Free The Legacy of Earth (Mandate Book 2) by J.S. Harbour Page B

some action!”
     
    Cmdr. Plaas pointed to the image on the center screen, which SPO Devlin had pulled out of Luna City’s logs. The smaller ship, presumably the aggressor, was attached to the belly airlock of the freighter like a leech. “Based on this timestamp and the last known position, we should be coming up on them in a few minutes. And, what about Luna City?”
    “Oh, we’ll deal with Bob another day,” Long said with a smile. “I’ll bet the admiralty would enjoy having some dirt to throw at T3, though. I’ll be sure to mention it in my next report.”
    The Lexington was still under general quarters when she entered a high elliptical orbit over the Moon, using gravity for slowdown.
    “Still no response?” Captain Long asked, looking toward the comm station.
    “Nothing, sir,” Devlin said.
    “We’ve got them!” the XO said, “right there ,” pointing to a blip on the horizon.
    “Verified on RADAR,” CPO Jones confirmed from the navigation station.
    “Very well,” the captain said, “slow us down to overtake and match their orbit.”
    “Aye, sir,” said CPO Williamson at the helm. For a split second, Long could feel the reverse thrust of the engines tug him toward the front of the bridge. Everyone lurched for a moment then regained their balance.
    “Slowing. We’re down to fifteen,” Williamson said. He continued to monitor the thrust maneuver, almost frantically monitoring their status on multiple screens. After two more minutes, he said, “Ten. We’re at ten.” Shortly thereafter, he said, “Six point two mps. Velocity matched.”
    The captain punched a comm button and said, “Launch fighters!”
     

Chapter 7

One For The Road
    I had no choic e. The paperwork was signed.
    My only way out was to go AWOL and I couldn’t dishonor my mom by doing that. I still wanted to serve, but I also wanted to be with Lena . . . now more than ever. Our relationship was blooming. How could I leave her now that we were growing so close?
    Should have broken up before I slept with her. Now I’m crazy about her. More than crazy. Can’t get her out of my head. Not for one second.
    “Maybe you can relocate to Luna City? Or, I can come back when I’m in port and—”
    Lena put a hand to my mouth, like she often did. “ Min älskare, let’s not be so . . . attached. Too many bad feelings with that kind of relationship.”
    “What?” I said, feeling astonished and suspicious. “Are you talking about an open relationship or are you breaking up with me?”
    “Hmm, that was not in my mind, min älskling. There is no one else for me right now, but . . . yes, I feel that we should be open, rather than—”
    “No!” I said, a gamut of emotions flooding through me: humiliation; rejection; unmet expectations; a feeling of futility; enormous desire.
    Lena frowned, her eyes going up and down, as if afraid to look into my eyes. Wanting to say something but feeling unsure how to phrase it. So she held a hand to my lips again.
    “Darling, min älskling , it doesn’t have to be goodbye, it is just . . . tills nästa gång . Until next time. Without pain, separation, or . . . obligation.”
    I felt tears welling in my eyes, and that made her frown even more. She cried softly, which only made me feel guilty.
    “I’m . . . sorry.”
    “This is too sad. Du är min kärlek . Min älskare. I . . . love you . . . Dal. But I don’t believe in marriage. Too difficult. And, I won’t bring a child into the world without a pappa . Maybe never in this terrible world! Navy is hard. Space navy? No . . . no !”
    “Maybe I can request an Earth-side position?” I said, realizing the words were as shallow as a rocky creek before I spoke them. “I can work on a base . . . a port base. . . .”
    She grinned and laughed softly, causing her hair to fall over her face. She turned her head sideways and brushed the thin, black strands back over her ear. She was wearing burgundy skintights, black halter top, and platform