26
“Dismissed!”
The officers dispersed. The group made idle chat as they filed out of the Formidable hangar. He had not heard one word from Commander Horace or any other officer during the funeral for the Star Runners lost during Mission Wraith.
Austin stared at Ryker’s casket, hoping this situation had been like his own “funeral,” and she would be sent off on a covert mission like he had just accomplished. The other Star Runners moved around him like water passing a boulder in a river, yet he could not pull his attention away from the casket. Her body had not been recovered, but Braddock said this was a normal occurrence during battles taking place in deep space. He sighed, his throat constricting.
She had died for him, launching her Trident in the path of incoming missiles.
And now
