Starship Eternal (War Eternal Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her fighter.
    Mitchell stopped breathing. Everything froze at that moment except for the streak of thrusters from the rear of Ella's ship. Then it too was gone, joined with the chink in the behemoth's armor and then expanded by the force of the nuclear explosion.

4

    Mitchell was still sitting at the table when Evan entered the bar. The Corporal didn't even need to scan the floor, his eyes shooting right to the corner.
    "You were supposed to meet me at the hotel," he said. He found a chair, slid it over to the table, and sat down.
    "I didn't invite you," Mitchell said. His eyes were red and his voice was dry despite how much he'd already had to drink.
    "Can I join you?"
    "No."
    Evan leaned in, keeping his voice low. "Look Mitch, I know you've been having a hard time since Ella died. This stuff," he waved at the empty bottle of whiskey on the table, "It isn't going to help."
    Mitchell didn't react. They'd had this conversation before. Two days ago. He was tired of hearing it.  
    "She's the hero," he said. "She died to save this planet, and all she gets is a posthumous Medal of Courage and her name on a plaque. What the hell am I doing to honor her? I'm running around pretending that I took the damn Shot Heard 'Round the Universe and screwing rich celebrities."
    "Beautiful, rich celebrities," Evan said.
    "That's not the point."
    "You've heard this before, Captain, but it seems when you're fuzzy you need to have it spelled out. The Alliance got owned by one Federation dreadnought. One. Try to let that sink into your neurons again. The fact is, we've been under-budgeted and stretched too thin for decades. Jeez, outside of the Moray and maybe the Zombie, our equipment is inferior, and getting more inferior every year. Corporations running economies? They're spinning figure-eights around us, and testing the value of things like freedom and choice with every new piece of tech they put into the field. Do you know what it means to public relations to have you running out there and building support? Do you know what it means to enlistment numbers, or when budgets are set next year? We can't do that with a corpse."
    Mitchell's drunk, angry glare was only slightly less threatening than his regular angry glare.  
    "All I'm saying is that this is bigger than you and me. I know the brass is feeding you the bullshit to spill on live streams, but you can't tell me you don't believe in any of it."
    "You don't think I know all of this. I'm tired of being a pony. I'm more useful out there, as part of this thing. I'm a frigging pilot."
    "Not anymore. Now you're a figurehead. There are a lot of perks."
    Mitchell thought of Tamara. It was fun, but it didn't mean that much to him when his guard was down. That she was a rich celebrity? There were plenty of poor, unknown prostitutes with nice bodies and a lot of enthusiasm. "I'm a fraud. A complete fraud."
    "That wasn't your decision to make. The Space Marines own you. The Alliance owns you. They want you to be their poster boy. You don't have to like it, you just have to do it. Soldier up, Captain."
    Mitchell sighed and tried to decide if he should punch the Corporal or not. "Tough love again?"
    "I keep trying a different approach. You're a stubborn son of a bitch, and I'm tired of having this conversation."
    "I want to get back in a cockpit."
    "We both know that isn't going to happen. You're done with combat."
    Another sigh. "I need another drink."
    Evan put his hand on Mitchell's shoulder. "We have to get going, Captain. We're running behind schedule as it is. The transport's waiting at the spaceport, the car's waiting at the hotel."
    Mitchell was still for a few seconds. He stared down at the empty shot glass, and then nodded. When he was drinking, he always decided he preferred to be sober. When he was sober, he always wanted to be drinking. "Trapped like a rat in a cage."
    "A well-fed rat in a gilded cage."
    That one earned a small smile. Mitchell put his hand down on the table and shook his