“Attention Lone Spear, this is Trident One,” came the commander’s gravelly voice over the gunboat’s speakers. “Divert from your present course and do not, repeat, do not engage the incoming craft.”
“The hell?” James McCoy muttered—under his breath, of course. He narrowed his eyes at the holoscreen and fought the urge to lash out at his commanding officer.
“Trident One, we have unidentified ships converging on the convoy. Repeat, we have unidentified ships converging on the convoy. Requesting permission to—”
“Negative, Lone Spear, negative. Resume escort formation and await further orders.”
James clenched his fists in frustration. Was the commander blind? Several unknown vessels had departed the Lagrange settlements of the nearest moon, moving dangerously close to the supply convoy that he was supposed to protect. On his main display, eight red dots moved steadily upward along a line that didn’t quite intersect the bundle of friendly green and blue vectors, but could easily be made to without warning.
Conditions in the local sector were ripe for an ambush. When the Hameji had invaded five standard years ago, they had slagged Karduna’s capital planet and massacred billions of people. Those who survived now lived in small, isolated settlements scattered across the system, barely able to defend themselves. Since the Hameji only cared for conquest and barely deigned to manage their empire, piracy was rampant. The convoy was on its own.
“Uh, Captain, sir?” came a shaky voice behind him: Ensign Sterling Jones, his new co-pilot. “Are we going to pull back?”
====================
Heart of the Nebula
They called him a lone wolf. Now, he must lead them across the stars.
To save his people from a brutal occupation, James McCoy must lead them on an exodus across the stars. But it will take a strong leader to get them to their new home, and the temptation to trade freedom for security has never been greater.
They called him a lone wolf. Now, he must lead them across the stars.
Five years have passed since the Hameji conquered James McCoy’s homeworld. The yoke of occupation has grown unbearable, and unless he can help his people throw it off, everything that he fought for will be destroyed.
Light-years away, in the heart of the Good Hope Nebula, there is a place where they can start over. But the dangers are many, and the way is unclear. Only a strong leader can take them there.
James once gave all that he had to save the ones he loved. To do so again, he must become the leader that his people need. But he’s never been more than a maverick, and even his friends fear he will trade their freedom for security and lose both.
In a galaxy full of pirates and wolves, how can James save his people without becoming a monster?
