“Which one? Do you know?”
Feldstein frowned. “Loose lips… Have you seen the posters up everywhere?” She rolled her eyes at Mateus.
“Hey, I was just asking. Don’t be so touchy-touchy.”
Justin reflected for a moment on the propaganda posters up everywhere, mostly on rotating digital displays. Some encouraged everyone not to waste food or energy, and others reminded soldiers not to discuss operational details. A few were pointedly directed at the League of Sol. An instant classic was a stylized drawing of Canaan with the debris of dozens of warships in front of it. The headline blared, Avenge Canaan! He wholeheartedly approved of the sentiment.
“Ladies, should we not deal the cards?” Adeoye asked.
“Harrumph,” Mateus replied and started tossing cards to each person. “Ante up.”
Chips landed in the middle of the table as each pilot put in a wager. Justin felt the stress melt away as they laughed and made fun of one another.
After several rounds of bets and additional cards dealt, Mateus cleared her throat. “And now, show your cards.” She grinned wickedly.
Feldstein dropped five cards in a row. “Straight.”
“Impressive,” Adeoye began. He revealed his cards. “But I’m afraid a flush beats a straight.”
Mateus cackled. “Oh, it’s so much fun playing against you boys.” With a flourish, she put down one card after another. “Straight flush.” Her eyes moved over to Justin. “Show ’em, cowboy.”
“Well, tell me how these look.” Justin laid his cards on the table. They consisted of three queens and two jokers.
“Oh, hell no.” Mateus stared, her eyes blazing. “Did you cheat? Did you bring extra cards?” Her voice rose, and the slight accent she had grew deeper.
“Uh, no. What are you so charged up about?”
“That’s five of a kind! It beats everything!” Mateus fumed. “Impossible.”
“Beginner’s luck?” Justin grinned. Everything’s going my way lately. The thought was immediately tempered by how close he’d come to death and the deaths of three more of the Greengold’s pilots. This is when Michelle would tell me not to tempt God. They’d spoken earlier in the evening, with Maggie at her side. He’d been able to say truthfully he was off the firing line, at least for a little while. It was amazing how much that small reprieve meant to both of them.
“Maybe Spencer here is a card shark in his spare time.” Feldstein pushed her chips toward him and made eye contact. “Is that it?”
“No, seriously. I’ve played all of three hands of poker in my life, including this one.” Justin shrugged. “Blackjack is my game.”
He sat back and frowned. “You know, I worry about when my luck finally runs out.” The words just fell out of his mouth without much thought.
Feldstein bit her lip. “We all do.” She glanced around at the rest of them. “Every time we strap in, there’s a pretty decent chance we’re not coming back. For me, it makes me consider every action and every word. I climb into that cockpit, having tried my best to treat everyone around me as well as I can and stay right with God.”
Even Mateus nodded.
“Until the day our number’s up, we’ve got each other.” Justin pursed his lips. “There’s no one else I’d rather fly with or have watching my six.” He put one of his palms down on the center of the table.
Mateus quickly put her hand on top of his. “No better friend.”
“No worse enemy,” Feldstein echoed and placed her palm on top of Mateus’s.
“No matter the odds,” Adeoye finished and set his hand at the top of the pile, completing the gesture.
All of them smiled warmly.
Mateus withdrew first, and a wicked grin came across her face. “Now, enough of that sappy stuff. Ante up!”
They all broke into laughter, and Justin pushed a small group of chips forward. The game continued into the wee hours of the morning.
Tomorrow? That will be another day. While the war would continue, so would their friendship—and that meant everything.
THE END
Battlegroup Z: Book 3 – Sol Strike: The Terran Coalition is down, but not out. Tasked with a daring plan to bring the war to the League, Justin Spencer and the CSV Zvika Greengold face their toughest trial yet: Attacking Earth itself.
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Also Available from Daniel Gibbs
Battlegroup Z
Book 1 - Weapons Free
Book 2 - Hostile Spike
Book 3 - Sol Strike
Echoes of War
Book 1 - Fight the Good Fight
Book 2 - Strong and Courageous
Book 3 - So Fight I
Book 4 - Gates of Hell
Book 5 - Keep the Faith
Book 6 - Run the Gauntlet
Book 7 - Finish the Fight
Breach of Faith
(With Gary T. Stevens)
Book 1 - Breach of Peace
Book 2 - Breach of Faith
Book 3 - Breach of Duty
Book 4 - Breach of Trust
Acknowledgments
As Hostile Spike represents my fifteenth published novel/novella, I am again left in awe that so many people I’ve never met would buy them. To begin these acknowledgments – thank you to all the readers who have done so, so far, and who (hopefully) will in the future.
I’d again like to thank my editor, Susie, for helping get this book over the finish line.
To everyone who helped bring these stories to life – thank you. The list remains too numerous to count, but you all know who you are.
As readers are used to by now I’m sure, I like to close with two points.
First is a thank you
