Project Ascent by Justin Sloan

Author:Justin Sloan [Sloan, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781986929615
Google: UHmWtQEACAAJ
Amazon: B079ZL96W2
Publisher: Elder Tree Press
Published: 2018-03-20T05:00:00+00:00

16

Shrina: Dubai

Dubai was unlike anything Shrina had ever seen before, and yet it looked like what she imagined being on a space station must’ve been like. The city had embraced the world’s move to space full-throttle, with a largely metallic and flowing feel to its buildings and entire neighborhoods resembling what a future colonized Mars or Titan might be like.

Unfortunately, they weren’t there as tourists, and the Special Forces pods they were in zoomed through the city, sweeping over the arched bridges and art that resembled explosive lightshows.

“Stick with me,” Pete said to Trent and Shrina, “and you’ll be fine.”

“We’ll be fine without you,” Trent said, and Shrina glanced over, wondering if that was pride or jealousy.

“That so?” Pete said with a laugh. “All I’m saying is, I take a bullet, the wound will heal up in a day or two, as long as it’s not lethal. You? Yeah…”

“Fine, you run in and take all the shots. We’ll be close behind taking out the shooters.”

“Very funny,” Pete said. “Mock the man who’s offering to take a bullet for you.”

“Either of you want to take a bullet for me?” Shrina said, “I certainly won’t complain. Or mock you.”

Trent shook his head. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“You’re all here at the president’s request,” the Navy Seal sitting across from Shrina said. He went by Robinson and was apparently in command. He was a tall man with thinning hair and shades that he never seemed to take off. “You’ll help hold the perimeter, nothing more.” Then he motioned to Pete, “Especially you, tough guy. Can’t have you turning on us mid-fight.”

It was very clear how Pete wanted to respond to that, but instead he nodded, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

“Ain’t no time for beauty sleep,” Robinson said.

Pete laughed, then opened his eyes and glared at the man. “‘Because we’re there’ better be the next words out of your mouth.”

Robinson smiled, then nodded. “Because we’re there.”

With a wave of his hand, he directed all eyes to the New Origins Headquarters. It was more like a military compound in the middle of the city, complete with their own airport for their fighter jets and space craft, and they had an army training at the south side near the gates.

“They don’t normally train outside,” Robinson said.

“It’s not training,” Shrina said, understanding. “A show of force? They anticipated our attack?”

The pod swerved as a missile exploded just behind them, and Robinson steadied himself on the handhold while Trent fell across the middle into the empty seat opposite.

“I’d say that’s a big fat yes,” Trent said, getting situated again and holding on.

Attack choppers appeared from behind the largest tower, coming at them, and they heard beeping sounds as the pods alerted their inhabitants of a missile lock. Then the U.S. forces moved in from behind, sweeping over the pod Shrina was in. Someone started playing a rock song from an old Vietnam War movie she remembered seeing, and then it was on—explosions, pods, choppers, fighter jets.

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