Forged (Star Breed #10) - Elin Wyn Page 0,14

passing in and out of view, over and over until they almost blurred together.

“Get your helmet back on and reverse thrusters,” I shouted. “Do it now!”

But she didn’t answer.

Dammit.

Yasmin’s head lolled to the side.

I reached over the back of her seat, triggered her helmet back on, and checked her oxygen.

She was breathing, both tanks in the green.

But until I stopped our mad spin, the G forces would keep her unconscious.

And there was only so much pressure the human body could take before irreversible damage would start.

“I know it’s your ship, baby, but I think you better let me drive,” I apologized as I gently pulled her out of the front seat, pressing uncomfortably close to her in order to change positions.

She was so small, so determined to be tough. And so fragile underneath the bravado.

Reluctantly, I pulled my hand away from her shoulder and settled myself uncomfortably in the pilot’s chair.

“Ship, report status,” I barked, hands too full with the controls to pull anything up manually.

All systems appear to be compromised, a bland voice replied.

Void.

I never thought I’d miss Nixie.

“Cut starboard rear thruster fifty percent, adjust the rest to compensate.”

As the thrusters slowly decreased the speed of our stomach-churning barrel roll, I pulled us around to the other side, gritting my teeth against the Gs.

It was starting to be unpleasant, even for me.

I had to get Yasmin out of this.

Navigation systems are eighty percent restored, the ship reported.

“That’s fantastic, what about communications?” I forced out from between gritted teeth.

Communication systems are still off-line at this time. Have a nice day.

Well, we wouldn’t be calling for help, not from Station 112 or the Kodo or from that attacking flotilla that Yasmin seemed to know a little too much about.

After we got out of this, she had some serious explaining to do.

But first, I had to make sure we got out of this.

Finally, I could see straight, could guide the craft in a limping, jolting way.

“We can do this,” I called over my shoulder to the unconscious Yasmin. “It’ll take us a while, but we can get back to the station. We’ve got enough air that my ship can pick us up from there.”

Even without comms, the Kodo Ragir would feel obliged to rescue a ship in distress.

Useful thing about working with the Imperials under Vandalar’s new moral code.

Then the crack across the canopy spread a little further.

“New plan,” I muttered. “What does that make, Yas, four new plans now? Or are we on five? You can tell me when you wake up.”

I pulled up the navigation system, scanning quickly for options.

We weren’t going to make it back to the station.

I glanced down at the gas giant as it rapidly filled more and more of my vision.

Also not a good idea.

There, just past the horizon… What was that?

“Computer, does the planet below us have any moons?”

There are thirteen objects designated as moons of Tocarth 5.

“Which one of them is the closest, and does it have an atmosphere we can breathe?”

For optimal results, please ask your questions one at a time.

Alright.

We were getting out of this, Yasmin was going to tell me what was going on, and then I was gonna get her a ship with a decent AI.

And seats with better legroom.

I took a deep breath.

“What is the name of the closest moon?”

The navigation system highlighted the moon that was just coming into range.

That moon is designated Sat 9.

“Show me all known information about Sat 9.”

The screen filled with data and I flipped through it as quickly as possible.

A little low on oxygen, but survivable. Not a lot of information in the file, but at least it didn’t seem to have walking trees or carnivorous vines or anything crazy.

At least, nothing reported.

“Alright, Yas, let’s see if we can make it.”

Slowly, painfully, I goosed us towards the moon.

“Looks like a thin upper atmosphere,” I told Yasmin. “Probably cold at night, but with luck, it will make it a little less rocky getting down there.”

“What?” she asked blearily.

“Great, you’re awake for the terrible part.”

“What?!”

She was definitely awake now.

We burned through the thin atmosphere, and I fought to keep our nose up.

“This ship isn’t rated for landfall!” Yasmin shouted over the screams of tortured metal.

“We’re not rated to survive in the Void without a ship,” I answered. “It had to go one way or the other.”

A golden red expanse filled the canopy, and the spider web of cracks spread even more.

We shuddered and rocked in the seats, rocketed back-and-forth by the turbulence.

“We’re still coming in