Epilogue


“Elise and Novasdaughter,” I ordered, “deal with the bridge. Hold it no matter what and try to get it sealed. Path, get Henshaw from the brig and take him to the bridge to help.”
“We’re on it,” Elise said.
Path hurried away from us without a word.
I ran to the landing bay where Locke and his troops were preparing their defenses. I’d expected to see his most elite troops but found a hodgepodge of soldiers, civilians, and technical workers from the power plant.
Locke greeted me with a soldier’s hand clasp. “I’m glad you made it, Cain. Sorry we’re late.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that his impromptu raid had spooked Vice Admiral Nebs and now we were going to have to hunt him across half the galaxy.
“You’re here now,” I said. “How much ship fighting have your people done?”
“Some more than others. I’m surprised there is gravity,” he said. “This should be easy compared to what we normally deal with during ship assaults. Not that we have done many against the Alon. We’re usually defending against their boarding parties.”
“X, did you get that?” I asked.
“I did, however, I doubt cutting the gravity would adversely affect soldiers of the Archangels’ caliber. It may not be their ideal fighting condition, but they will adapt quickly. As for the rest of the Union soldiers, that may be a different story,” X-37 answered.
“Okay, let’s keep this simple,” I said. “Locke, I need a team of your men to clear the ship. Make sure we don’t have any lurkers that weren’t sent down to the surface. Have the rest of your team start hardening our defenses in the landing bay. Be ready to repel boarders.”
“Right away, Cain. My people are on it,” Locke said.
“He’s deferring to your leadership,” X-37 said privately. “I had expected him to take control.”
“He must like my winning personality,” I said. “Henshaw, can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear, Mr. Cain,” Henshaw said. “Would you like me to prevent the remaining Union shuttles from boarding?”
“How would you do that?” I asked. “They have the landing codes.”
“Novasdaughter assures me that if we head for the slip tunnel, the shuttles lack the speed or the range to follow,” Henshaw said.
“Are we stealing the Nightmare?” I asked.
“It seems that we are, Mr. Cain,” Henshaw said.
“I like it. Contact the Jellybird and have them meet us there. We need to get the fuel to the Bold Freedom as soon as possible,” I said.
“You may feel the engines engage,” Novasdaughter warned. “I am using the Nightmare’s point defense system to slow the Archangels’ ship assault. It will be close, but we’re going to slip away from them.”
“Perfect, Novasdaughter,” I said. “Glad to have you aboard. Elise, fill her in on what we’re doing for the Bold Freedom. She should appreciate the chance to help innocent people the Union tried to kill by the thousands.”
“She already explained the situation,” said Novasdaughter. “We’re leaving the Archangel assault ships behind. They will get picked up by the other carriers, as will Nebs. I wish we could go after him while he is vulnerable, but the Darklance and the Black Wing are already headed our way.”
Thoughts raced through my mind. Pain throbbed in places I didn’t know could register pain. “I’m disappointed Nebs is such a coward.”
“He’s not a coward,” Novasdaughter warned. “He’s smart. You won’t surprise him again and he will unleash hell on you and all of your friends.”
“Are you regretting your decision to join us?” I asked, wondering if Locke and the people of Wallach might be feeling the same doubts.
“Listen, Reaper, I wouldn’t have switched sides without a good reason,” she said.
“Revenge isn’t a good reason, trust me,” I said.
“That isn’t what convinced me to leave my friends and my career behind. You convinced me,” she said. “I see how far you will go to protect your friends. That matters. I’m with you and your weird little crew until the end.”
“Are you speechless, Reaper Cain?” X-37 answered when I didn’t respond.
“Let’s save the Bold Freedom,” I said. “Plot a course to the slip tunnel and let’s do this. Someone send Nebs a message to ponder while he waits to get picked up.”
“Please compose the message carefully, Reaper Cain. My advice is to craft an informative manifesto stating your intent to elude him indefinitely,” X-37 lectured. “Once you have the right words, I will deliver them to the vice admiral.”
“Mention he’s an asshole,” I said. “And if there’s time, tell him I have his ship.”
* * *
Keep reading for book five, FLIGHT OF THE REAPER.
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