The Terran Gambit (Episode #1: The Pax Humana Saga) by Endi Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

way back in force, they’re probably just trying to curry favor.”
    Ahead of them, a man and a woman tumbled to the ground, and they both bent down to assist the fallen pair who, by the blood streaming from their heads, seemed to have been struck by falling debris. The woman glanced at their flight uniforms and insignia.
    “Thank you, boys, but don’t worry about me. Get the hell to your ships and blast the bastards out of the sky.”
    Jake noticed her commander’s bars on her uniform and shouted, “Yes, sir!” Once out of the auditorium, they sprinted down the hallway, aiming for the doors that would lead outside and to the Viper hangar bay.
    Despite the bad news from the Arcturus listening post, and the current bombardment, Jake felt alive. This was what he was built for. This was why he signed on to the Space Fleet. He thrived on adrenaline and he knew it, and couldn’t help grinning inside as he ran.
    And the odds were against them.
    Even better.
    Once outside, they bolted across the courtyard, and he tried not to look at the scattered, charred bodies sprawled on the ground—unlucky souls who hadn’t had time to take cover when the first missiles struck. Kit stopped at one of them.
    “Kit, no time. He’s a goner,” Jake said.
    “I know. I’m just taking his assault rifle.” Kit pulled the gun away from the blackened arms, and Jake had to grit his teeth to avoid becoming sick. As a fighter pilot, he was mostly removed from the gore. He had the privilege of dealing death to his foes from afar, and rarely saw the results of his gunner’s trigger finger.
    They continued running, and Jake saw that Crash had caught up to them. He pointed up ahead.
    “Look. Troop transports are landing. We’re being invaded,” said Crash, panting as he fell into step with them.
    He was right. They watched as several oblong transport ships descended, one landing just behind the Viper hangar they were aiming for. In spite of the high probability they would encounter a firefight before they could get to their fighters, they quickened their pace, sprinting as fast as they could for the hangar bay.
    Bursting through the side door of the building, their eyes were met by chaos. At the rear door, a few marines held up the advance of the encroaching invaders, but they looked far outnumbered based on the fire they were taking. One of the three fell, shot through the neck—one of the few places the ASA armor was vulnerable.
    Crash bolted towards his fighter; his gunner was already making a dash for it was well. Jake and Kit ran towards their ship, flinching every time a stray bullet glanced off whatever fighter they were running past. They nearly stumbled over an Asian-looking woman kneeling on the ground next to a bloody figure.
    Jake noticed her lieutenant’s insignia. “Lieutenant, he’s a goner. On your feet! Move!”
    He could barely hear her over the din around them. “He’s my pilot.” She touched his bloody face. “He’s my pilot,” she repeated, “and I’m his gunner. What do I do?” Her voice sounded faint and weak, as if she were in a daze.
    A barrage of bullets strafed the fighter hulking over them and they all ducked, including the woman. Kit yelled. “They’re breaking through the door! They took out the guard!” He took aim at the soldiers spilling through the door and began firing, dropping two of them with clean shots through the neck. “Get to the fighter! I’ll hold them off!” Without waiting for an answer, the short, balding gunner ran towards the rear door of the hangar bay, assault rifle blazing.
    “Kit, no! Dammit,” Jake muttered, as he watched his friend take up a position near the door.
    Regarding the lieutenant still crouching next to her dead pilot, he guessed she was in a state of shock, and felt sorry for her. But he also knew there was no time to feel sorry. He reached down and grabbed her wrist.
    “Let’s go, Lieutenant. You’re with me.” She allowed herself to be led to the