“Deltana? Is that you?”
The nearest members of the platoon were looking at her, so she stood up and took her call to the corner. Besides, some of the equipment was fairly noisy. By covering one ear, though, she was able to hear him just fine.
“Yes, Mara, it is me,” said Aaron, speaking in Gaian. “I have some news!”
Whatever it was, he sounded excited.
“What is it?” Mara asked, switching to Gaian for the benefit of the rest of the platoon.
“They gave me a commission, just like you said! I’m going to command a small frigate, one of the new ones built by the Tajjis!”
His Gaian was surprisingly good—he must have been practicing. Mara smiled.
“That’s great, Aaron. I didn’t doubt you for a moment.”
“I have other news for Fourth Platoon, too.”
Her smile instantly fell as she steeled herself for the inevitable.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“High Command is dissolving Paladin wing. All of the platoons, including Fourth Platoon, are going to be disbanded.”
So it’s happening, Mara thought to herself. Her gut clenched, but she refused to let the news affect her. After all, she’d known it was coming.
“Thanks for the heads-up, Aaron. I appreciate it.”
“That’s not all, Mara. I have some very good news for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. When Major Achilles gave me the frigate commission, he asked me to name my officers and crew. It’s a small ship, so there’s only room for twenty-five of us, but guess who I named as my first officer?”
Mara’s heart skipped a beat. “No way. Don’t tell me you—”
“Yes, Mara. I want you to be my second-in-command.”
The shock of the news made her blink and go rigid. It took her brain a moment to process the information. At first, she almost panicked, but then she realized that it was a good surprise rather than a bad one.
“You—you want me as your XO?”
Friends in Command
The future of the Outworlds now lies in uncertain hands.
The Imperials are back, and this time, a ragtag flotilla isn't going to stop them. But they aren't the only enemies of the new Outworld Confederacy. Together, Aaron and Mara must face a threat from within.
The future of the Outworlds now lies in uncertain hands.
The war for the Outworlds is on. The Imperials may have lost the first round, but they’re back—and this time, a ragtag flotilla isn’t going to stop them.
When Aaron recieves a captain’s commission in the new Outworld Confederacy, Mara is his natural choice for second in command. But Mara never expected to live past the first few battles. She only joined the resistance to avenge her father, and fears the monster she’s starting to become. The only thing she has left to live for now is her friends.
The Imperials aren’t the only enemy in this war, though. The friends must face a threat from within in
SONS OF THE STARFARERS
BOOK IV: FRIENDS IN COMMAND
