16
"You know, if we weren't coming for him, your father would love this," Veta said, turning to wink at Caoimhe as she flew through the battle in space.
Terran military fighters were everywhere, looking like a field of blinking toys in the stars.Veta swung the ship up and down and around the fighting as best she could.
Blinking toys that were trying to kill them, which added a layer of tension.If it were an image, Caoimhe might have thought it pretty a year ago.Or a great promotional piece to promote the Terran Empire's military.Now, though?She wanted to tear it apart and turn them all into farmers or something, and help the Terrans who really need help.
The surrealness of the Terran Empire shooting at her was just as terrifying today as it was initially when she was in the escape pod.Worse now, because she was firing back.
Technically, not her personally, but Freya ran the weaponry.
Bianca stood by Eleanor and Caoimhe, having gotten out of their seats after they'd cleared atmosphere for a better view of what was going on outside.At least, that was Caoimhe's excuse, to know what was going on.And possibly see Bahran's fighter while she was at it.Though she had no way of being sure.
She'd found it annoyingly cute that he'd wanted to keep her back on the moon to keep her safe.He even tried being diplomatic about it.Too bad he didn't understand female stubbornness yet.
Oh well.She'd just have to teach him.
"Your father would be, in his way," Bianca said, a bit of a smile on her face.Not wistful, but almost dutifully done.Like she'd done for a decade since their mother had died.
Caoimhe glanced at her."You do not have to defend him."
She shrugged."A habit I need to quit."
"After today, you should not have to."
She patted Caoimhe's arm."No, I should not.I am learning how a real male treats a female, and I am not about to go back to being anything for the Emperor."
"After today, I don't think that will be a problem," Caoimhe said.
Caoimhe had to bring this to an end.She had to.There was no other way.The Terran Empire could not wipe out or envelope another species because they could.It wasn't right, it wasn't fair, and it certainly would not be tolerated if Caoimhe was in charge.
Logically, she knew there was only one option to stop this completely.And she had to prepare herself mentally for what she would have to do.While she wondered if she was any better than her father, knowing that likely her confrontation with him would at the very least, end with one of them in prison, or dead.
She hoped it wasn't her.
The ship lurched from a volley of blaster shots.
"Veta!"
"This isn't a luxury cruise, Princess, this is a battle.There will be bumps."She jerked the ship's controls and the three of them all fell into one another near the back.
"You did that on purpose!"Eleanor said.
"Probably," Veta replied."Now strap back in or shut up.We're about to enter the Terran front lines."
"Shielding at maximum possible," Freya said.
The attack shifted, and got stronger.More Terrans surrounded them.
"I really think we should have come using a Terran vessel," Eleanor muttered.
"Because the Rhimodians just have those lying around on their landing pods."
"We could have stolen one," Eleanor said.
"Again, where would they--" Veta was cut short when alarms started blaring.Her attention shifted to piloting their ship.
The ship rocked back and forth, Veta testing the inertial dampeners as she darted in and out of attacking ships.
