Sterling Squadron Read Online Free PDF

It is death. Do you understand?”
    Ethan wasn’t sure he should answer, but he did anyway.
    “Yes, ma’am. Absolutely.”
    “I wonder if you do. Your flight training is suspended until further notice. You are assigned to sewer maintenance duty until I see fit to review your case.”
    Ethan lost the ability to speak. He somehow managed a simple nod.
    He’d known he’d get
some
punishment, but no flying? Maybe forever?
    The last few weeks, he’d soared through the clouds, skimmed mountaintops, and felt a pure freedom he’d never experienced before. Flying had become part of him.
    This wasn’t fair. He wanted to say something, but he instinctively knew that keeping his mouth shut (no matter how hard it was) would be the best way to help his case.
    Colonel Winter stepped up to Paul.
    “Permission to speak in my defense,” Paul said.
    “Denied,” she told him.
    Paul’s lips compressed as if he were physically restraining the words.
    “Let’s see if I have this right,” the colonel said. “You were bested in the flight simulator by Trainee Blackwood. You violated our three-or-none fly policy, then initiated an illegal race and were ambushed by Ch’zar ninja-class arachnid units. Mr. Blackwood saved your life. And for his trouble, because of your wounded pride, you assaulted him in front of a landing bay full of witnesses. Is that correct?”
    Paul looked unconcerned by her accusations, and the faintest tremor of a smile flickered in the scarred corner of his mouth. “Yes, ma’am, those are the facts.”
    Ethan couldn’t believe it.
    Paul acted like all he had to do was explain himself and Colonel Winter would understand—and pat him on the back!
    But before Paul could say anything, she leaned closer and whispered, “Do you know what your worst mistake was, Hicks?”
    The word
mistake
stumped Paul.
    It was like she spoke a different language. He had no answer.
    “Your first duty was to the trainees. You should’veadmitted your loss in the simulator and showed the others how Mr. Blackwood had won.”
    At this, Ethan’s chest puffed with pride.
    “And,” Colonel Winter continued, “showed them how that would have gotten him killed in the real world. You, Blackwood,
everyone
would have learned a valuable lesson.”
    Ethan deflated.
    Paul’s gaze dropped to the floor and strands of sandy hair fell into his face.
    “You are my greatest disappointment, Mr. Hicks.” She stepped back from him, shaking her head. “I thought we could forge you into something better. Maybe they were right to put you where we found you.”
    Ethan didn’t understand. Where had they “found” him? The colonel couldn’t mean
outside
the Seed Bank base. Dr. Irving had said Ethan had been the only neighborhood-raised kid to successfully fly an I.C.E. suit.
    “I’m going to save this base the trauma of general court-martial,” Colonel Winter whispered. “You would certainly be found guilty, and I cannot bring myself to think of what punishment a jury of officers would hand down.”
    For a moment she looked as if she wanted to give Paul a consoling hug … but then she took a deep breath,straightened her uniform, and the microscopic hint of warmth was gone.
    “My summary judgment is this,” she said. “You, Paul Hicks, are hereby stripped of your flight status and rank. I sentence you to two years in the brig. Perhaps when you are released, you will be an asset to the Resistance. For now, however, you are a danger to yourself and to everyone here.”
    Paul staggered back as if she’d hit him. The scars on his face drew tight and turned bone white.
    In two years Paul would be an adult. He’d never be able to leave the base again—never fly again.
    Despite everything that had happened, Ethan felt sorry for him.
    Colonel Winter opened her office door. She pointed at Paul and told the two guards, “Take this prisoner to the brig.”
    The military police escorted Paul out, his head hung low.
    He stopped, turned, and glared