Silent Bomber

Jutah Fate is a war criminal with the emotional range of a locked door — a consequence of being ordered to destroy a stronghold that turned out to hold civilians. His home planet of Hornet drafts him back into service for a covert mission: destroy the space cruiser Dante before it can threaten the planet. His team includes political criminal Benoit Manderubrot, spy Micino Tifone, and escape artist John Loss. CO Annri Ohara leads the operation. Their insertion goes wrong immediately. Dante's anti-aircraft weapons shoot the ship down, and Jutah is separated from the group. Working alone, he dismantles the cruiser system by system while something unexpected develops: feelings for Annri. When Jutah reaches the bridge, the crew is already dead — killed by Dante's own defenses. A hologram of Benoit appears and reveals he orchestrated the killings and has seized control of the ship, still intending to destroy Hornet. Jutah refuses to join him. Benoit ejects him into space; the remaining crew pulls him back. He breaks back into the ship, destroys Dante's main cannon with Hornet still intact, and finds Benoit merged with the ship's AI in the core. After the final battle, Benoit triggers the self-destruct. Jutah's escape route is blocked and the others leave without him. Three years later, he appears at Annri's home.