Wizard Guardian by Rodney Hartman

Author:Rodney Hartman [Hartman, Rodney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13 – Ambush

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Richard glanced out the zipper’s forward viewscreen in the direction of the jump point. He saw nothing but the emptiness of space. Even so, the blaze of life forms detected by his active scan made him ignore what his eyes didn’t see and concentrate on what his mind did.

Punching the icon for the common communication channel for the Montova, Richard said, “Ambush, vector 310.”

“Say again, Mike 03,” replied a decidedly irritated voice using Richard’s call sign. “This is Montova control. Our screens are clear in that vector. You mercs need to get your eyes checked.”

Pointing the Zip fighter at vector 310, Richard said, “Check this,” as he punched the fire button for the lone anti-ship missile stored beneath the zipper.

The Zip fighter bucked as the missile streaked toward the empty spot in space where he’d detected the anomalies.

“Mike 03. This is Montova control. You will shut down all systems and wait to be towed aboard via tractor beam. Firing a live missile without authority is a courtmar—”

A bright flash lit up space as the tactical nuke in the anti-ship-missile’s warhead exploded against something. The flash cleared almost immediately, revealing two destroyers with Balorian pirate insignias emblazoned on their bows. Directly behind the destroyers was a large troopship with assault shuttles crammed with troops attached to its hull. A hodgepodge of a hundred fighters surrounded the three larger warships.

“All ships, this is Montova command,” said the now fear-ridden voice of the Montova’s controller through the speakers in Richard’s flight helmet. “Ambush, vector 310. Mike unit. Form a defensive line between the Montova and the pirates. You’ve got to buy us time to make a hyperjump and get the princess away.”

“They will never be able to calculate and make a hyperjump before the pirates swarm their ship,” said Nickelo in battle-speak. “The pirate fighters were massed around the destroyers to conceal themselves with whatever cloaking devices the larger ships were using, not to mentioning being protecting by their defensive shields. Now that the ambush has been sprung, the fighters will be all over the Montova before she can do anything useful. The pirates’ fighters will keep the Montova’s forcefields fully activated. She will not have a chance to make a hyperjump.”

Sure enough, a hundred ion trails lit up space as the pirates’ fighters headed straight for the Montova. Streaks of plasma energy passed perilously close to Richard’s Zip fighter. A blast of ion gas from Richard’s right announced Janet entering the fray as her X-wing made straight for the incoming fighters.

“We’ve got to protect the princess,” came Janet’s voice in Richard’s mind. “She’s the only lead I’ve got to find out who was responsible for my sister’s death.”

Richard was more concerned with his own potential demise than he was with the death of the spy’s sister. Regardless, he wisely kept the thought to himself.

“Well?” said Nickelo in battle-speak. “Are you going to fly this fighter, or do you want me to do it?”

Taking the not-so-subtle hint, Richard shoved the thruster control forward.

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