SADEs by S. H. Jucha

Author:S. H. Jucha [Jucha, S. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Hannon Books, Inc.
Published: 2020-01-12T22:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Alex’s fleet settled into an orbit around Pimbor.

The Pims and the veterans continued the hunt, while Jess caught a freighter shuttle on a supply run to meet with the Sylian troops.

Unknown to Jess, Juliette communicated to Lucia that the captain was headed for the Freedom, and Lucia ordered her Trident’s pilot to divert to the city-ship.

The largest auditorium on the Freedom could comfortably hold the one thousand Sylian troops, which is where Jess met them. He followed a crew member, who led him from the bay to the auditorium’s backstage entrance.

“Please, Captain,” the female crew member said pleasantly and indicated he step through a doorway, which had slid aside at her signal.

Jess stepped through the doorway and took a few steps into bright lights. He found himself on a stage in front of a thousand Sylian troops and a select group of Omnians.

A Sylian commander growled deeply, and a thousand troops jumped to their feet and roared in return.

Jess glanced down toward the front row. He saw Lucia first, who tipped her head to the right. A few seats away, Jess located Alex, who wore a bemused smile. If I only had an implant, Jess thought, I’d share a few things with you.

“Be seated,” Jess directed in a loud voice. His command carried across the audience, and he appreciated that Omnian tech hadn’t amplified his voice to the point that it sounded like an explosion.

“You’re to be commended for your courage,” Jess said to the troops. “Your decision to volunteer to fight the Colony on another planet is an example to the Pyrean Resistance.”

The mention of the revered Resistance resulted in soft growls that were multiplied by the Sylian numbers. It could be felt in the chests of every Omnian.

<He does have a style,> Renée sent to Alex. Her admiration for the captain was evident.

“However, I can’t use you,” Jess announced, which shocked everyone in the audience. “That is, of course, until you’re trained and integrated into the veterans,” he continued. “I don’t doubt your skills, but I know the insectoids. If you make a mistake, they won’t give you a second chance. I’ve already lost more than half the Omnian security personnel under my command and half the Norsitchian brassards. Are you willing to work with me under these conditions?”

The Sylian troops leapt to their feet, and their shouts and growls shook the auditorium.

<An enthusiastic bunch,> Tatia commented privately to Alex.

<I like the way the captain is tempering their expectations without dampening their spirits,> Alex sent in reply.

Jess raised his hands to quiet the troops. The response was instantaneous. Then he said, “Then we’re agreed, and I accept your services.”

After another outburst from the troops, Jess told them that he would meet with their commanders and start with limited assignments. “Be patient,” he said to them. “Don’t be in a hurry to die. There are more than enough insectoids on Pimbor for every member of your command. Commanders, please dismiss your troops.”

A single order was given, and the troops saluted Jess.

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.