Firestorm: The Complete Series (Books 1-9): (Complete Series Box Sets) by Daniel Young

Author:Daniel Young [Young, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Michael kept casting backward glances at the two cruisers sitting in the trees. He hoped the lawmen would think he was worried about the villagers coming back, but he was really worried about the Kadus families on board the last remaining cruiser. He hoped they had enough food and water to stay inside and stay hidden. He also hoped the soldiers’ wives would be sensible enough to stay out of sight until the crew could get back to them.

At least that one cruiser was still operational. As soon as Michael saw an opening, he’d send the whole Kadus group to Lalia and get them the hell away from the lawmen.

If the lawmen were working for the queen, they’d be the first to hand the crew back over to her for public execution. Michael couldn’t let that happen. If worse came to the worst, he would stay in custody himself while the rest of his people got away. The Kadus had been prepared to transport Michael and the Gargoyle crew to Lalia along with their families. They could do the same thing without him if need be.

He planned what he would say to these lawmen once the time came to explain who he was and how he got here. They obviously didn’t already know. Word didn’t travel between planets very quickly, if at all.

He made an executive decision to get the ball rolling and be proactive about it. Maybe that would make him look more innocent than he really was. These lawmen might never find out the crew was wanted by Queen Thalia.

He strode up to the lawman who had addressed him first. “What species are you? I haven’t seen your kind in the solar system before.”

“This is our only population,” the man replied on the side. He kept surveying the countryside through narrowed eyes, as though he expected the villagers to attack again.

Michael stuck out his hand. “I’m Colonel Michael Decosta. It’s a pleasure to meet anyone else in military service.”

The alien spun around fast and scowled at Michael. “Colonel? You’re a colonel? In what army?”

“Not here. My ship got sucked through a space anomaly and crashed on Dorix a few weeks ago. My crew and I all belong to the military in our home country.”

The alien looked down at Michael’s extended hand and then shook it. “My name is Osol, and we belong to the Isne race. We are the only Isne population in this solar system.”

“Do you have a military rank?” Michael asked. “Are you enlisted in the queen’s service, or are you independent?”

“Independent,” Osol replied, and quickly corrected himself. “But we’re just as loyal as any soldiers in the queen’s service.” He jerked his thumb at the three Kadus. “Ask your Kadus friends. They’ll tell you.”

Michael glanced over his shoulder, and Balo nodded. So that confirmed it. These militiamen, or whatever they were, must be loyal to the queen. All the more reason not to tell them about the crew’s dealings with her.

“We heard the queen is building up her bases on Dorix,” Michael went on.

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.