A Show of Force Read Online Free PDF Page B

Cygni system was too close to Sol, a mere eleven point four light years away. Enough time had already passed for word of the existence of the Terran jump drive to reach the Jung ships in this system, had a message been dispatched when the Aurora had first returned from the Pentaurus cluster.
    “Estimated collateral damage?” Nathan wondered.
    “Based on the blast radius, the diameter of the ejecta, and the original estimated population density of the area… maybe a few thousand civilian casualties,” Mister Navashee answered solemnly.
    “The Ghatazhak did try to take the base without the strike,” Jessica reminded the captain. “Dragon was not our first choice.”
    “I have a feeling that isn’t going to help, much,” Nathan said. “Hell of a way to start new relations with one of the core worlds.”
    “A core world that was host to a sizable Jung strike force, within a few months travel of Sol,” Jessica also reminded.
    “Perhaps,” Nathan relented. He sighed, then turned toward Naralena at the comm station. “Comms, message to Ground Command. Dragon complete.”
    “Aye, sir,” Naralena responded.
    “Green deck,” Nathan ordered. “Let’s get some more support down there and start cleaning things up.”
     
     
    “ All Falcons, Flight ,” the flight controller’s voice called over the comms. “ Pursue and eliminate remaining Jung fighters so we can send in reinforcements and aid. Sending target data. ”
    Loki watched his comm screen as the coordinates for their targets were transmitted from the Aurora’s flight operations center directly to their navigation and targeting systems.
    “Coordinates coming in,” Loki reported. “Forwarding intercept data to your console.”
    “I’ve got it,” Josh answered. He glanced to his right, at Falcons Three, Five, and Seven, flying in formation alongside, in low orbit over Copora, after having jumped away just before the Aurora began her bombardment of the Jung base on the surface. “See you guys back at Porto Santo,” Josh told them.
    “ Good hunting, ” one of the other pilots responded.
    “Flight, Falcon One; en route to intercept.”
    Josh fired his braking thrusters for several seconds, then pushed the Falcon’s nose down and rolled to port, starting a turning dive.
    “Jump point in five,” Loki announced.
    “I’ll be on it,” Josh assured him.
    Four seconds later, he was, and the Falcon was again washed in blue-white light as they jumped down toward their targets.
    Josh’s visor became clear again as their jump flash faded away. The interceptor shook violently for a moment, as it suddenly found itself in atmospheric flight again. The heavy vibrations smoothed out, and Josh felt the sluggishness in his flight control stick fade as air flow was once again established over their atmospheric flight control surfaces.
    Josh loved flying in space, but more and more, he was finding that he loved aerodynamic flight equally as well. The Falcon was an amazing ship, capable of just about anything. A flick of his wrist and a change in thrust, and the Falcon would respond with eagerness and precision. Even better, the jump drive and the lift thrusters could get Loki and him in and out of trouble in a heartbeat. No pilot could ask for a better ship.
    He could see it in the eyes of the other pilots in the Falcon wing as well. They had all been Talon pilots for the Corinari, and had been equally enamored with their aircraft. In fact, most of them had balked at the idea of flying the fifty year-old deep-space interceptor, laughing at their ancient avionics and power plants. The jump drives had been the first thing to change their minds in favor of the 402s, or ‘Falcons’ as they had become known in their latest jump-capable incarnation. That, and the upgraded avionics, sensors, and weapons that the Takarans had provided. In addition, the removal of two of the 402’s propellant tanks had allowed its weapons bays to be enlarged, doubling its