A man on the dock jumped onto an ATV and raced down the runway at top speed.
The XO ran back inside. “Mooring lines are cast off.”
“Take us away from the dock.”
The Marauder’s engines increased power and pushed them into the harbor.
“Shall I take us out of the harbor?” the XO asked.
“No. Go out two hundred meters and turn the ship around.”
“Captain?”
“Do it.”
He gave the order to the helmsman, and the trimaran moved out into the harbor and rotated.
“Bring the plasma cannon online.”
“What is the target?”
Jin raised binoculars and watched dust rising from the impact of bullets around the central office building. It was the one where MacD was being held prisoner. She couldn’t tell if her men or theirs were winning.
“Our target is the whole base,” Jin said. “Starting with the main building. We can’t afford anyone surviving.”
“But our men . . .” the XO protested.
“Will be making a great sacrifice for the glory of China.”
* * *
—
Eddie and Linc took up a defensive position at the front door while Linda, Raven, and MacD took the rear door. They were taking fire from all directions. Sprinting for the hills now would just get them all killed.
“Hali,” Eddie said into his molar mic, “we’re taking heavy fire.”
“Can you make it to the Gator?”
“No, we’re pinned down at the base.”
Two of the guards ran toward the office building from the direction of the dock, and Linc took one down, but the other ducked safely behind the corner of an adjacent building.
“What are they doing?” Linc wondered aloud as he looked out into the harbor.
Eddie didn’t understand the question until he turned and saw the Marauder pivoting so that its bow was facing the base complex.
The barrel of the plasma cannon was swinging around to aim right at them.
“She wouldn’t,” Linc said. “Not with her own men so close.”
“She would,” Eddie said. “Time to go.”
“I think you’re right.”
They dashed toward the back of the building. They made it halfway when a momentous crack pulsed th
rough the room. Linc dived and pulled Eddie down with him. The opposite side of the building was smashed, raining pieces of sizzling concrete around them. Searing heat seemed to boil the water vapor in the air, causing steam to instantly appear along with the dust.