by G J Ogden
Dakota pulled the slightly dusty and grime-stained Bob the bear out of her jacket pocket and popped him onto the dashboard.
“We can’t go anywhere without our lucky mascot,” she said, driving away and U-turning to head out of the abandoned town in the opposite direction to the mountain.
“Hopefully, Bob can help us track down a ship too,” said Hallam, grateful for the feel of the wind in his hair. “Because we won’t get very far without one.”
“At least Cad Rikkard won’t be coming after us anymore,” replied Dakota, taking a turning that was signposted “Prospect Ridge,” which Hallam took as a good omen.
“Maybe, but Dexter Stone will not have abandoned his pursuit,” Dr. Rand added, which only served to douse the spark of hope that was starting to burn again in Hallam’s belly. However, what the scientist said next reignited it, like lightning striking dry wood. “However, just as Cad Rikkard and Damien Doyle have tried and failed to stop us, so will Dexter Stone. In the face of extermination, life always finds a way, Mr. Knight. And in this moment in time, we are that way. We will succeed, not only because we must, but because our will to survive is far, far stronger than their determination to destroy.”
Hallam sucked in a deep breath of the cool morning air and rested back in his seat. Cad Rikkard may have succeeded in exacting his revenge on the Darkspace Renegades, leaving the underground organization broken and scattered to the far corners of the galaxy. However, despite all his efforts, and his sacrifices, the mercenary had not beaten them. And even though he had no reason to believe it, Hallam Knight knew that Cad Rikkard would never succeed in that goal. Sooner or later, the Blackfire Squadron would learn of their survival, and Cad Rikkard would come for them again. It was inevitable, Hallam realized. Yet, what he also realized in that moment, as they drove away from the nuclear wreckage of Falken’s lair, was that it didn’t matter. In the end, hope always prevailed against hate, and the moment that fact ceased to be true was the moment the human race was truly lost.
“Last one to find a ship that can fly us off this rock buys the drinks?” said Hallam, turning his head toward Dakota.
“You’re on,” Dakota replied, shooting him a familiar smile.
Dakota joined the main road and locked the old mining vehicle into a cruising speed. Hallam glanced back and watched the broken mountain and dark black mushroom cloud slip further into the distance behind them. Then he focused ahead and didn’t look back again, because forward was the only direction they could go. Their next stop was Prospect Ridge. Hallam had no idea what to expect when they got there, but he knew that whatever challenges still lay ahead, they would face them together. And he knew in his heart that they would succeed.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Thank you for reading Rikkard’s Revenge, book four in Darkspace Renegade.
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ALSO IN THE SERIES
Darkspace Renegade
Wolf Squadron
Rogue World
Rikkard’s Revenge
Renegade Resurgence
Centrum Incursion
Also by GJ Ogden
If you enjoyed this book, please consider reading The Star Scavenger Series or The Contingency War Series Both are free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers and available as Audible boxed sets.
THE STAR SCAVENGER SERIES
THE CONTINGENCY WAR SERIES
"Highly recommended - sci-fi fans will not be disappointed with this novel." Readers' Favorite, 5-stars.
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The Contingency War Series
About the Author
At school, I was asked to write down the jobs I wanted to do as a "grown up". Number one was astronaut and number two was a PC games journalist. I only managed to achieve one of those goals (I’ll let you guess which), but these two very different career options still neatly sum up my lifelong interests in science, space, and the unknown.
School also steered me in the direction of a science-focused education over literature and writing, which influenced my decision to study physics at Manchester University. What this degree taught me is that I didn’t like studying physics and instead enjoyed writing, which is why you’re reading this book! The lesson? School can’t tell you who you are.
When not writing, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking in the British countryside, and indulging in as much Sci-Fi as possible.
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