It was a hundred times their size with guns bristling in every direction. She could see the shields deflecting radiation like water off a duck's back, huge balls of atomic fury coalescing to the ground. The deadly monster was bent on destruction and she didn't even know why. In war, there should be a reason, but these aliens wanted neither land nor money and even to her accepting mind, it made no sense. But she was sure of one thing. After surviving the Gort, she was damned if some brain sucking alien was going to end her day.

Before she could speak, Purline had the canopy open, a carbon rope in one hand, and a stubby gun in the other. A blast of hot radiation hit her face and she could hear the squeal of the cruiser's inertial brakes as it ground to a halt and turned slowly towards their position. She switched shield power to the front even as Purline tossed the limp body in her lap. Now she felt blisters as they formed on her cheeks but she focused on Purline. God only knew how much radiation was soaking into her skin from the contaminated blanket.

"Now is a good time to get out of here," he squeaked excitedly for the first time. Sharp spears of light began pummeling the shield and she could smell the acrid burning of overloaded circuits. The tiny infinite sponge at the heart of the defensive system could only shed so much energy, and now warning bells chimed loudly, indicating the shields were failing. She pushed the joystick forward sending the ship down a rubble strewn street, between buildings and down a blind alley. Somehow Purline had tied himself and Rayjack to the hull but with every turn, she was terrified she might lose them. The cruiser followed directly above them, annihilating the buildings in an attempt to crush the small ship, but somehow the shields held.

"Turn left into the next garage," Rayjack said over the intercom, "There is an underground parking structure we scouted on the way in." Georgiana slammed the inertial brakes hard, causing Purline to roll along the hull like a sack of potatoes, then she dove down where the cruiser couldn't follow. But soon they came to a dead end. With nowhere to run, she turned the ship and prepared to fight to the death. Georgiana popped the canopy, as blistering carbon and fiber crackled in an atomic cool-down. Within thirty seconds, she heard the skittering of armed infantry as they scrambled down the tunnel. Purline and the skeleton bot traded weapons and set up a defense behind one stubby wing of the ship, but there was little hope they could survive.

Then she saw them for the first time, colorful, strong, well-armed bird men covering ground incredibly fast. The skittering of nails on chalkboard made her cringe as their armored toe nails dug into the pavement. Even in this light, jeweled colors sparkled off their fine armor platelets that covered every joint of their body. Then came a rain of energy as they fired their plasma grenades and laser rifles, which bounced harmlessly off the shields, but she knew the shields wouldn't stop flesh and it was only a matter of seconds before they were over run. The two bots began firing, taking down a warrior with every shot, but the aliens seemed to have a death wish. They just kept coming. It was sad in a strange way and Purline had to shove her before she realized she was just sitting there.

"Do help with the ship's main cannon, please," said Purline. She opened fire and took out a dozen with one shot, but now they were boarding the ship.

From out of the smoke and haze, an apparition of death appeared, wielding a single gun that belched sound. Thrum, thrum. Each shot leveled a hundred soldiers in twisted heaps of green blood and sparkling jewelry. After the third shot, they turned and ran, and Rayjack let out a pitiful squeak from his damaged voice box.

"Tychicknu."

"Yes, it is I, like anyone else could have saved your sorry robot butt. Come, follow me." He stepped carefully through the carcass strewn parking garage and chased the retreating aliens out into the street. When Georgiana emerged into the early morning light, she saw the plasma burning off in the distance. To her right was a sight for sore eyes, Kestral firing on the enemy ship while the last of the fleeing Baird tried to board, but it was no good and the rest of the raiding party paid with their lives. Then the ship tucked tail and ran, leaving Kestral to drop a loading ramp and pick them up.

I really hope your enjoying the story. Alot has happened and it's not over yet. If youbhavent done so, can you add my book to a reading list, and I hope it's in your library as well. Regular updates untill the end.

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