I pulled up the diagnostic screen and started entering the override codes from memory.
The standard Rockhurst code failed. Richard had changed the default codes, which made my job infinitely harder. I kept trying.
I had just entered the third unsuccessful code when my bracelet pulsed and sparks flew from a deflected stun shot. Shit. I turned to find the assailant, but he’d already ducked back into cover.
“Can you shoot?” I asked Veronica. She nodded, so I handed her the gun. “Stand close to me and keep him pinned down for another couple minutes.” She was also wearing ballistic armor and if she stayed close, the soldier wasn’t likely to switch to deadly ammo because he’d risk hitting me.
The fourth code failed and Veronica fired on the soldier. Angry butterflies took flight in my stomach and my heart rate picked up. Only two codes left. Come on, come on.
“Shit!” Veronica yelled. I heard her hit the deck at the same time my cuff pulsed and another shot bounced away. One or two more shots like that and I’d be done.
I steadied my hands and typed in the fifth code. Failure. Veronica fired on the soldier’s position, but everything felt distant and fuzzy.
I typed in the sixth code—the last code Bianca had included. If this code didn’t work, I had no backup. We’d have to haul ass to the von Hasenberg ship, assuming security didn’t already have us surrounded.
I entered each digit with extreme care. Veronica shouted something but I didn’t have time to bother with her. My cuff pulsed weakly and an energy shot exploded near my head. Had they moved to deadly force?
After entering the last digit, the world paused for an eternal moment.
Then I was in and everything snapped back into real time. I immediately set up new override codes and wiped the ones Richard had set. I did not use my preferred codes because I had no doubt House Rockhurst’s spies knew what they were, and I didn’t want Richard to be able to take the ship back as easily as I’d taken it from him. I deleted all authorized users and added myself as captain, but voice command authorization would have to wait until we weren’t under attack.
I locked the ship down and retracted the cargo ramp. If Richard wanted in now, he’d have to take a plasma cutter to the cargo bay door. Even with a heavy-duty system it would take hours.
Unusual movement in my peripheral vision caused me to spin around. A Rockhurst soldier was valiantly trying to lift a stunstick in my direction, but it appeared my smoke grenade was finally getting to him because he blinked blearily and wove on his feet.
Veronica was down, but she appeared stunned instead of dead. I wrestled the stunstick away from the soldier and hit him with it. Yeah, it was low, but the bastard had shot at me. I didn’t feel too bad.
“Loch, I’m in the system. Are you okay? How many are left?”
“I’m busy,” Loch growled. “Just stay put.”
“No can do, I’m afraid. I have to get us in the air. Keep your mask on.” I stepped back to the access terminal, turned on the internal ventilation systems, and turned off the filtration. Then I found an air intake vent and cracked my last smoke grenade in front of it. “Don’t kill the downed soldiers. We’ll dump them before takeoff.”
Loch didn’t respond.
I checked on Veronica. She was starting to come around. She must’ve gotten stunned. “Keep your mask on,” I said. “I’m heading to the flight deck. I’ll let you know when it’s safe.” She nodded weakly.
Once all of the Rockhurst soldiers were knocked out, I’d have to purge and replace all of the air before we left the atmosphere, but it was safer than fighting the soldiers outright.
I picked up the discarded pistol and kept the stunstick. This was a Rockhurst ship. I had a basic idea of the layout, but unlike Yamado, Rockhurst frequently tweaked their ship designs. Still, the flight deck was generally in the same place. I headed out of the cargo deck toward the front of the ship.
Two more disorientated soldiers met the business end of the stunstick before I made it to the flight deck. The door was locked, but thanks to my newly minted captain status, I overrode the lock.
The room was empty. I entered and locked the door behind me—no reason to let someone sneak up on me. I dropped into the captain’s chair and logged in. First,