Chapter 6

Rick didwhat he could to help his Jess.

He sent both his gunners to release every handheld fire extinguisher they had aboard against the inner hull beside the outer hull breach to keep it as cool as possible while they burned through the atmosphere. Even a few hundred degrees might make the difference. If the bulkhead failed, the ten-thousand degree plasma of the deceleration shock wave would burn through and kill them all instantly.

Why in the hell had he ended up so close beside the Stella?

No time to second guess.

He did what he could to yaw Jess to protect the cracks in the outer-hull heat shielding.

“C’mon, dude. Work with me, Jess.”

* * *

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Burns!

Stupid to be so close to Stella.

Run back imaging.

Stella’s tail bent. Maybe okay. Looks kinda cute on her. Flirty. Hope she makes it.

Time to focus, dude.

Hot! Hot! Hot!