Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel (12 page)

She gripped his ass and pulled him in, rocking herself faster as he pounded against her. Warmth spread through her body, a steady rise of pleasure, the urgent burning of desire as she felt her control slipping away.

Here in his arms, filled by the strength and passion of his control and his need, she was safe. She was home. The world slipped away as her focus narrowed. Her world was all pleasure and sensation. Her eyes closed as it overcame her.

His body tensed as he drove himself into her with all the force and passion and power of a warrior, every stroke driving her closer to the edge. Her body tingled as she dug her nails into his back, clenching the golden skin that radiated with his arousal, glowing more brightly with every thrust.

She felt him stiffen inside her as he bent in closer. The low growl of his voice as he built toward his climax surged through her. Her senses filled the intensity of his need.

And she needed him, too. She released herself to the moment, allowing the warmth to overtake her. She pressed her lips to his shoulder, moaning into his skin as the feeling consumed her. Electricity coursed through her, an explosion she couldn’t contain. She squeezed herself around him, bucking and thrashing as she came.

Ja’al held her body fast, driving himself deep inside her as his breath grew shallow. She felt the warmth of his breath on her cheeks, quicker now, and more intense as his eyes closed. His body quaked and pulsed inside her as she felt the heat of his seed spilling inside her.

His muscles relaxed as he collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily, the smile of release on his lips.

Kira leaned back into the pillow as he gently caressed her face, smiling in the soft light of the room.

“We have to survive,” she said. “No way I’m giving that up.”

“We will,” said Ja’al. His voice was steady and certain. “I believe in you, Kira Thorne.”

She leaned back and gazed at the rock ceiling in a haze of satisfaction and exhaustion. She hoped she was up to the challenge. Here in Ja’al’s arms, it all seemed so easy. But in the heat of battle, with her team depending on her to make the right decisions, would she be able to do what was necessary?

Kira pushed the doubts from her mind, relaxing into Ja’al’s comforting embrace. He believed in her. Had seen something inside her and drawn it out. Now she just needed to believe herself. And she was running out of time.

Chapter 13

When Ja’al arrived at the War Room, most of the other senior officers had already arrived. Jalai, the Malotravian woman who led the rebel marines, and Rymar, the strategy officer, sat in silence. Ja’al nodded to each in turn. Though Ja’al was technically their superior officer, the rank carried little weight under such dire circumstances. The tension in the atmosphere made a formal salute feel unnecessary and out of place, and he didn’t expect one. Considering the stand that he was about to take, it was better this way.

Tyrus entered next, but his usual, lighthearted smile had vanished. He, too, understood the gravity of their predicament. And though his levity might bring some much needed relief, he didn’t want to push.

He’s so young, thought Ja’al. But at seventeen, Tyrus had already been through more than most of the cadets. He grew up among the Gamma Raiders before the rebellion began. And he understood the weight of their mission. It had been seared into his soul, alongside his technical expertise. It saddened Ja’al to see someone his age shoulder the burden of command. But there were few he’d rather have at his side.

When Prince Adaar joined them, the small cadre of officers rose to greet him before taking their seats around the small, round table in the center of the room.

“We’re all here because we have a decision to make,” said Adaar. “I won’t sugar-coat the situation. There is no time to waste.”

His words hung heavy in the air, clinging to the thick rock walls like moss. It seemed fitting, deep inside the belly of an asteroid, that the walls felt like they were closing in around them.

“Each of you are here because you’re the most trusted of my officers. I’m relying on your wisdom and experience to help make a difficult decision.”

Ja’al was grateful for the Prince’s desire to consider the perspectives of people close to him. He may not share Kira’s ability to read people, but he did understand the wisdom in considering the opinions and views of people with varying backgrounds and expertise. That quality was one of the reasons Ja’al had fled Kamara with him so long ago. It was why he was willing to follow him still, risking his life for the Rebellion. The respect was mutual.

Adaar powered up the holodisplay, projecting a luminous three-dimensional map of the Gamma quadrant into the air. With a wave of his hands, he marked the Rebel base on the edge of the Dennegar belt, and then scrolled and rotated the image to mark the location of the gathering Imperial fleet.

“The Kamarans have assembled a fleet here in the system. A course of action they would only take if they had discovered the location of the base.” said Adaar.

Ja’al studied the image in front of them, making a mental note of the distance they would need to travel. The fleet was too close. When the attack began, there wouldn’t be much time to react.

“And their numbers have grown,” said Adaar. He zoomed in on the image, showing a new model of star destroyer. It was surrounded by a swarm of fighters that flitted about the perimeter of the fleet, ready to take immediate defensive action at any sign of a threat.

“What about a pre-emptive strike?” said Jelai. “They still think they’re hidden from us. With the element of surprise on our side, we could do some heavy damage. If we take out the destroyer, the rest would retreat.”

Adaar nodded. “You’re right, Jelai. The cloaking devices that Tyrus developed for the Raiders would allow us to get in and do some heavy damage to their fleet. At the least, it would buy us some time.”

Ja’al shook his head. “No.”

He exchanged a meaningful look with Prince Adaar. The prince undoubtedly understood the reasons for his hesitation.

“It’s a temporary solution,” said Ja’al. “They still know the location of our base. Even if we’re able to get in and scatter this assault, it’ll only be a matter of time before they’re back. And next time, they’ll be prepared. They won’t give us the opportunity to get the jump on them again. We don’t have the forces ... or the capabilities to hold out here forever.”

“It would buy us time to secure a treaty with the Human Systems Alliance. With their resources and their aid, we could shore up our defensive capabilities here. Make it a losing proposition for them to attack us,” said Rymar.

“Yes,” said Adaar. “Our allies will be imperative if we’re to win. And while our negotiations with the Human Systems Alliance are progressing, they won’t be able to commit resources in time.”

Tyrus shifted in his chair, hesitating to speak. “I could adapt the cloaking tech to hide our base,” he said. “Make them think we left.”

Jelai smiled and punched his shoulder. “A little strategic deception? Not bad, kid. Not bad at all.”

“It’s a good idea,” said Ja’al. “But it still leaves us vulnerable. They’ll figure it out, eventually.”

Adaar nodded. “If the Kamarans are anything,” he said, “they’re ruthless and thorough. Even if they think we’ve left, they’ll send the fleet in to make sure we have nothing to come back to.”

Ja’al said what he’d been avoiding. “We have to evacuate,” he said. “It’s the only way.”

“You’re suggesting that we tuck tail and run?” said Jelai. “I thought you were a warrior Ja’al. Fearless. Honorable. There’s no honor in running.”

“There’s honor in living to fight another day,” he said. “There’s honor in making sure we’re around long enough to free the rest of the galaxy from the Empire’s tyranny. If we stay here and allow ourselves to be slaughtered, we’re not helping anyone. The honor of our mission is more than suicidal bravery.”

“I say you’re a coward,” said Jelai.

“Stop!” said Adaar, slamming his fist on the table in front of him. Every eye in the room turned to him. “I won’t tolerate fighting among you. I’m depending on you to work together. The galaxy is depending on you to work together. If we devolve to fighting amongst ourselves, the Kamarans have already won.”

Ja’al and Jelai exchanged a heated glance and turned their attention back to the prince.

“I trust everyone in this room. I called this meeting so I could hear all of your opinions. Ja’al, you think it’s best to evacuate?”

Ja’al nodded solemnly. He swallowed. Dryness burned in his throat. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Kira. He wouldn’t send her to her death. “I see no other choice, sir.”

“One problem,” said Rymar. “Even if that’s our best course of action, we’ll never be able to get away in time. The minute they see our ships on their scanners, they’ll come in to finish the job. They’re just too close. We’ll never be able to evacuate in time.”

“Unless we send in the Storm Squadron to cover our escape,” said Jelai, glancing to Ja’al.

Adaar nodded. “It would be a diversion. We throw them enough to keep them busy.” He looked to Ja’al, a knowing expression on his face, searching for agreement.

Standing and facing them, Ja’al struggled to maintain his composure. Sending Kira into a situation like that was too much. It was suicide. Even if they’d had more time to train, it wasn’t survivable. The officers were ordering her to her death.

“I can’t agree to this,” said Ja’al. “There has to be another way.”

“I don’t want her to die either,” said Tyrus.

Ja’al’s stomach sank. Were his motives that transparent? “That’s not what this is about,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to die.”

“Thank the gods somebody said it,” said Rymar. “I get it, Ja’al. It’s not every day you meet somebody who turns your world upside down. But you’ve got to think about the greater good, here, mate.”

Ja’al could feel the walls closing in around him. “You’re all so ready to throw them into the fire. Just sacrificial pawns on the game board. That sounds a lot like the Empire to me.”

“Enough,” said Adaar. He laid his hand on Ja’al’s shoulder. “This is the last thing I want, Ja’al.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen the way she’s changed you. And I want nothing more than for you and Kira to live out the rest of your days together, fighting side by side to make the galaxy better for everyone.”

“Don’t throw her life away,” said Ja’al. “Please.”

Adaar looked around at the officers. “Rymar, you’ve run the numbers?”

“Yes, sir.” The Yordaskian nodded, his face twitching as he avoided eye contact with Ja’al. “I’m afraid it doesn’t look good. While the chance of survival exists … the commander is correct. We’re sending them to die.”

“Every one of our soldiers, every one of our pilots, knew the risks involved when the volunteered their service in the rebellion,” said Adaar. “They understood that one day, they may be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Ja’al’s blood boiled. They couldn’t ask her to slap a smile on her face and march to her death. It violated everything the Rebellion stood for. It made them no better than the Empire. The recruits needed to be told what they’re up against.

“We have to tell them,” said Ja’al after a long moment. “They need to know that this mission is different. When they joined our ranks, they all knew they were risking their lives. But risk is not the same as sacrifice. We can’t order them to do this. We should ask for volunteers.”

“Any real warrior would gladly volunteer,” said Jelai. “Sacrificing one’s life so others can fight on is an honorable death.”

“There’s honor in doing it willingly. Ordering them to do it, without explaining why, makes us no better than the Empire.”

“You’d sentence the rest of us to death to save your woman? There’s no honor in that,” said Jelai.

She challenged his character, but Ja’al refused to take the bait. Fighting amongst themselves wouldn’t solve anything. “All I’m asking,” said Ja’al, “is that we give them a choice. Call for volunteers. I won’t stand for tyranny.”

He looked Jelai in the eye, and added: “And if my position causes you to doubt my character, I will resign my commission.”

Silence hung heavy. Adaar looked to Ja’al, his lips drawn tight. “The Commander is right. If we sink to their level, then everything we stand for is a lie. We will call for volunteers to stay behind and cover our escape.”

***

Ja’al stood in the glass alcove off the Prince’s private chambers, gazing out at the view of the stars shimmering through the Dennegar belt. One of the few places in the rebel headquarters that the stars could be seen, the view offered a sense of openness, hope, and possibility that was easily forgotten deep inside the claustrophobic asteroid.

“I’ve always trusted you, Ja’al,” said Prince Adaar, joining the commander in the glass enclosure with a glass of ormalon in his hand. “Since we were young, I’ve relied on your advice to temper my haste. I value your friendship. And I trust your judgment in this matter. I’m sorry it has come to this. It’s not an easy decision for any of us.”

Ja’al remained silent, watching the stars disappear behind the blanket of rock. The prince understood his motives. Understood that while he meant every word he said about honor and tyranny, his desire to protect Kira underscored his impassioned stance.

“You care about her,” said Adaar. “More than you’re willing to admit.” He handed Ja’al a glass of the glowing red liquid. “It’s never easy holding the fate of so many in your hands,” he said. “Especially someone you love.”

The scent of the ormalon wafted into his nostrils as he swirled the contents of the glass around before taking a fiery sip. “It’s my fault she’s in this,” Ja’al said at last. “I was the one who encouraged her to join the Storm Squadron. If I’d know that it would come to this—”

“You always knew the risk. And you believed in her. Believed in her ability to hold her own out there. Has your opinion changed?”

“No,” said Ja’al. “She’s a good pilot, and a great leader. Or at least, she’s on the verge of greatness. But this …. This is too soon. Their training isn’t complete. If I had a little more time …”

Adaar set his glass down on the table and stepped forward to the edge of the alcove, peering out at the field of asteroids and stars. “The life we’ve chosen is dangerous. We’ve always had targets on our backs.”

“It shouldn’t have come to this,” said Ja’al. “Targets on our backs or not, we should have been safe here. At least for a while longer. The Empire shouldn’t have been able to find us so fast.”

The prince nodded solemnly. “Indeed,” he said. “With all the cloaking tech that Tyrus has installed and all the security precautions we’ve taken our location should have been safe.”

“Which begs the question—what the hell happened?”

“You already know the answer to that. There’s a traitor in our midst,” said Adaar.

Ja’al swore under his breath, a curse he hadn’t used since his childhood on the streets of Kamara. It was the only conclusion that made any sense. “But who would betray us? Why?”

“I don’t know, Ja’al. But I assure you, we’ll find out. Tyrus is analyzing the communication logs. We’ll find the traitor. As to why … I can only assume that whoever did this believed they were doing the right thing.”

“We should have been more careful. Kira’s life is in danger, and it’s my fault.”

“You can’t take responsibility for this, Ja’al. Self-reproach will get you nowhere. We must learn from what happened and make the next right move. Rumination will only cloud your judgment.”