CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh Read Free Book Online Page B

base?
    It’s a possibility.
    Even after all these years of working together?
    If the situation grows desperate, that won’t matter to High Command.
    Her hand dropped from his arm and Athee stared at him. The indignation in her thoughts matched the scowl on her face. His patience strained from the council meeting, Byron was in no mood to pacify his mate.
    Athee! Nine of the ten races have declared war. Never in our history have the races aligned so decisively into two sides. With Tgren uncommitted, it sends the wrong message to High Command.
    And what message is that? she thought, chin raised in defiance.
    If we’re not for you then we must be against you.
    His words caused Athee to close her mind so tight it was as if she’d vanished. Only when consumed with anger did she employ her shields in that manner. Despite his annoyance with the situation, Byron didn’t like being locked out of her mind. The silence was a painful void in his head.
    “Athee,” he said, his tone less harsh. “That is why it’s imperative you stay here and work on those prefects who might be able to sway the others. I won’t send a message to High Command until this evening. Give me something to work with, anything to indicate they might change their minds soon. Can you do that?”
    Her shoulders relaxed and she offered a curt nod. “Yes, sir.” Her reply was cold, but her mental shields lowered.
    Athee, I need your help if we are to save relations between our races and ultimately save Tgren, he thought, hoping to pacify his mate.
    I’ll do what I can.
    Turning on her heels, she marched back in the direction of the counsel room. Confident his liaison officer would not leave until she extracted a positive response from several prefects, Byron pressed his hand on the outer door and flung it open.
    I hope she returns with good news, thought Hurend as they descended the stone steps.
    So do I, Byron thought. He glanced back at the state building.
    Athee, bring me something that will pacify High Command, he thought, frustration adding weight to his frame. Anything so I can buy us more time to reason with these fools!
     
    Jump!
    The mountainside vanished, replaced with a view over the valley. Byron banked to the right in a tight arc, letting Athee guide him to his next target. He caught sight of Ktren, smoke curling from several locations. Shoving the image out of his mind, Byron focused on the Narconian fighter below them.
    She visualized another enemy vessel crossing under the first and Byron decided to pursue both. Diving hard, he angled a little to the left. Firing once, he sheered the wing and sent the Narconian ship into a spin. With the fighter eliminated, he aimed at the target rising to meet him. He fired twice, rotating the Cosbolt in the process. A laser blast streaked by the canopy but missed its mark. Byron’s shots didn’t miss, though.
    Continue diving , Athee thought, sending him the image of an enemy ship on the tail of a Cosbolt.
    Byron pushed the fighter even harder, swinging to the right to avoid colliding with another Cassan ship. A flash of blue below him provided visual contact. Gripping the throttle tighter, afraid the sweat pooling in his gloves would seep out through the pores, Byron pulled closer to the dart shaped fighter.
    Hurry, thought his navigator, visualizing two enemies descending upon them.
    Jumping would be the only option. Byron held steady as laser fire streaked past the Cosbolt’s nose. Just two more seconds…
    Firing at the Narconian, Byron had only a second to confirm a direct hit before Athee jumped the ship to safety.
    They reappeared over the river snaking through Ktren’s valley. Byron questioned his navigator’s choice of location.
    Assessing damage , she thought, her mind divided. Minor score across the main surface. We are fit to pursue those.
    Byron caught the image of three Narconian ships about to cross the river up ahead. He stayed the course, clinging to the path of the flowing water. Just