Orbital by bill zhao copyright 2017 Bill Zhao Table of Contents act one (earth)

emitted a blinding light and a deafening boom. The Knights had
sensory overwhelm protection built into their helmets (at least those
that were wearing them) and mowed down a good few of the invading
soldiers. Derek and Martin however were on the floor, still trying to
regain their senses and cover themselves from the airlock. Only the
airlock shouldn’t be what they worried about. The deafening flash
from the grenade still rang through their ears, effectively muting the
drilling of the window pane behind them. Under the cover of gunfire
and an incapacitated Coves, Northern Coalition forces drilled a
horizontal slit across the side window. Tall enough to fit the barrel of a
rifle into. Three soldiers stuck their guns in and fired upon the

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distracted Knights from behind, where their armour was weakest.
Jeyne fell first, then Alexis, then the rest.
Martin, still cowering on the ground with Derek started to regain his
vision. Soldiers marched in right in front of them. Then suddenly from
the right, the cabin door opened and yet another muzzle flash tore
through the air. A single loud gunshot. It was the captain. He only
managed to fire off a single shell before more NorthCo soldiers came in
and replied to his threats. The Co-Pilot surrendered and the soldiers
dragged him out, along with the two VIPs.
Martin looked up at his captors, then at a familiar face in the distance.
Admiral Yen Cheng, and his son, Max Cheng, the captain of the
Symphony. The admiral looked pleased and furious at the same time.
“
You were nothing but a warrant officer when I came into the force” said
the Admiral. He had a closely cut head of grey hair, dark, worn eyes and
the ba le hardened stance of a war veteran. Two mes for him in
par cular.
“
You mean when the force took you in, when I took you in” replied Coves
resen ully. Cheng replied with nothing but a stern stare. Mar n con nued
“Your capture of me will be short lived. This uprising within our ranks will
not go unanswered for. Traitors. All of you! We brought you up to here! I
brought you to where you are today! This ‘victory’ of yours ends now. You
a acked too close to our base. Now prepare to face the en rety of the
Geisen Military.” Mar n panted, but the Admiral knew he was right. A
thousand ships would soon be upon them, and that’s just the first wave.

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23
Ignition