The Defenders by Bill Baldwin

Author:Bill Baldwin [Baldwin, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Science Fiction, cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9781587521744
Publisher: Timberwolf Press
Published: 2004-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

05 The Defenders

CHAPTER 7

Eve Cartier

Brim hardly needed to glance out the side Hyperscreen when his proximity alarm screamed again and a large starship hove into sight just off the port side. It was one of the Leaguers’ new GH 270-A attack craft, and every one of its disrupters seemed to be pointing at his very forehead! He laughed in spite of himself. How Valentin had pulled that off, he’d never know! But then, if the wily Leaguer were nothing else, he was resourceful. He pursed his lips and considered for a moment. “We probably ought to try broadcasting another KA’PPA message anyway,” he shouted to Onrad. “It’s the only weapon we’ve got—and you can bet that zukeed Leaguer is dying to learn who our ’special passenger’ is, so he xaxtdamned well won’t be shooting to kill. How do you feel about that, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor thought about that for only a moment, then laughed. “It’s all right with me, Brim,” he laughed. “I’ve got nothing to lose. Oodam? How about you?”

“Why not?” Oodam grumbled.

“Aram?” Brim asked.

“I’m game, too,” the A’zurnian replied. “What do you want to send?”

“Something short,” Brim mused, “Like, ‘WILF BRIM AND SPECIAL PASSENGER ABOARD CAPTURED GH 219. UNDER ATTACK. HELP.’ Put it out all in a burst.” he ordered, “then hang on to anything you can grab, all of you. And set your suits for MINIMUM FREEDOM again. They’ll want to make certain we don’t do that again. Understand?”

“Understand,” Aram said, starting to key in the message.

“In the back there,” Brim prompted. “You hear that.”

“Yeah,” Onrad grunted. “We heard. We’re set.”

“Ready? Aram?”

“Ready, Wilf….”

“Send it,” Brim said through tight lips, ready to fight the controls through the punishing barrage he knew would follow their message: near misses, calculated to destroy the 219’s ability to communicate—or do much else, for that matter. He took a deep breath, crossed his arms over this faceplate, and braced himself for the worst.

And braced…. And braced—–

“Great thundering Universe!” rumbled Onrad’s surprised voice from the passenger compartment. “Will y’ look at that!”

Brim cautiously opened his eyes, expecting any moment to be blinded by the flash of a disrupter. It didn’t happen. Next, he carefully scanned the Hyperscreens and… Voot’s greasy, vermin-infested beard! Now there were five large starships driving through space behind him. The four newcomers were Starfuries, and all fifty-six of their mighty disrupters were trained on Valentin and his Gorn-Hoff.

Unfortunately, the latter’s disrupters were still pointed at his own personal forehead! A standoff if he’d ever heard of one! Rolling his eyes in absolute disbelief, he glanced down at the KA’PPA display, which was now displaying a question—in Avaionian. “QUESTION FOR WILF BRIM: WHAT LOGISH MEEM DID SISTER EVE ENJOY RECENTLY DINING WITH A FELLOW CARESCRIAN?” It was signed, “E. CARTIER, LT. COMMANDER, I.F.”

“Eve!” Brim gasped over the voice circuits.

“Huh?”

“Er, nothing, Your Majesty,” he replied, turning in his seat. “But it seems as if the ball has passed back to our Empire.”

“So it would seem,” Onrad whispered while he peered out the Hyperscreen port beside him.

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