Ragnarok: Colonization, intrigue and betrayal. Andrew Claymore (primary phonics books .txt) 📖

“Wehave a suite ready for the two of you,” Gleb said. “We’d likefor you to come with us to the republic for a couple of months andmingle with the folks at our main base of operations.”

“Isthat safe?” Adelina leaned back. “What if you’re attacked whilewe’re there?”

“Wehave been attacked,” Gleb admitted. “And Luna demonstrated theconcept of direct control of a combat platform by a single individualat that battle.”

“WhileI sat in their base cafeteria,” Maeve cut in dryly. “I wasboringly safe while Luna was tearing the enemy a new one.”

“She’sright about being safe,” Gleb pointed out. “We operate out of anancient station that was built around a white dwarf star.Imagine a structure whose radius is nearly the same as our currentdistance from the sun.

“Imaginethe surface area you’d have to search, and that ignores the factthat she was sitting about two thousand kilometers beneaththe surface. Nooutsider has found us yet and they wouldn’t be able to do muchdamage from orbit.”

“Arounda white dwarf?” Adelina blurted. “Is that even possible? I mean,how do you keep it centered on the star? Wouldn’t the damn thingdrift off position and collide with the star?”

“Ituses the same kind of artificial gravity generation that we have inour ships,” Noa explained. “Frankly, I think the empireoriginally borrowed the tech from Babilim Station.”

“Theydidn’t build the station?”

Noashook his head. “They have no idea who built it. It’s beensitting empty since long before the days of the old kingdom.”

“Asfar as safety goes,” Luna said, “it’s a lot less risk thanbeing on Earth.” She waved her hands and a holographic image of theplanet appeared in the middle of the group.

“Theseicons are our ships.” Shepointed to the larger one. “That’s us and these smaller ones areall corvettes. We built them using enemyships we captured in Earth orbit.”

Shefixed her gaze on Adelina. “They came here to bombard our majorcities with asteroids so we’d be more biddable when they landedground-troops.”

Ethsaid something in a strange language but it sounded very much like acurse of surprise to Adelina.

“Westill have that minor noble in our brig,” he said with a grimace.“Theone who led the attack. You just handed him over to me at Babilim, soI’ve been keeping him close...”

“He’sthe only one we kept alive,” Luna explained for her sister. “Ithink we might have to make an example of him. The Chironans arestupid enough to keep trying unless we give them a sharp lesson inhumility.”

“Youcould strap him to an asteroid and sling it at one of their militaryfacilities,”Maeve suggested.

Glebleaned back, looking up at the high roof of the ‘cathedral’ wherea huge, ornate chandelier floated of its own accord. “Yeah…” Henodded up at the fixture meditatively. “That should strike just theright note. We’ll have to transmit a writof inherited grievance to Throne World first though.”

“Doesthe grievance count if we were never a recognized political entity inthe empire?” Noa asked.

“Doesn’tmatter,” Gleb told him. “Those rules are really for one-systemminor lords. They only apply ifthe emperor feels he can enforce them.” He held up a hand toforestall his friend’s response.

“Yes,I know. We only hold this system, we’ll soon hold a second once thecolony is settled and then Babilim counts for half a system at bestbut we’re also a founding member of the republic. We also happen tobe one of the most potent military forces in the known galaxy.”

“Sendingthe writto Throne World may be of questionable legalvalue,” Eth observed, “but it will give Emperor Mishak thepretext he needs to ignore what we’re about to do to the Chironans.And remember he hates those guys anyway.”

“Andhe probably still feels guilty about betraying us,” Gleb added. “Ifit had been up to him, we’d still be his pals, even if it wouldhave cost him the throne.”

“Oh,sorry,” he said, looking to Adelina. “Our former lord, andoccasional drinking buddy, is now the emperor. If you agree to joinus for a few months, we’ll get you set up with the background infoand languages you’ll need to understand everything.”

“So,what do you say, Addie?” Luna asked. “You feel up for it?”

Adelinaplaced her hands on her thighs and turned to the right. “What doyou think, LadyGabriella?”I’ll never beable to take that seriously.

“Idon’t know,” Gabriella said, exaggerating her dubious tone. “DoI have to wear a tiara or anything?”

Common Grounds

The Kuphar, In Path

“Why did you decideto leave your farm in America?”

“Hmm?” Frank turnedhis head slightly toward Trisha but he kept watching Terry and Vikramplay something that looked like a cricket match had crash-landed in abasketball court.

“Rules,” hemuttered. His focus slid away from the game in front of them,settling somewhere in the middle distance. “I was stuck trying towork within the sticky mess of laws and regulations at three levelsof government and I just couldn’t compete with the big operators.

“At their scale, it’sjust cheaper to ignore the rules and pay lawyers to trip up anyrepercussions.”

“I thought yourcountry was all about freedom?”

“Freedom always comeswith a cost,” he told her. “And the price is usually too high forthe little guy.” He leaned back on the cargo pallet they were bothsitting on, looking up at her.

“Why did you decideto come?”

She pushed a package ofgreen coffee beans back under the netting on top of the large pallet.“We had a decent-sized farm,” she said. “Just under fiftyacres, which is larger than ninety-nine percent of coffee growers inIndia.

“It was good coffeetoo,” she added, nodding at the mug cradled on Frank’s lap.“Arabica inter-cropped with cardamom.”

“That’s whatI’m tasting!” Frank took another sip. “Your stuff is so muchbetter than the ship’s coffee they serve in the cafeteria.”

She nodded. “I’mthinking the Chironans must have taken Robusta beans so they couldgrow them on more planets. The crewman I talked to didn’t thinkthere were any varieties, aside from where it was grown.”

A shout fromTerry drew their attention. He’d tangled his feet on the cricketbat and tumbled to the deck. He was holding his knee but waving offVikram’sconcern. The teenhit the top of the basketball to get it bouncing and tried, withoutsuccess, to hit it at the hanging basket.

“We did well,”shesaid, still watching the odd game. “Aftertwelve years of hard work, we