Involve: Lost Fagaran Ship, #3

By Edward Antrobus

Victory comes with a price

For Jim and his crew, victory came at a price higher than expected. The Razak have been beaten back, for now, but the Resolve is stranded in the outer solar system.

The Star Destroyer has the parts they need, but also forces Jim to face what he's done. When Jim seeks absolution for his actions, he puts his crew, and Earth, back in risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ash Roberts
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393753018

Book preview

I

The flight back to Earth was subdued. They'd said their goodbyes to Brua and the rest of the Starfall's crew and passengers. Brua had made one more attempt to recruit them to the Fagare cause, but Jim and the others just wanted to go home.

Jim couldn't bring himself to feel upset about what happened any more. Maybe the Razak would have never come to the solar system if they hadn't uncovered the ship, but maybe they would have discovered it anyway and there would have been nobody to defend Earth. During all the death and destruction that had occurred over the past forty-eight hours, the Razak had been given numerous opportunities to back off. They'd forced his hand, and Jim could only play the cards he had. Folding hadn’t been an option.

But as much as they all wanted to return home, Jim knew their lives could never be the same again. For one, apparently there was a wedding to plan. Jim was slowly coming around to the idea of his daughter marrying Bobby, but not thinking about it for long stretches still helped ease that particular discomfort.

They'd also been gone for almost two weeks. Mario would have fired them by now and found another crew to replace them. Jim just hoped that their equipment, which included his home, hadn't been towed off to the impound. It struck him as funny that they’d just saved the world—twice –and he still didn’t have enough money for a tow.

We will be hitting the atmosphere in five. Bobby’s voice broke Jim from his reverie. Please fasten your seatbelts and put your tray in the upright position.

Melissa snorted. And, there it is again. The reminder that his little girl was getting married. Money woes had momentarily distracted him but wait, how am I going pay for a wedding?

The viewscreen showed the rounded nose of the Resolve hitting the atmosphere as an envelope of air glowed red around them. As before, a week ago—or was it a lifetime ago?—the inertial dampeners and shield smoothed out the ride so that Jim would have never they were heating up to life-threatening degrees.

Take us home, Bobby, Jim said.

Got it. Bobby paused before adding, Dad. He cracked a small grin as he awaited Jim’s reaction.

Jim’s lips turned the opposite direction. Don’t.

Bobby dropped his head and turned his attention back to the controls. They broke through the cloud deck revealing a patchwork of greens and browns.

Jim leaned forward, straining his eyes in search of their landing site and, hopefully, their equipment.  What’s up with that dust cloud? He pointed at a plume in the corner of the screen.

Maybe the weather’s changing, Mellissa said. You know how it blows when it warms up.

Or cools down, Bobby added. Or it’s Tuesday.

It’s Sunday, Chris said.

Doesn’t look right for the wind, Jim interjected before the two could start arguing again. Look how it starts off real narrow and then billows out. Wait, where are we in relation to Fifty?

Melissa tapped a few keys at her console and a street map overlay the view. You’re right. Somebody’s hauling ass over that old dirt road.

Jim scratched his chin. Probably street racers. Although why they’d want to tear up their suspension on that washboard is beyond me. Just make sure we land well clear of them. Don’t want my first breath of fresh air in a week to be filled with dust.

Bobby nodded and banked to the north as they descended. The plume expanded as the masked vehicles turned onto Fifty-Three.

Looks, like their following us. Definitely not street racers. Jim hunched closer to the screen, willing the view to clear.

You don’t think its Jenkins again, do you? Melissa’s brows knitted together as she leaned forward as well.

Why use ground vehicles when they have jets? Chris flicked off the safety on his console. You want me to—

No, Jim cut him off. Let’s land and see what we’re facing.

Bobby flew them over to a field near where their cars were still parked. The thrusters blew stones away from below them, which bounced against their vehicles.

Watch out for my paint job! Melissa yelled.

Bobby grunted, not turning his attention away from his task. He had to be feeling the weight of his earlier, unsuccessful landing at the Air Force Base in the mountains. The ship wobbled slightly as they hovered a few feet above the ground. Bobby eased forward on the throttle but went a little too far and the engines went out. The ship dropped with a thud that nearly threw Jim from his seat. He had expected something like that to happen and had maintained an iron grip on the way down. He was sick of getting hurt falling out of his own chair.

They gathered the meager belongings they had on the ship and headed down the cargo door. Be careful, Jim told them. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.

A series of bright, white lights flashed in his face. He pushed Melissa down and covered her with his body. Chris dropped down beside them. Still blinded by the light, Jim felt, rather than saw, Chris pull out the Razak pistol they’d liberated from Krazirk after his capture.

He’s got a gun, somebody yelled and a chorus of shouts and sounds of beating feet ensued.

Jim rubbed his eyes as his vision