Star Force: Zealot (SF87) (Star Force Origin Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Riley warned/promised. “I suggest you keep your ships away entirely,” he said as the Star Force jumpships began spilling out drones to intercept the Trinx fleet that was rapidly accelerating towards his command ship.
    “Do you require assistance?” the Chamra offered.
    “Record what happens here as a neutral observer, but do not interfere. If the Trinx want a fight, we’re going to give it to them.”
    “They are going for only one ship.”
    “They won’t get it,” Riley promised. “Watch and learn.”
    “Cease waking the Hamoriti, please,” the Dati implored.
    “This will be over before that occurs.”
     
    The Trinx’s 139 vessels were all of the same make, a combination of needle and wedge with a forward point offset from their center of mass. Looking lethal even before their weaponry opened up, the blood red ships formed into three elongated groupings that were all situated on attack lines that would bring them past the sides of the Zeus within a few minutes.
    Before that could happen hundreds, then thousands of drones began fanning out in front of the command ship in blockade formation as half a dozen jumpships also move into flanking positions and stared down the approaching Trinx ships, each of which was larger than any of the drones by a factor of 3, but they all massed considerably less than the jumpships. The wall of drones drifted forward and huge kinetic dampening shields were thrown up in front of the command ship by the Zeus and the jumpships surrounding it, should any of the Trinx ships want to live up to the example of their lizard allies and go kamikaze.
    They didn’t have the mass to punch through them, nor the speed, and as the seconds ticked by more and more drones were released and flew to strengthen the blockade that was becoming so numerous the Trinx could barely see the command ship through them.
    The Trinx kept coming through, firing with their long range weaponry in the form of tiny orange streaks that lit up drone shields in several select places. After a few seconds of concentrated fire the shields went down and the drones began to take hits as they likewise began returning fire with their long range Keema batteries, with it becoming clear that the Trinx intended to blow a hole through the Star Force lines and push through.
    Riley didn’t take part in the battle, rather staying online with the other seven races and watching as Paul handled the defense of his own ship. Normally Riley wouldn’t have liked that, but he knew Paul had slightly better naval skills than he had, and as much as he wanted to kick the crap out of the Trinx, he needed to feel out and cement what ties he could to the other races…and to do that he had to keep them talking.
    “I assume you all have a fairly decent idea of our combat capability?” he asked.
    “Yes,” the Jonstar said, growling with agitation, but Riley had a feeling it was more directed at the Trinx than him, though it might have been to the idea of watching a battle and not being in it, for the bear-like race looked like it was spoiling for a fight even when they were passive.
    “Then they should know they’re not getting through…and that we hold grudges.”
    “If the Hamoriti wakes,” the Sety said neutrally, “and your Chixzon is killed, the galaxy will be for the worse.”
    “We’re not waking it up fully, just enough to get your attention,” Riley said, glancing at the tree-like race. “And your heartfelt concern is noted.”
    “Then you are intentionally provoking them?” he accused.
    “We didn’t shoot first.”
    “None the less you are using the threat of the waking Hamoriti to precipitate this attack.”
    “Enough!” the Chamra demanded. “The Trinx have lost their sanity and are trying to destroy the very solution we have long sought, hoped, and pleaded for. I repeat, we are ready and able to intervene if you wish it.”
    “We’ve got this covered,” Riley said as the Trinx ships came within short weapons