Metal Deep: Infinite - Metal Wing: Episode 5 by GX Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

introductions over with. We have much to do. I’m Fighter XS07, but you may call me Spyral. I’m your new partner.”

BAD START
    Unlike the other laboratories that bustled with throngs of scientists, here we were left alone. My escort motored back the way we came, and except for the movement of a few automated repair and maintenance units that moved hoses around, and fiddled with wires hanging from the almost completed pearl-colored jet, I was alone with an overly obnoxious jet who had a serious superiority complex.

    “Where is your neural cowl?” She demanded.

    “You mean the helmet that requires that I shave my head? It’s back in the lab, on a shelf, where it’s going to stay.”

    “I don’t think so, Captain. I shall summon the guard to return you to get it. This is unexpected and disappointing. Your insubordination to the mission is cutting into our departure time. We have been given a specific departure window, and I will not be late.”

    “Leave for where?”

    She sighed, irritated by the question, “I was told for security reasons that you were not going to be versed on our mission. I was expecting there to be a learning curve involved. I was, however, not expecting to be paired with an oblivious idiot.” I found my hands had crept to rest on my pistols as she continued her tirade, “To put things simply for one who is so simple , you are an army of one. Well, and army of two actually. You have no base but me. You get your orders from me. I retrieve them via a single top secret network that only I have encryption access to. We operate under no banner, nor government color. We do not answer to pacts, treaties, or accords. We stay in the dark. We do not exist. If we are captured we are without hope of being rescued. You are dead to the world and the rest of the military. So when I say we have a mission to begin, I mean it. We’re starting today, and we have only a short time before General Wyld begins purging everyone who has worked on this project, so we need to get you the rest of that equipment immediately.”

    Spyral’s delivery was cold and calculated, but I just had an emotional bucket of cold water dumped over my head. I thought about the ramifications of what she was talking about. I was not going to be allowed to return as some guy who soldiered for a career and went home on nights and weekends. I was off the map. There was no going back to Starshine, and there was no hope of ever having a family. This had been the plan for me all along, and General Wyld had engineered it that way. He wanted me away from Starshine, and he had just ensured that would happen indefinitely.

    “We’re going without the helmet, and that’s final,” I said. “But maybe I should go back and speak with the general. I didn’t sign on for this.”

    The automatic door closed and blocked me from exiting, “I’m afraid that isn’t an option, Captain. There are express orders in your packet that forbid you contacting anyone you know… ever .” There was almost a snide pleasure lacing her electronic tone, “From now on, I’m the only friend you have. Now, please climb into the cockpit. We are on a tight schedule. We will just have to deal with the helmet issue later.”

    I turned my back to her, and walked toward the shut door. “I won’t do it. You communiqué the world’s biggest ‘kiss my ass’ to General Wyld. I’m not leaving just to never come back. I have to find out what happened to my girlfriend. I’m going back the way I came, and you can’t stop me.”

    Just then something clicked behind me. Spyral’s engines burned to life with a loud crackling whine, and a set of her forward chain guns spun with blurring speed. The landing gear made a squeaking sound as the jet detached from its fuel hoses, and she stalked toward me in slow menacing crawl.

    “Actually, I can make you, Captain. You will comply with our orders, or I have been authorized to relieve you of duty… permanently.”

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