Sidespace by Jennsen G. S

Author:Jennsen, G. S. [Jennsen, G. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi romance, Science Fiction - Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, space travel, sci-fi space opera, Science Fiction - General, Science Fiction - Space Opera, Science Fiction And Fantasy, SciFi-Futuristic Romance, space adventure, Scif-fi, sci fi, Adventure, Romance, Space Fleet, space fleets, Science Fiction Romance, sci-fi romance, Space colonization, SciFi, Space Exploration, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Spaceships, sci-fi, Space Warfare, Science Fiction, Space Ships, Science Fiction - High Tech, Space Opera, Science-Fiction, science fiction series
ISBN: 9780996014182
Goodreads: 27188255
Publisher: Hypernova Publishing
Published: 2015-11-09T08:00:00+00:00

EARTH

LONDON

“Welcome home, darling.” Pamela Winslow kissed Jude’s cheek with pinpoint precision. “Dinner is almost ready, and we have guests this evening. Do join us.”

“Yes, Mother. Let me change first, and I’ll be right down.”

She held him at arm’s length to inspect him. “You do look half a disaster. What have you been up to?”

“Traveling, as usual. Go see to your guests.”

She raised a passing eyebrow at his unkempt appearance before departing, leaving him free to retreat upstairs.

Jude hadn’t planned on needing to perform tonight, no more so than he generally did for his family, but it came with the territory. After a quick shower and donning of fresh slacks and a sweater, he entered the formal dining room to find his parents seated with two men. He sized them up: properly tailored but conservative dark suits, perfectly coiffed hairstyles, false smiles and calculating eyes.

Politicians. So that would be the game tonight, then.

His mother gestured for him to sit next to her. “Allow me to introduce our guests. This gentleman is Defense Minister Hideyo Mori, and this is our Assembly Speaker, Charles Gagnon.”

He shook their hands across the table. “Nice to meet you both. Jude Winslow.” He settled into the chair. “Plotting the future of the Alliance over som tam this evening?”

The Defense Minister moaned with theatrical flair. “We can only try, and hope cooler, more reasonable heads prevail soon—like your mother and Speaker Gagnon.”

The Speaker wore a troubled expression. “I appreciate the compliment, Minister, but Brennon has not done a terrible job of managing the recovery in the aftermath of the war.”

His mother sipped on her coffee. “To outward appearances, perhaps. But his administration has been far too secretive. Clandestine operations, dangerous Artificial projects, under-the-table deals with the Federation. He is undermining one of the primary roles of the Assembly, which is oversight of the executive and military branches, and as a result we don’t know with any certainty what the state of the recovery or the health of our Alliance truly is.”

She brandished a smile as false as those worn by their guests. “But enough of work. I wish this to be a pleasant gathering.”

Oh, Mother. Your transparency astounds even me.

The kitchen servant brought the next course, khao soi, and Gagnon directed a measure of attention toward him. “Jude, what do you do?”

“Jude operates one of our largest charities, Sharing For Success. He’s a tremendous help to me.”

Jude bit back a crude retort at his father for talking for him and replaced it with a sober visage. “It’s been a busy, difficult seven months, regrettably. So many people had their homes and livelihoods destroyed by the alien invaders. We try to help as many as we can, but there are always more who need it.”

“You travel a lot, I assume?”

“I do. I’ve returned from Henan today, in fact. It was among the hardest hit, and there’s still a great deal of unrest. The colonists feel neglected, and rightfully so, as they languish far from the centers of power.” So full of opportunities.

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