over a thousand metres."

Nate squinted as he examined the data.

"We must have picked her up when we crossed the border. But why?"

None of the other four had an answer, and before they could think on it further, the sound of heavy armoured boots approached.

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