Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel (11 page)

Chapter 11

Ja’al glanced around the simulator room and felt it closing in around him. Compared to the tranquility and open air of the forest, the narrow corridors of the Rebel base felt oppressive. Not a place you could call home. He smiled to himself, realizing that the voice in his head was Kira’s.

Thoughts of her had permeated his mind. Changed his way of thinking. He had his reasons for joining the rebellion, but they were buried in the past. Having Kira in his life made the Kamaran threat feel more immediate. Someday, things will be different, he thought. When this war is over, we can live a better life.

He made his rounds, powering up the holodisplay in the center of the room. The faint hum of the electronics filled the air, echoing through the chamber as the harsh light of the projector lit the room.

The cadets filed in, taking their seats around the room’s tiered perimeter, chatting amongst themselves. Fighting against the marines on Orvantis had put them out of their depth. But they had all learned a valuable lesson, and they were motivated to shore up their weaknesses.

At least the open air and the celebration had been good for morale. He worried sometimes they demanded too much from the cadets. But the Kamarans would be merciless. And so he, too, must be. If the Storm Squadron was going to lead them to victory, their trials had only begun.

When Kira entered the room, his gaze fell on her immediately. The relaxed smile on her face made her skin glow with a warmth that starkly contrasted the cold, oppressive rock walls around them. When he caught her eye, she smiled at him briefly, careful to avoid drawing the attention of her squadmates.

Discretion was important. He didn’t regret their time together in the forest of Orvantis. But if any of the cadets got the impression he treated her differently than the rest, there would be trouble. He had to maintain his impartiality. And he couldn’t let his growing feelings for her blind him. He was still her commander, and he owed it to her to give the training she needed, regardless of his feelings.

Especially since her victory had changed the standings on the leaderboard.

“Good morning, cadets,” he said as he made his way to the center of the room. “I trust you’re all well rested after our little interlude on Orvantis. I hope you enjoyed your time. It’s a gift.” He glanced out to Kira, remembering the soft touch of her body.

“Relaxation is a luxury we can’t often afford,” he continued. “It’s important to make the most of it while you can. Remember those moments when you’re in the heat of battle. War is messy. And when hope seems lost, you have to remember what you’re fighting for.”

Ja’al stopped in front of the holodisplay, waving a hand over the scanner to bring it to life. The glowing image of the leaderboard leapt into the air, hovering in the center of the room. He hadn’t yet updated the information to show the results of the exercise on Orvantis. But he knew what it would show. Things were about to change. And not everyone would be happy with the results.

“We’re lucky to have such talented recruits here in our ranks,” he said. “Because, unfortunately, we don’t have as much time to train you as you deserve. But after watching you all perform over the past several weeks, I’m confident you’ll all be up to the tasks required of you.”

Ja’al looked out to Jomanak, who leaned back with a smug smile, folding his arms over his chest. He was a good pilot. One of the best Ja’al had ever seen. His confidence in his ability was well-founded. But when confidence lapsed to arrogance, he grew reckless. Dangerous. And the Kamarans would exploit that weakness.

“But what you didn’t know,” he said, “is that our training here wasn’t just designed to teach you the intricacies of air-to-air combat. That’s an important part of the equation. But it’s not the whole story.”

Jomanak sat up straight. “Commander,” he said. “With all due respect, I disagree. No one can outmatch me in aerial combat. Any Kamaran pilot that tries will be making his final mistake.”

Ja’al nodded. The kid wasn’t wrong. But his inexperience made him blind to his weaknesses. “The scores on the leaderboard don’t lie,” he said. “You’ll be an asset to the team. But you’re blind to your weaknesses, cadet. And that makes you dangerous.”

“To the enemy,” Jomanak said.

“To your squadmates,” Ja’al replied. “You’re hotheaded. Your arrogance causes you to make poor decisions. And you don’t know how to manage your assets. You don’t know how to use the strengths of others to your advantage. And you don’t understand the psychology of your enemies.”

Ja’al pressed his thumb to the scanner on the holodisplay, refreshing the data.

Kira’s name was at the top of the list.

The room erupted in applause.

“Congratulations, Kira,” said Ja’al.

***

The minute Ja’al dismissed them, Kira fled from the simulator room, ignoring the calls of Reina as she followed her out the door. It had to be a mistake. It was a fluke. It was Ja’al’s decision to split them up back on Orvantis, not hers. She didn’t do anything to earn that rank.

“Kira, wait up!” called Reina, following her through the cramped, rocky corridor. “What’s going on with you?”

Kira stopped. She wasn’t going to shake her. There was nowhere to go. Living inside a military base on an asteroid didn’t afford much privacy.

“He rigged it,” she said, turning to face her friend. “There’s no other explanation. He fixed the numbers to put me at the top of the list.”

“No, Kira. He couldn’t have. Think about it. He’s not the only one looking at that data. If there was something wonky, the other unit commanders would know. You’re there because you earned it.”

Kira shook her head. She couldn’t believe it. Even if she had earned top marks in whatever screwed up performance analysis they were using, she didn’t want the responsibility. “If anything happens,” she said, “if we were attacked, I’d be expected to lead. I don’t want this. I’m not a leader.”

“You’ll do fine,” said Reina. “If you couldn’t handle it, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Maybe she shouldn’t be here.” Jomanak stepped out from the shadow. “You did get lucky out there. You’re not qualified to lead the Storm Squadron. You’ll get us all killed.”

“Nobody asked you, Jomanak,” said Reina.

“And that’s a problem,” he retorted. “If they’d asked me, we wouldn’t have wound up with someone so incompetent in charge of us. I’m not flying under her. She doesn’t know the first thing about aerial combat tactics.”

“Ja’al disagrees. So do the scores. If that’s not good enough for you, you should just quit.”

Jomanak spat. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you Reina? You’ve always wanted to see me fail. I didn’t join the rebellion to go home a failure. By the time the Kamarans are finished, I’ll have no home left. I came here to win this war, and I’m going to make damn sure it happens.”

“Then you’re going to have to trust me,” said Kira. She stepped closer to him, speaking in a careful, measured tone. “Look, I don’t understand how it happened, either. And yes, you do know a lot more about aerial tactics than I do.”

“See,” he said, “you need to step down while you still can. Before it starts costing the lives of innocent people.”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, Jomanak,” she said. “I don’t understand how it happened. I don’t know how they’re scoring us. I’m just here doing the best I can.”

“Your best,” said Jomanak. “Real comforting.”

“I don’t like it any more than you do. But if they need me to lead … I’m going to lead.”

“You’re going to get us all killed.”

“Not if you help me,” she said as she looked up at him. She may not be able to outmaneuver him in the air, but she could see the big picture. She had a lot to learn, but she was willing to admit her weaknesses, and she was willing do the work. To learn on the strengths of her team.

Jomanak stared at her, silent.

“I’m not your enemy, Jomanak. No matter what the leaderboard says, I’m going to need your help to lead the Storm Squadron. We’re in this together. You’re the best pilot here. Gods forbid we’re called into action before we’re ready, but if we are, I need you on my side. I can’t beat the Empire without you. Will you help me?”

Jomanak’s face tightened. He looked off down the hallway for a long moment before turning back to her. “I don’t like it, Kira. But if they’re putting you in charge, you’re going to need someone to make sure you don’t kill us all.”

Kira smiled. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

***

Ja’al sat in the cramped, rocky alcove connected to the simulator room that served as an office for the instructors, watching the conflict between Kira and Jomanak. He smiled to himself as he watched her stand up for herself. The moment of realization that dawned on her, that she needed to get Jomanak on her side, was exactly the kind of brilliance that would allow her to excel.

For a moment, he had considered going to intervene. But it wasn’t necessary. Kira handled him with skill, turning an enemy into an ally. So many fighter jocks lacked the finesse that leadership required.

And she was right, in a way. She would need his help out there in the star field. Tactics could be learned, but a leader needed to use the strengths of her team, molding her people’s motivations, and uniting them towards a common goal.

But she still had a lot to learn. She still didn’t trust herself, or her skills behind the controls of a fighter. She still didn’t trust her decisions in a pinch. And Ja’al would do everything in his power to help her. But there would come a time when she’d have to make a tough call and he wouldn’t be there to help.

It was a relief to see her stepping up now. Believing in herself. He hoped it would last.

As Ja’al switched off the holoscreen, he thought of their time together back on Orvantis. The taste he’d had of her was not nearly enough. And now, the floodgates were open. He needed to see her again.

But until then, he could use his desire. He summoned the warrior’s restraint from deep inside himself and pushed his desire to the back of his mind. As he drew a measured breath, sublimating the energy of passion and circulating it through his body.

A high-pitched beep from the comm system interrupted the ancient ritual, drawing him back to the present.

“Commander,” said the young officer. “Urgent news.”

Ja’al straightened in his chair and buzzed the man in. A young communications officer from the garden world of Anara, the officer’s skin still glowed with the deep bronze of a life in the sun. The harsh cold of space hadn’t yet robbed him of his color, or his enthusiasm. Hold onto it, Ja’al thought to himself.

“What’s the report, ensign?”

“Sir,” the young officer said. “We’ve detected an unusual pattern of movement among the Kamaran fleet. They appear to massing an attack force. Here in the Gamma Quadrant. I believe they’ve found us.”

The dark gold color drained from Ja’al’s face as the blood rushed inward. “Are you sure?” asked Ja’al. His training allowed him to keep his tone calm and even, though his mind raced through the defensive scenarios and their possible outcomes.

“As certain as we can be, sir. We haven’t been able to crack their communication encryptions, but using the scanning tech the Raiders developed, the movements of the fleet are clear. They’re gathering. And they’re preparing to strike.”

Ja’al swallowed, a dry lump in his throat. “You’ve told Prince Adaar?”

“Yes sir. He instructed me to get word out to the Squadron Commanders. Since we don’t know how they discovered our location, we have to keep our discussions off the standard comm channels. In case they’ve been compromised.”

“A wise plan,” said Ja’al. He expected nothing less from Prince Adaar. He was a bold man, but never took unnecessary risks. Ja’al had trained him well.

“He’s called a meeting of the senior officers to discuss our strategy. Tonight, in the Combat Information Center.”

“Thank you, ensign,” said Ja’al, holding the young officer’s gaze as he saluted. “Dismissed.”

When the steel door hissed closed, the full weight of the situation hit him. Without more time to prepare, the Storm Squadron would have to defend them. Ready or not, they were about to get their first taste of real action. And with the change in the leaderboard, Kira would have to lead them.

Chapter 12

Ja’al stared at the small stone statue in his quarters, the sole artifact adoring the tiny rock room. He didn’t need the sentimental reminders of his life back home on Kamara. He was glad to get away. But the statue, an ornate stone figure carved by his father, reminded him to be strong in times of uncertainty. Ja’al carried the lesson with him, focusing on it when he needed it the most.

The meeting with the senior officers wasn’t scheduled until the evening. Despite the urgency of the situation, the officers needed time to prepare their assessments of their teams. Honest evaluations of their capabilities were the only way to choose an appropriate strategy to combat the looming Imperial threat.

Ja’al knew the Storm cadets well. Knew their strengths and weaknesses. Knew how they functioned together as a unit, and what was likely to unfold in the event it came down to combat. Though they showed potential, they were woefully unprepared. And if the Kamarans were sending a fleet to destroy the Rebel base, they wouldn’t take any chances. They’d send the best of the best.

He traced his fingers over the carving, feeling the rough texture of the stone beneath his fingers. Prepared or not, the Kamarans were coming. And the Storm Squadron would be called to do their duty. They would show courage in the face of fear. He only hoped that would be enough. It would all hinge on their ability to work together. To understand and outsmart their enemy. It would all depend on the leadership of ….

“Kira,” he said, answering the incoming transmission. She wouldn’t react well to the news. But she deserved to know what was happening. He called her to his room to break the news, and to gauge her reaction. After her confrontation with Jomanak, he had no idea what to expect from her. The ability to read people was not a gift he possessed. That was her territory.

“Please come in.” He set the stone carving back on its small perch and stood.

The maglock released and Kira rushed into the room, throwing her arms around him. He inhaled, savoring the scent of her skin. Lavender. A rarity in the blackness of space. A gift to be appreciated for as long as it lasted.

His mouth found her soft lips, and he kissed her deeply. All the longing that remained unexpressed and hidden inside him boiled to the surface. There was no telling what the future held. She could still walk away from him. From the Storm Squadron. But for the moment, everything was right.

He tightened his grip around her, feeling the soft curves of her body pressed against him, and felt himself stiffen against her. He could take her now, ravish her in a fit of passion and fiery desire. The warmth of her breath on his cheek and the faint purr that escaped her lips begged him to indulge the urge.

But it wouldn’t be right. He needed to tell her what had happened. To do otherwise wouldn’t be honorable. Ja’al summoned the deep reserves of will inside him and released her.

“What is it Ja’al?” she said.

Of course she sensed his hesitation. Not that he expected otherwise. He would have preferred to control the situation, telling her the news in his own way. It would have been easier for her. But he had encouraged her to trust her instincts. To follow her intuition. And losing control of the situation was a price he would gladly pay to see her become the woman she was destined to be.

“Kira,” he said. “Things are about to change for the Storm Squadron.”

“You’re talking about me taking top position on the leader board? Being the squad leader for our upcoming exercises.”

His lips curled into a faint smile. “Yes,” he said. “You seem to have made your peace with the idea.”

Kira shrugged. “What choice do I have? I’m not going to quit. Where else am I going to go? Besides, I think a nice shiny set of stars of my uniform would bring out the color of my eyes.”

“And they’d look great on my floor,” he laughed. She had already expertly diffused his tension. She’d do fine as a leader. But she still didn’t know about the Kamaran fleet, and that could change everything.

“See, Ja’al. You’re worried over nothing.” She put her arms around his waist. “I’ve got this.”

“I see you’ve found your confidence,” he said. “I’m glad to see it.”

She smiled warmly and leaned in to kiss him, but he held back.

“There’s been a development,” he said.

Kira pulled away, raising her eyebrows. “You sound serious. Even more than usual.”

“I’m sorry, Kira. I want you. There’s nothing I’d like more than to take you right this minute,” he said. “But this can’t wait.”

Kira’s lips drew into a frown as she nodded. “What’s going on?”

Ja’al placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to sit on the side of the bed. “The Empire has found us,” he said. “Somehow, despite our precautions, they’ve discovered the location our base.”

She looked aside, her eyes narrow as she processed his words. “You’re sure?”

Ja’al bowed his head, a single solemn nod. “They’re gathering their fleet here in Gamma. The warships have already arrived. The fighters will follow soon enough.”

Kira shut her eyes, her fists tensing as she breathed. “What are we going to do?”

He saw her running the scenarios in her mind, processing the implications of an impending attack. To her credit, she didn’t panic. She practiced the slow, measured breathing that he had taught her. Instinct and restraint, in measured doses. Ja’al watched them fuse within her, an intricate dance of synthesis as she weighed the implications.

“The senior officers are preparing their reports,” Ja’al said. “We’re convening to discuss the status and preparedness of our forces in a few hours.” He shook his head. “But I don’t expect that we’ll have many options at our disposal. We haven’t had the time, yet, to secure enough forces to defend ourselves from such a large-scale attack.”

“No. No. No.” Kira stood and paced around the small chamber. “We can’t let them win.”

“We don’t plan to,” said Ja’al. “But we can’t withstand their assault.”

“We’ll have to retreat,” she said. “Get everyone out of here. Find another location to set up our base. Cloak all the ships and escape to hyperspace before they can follow us. That’s the plan, right? It has to be …”

“We’ll know for certain soon enough,” Ja’al said. “But I expect you’re right. We’ll have to evacuate Dennegar.”

He looked up to her, watching her connect the dots. He admired the way her mind worked. The spirit and resilience she showed in the face of a challenge. A surge of warmth rushed through his body, swelling his heart. Kira would play the hand she was dealt, but she would never accept defeat.

“But even with the cloaking devices …” she said softly.

“Yes,” Ja’al said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Someone will have to cover our escape.”

“I’m not ready to lead them,” she said. “I can’t do this.”

He wrapped his arms around her body and drew her in close. “I’ve watched you over the last few months, Kira. I’ve watched you grow. I’ve seen the way your beliefs in what’s possible have changed.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” she said.

“You won’t.”

“But what if—”

He held his fingers to her lips, silencing her as he leaned in to kiss her. Ja’al felt her relax in his arms. Whatever else the future had in store, she was safe, now, with him.

Kira kissed him back with an intensity that rivaled his own as she ran her hands over his chest.

“What are you doing?”

“Acting on my instincts, Commander,” she said.

Ja’al smiled as he leaned into her neck, kissing along the line of her shoulder and up to her chin as his hands found the zipper of her jumpsuit.

He slowly worked it free from her body, teasing the soft skin underneath as his lips worked along the curve of her breasts. “You,” he said. “On the bed, now.”

Pulling her arms free from the skin-tight material, Kira backed slowly onto the bed, staring up into his eyes with a hungry expression.

Ja’al tore the shirt from his body and climbed on top of her, pressing his body against her as he explored her body with his mouth. Her lavender scent still lingered in the air, driving him into a frenzy of passion as he pinned her wrists back against the mattress.

He felt Kira’s body beneath him and stiffened against her as she pressed her hips up into him.

“This needs to come off,” she said, freeing a hand and reaching for his belt.

He grabbed her wrist and pinned it back behind her. “Patience, my dear.”

“You like to be in control don’t you?” she said.

“Is that going to be a problem?” he asked, cupping her breast in his hand as his lips circled around her, and he lightly flicked his tongue against her.

“No,” she whispered, bucking her head back into the pillow beneath her as Ja’al sealed his lips around her skin, gently sucking her nipple. “No problem here.”

“I didn’t think so,” he said, kissing further down her body, weaving his fingers in slow circles around her skin. He stopped at her waist, tracing his fingers over her belly and beneath the band of her pants. “But how long will you be able to hold back?”

As he slid the tight material down over her hips, he paused, admiring her smooth, beautiful skin. In the soft light of the cave, the moment felt surreal. Her body quivered in anticipation below him as he placed the heel of his hand against her, moving in slow, gentle circles.

She moaned softly as her body warmed. The sound washed through him, filling him, coursing through his veins. The pleasured moan of a woman like Kira, so fiercely indecent and filled with life, was more than he could stand. It took all his self-control not to tear her panties off.

He buried his face between her legs, parting her lips as he sealed his mouth around her. Running his tongue along her folds, he felt her tense her legs around him, pulling him in closer to her.

“I need you inside me,” she said.

“Patience,” he growled. There was no need to rush. A woman like Kira deserved his time and attention. He nibbled her folds as he slipped a finger inside her, parting her lips.

“Oh, gods!” she gasped as she tightened her legs around him. He circled her with his tongue as he worked his finger inside her, feeling the pulses of her body as her hips began to lift. “More,” she said.

Ja’al quickened his pace, tracing an intricate pattern as he ran his tongue along her, sucking and nibbling as she quivered beneath him.

Her breath went shallow as her body began to pulse. “Don’t stop,” she said. His cock stiffened, aching to feel her. She raked her fingers through his hair, holding his head as she quivered. “Don’t stop.”

With a heavy breath, she moaned as her body shook. Ja’al held her in place while she bucked beneath him, biting into the pillow to stifle her moan.

When she settled back to the bed, she looked up at him through half-open eyes. “Fuck me. Now.”

“Is that any way to talk to your commanding officer?” he said, hovering above her.

“If we’re going into battle,” she said. “Then training is finished. You’re not my commanding officer anymore. And I’m in charge.”

She reached out to him, pulling the heavy steel clasp of his belt open as she eyed him hungrily. “And I order you to strip,” she said.

Ja’al laughed to himself. “This isn’t the kind of leadership you were trained for,” he said.

She shrugged. “I’m listening to my instincts.”

***

“I’ve got instincts of my own,” he said, pushing her back down on the bed.

She looked up at his body, the soft golden glow of his skin intensified by the dim light and the arousal surging through him. The fullness of his erection pressed against her as he hovered above her body. It was the anticipation that did it. The slow, careful tease and the building of desire was more than she could take.

“Fuck me,” she said, running her hands along the ridges of his abs as she traced her way down to his cock.

Ja’al leaned into her, kissing her feverishly as he entered her, sliding the entirety of his length deep into her body. With a moan, she wrapped her arms around his body and held him there, pressing his hips against her.

The warmth of his body filled her as he plunged himself inside, slowly and deliberately, every thrust carrying the weight of his hunger and his need.

He leaned into her, arching his hips as he quickened his pace. “You feel so fucking good,” he growled, a low deep rumble in her ear. Through half-open eyes, she looked to his face. The lines of his jaw curled into a wicked smile. She nearly lost control as she rocked against him, her body clenching around him as he fucked her.

Kira lifted her hips to meet him, pulling him further inside as he slammed himself against her, shaking her body. She gripped his forearms, felt them tense. His every muscle, sculpted by an unwavering to his training, flexed in unison as he worked his body against her.

With a deep stroke, he leaned in lower to her ear. “Come for me,” he said. “Again.”

Kira felt the heat rising inside her at his words. The certainty of the command. The pressure and uncertainty of her impending leadership faded into the background. For the moment, she could relax into his control. The weight of their situation was a distant memory. The only thing that mattered was the heat of his body against her, filling her.