Read Online The Great Betrayal by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
Ads: Link
could detect heat changes, and that could easily be taken for movement.
“What is it?” Spartan asked, moving to the window and looking out.
He could see the shape of the Biomech transport ship as it moved toward them. It immediately filled him with dread. It was larger than the bomber, but nothing the size of the cruiser that had been pursuing them. There were two small drones attached to its dorsal armor, neither had been detached. Instead, it moved into position underneath them and then even closer.
“See, I said it would work,” Spartan said.
Khan smiled inwardly but could sense the relief in this friend’s voice. The vessel took nearly five minutes to finish moving into position and matched their rotation before it connected using some form of grav clamp. Once joined, they could feel a slight jolt as the ship’s engines activated, and their course was corrected. Another minute later, and they were heading directly for the station, the cruiser waiting not far from where it must have released its spacecraft. It took them to the right of the station where three docking mounts were located. As they approached, the two were able to get a good look at the exterior of the metallic construction.
“Seen anything like this before?”
Spartan moved his head slowly.
“Nope, this isn’t ours, and it doesn’t look like the gear the T’Kari use either.”
“Biomech?”
Spartan tried to shrug but found it hard to move the muscles while also trying to be as quiet and still as possible. There were no windows on the outer parts of the structure, but as with most stations, there were a large number of antenna and communication masts that extended in almost every single direction. Spartan looked at the individual details but finally concentrated his attention on one small part near the airlock. It looked like a spider but on closer examination was a dry dock. Underneath it were three large buildings, each almost big enough to house one of the new Alliance frigates. There were also a dozen gantries and sat atop them were Biomech drone fighters, much like the ones that had attacked them during their escape.
“Yeah, that sells it.”
Khan looked in the same direction and recognized the shape of a Biomech ship, like they’d seen while on board the T’Kari Raider many months earlier. Every second brought them closer, and the size of the ship increased until they could appreciate the scale.
“It’s got to be one of those carriers,” Khan said.
The shape was certainly familiar, but this wasn’t as big as the mighty cruiser class ships they had seen before. These were something closer to the smaller escorts and scouting ships used by the military. Along the side of the hull were markings and a black shape of some kind of snake beast. Spartan sighed at the sight of the shape.
“Echidna.”
He looked irritated but not surprised.
“Man, why can we never shake these guys? We keep finding them.”
Khan looked at it for a second and started to speak while watching the ship.
“At least that tells us who they are. This must mean we’re at a Biomech outpost.”
Spartan took several short gulps of air and felt an immediate rush of cold oxygen in his chest. It felt like heartburn, but he ignored it, knowing very well his friend was in far more discomfort than him.
“Even so, this is hardly well protected. What do we have? One Rift, a control station, and a shipyard with a couple of ships and a dozen drones. Hell, I’d say this is a way station for long-range ships.”
“Maybe,” replied Khan. His voiced lacked conviction.
It was another thirty minutes before they reached the docking mount. They drifted into position, and the bomber shuddered as they were locked into place. At this range, they could make out every single detail, and the more they looked, the more alien the place appeared. The base was static, and on the way the spacecraft interacted there was no form of artificial gravity. As they waited, Khan
“What is it?” Spartan asked, moving to the window and looking out.
He could see the shape of the Biomech transport ship as it moved toward them. It immediately filled him with dread. It was larger than the bomber, but nothing the size of the cruiser that had been pursuing them. There were two small drones attached to its dorsal armor, neither had been detached. Instead, it moved into position underneath them and then even closer.
“See, I said it would work,” Spartan said.
Khan smiled inwardly but could sense the relief in this friend’s voice. The vessel took nearly five minutes to finish moving into position and matched their rotation before it connected using some form of grav clamp. Once joined, they could feel a slight jolt as the ship’s engines activated, and their course was corrected. Another minute later, and they were heading directly for the station, the cruiser waiting not far from where it must have released its spacecraft. It took them to the right of the station where three docking mounts were located. As they approached, the two were able to get a good look at the exterior of the metallic construction.
“Seen anything like this before?”
Spartan moved his head slowly.
“Nope, this isn’t ours, and it doesn’t look like the gear the T’Kari use either.”
“Biomech?”
Spartan tried to shrug but found it hard to move the muscles while also trying to be as quiet and still as possible. There were no windows on the outer parts of the structure, but as with most stations, there were a large number of antenna and communication masts that extended in almost every single direction. Spartan looked at the individual details but finally concentrated his attention on one small part near the airlock. It looked like a spider but on closer examination was a dry dock. Underneath it were three large buildings, each almost big enough to house one of the new Alliance frigates. There were also a dozen gantries and sat atop them were Biomech drone fighters, much like the ones that had attacked them during their escape.
“Yeah, that sells it.”
Khan looked in the same direction and recognized the shape of a Biomech ship, like they’d seen while on board the T’Kari Raider many months earlier. Every second brought them closer, and the size of the ship increased until they could appreciate the scale.
“It’s got to be one of those carriers,” Khan said.
The shape was certainly familiar, but this wasn’t as big as the mighty cruiser class ships they had seen before. These were something closer to the smaller escorts and scouting ships used by the military. Along the side of the hull were markings and a black shape of some kind of snake beast. Spartan sighed at the sight of the shape.
“Echidna.”
He looked irritated but not surprised.
“Man, why can we never shake these guys? We keep finding them.”
Khan looked at it for a second and started to speak while watching the ship.
“At least that tells us who they are. This must mean we’re at a Biomech outpost.”
Spartan took several short gulps of air and felt an immediate rush of cold oxygen in his chest. It felt like heartburn, but he ignored it, knowing very well his friend was in far more discomfort than him.
“Even so, this is hardly well protected. What do we have? One Rift, a control station, and a shipyard with a couple of ships and a dozen drones. Hell, I’d say this is a way station for long-range ships.”
“Maybe,” replied Khan. His voiced lacked conviction.
It was another thirty minutes before they reached the docking mount. They drifted into position, and the bomber shuddered as they were locked into place. At this range, they could make out every single detail, and the more they looked, the more alien the place appeared. The base was static, and on the way the spacecraft interacted there was no form of artificial gravity. As they waited, Khan
Similar Books
