Countdown, John Walker [online e book reader txt] 📗

point in hiding it now that we’re all working together, I figure.”

Boom. And just like that, I get proof they’ve been doing what everyone guessed all along.

“Wow. I had no idea.” Zem smiled. They arrived at the hangar, moving toward their ship. “Thanks for the help, Blenz. And good luck out there. I think you guys are going to be fine.” They shook hands.

“No problem. I’ll help you unload this stuff and take the trolley back.”

Zem headed up the ramp, nearly running into Eleanor McCully. She stepped aside, following him into the cargo area.

“What’re you doing?” Zem asked.

“I’m going with you,” McCully said. “Rita got me into this mess. She’s not escaping her responsibility while I’m still alive.”

“That’s noble.” Zem stowed the bags in the back then directed Blenz to put the weapons in a cargo box. “You sure about this? We’re going to do some pretty shifty stuff. Might even involve killing people that don’t necessarily deserve it. I don’t want you trying to talk me down in a tense situation.”

“They’re all pirates as far as I’m concerned.”

“I mean, I’m glad to hear you’re on board, but that’s a little disturbing.” Zem rolled his eyes. “I don’t know, lady. You sure this is the right mission for you?”

“I’m not sticking around here. Chances are good this whole battle will be in space. I’d rather be on the ground with you guys.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Zem stepped close to her, meeting her eyes. “But know that if you’re pulling my leg, if you give me any shit out there, we’ll have a serious problem. The kind that doesn’t end with a conversation. Are you hearing me loud and clear?”

“You were a sergeant before, weren’t you?”

Zem nodded.

“I thought so. Special Forces, if I recall. Look, I know how you guys operate. I know your tough guy mentality. Save it. I want her back; I’ll do whatever it takes but…”

“Let me stop you for a moment,” Zem interrupted. “This is my op. We’re running it like a crew, not a military organization. I’m in charge. Rank means jack shit this time around. So keep that in mind. I accept advice. When I’ve made up my mind, that’s the direction we go. Got it? There won’t be arguments.”

“Yes.” McCully sighed. “I’m with you on this, okay? Just… we need to make it happen.”

“We do.” Zem gestured to the cargo as Blenz finished unloading the trolley. “We’ve got plenty of weapons, some of the MerCon armor, comms, and explosives. Familiarize yourself with it while we head over to get our other members.” He headed toward the bridge. “Let me know if you have questions. We’re launching shortly.”

“Dora!” Zem shouted before he stepped up behind her. “How’re we doing?”

“We’re ready to go.” Dora gestured behind her. “Ronnie’s all set. She’s got a few more repairs to do on our way out so we probably won’t see her for a while.”

“That’s fine.” Zem took the copilot’s seat. “Let’s get out of here then.” He leaned his head back, trying to calm down. They had hours before they’d be able to do anything, but he felt jacked up… ready for action.

I need to take a deep breath. I’ll burn up all my adrenaline long before we arrive.

Losing Letty and Rutger bothered him. He couldn’t lose another one. Not Rita. Not after everything she’d done for him. But stressing about it wouldn’t help anyone. And he knew it.

Oh well. I haven’t cared about much before. I guess this is what happens. I’ll feel better when we’ve entered hyperspace. Until then… I get to worry.

***

“We’re emerging!” Borden shouted. “Everyone strap in and pray we’ve gone to the right place!” Or that the Gold Empire assholes we’re about to encounter won’t think we’re an enemy. This feels like a stupid idea all around.

The closer they got to their destination, the harder it was for Borden to relax. He worried about being captured, having their ship confiscated, or worse… just blown out of the sky. The ship rumbled as they emerged into normal space. The stars looked fine as the scanner kicked in, but something felt wrong.

What’s the deal? Borden craned his neck, looking all around. He expected to have a visual on other starships. They were supposed to have arrived at a populated part of the Gold Empire. Instead, they found themselves in a quiet stretch of space. A nearby space station orbited a moon. That can’t be the only civilization out here.

Unless someone sent us here to be safe.

Lyson came onto the bridge, leaning over his shoulder to lookout. “This isn’t where we’re supposed to be.” She turned away, tapping at the console behind him. “No, this certainly isn’t what I expected at least. Is this some secret base they told you about, Borden? What’s going on?”

“That’s… a lot of questions.” Borden rubbed his eyes. “I have no clue. These are the coordinates we were given. I thought we were going to their capital world. The biggest city or something. This…” He gestured to the screen. “Has a shitty space station in the middle of nowhere. And it doesn’t look all that used.”

“I’m scanning it now,” Lyson replied. “Maybe this is what they consider a safe house… so to speak. I’ve never seen it before, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.”

“I thought you worked for these people,” Borden muttered. “Shouldn’t that mean you know?”

“I’m a contractor. A scientist, not a military version. How should that make me some kind of crazy expert on all their locations? Sheesh.”

“Sorry I pushed.” Borden brought up a star chart, looking for the nearest populated world within the Gold Empire. “I guess we’d better start a plan to get out of here. I wonder why we’d be sent here, though. That seems so strange to me. You got