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Ninety nine - CLONE HEGEMONY
Antonio, the doubter, remained with the fleet, ostensibly in case of treachery, but actually because he refused to participate and thereby endorse the meeting.
There were rumors about Antonio, people who claimed that his genetic material had been obtained directly from one of his predecessor's backup copies rather than the Hegemony's DNA banks, as if that might account for his independent ways. A seemingly silly theory - since there shouldn't be any difference - but who could know for sure? Ishimoto-Seven watched with approval as the Thraki admiral entered the compartment, closely followed by an entourage of officers, priests, and a contingent who, in spite of the title "Sector", sounded suspiciously like the sort of politicians the diplomat was used to. The two parties merged, exchanged greetings, and were herded in the direction of the Bullet's wardroom - the only space other than the hanger deck that could accommodate such a large group. The Thraki spoke viaRelated chapters
HALF BREED Hundred - EARTH (DIVIDED)
The statue of Christ the Redeemer still stood over the way ravaged city of Rio de Janeiro, but little else looked the same. Great swaths of the once attractive downtown area had been destroyed pro to when the Navy retook the skies. Now, having been victimized by repeated submarine launched missile attacks, the city lay in ruins.The government tower lay where it had fallen, crushing hundreds of lesser structures, pointing toward Guanabara Bay. Sugar Loaf stood as it had been for countless millennia, but the cable cars that carried people to the top lay crumpled where they had fallen, as did a row of three transmission towers.Thousands of dispossessed citizens lived in the enormous soccer stadium, while an equal number camped in the streets. The citizens of Rio had paid a high price for their freedom and refused to let it go.Farther toward the south, beyond the limits of the old city, the latest incarnation of the Hotel Intercontinental still stood, blackened by the effect
HALF BREED Hundred One - EARTH (DIVIDED)
The military preparations were going well - perhaps too well, unless her uncle made some progress pretty soon. She, along with Kairo and Cummings, could hold the coalition together for a while, but they wouldn't wait forever.Something appeared up ahead. Sophie struggled to see what it was. A table? Someone sitting where the ocean met the beach? What in the world?Curious, the executive continued her stroll. As the distance closed, Sophie confirmed her initial impression and saw that a man sat with his back to her. He stood and turned. It was first time she had seen Marco in civilian clothes. He wore a short sleeved black shirt, white trousers, and no shoes. He smiled and offered a flourish. The table was covered with crisp linen, gleaming silver, and some of the hotel's best dinnerware. Coolers were stacked in the background. "Good evening, ma'am. Your table awaits. We have cold shrimps, a crisp garden salad, and a nice white wine. Madam approves?"Sophie laughed. "W
HALF BREED Hundred Two - THRAKI ARMADA
Grand Admiral Googoo Isan Adrolopus stepped out onto his private gallery and looked up through the carefully tended gardens to the transparent dome beyond.The planet called Zynig-43 hung there like a blue green gem, beckoning the Thraki home.Scouts had landed six ship cycles before, and were quickly followed by four teams of scientists, all of whom arrived at the same conclusion: The humans had been truthful.The atmosphere was clean, some of the natural resources had been exploited by previous inhabitants, but plenty remained. The arks had assumed orbits that would allow them to function as fortified moons. Yes, their presence would result in tidal action down on the planet's surface, but so what? The indigenous life forms were not likely to be of much value anyway.Though previously inhabited by scientists known as the N'awatha, the planet had fallen to another race called the Dodvalians, who, though subjugated by a multisystem government called the C
HALF BREED Hundred Three - PLANET BYRON
The Dodvalian knew that the question was a matter of form and shook his head. "No, but thank you for asking. May I be blunt?""Please", Doug Douglas replied fervently. "You can't imagine how good that sounds. Tell me something - anything - so long at its true".No wonder it was this human who beat us, Xian Karrh thought to himself. He thinks as we do."It shall be as you suggest", the Dodvalian said out loud."A cabal consisting of certain humans, the Clone Hegemony, and the Midvalians are working to weaken the Confederacy, circumvent its powers, and confiscate worlds under its protection. Earth was first... others will follow. Some belong to the Dodvalian people".Doug Douglas sat bolt upright. "Can you prove that?""Yes", the Dodvalian said grimly. "I certainly can".It took the better part of two hours to review the data that the Dodvalian had intercepted and decide what to do with it. When Xian Karrh left, Do
HALF BREED Hundred Four - PLANET BYRON
Six stared into the Midvalian's compound eyes. "All three of which belong to the Dodvalian.""All three of which were taken by the Dodvalians", Vaano countered, "after the slaughter of their indigenous populations".Six could almost see the events unfold. Ambassador Xian Karrh would protest, hearing would be scheduled, and the process would last for years. Meanwhile, the Midvalians would colonize the worlds, and once in place would be nearly impossible to dislodge.The situation was hopeless. He wondered if the Triad of One knew about these machinations, concluded that they must, and wondered why his instructions remained unchanged. Could there be a schism of some sort? A disagreement at the highest levels? That was the weakness of tripartite leadership - the need for eternal consensus.Ishimoto-Seven saw the look in his brother's eyes and smiled. "So, Stanley, what will it be? Will you give the speech? Or take a fall down a ladder? The choice is your".
HALF BREED Hundred Five - PLANET BYRON
The chamber was packed to overflowing with politicians, all happy to vote on something popular, all primping, preening and posing for the various cameras, eager to show constituents how effective they were.He was originally slated to speak following eighteen of his more senior colleagues, but Stanley Ishimoto-Six suddenly found himself in slot number three, right after the representative from Byron. Vaano had influence, a lot of it, and knew how to use it.Though known for his long and often convoluted oratory, the first speaker seemed unusually brief, as was the senator from Byron. He participated via holo and extolled the virtues of low taxes, low unemployment, and low tariffs for manufactured goods. Especially his.That's when Six heard his name, managed the walk to the podium, and looked out onto an ocean of snouts, tentacles, and a considerable number of optical organs - two of which were black and belonged to Senator Vaano. Ishimoto-Seven, along with Sandral Usmos, s
HALF BREED Hundred Six - PLANET BYRON
A pair of security guards fastened shock cuffs onto the Midvalian's pincers and prodded him with their stun guns. Vaano had just descended the stairs and started up the aisle when Governor Sandral screamed an obscenity and tried to break free. A baton caught the human on the side of her head. She dropped like a rock.Ishimoto-Seven yelled, "Long live the Hegemony!" and Six went quietly. Yes, he was innocent, but they would never believe him, and it could be dangerous if they did. How much support did Seven have, anyway? The brig was preferable to a death sentence."Please consult your data terminals", Rackoon said as the prisoners were carried or led from the room. "A considerable amount of data has been downloaded to your terminals. I would appreciate your full and undivided attention as we review the facts".The presentation lasted the better part of two standard hours. It covered all the information uncovered by Xian Karrh plus that gathered by An
HALF BREED Hundred Seven - EARTH (DIVIDED)
A front moved in off the pacific, and rain fell on the city of Los Angeles. Not just a sprinkle or two, but a torrential downpour that flooded dry river beds, triggered mud slides, and boiled toward the sea.Water thundered along the top of the bus, streamed down the windows, and turned the streets to black glass. Brakes screeched as the autobus came to a halt.The other passengers didn't even look as Mary stood and headed for the door. It hissed open. She descended the steps, tucked the purse under her coat, and dashed for home. It was half a block to her apartment, a ground level unit with a door on the street. The palm plate felt cold. The eternally vigilant household computer unlocked the door, activated the lights, and waited for her to ask the question. "Message?""You have two messages", the computer intoned. "One from your mother, and one from an anonymous caller"."Caller ID?""Blocked"."Play number two", Mary said, as she draped her coat on a
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