Edge of War (The Eternal Frontier Book 2)
Page 28
But it was enough for Tag to know the mission Weber had been on was one of dire importance. One that might mean the survival of the human race. Surely the SRE had sent other ships, designated other missions to ensure their success. To provide some kind of fail-safe redundancies.
But how many of them had failed, betrayed by treasonous moles within the SRE? How many had perished like the Argo almost had?
Whatever the real story was behind this notebook, Tag knew every day he had spent recovering in a regen chamber had been a day wasted, and he couldn’t delay any longer. He rushed to the bridge, Alpha barely able to slow him with pleas that he would worsen his injuries. The pain of his deep breathing and the throbbing in his barely healed ribs didn’t stop him from scaling the ladder or bursting onto the bridge. There, Sofia was at the pilot’s station, and Coren was busy reading something on his terminal. The marines, clustered around another station, were mired in a boisterous conversation. All went momentarily silent when they heard Tag’s approaching footsteps, and as soon as they glanced his way, the crew broke into applause, cheering his arrival.
But the joy didn’t last long. They undoubtedly saw the look in his face, the desperation in his eyes, and the absoluteness of all that he had felt after reading Captain Weber’s notebook. He held the book in the air.
“The Argo’s mission was never one of science and research,” Tag began, with no time for pleasantries or easing into the subject. He tapped the cover of the book. “It was one of war. Of destruction. Captain Weber had a target and a cargo of torpedoes and warheads more advanced than anything I knew existed in the SRE’s forces.
“His mission was to launch all these weapons at a set of coordinates he described here. Even he didn’t know exactly what the purpose was or what he was aiming for. But he knew it was important. That much was clear in his urgent attitude toward the Argo’s final destination.” Tag paused. “It seems we were supposed to raze an entire planet.”
Tag took a deep, painful breath. “And before we could do it, someone found out. Someone must’ve told the Drone-masters, and they sent the Drone-Mechs after us.” He found himself gasping for breath now. So many revelations in such a short time, and his body was still weak and recovering. Every intake of air hurt, but he didn’t care. “We don’t have the weapons, and we don’t know who the enemy is, but we must find out. This may be the closest anyone from the SRE has gotten to the Drone-masters, and I’m determined that we’ll be the crew to find them. Are you with me?”
The bridge was silent for a moment. But only the briefest of moments.
“Three hells, yes, Skipper!” Sofia said.
“You have my service,” Coren said.
“I am with you, Captain,” Alpha said.
The marines pumped their fists, giving a unified cheer. Bull’s voice growled above the rest. “Let’s kick some xeno ass!”
Tag reveled in their enthusiasm as he strode toward the captain’s station. It had been left empty and ready for him, and he slid into the crash couch, calling up the comm systems. He recorded an urgent message for Jaroon, Bracken, and Forcant, calling them for a conference, and he watched his crew rush between their stations, readying the ship for flight once again.
He had started this mission alone and was now surrounded not just by a crew who had succeeded against formidable odds, but also by other fleets, other races who shared a common goal in defeating an unknowable but ruthless enemy. And together, he knew, they had no choice but to succeed. There was no alternative. No other way out of the war that had already started, unbeknownst to him, the Mechanics, or the Melarrey.
But together, they would finish it.
The End of Book 2
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About the Author
Anthony J Melchiorri is a writer and biomedical scientist living in Texas. He spends most of his time researching and developing cellular therapies and artificial organs when he isn't writing or reading.
Read more at Anthony J Melchiorri’s site.