Avengers_Infinity_Prose Novel by James A. Moore

Author:James A. Moore [Moore, James A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07J45LGW5
Goodreads: 43172544
Publisher: Titan Books
Published: 2019-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

ACT THREE

EMPIRES

CHAPTER TWENTY

FALLING

HALA, THE capital world of the Kree Empire. Ronan the Accuser stood before the insectoid creatures known as the Engineers and stared down at them, his brow furrowed and his mouth set in a scowl.

He had no desire to surrender. He had no wish to end a war while taking a knee to the creatures that had been the aggressors. What should have happened, in his eyes, was simple. He should have continued fighting until he was either victorious or dead.

That was the Kree way.

Aboard the Builder flagship, he took a knee just the same, offering his hammer—his weapon and the symbol of his position within the Accusers—to creatures that spoke as if he were not even there. Perhaps for them, he wasn’t.

* * *

“I DO not understand why you insist on such pageantry,” the Engineer said. “Our circumstances demand that the fleet be in motion—not stagnant.”

“When a world surrenders, it is not to an army,” the Builder replied, “and not because of a show of force. We are teaching them, Engineer—that it only takes one Builder to break a civilization, to humble an empire.

“We are very good teachers,” it added.

“Builders, a mass of ships has just entered the system,” a Caretaker said from its position at a holographic nerve center. “They are right on top of us—it is the enemy fleet.”

“Why?” the Engineer asked. “They must know they cannot win.”

“We have harried the beasts to the breaking point, Engineer,” the Builder replied. “This is the animal instinct to fight. If these children crave instruction… so let us begin their final lesson.”

* * *

THE ALLIED ships swarmed from hyperspace and gathered before the Builder fleet. Gladiator studied the screen as the enemy vessels began to move toward them. Each consisted of two elongated pods linked at the center by a causeway. The effect was such that the approaching warships seemed to peer at them through slitted eyes.

“It appears they’ve sent the bulk of their attack vessels in response to our incursion,” he said. “The only ones absent are the planet killers, likely left behind to defend the command ship.” He looked to his ally. “It appears the Builders have taken your bait, Captain.”

Captain America hit a control stud on his comm.

“Go.”

It was one word, but it was enough.

Ships moved into position, as did a group of smaller forms. Hyperion, Smasher, and the Imperial Guard all targeted enemy vessels as quickly as they could, doing everything possible to avoid becoming targets themselves. As crackling energy weapons began to light up the vacuum of space, they attacked and dodged. Bursts of flame and globes of energy discharge appeared, each representing an impact—and perhaps a kill.

* * *

MANIFOLD OPENED a breach into the lead ship, and most of the crew were vented into the void of space within seconds. They might have screamed, but no one could hear.

Eden left as quickly as he had arrived.

Mentor and the Shi’ar Subguardian known as Warstar accompanied Bruce Banner into the ship. Bruce wore a spacesuit and his backup patch.

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