Battlecruiser Alamo: Ghost Ship by Tongue Richard

Author:Tongue, Richard [Tongue, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, azw, epub
Published: 2015-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

 Marshall walked down the long corridor, Cunningham on his left, Logan on his right, the wary Espatier squad behind him, now not even bothering to conceal their pistols, instead holding them ready for use. The double doors ahead burst open, and a trio of robed men walked towards him, fury on their faces, their own guards marching cautiously behind them, evidently not wanting to challenge the superior firepower of Marshall’s guards.

 Bustling by their side was Tolxac, glancing around from side to side, wearing a more formal variant of the jumpsuit he had worn in orbit, evidently a concession to formal wear. The robed men were babbling at each other, Tolxac occasionally throwing in a comment that seemed to be ignored. They met half-way down the corridor, and Tolxac looked at Marshall with near-despair on his face.

 “Captain, what is the meaning of this? Your men burst into our Council chambers with their weapons drawn, as if ready for battle? If you are planning to take over our government, I warn you that you will be facing a fight you will never forget.”

 “We were ambushed on our way here by the people you sent to meet us,” Marshall replied. “You will forgive me for not wanting to stumble blindly into what might be a trap.”

 “Trust is…”

 “Trust is earned, Tolxac, and your people have been going out of their way to squander it recently. I’ll meet with the Council, and we will have our discussion, but they must understand that my men will be standing ready outside and that I and my colleagues will be armed.”

 His face growing pale, Tolxac turned to the Council and began to translate, Marshall inwardly cursing that he had no idea what the man was saying, no check translator to make sure that the meaning of his words wasn’t being lost in the babble. He might be telling them anything, softening the impact of his words, or changing their meaning completely.

 “What if they say no?” Logan asked.

 “Then we leave, head for the hendecaspace point with the Buchanan, and negotiate the release of our people by any means necessary. If that means a non-aggression pact or technology transfer, so be it.”

 Logan’s eyes widened, but Marshall hadn’t been speaking to him; that was for the benefit of Tolxac, whose gabble intensified as his alarm grew. After a long minute, and more unintelligible discussion, the orbital defense commander turned back to him.

 “They will accede to your requests, Captain, and understand your natural caution. I was not aware that you had experienced difficulties on the surface.”

 “I don’t understand,” Cunningham said. “Alamo reported everything to your security staff.”

 “I am somewhat hindered in my job, Captain, in that I am not always properly informed of everything taking place on this planet, even when it relates to you. I beg you, please do not hurt our people because of this. We need your alliance, need it desperately.”

 “You know that you are losing, then,” Marshall said, as they started to walk back down the corridor.”

 “I’ve

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