Read "End as a Hero" by Keith Laumer online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The shrilling of the proximity alarm blasted through the silence. For a wild moment I thought Kayle had beaten me to the punch; then I realized it was the routine DEW line patrol contact.
"Z four-oh-two, I am reading your IFF. Decelerate at 1.8 gee preparatory to picking up approach orbit."