Imperial Mercenary: Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire Book 3 by Andrew Moriarty

Author:Andrew Moriarty [Moriarty, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

***

“I’m just saying that I’ve been in worse. More dangerous situations, that is,” Dirk said, pushing himself into the rock and shielding his face under his arm.

“Stop trying to impress me, Loverboy,” Kay said. “Save your energy for figuring out a way of getting us out of here. And what exactly is worse than waiting to dissolve slowly, in excruciating pain, as your skin melts?”

“Well, get killed in space combat.”

“Over quickly, and you’re with friends. Plus, if you do survive, you have excellent medical assistance at hand.”

“Running out of air in your suit?”

“Turn the temperature down and lower the airflow—you’ll fall asleep from the carbon monoxide in minutes and slip away.”

“Getting shot?”

“Doc gives you great drugs to forget the pain.”

“Drowning?”

“Over in two minutes.”

“I’m trying to be positive here.”

“Try harder. And inject a dose of realism here. How long to get back to the ship? Could we run it in ten minutes?”

“Maybe. Think we can do it?”

“We’d lose fingers and hands if we didn’t shield them. And probably toes, too. These boots aren’t too sturdy. Look at the holes in them. Any minute now, they’ll go through fabric to our feet. Should have worn the magboots.”

Dirk looked at his boots. There were several smoking stains, and one looked to burn through shortly.

“Wait it out?”

“We’ll be jumping hotfoot any time now.”

A shape rocketed over them. The Heart’s Desire was aloft and had found them.

“Heart’s Desire—CRACKLE—five, CRACKLE—Pilot. Respond, Pilot. Over.” Lee said, through heavy static.

“Navigator, Pilot here. Stuck under rock ledge. Acid is getting to us. Can you get close, and we’ll run aboard? Over.”

“CRACKLE. CRACKLE.”

“Not reading you, Lee. Repeat.”

“CRACKLE—in the shit.”

“I know, Lee. I know. We’re in trouble. Can you get closer?”

“CRACKLE. CRACKLE—poop. Over.”

The radio was silent. The Heart’s Desire spun out across the lake and arced back to them.

“What’s she talking about?” Kay asked. “I don’t understand.”

“She’s not making any sense to me,” Dirk said. “Sulfur or clouds must be causing problems with radio.”

“Wrong time to curse. We need help. Can she pick us up?”

“She’ll try,” Dirk said.

“Does that mean she won’t succeed? How good of a pilot is she?”

“Good enough.”

“What does that mean? Will she or won’t she.”

“She’s the navigator. I’m the pilot. She’ll try her best.”

“We’re pretty close to that cliff. What if her best isn’t good enough?”

“She’ll still try, regardless of the risks,” Dirk said. He grimaced. “If the others let her.”

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