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

We’ve got seconds to live. His breath caught in his throat as the beams burst from the different satellites, tearing into the dark of space for another assault.

Noah didn’t close his eyes… but neither did the world as he knew it end. He looked around, shocked… elated… confused. Nina exchanged a glance with him before turning to Dorian. The viewscreen had switched back to the tactical mode rather than displaying the action directly in front of them.

“What happened?” Nina asked. “Um… why are we alive?”

“Shit!” Dorian grunted, tapping his panel. “I twitched.” The viewscreen shifted, giving them a view of Loch’s vessel parked practically in front of them. A tremendous beam burst forth from the bow, cutting through the nearest ervas battleship… effectively annihilating it as if it had been the victim of the shuttles.

“I… need to talk to them,” Noah said. “What the hell is going on?”

“The attack took out the rest of the Gold Empire scout vessels,” Dorian announced. “We lost three more destroyers. Looks like that’s all they got. I’m working on comms with the… pirate… ship thing.”

“Readings from the satellites,” Mac added, “indicate the power level was considerably lower. They must have fired before the system was ready. Combine that with being down a satellite, and they made an error. That attack may not have destroyed a larger vessel. I would say crippling would’ve been possible though.”

“Understood.” Noah got on the comms that were working, directly to Wilmarth. “Listen, can you guys finish the last battleship? I’m charging those satellites to help the fighters take them down.”

“Sounds good,” Wilmarth replied. “Make it happen.”

“Gaston,” Noah said, “give us some cover. Blast whatever smaller ship tries to come at us. We’re heading out. Erica, you heard the order. Close on the planet’s surface ASAP.”

Nina leaned close. “I’d recommend we go at it from an angle in order to mitigate the possibility they’ll blast us with those weapons again.”

“That should not be a problem,” Mac seemed to overhear her from the microphone. “The war dogs have come online and are making their descent to the planet’s surface. They will be in position in less than five minutes at their current rate of speed.”

“Are you kidding?” Erica asked the question. “That must mean they’re really hauling ass! Pulling… I don’t even want to think about the kind of g’s they’re experiencing.”

“They don’t care,” Noah replied. “They can pretty much go as fast as the engines will let them and likely pop out before they even reach the surface.” He turned to Dorian. “Do you have the comms yet? We need to talk to that ship.”

“I’m working on it, sir.”

“Captain Markel?” Wilmarth’s voice came through the speakers. “That’s Tobin Loch’s ship! How did it…I don’t even know what to say…absorb? How did it collect that energy?”

“We’re trying to find out,” Noah replied. “As soon as we get through to them.” He didn’t want to move before they knew what was going on, but they were on the clock. If those lasers attacked a third time, he had no idea if they’d survive…or if the pirate vessel could pull the same trick again.

“I’ve got them!” Dorian shouted. “Putting it on screen!”

Rita’s image flickered into view. Noah let out a sigh of relief. “I had a quiet suspicion you were involved!”

“How’s it going, Cap?” Rita grinned. “As you can see, this ship is highly advanced and crazy amazing. I’m going to take a stab at the plan and say you want those satellites out of commission. Pretty much it?”

Noah nodded. “Yes, indeed. We need to get moving.” He pointed at Erica. “Get us underway. Rita, will you be accompanying us?”

“We’re on it,” Rita said. “Forming up on your port side.” The screen returned to normal.

Now we’re getting somewhere. Noah leaned back, letting himself relax. He still hadn’t entirely recovered from the moment he swore they were on the verge of death… when the blasts came their way.

It’s okay. That wasn’t our time. The enemy ships are all but destroyed… their last defense is on the way out. Hold the line, Markel. Just a little longer.

***

Justin laid into another of the satellites, biting into the metal with every hit. The damn thing seemed tougher than the first one they took out but then he realized there weren’t as many ships taking it on. Many of his allies had to hold the line against the fighters, even with the Gold Empire at their backs.

The escorts broke from the war dog shuttle. It made its way down to the surface, breaking atmosphere. That gave them a handful of fighters to join the fray, which he hoped might be enough to take down at least two of their targets. Even as he painted them on the screen, he felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.

If we can barely hurt the second one, how the hell are we going to take out nine more of these in any sort of real order?

Another surge of energy showed up on his scanner, indicating the satellites were on the verge of firing again. Justin cried out for everyone to scatter. He dove toward the surface in an effort to evade the beams. A couple screams over his comm were cut short. He checked the HUD for confirmation of who might have been lost… what might’ve happened.

“Sound off! Immediate squadron!”

“Barker here.”

“Porter present.”

“Lancaster made it… but sir…”

Come on… no! Justin spun around, hitting the satellite from behind. He didn’t want to hear the report. Some part of him already knew what they were going to say. They needed to stay quiet so she could speak up, to let herself be accounted for after the blast. When the satellites fired…

“Katya…” Lancaster cleared her throat. “She’s… I saw her ship…”

Goddamn son of… Justin swallowed back his feelings, thrusting them into his