Read Online Omega Force 5: Return of the Archon by Joshua Dalzelle - Free Book Online
Authors: Joshua Dalzelle
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flaw.”
“I suppose we should finish our discussion with Connimon and then you can decide from there what you want to do,” Jason said after a long moment of thought.
“Agreed,” Crusher said, standing up. “So far she’s given no particular reason why they’ve taken the trouble to track me down.”
Twenty minutes later they were all reassembled in the galley, seated at the second table, smaller table, with Twingo and Kage conspicuously absent. The gelten contingent all wore studiously blank looks peppered with occasional glances at Crusher. Jason watched it all with great interest. Crusher was the only member of his species he’d ever seen, so the way they treated him with deference while simultaneously seeming to genuinely fear him gave Jason some further insight as to who Crusher, or Felex, really was. As per their agreement when they’d left the armory, Crusher took control of the meeting.
“Now that we’ve all had time to cool our tempers,” he began, “I’d like to know why you’ve come to find me. Tread wearily, Caretaker, for I will tolerate no lies.” Jason’s right eyebrow lifted a notch as Crusher seemed to switch between his usual, familiar manner of speaking and an odd, stilted formality.
“As we were discussing, Galvetor is on the brink,” she said, holding up a hand to cut off Crusher’s protest. “I know, Felex … this conflict has been brewing so long that it has a feel of normalcy to it. Maybe it’s even slipped into the background of everyday life. The vast majority of our citizens feel it’s just the harmless wrangling of politicians that, in the end, will impact their lives very little.
“My first indication that things may have changed was the concerted effort to have you removed. You were far too influential and a traditionalist; the legions would never have budged with you still in place as Archon. It was a surprise to everyone when you accepted exile without much of a fight.”
“I had little choice,” Crusher said. “The legions had made it clear they would resist any overt effort to remove me. Had I not stepped down, there was no doubt it would have led to a violent conflict between us and Galvetor Internal Security.”
“That was the thought of the senior leadership as well,” Connimon confirmed. “We gravely miscalculated, however, and in the time of your absence the oversight committee has been staffed with interventionist sympathizers.”
“The oversight committee is a strictly civilian council that observes the warrior caste and acts as a liaison between the legions and the capital on Galvetor,” Crusher said to Jason. “During the wrangling between isolationist and interventionist factions within the civilian government, both sides try to stack the deck in their favor in the oversight committee in case the worst was to happen.”
“You mean if this little political cold war turned hot, the side that had the most influence over the legions would have a huge advantage,” Jason said.
“Essentially, yes,” Connimon said. “But with Felex as Archon, none of this would have mattered. Not a single warrior would have marched without his consent. It was the main reason he was forced out; neither side liked the level of influence he exerted on such a powerful force.”
“Especially not when they wanted it for themselves,” Jason said, nodding in understanding. “So this title … Archon … you were the presiding military officer within your ranks?”
“It’s not quite what you would call a ‘general’ in your own experience,” Crusher explained. “I was, am still, I suppose, the spiritual, political, and military leader of my people. I know I’m making it sound like a cult, but being a Galvetic warrior isn’t something you volunteer for. You’re born into it and have little choice of being anything else. As such, our society is a bit different than the volunteer military force of your peers that you enlisted in.” This was the first time
“I suppose we should finish our discussion with Connimon and then you can decide from there what you want to do,” Jason said after a long moment of thought.
“Agreed,” Crusher said, standing up. “So far she’s given no particular reason why they’ve taken the trouble to track me down.”
Twenty minutes later they were all reassembled in the galley, seated at the second table, smaller table, with Twingo and Kage conspicuously absent. The gelten contingent all wore studiously blank looks peppered with occasional glances at Crusher. Jason watched it all with great interest. Crusher was the only member of his species he’d ever seen, so the way they treated him with deference while simultaneously seeming to genuinely fear him gave Jason some further insight as to who Crusher, or Felex, really was. As per their agreement when they’d left the armory, Crusher took control of the meeting.
“Now that we’ve all had time to cool our tempers,” he began, “I’d like to know why you’ve come to find me. Tread wearily, Caretaker, for I will tolerate no lies.” Jason’s right eyebrow lifted a notch as Crusher seemed to switch between his usual, familiar manner of speaking and an odd, stilted formality.
“As we were discussing, Galvetor is on the brink,” she said, holding up a hand to cut off Crusher’s protest. “I know, Felex … this conflict has been brewing so long that it has a feel of normalcy to it. Maybe it’s even slipped into the background of everyday life. The vast majority of our citizens feel it’s just the harmless wrangling of politicians that, in the end, will impact their lives very little.
“My first indication that things may have changed was the concerted effort to have you removed. You were far too influential and a traditionalist; the legions would never have budged with you still in place as Archon. It was a surprise to everyone when you accepted exile without much of a fight.”
“I had little choice,” Crusher said. “The legions had made it clear they would resist any overt effort to remove me. Had I not stepped down, there was no doubt it would have led to a violent conflict between us and Galvetor Internal Security.”
“That was the thought of the senior leadership as well,” Connimon confirmed. “We gravely miscalculated, however, and in the time of your absence the oversight committee has been staffed with interventionist sympathizers.”
“The oversight committee is a strictly civilian council that observes the warrior caste and acts as a liaison between the legions and the capital on Galvetor,” Crusher said to Jason. “During the wrangling between isolationist and interventionist factions within the civilian government, both sides try to stack the deck in their favor in the oversight committee in case the worst was to happen.”
“You mean if this little political cold war turned hot, the side that had the most influence over the legions would have a huge advantage,” Jason said.
“Essentially, yes,” Connimon said. “But with Felex as Archon, none of this would have mattered. Not a single warrior would have marched without his consent. It was the main reason he was forced out; neither side liked the level of influence he exerted on such a powerful force.”
“Especially not when they wanted it for themselves,” Jason said, nodding in understanding. “So this title … Archon … you were the presiding military officer within your ranks?”
“It’s not quite what you would call a ‘general’ in your own experience,” Crusher explained. “I was, am still, I suppose, the spiritual, political, and military leader of my people. I know I’m making it sound like a cult, but being a Galvetic warrior isn’t something you volunteer for. You’re born into it and have little choice of being anything else. As such, our society is a bit different than the volunteer military force of your peers that you enlisted in.” This was the first time
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