Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (best authors to read .TXT) 📗

could argue further, another volley struck and pierced the shields, striking the Destiny near the bridge. The ship buckled and groaned, smoke pouring in as fires erupted. Emergency doors closed to seal off the damage to vital sections, including engineering.

“Travan, respond,” Cailan screamed into the comm unit, his face turning ashen as moments ticked past with no reply. Ardin looked from his station to Cailan, his eyes locking with Layela’s for just a brief instant before returning to his console.

Layela placed her hand on Cailan’s arm. “Captain,” she whispered, her voice still clear. “You have to let me go to them.”

Cailan abandoned his attempted hails. His eyes looked at her but took a moment to focus. He shook his head. “You have no idea what you’re asking of me.”

“Ardin, Avienne,” he continued, turning around to look at the young crewmembers. “Take Ms. Delamores and her friend to our fastest shuttle. Stick behind us, so they can’t take a shot at you, and get as far as you can. I’ll send necessary star maps to the shuttle computer.”

“No,” Ardin said, not turning away from his console. Layela and Avienne stared at him. The redhead was clearly as shocked as the captain by her brother’s first insubordination.

Cailan stood and took a step forward, his eyes lit, growing in size with each breath. Avienne shifted at her station, seeming to be debating the wisdom of getting involved in the imminent showdown, when shots flew by the view ports and collided with several government ships. The explosions left the crew momentarily blinded.

“What the…” Avienne stared at the flashing light on her console. “I’ve never seen this channel used — didn’t even know it worked .” On her screen, she brought up the line’s information: the inter-fleet secured communications line. Her frown deepened as a crisp voice boomed over it.

“This is Captain Kipso of the Victory, contacting Captain Malavant of the Destiny.” He paused, and everyone onboard the Destiny held their breath, each for their own reasons. “Are you in need of assistance?”

Ardin looked to Cailan questioningly. A weight seemed to be lifted from Cailan’s shoulders. “This is Captain Cailan of the Destiny, and we could use your help.”

There was a slight pause. “My condolences for Captain Malavant, he was a fine man,” Captain Kipso replied. “We’ve got only twenty ships, but they’re strong and well-manned,” he responded with pride. “We’d be honoured to fight by the Destiny once again.”

Layela had never thought the captain to be old before, but now it was as if time had previously forgotten him and had come to claim the years it was owed. Cailan looked at Layela.

“We have a daughter of the queen on board,” he replied to Kipso, and Layela swallowed hard. It was still too much to believe. Beside her, Josmere studied the captain intently. “But another is on the civilian freighter heading into the tunnel now.”

“We can’t lose her!” The reply came quickly and fiercely. “Destiny, even wounded, you’re fast. Would you be willing to pursue while we buy you time?” More shots were fired towards the regrouping government ships.

“Agreed,” Cailan said, closing the line and sitting back in his chair. The four crew members on the bridge and the two guests looked at the captain sceptically.

“A full explanation soon, I promise,” he said to appease them. “But for now, follow Meltor.”

“She’s just vanishing into the tunnel now,” Avienne swore.

“We can still catch her. Full speed ahead.”

Ardin and Lang executed the order, Avienne ready at tactical. Kipso, true to his word, sent the smaller ships ahead to plow their path. Layela sat at an empty console, looking at the devastation before her: ships were destroyed, pieces flying away from their breached corpses. Plasma weapons were exploding, and a scattering of bodies floated free in nearby space.

And ahead, the shimmer of the great tunnel, where her sister had just vanished. And they would pursue, bringing with them the tides of death that littered the skies.

CHAPTER 21

Tachyonic shields forming!” Ardin reported, relief obvious in his voice as the familiar blue energies cushioned the Destiny. The tunnel was just a few seconds away. Another volley struck them from behind. Avienne was grateful the shields and titanium shells protecting the engines seemed to be holding.

The Mirial fleet was composed of old and mismatched vessels, some of them trading vessels outfitted with crude weapons. They might not have been much to look at, but they certainly seemed efficient. The government fleet was losing ships rapidly, their soldiers either drunk or inexperienced at real combat, and few had broken off to pursue the Destiny. Still, they would hardly be alone entering the tunnel.

“At least ten of those government ships are raising their tachyonic shields as well,” Avienne reported. Blue light flickered around them as they rode the high energy tachyon particles. She made a quick inventory of the weapons she could see on the ships. There were basic energy weapons, which could do a lot of damage, but her main worry was the plasma weapons. One hit from those and the whole tunnel would collapse, with them in it. Well-trained Solariers wouldn’t fire that weapon in here. She hoped the Three Fates would intervene if the enemy’s training failed.

“Our sensors are down, so we’ll need sight,” Cailan said from the engineering station. No one had mentioned Travan since the last hails had gone unanswered. “Try to keep your eyes away from the tachyon flow as much as possible, and the second your eyes or stomach do anything odd, report for immediate treatment. If any of you would like to leave the bridge, I will not hold it against you.”

Everyone ignored the last statement. Lang muttered something under his breath about not being paid enough for this.

“It’s beautiful,” the Berganda whispered, staring straight at the tunnel. The blue lights stroked and highlighted her green skin.

“Seizures,” Avienne said, keeping her own eyes to her console.

“Not human,” Josmere replied. Avienne saw that Layela was also staring at the tunnel, the blue in her unblinking eyes lit