Star Crusades Nexus: Book 03 - Heroes of Helios Read Free Page A

perfect, but he’d done nothing that would harm the operation; it had just taken him two seconds longer than Jack knew it would have taken him. A magnetic seal unwound and clunked open, revealing a bright white light. Without the suit's protection, Jack would have been blinded for critical seconds. Luckily, the visor was designed to protect against the power of something like an unexpected solar flare. It adjusted its reflective and abort capabilities while deactivating the infrared mode.
    “Go!” Sergeant Stone called out.
    They were through the door and into a communal area of the ship. The floor was slightly rounded, and Jack could feel himself moved to the side. He hit the moving floor and then found himself planted as if on the ground.
    Artificial gravity, he mused, forgetting for a few seconds that many ships made use of rotating sections to produce useful levels of gravity on long journeys. The other marines joined him, and soon the entire unit was taking advantage of the gravity being offered.
    “Stay frosty and keep your magboots active. It won’t be like this for long.”
    They moved past the tables that were built into the walls and extended out just a few meters. Cupboards and lockers covered the outer surface, and bright strip boards bathed the area in a white light. On first glance, the place seemed untouched, but already Jack had spotted marks on the walls and scorch marks on the units.
    There’s been a fight here already.
    They reached the end of the room and another of the circular doorways. This time it was already open and led out into a small open area, with doors leading to other sections in the ship. Sergeant Stone stepped out and continued on. Jack glanced at his schematic overlay of this Ontario class freighter. The next section was one of the habitation segments, including a recreational area and access to sleeping quarters, then came the engineering, and finally the bridge.
    “Okay, third team has reached the motor control units. They will deactivate the system on my mark. Be ready people,” the Sergeant said without pausing.
    They passed through the small square space and the next door into the recreational area. Computer displays were fitted into plinths along the walls, as well as a holographic projector unit in the center of the room. There were large burn marks on the walls in this section as well as black colored stains.
    Blood.
    Jack shook his head at the sight; he knew full well that if they’d taken lives, the hostage takers would be prepared to go further. He could only hope there were no explosives on board. The rest of the unit moved into position, all of them stationary like armored sentinels.
    “Now!” cried Sergeant Stone.
    A sick feeling spread through Jack’s body as the artificial gravity cut inside the ship. Two seconds later, the circular door blew open to reveal the large habitation area. Directly in front was a man in brown trousers, a dull shirt and flak jacket that was open to the waist. He hung onto the grab rail on the wall while his legs flailed about in the air. In his right hand was a heavily modified pistol.
    “Watch out!” he cried, but it was too late.
    A powerful flash erupted from its muzzle, and the first marine at the door was knocked backward from the impact. Jack didn’t have time to check the injuries but pushed himself through the gap and deactivated his boots. The rest of the marines pulled inside and reattached their boots to the ground. Jack, however, sailed through the interior of the ship in total silence, spinning slightly as he went. Everything appeared to him as though it was a slow motion dream. Sergeant Stone had already killed the armed man with a double tap to his head and chest. More armed men tried to find cover, but it was too little, too late. Jack took aim at a man reaching for a thermal shotgun and fired a single round, striking the man in the stomach. The impact blew him back, and he spun out of control. Jack grabbed the closest