Alliance by John Walker

Author:John Walker [Walker, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-17T22:00:00+00:00

***

Gunnery Sergeant Geoff ‘Heat’ Heathrow boarded the shuttle in his power armor and took his customary seat near the pilot’s seat. Seregeant Lawrence Gorman, Lieutenant Brent Fielding and Corporal Willis Anderson rounded out the four man team going to help the ambassadors. They decided any additional manpower would be overkill in the tight quarters.

Fielding was new to the team, having only joined the Gnosis a day before they departed. He barely had a chance to speak to the men or let them know his expectations before they were thrown into a mission with him. All Heat knew about the man came from stories of his field service. Apparently, the guy was pretty tough.

They expected more time to acclimate to him, that they were going on a milk run where they could chat and get to know their new team lead. Instead, they had to find out what he was made of in conflict, not exactly the best place to build trust. Still, he picked the men with confidence and was the first one to say he’d be right there with them.

I already like him better than our last guy … This one seems to know what he’s doing. I’m not afraid we’re going to be led astray.

“We’ll be there in about three minutes,” Warrant Officer Jeb Douglas announced. He was one of the most daring and crazy pilots in the crew and bringing him along meant they would certainly arrive swiftly but not necessarily safely. “I’m going to recommend everyone strap in for this though. We’re going to be hauling some serious ass.”

“Thank you,” Fielding replied. “I’ve heard stories about this guy and I’m assuming all of you are quite familiar. We’re going in near the Pahxin shuttles as it’s closer to the Gnosis. I’m thinking there’s a possibility that we’re going to be shooting right away so be prepared for that eventuality. HUD check in flight. Let’s fall out, Mister Douglas.”

The shuttle launched without preamble and the moment they cleared the deck, Jeb hit the thrusters and propelled them out. Afterburners kicked in and the ship hurtled toward the station at a rapid pace. Heat looked out the window, noting how quickly their destination was growing.

A destroyer engaged the Gnosis, exchanging blasts as the two capital ships lumbered in various directions, attempting to mitigate the damage as it came in. Fighters buzzed one another in the opposite direction, engaged in a flurry of combat. A massive Tol’An battleship duked it out with the Pahxin capital vessels.

The sheer chaos in the area must’ve been particularly painful for the Gaelirans to behold, considering their neutral status. But just then, the humans and Pahxin were working to keep them all safe. Hopefully, they’d be grateful or at least not angry. Clearly, the negotiations brought the trouble.

Were their hosts the type to hold grudges?

Probably not, Heat mused. Someone must’ve brought this kind of nonsense to their door before. You don’t offer a place for peace without the occasional flared temper.

“Two minutes to contact,” Jeb said.

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