SODIUM:6 Defiance Read Online Free Page B

field to an end. The invaders continued their advance down the long hallways that connected each of the round modules of the Blake Adventure.
    One of the holo-screens in the room we occupied came to life with the Gidden Ambassador and his aid. They had worried looks on their faces. The Ambasador questioned what we knew of the invaders. I told him we only knew "of" them and that we had been at war with their empire for many Geks.
    He then requested our assistance and held out the possibility of our cooperation going a long way towards starting a friendly relationship with the Mundari. He stated that he would release the static field holding us and our ship if we were to offer assistance. I replied that we would.
    When the static field vanished I gave immediate orders to return to the Saxon. Our suits were set on high and a micro-burst from our BHDs had us quickly moving. As soon as we blinked in on the Saxon the static field surrounding it returned. A message from the Ambassadors soon flashed up on the comm screen.
    I asked why the static field had been restored to which he replied that he was quite uncomfortable with the fact that we had departed from the Blake Adventure without him. I replied that if he would remove the field we would be there to pick him up. He questioned our motivations.
    I then told the Ambassador that trust must first be established before friendship. If there was no trust between us what chance did we have of becoming friends or allies? If we fled without them, how would it help our cause? The Ambassador thought for a moment and the static field was once again removed.
    We did a quick burst with our BHD followed by a counter burst when the Saxon had moved inside the orange module of the Blake Adventure. Fifteen walls and three decks of flooring vanished as the BHD cut through them bringing us to a stop. Two distraught Giddens looked on in fear as the Sodium skin went white and the door of the Saxon opened in front of them. I held out my hand for them to come aboard.
    Shields were taken to full and the Saxon moved quietly out into space. Eight seconds later saw light speed broken and a safe distance from the invaders soon followed. I asked the Ambassador for the coordinates of where it was that he desired to be taken. After some hesitation... the coordinates were given.
    We continued to accelerate until reaching three-quarters of our maximum safe speed. I felt it might one day be to our advantage if the Gidden thought our maximum was lower than what it was. As we cruised along the Ambassador and his aid began a friendly chat. His name was Kurg and his aid was Brot Fiur. The lower in the social structure you were the more names you were given.
    We were three hours into our journey when Kurg became hungry. He started a conversation by asking about Human food. He was not happy with my response. He wondered how we could possibly derive sufficient nutrition from the small boxes on our belts. I then clued him in to their recycling capabilities. I was rewarded with a ghastly expression.
    I motioned for one of the scientists to bring forward our one case of MREs. The MREs were a standard safety precaution in case there was a malfunction with a suit. There was enough for the Ambassador and his aid for 30 days. Kurg again winced as the first food container was laid before him. He felt it was not a food presentation fit for someone of his rank. I apologized that we could not offer better accommodations.
    Twenty-four days later we approached the Gidden homeworld of Meyer. We were stopped at half a light year distance until such time as the Ambassador's codes could be verified. We were then escorted to a station by two sleek tubular war-craft.
    I asked the Ambassador about the ships and was told they were merely a precaution. A pair of light ships were sent as escort to any new vessel entering the system. We landed in a space-dock and put all systems on standby. The Ambassador asked that we be his guests for a few