Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2) by Michael Chatfield Read Free Book Online Page B

punishment of death.
    Everything's by punishment of death, I should really get to changing that too, Ursht made a note, glancing at Tik who had his data pad out and was pulling up information while talking to Tak.
    ***
    General Carsickle walked through the halls of Matro, or Hall of Leaders in the ancient tongue. His arm was starting to hurt as he walked through the hall, the Chaleelian salute was simply the pulling of forearm up against the bicep.
    He got to the office of the planetary governor without issue. He was checked over by a couple of scanners before he was finally allowed to meet with the governor.
    “Ah, General Sarsickle, Sarchen?” She asked, indicating the rare fruit that lay on her table and stopped him from saluting.
    It was rude to not take food in Chaleelian society. There had been a time when Baroui had not covered the majority of the planet and many had been starving.
    Even now, with plenty of food wastage, refusing food was not socially polite. Over eating was similarly looked down upon.
    “Thank you, Governor.” Carsickle took a fruit, taking off its peeling and eating the sticky and spicy fruit; he nibbled on the peeling, which gave a sour taste. Spice and sour were as sweet and salty were to humans it was thought among Chaleelian's.
    The governor wrote something down before lying chest first on the upward tilted bed-looking constructs. She indicated for Carsickle to join her; he promptly lay on an opposite Chaleelian version of a chair.
    Carsickle never understood why humans sat in such an uncomfortable, rigid position.
    “So, I hear you have quite the request to make of me,” The governor said as Carsickle cleared his throat.
    “I wish to join the Free Fleet,” Carsickle said. The governor rolled her head in quiet contemplation.
    “I had the feeling that you might want to. Commander Salchar made quite the impression on you.” Carsickle was about to retort when the governor lowered her snout, the equivalent of a human waving off the subject.
    “It is not a bad thing. Many were impressed by them, myself included. I do think that our deal with the Free Fleet is the best spending of resources we have possibly ever had.”
    Carsickle's brow rose. He didn't know the governor felt that way about the Free Fleet. At every meeting she'd kept to her Chaleelian roots and hammered out the best possible deal for the Chaleelian's. The governor was one hell of a negotiator.
    “I didn't know you felt that way.”
    Her ears moved as a sign of amusement.
    “Well, I can't very well give the game away to them, can I? That Salchar is a wily one. I had the feeling he knew I'd pay him twenty percent more than we agreed to the entire time.”
    Carsickle's ears similarly moved.
    “He is quite the creature.”
    “Why now though?”
    Carsickle looked over the governor who looked to be genuinely interested. He tightened his jaw, a shrug. “We have agreements with the Free Fleet and AIH for food in order for protection materials and possibly technology in the near future. We also have an agreement with AIH to build ships in concert. There are a number of Chaleelian's being trained by the Free Fleet, as well as Avarians. We have two newly refurbished corvette's under our divided command. The Free Fleet has shown their reliability. I don't think I'm needed here.”
    “You want to be out there defending your people, instead of sitting back here and twiddling your thumbs and going to meetings.” She pursed her lips in acceptance of that fact. “I am not going to stop you, General,” She finished, her ears moving.
    “What is so interesting?”
    “Wondering what Salchar has planned for you.”
    “I doubt anything.” Carsickle tightened his jaw as her ears went faster, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
    “That man has a lot of plans. He had a plan for you the minute he met you, I saw it. He probably has a plan for me too. It will be interesting to find out,” she said as it was Carsickle’s turn to move his