Read Online Accord of Mars (Accord Series Book 2) by Kevin McLaughlin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kevin McLaughlin
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resources than we can,” I said.
“So you built Hermes,” she replied.
“That’s why I built Hermes, yes. There are only a few people who’ve fought a battle in space and lived. Most of them are here with us,” I paused. “I am counting on the generals and admirals of Earth to fulfill an old military adage.”
“And what’s that?” she asked.
“Generals are always condemned to fight the last war,” I said. “We have to be better than that. We need to win this war.”
I stood up. It felt good to be out of the chair. “Computer, display system map,” I said.
The visual flashed out and came back with a three dimensional display of local Mars space. It showed the planet, the moons - and my hidden station. I traced a line through the image, and it glowed red where my finger passed, connecting the station and Mars with a swooping arc.
“I want you to go bring the Hermes back here,” I said. “All of the Hawks as well. Make it a long, slow course. Earth might see her depart the station. I’m sure they’ve discovered where it is by now. But I don’t want them to know precisely where she is. Bring her into a wide orbit around Mars.”
“I can do that,” Flynn said, standing. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “I’d say ask them to hurry repairs on the other ships, except I already know they’re working as fast as they can.” I had a feeling there simply wasn’t going to be time to get them into the fight.
I could see her wanting to ask about Thomas. I needed her head in the game on this. The last thing I wanted was for her to go dashing off to his rescue. Time to take some of the worry off her mind.
“I’m going to call Earth,” I said. “See if I can defuse things, slow Choi down. And I think it’s time to bring Thomas home. We’re going to need him here.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Fractionally, but I noticed it. It warmed me a little to be able to give her at least that much.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll bring her back here for you,” she said.
She left, and I sat down in the damned chair again, thinking about sand passing through an hourglass, faster every moment.
Chapter 13
Thomas Stein
A cres and Bolton both tried to talk me out of the meeting. They were convinced it was a trap. And I didn’t doubt they were correct. The whole thing smelled. But at the same time, this was a chance to beard the lion in his den. I might never get another shot at meeting Choi face to face. The idea had enormous appeal to me, and Choi probably had a good enough psych profile done of me to know that.
The invitation was simply written. There was a banquet planned for the United Nations building in New York this evening. Choi would be in attendance. It seemed he’d heard about my ‘difficulties’ earlier today, and wanted to tender his personal apology to me.
And if I believed that, he probably had swampland someplace he wanted to sell me, too.
The thing is, he didn’t need me for anything crucial. Yes, I could be captured and used as a potential threat against my father. But it seemed unlikely that he would snatch me up at such a public venue, not after personally inviting me. No, this was something else. What, I wasn’t quite sure. I intended to find out.
I went prepared for trouble. I couldn’t bring any weapons in with me. The building had scanners that would pick up just about anything I could haul along. But I grabbed a few toys to stick in my pocket in case of problems. Things that wouldn’t trip the scanners.
“Have the ship ready to go at a moment’s notice,” I said to Acres before I took off.
“I will. You ping me, we’ll be there,” he said.
“I do this, then we go home,” I said.
“Better believe it. The sooner the better,” Acres replied. “This stinks, Thomas. Be careful.”
I shrugged. What else could I say to him? I looked over at Bolton. “You’ve done good work here,” I said. “You’re welcome to come along with us.”
He shook his head. “I have
“So you built Hermes,” she replied.
“That’s why I built Hermes, yes. There are only a few people who’ve fought a battle in space and lived. Most of them are here with us,” I paused. “I am counting on the generals and admirals of Earth to fulfill an old military adage.”
“And what’s that?” she asked.
“Generals are always condemned to fight the last war,” I said. “We have to be better than that. We need to win this war.”
I stood up. It felt good to be out of the chair. “Computer, display system map,” I said.
The visual flashed out and came back with a three dimensional display of local Mars space. It showed the planet, the moons - and my hidden station. I traced a line through the image, and it glowed red where my finger passed, connecting the station and Mars with a swooping arc.
“I want you to go bring the Hermes back here,” I said. “All of the Hawks as well. Make it a long, slow course. Earth might see her depart the station. I’m sure they’ve discovered where it is by now. But I don’t want them to know precisely where she is. Bring her into a wide orbit around Mars.”
“I can do that,” Flynn said, standing. “Anything else?”
I shook my head. “I’d say ask them to hurry repairs on the other ships, except I already know they’re working as fast as they can.” I had a feeling there simply wasn’t going to be time to get them into the fight.
I could see her wanting to ask about Thomas. I needed her head in the game on this. The last thing I wanted was for her to go dashing off to his rescue. Time to take some of the worry off her mind.
“I’m going to call Earth,” I said. “See if I can defuse things, slow Choi down. And I think it’s time to bring Thomas home. We’re going to need him here.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Fractionally, but I noticed it. It warmed me a little to be able to give her at least that much.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll bring her back here for you,” she said.
She left, and I sat down in the damned chair again, thinking about sand passing through an hourglass, faster every moment.
Chapter 13
Thomas Stein
A cres and Bolton both tried to talk me out of the meeting. They were convinced it was a trap. And I didn’t doubt they were correct. The whole thing smelled. But at the same time, this was a chance to beard the lion in his den. I might never get another shot at meeting Choi face to face. The idea had enormous appeal to me, and Choi probably had a good enough psych profile done of me to know that.
The invitation was simply written. There was a banquet planned for the United Nations building in New York this evening. Choi would be in attendance. It seemed he’d heard about my ‘difficulties’ earlier today, and wanted to tender his personal apology to me.
And if I believed that, he probably had swampland someplace he wanted to sell me, too.
The thing is, he didn’t need me for anything crucial. Yes, I could be captured and used as a potential threat against my father. But it seemed unlikely that he would snatch me up at such a public venue, not after personally inviting me. No, this was something else. What, I wasn’t quite sure. I intended to find out.
I went prepared for trouble. I couldn’t bring any weapons in with me. The building had scanners that would pick up just about anything I could haul along. But I grabbed a few toys to stick in my pocket in case of problems. Things that wouldn’t trip the scanners.
“Have the ship ready to go at a moment’s notice,” I said to Acres before I took off.
“I will. You ping me, we’ll be there,” he said.
“I do this, then we go home,” I said.
“Better believe it. The sooner the better,” Acres replied. “This stinks, Thomas. Be careful.”
I shrugged. What else could I say to him? I looked over at Bolton. “You’ve done good work here,” I said. “You’re welcome to come along with us.”
He shook his head. “I have
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