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Ninety six - IN SPACE
"Don't tell me, let me guess", Herbert said disgustedly. "You signed on".
Jyro looked away. "No, not exactly"."But close".The human turned back. The tone was petulant. "So, what if I did? There was no other choice".The navigational computer would have sighed, had such a thing been possible. "I think the message is pretty clear: They found some Thraki, and the Hoon wants you to kill them"."Why me?" Jyro asked desperately. "The Hoon could kill them by himself"."It's a test", the Artificial Intelligence replied patiently, "to see what you will do".The better part of a minute passed while the human considered the matter. When he spoke, the words fell one at a time."So it's kill or be killed"."Essentially", Herbert replied."Unless..." Jyro said."Unless what?""Unless I could convert the Thraki, and convince the Hoon to accept them"."Dream on", the Artificial Intelligence said simply. "The Hoon is a computer, andRelated chapters
HALF BREED Ninety seven - CLONE HEGEMONY
The stars seemed to snap into existence as Jose Fonseca-Three Hundred Forty six dropped hyper, switched his sensors to max, and scanned the surrounding volume of space. Something that he, plus all 876 of his "brothers" had done countless times before.In spite of the fact that the Clone Hegemony had joined the Confederacy at the conclusion of the second Dodvalian war, they continued to maintain their own military forces and placed little reliance on the Confederate Navy.That being the case, the clones conducted regular patrols along their section of the Galaxy - mostly to control smuggling, but to ensure their sovereignty as well.A beeper beeped, data scrolled onto the scout's screens, and the pilot felt his stomach lurch. The readings couldn't be true! Nobody had a fleet that large! Not even the Confederacy.Fonseca-Three Hundred Forty six ran the scans again, obtained the same results, and dumped them to memory. A swarm of fighters started in his direction. That was
HALF BREED Ninety eight - CLONE HEGEMONY
"Then, when the Shem arrive, the aliens will help fight the machines. Who knows? It may be possible to use them as a protective shield. Later, at the conclusion of the conflict, we can either continue the partnership or, if circumstances warrant, turn and destroy them".Silence filled the chamber as the female took her seat. Sector 3's strategy was one of the most cynical, dishonest, and downright diabolical proposals the sectors had ever heard. Needless to say, they loved it.Sector 16 was the first to stomp his right foot, a sector 34 followed, and the rest joined in. After years of waiting, the Facers would have their day. Sector 3 looked triumphant. The Runners scowled. All eyes turned to Adrolopus.The warrior's mind flashed forward to the work that awaited him. He felt a great weariness settle onto his shoulders, and bowed his head. "This sectors have spoken... I will obey". * * * Jedidiah Jyro waited for the shuttle to settle o
HALF BREED 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 via
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".
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