Free Chain of Shadows (Blood Skies, Book 6) by Steven Montano Page B

doors at either end.  The green metal was stark and cold, and Ronan thought the living space had all the homey charm of a set of steak knives. 
    Stark was on his feet, holding on to one of the weapons racks and looking up at the ceiling as if some hidden power of x-ray vision would reveal the answer to his question.  Reza had been busy loading magazines and Creasy, like Ronan, had decided to get some sleep.   Grail was seated on the floor of the cabin, his face-mask on and his bow across his lap while he meditated or prayed or did whatever it was the Lith did. 
    Ronan blinked, and sat up.  Though the cots had safety belts so sleepers could strap themselves down in case of emergency he hadn’t bothered to use them.  Ronan didn’t like being locked into anything, even if it was for his own good.  His neck was stiff, his eyes were blurry and his tongue was dry with the taste of something rotten. 
    Another blast shook the vessel, and Ronan was thrown from the cot.  He reached out and grabbed the wall and only barely avoided falling on his face.  They heard metal ripping in the distance as something tore away from the ship.
    “ That can’t be good…” Reza said.
    “ I’m heading for the Bridge!” Stark yelled.  He checked his weapon and dashed out the door.  Ronan heard klaxons in the distance, and the sound of explosions.  The ship buckled. 
    Grail rose to his feet.  Creasy unstrapped himself and looked around.  “What the hell is going on?” the warlock asked Reza.
    “We’re taking enemy fire,” she said.  “It’s the only thing that makes sense.  We wouldn’t be shaking like this if…”
    Another blast came, loud and heavy.  The ship lurched and sank.
    “We’re losing altitude,” Ronan said.  “Parachutes?”
    “ Escape pods,” Reza said.
    “ You go with her,” he told Creasy. 
    “ Where are you going?” Creasy asked.
    “ To make sure two of my only friends are all right.”  Ronan grabbed his pack.
    Creasy did the same.  “No offense, but I’m coming with you,” he said.  “I’d rather we all stay together.”
    They took what equipment they could fit in their packs and rushed into the hall.  Blaring sirens and flashing red and white lights made the air spin.  Blasts of steam erupted from the walls.  Soldiers and crewmen were everywhere, confused and frightened.  The blare of the alarms was deafening. 
    “ Which way?” Ronan asked.
    “ To what ?” Reza asked.
    “ Cross and Black.”
    “ Just down the main hall, to the right,” she said, and she pointed down a steep corridor. 
    The halls were tightly angled and steep.  The central wide corridor was lined with stairs and side passages leading off to other decks and compartments.  The place was a maze, but Ronan knew if you stuck to the main hall you could run from fore to aft and pass the Engine Room, Navigation, Armory and Bridge, each area sealed with thaumaturgically reinforced steel doors.  The various cabins were scattered throughout the port and starboard sections, along with the Mess, the Science Lab, Medical and the cargo holds.  The ship was big enough to carry an entire battalion, plus all of their equipment.
    Creasy and Grail were at his back as Ronan followed Reza through the crowd.  The signal to battle-stations had been sounded.  Soldiers pulled on shirts and armor jackets and crewmen in flight suits ran with a purpose towards Engineering or Weapons Control.  The high-vaulted ceiling rattled as another explosion rang out.
    “ How far?” he barked.
    “ Ronan,” Reza snapped.  “Why don’t…”
    The next blast ripped the air apart.  Steel and fire barreled through the hall and bodies were torn in half beneath a wave of metal and flame.  Ronan smelled napalm and burning blood. 
    He flew against the wall.  Soldiers went down.  Viscera steamed on the floor, and people were on fire.  The ship tilted.  Another boom came, so loud he thought his ears would explode.
    He felt the ship