Shrouded In Darkness: A Space Warfare Group Novel by Charles Hack

Author:Charles Hack [Hack, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Coram Deo Books
Published: 2023-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

The Hammurabi

Traveling Away From Okuta

“The timing of this couldn’t be any worse,” Prime Ambassador Kumar spat out as he furiously paced Arthur Rust’s office aboard the Babylon Services’ mercenary vessel, Hammurabi. Arthur Rust sat, leaning back in his chair with his boots on the desk, gazing up at the dazzling colors of the stars and galaxies displayed in the ceiling window, as they travel at FTL away from Okuta.

Rust twirled a nasty looking fixed blade knife in his right hand and absentmindedly twirled the end of his mustache with his thumb and forefinger of his left hand. Rust said nothing, but rolled his eyes.

Kumar stopped in front of the desk, looking angry. “I don’t have time for this. I have important meetings to attend and now that I’ve announced my candidacy for president and-”

Rust cut him off by saying, “I’ve heard, I’ve heard. Relax, will you?”

Kumar stared across the desk at him, but Rust didn’t look at him. Instead, he examined the razor-sharp edge on his knife’s talon shaped blade. “What did you say to me?” Kumar asked with venom in his voice.

Rust sighed heavily and pulled his boots off the desk, and sat up straight, looking at Kumar. “I said, so. I’ve. Heard.” Rust emphasized each word.

“Don’t be insubordinate, Arthur. It doesn’t suit you. Now is not the time. We need to be a united front.”

Rust twirled his knife, but said nothing.

“This Zar Len is a real problem for us right now, Arthur. We were hours from finally meeting with our Okutan insider and Zar Len and his jolly band of psycho’s show up early. This complicates everything. We need to meet with that Okutan insider immediately.” Kumar spoke through clinched teeth. “I would expect you to understand the stakes.”

Rust stood and looked down at the smaller Kumar. “Oh, I understand the stakes, alright.” Rust pointed the tip of the knife at Kumar. “Don’t forget, you are the one that decided to play with fire by making a deal with the Noct. We can’t trust them because they only care about themselves and the power they seek. If you make a deal with the devil, you are likely to get burned.”

“Burned? Ha! If that was the extent, I wouldn’t care. I can take a little burning. We’re losing control and Zar Len is likely to kill us all. The Noct doesn’t think like we do. You can’t reason with them. They’ve already attacked at least two outposts, killing everyone. They are totally insane.”

“Harji, are you losing your cool?” Rust asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t be cute,” Kumar said angrily, then began pacing again. He stopped and looked at Rust, who was coming around the desk now. Kumar pointed at him. “How dare you talk to me like that? Since when did you become so uppity?”

Rust thought he saw flames flash in Kumar’s eyes.

Rust shrugged and slipped the knife in its sheath on his belt. He wore his standard black tactical pants and tight black t-shirt. His belt held his knife and extra energy charges for the two handguns currently hanging in his shoulder holsters.

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