Page 77 of Princess

That wasn’t a bad thing.It would stay deep.If the sub hadn’t made it yet, their assault would happen without us.It was the old sub’s maiden voyage, too.So damned many things could go wrong.

Alpha 5, acting as a diversion, swooped low, drawing heavy fire.It was the newest plane we had, which didn’t say much.Not one of our air fleet was less than fifty years old.

Two seconds later, we took a volley from the second ship, and a sickening thud reverberated through the cockpit.The #3 engine sputtered, and a plume of black smoke erupted behind us.The plane bucked violently and I struggled to compensate.I fought the control column, wrestling the old bird back into line, my knuckles white on the yoke.I received a critical engine warning.This was no longer cosmetic.

If we pulled away now, we could possibly make it to the landing strip where Marinah waited.I peered at the crew.They were facing me and ready to die for our cause.I turned forward.

“Pull back,” I yelled at the two other planes through the radio.“We’re heading for land.”

An explosion below us had everyone gazing downward.The second ship shuddered and smoked.

“Who made that hit?”I yelled.

Alpha 4 and then Alpha 5 replied, “Negative.”

“It’s got to be the sub,” one of my men exclaimed.

Two ships down.The sub wouldn’t communicate with us and give away their position, but they might be able to hear me.“We’re heading back to land,” I said.This let them know we were disengaging and heading to the landing strip.

A strange sensation traveled down my spine.

“Alpha 4, Alpha 5, take the lead.”

I turned the bomber and circled back.I searched the water, having no idea what I was looking for.Another volley of bullets headed toward us.I banked to the right.I could see the third ship’s crew clearly, and they weren’t looking up.They were turned to the east.

An explosion from deep in the ocean rocked water and debris skyward.

The submarine.Our sub.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

All those brave men were gone.

And the Federation still had a submarine.

I banked the plane and turned toward the clear skies ahead.I was down an engine, and the men with me deserved to live.We had to make it to the landing strip.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Marinah

The warm and humid air was very different from the island.It seemed heavier, and the sun a bit duller.

Landan’s man, Stevens, met us after the semi-chilling landing on an airfield too short for the aircraft.“Almost” being the key word.Large airports in the U.S.were destroyed in the very beginning of the war.Some had been partially cleared, but they were heavily monitored by the Federation.Our pilots had practiced landing on smaller strips, but it didn’t mean it was safe.I was glad to be on solid land.

Stevens was a burly, hairy mountain of a man who would be at home in one of the old prewar logging camps.His medium-toned skin was covered in a light coat of mud.

“Nice landings,” he said after the third aircraft touched down.

We were standing under a makeshift lean-to that blocked a bit of sun.Shadow Warriors disembarked from the third plane and lined up in their units.

“My men and I want to get back to the outpost,” Stevens said.“We will show you the camp and then leave, if you’re good with that.”

He was looking at me.I lifted my fist with my thumb pointing in Marinah’s direction.

“She makes the decisions.”

Marinah gave me a slight smile.I could have told him what she would say, but he hadn’t looked at her once.It could be a “don’t stare at a Shadow Warrior mate” thing that Landan taught him, or a “no way could a woman be in charge” thing.

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