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Chapters (44)
  1. The Crimson Worlds Series
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  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Epilogue

“I don’t think it was a strong enough signal to reach the transwarp relays. It seemed like a normal flash com. It must have been to…another ship…”

Another ship…one outside jamming range…

“Full thrust…establish direct approach vector and close.” Kat stared at the system plot on the main display. It was a lot of space, far more than even her active scanners could cover…and another ship could be anywhere out there. Anywhere at all. “Active scanners on full power. Duty patrol to the launch bays.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Kat felt the force of the thrusters as Invictus’s massive engines engaged. The Alliance’s newest ship had enormous grav dampeners, more powerful ones by far than Vindictus had mounted, but she could still feel the g-forces pushing hard against her. She wondered if the Confeds endured such discomfort in battle, or if their technology afforded them an easier ride. She didn’t hate the Confeds, but like most of her comrades, she considered them soft, weak. She didn’t doubt they would waste resources and research making their ships more comfortable, even at the cost of more weapons and increased power…while the Alliance’s priority was always combat effectiveness.

“We’re closing, Commander. Range 550,000 kilometers. Active scanners on full. Optiomagis Junus reports patrol ready to launch.”

“Continue full thrust, Optiomagis.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Kat stared at the display. The scanners had fully updated the contact’s data. It was definitely some kind of patrol ship. Kat had hoped to get to Santis before she was forced to spill Confederation blood. But she had no choice now.

“Arm secondary batteries…prepare to fire.”

“Gunnery stations report all secondaries ready, Commander. Project firing range in thirty seconds.”

“Fighter patrol launch. They are to scan the system and find any other ships out there. Advise Optiomagis Junus he is to engage and destroy any contacts.”

“Yes, Commander.” A few seconds later: “Fighters launching now.”

Kat felt the familiar vibration, the rumbling feeling of the magnetic catapults launching the fighters.

She stared straight ahead, watching as the range counted down. The patrol ship was trying to run now, but its vector was still moving it toward Invictus, its velocity too great to quickly reverse. And time was running out…

She had hoped to avoid any contacts this far out, but hope was a pointless emotion. Alliance warriors dealt in reality, in the tactical situation they faced.

“Optiomagis…” Kat looked straight forward, her body rigid, her tone cold, emotionless. “Open fire.”

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Base Tom Wills

Planet Santis, Krillus IV

307 AC