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Surprise Over Sirius II

The Gemstone had never been stress tested for high-torque maneuvers in upper atmospheric conditions; it just wasn’t built for anything more than routine flight.

Murphy gripped the controls like a vise. “Watch the flaps,” he cautioned Kathryn, “I need more lateral.”

Kathyrn nodded, easing the ship into a barrel roll parallel with the horizon. The Amethyst was directly over them now, sustaining mind-bending levels of damage. It looked ready to crumble at any moment.

Murphy hit the comm. “Mothership, do you read?”

“Locke here, where the hell are you?”

“Look down, 1000 yards.”

“Jesus Murphy, you’re too late. We’re already dead.”

“Hang in there, I have a plan. Murphy out.” He switched off the comm and buzzed Violet. “Guns ready?”

“Ready, Captain.”

“Engaging enemy in 3…2…1…” Murphy pulled back on the controls hard, launching the Gemstone directly at the enemy cruiser from a critical angle. “Give ‘em hell, Violet!”

Suddenly the aft vectors kicked in at 125%. Reggie looked up with a grin the size of Saturn.

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