Page 78 of Game on Askole

Three Talons flew a protective formation around me while the rest of the squadron fought the pirates. The blackness of space was filled with billowing yellow flames of the disintegrating enemy vessels.

Thank God, the freighter that my fighter squadron was escorting had minimal damage. For some unknown reason, the pirates had concentrated their firepower on me.

“Warning. Warning. Port engine damaged. Shields have failed. Hull breach imminent.”

I hit an icon, and silence reigned in my cockpit. This was bad. This was so bad. The bright green market world of Illowra filled my view screen. I tapped my comm link. “Illowra Air Command, this is Coletti War Hawk Three, I’m declaring an emergency. I need immediate clearance to land.”

“Coletti War Hawk Three, turn left, heading one-four-zero. You are cleared to land on airstrip one,” a male voice advised.

“Turn left heading one-four-zero. Landing on airstrip one,” I repeated. My vessel shuddered violently. “C’mon, baby, we can do it. Just hang in there a little bit longer.”

“War Hawk Three, you are losing fuel. Following you in,” my wingman advised.

“Copy that, War Hawk Two.” Zarek had given me the opportunity to fly again with one stipulation. Don’t crash his fighters. I might not keep that promise.

Air turbulence slammed me against the seat as I entered the planet’s atmosphere. I used my braking thrusters to slow my airspeed. There was a horrific grinding screech as stressed metal began to buckle.

The airfield can into view. Thirty seconds later, my engine cut out. “Fuck!” I brought the nose of the Talon up to increase my glide path. A thousand yards. Five hundred yards. Two hundred yards. One hundred.

Emergency equipment moved into position.

I lowered the landing gear and eased the ship down.

Twack! Twack! Twack!The capture nets wrapped around my Talon, bringing it to an abrupt halt. My battle harness cut into my breasts. “That’s gonna leave a bruise.”

My wingman roared by. “Good landing.”

“Thanks.” I waited until the emergency crew did their thing and climbed out of my cockpit. Black gashes ran down the sides of my Talon. I ran a hand over the laser scoring. Those fucking pirates had come damn close to breaching the hull. Only some fancy flying had saved my ass.

Cedras, my squadron commander, teleported in and inspected the damaged port engine.“The question to ask is why the Chi-Ro pirates concentrated all their fire power on your ship alone.”

“My guess? Lilkee and her Legionnaires want me dead. They probably paid the Chi-Ro to do the job.”

“There have been rumors of a bounty on your head.”

“How much am I worth?”

Cedras’s mouth tightened into a grim line.“Two million credits.”

“That much, huh?”

“Some think Malik posted the bounty, but he was killed recently.”

“Really? By who?”

“That information is classified,”Cedras replied.

“Right. Wouldn’t want people to know the biggest terrorist in the galaxy is dead.”

“You are bordering on insubordination.”

“Sorry, sir.”For a moment, I wondered if Snoor was responsible for the bounty. Nah, it had to be Lilkee.

Cedras’s bracelet beeped, and he glanced at the screen.“The Overlord was informed of the situation. He wants you grounded until a full investigation has been done.”

“Fuck that.”

Cedras narrowed his eyes menacingly. “I speak English.”

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