Read Online The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles -- Book Three) by T.R. Harris - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: T.R. Harris
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were closing in on them.
“First of all, we have to assess the risk. I know I saw two blips, but there may be more.”
“It could be the entire Juirean invasion force!” Jym said from his seat at the nav computer.
“If that was the case, I don’t think they’d be playing cat-and-mouse with us,” Adam responded. He watched the faces of the two aliens as they completely lost the reference to ‘cat and mouse.’ He just shook his head. He didn’t have time to explain.
“No matter how many there are, we’re going to have to deal with them. They can’t be allowed to follow us all the way to Earth. Besides, I don’t think that’s their plan. I’d rather confront with them on our terms, not theirs. So here’s what we’re going to do.”
He huddled everybody around Kaylor’s station. “Kaylor, I need you to stack the diffusion screens to the rear of the ship. Leave our forward sections uncovered if necessary.”
“That’s risky,” Jym chimed in.
“But necessary. I need the Juireans to fire on us—”
“What? Are you crazy?” Kaylor said, looking up at the smiling Human.
“Relax. It will be fine.” Adam put his hand on Kaylor’s shoulder. “I need you to slow down quite a bit, and quickly. We need to see how many ships are following us – and we need to let them know we see them. As soon as they start closing on us, then speed up again. Get them coming after us as fast as they can.”
“You’re losing me some regarding your ultimate plan,” Riyad said with a frown. “I’m usually a step or two ahead of you by now.” He flashed Adam a devious smile.
“Here’s how it’s going to go down. As soon as the Juireans fire on us, Kaylor takes two of the generators off-line. They’ll think we’re hit. Then as the Juireans rush in toward us, we initiate a strong back-well, and let them shoot right on by. I saw Tom Cruise do this in Top Gun .” Adam’s smile belayed the nerves building up in his gut.
He turned to Chris. “As they shoot past us, I need your guys to lay down a wide pattern of bolts. Hopefully, we’ll hit something. Then once we’re behind them, we shoot up their asses while they’re trying to regroup.”
No one spoke for a moment, until Sherri said, “I feel the need…”
And then all the Humans on the bridge sang out in chorus… “The need – for speed !”
To which the two aliens simply let their jaws drop open, looks of utter confusion plastered on their faces.
Chris relayed the plan to his gunner crews, to which many simply swallowed hard and turned back to their controls. This was going to get interesting.
And then Kaylor jerked back on the stick. Almost instantly, five strong contacts appeared at the edge of the view screen. Adam had Kaylor hold there for a moment, as they watched the Juireans react to their move. At first they slowed down, but as soon as they realized they had been spotted, the Juireans intensified their wells, and shot out after them.
Then Kaylor deepened his own well, and the chase was on!
“Oh, no!” Jym yelled from his station. All eyes whipped around to him.
“Two more contacts – straight ahead!”
Kaylor buried his head in his computer. “They have a different signature.” He looked up at Adam, his eyes wide. “They’re Klin.”
“Have the Juireans spotted them yet?”
Kaylor looked back at this screen. “No. They’re still out of their sensor range.”
Adam thought for just a brief moment. This may actually help . “Keep going,” he ordered.
Just then, two of the pursuing Juireans let loose with a barrage of bolts, two each. “Hold steady, Kaylor, do not take evasive action.”
“They’re going to hit us!”
“That’s the plan. Steady!”
The bolts closed on them, and soon the ship rumbled from their impact on the rear diffusion screens. The first two layers ruptured, as three of the bolts struck aft. But the others held.
“Now! Take two of the generators off-line.”
Kaylor obeyed, and the ship
“First of all, we have to assess the risk. I know I saw two blips, but there may be more.”
“It could be the entire Juirean invasion force!” Jym said from his seat at the nav computer.
“If that was the case, I don’t think they’d be playing cat-and-mouse with us,” Adam responded. He watched the faces of the two aliens as they completely lost the reference to ‘cat and mouse.’ He just shook his head. He didn’t have time to explain.
“No matter how many there are, we’re going to have to deal with them. They can’t be allowed to follow us all the way to Earth. Besides, I don’t think that’s their plan. I’d rather confront with them on our terms, not theirs. So here’s what we’re going to do.”
He huddled everybody around Kaylor’s station. “Kaylor, I need you to stack the diffusion screens to the rear of the ship. Leave our forward sections uncovered if necessary.”
“That’s risky,” Jym chimed in.
“But necessary. I need the Juireans to fire on us—”
“What? Are you crazy?” Kaylor said, looking up at the smiling Human.
“Relax. It will be fine.” Adam put his hand on Kaylor’s shoulder. “I need you to slow down quite a bit, and quickly. We need to see how many ships are following us – and we need to let them know we see them. As soon as they start closing on us, then speed up again. Get them coming after us as fast as they can.”
“You’re losing me some regarding your ultimate plan,” Riyad said with a frown. “I’m usually a step or two ahead of you by now.” He flashed Adam a devious smile.
“Here’s how it’s going to go down. As soon as the Juireans fire on us, Kaylor takes two of the generators off-line. They’ll think we’re hit. Then as the Juireans rush in toward us, we initiate a strong back-well, and let them shoot right on by. I saw Tom Cruise do this in Top Gun .” Adam’s smile belayed the nerves building up in his gut.
He turned to Chris. “As they shoot past us, I need your guys to lay down a wide pattern of bolts. Hopefully, we’ll hit something. Then once we’re behind them, we shoot up their asses while they’re trying to regroup.”
No one spoke for a moment, until Sherri said, “I feel the need…”
And then all the Humans on the bridge sang out in chorus… “The need – for speed !”
To which the two aliens simply let their jaws drop open, looks of utter confusion plastered on their faces.
Chris relayed the plan to his gunner crews, to which many simply swallowed hard and turned back to their controls. This was going to get interesting.
And then Kaylor jerked back on the stick. Almost instantly, five strong contacts appeared at the edge of the view screen. Adam had Kaylor hold there for a moment, as they watched the Juireans react to their move. At first they slowed down, but as soon as they realized they had been spotted, the Juireans intensified their wells, and shot out after them.
Then Kaylor deepened his own well, and the chase was on!
“Oh, no!” Jym yelled from his station. All eyes whipped around to him.
“Two more contacts – straight ahead!”
Kaylor buried his head in his computer. “They have a different signature.” He looked up at Adam, his eyes wide. “They’re Klin.”
“Have the Juireans spotted them yet?”
Kaylor looked back at this screen. “No. They’re still out of their sensor range.”
Adam thought for just a brief moment. This may actually help . “Keep going,” he ordered.
Just then, two of the pursuing Juireans let loose with a barrage of bolts, two each. “Hold steady, Kaylor, do not take evasive action.”
“They’re going to hit us!”
“That’s the plan. Steady!”
The bolts closed on them, and soon the ship rumbled from their impact on the rear diffusion screens. The first two layers ruptured, as three of the bolts struck aft. But the others held.
“Now! Take two of the generators off-line.”
Kaylor obeyed, and the ship
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