sir. We have to try.”
Gray looked at Adam who shook his head. There’s no way it will work. We’re going to throw lives away if we do it . He chose not to voice his concern. The captain would see reason. Dupont wouldn’t go for it either and he had say over any ground actions. They had enough problems with the ships in space, they didn’t need to add marines into the mix.
“Contact Dupont,” Gray said to Clea. “Get a team together and depart as soon as you can. We can’t afford any delay.”
“Thank you, sir.” Clea nodded once and rushed for the door, vanishing down the hall.
“Captain…” Adam shook his head. “That’s a mistake.”
“We’ve got some pretty amazing soldiers on board,” Gray replied. “I think I’ll trust them and try to save some lives before blowing the place up. Besides, we can always rain hell down on the location later. That data has a lot of value and those people know too much to throw away. Have some faith and let’s focus on what we’re about to get involved in.”
“We’re just about in range,” Olly said. “Fighters are reporting launch readiness in less than a minute.”
“Start slowing us down, Redding.” Gray moved back to his seat. “Get us turned. I want a full broadside just before the fighters launch. Adam, continue to coordinate with Revente.”
***
Gray watched his first officer sit stiffly. He knew Adam didn’t like his approach to the planet but destroying the research facility should be a last resort, not the first. Clea’s passion aside, attempting to infiltrate the base made sense. When they finished the enemy above, they could lay fire upon the invading force.
“Anthar Ru’Xin, why didn’t the invading force drop directly on the facility,” Gray asked. “It seems odd to me they’d enter an open battle.”
“One of the technologies at work,” Kale said. “They must be masking the signature of the base, forcing the enemy to search. That works to our advantage and buys us time. But the battle is upon us!”
“We have range,” Redding stated. “Permission to open fire.”
“Fire at will,” Gray said. “After the volley, launch the fighters. Olly, prepare the Protocol Seven. I think we need to make short work of these bastards to save the facility.”
***
Wing Commander Meagan Pointer ran alongside Squadron Leader Mick Tauran. They’d been on standby, waiting near the hangar for a quick launch. Since they did not have the Ready Thirty order, they didn’t board their ships but Revente kept them nearby, just in case. Apparently, his paranoia paid off.
“You ready for this?” Mick asked. “Seems crazy we should have to throw down this fast after leaving the solar system. Hell, we didn’t even have the chance to look around and be awed by it all.”
Meagan grinned. “Nothing surprises me anymore, especially when it comes to Revente’s gut feelings. He’s survived things no one deserved to because he listened to his instincts. This time’s no different.”
They nearly collided with Wing Commander Rudy Hale, head of one of the bomber wings. He was a huge man, just shy of too large for regular fighters, he embodied the look for one of the tough, larger vessels.
“Lord, Hale,” Meagan complained as she moved around him. “You’re like a moving wall or something. You coming on this mission?”
“Yeah, capital ships mean pulse bombs,” Rudy replied. “If they use that fancy tech we picked up, we’ll tear em up quick.
Gray looked at Adam who shook his head. There’s no way it will work. We’re going to throw lives away if we do it . He chose not to voice his concern. The captain would see reason. Dupont wouldn’t go for it either and he had say over any ground actions. They had enough problems with the ships in space, they didn’t need to add marines into the mix.
“Contact Dupont,” Gray said to Clea. “Get a team together and depart as soon as you can. We can’t afford any delay.”
“Thank you, sir.” Clea nodded once and rushed for the door, vanishing down the hall.
“Captain…” Adam shook his head. “That’s a mistake.”
“We’ve got some pretty amazing soldiers on board,” Gray replied. “I think I’ll trust them and try to save some lives before blowing the place up. Besides, we can always rain hell down on the location later. That data has a lot of value and those people know too much to throw away. Have some faith and let’s focus on what we’re about to get involved in.”
“We’re just about in range,” Olly said. “Fighters are reporting launch readiness in less than a minute.”
“Start slowing us down, Redding.” Gray moved back to his seat. “Get us turned. I want a full broadside just before the fighters launch. Adam, continue to coordinate with Revente.”
***
Gray watched his first officer sit stiffly. He knew Adam didn’t like his approach to the planet but destroying the research facility should be a last resort, not the first. Clea’s passion aside, attempting to infiltrate the base made sense. When they finished the enemy above, they could lay fire upon the invading force.
“Anthar Ru’Xin, why didn’t the invading force drop directly on the facility,” Gray asked. “It seems odd to me they’d enter an open battle.”
“One of the technologies at work,” Kale said. “They must be masking the signature of the base, forcing the enemy to search. That works to our advantage and buys us time. But the battle is upon us!”
“We have range,” Redding stated. “Permission to open fire.”
“Fire at will,” Gray said. “After the volley, launch the fighters. Olly, prepare the Protocol Seven. I think we need to make short work of these bastards to save the facility.”
***
Wing Commander Meagan Pointer ran alongside Squadron Leader Mick Tauran. They’d been on standby, waiting near the hangar for a quick launch. Since they did not have the Ready Thirty order, they didn’t board their ships but Revente kept them nearby, just in case. Apparently, his paranoia paid off.
“You ready for this?” Mick asked. “Seems crazy we should have to throw down this fast after leaving the solar system. Hell, we didn’t even have the chance to look around and be awed by it all.”
Meagan grinned. “Nothing surprises me anymore, especially when it comes to Revente’s gut feelings. He’s survived things no one deserved to because he listened to his instincts. This time’s no different.”
They nearly collided with Wing Commander Rudy Hale, head of one of the bomber wings. He was a huge man, just shy of too large for regular fighters, he embodied the look for one of the tough, larger vessels.
“Lord, Hale,” Meagan complained as she moved around him. “You’re like a moving wall or something. You coming on this mission?”
“Yeah, capital ships mean pulse bombs,” Rudy replied. “If they use that fancy tech we picked up, we’ll tear em up quick.
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