Star Odyssey - Rain's Gambit by T.J. Jones

Author:T.J. Jones [Jones, T.J.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Broken Minds Press
Published: 2017-06-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

HWE Retribution

The arbitrator paced the corridors of his ship restlessly. His mind drifted to his branding as the Arbitrator. It all came about because of a costly defeat, placed at his feet by none other than Docent Vay. Getting the opportunity to remove that scum from existence and strike a blow against the empire would be deeply satisfying.

He rounded a corner and observed some marines conducting inspections and battle drill rehearsals. He lingered a moment and his mind remembered a simpler time when he was simply Legan Subass, commander of the Vanguard fleet. He was never a family man so thankfully no one else bore his shame. No distractions for his mission now. Other men may have struggled to adapt to their new life.

“Arbitrator.” One of the marines greeted him and snapped to attention stiffly. He waved a dismissive hand. “At ease.” The men relaxed and resumed their work.

Legan fell right into his role as arbitrator. He had been a soldier all his life. The only thing that had changed was how others viewed him. No, that was a lie. Much had changed. Specifically, his faith in the prophets following their hasty ruling of guilty after Docent Vay’s testimony of his heresy being the cause of the defeat that cost him most of his forces. Vay’s poor handling of the situation however led to the costly defeat that tarnished Legan’s name, branding him the Arbitrator.

In retrospect, Legan was curious if that had not simply been a calculated move on Vay’s part to push aside another political opponent within the empire and clear his path to Heraldship one more accused body at a time. Vay was a cunning and crafty warrior and an equally skilled wordsmith in the courts. Legan had taken him for a fool once. That mistake would be the only time it occurred.

He pushed off the bulkhead he had been observing the marines from before being lost in his thoughts and marched down the corridor in strong smooth strides with deliberate purpose. His fingers curled softly as he marched, head up and eyes at horizon level. He was the embodiment of the elites’ values. Even if he bore the mark of heresy and the armor of the arbitrator. The mark on his back itched as his thoughts drifted to it.

He shifted in his armor to try to scratch it, knowing the itch was a phantom pain. He intentionally dragged his mind from the Heretics Branding ceremony and thought about the battle to come. Vay would have the more powerful ships of the group, so it would come to Legan’s more numerous vessels to overwhelm the Deacon Class command ship. Even with the numbers he was bringing, he was not sure he had the firepower to do it. Part of his plan hinged on the alien commander being able to bring enough firepower to bear as well.

He disliked putting so much faith and hope in another he did not know, but then he assumed the alien was probably

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