by REM
“Frankly, because you already know too much, and I feel it’s better to keep all of my eggs in one basket—in case I have to empty that basket, you know what I mean?”
Josh’s eyes widened a bit before his nodding.
“Plus, with all you’ve been involved in over the past two weeks, I’m beginning to believe you hate these Mercens as much as me and many others on this vessel. At least that’s what I’ve heard—and I do hear a lot on this ship.”
There was a twinkling in the commander’s eyes, which didn’t go unnoticed by Josh. He’s got to have secret microphones and cameras everywhere, he thought.
“I’d like you to meet Captain Scope,” said Commander Clint.
Josh dipped his head when Scope turned to look at him, but the captain kept a straight face and didn’t say a word. His dark eyes and jet-black hair reminded Josh of an assassin he’d seen on a popular Creston movie. One glance was all it took to feel a chilling vibe about the man.
“You’re going to be flying with Scope into the Mercen side of the Void Zone and taking out one of their trade ships. This will serve as a message to those repulsive reptiles that shooting down a Creston transport will be met with fire. Our intelligence team has narrowed down the enemy’s flight time and flight route, so you two are on the clock.”
Josh had curled his brows at hearing the commander’s plan. “I don’t know much about Mercen cargo ships, sir, but do you think there would be any chance of innocent civilians being on that craft?”
Commander Clint’s expression was emotionless when he replied, “There’s no such thing as an innocent Mercen—they’re all evil to the core. They’d harvest our entire species if they could. Many of our ancestors were killed and eaten. Just two days ago an entire trade ship full of innocents blown up. Your friends were killed at the hands of these vile beasts. One even tried ending your life, prior to my showing up to the north sector. These creatures have shown no mercy, deserve no mercy, and will get—no mercy.”
The facts were clear. Josh was unable to deny the commander’s point.
Clint slid out a pack of cigs, then flipped opened a Zippo and blazed one up. He looked at Josh. “Follow Scope’s instructions, and show us your fancy flying I’ve been hearing so much about.” His gaze shifted to Scope. “Don’t fail.”
Without a word, Scope nodded and got up to leave.
Josh trailed the captain out the door.
When they arrived at the north flight deck, Scope stopped and faced Josh. “Don’t mess up. I have a reputation for perfection; it’s how I got this job.”
“I won’t,” Josh replied, finally feeling some sense of normality from the guy.
They continued on until making it to Scope’s striker, where Josh halted to inspect the captain’s ship, which hadn’t been there previously. What the hell is that near his thrusters? thought Josh. There was a rectangular box mounted horizontally on top. I’ve never seen a striker with that kind of modification. “Say, what’s that attached to the back of your ship?”
Scope climbed into the cockpit without answering.
Figures, thought Josh. He marched to his own striker.
It wasn’t long before Josh and Scope shot out from the north flight deck, and were streaking through space at almost max speed. They entered the Void Zone from the north and cut through it low in case shadow fighters were patrolling.
“Hold here,” Scope transmitted, bringing his striker to a stop. Josh did the same. “Trade ship should be passing by any minute now.”
“What’s our plan of attack?” asked Josh.
“We’re idled well below the trade ship’s flight path. When it shows up on radar, we’ll bolt up and hit it from the bottom with laser shots. We’re not taking any chances.”
“Any likelihood of the ship being escorted by shadow fighters?”
“Possibly, considering the recent spikes of Mercen tension, which is why you’re here. But our intel showed the last three Mercen shipments along this route were all unguarded.”
“So, what happens if we run into to enemy craft?”
“We complete the mission.”
Geez, thought Josh. “But if Mercen are able to link the attack to Creston, wouldn’t that run a risk of all-out war?”
“War is inevitable. They must answer for their recent crimes. You give this species an inch, and they’ll take a galaxy from you.”
This guy sounds just like Clint, thought Josh. He heard beeping from his radar.
“There it is,” said Scope. “Looks to be alone. Stay alert. Let’s go.” He fired up his thrusters and shot straight up.
Josh blazed behind at the captain’s wing.
Stars blurred around them. Josh peered at his screen and saw they were halfway to the Mercen transport, when he heard a bee-dee-deet. Bee-dee-deet. Two dots appeared on his radar from the larger one representing the trade ship. “Shit,” he blurted.
“Shadow fighters, coming in hot,” Scope transmitted. “Take them on, but keep after the transporter. It cannot escape.”
“Roger that,” Josh replied. A moment later he transmitted: “They’re keeping tight.”
“Break them up,” Scope responded.
Josh slid his finger over the trigger and fired a pair of wild shots. Scope did too. The shadow fighters shot back then split up. Scope bent right in pursuit of one, and Josh chased the other.
Thoom! He tore through space into wide coils with the dark fighter, each jockeying for the superior position. “Errgh,” Josh grunted, thrusting his stick to a side, followed by another. These damn things always put up a strong fight! He lost sight of the enemy fighter while going into an angled loop—then watched it reappear like a shadow from the dark. I’m painting my ship black as soon as I get back to the Rampage. That’s just too good. Upon swinging out from the convolution, he saw Captain Scope locked in similar maneuvering.
“The transport!” barked Scope, in the process of twirling his striker and belting off in the direction of the Mercen trade ship.
Josh had to stir it up with his shadow fighter a bit longer before being able to do the same. Everything was happening so fast. He stared ahead to where Scope was swerving from side to side to avoid being targeted, and then as the captain curled hard right to evade a shot.
Lasers beamed past Josh’s striker and brought his full attention onto the shadow fighter at his rear. He rolled his ship, then dove at angle until shifting suddenly back up in the opposite direction and hooking onto the shadow fighter’s trail. “Okay, you little bastard, it’s my turn to have some fun.” He fired a shot for the sake of having the upper hand, then kept hot on its tracks into knot maneuvers.
Josh caught sight of the second shadow fighter flying tight on Scope’s rear. That’s dangerously close. What the hell is Scope doing?
Thoot! Thoot! Lasers flashed out from the Mercen fighter and whisked within inches of the captain’s craft. He’s done for! thought Josh.
A burst of ultra-bright light shined out of the box on the back of Scope’s striker, after which Scope yanked his ship back around and blasted the blinded shadow fighter into oblivion.
Josh was shocked by the sudden turn of events. “Well, I’ll be damned… the good captain,” he muttered. Old Pax would’ve been pleased by that trick—much too risky though. He jerked his stick in pursuit of the shadow fighter that had climbed into a slanted curl.
“Get the trade ship!” Scope ordered. “I’ll deal with this one.”
Josh watched the captain cut into the chase and circled his striker in the direction of the Mercen transport. It was miles away, but still on radar. Josh punched the throttle to the sound of his ship roaring into max thrust. I can’t let it escape. I’ve got to get it!
He raced through space until he made it to within striking distance. Commander Clint’s explanation that all Mercen were evil lingered in his mind. He’d never met a non-military Mercen and wondered if the commander had been completely honest.
Josh knew his time was running out for a
shot. He’d no doubts that more shadow fighters were already in flight to the area. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. They consider us food. Clint’s words must be true. Josh squeezed the trigger, then again. Lasers flared from his striker and ignited the trade ship into a ball of flame.
Josh made a one-eighty and bolted back toward Scope.
A few seconds went by before the captain transmitted, “Did you get it?”
“Yes, it’s done.”
“Very good. Let’s get back to the Rampage. There’s a squadron of shadow fighters headed this way. I’m coming in low at your eleven.”
“I see ya.” Josh wasn’t picking up the enemy fighters, but dove into formation at Scope’s wing.
When they returned to the M.N. Rampage and were walking up the north flight deck, Captain Scope stopped at the doorway to say, “I will debrief with Commander Clint. You can return to your unit. You did good.”
“Thank you, sir.” Josh saluted. He allowed Scope to go in first. After that Josh made his way to the 3rd squadron and snuck into his room. He lay on his bed with the lights off, wondering what the ramifications of Commander Clint’s secret mission might be. Will the Mercen launch an all-out war by morning, or will they hit back in a more subtle and calculative manner?
Chapter 11
Josh walked out to the lounge where Maya and Hoss were eating breakfast at the table.
“Morning,” said Maya.
Hoss raised his chin to nod.
Well, we’re definitely not at war, thought Josh. He examined their faces and saw Maya had a bit of a glow to her cheeks, and Hoss a slight smile. Yep, I know she likes him. “What are you guys eating?”
“Joppy cereal,” Hoss replied.
“But you better eat quickly. Rolly will be here soon,” said Maya.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Cafeteria,” said Hoss. “Should be back any minute now.”
Josh sauntered over to the kitchen and scooped hot cereal into a bowl. He then walked back to the table and ate with the others.
Ten or so minutes later, the rest of the 3rd squadron came in with Officer Rolly right behind them.
“Line up,” said Rolly.
Everyone fell in.
“We’re going to have just one group on patrol today, in the northern Void Zone. The Creston cruiser will be covering the south. There will be no flying into the Cosmolis. That is a direct order from Commander Clint, so do not break it. Understood?”
There was a chorus of “yes, sirs.”
“Ace, Kyle, Nate, and Josh will be on initial patrol. Lauler, Henry, and Smokey will handle relief.” Rolly smiled. “Everyone else, enjoy the day off.” He looked at Ace and said, “Be on high alert.”
Ace nodded.
Officer Rolly departed right after.
Talk about sending out your heavy hitters, thought Josh. Commander Clint must be expecting hostility.
Josh suited up and went down to the north flight deck with the three other pilots named for patrol. There was little surprise in his seeing that Captain Scope’s striker was gone. He wondered where the captain could’ve come from. Maybe the cruiser… or possibly a secret hangar on the Rampage.
When their striker group, led by Ace in fingertip formation, neared the Void Zone, Josh thought back to his mission from the night before. I really hope nothing pops off, he thought. “Remember what Rolly said. Let’s be on high alert,” Josh transmitted.
“That’s right,” said Ace
“Yep,” Nate transmitted.
“Roger,” said Kyle.
They zoomed past planet Fargo and into the northern region of the Void.
It wasn’t till about two hours later that they saw their first shadow fighters. “Three o’clock,” said Kyle, who was flying side by side with Josh. Nate and Ace had split to another sector.
“See ’em. Are we idling out?”
“No, we’ll just cruise.”
“Copy that,” Josh replied. It felt a tad strange taking orders from a fifteen-year-old, but he’d come to trust the younger pilot’s abilities and greater experience.
They made a few passes by the northmost space station, and watched the Mercen fighters flying routes from over fifty miles away on radar. Josh was surprised by the enemies’ behavior.
“They seem kind of passive today, eh?” transmitted Josh.
“Definitely strange, but not completely unusual,” Kyle responded. “I would’ve thought with heightened tensions they’d be friskier. Maybe they don’t want to spark a war either.”
Ha, maybe Clint’s message actually did hit home, thought Josh. He tilted his stick and swept his striker northwest in unison with Kyle’s.
Sometime later, they met up with Nate and Ace. All four were idled in open space. Kyle fired up his striker and flew out in front of the others. “Check this out,” he said, thrusting upward and bucking his craft into a wild twist. After that he flat-spinned his way down until level with the others. “Bet you can’t do that, Josh.”
Josh smirked and said, “Too easy, Kyle. I was doing those my first year at the academy.”
Ace and Nate snickered.
Kyle was all smiles. “I don’t believe that,” he said. “You’re lucky I wasn’t in your class; you wouldn’t have been top dog then.”
Josh laughed.
“Come on, let’s duel,” said Kyle. “We haven’t faced each other yet.”
You don’t want none of this, kid, thought Josh, before saying, “I don’t want to have to spank you in front of all these adults, Kyle.”
“Come on then!” Kyle shot back, his eyes bright, and smile wide as could be.
“Meh. Not really in the mood for it. I’m sure our clash would be epic. Ask Ace about how I fly. He’ll tell you how fortunate he was to get the win over me—and he beat you just yesterday.”
“That was luck too,” said Kyle.
Ace shifted his lips to one side with an amused grin.
Kyle drifted his striker in close, head to head with Josh’s. “I’ve beaten Ace many times. Ask him.”
“That’s true,” said Nate. “Though, Ace beats you a lot more. Maybe a 3-1 percentage overall, I’d say.”
“Two years from now he won’t stand a chance,” said Kyle, which drew more chuckling from Ace. He jerked his striker toward Josh’s, and then again. “Nate told me what happened that day when you guys were idled out. Is this what I have to do to get a challenge from you?”
Josh was sitting straight up with his chin held high and his lips twisted confidently. He felt a river of energy rising through his body, while Kyle’s striker rotated in place a few times. Yeah, I’m going to have to dust him, thought Josh, followed by the faintest of sniggers.
Kyle turned and flew off into a U-ey. On his way back around he fired a training shot. Beams of light flashed into Josh’s striker as Kyle swerved away in a different direction.
“Okay, you’re getting it,” said Josh. He shot off in pursuit.
All four pilots were cracking up—when Ace called a halt to Josh and Kyle’s wild maneuvering. The squad leader had seen three shadow fighters zip onto radar.
“I was just about to make my move and nail you,” said Kyle.
“That’s what you think. I was ready for that. You wouldn’t have lasted another minute.”
Nate rocked in his cockpit and slapped a hand to his thigh. He enjoyed hearing Josh and Kyle jawing at each other, and was curious to see who would’ve come out on top.
“Tomorrow, you and me,’ said Josh to Kyle. “Ace, can you make it happen?”
“Sure,” responded Ace, with his cheeks raised.
“But you’re not off the hook either. I want you next,” said Josh. He heard Kyle laughing afterward.
They turned their attentions onto the enemy craft, which had altered their course at roughly sixty miles off, and were flying patrol routes from afar.
“They’re really keeping their distance today,” said Nate.
“Yes. Maybe increased tension with
Mercen isn’t such a bad thing,” transmitted Ace.
After a while, Lauler, Henry, and Smokey arrived at the northern Void Zone to relieve the others. Minus Kyle, Josh and company flew to one of the popular space stations to meet up with Hoss, Maya, and Reena at Trevler’s bar.
“Two drinks, tops,” said Ace.
Each pilot held up a glass. “To good times!” said Hoss, leading the toast.
Josh danced with Maya. Nate and Reena were grooving nearby. The crowd was dense and lively; beings were shaking their heads and waving their arms to fast-paced alien music.
In just two drinks’ time, Hoss asked to cut in with Maya. Josh went to have another drink and ended up throwing darts with Ace for the remainder of the time. He thought the atmosphere just what was needed to escape the stresses of being a Creston pilot.
When the group arrived back on the M.N. Rampage, Officer Rolly caught the tail end of the bunch turning onto a long hallway. He stopped Josh and Ace, who were walking a fair distance behind the rest. “How’d patrols go?” he asked. “Were there any acts of hostility from Mercen, or anything else unusual?
Ace glanced at Josh, then to Rolly. “Negative, sir. They were surprisingly tame, never breaking fifty miles of a striker at any point.”
Josh nodded.
Rolly’s brows folded. “And nothing else out of the ordinary?”
The pilots shook their heads. “Nothing, sir,” said Ace.
“Very good. That will be all,” said Rolly, who turned and left.
Josh and Ace continued on to the third unit.
That evening, all of the 3rd squadron, except for Smokey, were led to the gym for a workout. Rolly pushed the group harder than normal, and after everyone had finished running a tenth lap around the track, Josh and the others collapsed on mats to catch their breaths. Rolly had departed by this time.
“That was rough,” Reena said. “Who the heck pissed off Rolly?”
“Wasn’t me,” Kyle replied.
“Well, at least we’re free for the rest of the day,” said Hoss.
“Aye,” Ace uttered.
Josh stood and walked over to Kyle, then leaned over him, putting a hand to his chest. “Not so tough now,” he smirked.
