Starship Revenant (The Galactic Wars Book 3) by Tripp Ellis Read Free Book Online Page B

closer to the object, it became clear it was another spaceship. It was massive. But the nebula prevented a clear view of the ship. The bow and stern were obscured by the luminescent haze.
    Declan reversed the thrusters, trying to avoid impact. The Zephyr shuddered and rumbled. The edge of the Zephyr scraped along the top of the mysterious ship. Sparks flew, and metal squealed. It was like nails on a chalkboard.
    Still pulling hard on the controls, Declan arced the Zephyr away, clearing the mammoth vessel.
    “What the hell is that?” Declan muttered.
    “She doesn’t show up on the scanner,” Violet said.
    “Must be electromagnetic interference from the nebula. We’ve got to be careful in here.” Declan circled around to get a better look at the ship.
    They flew along the mammoth structure from end to end. It didn’t take Zoey long to recognize what it was. “That’s an Avenger class star destroyer.”
    8-Ball stared out of the front view port, slack-jawed. “Holy shit. That’s impossible.”
    The tattered and faded name on the hull read: USS Revenant .
    “That ship’s been missing for 25 years,” 8-Ball said.
    An eerie silence fell over the cockpit. No one was sure what to make of the phenomenon.
    “Can’t be,” Declan said.
    “It says it right there on the hull,” 8-Ball exclaimed.
    “You spike our breakfast?” Violet said in jest. “Maybe we’re all hallucinating?”
    “That’s not a hallucination,” said Zoey.
    Declan made another pass around the ship.
    Violet activated the comm system. “ SS Zephyr to the USS Revenant . Do you copy, over?”
    There was no response. Just static and interference from the nebula.
    “ SS Zephyr to the USS Revenant . Do you read me?”
    There was still no reply.
    “She looks like she’s in pretty good shape,” Zoey said.
    “She’s a little dinged up here and there, but I don’t see any major hull breaches,” Declan said.
    “Do you think she still has an atmosphere and gravity?” Violet asked.
    “There’s only one way to find out.”
    “Oh, hell no,” Mitch said. “You’re not thinking about going aboard that thing, are you?”
    Declan’s face twisted up. “Why not?”
    “The Revenant is cursed.”
    “Nonsense. Old wives’ tales.”
    “This thing disappeared without a trace, then reappears here 25 years later? That doesn’t strike you as odd?”
    “I’m sure there’s a simple explanation,” Declan said. “They probably had some technical difficulty, got stuck in deep space, and drifted into this nebula. Look at all this interference going on,” he said, motioning to the electrical disturbances within the cloudy haze. “More than enough to wreak havoc with long-distance communications. It’s why the ship doesn’t show up on the scans.”
    “I’m looking right at it, yet it doesn’t read at all on LRADDS,” Violet said.
    “That’s creepy,” Mitch said.
    “No, it’s not,” Declan said, ever the skeptic. “Look, the ship probably got locked into an orbit around the planet. Eventually the crew ran out of supplies and… well, shit happens.”
    “I don’t like it,” Mitch said.
    “Don’t be a pussy,” said Brody.
    “That means there’s going to be a ton of dead bodies on that ship,” Mitch said.
    “Crusty skeletons,” Brody said. “You’re not afraid of a few old bone bags?”
    “Have some respect,” Zoey said. “There were over 1600 crew on the Revenant .”
    “With all due respect to the dead, do you know what a ship like this is worth?” Declan said with a grin. “Trillions.”
    Mitch's eyes widened.
    “Hang on a minute,” Zoey said. “This is Federation property.”
    “This vessel is abandoned, and is clearly in peril,” Declan said. “If we salvage this ship, we’re entitled to 100% of its value. The Federation can have it back, as long as they pay me for it.” He smiled.
    “You don’t know if it’s abandoned,” Zoey said.
    “Even if there is someone aboard, it’s likely they need our help. In