The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2, Elizabeth Price [crime books to read .TXT] 📗

until the debris moved away from the lead ship. To her amusement, they took out the Marisheio’s ship’s main engines in a matter of minutes.

“I can’t believe it,” she gasped.

Lolum stood next to her, shaking his head in amazement. “I’ve never seen a ship do that much damage so quickly.”

“They never had a chance,” Danstu spoke up from behind them as he watched the tactical station over one of the officer’s shoulders.

Over the loudspeakers came a crackling sound and heavy breathing. “We’re in,” returned a man’s voice heavy with anxiety.

“Get down! Get down!” returned another man’s voice in the distance, followed by a volley of pistol fire.

“These are pilots, not fighters. What now?” Sedom called over her shoulder as she listened to the chaos on board the ship. When no one answered, she turned. “You sent fifteen men up there without a backup plan?” she yelled. Again, everyone was silent. “I can’t believe…” she paused, turning back to her computer. “How many soldiers do we have?”

“Two hundred and eighty-three,” a woman’s voice called out from the bridge.

She searched through her inventory of military transport ships, finding three ships best suited for the job. “Have all active ground military meet in ship bay one.”

Danstu casually stepped over to Sedom. “We sent all our pilots off on this mission.”

Sedom held up a finger to silence him. “Zion and Rosanheer, meet me in ship bay one,” she called over the loudspeakers. “We have three pilots. Don’t do anything stupid until I return.”

“Are you insane?” Lolum yelled from the lower level of the bridge.

“My sanity has always been in question,” Sedom joked as she headed into the elevator.

The elevator opened with a rush of men and women, all dressed in the Tasgool’s uniform and all heading to the ship bay. As she exited the elevator, Sedom waved down one of the orbs. “Assign ten orbs per each designated ship to accompany us. Destroy any resisting Marisheio.”

“Command accepted,” the orb acknowledged, then sped off.

Her legs carried her down the street faster than her mind could comprehend. Her eyes grew wide with surprise as she noticed just how many people were racing towards the ship bay. She hadn’t really noticed how many people were now living in Gathow, only that important things were starting to be accomplished.

Zion and Rosanheer arrived in the bay shortly after Sedom. Both men were dressed in tactical gear and armed to the teeth.

“You’re learning,” Sedom joked.

“It’s been three days, you’re over do for a fight,” Rosanheer joked back.

“Pilots took down a starship. They’re being met by resistance and need back-up,” she explained. “I need you two to pilot the troops up there and help take it over.” She pointed to the two ships that needed pilots.

Rosanheer tightened his black, fingerless gloves. “A pleasure.” He hurried off towards the closest ship.

Zion remained a moment, staring at her. “This is fully-cocked insanity, you know that?” he stated more than asked. He continued to walk to his ship, shaking his head, unable to hide his frustration.

Sedom couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. She knew she was on the right track if Zion was upset with her. Every time she upset Zion, good things were about to happen.

She continued into the cockpit of the ship, strapping herself in. A man slipped into the seat beside her, offering her his hand to shake. “Commander Farshaal,” he introduced. “It’s an honor to work with you, Chadon.”

“Likewise,” Sedom called back. “Is everyone on board?”

“Everyone secured. Ready to kick some Marisheio, butt,” Farshaal called back with enthusiasm.

Her hands flew across the ship’s controls. The ship lifted off, taxiing out the main door and towards space.

“Fly often?” Farshaal asked.

“Not often enough. Seen battle much?” she asked.

“Not often enough,” he grumbled back.

“You’re going to enjoy this,” Sedom returned with a grin.

Within minutes, the ship docked alongside the starship. Sedom guided the ship to an airlock beneath the starship and blew the hatch. The troops were immediately met by pistol fire. Pistol fire bounced within the ship, forcing Sedom’s team to take cover.

“Move aside,” Farshaal called out as he rushed to the open hatch, holding something small in his hand. He tossed it out the hatch into the starship. “Get down!” he called. The item he tossed exploded, rattling the smaller ship. Sedom held tight to the controls, concerned that the blast would disengage the airlock.

“Watch it,” she called.

“All clear!” Farshaal called back.

The group of seventy-five hurried on board the starship. Sedom desperately wanted to join them, but thought it wasn’t wise to leave her ship unattended. On board the ship, she waited for nearly an hour until two Tasgool soldiers returned. Both were covered in blue blood. “Chadon, you’re needed on board. We’re here to guard the ship,” one explained.

“You okay?” she asked one of the men, noticing he looked like he might have been hurt.

He glanced at his injured arm. “I’ll live,” he stated.

Any excuse, any at all and she leaped from her seat. On board the starship, several Tasgool stood attention in the halls as she passed. All of them held weapons to the heads of kneeling Marisheio. Orbs patrolled the halls in pairs, scanning every room they came across.

“Chadon,” called Farshaal.

She searched the smoky hall for Farshaal. She found him down the hall, waving her to him. She continued down the hall towards him, all the while two orbs followed close behind her.

“Follow me. We have control over the bridge,” he announced, motioning her to follow him.

“Is the ship secure?” she asked.

“We’re still searching the lower decks, engine room, maintenance and medical. According to their duty roster, we have everyone of any considerable rank in custody,” he explained.

“And how many non-Marisheio on board?” she questioned.

“Unknown at this time. We have found quite a