The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Kal Spriggs
sir?” Garret asked. He felt uneasy at the thought. Granted, he hadn't any loyalty to the planet, but the way his superior had phrased it, it almost sounded as if they were talking about spying on their employers. Which is just good business sense for a mercenary company, Garret thought.
“Friends, former companions, even family,” Commodore Pierce said. “Anyone that you can talk with, possibly even leverage. There's more here than their struggle for independence, you've seen that. Hell, it's half the talk of our company. The shift to privateering went too quickly, their crews were too eager, and their government is getting too friendly with the likes of Admiral Mannetti and Admiral Collae.”
Garret shrugged uncomfortably. Not that he disagreed. “Sir, what does that have to do with us?” Granted, Admiral Mannetti and her people were snakes, but Admiral Collae had something of a good reputation as an opponent to the corrupt leaders of many of the Colonial Republic systems.
“I want to know why they're making such a big deal about such a backwater world. They pissed in the faces of the Centauri Confederation and they seem to count on the likes of Admiral Mannetti to keep them safe... and I want to know why they trust a pirate so much and what leverage they think they have on her. Because if their assumptions are wrong... we're going to be left holding the bag.” Pierce leaned back against the wall, “And I don't like being left holding the bag.”
“Yes, sir,” Garret said. He frowned in thought. When he'd left, he hadn't stayed in touch with anyone, for good reason. My father was vindictive enough, Garret thought darkly, that he would have used my old friends against me . Of course, he could always try to to talk to Jessica...
“I'll figure something out, sir,” Garret said. Yet he felt a spike of unease. If there was some mysterious leverage, then he didn't doubt that his father was involved up to his neatly trimmed beard. Spencer Penwaithe lived off of wealth and power like food and drink... and his plots were always labyrinthine. For that matter, the new President was one of his father's old cronies, which basically ensured that his father was running things, or thought he was, from behind the scenes. Getting involved in this would almost definitely draw him into his father's schemes yet again. On the other hand, with the fate of the War Dogs on the line, there wasn't really much choice. Garret let out a deep breath, “After all, I remember where my loyalty lies.”
“Good,” Commodore Pierce gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Oh, and when Mannetti's people call you back on the missiles, tell them there was an accounting error and that we're hiking the price by ten percent.”
***
Eldorado, Garris Major System
Colonial Republic
May 3, 2403
Mason and Lauren followed the ornately dressed monk towards the pillars of the monastery. After his initial announcement, he had deflected Mason's other questions. Lauren found him irritating. She didn't hold with holy men, not of any stripe. In her mind, any kind of higher power would have gotten itself involved already if it cared. What that meant was that either God didn't exist or he didn't care, in Lauren's book.
What that left holy men, in her regard, was either dupes or charlatans. The obvious intelligence of the monk suggested that he was the latter. They stepped under the awning of the monastery. The large stone pillars that upheld the ornate roof also divided the structure into separate areas. Up close, Lauren could see that there were a number of glass display cases, which had held what looked like scrolls, stone tablets, and other odd artifacts. Had being the operative word, Lauren thought dryly.
Someone had smashed the glass cases and torn bits of ancient parchment, smashed stone tablets, and broken glass littered the floors. Overturned tables marked a swath of
“Friends, former companions, even family,” Commodore Pierce said. “Anyone that you can talk with, possibly even leverage. There's more here than their struggle for independence, you've seen that. Hell, it's half the talk of our company. The shift to privateering went too quickly, their crews were too eager, and their government is getting too friendly with the likes of Admiral Mannetti and Admiral Collae.”
Garret shrugged uncomfortably. Not that he disagreed. “Sir, what does that have to do with us?” Granted, Admiral Mannetti and her people were snakes, but Admiral Collae had something of a good reputation as an opponent to the corrupt leaders of many of the Colonial Republic systems.
“I want to know why they're making such a big deal about such a backwater world. They pissed in the faces of the Centauri Confederation and they seem to count on the likes of Admiral Mannetti to keep them safe... and I want to know why they trust a pirate so much and what leverage they think they have on her. Because if their assumptions are wrong... we're going to be left holding the bag.” Pierce leaned back against the wall, “And I don't like being left holding the bag.”
“Yes, sir,” Garret said. He frowned in thought. When he'd left, he hadn't stayed in touch with anyone, for good reason. My father was vindictive enough, Garret thought darkly, that he would have used my old friends against me . Of course, he could always try to to talk to Jessica...
“I'll figure something out, sir,” Garret said. Yet he felt a spike of unease. If there was some mysterious leverage, then he didn't doubt that his father was involved up to his neatly trimmed beard. Spencer Penwaithe lived off of wealth and power like food and drink... and his plots were always labyrinthine. For that matter, the new President was one of his father's old cronies, which basically ensured that his father was running things, or thought he was, from behind the scenes. Getting involved in this would almost definitely draw him into his father's schemes yet again. On the other hand, with the fate of the War Dogs on the line, there wasn't really much choice. Garret let out a deep breath, “After all, I remember where my loyalty lies.”
“Good,” Commodore Pierce gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Oh, and when Mannetti's people call you back on the missiles, tell them there was an accounting error and that we're hiking the price by ten percent.”
***
Eldorado, Garris Major System
Colonial Republic
May 3, 2403
Mason and Lauren followed the ornately dressed monk towards the pillars of the monastery. After his initial announcement, he had deflected Mason's other questions. Lauren found him irritating. She didn't hold with holy men, not of any stripe. In her mind, any kind of higher power would have gotten itself involved already if it cared. What that meant was that either God didn't exist or he didn't care, in Lauren's book.
What that left holy men, in her regard, was either dupes or charlatans. The obvious intelligence of the monk suggested that he was the latter. They stepped under the awning of the monastery. The large stone pillars that upheld the ornate roof also divided the structure into separate areas. Up close, Lauren could see that there were a number of glass display cases, which had held what looked like scrolls, stone tablets, and other odd artifacts. Had being the operative word, Lauren thought dryly.
Someone had smashed the glass cases and torn bits of ancient parchment, smashed stone tablets, and broken glass littered the floors. Overturned tables marked a swath of
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