Lethal Intent (The Jack Rhodes Chronicles Book 4) by G.P. Hudson

Author:G.P. Hudson [Hudson, G.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thavma Press
Published: 2023-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter fifteen

When repairs to the ship were complete, we set off for Dinirium space to find out what happened to the fleet. It was a risk, especially after the last time we jumped into the Dinirium system, but one we had to take. While I believed Innana was telling the truth, I still needed confirmation. Besides, there was no way the Centurion would accept anything less.

I didn’t know if the timeship would still be there, so I decided that it would be best to jump into the system’s Kuiper Belt and run some scans to see what happened. That way, we’d have time to escape if we were spotted. I also ensured we had a few anti-matter warheads ready, just in case we did run into the timeship again.

After talking to Ilsa about it and consulting Athena, we decided that Protos had used its knowledge of history to foil the Imperium attack. But once that happened, we had entered a new timeline, and Protos could not know what we would do next. It made sense to me, but that wasn’t saying much, as I still had trouble wrapping my head around all this time travel stuff.

So, we set off for the Dinirium system, and when we were in range, we jumped into the system’s Kuiper Belt. Our cloak was active, but we did not know if the Dinirium could see through it. If the timeship was there, it would detect our presence but might not know where we were. I hoped that the distance to the Kuiper Belt and all the asteroids there might help delay our discovery.

“Report!” Ilsa said once we had landed.

“Scanning for Imperium fleet,” the sensor officer said. “Picking up Imperium signature. Isolating.”

I held my breath as we waited for the results. Beside me, the Centurion clenched his fists as a solitary vein bulged in his temple.

“There is only debris,” The sensor officer said. “The fleet has been destroyed.”

I nodded grimly. “Very well. Helm, jump us out of here. Set a course for Earth.”

“Yes, sir,” said the pilot.

“Commander Thrar will not be pleased,” the Centurion said.

“No, I don’t imagine he would be,” I said.

“He will blame you.”

I turned to face the Centurion. “Really? How is it my fault? We were ambushed.”

“It will not matter to the Commander.”

“And what about you? Do you blame me?”

The Centurion locked eyes with me and seemed to weigh recent events before responding. “No, I do not. The ambush was well executed. Had the jump drive functioned properly, we could have warned the fleet. Its malfunction was not your fault; neither was the ambush.”

“Thank you, Centurion,” I said. “That means a lot to me.”

The Centurion bowed his head.

I turned my attention to the main hologram and watched the stars vanish as we jumped toward Earth. When we reached the Sol System, I stared in horror at the holodisplay. The Dinirium fleet that had ambushed us was here, and they were bombing Earth from orbit.

“Where is Commander Thrar’s ship?” the Centurion said.

“Report,” I said. “Locate the Imperium warship.

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