Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [187]
BeBob looked over at her. “Does he really think that’ll work?”
She rested her chin on her knuckles for a moment. “Davlin wouldn’t rely on anything quite so simplistic. The question is, what’s he really up to?”
They watched the drama play out far below. The Remoras closed in like a pack of wolves, but the Blind Faith surprised them all by looping around in such a high-G reversal that it should have smashed any living pilot into jelly, or at least knocked him unconscious. Somehow, though, Davlin continued to fly his ship in the opposite direction. The Faith careened directly toward the pursuing EDF ships. It was obviously a suicide run—or at least intended to look like one.
“He’s playing a game of chicken with my ship!”
As the cargo ship roared toward the cluster of EDF fighters, the Remoras scattered. They opened fire on the ship’s engines, trying to cripple it, but the Faith flew too fast, and their shots did only minimal damage, scoring the hull. The reckless vessel continued to accelerate, and its engines roared scarlet.
The Blind Faith did not deviate in its course, but plowed into their grouping like an out-of-control pulse-racer slamming into a stadium full of spectators. The EDF ships scrambled to avoid collision.
Then, immediately after it had passed through the flurry of Remoras, the Blind Faith exploded. Its engine casings burst open, reactor exhaust flamed out and split the vessel. Shrapnel sprayed in a spherical cloud, peppering several fast fighters that were too close. The EDF attack ships spun out of control, calling for emergency reinforcement and rescue vessels.
Rlinda stared in awe and disbelief. “Davlin, what did you do that for?”
BeBob blinked his big sad eyes at her. “My ship...”
Fighting to concentrate, Rlinda looked at the tactical screens that showed space around them. “Thanks to that explosion, we’ve doubled our lead. It’s time to take advantage of the distraction.” Her heart felt heavy, but she couldn’t believe Davlin had given his life to save them. It just didn’t sound like him.
By now, all the Remoras had turned about, racing up above the planetary orbits. The closest group of fighters accelerated again, anxious to end the chase.
“Sore losers,” BeBob said, still numb with shock.
“Five minutes and I’ll jump us with the stardrive. Right now, go down to the cargo bay. There’s a few dozen loose crates and tanks.”
BeBob ran out of the cockpit, already knowing what she meant to do. As the seconds ticked by and the Remoras came closer, she looked at the cargo bay imagers to see BeBob shoving crates, pallets, tanks, and spare parts into the middle of the cargo bay floor. Her ship’s engines were hot and on the brink of overloading. She didn’t want to end up like the Blind Faith.
“That’s enough junk, BeBob. Thirty seconds and I’m ready. Get your butt up here.”
BeBob was already pulling himself through the cockpit door. He slammed himself into the seat and buckled the crash restraints. As the Remoras got closer, a flurry of jazer potshots spangled past them.
“Dumping the cargo bay.” Without draining the atmosphere, she opened the hatches, vomiting a blast of rapidly expanding air and sparkling debris that flew out in a smokescreen.
The unexpected debris acted like a field of land mines, and the Remoras hammered into it. The pursuing ships spun out of control; one suffered severe wing damage. Rlinda didn’t particularly want to destroy EDF soldiers who were just trying to do their jobs—but BeBob’s life was at stake.
She couldn’t stick around to see how it all turned out. She activated the Ildiran stardrive and lurched out of the solar system, hoping to stay one step ahead of General Lanyan’s angry pursuers.
Chapter 93—KING PETER
On the day after Daniel’s contrite speech, Basil stood at the doorway of the Royal Wing wearing a cool smile. “Come with me, Peter. This is something you need