Deadly Shores by Taylor Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

arms, they rebelled. The “Legion” had been spread out up and down the Trans-Siberian Railroad by that time, and fought a series of bitter battles against the Bolsheviks to consolidate their forces at Vladivostok. Matt knew what happened next, but Svec and his two hundred or so riflemen never did. It was during that time they’d somehow wound up on this different earth.
    Matt was fascinated by Svec’s story of how his people survived, joining forces with Lemurians who’d once inhabited northern India—driven there, and then still farther by the encroaching Grik they didn’t dare confront—and he was anxious to hear more. He was particularly interested to learn why they wound up where they did and, well,
how
. Svec’s people were the first they’d ever encountered who didn’t come to this world by sea. Irritation flashed. That was another reason he’d wanted Courtney here! The Australian had heard of the legionnaires, but hadn’t talked to them yet. Matt focused back on Svec. Infantryman or not, he and all his people, human and Lemurian, had become outstanding cavalry, riding beasts every bit as frightening-looking as me-naaks, even if they weren’t carnivores. They’d been poorly armed with crude flintlocks for the most part, built in their primitive, nomadic villages, but they also had a few old Moisen Nagants. They retained ancient knowledge of the region, as well as a tradition of surveillance. They even attacked isolated groups of Grik when the opportunity arose to do so without leaving witnesses, so they knew the country very well. They’d just “shown up” at the climax of the battle for Alden’s Perimeter, after apparently watching for some time, waiting to see if the Allies truly had a chance against their hereditary enemy. Convinced now that they did, they were anxious to get on with it, and were just as frustrated as Adar by Pete’s cease-fire.
    â€œWhat’s your current strength, Colonel Svec?” Matt asked.
    â€œA full brigade,” Svec said proudly in heavily accented English. It was good that he spoke it, since his Lemurians and Matt’s could barely understand one another. “Two regiments as you count such things. More are coming now.”
    â€œGood. You’ve been under Saachic’s command since you arrived, but can you do without him?” What Matt meant was, “Will you
cooperate
without him watching over you?” Svec smiled. “My volunteers will behave,” he assured, “now that we know the fight is not over, just postponed. We understand well the need to gather one’s strength!” He gestured around. “And we know you do not really make peace with the Gaarik.” His expression darkened. “Our friends have made peace with our enemies before, and at first, we thought that was the case again. Now we know it is not, we will cooperate fully with General Alden, and eagerly await the day we can kill the Gaarik and drive him from this land at last!”
    â€œFine,” Matt said, glancing meaningfully at Pete, making sure he’d caught the implied impatience. Now that Svec and his “volunteers” had powerful allies, it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that they might precipitate an end to the cease-fire if it dragged on too long. He took a breath and resumed. “Otherwise, besides the assets already at Diego, which I won’t go into,
Salissa
and her air wing will be going, of course. Repairs to
Arracca
and
Baalkpan Bay
are almost complete, and they should be sufficient to protect our naval forces with their air power, particularly with the better bombs.” He looked at Tassanna-Ay-Arracca,
Arracca
’s High Chief. “As soon as possible, I’d like you to take your battle group and blockade the western ports of Indiaa.” Tassanna blinked appreciation. She was still very young for a High Chief, and what Matt was suggesting