Fire Flare by Chris Ward

Author:Chris Ward [Ward, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: AMMFA Publishing

19

Harlan5

It had worked far more easily than either he or Paul had expected. The fake mayday he had sent from the second downed fighter to the seek-and-destroy gunship had tricked the pilots long enough to open the doors. Paul, as recklessly fearless and gung-ho as ever, had stormed the ship, taking out the crew. Once on board, Harlan5 had sent a delaying message to the unit’s commanding battleship in orbit somewhere overhead, citing electrical problems as a reason for the lack of communication, hopeful that their takeover wouldn’t be discovered until they had decided what to do.

Just like that, Paul and Harlan5 found themselves in command of a fully operational seek-and-destroy gunship.

‘So, what exactly could this thing blow up?’ Paul asked, running his hands over the controls with a delicacy that Harlan5 found quaint. ‘I mean, I imagine it would blow one of those Shadowman needle ships in half, but what about one of those Class 3 Trillian cruisers that Raylan’s recommissioned for his navy? Those mothers are five miles long. Imagine taking one of those out with a runty little thing like this.’ Paul slapped his thigh. ‘Boom!’

‘If the shields were down it would certainly cause some damage,’ Harlan5 said. ‘However, a ship like this is not designed for space combat. It has no great maneuverability nor any substantial shields that would protect it from bombardment. For surface combat, however, where magnetic shields are disturbed by the standing atmosphere….’ He paused, considering the kind of phrase Paul would understand. ‘It’s about as badass as a ship comes.’

Paul glanced at him, giving a thoughtful nod. ‘These scumbags who have captured Beth need a fat taste of cannon fire,’ he said. ‘How about we go on a hunt?’

Harlan5 shook what was left of his head. ‘My programming suggests that we find ourselves in an unusual situation. From the transmissions I’ve intercepted, it appears that both Miss Beth and Caladan have been captured by the very people we were attempting to rescue. It’s something of a mess.’

‘It’s a goddamn hell storm, is what it is.’

‘They’re holed up in that downed Shadowman battleship, according to the transmissions,’ Harlan5 said. ‘If we open fire on them, we risk harming Miss Beth and Caladan.’

‘Then what do we do?’

Harlan5 lifted his remaining shoulder in a shrug. ‘My programming suggests we spend more time assessing the situation. From transmissions I have intercepted, it seems there is something of a transfer about to take place.’

‘A transfer?’

‘The rebels hiding in the downed ship have offered General Grogood as a prisoner in exchange for a window of time in which they be allowed to leave,’ Harlan5 said. ‘The Shadowmen commanders have agreed. A light frigate has dropped into the upper atmosphere and is launching a transport to collect the general.’

Something in Paul’s eyes had changed. ‘They can’t do that,’ he said. ‘They can’t give up the general. He’s … a talisman.’

‘I have intercepted other transmissions,’ Harlan5 said. ‘General Grogood is to be offered along with a vice-admiral. A woman.’

‘His second-in-command was a woman? Impressive.

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