Page 76 of Rogue Starfighter

A familiar voice came from the doorway. “I’ll fuel her ship.”

Jamie walked into the command center with Alex beside her. Mia and Kass followed. Lily and Darius stood behind them. Every Earth Starfighter on Arturri. Jamie looked me over. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks.”

“Vesh?”

“Alive.”

Jamie nodded as if that settled it. “Then let’s go get him.”

Alex studied the tactical display. “The interceptor wing will still be at the Gate. Priya can’t fly a recovery scout and fight twelve ships.”

“Ten,” I said.

“Of course.” He enlarged the enemy formation. “Kass and I punch the first hole.”

“I’ll take overwatch,” Kass said.

Mia was already working at an empty console. “I can blind their long-range sensors from this side of the Gate. Once we’re through, the jamming will be directional. Stay inside my cone or you’re visible.”

“Lily and I hold the Gate,” Darius said. “Nothing follows Priya into the debris field.”

Lily grinned. “Ground and pound.” I had no idea what that meant in a space battle but I liked the confidence. Aryk looked at the six Starfighters who had just volunteered to disobey him.

“This is not a democracy,” he said.

“No?” Jamie replied. “Then make the right decision and save us from committing mutiny.”

The corner of Jennix’s mouth moved. Aryk noticed. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

“You wanted more Elite Starfighters from Earth.”

“I am having second thoughts.”

Jamie came to stand beside me. Her hand closed around mine. I had spent most of my life being the person everyone else counted on. The calm voice. The responsible one. The woman who got strangers home and went home alone. Now six people were ready to fly into enemy space for me, and for Vesh. I squeezed Jamie’s hand. “Thank you.”

“Save it for after we bring Vesh home.” She looked toward the general. “Authorization?”

Aryk stared at the image of Raya’s unfinished war platform. Then at the tracker data. Finally at me.

“You can take our fastest available scout,” he said. “Engineering will scan her command core before launch.”

“How long?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Make it ten.”

“Fifteen.”

“Done.”

“I was not negotiating.”

“Neither was I.”

His mouth twitched.