Probe Predators Read Online Free Page B

they’re planning an attack, we’ll know more about their readiness by the number of ships they use to find me. This is probably worth doing, even if we miss the probes.”
    “Do you have the helmet link to your computer?”
    “I do.”
    “Please put it on.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “You don’t have the military model of computer on your ship. I’m going to download all the programming to bring it up to speed. It’s going to need a mind to mimic.”
    Trip turned to Cole, “Cole, get the information on where to jump and start accelerating as soon as you enter normal space.” Trip looked at Andi, “I sincerely apologize for placing you in a dangerous situation. I see no way to get you off before we have to do this.”
    “I know the importance of this mission. Don’t worry about my welfare.”
    Cole said, “Andi, are you familiar with the Needle’s weapon array?”
    “I’ve been through simulator training.” Cole raised his eyebrows, “I’m a Daddy’s Girl and he wanted to show off.”
    “Good, until the computer is modified, I need you to man the weapon console.”
    Trip said, “Just be aware that if we fire on a M87 vessel, we will probably precipitate a war.”
    “I’ll do what I can to avoid hitting them.”
    Trip shrugged and put on the helmet. He moved to the second command chair and Cole sat down in the command chair. He entered the jump coordinates in the jump drive and activated the weapon’s console. Trip’s eyes closed as the small ship disappeared from normal space.

Chapter Three
    T rip opened his eyes and saw Cole and Andi’s expressions; they were under a huge level of stress. He sat up in his command chair and saw the relief on Cole’s face, “What have I missed?”
    “A ship from M87 fired at us and rocked the boat rather severely. We were lucky not to have been hit.”
    Trip said, “Computer, are you up to speed?”
    “I have taken control of all of the major systems.”
    “Your name will be Ian.”
    “Name acknowledged and stored, Sir.”
    “Give me a status?”
    “We are currently being pursued by more than six hundred warships of various classes. A quarter of them are major battleships; the majority of those remaining are in the Destroyer Class.”
    “How do we avoid them?”
    “They are currently jumping out in front of our heading with six lines of a hundred ships leaping over each other. Five lines jump beyond the closest line to our path and all of them attempt to scan our approach and take a shot at us.”
    “Are they able to react fast enough to be effective?”
    Cole nodded, “One of them barely missed hitting us twenty minutes ago.”
    “Ian, veer us around the end of their lines and continue at our current pace.”
    “I suspect if they don’t detect us passing they will move their lines and possibly double the number of ships in each line.”
    Trip thought for a moment and leaned back in his chair, “Do you think they know what we’re doing?”
    “I’m not really sure about that.”
    “I would think they would have hit some probes moving through this area.”
    “They’ve managed to destroy more than a hundred.”
    “That must mean their FTL tracking devices are far advanced from what they used to be.”
    “Their targeting computers are also more advanced, Sir.”
    “Ian, are you able to see the Probes?”
    “I am.”
    “I thought you might since you’re matching their speed. Where is the furthest from our current location?”
    “It’s about six hundred miles to the port side.”
    “Can you veer over and stay close to it?”
    “I’ll start moving in that direction and cut the distance at a small angle. I’ll accelerate slightly and maintain a position even with it.”
    Cole stood up and stretched. Andi fell back in her chair and then jumped up and ran over to Cole and put her arms around his chest and pulled him close. “I almost fired on that ship…I could have caused a war.” Andi was shivering as her adrenaline sought