Shadow Space Chronicles 1: The Fallen Race by Kal Spriggs Read Free Book Online Page A

of the areas that specifically require your expertise.  Lieutenant Meridan will take over in Engineering.”
    “ I won’t work under—“
    “ You won’t be working under anyone but me.” Lucius said.  “But you will do as I say, James Harbach, or I will vent you out the nearest airlock, is that clear?”
    Lucius watched Harbach's face go from bright red to pasty white.  The other man nodded, finally.
    “Very well, you're dismissed,” Lucius watched him leave and wondered how long until the engineer's next problem.  Unfortunately, personnel issues lay with many other areas besides his engineering department.
    The War Shrike ’s full crew was just over a thousand; the Gebneyr ’s was six hundred and forty.  His present crew, split between the two ships, was four hundred and fifty.  Seventy of those were Ghornath, the rest humans from his own ship.
    Those depressingly low figures meant twelve to eighteen hour shifts for his recently promoted officers, huge gaps in some vital places and a low number of people to make the repairs he needed.
    He sighed again as he picked up the next report.
    ***
     
    July 31, 2402 Earth Standard Time
    Faraday System
    Unclaimed Space
     
    Lucius stepped into the crowded sickbay and moved down the rows.  He paused now and then to give a word to the wounded as he passed.  He felt like a man twice his age, though he kept cheer and warmth in his voice.  He congratulated some on their recovery, told others they’d be cared for, and made promises that he hoped he could keep regarding their futures.
    His destination was the fair-haired commander at the end.  Lucius could no more have not spoken to each of his men as he passed than he could have cut off his own hand, so it took him some time to reach him.  He knew that some part of him welcomed the opportunity to delay the conversation he expected.
    “ Hello, Reese.  I hear you’ve made a rapid recovery.” Lucius’s voice was slightly hesitant.  He saw that Reese picked up on it and the other man's face clouded over.
    “ What’s this rumor about us not going back to Nova Roma!” Reese snapped.  “You have to quash these things!  Tell me, when do we return?!”
    Lucius shook his head, “Reese, the War Shrike ’s been hammered, we’ve barely held on, we’re in no shape to go anywhere yet.”  He couldn’t meet the younger man’s eyes.
    “ Look, Lucius, I can’t stand the thought of... well you know how bad it will be if the Chxor break through.  You know what will happen to Alanis if they take Nova Roma.  The way people have spoken, they think it’s foregone.  I know you, I know you can stop it.  I know you can make a difference.  We have to go back!”  Reese burst into a coughing fit, his blue eyes clenched in pain.
    “ Reese...” Lucius began.
    “ Look, I know I’m no damned good right now.  But we need go back.  I know you took me on because Alanis wanted me safe.  She wanted me on the best ship and we’re it!  We-”
    “ Reese, there’s nothing to go back to.” Lucius interrupted.  “I haven’t told anyone yet, I had to tell you first.”  His voice was low.  “The Chxor broke through Nova Roma’s defenses yesterday morning.  The Senate surrendered just before noon.  The Chxor executed the Imperial family in a live broadcast.  They’ve claimed to have arrested and executed ninety percent of the nobility and all of the senior houses.”
    “ Alanis is dead, Reese.  I wish it weren’t so.  I wish there was something I could do.  If I could push this ship there to stop it, I would,” Lucius said.
    “ No.” Reese shook his head.  “No, we still need to go back!  You don’t know she’s dead!”
    “ Reese, I hope she’s alive, but you know what life will be like under them.  Give it five years and she’ll wish she was dead.  Give it ten as a slave—”
    “ The only way we can be sure...”
    “ I won’t kill the rest of the men for a forlorn hope!” Lucius snapped.