Fic: The Summer Intern (cont.)

[jeriendhal]

“You stupid bitch,” Greycoat repeated, nearly panting in panic.  “You stupid, stupid bitch!”  He transitioned the thrusters forward and the little cargo vessel began to pick up speed, leaving the rangers and slavers behind.
 
“What do you think you’re going to do now?” she asked.
 
“Get away,” he said.  “I can still make it through the gap in the orbital picket line.  Then once we’ve gone superluminal I’m going to frelling space you.”  He pulled the sidestick back and the cargo ship’s nose angled upward as they climbed out of the atmosphere.
 
There was a flash of cannon fire outside the front windscreen and a then a needle shaped fighter crossed in front of them, swerving in its flight path until it was right beside them, the black chess piece logo highly visible against its gleaming white hull.
 
This is Lady Meribeth Brushtail piloting the White Knight, calling you on behalf of the First Free Ferin, of the Ferin Autonomous Region, came a welcome voice over the bridge’s com.  Level out your angle of flight, lower your landing gear and prepare to be escorted to a secure landing area for your surrender.
 
“Fragg off!” Greycoat shouted.
 
There is no escape.  I can outmaneuver you and out accelerate you. I also outgun you, and I certainly outclass you. If you do not follow instructions you will be fired upon and destroyed, Meribeth warned.  Through the bridge’s windows Nan could see the noblevixen looking back at them, a smaller figure in a flight suit and helmet, with a large bundle in their lap, sitting in the rear seat.
 
“You’re still going to let me go!” Greycoat called back.  “I’ve got Miss Clawstroke with me as a hostage!”
 
There was a brief pause.  Prove it.  Let me speak to her, she demanded.
 
“You heard her.  Speak up,” Greycoat demanded.  Nan remained silent, wishing her hands were free so she could make a rude gesture at him.  He responded to her obstinacy by reaching across the cockpit and slapping her hard across the face.
 
“Ow!  All right, I’m here!” Nan shouted.  “But you can’t let him get away, he killed one of the joeys!  Shoot us down!”

"They won't do that, it's against police procedure," Greycoat said. "They'll follow at a distance, hoping to figure out a way to box us in before we reach a border the Military Service can't cross."

I repeat, land immediately. Meribeth emphasized the command by firing another volley across their bow.

"Get fragged," Greycoat muttered, shutting off the com. "If she were serious, we'd be dead by now."

"You're not going to even make orbit," Nan said, taking deep breath and making a silent prayer to the Holy Den Mother.

"What's going to stop me?" he asked.

"Me!" Nan lifted her legs, feeling her injured spine twist painfully as she raised her legs up and jammed her foot pads against the co-pilot's side stick and throttle. The engines roared and the ship nosed hard downward as Greycoat fought to regain control, trying to pull his own controls back against the force of Nan's legs.

"What are you doing, you moron? We're going to crash!"

"I'd rather be dead than let you get away!" she shouted back.

He drew out his pistol to finally shoot her, but Nan pushed the side stick over and the ship began to turn over onto its back as he fired. Greycoat's shot went wide and blew through the heavy transparent composite shell of the side windscreen, blasting Nan as she tried to duck her head between her knees to avoid the blast of hurricane force of air and rain that suddenly filled the cabin.

"Cold and Dark I can't see!" Greycoat shouted, dropping his pistol and grabbing the controls again. Nan felt her stomach drop down from freefall as he leveled out and tried to focus again on the instruments.

That was when the village tree appeared in front of them and the ship smashed into the upper branches, tearing through only to drop down hard into a wide river, the ship's nose burying itself into the silt of the opposite bank.

TBC

Comments

[lilfluff.livejournal.com]

O.O!

Yow! You go Nan! (Now just live through it too, okay?)

[mjkj.livejournal.com]

Yay for Meribeth and the White Knight :D you go girl...

Wow, Nan, that was quite Heroic - I just hope that Greycoat is immobilized until help arrives at the banks and secures him...

mjkj

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised the shot took out the window, given what can happen with very high speed collisions with debris in space. Unless the window is only strong enough for the job when struck from the outside?

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Watsonian Explanation: All FTL spacecraft in this universe have what are called "dust jacket generators" that protect them debris and hydrogen particles when they're travelling superluminal. That eliminates the need for heavier windows, especially given this a Crapsack Universe where any chance for a ship building company to skimp on safety they will use.

Doylist Explanation: Rule of Drama. :)

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

well played XD