Star Force: Resolution (SF89) (Star Force Origin Series) by Aer-ki Jyr Read Free Book Online

Their participation in this alliance was coming to a beneficial
end, but until all of The Nine’s Hamoriti were relocated they were still viable
to a number of missions, though the recent one had ended in utter failure.
    “ They are
intractable ,” the Yisv reported. “ Their
defeat has not opened their minds, rather I fear it has committed them to a
futile course. They will not admit error, nor culpability, and they will not
surrender the Hamoriti .”
    “ Fools ,” the
Sety said with disgust. “ Don’t they
realize that even if we all decided to forgive them their betrayal that they
will still have to deal with Star Force? Even without using the Hamoriti, as
they’ve promised not to, they have an empire containing thousands of star
systems. The Trinx have but one. They cannot hold out against an invasion for
long .”
    “ They intend to
and are building additional deterrents. As you probably know, their previous
defenses were the strongest of us all, but I agree that they will not be
victorious if Star Force, or we, decide to strike at them. ”
    “ Were no
possible avenues of compromise discussed? ” the Dati asked.
    “ I spent many
days in discussion. They will listen but nothing beyond that. Their minds are
fixed on their course .”
    “ And what is
their course, as they see it? ” the cyborg asked.
    “ They believe
that if they retain possession of the Hamoriti and continue to study it and the
technology that contains it, they will eventually attain peerdom with the
Ancients .”
    The Jonstar shook its hairy head. “ They actually think they’ll be able to
capture and reclaim the awoken Hamoriti, don’t they? ”
    “ They do ,”
Pattrel confirmed. “ They will become, in
their delusions, the counter to Star Force. Their control over the Hamoriti
will be no different than the Chixzon, and the Ancients defeated the Chixzon
and took their weapons from them. The Trinx aspire to this, and I believe they
have for a very long time now .”
    “ That’s why they
relocated ,” the Sety said with awe at the revelation.
    “ To put
everything they had into the endeavor ,” the cyborg echoed with a nod. “ They saw themselves rising to take an
insanely high position within the galaxy, to become one of the Ancients, and
Star Force’s ability to control the Hamoriti usurps even that. ”
    “ They have a
Chixzon ,” the Dati pointed out. “ And
they can control them as the Chixzon did .”
    “ Why have we been
so blind? ” the Breti asked.
    “ Because we have
been protecting the Hamoriti to safeguard the galaxy ,” the cyborg stated
with considerable frustration. “ They have
been doing so to aggrandize themselves .”
    “ We have gained
much from studying the Ancient technology ,” the Sety pointed out.
    “ But none of us
attacked the Star Force control ship .”
    “ Did they not
accept any of our stipulations? ” the Sety asked.
    “ They have
announced that they’re willing to remain within their own star system.
Everything they need for their ascension is there, so they’re willing to cut
all ties with us and the outside .”
    “ Repayment for
losses? ” the Dati asked.
    “ Refused .”
    “ They kill our
people and expect us to just let it go? ” the Jonstar asked.
    “ They have
already dismissed us. They did so when they chose to attack .”
    “ Yet they
accepted you without incident ,” the Sety pointed out.
    “ To talk. There
is no reason to attack our ships, and they did not bar us from returning .”
    “ What of the
rest of us? ” the cyborg asked.
    “ No warfleets , but emissaries are permitted .”
    “ How gracious ,”
the Bpret muttered.
    “ You are certain
there is no recourse? ” the Dati asked.
    “ I had thought
there would be some traction possible, but I was wrong ,” Pattrel admitted
helplessly. “ Unless their representative
was not speaking truthfully, there is no hope of resolution. We either leave
them be or face war. ”
    “ We don’t have
the