Scorpions (Star Runners Book 4)

by L. E. Thomas

  “This is just a phase. We will get through this.”

  His lips met hers, and he closed his eyes. Despite all the setbacks of the past months, he knew everything would be fine with Ryker by his side.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The familiar smell of fuel, oil, and metallic, stale air smothered the bay of the Formidable. After being on the plains of Omeya surrounded by the humid yet fresh air, Austin could see how some might think the crowded deck of the Parazonium-class carrier was unappealing.

  To him, it felt like home.

  The maintenance crew scurried out of the way as the squad of Scorpions, clad in their nondescript black uniforms, left their Tridents parked in a tight row.

  They entered the cramped corridors, weaving their way toward the briefing room. Skylar Kincaid hurried to catch up to Austin. Nudging his shoulder, she smiled as they walked.

  “You okay?” she asked in the tone people used when they knew the person was anything but fine.

  Austin smiled but sighed. “Word gets around pretty quick.”

  “Small squadron.” She ducked under a pipe protruding from the wall. “I’m here if you need me.”

  “I know,” he said. “Thanks.”

  Major Cayo Wilkos stopped at the hatch leading to the briefing room, spinning around and holding his hand toward the opening. Major Jonathan Nubern stood at his side, arms crossed over his chest.

  “Let’s move it, people,” Wilkos said. “We’re on the clock. Play time’s over.”

  Austin passed both men, saw Wilkos’ forehead wrinkled in concern. Nubern nodded toward the room.

  The Scorpions filed into the two rows of seats. Wilkos slammed the hatch shut, passed a tablet over to Captain Sensa, and marched to the front of the room. Casting a long stare over the group, he placed his hands on his hips and sighed.

  “We are a black ops squadron,” he said grimly. The Scorpions cast nervous glances at one another. “Be that as it may, I thought we would have a bit more time to gel before they launched us into the thick of it.”

  Wilkos stared at the back of the room. Glancing over his shoulder, Austin looked to Nubern, who frowned as he stared forward.

  “The Legion needs us today,” Wilkos continued, his voice rising. “Apparently, Command received word a few hours ago that a defecting pilot from the Zahl Empire will be attempting to cross the border here at Point Solitude, which, as you know, is a lonely sector of space, light years from Claria. The transmission was received on an encrypted Legion channel and originated from the Nantalla System, not far from Nesteel. I wasn’t privy to how this pilot knew the encryption codes nor why they are defecting, but Command has given this situation priority and has called on us to ensure this border crossing goes without incident. The Formidable is currently en route to that location so we may complete this mission.”

  Austin’s pulse increased. Could it be Ryker? Maybe she found a way to escape whatever force kept her behind enemy lines. He remembered Nubern’s words from earlier.

  “There might not be anything left of our girl.”

  He winced at the thought. While he tried to show strength in front of Nubern, the image of Ryker wearing a uniform from the Zahl Empire shook him to the core. It was impossible to imagine a situation that could have forced her to betray her oath to the Legion.

  “We have to assume this pilot is carrying vital information,” Wilkos continued. “This crossing is happening in two hours. It’s not much time. We are to meet the pilot at Point Solitude and escort them across the border. Once in Legion space, a Karda will arrive and transport the pilot since Interceptors don’t have curvature drives. Once the prize is onboard the Karda, we curve out ASAP. Command has authorized deadly force to ensure this crossing is successful.” He nodded, allowing time for his eyes to fall on each of the Scorpions. “This is why you all were brought together to form this squadron. You have no identity. Your Tridents have no transponders. You’re going in like ghosts, and you’ll slip back home the same way. Questions? All right! Report to the launch tubes in thirty minutes. Dismissed!”

  The Scorpions stood and left the room. Skylar and Bear spoke in hushed tones, an excitement and nervous energy rising in their voices. The anticipation of scrapping with Interceptors of the Zahl Empire required a different level of skill than mopping up marauder and pirate trash from the Fringe. Proving you were the best of the best was something every Star Runner desired.

  But Austin only cared about having one question answered. Nodding at the passing Scorpions, he lingered at the back of the room near Nubern. When the final member of his squadron exited, Austin leaned toward his mentor.

  “Do you think this has anything to do with Ryker?” he whispered.

  Nubern shrugged, lowering his head. “Don’t get your hopes up, son. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  Austin took a deep breath. “The major said this is a defecting pilot coming across the border. It could be her.”

  He placed his hand on Austin’s shoulder. “I know you want to believe that. I understand. But you have to concentrate. No matter how much you think about her, you have to let it go and focus on what’s in front of you. I’ve told you that since the Academy days.” He smiled. “Not listening to me is the one weakness you’ve had as a Star Runner.”

  Austin frowned. “I’ve always listened to you.”

  Nubern nodded. “You have got to let her go. I don’t want to lose you out there.” Swallowing, he stared at the wall. “I can’t lose you both. Not like this. And I really don’t want to give bad news to your mother. I think she’s had enough.”

  “That she has.”

  Austin thought of Mom on her medical frigate. Dad would have been proud of her. Looking at Nubern’s face, Austin saw the major was proud of Mom, too.

  “Hey,” Austin said, grabbing Nubern’s arm, “I’ll be okay. Look at me—I’m focused. I’m so focused I’m going to fly circles around everyone today.”

  Nubern smiled. “You really can be a smart ass, can’t you?”

  He shrugged, his face blushing. “My dad used to say it was one of my best traits. I got a little rusty with my sarcasm for a while after … you know. Glad to know I haven’t lost it completely.”

  “No,” he said, squeezing Austin’s shoulder, “you haven’t lost it completely.” He tilted his head toward the corridor. “Get your bird ready to fly, Star Runner.”

  Austin saluted. “You got it, Major.”

  Austin reached up and allowed his fingers to slide under the nose of his Trident. The new fighter had saved his life when Captain Jameson and his crazed squadron, the Fifty-Fourth Tizona, tried to take him out. Tapping the nose and admiring the beauty of his new spacecraft, he hoped the good fortune would continue.

  Stepping over to the ladder, Austin tucked his tablet under his arm and paused. Other Tridents of the Scorpions came to life down the line of launch tubes. The engines purred, filling the area with more noise. He glanced up to the steel catwalk over the tubes and saw a familiar face peering down at him.

  “Major Braddock?” he said, taking a step toward the ladder.

  Smiling, Ty Braddock held up a hand. “I’ll come to you, Lieutenant.”

  When Braddock descended to the lower deck, he spun around on his heel and faced Austin.

  “Major.” Austin saluted. “Happy to see you, sir.”

  “Feeling’s mutual, LT.” He extended his hand, and Austin took it. “Damn good to see you.”

  Austin sighed. “Good to be seen.”

  Looking over at the Trident, Braddock shook his head. “The Trident IV. Heard about them, but haven’t seen one up close. They as quick as they say?”

  “Quicker,” Austin said, his voice filling with pride. “We’re all honored to fly them. How’s things on the Formidable?”

  Braddock waved his hand. “Same as always. Breaking in a new squadron. Your Thirty-Second Tizona’s still on board. Been pretty quiet on the border.”

  Austin thought back to his days of patro
ls on the Formidable. “I miss being here, sir.”

  “Believe me; we miss having you.” He slapped Austin’s shoulder. “I know you can’t talk about it, but it sounds like you guys have been needed elsewhere. Anyway, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you first arrived. I thought I might catch you in the tube.”

  Austin laughed. “You’ve got things to do.”

  “And so do you.” He shook Austin’s hand once more, his face growing serious. “Nubern gave me the rundown. Be careful out there.”

  Meeting his eyes, Austin saw the expression on Braddock’s face. Nubern had undoubtedly filled him in on the defecting Zahlian pilot, and of Ryker’s situation.

  “I will, sir.” When Braddock turned to go, Austin tapped his shoulder. “Major? Thanks for coming down, sir.”

  Braddock’s hard exterior softened. “There’s only a handful of Star Runners on this ship whom I’ve flown into battle with, Lieutenant. Less whom I have fought with more than once. You’re one of them. As long as I’m in the service, I will always seek you out to shake your hand.” He jerked his head toward the Trident. “Now, go give’em hell!”

  Austin nodded. “Yes, sir!”

  With his boots pounding on the steel ladder, Braddock climbed up to the catwalk. Austin locked his helmet into place, muffling the blasting sound of the Tridents preparing to launch. He hurried into his cockpit. Dropping down into the seat, he readied the Trident to fly. The maintenance crew had already completed most of the preflight, the engines humming beneath him. Austin connected his flight suit to the onboard life support. The stale air filled the space around him and rushed into his helmet as the canopy closed.

  Red lights flashed throughout the launch tube, signaling an imminent takeoff. The maintenance crew disappeared, scurrying toward safety. Turning around, Austin saw Braddock marching across the catwalk and passing into the corridor.

  “Scorpions, we are cleared for launch,” Wilkos said, interrupting Austin’s thoughts. “Meet up at our curvature waypoint. Launch when ready.”

  With his helmet shaking from the Trident’s rumbling engines, Austin gave a thumbs up to the crew watching on the monitor. He placed one hand on the throttle and held his breath. This is the best part.

  The Trident shot forward on the catapult. The force slammed him back into the cockpit, and Austin couldn’t hold back a smile. Lights flashed by his canopy like a vicious storm.

  And then his Trident soared into open space. He exhaled, basking in the humming of his onboard systems. Banking right, he gazed with wonder at the endless sea of stars.

  I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this, he thought.

  Bringing himself back to the task at hand, he checked his flight schedule and saw the computer prepping for the curve. He formed up to his assigned position in the Scorpion formation. No chatter sizzled on the gamma wave, all the Star Runners remaining quiet. Austin thought it was quite a difference from their training.

  “All right, people,” Wilkos transmitted as the Scorpions dropped into formation for the curve. “I have your drives synced with mine. We go through the curve together. When we pass through, we’ll be at the very edge of Legion Space. We aren’t squawking Legion codes, and we have no identification. This is what we trained for, people. We will cross over into Zahl Space if need be. Stay ready. Stay frosty.”

  Austin grinned, watching the timer tick down on his HUD. In eight seconds, they would be far from the safety of the Formidable. Glancing to both sides, he saw the Tridents lined up and ready to go. He tried to control his excitement, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Ryker. The incoming pilot had to be her. There was no way she would remain in captivity, serving the Zahl Empire.

  I’m coming, Ryker.

  The space in front of his fighter rippled and glowed. All seventeen curvature drives warmed and bent space, opening a path to their coordinates on the Zahl-Legion border.

  “Scorpions,” Wilkos said, “happy hunting.”

  Deep space is a lonely sight.

  With no worlds or asteroids visible, it feels like you are truly in the void. If it weren’t for the other Tridents and their blinking position lights, Austin would have felt like his curvature drive had taken him to the wrong coordinates. After checking his flight tablet, he knew they had come through the curve thirty-two minutes ago, exactly where the Scorpions had planned.

  To conserve fuel, Wilkos had ordered them to spread out and lock their positions while remaining off the gamma wave. No reason to send transmissions that could possibly be intercepted. Alternating between watching his sensors sweep the area and gazing into the faint stars in the distance, Austin tried to pass the time.

  Leaning back, he stretched his back until it popped. He cracked his knuckles and stared at Bear’s Trident fifty MUs away. Bear had entered the area on his wing, and Skylar came in on the far side of the formation. If it weren’t for the position lights, Bear’s fighter would have been difficult to see.

  Clearing his throat, he propped his elbow on the side of the cockpit and rested his helmet on his hand. Minutes dragged. He had learned a long time ago that waiting for something to happen was worse than the actual event. Even on his computer back at home, the dogfights would sometimes happen faster than the time it took to load. He remembered—

  The HUD burned red.

  Sensor alert.

  He leaned forward, staring into the readout. One vessel shot into the area on a Lutimite Drive, closing to standard speed about fifteen hundred MUs from their position and still within the Zahl Empire. The contact was smaller than a capital ship, and Austin took a deep breath as the lingering fear of this entire operation being a trap lifted … a little. The long-range sensor beams swept the area for forty-five seconds, ensuring the incoming fighter was alone. No other contacts popped up on the sensor.

  The sensor pinged, identifying the incoming vessel as a Zahlian Interceptor.

  “Scorpions,” Wilkos said, breaking his enforced silence, “I’m sure you all see the incoming Interceptor. I have not received confirmation this is the vessel. Repeat: I have not received confirmation. Stand by.”

  The Interceptor slowed as if taking a moment to sweep the area. After ten seconds, the fighter increased speed and shot toward their position. When the incoming signal dropped under one thousand MUs, the gamma wave burst to life.

  “Guardian, this is Prize inbound on your position,” a female voice transmitted. “Request instructions.”

  Austin’s heart sank. It wasn’t Ryker.

  Blinking and shaking his head, he tried to focus on the mission. The same thought plagued him: If this wasn’t Ryker, then where was she?

  “I copy, Prize,” Wilkos said. “Head for the coordinates I am sending you ASAP. Do you have an operational EVA suit?”

  Static screeched for two seconds. “I copy, Guardian. Heading for the coordinates. EVA suit hasn’t been tested, but we’ll have to roll the dice on that one.”

  “Roger. You have a trailer?”

  “Affirmative.” The woman sighed into the microphone. “Right on my tail. Probably one minute out.”

  Wilkos paused. “I’ve sent the message. Karda’s inbound. Prize, head to Point Solitude and await evac. Prep for EVA.”

  “Roger.”

  “Scorpions, we have to protect the Prize while the transfer is being conducted. Keep your eyes open across the border. Do not cross the line unless fired upon. We don’t want an incident here.”

  Austin pursed his lips, watching his sensors sweep the space across the border. Ten seconds passed as the Prize Interceptor came to a stop on the Legion side. Laser burns scorched the hull of the horseshoe-shaped vessel, and one of the rear stabilizers had been blasted in half.

  Space flashed and wavered, forming a ball of light under the line of Tridents. The bulky shape of a Karda appeared, and the space normalized.

  “Rescue One is here,” the Karda announced.

  “This is it, people,” Wilkos said. “Rescue One is through. Prize, proceed with the oper
ation. Fast and safe.”

  The Karda banked toward the Interceptor and opened the cargo door on the left of the ship. The Karda released the rescue harness, looking like a grappling hook from this distance. The harness moved toward the Interceptor. The canopy opened, and the Prize pilot stood in the vacuum of space. Her helmet illuminated the surrounding area as she awaited the harness.

  The HUD flashed red again. With his eyes wide, Austin glanced down at the sensor. An incoming bogey deactivated the Lutimite Drive, appearing two thousand MUs from Point Solitude.

  “Bogey inbound,” Captain Manami Senza announced. “Orders, Major?”

  “Stand by until fired upon,” he said. “Let’s see what they do.”

  The Interceptor flew toward the border and changed course, shooting parallel to their position. Waves of sensors probed the area, sending tiny pings across Austin’s HUD. Wrapping his fingers around the stick, he knew Wilkos would order an attack at any moment.

  But as the Interceptor looped around for another parallel pass along the border, Austin realized the situation might be more complicated than he’d first believed. Wilkos couldn’t engage unless the Zahl pilot showed lethal aggression. The Zahl pilot on the other side of the border couldn’t attack across the border without orders.

  “Hound, Rescue One.”

  “Go ahead, Rescue One,” Wilkos said.

  “We are reeling in the Prize.”

  “Roger. Once you have the Prize, proceed with extraction.”

  To Austin’s surprise, the Interceptor across the border banked in the opposite direction and moved away from their position. He frowned, watching as the Interceptor’s engines became smaller as the distance grew.

  “Hound, Rock,” he said. “Looks like our friend across the border is leaving.”

  “I see,” he grumbled. “Not sure what this means. Scorpions, be ready for anything.”

  The Interceptor reached one thousand MUs, then twelve hundred. Any moment now, Austin expected the Lutimite Drive to activate and propel the fighter out of the area. The pilot must have received orders to allow the defecting officer to cross.