A Show of Force by Ryk Brown Read Free Book Online

caught the Ghatazhak commander slightly off-guard. He turned and looked down at the old man as he walked. “You are welcome, sir.”
    “Now, that’s a first,” Master Sergeant Jahal mumbled as they walked. “A civilian thanking a Ghatazhak.”
    “Thank you,” another battered and bloody man sitting near the old man added.
    Commander Telles nodded at the second gentleman. More ‘thank you’s’ followed as the commander and the master sergeant continued on their path through the injured Coporans. Finally, an older woman just ahead of them called out.
    “Is it over?”
    Commander Telles stopped in his tracks, looking at the woman for a moment. “Yes, it is over, ma’am.”
    The old woman locked eyes with the commander. “Who are you?”
    Commander Telles stared at the woman for a moment, considering his answer. “We are with the Alliance.”

CHAPTER TWO
    Prince Casimir studied the documents on the data tablet. “The Glendanon has only been back for a few days, and already the Tannan propellant is being tested for use in Takaran and Corinairan propulsion systems?” Casimir looked at his advisors. “I expected it to take weeks to reach that phase.”
    “The Darvano and Savoy systems are quite eager to get their hands on that propellant. Especially the Savoy system,” Mister Ullumbrach explained. “Their prices have been controlled by our markets for some time, due to the fact that they have never had the ability to sell their products elsewhere. Now that they have that ability, they desperately need not only ships with which to deliver their goods, but the propellant to drive those ships.”
    “But neither Ancot nor Corinair yet have the shipping capacities needed,” Casimir insisted.
    “Corinair now has three jump-capable transports, including the Glendanon,” Mister Rostaur stated. “Savoy has but one. However, many of their potential customers from beyond the cluster, such as Palee, Haven, and Volon, are already in negotiations with the Ancotan trade commission. Volon has even dispatched two FTL ships in anticipation of a deal being in place prior to their arrival. They will need to be refueled, hence the urgent need for propellant that is not provided by Takaran markets.”
    “And that is because…?” Casimir asked.
    “If Takaran buyers of Ancotan grains are forced to pay higher prices in order to gain priority over, say, Volonese buyers, they will undoubtedly counter by raising the price of propellant being sold to the Ancotans, thereby increasing the cost of operation for the Ancotans.”
    “Won’t that drive up the price for everyone, including Takaran buyers?” Casimir wondered.
    “Perhaps, but the nobles do not see it that way.”
    “As usual,” Casimir mumbled, “they see only short-term profits, rather than long-term stability.”
    “I’m afraid that they are still in what we refer to as ‘imperial mode’,” Mister Rostaur explained. “The nobles are accustomed to dealing with the vagaries of Caius, which could, and often did, change overnight. Thinking ‘long-term’ was to take great financial risk.”
    Casimir sighed. “I often wonder how the nobles acquired their wealth and power to begin with, considering their limited thinking.”
    “The nobles are not stupid,” Mister Ullumbrach warned.
    “Of course not,” Casimir agreed.
    “And neither was Caius,” Mister Ullumbrach added. “He lined their coffers and kept them hooked on a steady stream of anti-aging serum. ‘Wealth and long life’… Both were reliable insurers of loyalty.”
    “Many wish to see the days of the empire return,” Mister Rostaur added, “not under Caius, of course…”
    “But definitely not under myself, either,” Casimir concluded.
    Neither of his advisors wished to verbally confirm their leader’s conclusion, but offered agreement by nod of their heads.
    “Worry not,” Casimir assured his advisors, “for I have not the desire, financial wealth, nor wealth of productive years ahead