“Find me on the frequencies!” I shout. “There are too many for us to limitourassault to one!”
Holo scans the sky, finds the approaching fleet of Skysprinters and climbs up into his ship.
The palm reader seals up as I climb into the small cabin of the SunFlux. I can’t believe it worked, and I’m suddenly grateful for the droning lessons of my mother and father when we were scavenging.
Holo has his ship in the air in seconds. I scan the controls to familiarize myself with where everything is as I sink into the pilot’s seat and strap in.
“Shields up.”
The SunFlux lifts its shield as I start the engines and hover up and out of the yard. Easing into the throttle, I glide away fromthe approaching Skysprinters, test the banking maneuvers, and know by the tightness of the turns and quick response that this is no ordinary fighter.
I turn back and sprint for Holo and Thruster's position. "Alright, girl. Show me what you've got.
Punching the throttle slings me back in my seat. An excited yell releases from me without my consent. I quickly catch up to Thruster and Holo.
As I slow and hover between them, I check the channels for one that sounds like Holo and Thruster.
“What’s she doing?” Thruster sounds stressed.
“I found another ship.” I shrug. “There’s a shit ton of snakes. We need all the help we can get.”
“Keep your shields up, please,” Thruster says.
“I’m more worried about you,” I admit. “You don’t have shields.”
Holo interrupts. “She has a point. Kelta, I’m sending you coordinates of the mountains ofinterest.”
The ones we have to shoot up? Got it.“Best let me do it. They won’t expect that.”
I get four clicks of confirmation.
Thruster breaks formation and targets the first Skysprinter. My stomach flips and squirms as I watch his body perforate the ship and come out the other side.
Dear stars… that’s how he’s taking them down?
Holo banks as Skysprinters fire at us.
I dive away from the incoming tracer rounds.
Holo slings strings of flaming bullets as he cuts through the group, taking out three ships in clouds of fire and smoke.
Darting underneath the mayhem, I fire up as the fleet begins to break into smaller groups. Our last squadron attack ends with two more ships succumbing to my guns. It takes about five rounds to break the shield of a Skysprinter and another fiveto break the ship's course. A few more will find a fuel cell or thermoregulator and do what I want. Unless I can get one round into an engine. Then they're goners.
My heart beats furiously in my chest. Every sway of the ship tugs me sharply in my seat. Flying small quick maneuvers in gravity is much different than in space. There isn't much room for spare thoughts, and there's none for error.
I listen as Thruster and Holo claim targets. I pick the ones they aren't watching. Skysprinters flood the sky. Another twenty join the first.
Three bullets greet my port shield in a moving line. Screens flash red. I check for my escape methods and find I’ve got only an ejection seat with a chute. No manual release.
Cool. If that jams, I go down with it. Lovely.
Then Thruster takes a hit. His body launches sideways with my heart.
“Thruster!”
“I’m okay,” he rasps, getting back on course.
But now I’m pissed. I monitor my ammo supply bars in my periphery and change course for his position. I target ship engines from behind, taking out every ship in my way as I aim for the one that hit him. It hides in a tight formation with two other vessels.
I sneer.Nice try.
Rotating the ship as I fly up behind them, I manage to fire between their wings and tag his engine. The ship blossoms with fire, and the other two break away.
“No one touches my Titan but me!”
