Countdown by John Walker (feel good fiction books txt) 📗

situation, and keeping everything locked down. That was his duty. Even if the marines weren’t needed for combat, they had a job to do. And based on what he heard from their previous mission, they needed more focus.

At least we won’t be sitting around. Oliver approached the shuttle, returning a salute from the man waiting at the ramp. He boarded, taking a seat. They had to wait for some others, but he’d be back on the Morrigan soon enough. I feel like I haven’t seen it in a year. I can’t believe it’s been such a short period of time.

When he’d boarded the ship, he’d never imagined he’d consider it home. The mission was supposed to be in and out, grab intel, research the enemy, and get out. It had became so much more. His entire family had been on board… Rita and Noah but also a crew of individuals he became close to.

That made the ship something he felt protective toward. I’ll do everything I can while we’re out there. Whatever that means. Oliver leaned back, closing his eyes. But first, I’m getting some damn sleep. I feel like I’ve been running my ass off for the last two weeks. I’m well past the point of needing some downtime.

Chapter 5

Dora clung to the flight stick as the ship entered the planet’s atmosphere. Zem gave her coordinates and asked her to do everything she could to make the trip as fast as possible. That meant a bumpy ride for nearly five hours straight. When finally they emerged, normal space felt strange. Everything had been too calm.

All that changed when they started their descent. Their goal was to put down at a complex under the pretense of doing some business. She had no idea how he knew the people might accept that with their boss off world, but he was adamant. McCully sat on the bridge with her. She’d expressed the most skepticism.

“You ever hear of this place?” McCully asked. “Been here before?”

“This is my first time in the frontier,” Dora replied. They were entering cloud coverage. She changed the viewscreen to a tactical view, showing an outline of the planet’s surface below. “So no. I have no idea what this place is or what we should expect. Other than it’s a pirate compound.”

“I’ve dealt with those, but they were closer to the border.” McCully hummed. “I hope he doesn’t intend to go in there guns blazing.”

“Not right away,” Zem said. He moved silently, even when the ship was bouncing around. It leveled out as they drew closer to the surface. “Scans show there are only twenty people down there. Perfect. They must be hanging out with him. I’m going to reach out to them. Make sure they know we’re coming.”

“Knock yourself out,” Dora replied.

Zem tapped the controls before having a seat. “Attention, we’re about to make a landing. Listen up, I’ve got some valuable information for your boss. Who do I talk to?”

“You’re not authorized,” a man replied. “Who is this?”

“Name’s Zem. I’ve been operating in these parts for years. I happen to know about a Confed plot that might interest you. Give us clearance.”

“Just tell me.”

“Better to talk in person,” Zem said. “You’ll have questions.”

“What do you want for this information?”

“A chance to join your crew. I represent some hard hitters who need steady work. I’m pretty sure you can provide it. What do you say?”

“Hold on.” The line went dead.

“You always that abrupt?” McCully asked. “And are you sure this is the best course of action? Offering to work for those assholes?”

“Finding decent people with something of value is tough out here,” Zem replied. “So yeah, this is the right course of action. More importantly, it’ll get us what we need. Which is on the landing pad. Head back. Tell the others to be ready to go. Full gear. When the gate opens and I meet up with the guy, we start shooting.”

“So we’re just killing these people?” McCully tilted her head. “No warning?”

“I told you what we’re up to.” Zem shrugged. “You said you could handle it. If not, sit up here. We’ll do the rest.”

“I’m in,” McCully said. “I just… hoped we’d have a different tactic.”

“Now that you know otherwise, swallow your qualms and get moving.” Zem seemed to wait for her to leave. “Dora, keep the engines idling. If this goes south, we might have to take off in a hurry. Make sure Ronnie’s ready on all the defenses and such. We could have to fight our way out of here.”

“Looking forward to it,” Dora said. “Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Just… you know, be careful down there. I don’t want to go home without you guys. That would raise some serious questions I wouldn’t be comfortable answering.”

Zem chuckled. “That’s why you’re my favorite. You know how to keep this shit light.” The comm buzzed back on.

“Listen up,” a new voice spoke this time, one who sounded a lot older. “Name’s Biggun… as in Big Gun. I’m in charge here right now while the boss is away. I want the nature of this information and how you came by it.”

“It involves a threat to your boss,” Zem said, “and I found out about it because I keep my ear to the ground. We broker information and we kick ass. Those are our talents. You need that, pretty sure. Everyone’s said so, at least. So you going to let us land or what? If you don’t, I’ve got to go so I can get another job.”

“You that sure we’re in trouble, huh?”

“I am. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have something that could bargain my way into your payroll, man. Besides, I’ve worked for you before. Did some wet work. Knocked out a couple targets. So I know the drill. Just