All Enemies Foreign and Domestic (Kelly Blake series) by Rodney Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

you left out of your preparations and execution of the Battle of G’Durin that would have ensured victory over the Human/A’Ngarii armada?”
          Baron G’Rof sat down, wearily, and responded, “M’Juna, I had two sons on ships that were lost in that battle.   If you had all of your progeny in a battle, wouldn’t you have done everything you could, checked and double checked to ensure victory?”
          Shadow Unified Force Commander M’Juna did not answer.   He just reviewed his notes and looked to the other tribunal members.
          “Do any of you have any more questions of Baron G’Rof?” 
      The four other members indicated that they did not.
          M’Juna spoke to the Baron, “Baron, we will deliberate now and will be back to you shortly.”
          Baron G’Rof was taken back into a holding cell and the video pickup went dead.
          Shadow Unified Force commander M’Juna rose from his chair, walked around the front of the tables and said, “Warriors, take a fifteen-minute break and be prepared to deliberate and vote your verdict when you return.”
    Shadow Unified Force Commander B’Tan cleared his throat and said, “I think we should take the vote now and finish this tawdry business.   I vote not guilty.”
          The other three Unified Force commanders also voted not guilty.
          M’Juna sighed, “I, too, vote not guilty.   Now go take that fifteen-minute break and be prepared to justify that verdict for all charges and specifications when you return.   We have an hour to get our results to the Chief of Staff.”
     
    * * * * *
     
          Kelly took Mr. Krallen’s arm and led him through the gate to the human embassy on G’Durin.   When Klaus came out on the other side his eyes were big as saucers.
          “Tell me you don’t go through that on a routine basis.”
          “My parents invented it. I was one of the first to go through it, aside from their lab assistants.”
          “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced cold like that or seen a black so black.”
          “You get used to it after a few times and it becomes routine.”
          Kelly walked the contractor to the office set aside for him and realized it was dark outside.   Kelly searched around for a clock to see what time it was, as G’Durin had no synchronized time signal to set his watch to local time.   He finally found a Marine making his rounds and asked him.   It was 0335 hours G’Durin time.
          “Well, Klaus, we can go to sleep for three hours to help get us on G’Durin time or stay up and get breakfast when the cafeteria opens to feed the Marines.
          “Let’s stay up and have breakfast.   It will help us get over the space lag better.”
          “Klaus, stay here until I come back.   With the ring’s calibration problem, we are hours late from when we were scheduled to be here.   I need to check and see if my wife waited up.”
    Kelly walked out into the hallway and down to the stairwell.   On the upper floor he turned right, went down three doors, and opened Candy’s office door. In the darkened office he heard a familiar snoring.   He turned on a lamp and kissed his wife awake.
          She smiled, stretched, and opened her eyes.   “I waited up for you, but the transport tech said it might be hours.   I finally gave up at one.   What time is it?”
          “It’s almost four.   Klaus is in his office.   We’re waiting for the cafeteria to open.”
          She stretched again, pulled out a mirror, and screamed.
          “God, I look horrible…and I’ve got drool on my chin.   I’ll meet you in Klaus’ office.   I have to freshen up first.”
          She padded out of the office, not even putting on her shoes, and headed down the hallway.
          Kelly watched her until she entered the women’s room and went back to Klaus’