Condition Evolution 3: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure by Kevin Sinclair (early readers .TXT) 📗

prevent any surprises. We’ll be part of that fight. Our current orders are to wait and be ready. I’ve been led to believe they’ve got a lot more ships coming. We just need to hang around, waiting and hoping that the Dark Sector fleet doesn't arrive first.”

“Sounds like they’re concerned by whatever’s coming, doesn’t it?” But I didn’t wait for a response. “Everyone, stay in touch, and any info on what Dark Sector is would be greatly appreciated. We’ll try to find out more ourselves. For now, I’m gonna move us away from the main fleet. I trust these fuckers about as far as I would trust myself with a packet of cookies a couple of years ago!”

Silence greeted my statement. Miserable bastards! I continued, “We could also do with carrying out training drills. We haven’t fought in a battle like this before, so if we can devise anything that will bolster our chances, that’d be excellent.”

“That’s a good idea,” Astrid said, quickly. “I’ll see what the Thoth has in its data banks for that.”

“I will too!” Rufus said, more hopefully.

“Okay. Time to go. Speak later,” I said, and our connection ended. I immediately sent an order to Hwista to move us slowly away from the cluster of ships around the station.

“Shaun,” Ember said, quietly. “I thought we were trying to big you up a bit?”

“We are. What's your problem?” I replied, baffled.

“Well, I’m no expert on confidence building, but discussing your weakness for cookies with the two people you need to respect you the most, doesn’t seem like a winning strategy,” she grinned as she spoke.

“Maybe, but it was funny to me at least. And I'll take those wins where I can get them.”

She spoke into my mind next. “Stop being a fucking idiot! We all know you're better than that, and I think it's gonna be more important than ever in the coming days.”

“Thanks for the advice, and thanks for not undermining me at every turn anymore. I know it’s hard for you, and it’s appreciated. However, we’re doing okay at the moment, and though I don't buy into all this Onnekus, jammy-bastard shit, I don’t want to try and change who I am, unless it happens naturally over time. You never know, it could be my general attitude to life that’s helping us.”

“In a fucked-up, typical Shaun kinda way, that possibly makes sense. But try to keep the self-degradation to a minimum, whether you think it's funny or not. Otherwise, what's the point in all this effort I’m putting in?”

“Fair enough. I’ll remember not to put myself down. The big question now though is, what in the actual fuck is the Dark Sector?”

“That does seem like it would be important information.” Ember smiled. “Elyek and Calegg should be on the bridge. Let’s go and see them,” she said, offering her hand to me to get off the couch. It was comical because of the size difference, and actually made it harder to get up from my seated position. But it was the gesture that counted.

“Elyek, we need to pick your brains. Do you have a minute?” I said as we entered the bridge.

“Certainly, Captain,” they replied. “Hwista, are you okay to hold the fort?”

“Yes. Take all the time you need.”

“Oh, it won’t take long,” Ember said.

“Calegg! You too, man. The enemy we’re about to face is from the Dark Sector.”

Elyek’s face dropped.

“That bad huh?” I asked.

“I’m really not sure, Captain. What I do know is that the Empire would love to possess that part of the galaxy but have never been able to get a foothold there. Whoever lives there must be very capable at defending themselves. In fact…,” Elyek turned to the terminal and began checking something intently. A second later they spun back around, “As I suspected. This station is actually in Dark Sector territory. We have most certainly been lied to.”

“I don’t know anything about it,” Calegg said with a shrug. “Although I’d love to know what we’re flying into.”

“I believe this is actually a land grab by the Empire,” Elyek answered, “and now they are waiting for the inevitable retaliation to come.”

“Oh, shit. That’s not good. I mean, we don’t really want to be part of a conquering force. It’s kind of the opposite of what we’re supposed to stand for,” I said.

“I don’t think they’ll get any further into the Dark Sector if past engagements are anything to go by,” Elyek replied, concern etched on their face.

“So, these Dark Sector aliens, whoever the fuck they are, are very capable of smoking Empire attacks. What are we gonna do?” Ember asked.

“Get the hell out of here?” Calegg offered.

“That will hurt our mercenary credentials a great deal,” Elyek replied.

“How about, just stay near the back, as far from the action as possible?” Ember said with a smirk.

“So we’re staying, but we’re not risking ourselves in this shit-show?” I said.

“I don’t know if we have a lot of choice at the minute. We need to increase our reputation if we want to grow and be taken seriously,” Elyek answered.

“We’re all agreed on this?” I asked.

Three heads nodded.

“Let’s keep training in those maneuvers then. Looks like we’re gonna need them.”

I took my seat on the bridge, watching the training exercises unfold with Ember by my side. I’d pretty much phased out, staring into the darkness outside, when Ember broke me out of it. “Wonder if there’s been any progress with getting Ogun out of the chamber?”

“Oh, man. I’d almost forgotten about Ogun. We should really check in with the Hunter ship he’s on.”

“We should, and we should also give both of those ships names,” she said.

“Ha! Yeah, though that can wait.”

“I thought it was unlucky to not name a ship.”

“I don’t even know who’s on the damn ships. I never asked Acclo.”

“You did tell Acclo not to tell you every little thing, if you remember. Fortunately for you I know, so you don’t have to. Wulek is captaining the ship that holds Ogun’s body, and a human