Spacers: Dawn War by Scott Bartlett

Author:Scott Bartlett [Bartlett, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Aboard the Fang

Cynoid System, The Splay

Earth Year 2293

Baumann poured himself a snifter of fine Agersian whiskey, neat, and settled down to watch today’s propaganda blast from Rose, which of course he knew was about to begin.

He browsed to the appropriate channel on his holoscreen and waited, observing the new Terminus logo—a sword encased by a stylized square drawn in bold lines.

She appeared, already fiery-eyed and fully in character. He took a moment to wonder idly whether she had little routines to get herself into this state. Or…could the passion actually be authentic? She’d certainly never exhibited such zeal in his company.

Whatever the case, seeing her like this did something for him.

“People of the north,” she began, her eyes wide with sincerity, but not so wide she looked psychotic. “The war that so many have feared for so long is finally upon us. Long have the Cluster’s tens of thousands of corps, large and small, feared a conflict that would encompass every significant power. Such a Cluster-spanning war would affect the bottom lines of every company, while making a few even more wealthy and powerful than they were before.

“Some believe this war began the day Sunder betrayed Frontier Security, or with Penta Syndicate’s attack on Red Sky in Devil’s Arm. Others trace it all the way back to the season of war that swept the south in 2090, leading to the emergence of Ascendant Horizon. And others claim it began further back still.

“To argue about that is to quibble over meaningless details. No matter when it began, the Great Cluster War is upon us, and there’s nothing we can to do stop it.

“It also couldn’t be more clear who the aggressor is. Terminus has done nothing more than band together to protect our legitimate interests. In response, the Coalition of Giants has lashed out like the guilty tyrant it is, fearful that the sudden news of its crimes will spur unity amongst the rest of the Cluster. Such a unity would represent the only possible threat that remains to Simon Moll’s domination of everyone who lives on this side of the galaxy.”

Rose flicked a strand of hair from her face, and Baumann could almost believe she’d planned to do it all along. The gesture was majestic, dramatic. It only enhanced her image as a glamorous freedom fighter.

“He’s right to fear. His crimes are numerous, and hardly limited to his illegal collusion with the United Nations and Colonies. But we, too, should fear. Because this is almost certainly humanity’s last chance to protect the rights and freedoms we cherish. If we lose this war, then the future looks bleak indeed. Simon Moll’s rule will not be based on the consent of the governed. He will not seek to share the spoils of what would be the largest empire human history has ever seen. No, his tyranny will be characterized by extraction. Moll is clever indeed, and I doubt we can imagine the novel ways he will invent to extract our wealth, our health, our souls.

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