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Star Marine!

Page 73

by John Bowers


  “Kristopher Krist!”

  “Environ Traffic South!” Mios shouted over an open channel, “Askos Queen. We are detecting what looks like two intercept missiles rising from the surface on a convergent course! Please identify and advise!”

  Mios’s tongue traced his lips rapidly as he stared at the glowing radar images on the holo. They were coming closer, and fast. West remained silent, a thousand thoughts cycling through his mind. Of all the things that could go wrong with this mission, this was one he hadn’t even considered.

  “Captain, shall I take evasive action?” the pilot shouted.

  “Stand by!” Mios ordered.

  “Askos Queen, Environ South—I don’t know where the hell they came from, but they do look military in nature. Take evasive action! Repeat, evasive action! I’m trying to raise Environ Defense Net, but you better get out of there now!”

  Mios didn’t take the time to respond. Instead he thumbed open another channel and spoke directly to Raven.

  “Askos Raven, Askos Queen! Execute hyperspace now! Repeat, make your warp jump now! Execute!”

  To the pilot: “Take evasive action! Sound the collision alarm!”

  West grabbed an overhead bar and held on. In spite of all the talk about making a hyper jump, Queen’s warp drives were cold, because the plan had never included using them. Bringing them online would take several minutes longer than they had—the missiles were already clearing the atmosphere.

  Askos Raven disappeared seconds later, simply vanishing from view as it leaped into hyperspace. Queen was now alone, above the atmosphere, and even though the pilot fired thrusters, everyone on the bridge knew it was too late. The missile that had been targeting Raven now changed course and headed directly for Queen.

  But the other one got there first.

  Table of Contents

  Star Marine!

  Prologue

  Book One - The Solar System

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Book Two - Alpha Centauri

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Book Three – Periscope Harbor

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

  Excerpts

 

 

 


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