Torian Reclamation 2: Flash Move Read Free

vessel in reaction, as if the ball of light reached out with an arm, and consumed the entire line of oncoming Dirg fighters. They all detonated in a near-instant chain reaction. The arm of white light then extended into the Dirg transport fleet. Their transport ships began exploding as well, spectacularly. The video screen became a fireworks show, with great white fireballs clearing momentarily here and there to reveal the decreasing size of the Dirg fleet.
    “Get us out of here!” Errshlin shouted on the ship’s intercom. Pointship immediately began moving backwards and the scene on the video screen grew distant.
    “We’re all safely away, sir,” a voice crackled back on the intercom. “No damage to any of our ships or fighters.”
    The great ray of white light that was destroying the Dirg fleet then retracted back into the light ball. The light ball settled into a dimmer glow, still completely immersing the vessel, but the outline of the old Azaarian warship could now be seen within the light. It was still in there.
    The remaining Dirg fleet cleared out of the salvage area themselves and approached the Latian position. They assumed a combative stance and launched more fighters. No doubt they were attributing the destruction of a third of their fleet to the Latians, and were extremely upset. Claiming ownership of that saucer craft may not have been such a smart move after all.
    “I only count twenty eight of them left, sir,” Murrkal said.
    “Yes,” Errshlin replied. “With two or three squadrons of their fighters already destroyed. Scramble all our reserves, Captain.”
    He turned to the Dirgs. The three of them were hissing and pulsating rapidly again.
    “The odds appear to be much more even now, Commander Jojob, if you’re still up for that fight.”
     

Sinlo Mountains C3 Amulen

Chapter One
     
    Jumper knew his friend was scared. Not that Alan lacked courage. Their situation had become precarious, the result of climbing much higher than they were supposed to. The rumors about the mountain dwellers were enough to keep sensible Torians at lower elevations, and no other humans would dare venture anywhere near this area. But Jumper enjoyed his reputation at the Earth colony for being adventurous, and needed a constant supply of new stories to tell if he was to keep it up.
    “I don’t like the way they have us surrounded,” Alan said in a low voice. “Let’s finish this thing and get out of here, if we can.”
    Jumper broke his concentration from the game and surveyed their surroundings. Alan did have a good point. The audience of charcoal-hued, leather-skinned Amulites was now arranged in a semicircle behind them on the partial clearing, and blocking every possible exit.
    Well, every possible exit except one.
    “I think you’re right,” Jumper said. “Hey, we came up here to give these suits a proper testing, didn’t we?”
    “I was afraid you’d say that.” Alan’s short blonde hair was standing straight up from the breeze.
    Jumper chuckled. “Relax. We know they work, right?”
    “No, we don’t. Not from these heights. That leap we took in the foothills was nothing, Jumper, and you know it.”
    “There might not be another way down now. This is what we wanted to do anyway—kind of.”
    Alan looked around nervously. “I must confess I was planning to let you go first—and hopefully off a slope, not a sheer cliff face.”
    “Right,” Jumper said. “Me first, as always. My dad sure is lucky to have me.”
    “If these things don’t work better than his last invention, he may not have you much longer.”
    Jumper’s opponent made a grunting noise indicating a growing impatience. That was good and bad. Good if he could be pushed off-kilter by a little gamesmanship. Bad if the mountain dwellers would consider it cheating and decide to administer their own form of quick justice. Jumper noticed several of them held hand weapons as they watched.
    Jumper quickly moved a piece to a spot in the