Read Online Warfare: Rise Of Mankind Book 2 by John Walker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Walker
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failing.”
“How many ships showed up?” Gray asked. “Was it only six?”
“Negative,” Pi’Inxi replied. “They arrived with eight and we destroyed one. The other…we don’t know where it went. Perhaps it’s fallen into reserve. Listen to me, this is very important. We have a traitor somewhere in our midst, most likely in the facility.”
“What?” Kale snapped. “How do you know this? That’s a very serious allegation.”
“My tech officer discovered residual data on one of the satellites. Someone tried to scrub it but failed to remove all traces of their activities. The message went directly into enemy space. Besides, you know as well as I do these research facilities are our most highly guarded secrets. There’s no way they’d just stumble upon it without help.”
Great, Gray thought, now we’re not just dealing with an overwhelming force but a mole too. That’s going to go over well. Who would side with these monsters? And why? What do they hope to gain?
“We’re sending a team to the surface,” Gray said. “They’ll help evacuate the scientists and extract as much data as possible before destroying the facility.”
“The garrison down there is taking a real pounding.” Pi’Inxi sighed. “We sent down reinforcements from all our ships to bolster their numbers and they’re holding for now but I can’t say for how long. We wanted to support them from orbit but we’ve been too busy.”
Gray nodded. “Understood. A small force will be able to get in and out quietly. As long as your people hold them, we’ve got a chance to rescue all those people. Let’s coordinate our attacks on these guys and put them to bed.”
“What about Protocol Seven?” Kale asked. “Why didn’t it work?”
“The signal we read from the ship we destroyed told them to randomize their shield frequencies. Protocol Seven is contingent on piercing the current frequency and ignoring them. As soon as they knew to counter us, the algorithm became useless but don’t worry, Olly is reverse engineering it now to try and make it effective again.”
“We may have tipped our hand too soon,” Kale said. “We’re coordinating with your pilots as requested. Those drop ships will not make it to the surface. Good luck, my friends. We may all need it.”
***
Meagan and Mick dodged aside as two enemy fighters screamed past them. Their wingmen caught the attackers in a crossfire, annihilating them with a couple bursts of pulse lasers. Zeroing in on another contingent, the wing commander let the targeting computer work its magic then pulled the trigger.
A fiery ball erupted and she nudged her controls to the left, avoiding the debris.
“Panther One, this is Giant Control. I need you and Panther Two to join up with…Tai’Li wing to take out some drop ships that are just entering orbit.”
“You want us to break atmosphere?” Meagan asked. “Cause the fight’s up here, sir.”
“There’s a big fight down there, Commander and I need you guys to slow it down. Be advised, we have received word that these vessels are armed and very tough. I’d send bombers but they aren’t fast enough to catch up. It’s on you.”
“How many are we talking about?”
“Ten. With the four of you, it shouldn’t be too hard. Do not let any of them reach the surface of their own accord.”
“On it, Giant Control.” Meagan switched her com wide. “Panther Wing, this is Panther One. I’m taking Panther Two on
“How many ships showed up?” Gray asked. “Was it only six?”
“Negative,” Pi’Inxi replied. “They arrived with eight and we destroyed one. The other…we don’t know where it went. Perhaps it’s fallen into reserve. Listen to me, this is very important. We have a traitor somewhere in our midst, most likely in the facility.”
“What?” Kale snapped. “How do you know this? That’s a very serious allegation.”
“My tech officer discovered residual data on one of the satellites. Someone tried to scrub it but failed to remove all traces of their activities. The message went directly into enemy space. Besides, you know as well as I do these research facilities are our most highly guarded secrets. There’s no way they’d just stumble upon it without help.”
Great, Gray thought, now we’re not just dealing with an overwhelming force but a mole too. That’s going to go over well. Who would side with these monsters? And why? What do they hope to gain?
“We’re sending a team to the surface,” Gray said. “They’ll help evacuate the scientists and extract as much data as possible before destroying the facility.”
“The garrison down there is taking a real pounding.” Pi’Inxi sighed. “We sent down reinforcements from all our ships to bolster their numbers and they’re holding for now but I can’t say for how long. We wanted to support them from orbit but we’ve been too busy.”
Gray nodded. “Understood. A small force will be able to get in and out quietly. As long as your people hold them, we’ve got a chance to rescue all those people. Let’s coordinate our attacks on these guys and put them to bed.”
“What about Protocol Seven?” Kale asked. “Why didn’t it work?”
“The signal we read from the ship we destroyed told them to randomize their shield frequencies. Protocol Seven is contingent on piercing the current frequency and ignoring them. As soon as they knew to counter us, the algorithm became useless but don’t worry, Olly is reverse engineering it now to try and make it effective again.”
“We may have tipped our hand too soon,” Kale said. “We’re coordinating with your pilots as requested. Those drop ships will not make it to the surface. Good luck, my friends. We may all need it.”
***
Meagan and Mick dodged aside as two enemy fighters screamed past them. Their wingmen caught the attackers in a crossfire, annihilating them with a couple bursts of pulse lasers. Zeroing in on another contingent, the wing commander let the targeting computer work its magic then pulled the trigger.
A fiery ball erupted and she nudged her controls to the left, avoiding the debris.
“Panther One, this is Giant Control. I need you and Panther Two to join up with…Tai’Li wing to take out some drop ships that are just entering orbit.”
“You want us to break atmosphere?” Meagan asked. “Cause the fight’s up here, sir.”
“There’s a big fight down there, Commander and I need you guys to slow it down. Be advised, we have received word that these vessels are armed and very tough. I’d send bombers but they aren’t fast enough to catch up. It’s on you.”
“How many are we talking about?”
“Ten. With the four of you, it shouldn’t be too hard. Do not let any of them reach the surface of their own accord.”
“On it, Giant Control.” Meagan switched her com wide. “Panther Wing, this is Panther One. I’m taking Panther Two on
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