Read Online Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 3: A Galaxy to Conquer by T. R. Harris - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: T. R. Harris
Tags: Science-Fiction, Fantasy
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Japanese, they attacked your Pearl Harbor—”
“What point are you trying to make?” Adam interrupted, growing tired of the history lesson, as well as this entire line of conversation.
“What I’m getting at is that eventually both our countries made friends of our enemies. Hell, even our two countries have fought two wars against each other. What I’m saying is that if the door had been left open for negotiations and compromise, you may have been surprised what the Kracori would have done to make amends. You may have been able to exact massive reparations out of them. I was on Elision when these options were being discussed. But before any overtures could be made, you get up before the entire galaxy and yell ‘Death to all Kracori and Klin!’ You didn’t even give them a chance. And now we’re here, with the Juireans about to crash the party, and I assume, the Humans ready to step in and clean up the mess after the two alien races slug it out. Is that the plan? It doesn’t take a military genius to figure that one out.”
Adam was in such shock that he hardly noticed when Nigel slipped the .45 into a pocket of his waistcoat. He stood and approached Adam. “Mr. Cain, you have to believe me when I say I am truly sorry for what I just said, but you know it to be the truth. I do not blame you; you are a warrior and that is how you approach these things. But the diplomats back on Earth should have foreseen this and not let the death warrant go out. But that is all water under the bridge. I stand before you now as a partner, as a comrade with a common goal. I have brought you a ship that can get you into Elision space—thanks to our fat Silean’s unlimited bank account—and with the means to get us to the surface of the planet and find Tarazi. I assume you still have your secret weapon, your mind-control device, so affecting a rescue should be child’s play for you and your team of SEALs. Whatever my assistance will buy me with the people back home, that remains to be seen. But let’s bury that hatchet and work as one.”
Nigel actually placed a hand on Adam’s slumping shoulder. “I promise not speak about my theory on current and recent events to your team. The time to place blame is over. Now we must deal with the present. I’m offering you my help. All you have to do is accept it.”
Adam rose to his feet, weakened and humiliated by the words he now had emblazoned in his mind. He looked into Nigel’s blue eyes, knowing that even though he may not speak of this again, Adam would be haunted by the revelation, probably for the rest of his life.
He looked down to see Nigel’s offered hand. He reached out to grasp it—just as Sherri Valentine and Andy Tobias burst onto the bridge. The look of utter shock on their faces came from two sources: One from seeing Nigel McCarthy alive; and two, from the sight of Adam and McCarthy shaking hands.
Chapter 7
I t took a full hour for Adam to convince Sherri and Andy that he hadn’t gone insane, and that the best chance they had of getting Riyad back alive was to have McCarthy join the team. The three other SEALs—Tobias, Master Chief Rutledge and John Tindal—only knew McCarthy by reputation, but Sherri had firsthand experience with him. She was the hardest to convince.
In the end, they all came to a tense agreement. The operation to rescue Riyad couldn’t last longer than ten days; five days transit time to the Shield, and then a maximum of another five to reach Elision, find Riyad and get him out. If it took any longer than that, then they were all in a world of shit.
Sherri and Tobias agreed to tolerate the arrangement for those ten days, if it meant a better chance of saving Riyad. But after that, McCarthy would part company with the team, and hopefully never cross their path again.
********
McCarthy remained onboard the native ship—native to a race of beings called the Volseen—to prepare for launch. The three other Humans returned to the
“What point are you trying to make?” Adam interrupted, growing tired of the history lesson, as well as this entire line of conversation.
“What I’m getting at is that eventually both our countries made friends of our enemies. Hell, even our two countries have fought two wars against each other. What I’m saying is that if the door had been left open for negotiations and compromise, you may have been surprised what the Kracori would have done to make amends. You may have been able to exact massive reparations out of them. I was on Elision when these options were being discussed. But before any overtures could be made, you get up before the entire galaxy and yell ‘Death to all Kracori and Klin!’ You didn’t even give them a chance. And now we’re here, with the Juireans about to crash the party, and I assume, the Humans ready to step in and clean up the mess after the two alien races slug it out. Is that the plan? It doesn’t take a military genius to figure that one out.”
Adam was in such shock that he hardly noticed when Nigel slipped the .45 into a pocket of his waistcoat. He stood and approached Adam. “Mr. Cain, you have to believe me when I say I am truly sorry for what I just said, but you know it to be the truth. I do not blame you; you are a warrior and that is how you approach these things. But the diplomats back on Earth should have foreseen this and not let the death warrant go out. But that is all water under the bridge. I stand before you now as a partner, as a comrade with a common goal. I have brought you a ship that can get you into Elision space—thanks to our fat Silean’s unlimited bank account—and with the means to get us to the surface of the planet and find Tarazi. I assume you still have your secret weapon, your mind-control device, so affecting a rescue should be child’s play for you and your team of SEALs. Whatever my assistance will buy me with the people back home, that remains to be seen. But let’s bury that hatchet and work as one.”
Nigel actually placed a hand on Adam’s slumping shoulder. “I promise not speak about my theory on current and recent events to your team. The time to place blame is over. Now we must deal with the present. I’m offering you my help. All you have to do is accept it.”
Adam rose to his feet, weakened and humiliated by the words he now had emblazoned in his mind. He looked into Nigel’s blue eyes, knowing that even though he may not speak of this again, Adam would be haunted by the revelation, probably for the rest of his life.
He looked down to see Nigel’s offered hand. He reached out to grasp it—just as Sherri Valentine and Andy Tobias burst onto the bridge. The look of utter shock on their faces came from two sources: One from seeing Nigel McCarthy alive; and two, from the sight of Adam and McCarthy shaking hands.
Chapter 7
I t took a full hour for Adam to convince Sherri and Andy that he hadn’t gone insane, and that the best chance they had of getting Riyad back alive was to have McCarthy join the team. The three other SEALs—Tobias, Master Chief Rutledge and John Tindal—only knew McCarthy by reputation, but Sherri had firsthand experience with him. She was the hardest to convince.
In the end, they all came to a tense agreement. The operation to rescue Riyad couldn’t last longer than ten days; five days transit time to the Shield, and then a maximum of another five to reach Elision, find Riyad and get him out. If it took any longer than that, then they were all in a world of shit.
Sherri and Tobias agreed to tolerate the arrangement for those ten days, if it meant a better chance of saving Riyad. But after that, McCarthy would part company with the team, and hopefully never cross their path again.
********
McCarthy remained onboard the native ship—native to a race of beings called the Volseen—to prepare for launch. The three other Humans returned to the
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