Resilience (Warner's World Book 6) Read Free Page A

Val.
    “Yes that would be nice.”
    Val adjusted the controls to nudge the angle of the ship down relative to the planet. The ships thrusters compensated to keep the ship in geo stationary orbit over Rollinium. So now the first glow of the morning was appearing in the centre of the planet’s rim in front of them.
    They both sat back in their chairs and gazed in awe as the sun appeared to rise over the rim, even though it was the planet that was rotating and with it their ship. But the effect was magical no matter which way you liked to view it.
    Dave took a deep breath in, filling his lungs with air as the golden light seemed to fill his vista. He imagined he was back at Terra Fuago on Polaris where he had had his honeymoon with Rihan. Only there he could actually feel his body warm up under the rising sun. The memory of that warmth was good even if he was denied the actual experience of it here.
    He closed his eyes and he felt like he was being bathed in energy. It nourished his spirit. ‘And I need nourishing’ he said to himself. ‘How long can I…how long can we sustain this?’ he asked himself. He longed for a break. But he knew there was little prospect at the moment.
    He knew that there was a good chance the enemy would return in greater numbers. He had to stay though and defend Q2 till the Combined Fleet arrived at the end of the month. Then he hoped he and his overworked subordinates could get some rest.
    The image of the sun’s glow now imprinted onto his retinas reclaimed his focus and he rested in the space. It was just like in some of his meditations when the inner eye was filled with grace’s golden light. He revelled in it for a good two minutes.
    He opened his eyes and the sun was well and truly above the rim now. It was quite bright and he moved his hand to shield his eyes.
    “You missed most of it” observed Val.
    Dave smiled at her. “I got what I needed.”

Chapter 7. Kiev to Q2 2100, 7 September
    Phil was on his third beer for the night. He felt guilty but justified it on the grounds that it had been a hard day. He was lounging in the officers mess when Greta came in. She nodded and came over to him.
    “Message in from Pious” she said, referring to political officer Commodore Julian Pious.
    “And?”
    “He left for Cheklin in the Phantom four days ago when he got Evie’s message. Says he’s going to make the necessary arrangements…”
    Phil cut in “what necessary arrangements?”
    “I’m getting to that” she said a little irritated. “He says he’s going to make the necessary arrangements for the subordination of Federation assets in a combined Fleet under Resistance authority.”
    “Has he indeed” said Phil and took another swallow of his beer. “There was a time I thought I was the boss around here.”
    Greta was a mature woman blessed with good humour. She smiled as she gave a tilt of her head.
    “Anything more?” asked Phil.
    “Oh just that the Phantom has transferred all its remaining missiles to the Spectre and Raptor.”
    “Oh terrific, we are sending our most powerful frigate into harm’s way without any teeth.”
    “But it makes sense Sir. This is purely a non-combat mission and Q2 is the defensive priority, right?”
    “Yeah, yeah” said Phil. “Thank you and good night” he said with a wave of his hand. He got a frown from Greta in response. She turned and left.
    Phil took another swallow from his beer glass and leaned back into the lounge. ‘You get days like these’ he reminded himself. ‘It will pass.’

Chapter 8. Phantom over Cheklin 0400, 8 September
    Commander Aubrey Bellard had made sure her ship, the FFS Phantom, would arrive on the far side of Cheklin from its sun so they could take advantage of the dark to insert Cdre Julian Pious. He was a political officer and not her operational superior, but even in his combat gear, which seemed incongruous with the man she had come to know quite well, he still cut a commanding figure.
    They were