Warfare: Rise Of Mankind Book 2 Read Online Free Page A
Author: John Walker
and she needed to spend as much time with her own kind as she could. Once they gave them Protocol Seven, they’d likely leave again and she had no idea when she would see them again.
Time to make up for lost time…as quickly as possible. Ah, how time suddenly has such a tender meaning. Like the Christmas Carol. Take advantage of the good while I have it for tomorrow, it may be gone again. I won’t make that mistake. I swear it .
***
Gray finished up a quick meeting with the council and arranged for them to gather shortly after the Kielans arrived. Excitement prevailed over the ship. Everyone knew why they were there and whether or not they might defeat the enemy came into question. What would the alliance do with Protocol Seven?
The answer might turn the course of the war and history itself. Gray looked forward to their proposal. Their advances in technology made Earth’s look backward prior to the first attack. Now that they had a head start, they were beginning to catch up but it would be a while before his people would be as potent in space, at least without a little help.
Perhaps the Kielans might be able to provide the missing parts they needed to fire up the next vessel. Their technicians certainly knew what they were doing. Perhaps Earth already had all the requirements but didn’t know how to properly utilize them. This wouldn’t have surprised Gray either considering the complexities of the pulse drives.
He got his dress uniform out and summoned Clea to his quarters. By the time he finished pressing it, she knocked and he let her in.
“Hey there,” Gray said without looking up from hanging his outfit. “I hope you plan to attend the council meeting with your folks.”
“I do.” Clea paced over and took a seat. “I hope they’re here for more than taking the Protocol Seven.”
“Me too. I’m guessing at something big.”
“A fair assessment.” Clea folded her arms over her chest. “It would not surprise me if Earth receives a formal invitation to join the alliance. That will mean trade agreements and more assistance than you’ve received until now. If it comes to pass and you accept, things will change quickly for your people.”
“I hope for the better.” Gray turned to the mirror. “Sometimes, advancement isn’t always positive. Change can happen too fast.”
“Yes, but we have to welcome it regardless. We have no choice.” Clea came up behind him and peered over his shoulder. “You look worried.”
“I’m a little nervous.”
Clea frowned. “About what?”
“Joining the alliance means going to war. We’ve had battles…we’ve won them but a full on engagement? Adding our guns to theirs will mean we go to a front line and campaigns like that are costly in lives and spirits.”
“Tell me about it.” Clea moved away. “My people have been enduring what you describe for many years.”
“Then I hope if what I’m saying is true, we can wrap this conflict up so we can all get back to something positive. Exploring, developing technology, helping each other…anything but violence. I tell you this, when that enemy is stopped, the last thing anyone’s going to be thinking about is firing a weapon.”
“You’d be surprised how quickly tempers flare and violence follows,” Clea said. “Many cultures may even use the conclusion of one conflict to wrap up grievances directly after. Much like the proposition by your General Patton in World War Two. He wanted to re-arm the German people and attack the Russian
Time to make up for lost time…as quickly as possible. Ah, how time suddenly has such a tender meaning. Like the Christmas Carol. Take advantage of the good while I have it for tomorrow, it may be gone again. I won’t make that mistake. I swear it .
***
Gray finished up a quick meeting with the council and arranged for them to gather shortly after the Kielans arrived. Excitement prevailed over the ship. Everyone knew why they were there and whether or not they might defeat the enemy came into question. What would the alliance do with Protocol Seven?
The answer might turn the course of the war and history itself. Gray looked forward to their proposal. Their advances in technology made Earth’s look backward prior to the first attack. Now that they had a head start, they were beginning to catch up but it would be a while before his people would be as potent in space, at least without a little help.
Perhaps the Kielans might be able to provide the missing parts they needed to fire up the next vessel. Their technicians certainly knew what they were doing. Perhaps Earth already had all the requirements but didn’t know how to properly utilize them. This wouldn’t have surprised Gray either considering the complexities of the pulse drives.
He got his dress uniform out and summoned Clea to his quarters. By the time he finished pressing it, she knocked and he let her in.
“Hey there,” Gray said without looking up from hanging his outfit. “I hope you plan to attend the council meeting with your folks.”
“I do.” Clea paced over and took a seat. “I hope they’re here for more than taking the Protocol Seven.”
“Me too. I’m guessing at something big.”
“A fair assessment.” Clea folded her arms over her chest. “It would not surprise me if Earth receives a formal invitation to join the alliance. That will mean trade agreements and more assistance than you’ve received until now. If it comes to pass and you accept, things will change quickly for your people.”
“I hope for the better.” Gray turned to the mirror. “Sometimes, advancement isn’t always positive. Change can happen too fast.”
“Yes, but we have to welcome it regardless. We have no choice.” Clea came up behind him and peered over his shoulder. “You look worried.”
“I’m a little nervous.”
Clea frowned. “About what?”
“Joining the alliance means going to war. We’ve had battles…we’ve won them but a full on engagement? Adding our guns to theirs will mean we go to a front line and campaigns like that are costly in lives and spirits.”
“Tell me about it.” Clea moved away. “My people have been enduring what you describe for many years.”
“Then I hope if what I’m saying is true, we can wrap this conflict up so we can all get back to something positive. Exploring, developing technology, helping each other…anything but violence. I tell you this, when that enemy is stopped, the last thing anyone’s going to be thinking about is firing a weapon.”
“You’d be surprised how quickly tempers flare and violence follows,” Clea said. “Many cultures may even use the conclusion of one conflict to wrap up grievances directly after. Much like the proposition by your General Patton in World War Two. He wanted to re-arm the German people and attack the Russian