Planet Predators by Saxon Andrew Read Free Book Online Page A

that had murdered the Scouts. If he could get the coordinates programmed quickly, he could arrive and prevent the Scout’s destruction. He ordered the drive operator to wait for those coordinates before making the jump. He didn’t want the enemy to escape again. He stared at the panel patiently waiting.
    * * *
    Arvolo watched as Kenny attached a set of wires to his control panel and activate a small box he was holding, “I think this is where we started.”
    “You’re right, RV. I need to make sure we are all on the same program during our attack.”
    “You know, I get rid of you and you show up like a bad penny.”
    “It’s a small universe; get used to it.” Kenny pushed a button on the control panel and wrote down the numbers. “That should do it. Are you ready?”
    “I was born ready. Ready is my first name. What do you know about that ship?”
    “I thought Peace was your first name.”
    “I had it legally changed.”
    Kenny brought his computer over and attached the cables and pressed a key, “I’ll download the first battle with one of their ships. It will tell you more than I ever could.”
    Arvolo started the download, “That thing is huge.”
    “Yes it is. That’s why we have to make sure we all do this together. You must follow orders and work with us to make this happen.”
    Arvolo made a face and continued watching the download. Kenny smiled and knew RV would hold up his end. He left to update the Jukebox.
    * * *
    The three ships arrived in Sierra Space at the location of a solar system that a Blue Giant Scout had entered. Chris keyed his com, “Captain Arvolo, get rid of that Scout quickly and notify us when it’s destroyed.”
    “Yes Sir.” Arvolo found the spot the Scout had left Sierra Space and cut the stardrive….and emerged less than a mile from the huge Scout. He glanced at his board and saw the energy cannons charging on the Scouts hull. He hit the override and fired his main beam immediately. The Scout exploded and scattered debris in all directions. Arvolo reactivated the automatic system as the debris hit the force field and burned on its surface. “The Scout has been destroyed.”
    Chris looked at Jillian, “That fast?” The two ships entered normal space and saw the wreck of the scout hanging in space exploding in different places as its missiles were touched off by the fire. The three ships waited and nothing appeared. After an hour Chris hit his com, “It appears we were wrong about that ship’s mission.”
    Kenny said, “I don’t think so, Sir.”
    “Why do you say that, Admiral?”
    “I just looked at the recording of the Scout’s destruction and I think I know why the Giant didn’t come.” Kenny commed Aman Forester and played the call over the intership system, “Captain Forester, have you seen any change in the Blue Battleship.”
    “Yes Sir, about an hour ago its color changed to a brighter hue and stayed that way for fifteen minutes. It has now returned to its normal level.”
    “Thank you, Captain. Carry on.”
    “So what happened?”
    Kenny chuckled, “It appears our overachiever here killed the Scout before it could transmit its location.”
    “Hey, hey, you told me to do it quickly.”
    Jillian shook her head, “He’s right.”
    Chris sighed, “We’ll try this again and this time you will allow the Scout the time to call for help.”
    Arvolo tried to swallow but couldn’t. He had just ticked off the Commander of the Fleet.
    Kenny commed, “Hey don’t feel bad, RV. You just made history.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You are humanity’s first Space Ace. That’s your eleventh kill. No one else can ever take that title from you.”
    Arvolo thought a moment and said, “You’re right!”
    “Congratulations, Captain, however, give them a moment next time to appreciate your achievement.”
    “I will Admiral.”
    Chris looked at his display, “We have another Scout in a system two hundred light years from here. That will be our next target.