Read Online Starship Revenant (The Galactic Wars Book 3) by Tripp Ellis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tripp Ellis
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tattered. Wide eyes and hopeless faces. But they were healthy, for the most part. There weren’t any wounded—the Decluvians had either killed the wounded, or left them to die on Delta Vega.
Walker clenched his jaw. He knew that these people were going to be slaves, or worse. But now was not the time to do anything about it.
The OOD led Walker and the others through a network of passageways to a small berthing compartment with four bunks. But they weren’t ordinary bunks. There were misting stations above each bunk, in case you needed to rehydrate your amphibian skin during the night.
“There are bathing facilities down the hall. There is also a pool if you’d like to take a dip. The 2nd deck mess hall is just forward from here. There are a variety of insects, worms, and slugs from across the galaxy, if you get hungry. Just don’t spoil your appetite. I’ll send someone to fetch you for the ceremony.”
“Thank you,” said Malik.
“If that’s all, I’ll be returning to my post?”
Malik nodded, and the OOD marched away.
Bailey leapt into one of the bunks and settled in for a nap.
The ship was hot and humid. It felt like a swamp. And that was just how the Decluvian’s liked it.
Walker peeled off his helmet and took a deep breath. “We’ve got to do something about those prisoners.”
“Whoa. Hang on,” Malik said. “Let’s not get carried away.”
“If those were Saarkturians, how would you feel?”
Malik frowned. “Let’s just stick to the plan.”
“What plan is that?”
“We’ll attend the ceremony,” Malik said. “You stay here with Bailey. We’ll say you weren’t feeling well. We’ll have dinner, then we’ll say thank you, and be on our way.”
“I say we make a new plan. This fleet is on a mission to exterminate mankind. This may be our only chance to do something. We need to kill the Emperor, free the hostages, and destroy the ship.”
“If my people have formed an alliance with the Decluvians, then I must honor that alliance.”
“We’re talking about the annihilation of my people.” The veins in Walker’s neck were popping out.”
Saaja intervened. “Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down. The agreement we made was to help each other get off the planet and get each other to safety. None of us are exactly safe just yet.”
Malik gave her a sideways glance.
“You don’t really trust the Decluvians, do you?” she said. “They’ve never held to an agreement before.”
“I’m sure Prince Valinok had his reasons.”
“He’s a boy,” Saaja said. “He’s not qualified to make these decisions. He’s too young to remember our history. If he’s been taught anything of our history at all.”
“This conversation is veering into a treasonous direction.” Malik grew visibly uncomfortable.
“I am merely stating fact.” Saaja’s eyes burned into him.
Malik was quiet.
“He couldn’t have orchestrated an arrangement like this on his own. Someone is pulling the strings. I wonder what he had to agree to in order to get the Decluvians to wage war?”
“It makes no difference,” Malik said. “We are warriors, not politicians. We shouldn’t concern ourselves with such things.”
“Can you not think for yourself?” Saaja said.
Malik clenched his jaw. His pale face was beginning to flush red. “The bottom line is that the humans are occupying a sacred land.” His gaze met Walker’s. “No offense.”
“Because a 6000 year old scripture dictates this sector is off limits, that makes it okay to exterminate a sentient species?”
“It wasn’t like there was a no trespassing sign on New Earth when we settled it,” Walker said.
Malik’s eyes snapped back to Saaja. “Are you suggesting we should ignore scripture?”
“I’m not suggesting what you should or shouldn’t believe,” Saaja said. “I’m just saying, I’m not comfortable with annihilating a species because a book written 6000 years ago says to do so.”
“I’m not asking
Walker clenched his jaw. He knew that these people were going to be slaves, or worse. But now was not the time to do anything about it.
The OOD led Walker and the others through a network of passageways to a small berthing compartment with four bunks. But they weren’t ordinary bunks. There were misting stations above each bunk, in case you needed to rehydrate your amphibian skin during the night.
“There are bathing facilities down the hall. There is also a pool if you’d like to take a dip. The 2nd deck mess hall is just forward from here. There are a variety of insects, worms, and slugs from across the galaxy, if you get hungry. Just don’t spoil your appetite. I’ll send someone to fetch you for the ceremony.”
“Thank you,” said Malik.
“If that’s all, I’ll be returning to my post?”
Malik nodded, and the OOD marched away.
Bailey leapt into one of the bunks and settled in for a nap.
The ship was hot and humid. It felt like a swamp. And that was just how the Decluvian’s liked it.
Walker peeled off his helmet and took a deep breath. “We’ve got to do something about those prisoners.”
“Whoa. Hang on,” Malik said. “Let’s not get carried away.”
“If those were Saarkturians, how would you feel?”
Malik frowned. “Let’s just stick to the plan.”
“What plan is that?”
“We’ll attend the ceremony,” Malik said. “You stay here with Bailey. We’ll say you weren’t feeling well. We’ll have dinner, then we’ll say thank you, and be on our way.”
“I say we make a new plan. This fleet is on a mission to exterminate mankind. This may be our only chance to do something. We need to kill the Emperor, free the hostages, and destroy the ship.”
“If my people have formed an alliance with the Decluvians, then I must honor that alliance.”
“We’re talking about the annihilation of my people.” The veins in Walker’s neck were popping out.”
Saaja intervened. “Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down. The agreement we made was to help each other get off the planet and get each other to safety. None of us are exactly safe just yet.”
Malik gave her a sideways glance.
“You don’t really trust the Decluvians, do you?” she said. “They’ve never held to an agreement before.”
“I’m sure Prince Valinok had his reasons.”
“He’s a boy,” Saaja said. “He’s not qualified to make these decisions. He’s too young to remember our history. If he’s been taught anything of our history at all.”
“This conversation is veering into a treasonous direction.” Malik grew visibly uncomfortable.
“I am merely stating fact.” Saaja’s eyes burned into him.
Malik was quiet.
“He couldn’t have orchestrated an arrangement like this on his own. Someone is pulling the strings. I wonder what he had to agree to in order to get the Decluvians to wage war?”
“It makes no difference,” Malik said. “We are warriors, not politicians. We shouldn’t concern ourselves with such things.”
“Can you not think for yourself?” Saaja said.
Malik clenched his jaw. His pale face was beginning to flush red. “The bottom line is that the humans are occupying a sacred land.” His gaze met Walker’s. “No offense.”
“Because a 6000 year old scripture dictates this sector is off limits, that makes it okay to exterminate a sentient species?”
“It wasn’t like there was a no trespassing sign on New Earth when we settled it,” Walker said.
Malik’s eyes snapped back to Saaja. “Are you suggesting we should ignore scripture?”
“I’m not suggesting what you should or shouldn’t believe,” Saaja said. “I’m just saying, I’m not comfortable with annihilating a species because a book written 6000 years ago says to do so.”
“I’m not asking
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