Juggernaut by Scott Bartlett

Author:Scott Bartlett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Military, Fiction
ISBN: 9781988380056
Publisher: MIRTH PUB
Published: 2017-02-19T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 45

Juktas

Ek emerged from a long, low building on the tropical planet of Juktas. After the air-conditioned interior, the heat hit her like a wave, and the AI governing her suit kicked into overdrive to extract what moisture it could from the air, using it to keep her skin from drying out.

“Another warlord in the bag?” Warren Husher called to her from underneath a squat tree with rigid leaves that extended farther than seemed possible.

She crossed the distance between them, joining him under the tree’s shade. “It would seem so,” she said, relishing the sudden coolness.

“I’ve never met a woman so adept at convincing people to risk their short-term security for long-term gains. Most people are pretty resistant to that notion.”

“Technically, the term ‘woman’ does not apply to me.”

“You’re right.” Warren grinned. “If it did, I’d probably have a crush on you. Maybe I do anyway.”

“You do. ”

Warren’s gray eyebrows shot up, and his mouth hung open, in the middle of forming whatever he had been about to say. “I was only…” He sighed. “Ah, well. Don’t tell my wife.”

“I do not know your wife.”

“Yeah. Neither do I.” The nearby ocean sparkled under the Yclept System’s blazing star, and Warren’s eyes took on a wistful look as he stared at it. He returned his gaze to Ek. “Do you ever worry that you’re making these radicals too powerful? Too united?”

“All signs point to their willingness to fight the UHF, and then the Ixa. For now, that has to be enough.”

“I guess so. On that note, did they tell you I’m leaving?”

Now came Ek’s turn to study Warren. Is he truly with us? Other than the strange fabrication aboard the Ixan shuttle, she had detected no reason to believe otherwise. But she did not have time to unravel the mystery of Warren Husher’s mind. Everything barreled forward now, and events would soon come to a head. She needed to focus on mustering enough firepower for the coming fight. And I need to continue distracting myself from the fact of my murdered people.

“I’m taking the Ixan shuttle to Pinnacle,” Warren said, clearly uncomfortable with Ek’s silence. “Thresh says his orbital sensors detected Wingers taking some of the derelict UHF ships there. Those are human ships, and I plan to demand them back. They don’t appear to be using them, anyhow.”

“What purpose will your mission serve? ”

“I’m getting the ships for the radicals to use. Why else do you think they’re letting me go?” Warren shrugged. “I can’t very well fly them all myself.”

“You continue to call Thresh and the others radicals. I do not think they appreciate you regurgitating Commonwealth propaganda.”

He shrugged. “How else will you know who I’m talking about?” The former captain ran a hand through his storm-cloud hair. “The real reason I’m doing this…I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. About my possibly being this ‘phoenix’ person, from the Ixan Prophecies, and about humanity needing me. And I’ve decided, if they really do need me, I’d better figure out exactly how they need me, and quick.

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