Page 70 of Starfighter’s Salvation

“They killed the controls,” Mia continued. “I can't release it remotely. They've locked me out of their system. Bastards. I'll get back in.”

"How long will that take?" Gina asked.

"I don't know." Mia didn't sound confident.

We were trapped, our ship pinned in the cradle with twenty wounded people aboard while their fighters closed in to finish us at their leisure.

I opened the dome's construction schematic on my heads-up display. One manual release station had been built inside the control ring under our feet. There was a manual override, but it had to be held for the entire launch sequence. Ninety seconds. And I had to get to before they did.

“Maro,” I said. “You're flying.”

"Yes, sir." He answered immediately and the ship's engines roared to life.

“Corvan?” Gina was shaking her head. "I don't like this."

“Mia can guide him out of here. He can do it.”

“Why? Where are you going to be?”

I saw realization move through her eyes, and it gutted me to watch. The launch cradle shook under another impact as the battle raged on the outside of the dome.

“No. You aren't staying here.” Her voice shook as she reached for me.

“Someone has to hold the manual release.”

“Then give me a gun. I'm going with you.”

“No time. You've got to get these people out of here, and Maro needs a copilot.”

“We’ll find another way.”

“There is no other way.”

“That’s what every man says right before doing something really stupid.”

I pulled her with me up the ship's ramp and grabbed a rifle from the rack along with a handful of backup power cells. “Twenty-one souls are on this ship.”

“And you make twenty-two.”

“Gina.” I caught her helmet between my hands and stared down into her beautiful face. “Listen to me. I am not staying here to die. I will hold the manual release. You will launch. Then I will get the hell out of there. We've got fighters all over the place. I'll catch a ride home to you. I promise.”

“The entire dome will be full of enemy soldiers. They're on their way here, right now. I heard Mia.”

“I've survived worse.”

“No.”

I wanted to kiss the fury out of her, but anger was better than fear. "No negotiation."

"God dammit."

"I need you to be safe. I'll make my way outside. I've got enough air to last several days. I'll steal a ship if I have to. I'll figure it out. I'm not going to die.” I bumped my helmet against hers for emphasis. "Not when I finally have something to live for."

Her eyes filled with unshed tears. I felt her pain somewhere under the armor, in the place only she had ever reached. “I hate this plan.”

“I know. Trust me.”

That made her eyes flare. “You get hurt and I will kill you myself.”