Read Online Torian Reclamation 3: Test of Fortitude by Andy Kasch - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andy Kasch
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more dangerous than you’re making it out to be, and you know it. I have a family here.”
“Brandon, I understand completely. Don’t give it another thought. I only offered the opportunity to you first because you’re the best I have. I’ve got another Earthling in mind in case you declined. A good one, too. An old friend of yours, in fact.”
“Perry,” Brandon said in unison with Olut6. The High General smiled.
“Yeah, he’s good,” Brandon said. “A little gung-ho in his younger days. I think he’s matured now and is more level-headed. And let’s face it, gung-ho might be what you need.”
Olut6 nodded and started typing on his lightpad.
Brandon thought about Perry. He was married now, too, but still in the service—and still loved all things military. Perry was the one who helped Jumper and Kayla design the mercenary course and the training exercises. The kids loved him.
The kids. So many second and third generation kids now. Yes, life was downright blissful on Banor, wasn’t it? Too blissful for Jumper and Alan, in fact. But it wasn’t as secure as it seemed. Nothing ever is. That evil force was still out there, lurking and unsatisfied. Arkan9 confirmed it the last time Brandon saw him five years ago. Oh, to see Arkan9 again. But he was far away. Even so, he would probably know more about how to protect Tora than Oult6—though Olut6 was an outstanding High General and everyone knew it.
If Tora wasn’t safe, they were darn fortunate to have a being like Olut6 defending it. And not just sitting around waiting for the next attack, hoping to be able to fend it off again. Going out where the evil was festering and trying to stop the infection before it made too much progress. That was the only reasonable course of action. A fool turns a blind eye and hopes it leaves him alone. It takes leaders with brains and determination to meet the enemy where they amass, often so far away in the public’s eye that the public questions the motives of their very protectors. But their protectors know how close that faraway illusion really is.
Brains and determination aren’t the only qualities necessary for fending off evil. It also takes spiritual discernment. You need to be able to recognize evil in order to keep it from infiltrating your house.
“Yes,” Brandon said. “Perry. He’s the one, General. He’s the one I’ll need as my second in command.”
*
“This ship is amazing,” Alan said.
Trodenmark smiled at him. “We’re only halfway through the tour.”
Jumper and Kayla appeared equally as impressed as Alan as they followed Trodenjo’s brother through the wide, well-lit corridors of The Measure. For someone who had only travelled on small local shuttles, this was a whole new world. Alan and Jumper had seen the inside of a Torian Class-1 transport ship once, on Jumper’s birthday several years ago when Brandon took them aboard one. That vessel seemed so basic and utilitarian now, compared to this. Everywhere you walked on this ship it felt more like a home than a transportation vehicle.
The Measure was a wonder from the moment they approached it. The long v-hulled craft was sleeker than most transport ships with that double-dag drive positioned just past the middle of the hull. Alan thought the shuttle was going to land on top of the ship when they came to it, but then a section of the hull lifted up and provided an easy-approach hangar opening. Because it opened and closed quickly upon receiving the landing craft, the wait time for re-pressurization was minimal. Deck hands were out within minutes ready to unload the cargo, but Trodenjo decided to leave the crate of goliagrass on the shuttle since they were travelling directly to Mpar.
Upon boarding, Alan, Jumper, and Kayla were taken to a comfortable cabin area that was completely surrounded by video screens accurately showing the outside of the ship’s hull. The three of them accepted the offer of a mild alcoholic drink. It was
“Brandon, I understand completely. Don’t give it another thought. I only offered the opportunity to you first because you’re the best I have. I’ve got another Earthling in mind in case you declined. A good one, too. An old friend of yours, in fact.”
“Perry,” Brandon said in unison with Olut6. The High General smiled.
“Yeah, he’s good,” Brandon said. “A little gung-ho in his younger days. I think he’s matured now and is more level-headed. And let’s face it, gung-ho might be what you need.”
Olut6 nodded and started typing on his lightpad.
Brandon thought about Perry. He was married now, too, but still in the service—and still loved all things military. Perry was the one who helped Jumper and Kayla design the mercenary course and the training exercises. The kids loved him.
The kids. So many second and third generation kids now. Yes, life was downright blissful on Banor, wasn’t it? Too blissful for Jumper and Alan, in fact. But it wasn’t as secure as it seemed. Nothing ever is. That evil force was still out there, lurking and unsatisfied. Arkan9 confirmed it the last time Brandon saw him five years ago. Oh, to see Arkan9 again. But he was far away. Even so, he would probably know more about how to protect Tora than Oult6—though Olut6 was an outstanding High General and everyone knew it.
If Tora wasn’t safe, they were darn fortunate to have a being like Olut6 defending it. And not just sitting around waiting for the next attack, hoping to be able to fend it off again. Going out where the evil was festering and trying to stop the infection before it made too much progress. That was the only reasonable course of action. A fool turns a blind eye and hopes it leaves him alone. It takes leaders with brains and determination to meet the enemy where they amass, often so far away in the public’s eye that the public questions the motives of their very protectors. But their protectors know how close that faraway illusion really is.
Brains and determination aren’t the only qualities necessary for fending off evil. It also takes spiritual discernment. You need to be able to recognize evil in order to keep it from infiltrating your house.
“Yes,” Brandon said. “Perry. He’s the one, General. He’s the one I’ll need as my second in command.”
*
“This ship is amazing,” Alan said.
Trodenmark smiled at him. “We’re only halfway through the tour.”
Jumper and Kayla appeared equally as impressed as Alan as they followed Trodenjo’s brother through the wide, well-lit corridors of The Measure. For someone who had only travelled on small local shuttles, this was a whole new world. Alan and Jumper had seen the inside of a Torian Class-1 transport ship once, on Jumper’s birthday several years ago when Brandon took them aboard one. That vessel seemed so basic and utilitarian now, compared to this. Everywhere you walked on this ship it felt more like a home than a transportation vehicle.
The Measure was a wonder from the moment they approached it. The long v-hulled craft was sleeker than most transport ships with that double-dag drive positioned just past the middle of the hull. Alan thought the shuttle was going to land on top of the ship when they came to it, but then a section of the hull lifted up and provided an easy-approach hangar opening. Because it opened and closed quickly upon receiving the landing craft, the wait time for re-pressurization was minimal. Deck hands were out within minutes ready to unload the cargo, but Trodenjo decided to leave the crate of goliagrass on the shuttle since they were travelling directly to Mpar.
Upon boarding, Alan, Jumper, and Kayla were taken to a comfortable cabin area that was completely surrounded by video screens accurately showing the outside of the ship’s hull. The three of them accepted the offer of a mild alcoholic drink. It was
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