Escape of the Relentless Page 9
***
Catton felt Xendi grip his hand as Relentless shook and rattled and the lighting flickered.
“Mounts One-Two, Two-Two, Three —”
“Just tell me which one are still on line, TAO,” said Catton.
“One-One, Two-One, Five-Two, and Six-One, sir.”
“Keep ‘em firing until they’re empty.”
“Propulsion is at thirty percent,” reported the Bridge.
Relentless lunged forward.
“Major hull breach in the hangar bay!” cracked over the comms circuit.
***
Braca groaned as a three-inch wasp drove its stinger into her back. Then another.
A wave of heat and pain washed over her body as she fell to one knee. “No!” she yelled, willing herself back to her feet and lunging for the FTL breaker as a wave of wasps slammed into her.
***
“Loss of atmospheric control frames two-zero to three-zero,” reported Central Control. “Number three reactor scrammed.”
“Boarding vessels inbound … ten of them,” reported the TAO.
“TAO, empty our inventory. Fire everything!”
“Do not let them take me alive,” said Xendi, turning toward Pi-ce.
“They will not,” replied the Hardian Marine.
***
Braca let out a scream as her hand, covered with welts, grabbed the final breaker.
***
“Sir!” yelled the TAO.
Catton looked toward the FLT status.
Three lights.
“Jump!” ordered Catton.
A harmonic rattle of metal reverberated through Relentless. Catton fell to his knees as the ship went dark.
As the emergency lighting activated, Catton lookup across the deck to see Xendi on her hands and knees. Pushing himself to his feet, he rushed to her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied, her eyes wide and anxious. “Is the ship okay?”
Catton turned toward the RADIUS screen. After a few flashes of static, the image began to clear.
“TAO, report contacts,” ordered Catton.
“Two contacts …” The TAO paused. “Starbase Charlie Seven and the Royal Battleship Mariana.” He let out a sigh. “We’re home.”
A roar of applause and relief echoed through Combat.
Catton turned toward Xendi, catching her as she embraced him.
She instantly stepped away, regaining her composure. “A job well done, commander.”
“Thank you, my queen,” he replied, activating the ship’s announcing circuit. “Onboard Relentless, this is the Captain. We have completed a jump the Starbase Charlie Seven. You have performed above and beyond the call of duty to not only defend the Relentless, but your queen as well. We have made it home, but we have multiple fires, hull breaches, and injured shipmates, so our work is not done. We fought the ship well; now we must save it.”
“Sir,” reported the TAO. “Starbase Charlie Seven is requesting authentication codes as well as what orders have sent us here.”
“Pass the authentication codes,” replied Catton. “Inform them we have been attacked by Qua-la forces. Inform them we have severe damage, need medical evacuations, and rescue and assistant teams.” He turned toward Xendi. “Queen, what is the code they gave you to authenticate your presence?”
“Sparrow,” replied Xendi.
“TAO. send the following in the open: Starbase Charlie Seven, Relentless. Redesignate Relentless as Runan One, Codeword Sparrow.” He turned toward Xendi. “Our queen is onboard.”