8
Back on the Peleliu, rocking on the rough seas beyond the tail end of the storm, Chief Warrant Lola Maloney stalked across the wet deck toward Claudia before she had a chance to shut down her craft.
“Captain Casperson!”
Claudia snapped to attention and barely resisted saluting at the chief warrant’s sharp tone. “Ma’am!”
“You’re pissing me off, Captain Casperson.”
Claudia let herself relax. Last time Maloney had used that tone, it had turned out to be a compliment. She hoped that was the case this time as well.
“Do you know what that is?” Lola was pointing back toward the Vengeance. She didn’t give Claudia time to answer, punching her words at her. “That is a Direct Action Penetrator Black Hawk. It is the most lethal helicopter this planet has ever produced. It is presently the one
