Weapons Master Galactic Gladia - Anna Hackett Page 0,60
studied pictures of the Desteron. They were a few years old and taken from a great distance, but that didn’t hide the warship’s power.
It was fearsome. Black, sleek, and impressive. It was built for speed and stealth, but also power. It had to be packed with weapons beyond their imagination.
She touched the screen again and slid the image to the side. Another image appeared—the only known picture of War Commander Thann-Eon.
Jesus. The man packed a punch. All Eon warriors looked alike—big, broad-shouldered, muscular. They all had longish hair—not quite reaching the shoulders, but not cut short, either. Their hair usually ranged from dark brown to a tawny, golden-brown. There was no black or blond hair among the Eon. Their skin color ranged from dark-brown to light-brown, as well.
Before first contact had gone sour, both sides had done some DNA testing, and confirmed the Eon and Terrans shared an ancestor.
The war commander was wearing a pitch-black, sleeveless uniform. He was tall, built, with long legs and powerful thighs. He was exactly the kind of man you expected to stride onto a battlefield, pull a sword, and slaughter everyone. He had a strong face, one that shouted power. Eve stroked a finger over the image. He had a square jaw, a straight, almost aggressive nose, and a well-formed brow. His eyes were as dark as space, but shot through with intriguing threads of blue.
“It’s you and me, War Commander.” If he didn’t kill her, first.
Suddenly, sirens blared.
Eve didn’t stop to think. She slammed out of the ops room and sprinted onto the bridge.
Inside, the large room was a flurry of activity.
Captain Chen stood in the center of the space, barking orders at his crew.
Her heart contracted. God, she’d missed this so much. The vibration of the ship beneath her feet, her team around her, even the scent of recycled starship air.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” a sharp voice snapped.
Eve turned, locking gazes with the stocky, bearded XO. Sub-Captain Porter wasn’t a fan of hers.
“Leave her,” Captain Chen told his second-in-command. “She’s seen more Kantos ships than all of us combined.”
The captain looked back at his team. “Shields up.”
Eve studied the screen and the Kantos ship approaching.
It looked like a bug. It had large, outstretched legs, and a bulky, segmented, central fuselage. It wasn’t the biggest ship she’d seen, but it wasn’t small, either. It was probably out on some intel mission.
“Sir,” a female voice called out. “We’re getting a distress call from the Panama, a cargo ship en route to Nightingale Space Station. They’re under attack from a swarm of small Kantos ships.”
Eve sucked in a breath, her hand curling into a fist. This was a usual Kantos tactic. They would overwhelm a ship with their small swarm ships. It had ugly memories of the Haumea Incident stabbing at her.
“Open the comms channel,” the captain ordered.
“Please…help us.” A harried man’s voice came over the distorted comm line. “…can’t hold out much…thirty-seven crew onboard…we are…”
Suddenly, a huge explosion of light flared in the distance.
Eve’s shoulders sagged. The cargo ship was gone.
“Goddammit,” the XO bit out.
The front legs of the larger Kantos ship in front of them started to glow orange.
“They’re going to fire,” Eve said.
The captain straightened. “Evasive maneuvers.”
His crew raced to obey the orders, the Polaris veering suddenly to the right.
“The swarm ships will be on their way back.” Eve knew the Kantos loved to swarm like locusts.
“Release the tridents,” the captain said.
Good. Eve watched the small, triple-pronged space mines rain out the side of the ship. They’d be a dangerous minefield for the Kantos swarm.
The main Kantos ship swung around.
“They’re locking weapons,” someone shouted.
Eve fought the need to shout out orders and offer the captain advice. Last time she’d done that, she’d ended up in shackles.
The blast hit the Polaris, the shields lighting up from the impact. The ship shuddered.
“Shields holding, but depleting,” another crew member called out.
“Sub-Captain Traynor?” The captain’s dark gaze met hers.
Something loosened in her chest. “It’s a raider-class cruiser, Captain. You’re smaller and more maneuverable. You need to circle around it, spray it with laser fire. Its weak spots are on the sides. Sustained laser fire will eventually tear it open. You also need to avoid the legs.”
“Fly circles around it?” a young man at a console said. “That’s crazy.”
Eve eyed the lead pilot. “You up for this?”
The man swallowed. “I don’t think I can…”
“Sure you can, if you want us to survive this.”
“Walker, do it,” the captain barked.
The pilot pulled in a breath and the Polaris surged forward. They rounded the Kantos ship. Up close, the bronze-brown hull looked just like the carapace of an insect. One of the legs swung up, but Walker had quick reflexes.
“Fire,” Eve said.
The weapons officer started firing. Laser fire hit the Kantos ship in a pretty row of orange.
“Keep going,” Eve urged.
They circled the ship, firing non-stop.
Eve crossed her arms over her chest. Everything in her was still, but alive, filled with energy. She’d always known she was born to stand on the bridge of a starship.
“More,” she urged. “Keep firing.”
“Swarm ships incoming,” a crew member yelled.
“Hold,” Eve said calmly. “Trust the mines.” She eyed the perspiring weapons officer. “What’s your name, Lieutenant?”
“Law, ma’am. Lieutenant Miriam Law.”
“You’re doing fine, Law. Ignore the swarm ships and keep firing on the cruiser.”
The swarm ships rushed closer, then hit the field of mines. Eve saw the explosions, like brightly colored pops of fireworks.
The lasers kept cutting into the hull of the larger Kantos ship. She watched the ship’s engines fire. They were going to try and make a run for it.
“Bring us around, Walker. Fire everything you have, Law.”
They swung around to face the side of the Kantos ship straight on. The laser ripped into the hull.
There was a blinding flash of light, and startled exclamations filled the bridge. She squinted until the light faded away.
On the screen, the Kantos ship broke up into pieces.
Captain Chen released a breath. “Thank you, Sub-Captain.”
Eve inclined her head. She glanced at the silent crew. “Good flying, Walker. And excellent shooting, Law.”
But she looked back at the screen, at the debris hanging in space and the last of the swarm ships retreating.
They’d keep coming. No matter what. It was ingrained in the Kantos to destroy.
They had to be stopped.
Eon Warriors
Edge of Eon
Touch of Eon
Heart of Eon
Kiss of Eon
Mark of Eon
Claim of Eon
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Preview - Hell Squad: Marcus
In the aftermath of a deadly alien invasion, a band of survivors fights on…
In a world gone to hell, Elle Milton—once the darling of the Sydney social scene—has carved a role for herself as the communications officer for the toughest commando team fighting for humanity’s survival—Hell Squad. It’s her chance to make a difference and make up for horrible past mistakes…despite the fact that its battle-hardened commander never wanted her on his team.
When Hell Squad is tasked with destroying a strategic alien facility, Elle knows they need her skills in the field. But first she must go head to head with Marcus Steele and convince him she won’t be a liability.
Marcus Steele is a warrior through and through. He fights to protect the innocent and give the human race a chance to survive. And that includes the beautiful, gutsy Elle who twists him up inside with a single look. The last thing he wants is to take her into a warzone, but soon they are thrown together battling both the alien invaders and their overwhelming attraction. And Marcus will learn just how much he’ll sacrifice to keep her safe.
Hell Squad
Marcus
Cruz
Gabe
Reed
Roth
Noah
Shaw
Holmes
Niko
Finn
Theron
Hemi
Ash
Levi
Manu
Griff
Dom
Survivors
Tane
Also Available as Audiobooks!
Also by Anna Hackett
Team 52
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Mission: Her Rescue
Mission: Her Security
Mission: Her Defense
Mission: Her Safety
Mission: Her Freedom
Mission: Her Shield
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Treasure Hunter Security
Undiscovered
Uncharted
Unexplored
Unfathomed
Untraveled
Unmapped
Unidentified
Undetected
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Eon Warriors
Edge of Eon
Touch of Eon
Heart of Eon
Kiss of Eon
Mark of Eon
Claim of Eon
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Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone
Sentinel
Defender
Centurion
Paladin
Guard
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Galactic Gladiators
Gladiator
Warrior
Hero
Protector
Champion
Barbarian
Beast
Rogue
Guardian
Cyborg
Imperator
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Hell Squad
Marcus
Cruz
Gabe
Reed
Roth
Noah
Shaw
Holmes
Niko
Finn
Theron
Hemi
Ash
Levi
Manu
Griff
Dom
Survivors
Tane
Also Available as Audiobooks!
The Anomaly Series
Time Thief
Mind Raider
Soul Stealer
Salvation
Anomaly Series Box Set
The Phoenix Adventures
Among Galactic Ruins
At Star’s End
In the Devil’s Nebula
On a Rogue Planet
Beneath a Trojan Moon
Beyond Galaxy’s Edge
On a Cyborg Planet
Return to Dark Earth
On a Barbarian World
Lost in Barbarian Space
Through Uncharted Space
Crashed on an Ice World
Perma Series
Winter Fusion
A Galactic Holiday
Warriors of the Wind
Tempest
Storm & Seduction
Fury & Darkness
Standalone Titles
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One Night with the Wolf
For more information visit www.annahackett.com
About the Author
I’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled contemporary and science fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.
I live in Australia with my own personal hero and two very busy, always-on-the-move sons.
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Website: www.annahackett.com