Read Online Blood of Denebria (Star Sojourner Book 4) by Jean Kilczer - Free Book Online Page B

lettuce leaves, added a slice of tomato and avocado, and chewed.
    “We didn't know the bastards had gone from individual telepaths to developing a hive mind.” He dragged a chair close to my cot and sat down. “When the Shaka team made planetfall, the BEMs triangulated with their tel links, homed in and sent a missile that crippled the ship. The team was lucky to land and unload their armored vehicle.
    “So why not the SPS?”
    “It was an integral part of their ship. The BEMs blew it up. I hate to tell you this, but we lost the ship we stole from the BEMs, too.”
    “Oh, shit. I saw them hit the starboard engine as you tags took off.”
    “They melted it. Chancey brought us down, but that bird isn't going back up.” Joe folded his hands and stared at them.
    “What, Joe?” I speared the last of the steak and chewed. “We've still got the trucks, right?”
    “Two of the Shaka team members didn't make it.”
    I stopped chewing.
    “The team dug in around their ship, trying to protect it when a BEM platoon attacked. They were overrun and two of them were taken prisoner. The team leader and his radio man.” He looked up and sighed. “These three escaped in the truck.”
    My stomach tightened and I was afraid to hear the rest.
    “Next morning they watched from cover in the city while the BEMs publically stripped the uniforms off their two captives and fed them live to that thing you saw in the BEM ship.” His jaw muscles twitched. “Tore them limb from limb and was eating while they were still alive.”
    “Jesus and Buddha. Bountiful the Profuse.” I laid down my fork.
    “The Denebrians don't hate us, kid. They're scared shitless of meeting the same fate if they help us.”
    “It would've been our fate, Joe, if we hadn't escaped when we did. You think Alpha will send in another team?”
    “After losing a W-CIA
and
a Shaka team?” He shook his head. “They're probably gearing up for an all-out invasion.”
    “If the BEMs have an SPS—”
    “They have ours, remember?”
    “Oh, yeah. Then they're in touch with their operatives on Alpha. That's what Older Brother was counting on.”
    Joe studied his folded hands and nodded.
    “We've
got
to get behind the BEM lines and locate an SPS,” I said, “or steal a BEM ship and—”
    “And take off for Alpha ourselves.”
    “Yes, or that.” I thought of the Denebrian kids peeking out at us from under straw hats. “Alpha's got to be told that Tau Ceti is the BEM's homeworld. If the Alliance attacks them there and cuts off their supply lines…it could save thousands of Denebrian lives.”
    Joe got up and stretched his back. “I'm going to have a talk with the team…or what's left of it.” He grimaced and gingerly touched the bandage on his side. “Remind me never to have supper with you again.”
    “Again? Oh, that time on Halcyon. Yeah.” Ki Rowdinth, a lunatic leader of the Vermakt people of planet Fartherland, had sent a unit of his Elite Guards to capture me to use my tel skills, and to kill Joe. We'd barely escaped through a tunnel.
    I touched the welts on my cheek. “Or go on yet another mission with my former father in law.”
    “Where'd the team get all this stuff?” I gestured at the tent. “From Korschaff?”
    Joe nodded. “Seems the Denebrians are happy enough to trade for Interstel creds. Too bad they don't have weapons to sell.”
    A heavy shadow suddenly appeared on the outside of the tent, rimmed by lights from the camp. It wrinkled the wall as it pressed inward.
    “What the hell?” The tray slid off my lap.
    Joe drew his stingler and aimed.
    “Jules. Terran friend!” It was Huff's voice.
    I breathed again.
    “That dumb bastard!” Joe holstered his weapon. “He almost got himself killed.”
    “Huff,” I called. “I'm OK. I'm all right. Don't worry.”
    He sobbed. “I worried the fur off my right paw! I have it tucked inside my pouch in a little pile.”
    “Ah, Huff,” I said. “Why'd you do that?”
    “I wanted to go