Star Force: Evacuation (SF50) by Aer-ki Jyr Read Free Book Online Page B

alone or even
with an advisor.
    It was almost as if he was controlling her shield for
her, save for the fact that she was still making the actually projections and
corrections, which right now involved reforming the damaged pieces of the
shield matrix and holding them intact, for it didn’t matter how much energy she
provided the shield if she couldn’t maintain the structure. Let go her
concentration and the energy would dissipate…unless she recalled it, which was
another trick that Paul was trying to teach her.
    Riona had learned that, like the emitters on their own
armor, a semi-functional shield matrix was held inside prior to deployment…kind
of like opening an umbrella. That meant when a shield first formed it could be
somewhat stored away for later deployment. If the shield was completely
destroyed then it would have to be reformed before it could get to full
strength again.
    The bioemitters in her body weren’t quite to the
‘storing’ phase yet, and Paul said they’d have to be kicked in the ass to get
it going, which was the next phase of this little calibration exercise…after
she blocked 3 more staggered hits.
    Barely making it through those, Riona then had to
recall her damaged shield. She tried, really, but almost all of the energy was
lost when it hit her flesh, like a glass window shattering and falling to
pieces on the floor, except that in this case the shield energy simply
dissipated into the environment without so much as a sight or sound…though for
Paul, he could ‘see’ it through Riona’s senses thanks to the battlemeld.
    “That’s better,” he said, releasing the link and
standing up.
    Riona frowned. “How was that better? I lost it again.”
    “Not all of it. Your emitters pulled back in a touch.”
    “I didn’t feel anything.”
    “Yes you did, you just didn’t notice it because it’s a
subtle sensation. The effort was blinding you but I was able to pick it up
because I was specifically looking for it. From now on that amount you recall
will grow, thanks to the small crack you’ve formed. That was the transition
point, and you just achieved it.”
    “If you say so,” Riona said, not sensing anything
different in her body. “Are we done or are you just tired of being in my head?”
    “Just taking a break, or did you not feel somebody at
the door?”
    “I thought they were walking by.”
    A telepathic prodding resulted in the chamber door
opening and Aaron walking in. “Sorry for the interruption,” he offered.
    “You’re excused,” Riona said sarcastically.
    Aaron smiled at her then turned to face Paul. “We just
got word from the Hycre that the Elarioni worlds are getting hit by the
Skarrons. So far they’re just fighting the Nestafar on the surface, but there’s
no way of knowing how long that will last. They’re requesting any help the Alliance
can give in evacuating their entire population to the ADZ.”
    Paul whistled.
    “I know,” Aaron agreed.
    “How many ships do they have available?”
    “Not enough, but they were able to get a messenger out
through the fighting easy enough.”
    “How many worlds are currently under assault?”
    “They said 5 of 8, but the Nestafar are still on the
other three, so they can’t just pack up and leave without getting shot at.
They’re only safe underwater because the Nestafar don’t have the resources or
tech to hurt them there.”
    “Is Kyler going to take this?”
    “Hasn’t reached him yet. I
thought you’d like to handle it since you and Ariel are so close…and the fact
that we’re talking a huge naval operation to get to them. Plus Kyler is
probably busy with the lizards right now.”
    “And I’m just sitting here training my butt off.”
    “We’re just sitting here training our butts off,”
Aaron amended. “I can go, but I figured this is more in your wheelhouse.”
    “It is,” Paul agreed. “But there’s no way we have the
ships available for this.”
    “The Adamant will be available