Birthright: Battle for the Confederation- Consequence by Ryan Krauter Read Free Book Online Page A

that we observe before we can be considered adults.  The person must leave his home, travel to someplace far away from family and friends.  It's a personal journey, but one must wander, go outside themselves and alienate their old lives.  They must try things opposite to their nature; honest people must try to lie, dishonest ones must learn truth.  The goal is to learn to experience the whole range of emotion and morality, to be able to see through everyone's eyes.  Only then can we be considered ready to lead, to know those we command."
                  Velk turned to look at Loren.  "You may wonder what this has to do with anything.  Well, my time in Confederation space was like a second journey to me.  I saw something different, through not only a new viewpoint but also the eyes of my adversary.  I realized there can be a different way.  We want to be a part of this galaxy again, Commander Stone, but I think we can do it by coexisting.  I just need to convince my people of that."
                  Loren chewed on his inner lip at the comments.  If Velk was being honest, then the revelation would quite possibly help restore peace to the galaxy.  If he was playing him, well, things would end badly for all.
                  "What is our plan to return to Priman space?" asked Velk.  "I assume Avenger will not plan on just cruising up to our picket ships and asking permission to enter?"
                  "We'll acquire a ship for you and I to use while Avenger follows at a safe distance," Loren replied.  "Our friend Garrett gave me the itinerary of some local disreputable types who have some vessels we could borrow.  We'll monitor them, do a mini-jump right into their midst and board a ship.  The rest we'll make up as we go."
                  "Sounds risky to the health of your ship to plan a jump into an enemy formation."
                  "It is," Loren admitted cheerfully.  "The computer will tell us it's a horrible idea, then we'll have to convince it otherwise.  But as you well know this ship doesn't have any generators that can disrupt a hyperdrive field; we need to surprise them so they don't scatter.  Then it's just you and me on what is sure to be one hell of a road trip."
                  "Your friend Garrett Drayven would make a powerful ally," Velk noted.
                  "He is," Loren reassured the Priman.  Loren seemed to pick up on a thought.  "My ally, not yours," he felt the need to clarify.
     
     
                  It had been an entire day and Web had not seen the new prisoner in the cell next to him.  He'd been outside again briefly with Mithus the previous morning, gone through meals, the night, and the next afternoon.  Mithus had been sticking near him ever since their first conversation; either he was Confed and wanted to stick together, or he was a Priman plant who was determined to get what he could out of Web.  Still no telling, really.
                  Web sat at a table in the outdoor courtyard that had bench seats on each side.  Maybe there had been games of chance, cards, board games or something similar on the tops once.  Now, they were just barren, scratched table tops that were showing signs of age and neglect.
                  He had been making small talk with Mithus when the guards stomped through the courtyard carrying the inert form of a human woman draped between them. 
                  They unceremoniously deposited her at the table behind Web, her back to his, and left in the same rush they had been in the entire time.
                  Web didn't know if he was supposed to be interested.  What would the Primans want to see?  He'd give them the opposite.  He did shift in his seat as he talked to Mithus, catching a quick glimpse of the woman as she stirred and propped herself up on her elbows.