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

she OK? Everyone’s been in a lather to find her sinceshe was taken from Babilim.”

“She’shere.”

“ThankGod for that!” Max’s step now had an extra bit of spring in it.“I was passed orders from Gleb himself to find her and get her tosafety, along with the rest of the colony. That’s why we broughtthe freighter along.”

Theman gave him an odd look. “You can tell her that when we get to thecouncil chamber in Unity.”

Thatwas the last Max got out of the man. They flew to the city in awkwardsilence, though he was partially able to distract himself with therugged beauty of the planet.

Acool mist hung among the forested hills, lending a dramatic flair tothe crashed cruiser as it slowly emerged ahead of them. She lay onher belly on the up-slope of a high hill.

Shefirst emerged as a slowly darkening gray hulk in the mist. The shipwas mostly intact at the stern but the damage became apparent as theyflew toward the bows.

Largetentacles of nanites, their original pattern corrupted, wavederratically, so large that parts of them were still fully obscured inthe mist. It looked as if some giant kraken had beached itself.

Theypassed the bizarre apparition and descended into the main square ofUnity. The walls were manned by too many sentries for the garrisonalone.

Thesettlers must be pitching in with the security forces,he thought as the runabout’s landing points thunkedonto the carboncrete pavers.

Theyhopped out and the officer gestured for him to follow. He led the wayup the main steps of the city’s council building, where a guardopened the door for him.

Maxnoticed the symbol on the guard’s armor. A white circle beingeclipsed by a larger, blue one. Gleband Luna’s sigil?hewondered. Didthey find a way to get forces here ahead of our evac?

Insidewas a large open space with a curving staircase leading up to asecond level. He followed the officer up the stairs and past anotherguard at the chamber doors, this one also wearing the same device onhis armor.

Hesaw Martin,one of his old shipmates from the Endeavor,grinning at him from a seat on the far side of the large oval tablethat dominatedthe room.

Therewas a mix of military and civilians around the table and the kidherself, sitting at the head next to an older guy that Max figuredhad to be Chairman Kawle.

Thiswasn’t the scene he’d been expecting. He was here to evacuateeveryone and here they were, looking like they were in the middle ofa damned meeting.

“CaptainJohnson,” Gabriella greeted him politely. “You’re a welcomesight!”

“Y…yes, ma’am,” he replied, wondering why she seemed to be takingthe lead over the civil and military authorities. Let’sget this shit-show back on track.

“Ifeveryone can please get moving, I’m here to take you all toBabilim.”

NowMartin was giving him a weird look buthegot up and moved around to Max, giving him a friendly slap on theback.

“Weappreciate the offer, Captain,” Gabriellatold him, “but, unless you’re aware of another inbound attack, weintend to stay. Thecrews of two crashed enemies are still out there in the jungle and wedon’t want to come back and find them living inside our walls.”

“Ma’am.”Max stepped forward. “Withrespect, myorders come from G…” He caught himself, still not used to thetitles that, as an American, he didn’t much care for.

“FromLord Gleb himself,” he finished.

“Iappreciate the situation, Captain,” she said calmly, “but youhave to understand that his orders can be adjusted by localauthority, if the situation warrants.”

“Watchyourself, old buddy,” Martin breathed. “You’re talking tosomeone with the authority to do exactlywhat she’s talking about. Thisain’t Kansas.”

Maxlooked at the other faces in the room. He had the distinct impressionthey agreed with her. “Ifthe jungle is full of hostiles,” he said, turning to face Gabriellaagain, “doesn’t that just reinforce the need for evacuation?”

“Webuilt this town with walls because of such threats,” Chairman Kawletold him. “I take my turn on the walls, likeeveryone else here. We intend to stay and defend our home.”

“Andwhat if they load up a shuttle with troops and fly over your wall?”Max asked dryly. Whothe hell flies Billions of klicks only to give up at the sight of awall?

“Ihope they try,” the garrison commander said, brimming withanticipation. “Let ’em all cram into a single, easily shot-downtarget and come at us.”

“We’restaying, Captain,” Gabriella told him. “If your orders went nofurther than our evacuation, then we’d appreciate if you could stayand help out.”

Martinmade a sound in his throat and, when Max glanced at him, his old palgave a slight confirmatory nod, urging him to agree.

Up to myneck in it now. “How can we beof help, my lady?”

Maxsat on the steps of the council building, looking around the square.He’d been struck by the beauty of the place on arrival but he’dbeen in a rush at the time.

Thesquare was roundish, for a square… Gigantic jungle trees grew in apark to his right, cordoned off because some of them could apparentlyrender a person unconscious on contact.

Thetrees were alovely counterpart tothe magnificent soaring structures of temples and a church, all threeclad in gold on their upper surfaces.

Thechurches were balanced by the civic building. Thetown hallwasbuilt in a style the locals called Indo-Romanesque.

Ithad a massive feel to it, with thick walls, thick pillars andslightly higharches that curvedup to a point in the center. The high towers were topped with bulgingdomes, each clad in the gold that seemed so ubiquitous here.

Heheard footsteps and knew who it was. The others had gone for a visitto the outpost where Max had landed.

“Niceto have something with a little punch out in orbit again.” Martinsat next to him with a sigh.

“Niceto feel needed, I suppose,” Max groused.

“Youkidding me, Max? We’ve been holding this place together with spitand bailing wire. Having a proper ship out there to coordinate ourfighter patrols with and a proper senior officer to assume orbitalcommand?”

Martinchuckled. “May not seem like much to you but we’ll take what wecan get our hands on and consider ourselves damned lucky. I talkedyou up big-time when we heard you were here.”

Hegave Max a gentle shove with his elbow. “So don’t make me looklike an ass, OK?”

Maxgrinned. “Since when have you needed my help?” he asked,referring to the ass