The Beginning of the End (Universe in Flames Book 4) Read Online Free

on?”
    “The hyperspace engines have been damaged. We can’t jump out of here. Brace for impact.”
    A volley of torpedoes and more laser fire pounded the Iron Fire ’s shields. Chase used all his concentration to avoid as much fire from the enemy fleet as he could with some pretty fancy evasive flying, but there were too many and the shields were lowering at an alarming rate.
    “That snake bastard. He told us we could leave.”
    “And you believed him?” asked Ryonna.
    Chase didn’t answer, even though he knew Ryonna was right. “Tar’Lock, take Keera to engineering and try to repair the drive.”
    “I’ll go with them,” added Ryonna.
    “You two,” said Chase, looking at Daniel and Fillio, “take your StarFuries and provide the fleet with alternative targets.”
    “You want us to do what?”
    “At this rate the shields won’t hold long enough for us to repair the hyperspace engines.”
    “Chase, what will two StarFuries do against a fleet of behemoth-class ships?”
    Chase’s mind raced. They were right. As good as they were, they were vastly outnumbered and this was one fight they would never win.
    “We have to do something!” shouted Chase in frustration.
    “Chase, can’t we outrun them?” asked Daniel
    “The Iron Fire took too much damage from that first volley.”
    “Alright, we’ll get to our fighters, but I doubt it will make a difference.”
    That gave Chase an idea. “No, you’re right, it won’t. I have a better idea.”
    Chase took mental control of the StarFuries and launched them at once.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Getting the hell out of here and buying us some time.”
    “But you just said we couldn’t outrun them with sub-light speed.”
    “We’ll jump out of here.”
    “Chase, you’re not making any sense. We can’t jump.”
    “The StarFuries can.”
    “So shouldn’t we be on board them instead of having them out there?”
    “They will open the hyperspace windows.”
    “Chase, the StarFuries are too small. The Iron Fire will never be able to ride inside the corridors they create.”
    The ship rocked and half the people on the bridge crashed to the floor.
    “If you have a better idea I’m all ears, but right now I can’t think of anything else.”
    “This is suicide.”
    “Perhaps not. I’ll try using my powers to widen the corridors.”
    “Can you do that?”
    “We’re about to find out.”
    Chase heard Ares in his mind.
    No, Chase, you must not use your powers in space.
    I have to. If I don’t we’ll all die here and this was all for nothing.
    I don’t think Argos wants you dead. The fact that he disabled your engines and didn’t go full power on his first attack is suspicious.
    Nevertheless, we’ve seen firsthand how he treats his prisoners. I’m not surrendering. But I agree, something doesn’t add up. I can feel it. I don’t think he’s acting of his own volition. But in the end it doesn’t matter. We have to try something.
    I hope you know what you’re doing.
    Chase didn’t answer. Not only didn’t he know what to say, but he had no idea if his plan was even within the realm of the possible. But it was the only way to escape the immediate threat.
    He sent one StarFury to fly in front of the Iron Fire , while the other vectored towards the armada, trying to catch some aggro and to test a theory. As expected, Argos started firing on the starfighter, which made little sense since it was absolutely no threat. Was Argos acting against his will by attacking them? He felt no deception from him when he promised to let them go, so this sudden change made no sense. Perhaps it had something to do with the Furies. Nevertheless, Chase had battled with Argos’ forces for long enough to recognize that he wasn’t using the full power of his fleet at the moment and his strategies seemed weak at best, as if he didn’t want to destroy the Iron Fire .
    “Shouldn’t we be dead already?” asked Sarah.
    “Yeah, something is up. I don’t think Argos