(eng) M. R. Forbes - Chaos of the Covenant 06 by Good Intentions

Author:Good Intentions [Intentions, Good]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

23

Gloritant Selvig Thraven sat on the bridge of the Promise, a smile spread across his face. It felt good to smile. It had been so long.

The Don had never seen it coming. He, or perhaps it was more correct to call the Don ‘it,’ had no idea that the Gloritant knew the truth of his passing, or of the neural network that had taken on the Don’s identity afterward.

After all, over two hundred years of life was easily attainable for wealthy Terrans. In fact, the right combination of stasis and regen treatments could allow the well-to-do over three hundred years in the right circumstances.

But poor Don Pallimo had fallen ill, stricken with an intractable brain tumor that was the result of his experiments with brain implants. What had been designed to augment neural function and open up a new realm of potential in organic and machine integration had been his death instead.

Poor, poor Don Pallimo.

He had come upon the Don’s dirty secret almost accidentally. It was Trinity who had carried out his command to kill the Minister of Oberon, the Outworld planet where the Don had stationed his artificial intelligence. It was Trinity who had examined the dead Minister’s brain and had come to the funeral in her search for information about his business dealings. Of course, Don Pallimo hadn’t been buried as Don Pallimo. He had taken yet another pseudonym while his network continued to make decisions about his businesses, and shortly after started to churn out synthetic replicas of the most powerful executive in the galaxy.

He had sent Honorant Freich to Gamlin to confront one of these synths without telling his Officer the truth of the matter, not right away. Not until his secondary units had captured the unmarked datacenter in the Oberon forest where the Don’s artificial doppelganger had been stashed. It was one of his smallest victories, and yet the one he was most pleased with.

Captain Mann had gone to Gamlin with Hayley Cage, seeking the protection of the Don. Only there had been no shelter to be found there, only betrayal of the best kind.

With the younger Cage under his thumb, the older Cage would follow soon enough.

But where was Abigail Cage? That was the question that circumvented his thoughts. They had crossed paths, and he had nearly killed her. He had come so close, but again she had escaped. And then? She had gone to General Kett, no doubt. Was she still with the General? It was possible, but it didn’t sit well with him. She would never stand on the sidelines while her daughter was threatened.

So what was she doing?

“Your Eminence,” Honorant Bane said, approaching him and bowing.

“Honorant Bane,” Thraven said. “You have news?”

“Yes, Gloritant,” Bane said. “I’ve gathered reports from our assets throughout the Republic.”

The Honorant paused, waiting for permission to continue.

“Go on,” Thraven said.

He expected good news, but even setbacks in the overall effort couldn’t dim his spirits. Not today. They had the numbers. They had all of the advantages. He knew it was only a matter of time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.