Read Online Forever Until Tomorrow (War Eternal Book 5) by M. R. Forbes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: M. R. Forbes
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Military, Time travel, Science Fiction & Fantasy, alien invasion, first contact, Galactic Empire, Space Fleet, Space Marine
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though he was certainly well known. He had commanded the Ukrainian forces in the Xeno War against a much larger Soviet contingent, managing to not only survive but to win. In fact, he had defeated them so soundly that when the Soviets decided to join the UEA instead of opposing it, they supported his nomination to the coveted position.
Of course, she had a bad feeling about why she and Yousefi had been ordered to meet with him. Three days had passed since the attack on the hospital, and while the patches had done wonders to heal her wounds in record time, the whole ordeal had left UEA command shaken. If the AIT had managed to get inside military cordons to attack personnel, how could they be sure they weren't also able to sabotage the Dove?
It had been one of the questions posed during the hours she had spent being interrogated by the MCI. She had told them everything she knew, including what Doctor Villanueva had said to her, all the while knowing that she was putting her place on the Dove in jeopardy once again. It wasn't as if she had a choice. Just seeing Michael's face after the second attack had been more than enough.
He had been sent home, and she was thankful for that. Hopefully, he would be able to return to some kind of normal now that he had some distance from her.
Someone knocked on the door to her temporary quarters.
"Come in," she said, checking herself one last time.
A pair of MPs entered ahead of General Petrov's aid. Security was tighter than ever.
"Major Asher," he said, starting to salute before switching to a bow. "A car it waiting for you outside."
"I'm ready to go," Katherine said, returning the bow. It was still awkward to her. "Thank you, Corporal."
He led her out to the waiting car. She had grown up with wheels, so it still surprised her when she saw a vehicle mounted on repulsors instead. He opened the door for her, and she climbed in.
"Major," Yousefi said, already in the back seat.
"Admiral," she replied. "Should I be worried?"
He shook his head. "I wish I could say no. They didn't tell me anything either."
"Do you know what the meeting is about?"
"Something to do with the AIT and the Dove," he replied. "But you probably already knew that."
"Yes, sir."
The door closed behind her. The aide climbed into the front of the vehicle while the MPs got into another car at the rear. It was a lot of protection considering they were only going across the base.
"How is your side?" Yousefi asked.
"It still stings a little when I move a certain way, but I would call these new patches a success."
"I've always found it interesting that the scientists were able to pull organic advancement from a massive chunk of metal and wires."
"You don't believe in the Frelmund Theory?" Katherine replied.
"That the XENO-1 was sent by God?" He laughed. "No."
"That's a common misconception about his ideas. He never said God sent the starship to us. His theory is that whoever made it, they were human. Or at least, close to human. Like we were both born of the same space stuff."
"Is that a technical term? Space stuff?"
"Are you making fun of me, sir?"
"No, Major. Mmm. Maybe a little. For his theory to hold true, we would have to postulate that the planet they evolved on is also nearly identical to our own. I think there are two ways of looking at that."
"Which are?"
"One, Paul Frelmund is as batshit crazy as most of the more learned scholars think he is. Two, he's right, and that means we're going to find something out there. Personally, I think number two is much more exciting."
"Me too," Katherine agreed. "Assuming we can ever get the Dove off the ground."
"Yes. Unfortunately, a large assumption at the moment."
"Have you heard anything?"
"Nothing definitive. Some of the UEA delegates want to delay the launch until they can be sure the AIT is under control. Others want to push it up so that they don't have time to adjust whatever they might be planning."
"Either way, we'd be giving them what they
Of course, she had a bad feeling about why she and Yousefi had been ordered to meet with him. Three days had passed since the attack on the hospital, and while the patches had done wonders to heal her wounds in record time, the whole ordeal had left UEA command shaken. If the AIT had managed to get inside military cordons to attack personnel, how could they be sure they weren't also able to sabotage the Dove?
It had been one of the questions posed during the hours she had spent being interrogated by the MCI. She had told them everything she knew, including what Doctor Villanueva had said to her, all the while knowing that she was putting her place on the Dove in jeopardy once again. It wasn't as if she had a choice. Just seeing Michael's face after the second attack had been more than enough.
He had been sent home, and she was thankful for that. Hopefully, he would be able to return to some kind of normal now that he had some distance from her.
Someone knocked on the door to her temporary quarters.
"Come in," she said, checking herself one last time.
A pair of MPs entered ahead of General Petrov's aid. Security was tighter than ever.
"Major Asher," he said, starting to salute before switching to a bow. "A car it waiting for you outside."
"I'm ready to go," Katherine said, returning the bow. It was still awkward to her. "Thank you, Corporal."
He led her out to the waiting car. She had grown up with wheels, so it still surprised her when she saw a vehicle mounted on repulsors instead. He opened the door for her, and she climbed in.
"Major," Yousefi said, already in the back seat.
"Admiral," she replied. "Should I be worried?"
He shook his head. "I wish I could say no. They didn't tell me anything either."
"Do you know what the meeting is about?"
"Something to do with the AIT and the Dove," he replied. "But you probably already knew that."
"Yes, sir."
The door closed behind her. The aide climbed into the front of the vehicle while the MPs got into another car at the rear. It was a lot of protection considering they were only going across the base.
"How is your side?" Yousefi asked.
"It still stings a little when I move a certain way, but I would call these new patches a success."
"I've always found it interesting that the scientists were able to pull organic advancement from a massive chunk of metal and wires."
"You don't believe in the Frelmund Theory?" Katherine replied.
"That the XENO-1 was sent by God?" He laughed. "No."
"That's a common misconception about his ideas. He never said God sent the starship to us. His theory is that whoever made it, they were human. Or at least, close to human. Like we were both born of the same space stuff."
"Is that a technical term? Space stuff?"
"Are you making fun of me, sir?"
"No, Major. Mmm. Maybe a little. For his theory to hold true, we would have to postulate that the planet they evolved on is also nearly identical to our own. I think there are two ways of looking at that."
"Which are?"
"One, Paul Frelmund is as batshit crazy as most of the more learned scholars think he is. Two, he's right, and that means we're going to find something out there. Personally, I think number two is much more exciting."
"Me too," Katherine agreed. "Assuming we can ever get the Dove off the ground."
"Yes. Unfortunately, a large assumption at the moment."
"Have you heard anything?"
"Nothing definitive. Some of the UEA delegates want to delay the launch until they can be sure the AIT is under control. Others want to push it up so that they don't have time to adjust whatever they might be planning."
"Either way, we'd be giving them what they
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