Grendels by Zachary Deaderick Read Free Book Online

standoff.  Keeping them from fielding their assets just yet.  They can’t keep them in the field forever without costing a fortune as far as power cells so they are only going to deploy them if they think attack is imminent.  So they’re going to deploy us and try and get inside that window and secure the supplies before their troops get them.”
    “You tell the guys yet?”
    “Tell the guys what?” Davis asks locking his rifle across his back.
    Sanders glances back over his shoulder, mostly out of habit, while the suit’s cameras panned quickly across his screens to show behind him. 
    “That we are going to Solace.”
    “For sure?” Davis asks.
    “Yeah, Boss asked about it last night.  Wanted to know what I thought about our strategic situation.”
    “Saw the feeds,” Davis says pointing at the holos, “I’d gamble they have way more assets than what's on that rock.”
    “How do you figure?” Sanders crosses his arms and turns to face both Davis and Miller simultaneously.
    “Look at all that freight coming off.  Hell, they were dragging a freighter or more off those moons once a week.  That's a mountain of helium.  You can even see how much they have diminished their moons by visual inspection.”
    “You mean other planets,” Sanders adds turning to face the windows.
    “Yeah, maybe,” Davis says slowly.  “I mean where would you be hauling that much crap?  Colonies would consume that kind of power, super capital ships, and massive land equipment.  Other than that there is no reason to be hoarding that much without selling off most of it.”
    “This could be a serious firefight,” Miller sweeps his feet off the table and leans in.
    “Glad you saw that as well,” Mr. O says from the door.
    “Good morning sir,” Sanders turns.
    “Some of my analysts were telling me that it was unlikely they could have gotten up to much in just the ten short years since they started up mining operations on the moon.”
    “In ten years you could build a fleet, field an army and train up a significant number of Grendels.  In ten years we sacked the squid home system.  Ten years is enough time to build a massive fortune and spend it on a serious war machine.”
    “So my next question, is what plans do you have to ensure my families safety if I put your division in charge of the front lines?”
    Helmets swivel looking at each other briefly before pausing and looking at Sanders.
    “To be honest sir, you’d have to get off planet.  Anything topside is going to make you vulnerable to orbital bombardment.  If you put up in one of the old battle cruisers you should be reasonably safe this far from the fighting.  The Stand-off Missile Plats carried a marine detachment with them.  You could probably tool up a few modules to convert it to spacious living for your family.  Keep the weapon systems and shield modules, Keep her way out beyond the range of normal traffic and no one is likely to find you long enough to mount a large enough attack.”
    Davis takes a couple of steps into the room away from Owens, “Take a compliment of fighters with you, dock ‘em on the hull.  Between a five squad of fighters, onboard drones and the SMP’s weapon system you shouldn’t need to worry about anything.”
    “They’d need several destroyers to give you a run and honestly even then you would be able to pop them before they got through your shields.”  Sanders finishes and steps toward Davis and Owens.
    “Glad I kept one of those back in orbit then,” O says scratching his head.  “Sent the rest of them to the front because the analysts advised we would likely face significant aerial support.  Well Dave, You and the boys pack it up.  You’ll be on the shuttle tonight.  We have a transport heading out there tomorrow.”
    Sanders nods and glances at the other two, nodding as his helmet sweeps across them.

7
    Vibrations rattle through the ship while heat warps the metal, whining miserably against the