Star Runners: Mission Wraith (#3) (43 page)

“Passing through in ten seconds,” Braddock announced. “Here we go.”

The space in front of her shimmered and wavered. Ten seconds and she would be in the battle zone. She rested one hand on the stick, the other on the throttle. Here we go.
 

“All right, Knights,” Braddock said. “On the other side of this curve is an enemy ready to kill you. Be prepared.”
 

Ryker nodded.
 

Three seconds.
 

She glanced at her missiles.
 

Two seconds.
 

She checked her power levels once more. All systems looked good.
 

One second.

The space around the Trident lit up, flashing and bouncing the fighter. She closed her eyes, knowing all the Tridents passed through the curve in space at the same time. In her other tours, she had never been on a mission like this—a mission where they all had to fly in secret, not carrying the Tizona symbol into battle.
 

The space around her Trident normalized, and she was through.
 

*****

The Tridents passed through first, appearing in front of their mission. Ryker recognized the
Wraith
the moment the space had normalized around her Trident, the familiar inky hull in the shape of a horseshoe crab flying toward them. Ryker tensed, her finger resting on the trigger as she saw the
Wraith
flying in their direction. Nothing appeared on her scope.
 

Yes, she thought, it was the
Wraith
.
 

“There’s our mission,” Braddock said. “All Knights, report in.”
 

The Star Runners acknowledged as they passed over the
Wraith
. In the distance, Ryker saw the Zahlian Interceptors and ARC bearing down on their position. The ARC was still too far away for missiles but was driving hard to get into range. The lone Karda arrived next, followed by the ten Corvos. The space behind them transformed to normal, a few final flashes of light dissipating in the vacuum.
 

“Knights—engage!” Braddock barked a second after the curve closed.
 

“Copy!” a dozen Star Runners responded in unison.
 

The Tridents shot forward, heading directly into the mass of Zahlian Interceptors. The enemy, in formation when they arrived, scrambled in all directions at the arrival of the Tridents. Ryker picked out her target, a fast-moving Interceptor at the top of the formation. The bandit seemed to be trying to move around the incoming Tridents.
 

“Savior, commence with your mission,” Braddock said. “Archers, space is too empty up ahead. Let’em know we’re here.”

“Knight Leader, Archer One. Firing.”
 

The Corvos set up position in front of the
Wraith
. A moment later, all four ships unleashed a barrage of missiles. The missile tubes flashed like a strobe light. The space in front of the Tridents filled with projectiles as they crisscrossed toward their targets. The Interceptors responded with their volley of missiles. Projectiles filled the space. The Interceptors met with Tridents, crashing into a dogfight filled with missiles and laser bolts. Two explosions lit the sky to Ryker’s left, but she stayed focused on the Interceptor in front of her. She tried for a radar lock, the crosshairs blinking yellow.
 

A bright light emitted from the distance, filling the space with a burning flash for a full second. Ryker’s HUD went dark, her sensors failing. She squinted, slapping the dashboard. This disruptor was more powerful than a planetary version, affecting a massive expanse in and around the dogfight.
 

“
Dauntless
has fired a system-wide disruptor,” Braddock said, confirming her suspicion. “Stay on your toes and use your eyeballs.”
 

Ryker pulled back on the stick, flying for the belly of the Interceptor trying to get around the Tridents. The disruptor scrambled her sensors, rendering her radar lock useless. She switched to guns and closed on the bandit.
 

“Don’t let them through, Knights,” Braddock said. “Do not let them engage the target. Savior, do you copy?”

“We have docked with the prize, refueling now,” the Karda announced. “We require cover.”

“Roger,” Braddock said. “We’re on it.”
 

Focusing on her target, Ryker pulled the trigger, three bolts shooting into space. One found its mark, sizzling into the Interceptor’s shields. The bandit rolled, spinning away from its course and heading away from the
Wraith
. Ryker stayed on him, pummeling the Interceptor with a punishing fire.
 

“Knight Four, this is Knight Eight,” Skylar said. “You’ve got a trailer.”

Ryker twisted her neck around. She swayed, making a more difficult target while staying on the bandit in front of her. “I can’t see him.”

“I’ve got this,” Skylar said. “Don’t let your target escape!”
 

She turned back to her crosshairs and fired again, a spurt of laser fire passing just below her target. Her next shot hit the Interceptor squarely in the center of the ship, vaporizing its shields. The bandit rolled and spun around, reversing course to face directly for the vulnerable
Wraith
. The Interceptor released two missiles for the
Wraith
and broke off the attack.
 

“Missiles inbound to prize!” Ryker yelled. “I’m in pursuit.”

“Copy Knight Four,” Skylar said. “I’ve got your trailer.”

Ryker yanked back on the stick, changing course to pursue the inbound missiles. She pulled in behind them, the distance between her Trident and the missiles growing. She fired until her energy banks drained, her final bolts exploding into the closest missile.
 

“Got one!” she yelled.
 

Dropping her power to the shields to allow her weapon’s energy to recharge, Ryker stayed focused on the remaining missile. The projectile spun, altering course and zeroing in on the
Wraith
and the refueling Karda in front of them.
 

Two-hundred MUs to target.
 

Recharge, she thought. Come on.
 

Her crosshairs tried to center in on the missile, now locked on the
Wraith
.
 

One-hundred MUs. Fifty. Twenty.
 

Her energy bank readout on the HUD shifted from red to yellow. A few shots at least.
 

She leaned forward, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. She rested her finger on the trigger, easing the stick to the right. The crosshairs drifted over the rear exhaust of the missile. Now.
 

She fired, the laser bolts flashing into the rear of the missile. The projectile toppled, spinning twice before it exploded in a brilliant flash of light.
 

Exhaling, she collapsed back into the seat.
 

“Prize is clear,” she said, gasping for breath.
 

Bringing her Trident in a wide trajectory around the
Wraith
, she stared at the battle in the distance and listened to the chaos of frantic radio chatter. Despite the loss of their sensors as a result of the disruptor fired by the
Dauntless
, the Corvos continued launching missiles into the fray. She only saw three of them now. The fighters, Tridents and Interceptors alike, twisted in a furball of laser fire and blind missiles.
 

“Lone Wolf,” she said, changing her frequency to the one Braddock specified as being used by the captured
Wraith
, “this is Knight Four. You are clear.”

“Knight Four, Lone Wolf,” the transmission came back, the words coming slowly. “Thank you. Nearly back online here.”

She hesitated, watching the battle raging in the distance. She replayed the last transmission in her mind. That voice …

“We have you covered, Lone Wolf,” she said, easing forward on the throttle. “I am heading back into the fight.”

“Copy that,” Lone Wolf said. “Stay frosty, Knight Four.”

Her jaw dropped. Tears brimmed, spilling and running down her cheeks. After weeks of mourning his loss, worrying she didn’t have the chance to tell him how she felt, he was out here in the depths of space. She smiled, ignoring the fact she thought it was impossible.

Austin.
 

She didn’t know how or why it had happened, but it was definitely Austin—her Austin. He was in danger.
 

Her Trident circled the
Wraith
once more. Her eyes remained fixed on the sleek fighter, trying to catch a glimpse of the pilot. She shook her head. Interceptors and a Zahlian ARC pursued him. If they couldn’t capture him, she knew they would destroy him.
 

He was flying the
Wraith
, and she needed to protect him.
 

“I’ll give you everything I’ve got,” she whispered, still transmitting.
 

“I know … Knight Four. I know. You always have.”

He knew—he recognized her voice, too.
 

Nodding, she pushed forward on the throttle and back into the fight.
 

*****

“Remaining bandits are bailing,” Braddock said, his voice tense. “Another squadron coming in—ten interceptors inbound from the ARC.”
 

Ryker instinctively glanced at her sensors and saw only static. Another flash of light erupted in the distance. The
Dauntless
fired another disruptor to scramble the sensors throughout the star system.

Braddock snapped. “All Knights—report in!”

“Knight Four ready,” Ryker said, forming up above her commander.
 

“Knight Eight here,” Skylar said.
 

“Knight Seven, ready,” Bear said, his voice strained.
 

“Knight Seven, what’s your status?” Braddock asked. “Thought I saw you take a hit.”

Bear grumbled something inaudible. “Still here.”
 

“Knight Two here,” Captain Talad said. “Knight Three took a hit. I think his comm is out.”

“Copy,” Braddock said. “We have two Archers back there. Four Knights down. Lone Wolf needs a few more minutes, and we’re going to give it to him. Clear?”

A few of the six remaining Tridents acknowledged, the battered group forming up in a combat spread to meet the incoming Interceptors. Shaking away the thought four Tridents and two Corvos had already fallen in this engagement, Ryker formed at the perch position with Talad as the defender. The six Tridents formed up in three identical formations with Skylar, Bear, Braddock, and King forming the other two combat spreads. The three formations extended the space between them, forcing the incoming Interceptors to choose their targets.
 

The ten incoming Interceptors were trained well, choosing to engage equally and negate the advantage of the combat spread. Two Zahlian fighters took direct hits from the Corvos’ barrage and broke off from the main assault force, evening up the odds for the still outnumbered Tridents. As two of the Interceptors broke away, the remaining eight shot directly into the Tridents.

The fighters locked into their lethal dance, twisting, spinning, diving and firing lasers until the guns glowed red hot.

These guys are good, Ryker thought as she allowed a bandit to sail over her head. She pulled back on the stick, bringing her Trident around to pursue the Interceptor. But he looped as well, sending them in an endless pursuit. She put her throttle in full reverse, slowing her Trident and maneuvering solely with her thrusters. The Interceptor overshot her position, flying directly into her crosshairs. She unleashed a full barrage of laser fire into his belly. His shields overloaded, sending the Interceptor spinning away from the battle.
 

Pushing her throttle forward, Ryker pursued the damaged Interceptor. Sparkling debris fell away from the spinning Interceptor as it moved uncontrollably from the battle. The onboard systems had probably caught fire, burning the pilot. She lined up her crosshairs and fired, putting the Interceptor pilot out of his misery.
 

Bringing the Trident around, she got a glimpse of the battle from a distance. The ARC continued moving toward the fight, a pair of Interceptors flying CAP close to the vessel. Away from the ARC, Tridents and Interceptors locked in a mortal engagement. Whenever an Interceptor tried to break through the line to attack the
Wraith
in the distance, a Trident would yank them back into the engagement. Without her sensors, she had to do a quick count of the Tridents still fighting. Not counting herself, five Legion Tridents engaged with the Interceptors. The two Corvos had backed off from the fight, unwilling to risk firing another barrage of missiles into the tangle of fighters and hitting one of their own.
 

Ryker felt a pang of guilt twist into her core. They had already lost six Star Runners today. How many more would fall before they left this cursed system?

“Knight Leader, Lone Wolf,” Austin said, breaking through the disorganized clamor of radio chatter. “Refueling operation complete. Permission to assist and engage.”

“Negative, Lone Wolf,” Braddock said quickly. “Evacuate the area ASAP. We will cover you.”

There was a pause. “I copy, Knight Leader,” Austin said, disappointment in his voice.
 

From a distance, Ryker lined up her crosshairs with an Interceptor that had broken away from the main group and flew toward the
Wraith
. She led the bandit and blind fired her final missile into the rear of the Interceptor, the ship coming apart in a spectacular explosion. She looked up at the dissipating wreckage, her eyes wide. Her blood ignited with the feeling of victory. It all came crashing down when she looked at the course change of the ARC, using the dogfight to give the fighters a wide berth and travel around the battle. The
Dauntless
now had a straight and unobstructed line to the
Wraith
.