Read Online Tears of Glass (The Jana Darren Saga Book 1) by Jessica Cole - Free Book Online Page B

their equipment. Gordon’s contained medical supplies, David’s had a bunch of sensors, and who knew what the other two had in theirs. Lexi probably has a barrel of spackle for her face. Jana snickered quietly on her way to the control room. She strapped herself in, started the engine, and ran the systems check to make sure everything was in order.
    “Everyone ready?” she asked. Everyone but Aeronth responded in kind. Jana wasn’t worried. When Aeronth did answer, then she’d worry.
    “Cleared for takeoff,” said the pilot of the larger ship. “We’ll stay in orbit until you return. Good luck.”
    Jana pressed the button to release the lock clamps and free the ship. They drifted far enough not to harm the carrier ship with their thrusters. Jana checked the coordinates and accelerated.
    A voice crackled over the com, “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to not die today.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind thanks Lexi.”
    Earth loomed before them like a sleeping giant that threatened to waken and swallow them whole. Could this really be where we come from? It was beautiful. Frosty white clouds swirled lazily over the mottled emerald and sapphire globe. Well, here goes nothing.
    Planetary landings were simple; there was an unlimited amount of landing space. It was hard to overshoot, unless of course you landed in an ocean. Any buildings or manmade structures had long since been reclaimed by the elements. At least, that’s what they taught us in flight school. Then again, she’d never done more than simulate an actual planetary landing. Compared to a relatively small carrier ship, how hard could it be? As they entered the atmosphere, the skiff shook from the turbulence. It shuddered and bounced while Jana counted down, releasing the flaps to show them enough to spare being incinerated in the atmosphere.
    The view out of the cockpit cleared. There was nothing before them but the endless green sea of treetops.
    “Shit!” she yelled, forgetting to mute her com.
    “What? What is it?” cried Lexi.
    “Nothing.” Jana was doing everything she could, but they were at too steep of a downgrade.
    “What’s going on?” Lexi screamed. “Jana!” she yelled again when she didn’t get an answer.
    “We’re not where we should be!” Jana yelled back.
    “I knew you were going to get us killed, you stupid cow!”
    Jana turned the cabin com off so she could think. She swiveled back to center and reached underneath her to lock the seat into place. She punched a blue button on the dashboard for the stasis gas. Unfortunately, the others would still have to hear Lexi, at least until the gas put them out. It was safer that way.
    Instead, Jana turned her attention to the problem at hand. She had followed the instructions to the T, but something else was wrong.
    The space in front of them was supposed to be flat and barren. It wasn’t. Not by a long shot. Instead, there was nothing but green trees as far as she could see. Why hadn’t the planet scan shown that?
    LANDING ERROR flashed across the window in front of her.
    “Yeah, thanks,” Jana said, switching the display off. It was unbelievably hot in the cabin. Perspiration began to form on her forehead and back. She tried to pull up again; her arm muscles strained against the resistance. Her left bicep throbbed like she’d just hit it with a hammer. The small moving square was getting bigger and bigger every second. It flashed red, where they were going to land.
    Where we’re going to crash.
    Her arms shook violently, ready to give out at any moment. The little square moved away as the nose lifted.
    Too much, too fast. The angle of attack is too much for the velocity.
    The engine stalled.
    Frantic, Jana booted it up again. The ship dropped like a rock, nose falling dangerously far forward. She used all her strength to push off with her legs and keep the whole ship from flipping forward. Putting the landing gear down would be useless; it would just snap off on one of