Read Online The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) by Kal Spriggs - Free Book Online

amenable to your offer... whatever it is.”
    Mike sat back and gave her a smile, “Well, as you said, it's nice to be playing with the big boys.  I take it this isn't you feeling me out for possible bribes?”
    Kate smiled, “Mister Noguchi, I worked very hard to build this nation... I'm not going to help anyone tear it apart.”
    “You might have been better suited to tell me the opposite and see what you could find as a result,” Mike answered.
    “Honesty,” Kate said, “it cuts both ways.”  She leaned back, “Care to tell me what offer you're here to make to the Baron?”
    Mike nodded, “Actually, yes.  I don't mind the chance to feel you out before I try to talk to him about it.”  He sighed, “I understand that your Baron ran afoul of Admiral Collae?”
    Kate frowned, but she nodded.  “Yes, the rogue officer tried to betray us over the Dreyfus Fleet.”
    “Your Baron got the upper hand on him, something that rarely happens,” Mike Noguchi frowned.  “The Shogun has his own rivalry with Admiral Collae.  In particular, we understand that Collae made his escape with several Chxor dreadnoughts.  From what we've learned, he has begun to refit them, with the goal of attacking a number of Republic systems.”
    “I don't see how this is our problem,” Kate said levelly.
    “It isn't,” Mike said in response.  “It is a Colonial Republic matter, one that they should resolve... but Admiral Collae has powerful friends.  The Shogun has made some enemies as well, so the various factions resist movement against him.  Part of this comes back to the Shogunate's membership to the Colonial Republic.  If the Shogun makes a move to leave, the other factions would attack to prevent their dissolution.”
    “Interesting,” Kate said.
    “In some ways, your victory here has made them more fractious.  They've seen the Balor set back and the pressure on that side has dropped off.  Alliances have fallen apart overnight, old rivalries have been restored,” Mike smiled slightly.  His eyes went distant, “The Shogun has tired of it.  He views your Baron as an excellent example... but he lacks the iron gauntlet hidden in your silk glove.”
    “The Dreyfus Fleet?” Kate asked.
    “Indeed.  Your news broadcasts have made much about the fact that you are constructing shipyards.  More than that, you have technology from Nova Roma and Amalgamated Worlds, both more advanced than anything we can manage.  The Shogun wants to buy ships.  Charter a fleet so that he can protect his people in the coming chaos.”
    “Coming chaos?” Kate asked with narrow eyes.
    “I'm not delusional enough to believe that the Chxor have been stopped, much less the Balor. Soon enough they'll attack again.  For that matter, the Shogun has angered the Shadow Lords.  We've suffered a number of attacks from our neighbors within the Colonial Republic as well.  So, yes.  I think, as you do, that the Colonial Republic's days are numbered... humanity's days are numbered, unless strong leaders stand against the threats out there.  So the Shogun wishes to charter ships and training, so that my people have a chance.  In return, he offers to pay for the ships construction and to forge a military alliance.”  The last was something that Kate mentally discarded.  The Shogunate lay on the other side of human space.  In all likelihood, any alliance between them would be more formality than anything else for the foreseeable future.
    “And your Emperor?” Kate asked.  The Divine Emperor of Haichiman-Gu was a figurehead, but one whose commands carried a tremendous weight.  She'd heard that they viewed him with a religious reverence.  The idea seemed silly to her, particularly because his was a power of right of birth.  Yet, from what she understood, he rarely used that power... whether that was by design of his advisers and the Shogun or his own preference she didn't know.
    Mike Noguchi didn't miss a breath, “The Emperor has asked