The Inception: The Augmented Human Rebellion - Book 1 by Terry Lefler Read Free Book Online Page A

handled at such a low level, wherein Colonel Kax is making
decisions – that can’t be a good sign. And thirdly, Captain Nemo knows
that Colonel Kax will continue to put Company K in untenable situations, until
they are all destroyed. The Colonel’s hatred is for Captain Nemo, but
Company K is going to be destroyed by that hate, right along with Captain
Nemo.
    Captain Nemo has applied for transfer on numerous occasions, but Colonel
Kax always refuses to approve the request. At this point, the Captain is
determined not to return to Darinx space, until that situation is
resolved. The only available course of action, at this point, is for
Captain Nemo to desert from the Darinx military. The punishment for an
augmented human desertion is death – there is no other remedy. Captain
Nemo has in mind that he might ask Bartat to hide him on Parin, or to let him
hide out on one of the Parin moon bases.
    The response that Captain Nemo sends to Colonel Kax says that the
augmented humans are currently learning to pilot the captured warships, but
that they are not proficient enough to try an FTL flight, at this time.
It’s a stall tactic which, hopefully, will buy enough time for the Darinx bureaucracy
to get involved in the situation.
    ***
    Cade Nemo and Sandra Guilles are having frequent liaisons, aboard one
ship or the other, with Danion providing the taxi service. Captain Nemo
is certain that he made the right decision in appointing Lt. Guilles, as commander
of the second ship, but the separation is creating difficulty for their
relationship.
    Captain Nemo discusses his desertion plans with her, and she says that
she understands the situation, and will be leaving with him. Captain Nemo
says ‘no’ to that idea, but Sandra Guilles is a very stubborn augmented human
female, and she will not take ‘no’ for an answer. With that settled, they
wait and hope for some better options.
    ***
    Colonel Kax arrives with Battalion 308, in their troop transport
ship. The Colonel contacts Captain Nemo and has a view-screen
conversation: “Captain Nemo, I order you to board the Nemesis and return
Company K to our troop transport ship, immediately. I intend to destroy
both captured vessels, and then to depart this system within the hour.”
    Captain Nemo responds: “Sir, I will begin to organize Company K for
departure, but I must ask you to reconsider your plans, for a number of
reasons. First, there are about a thousand POW’s …..”
    “Enough!” the Colonel shouts. “Do what I said and do it now, or I
will have you court-martialed and executed.”
    Captain Nemo has been concerned that the situation might get to this
point – and he has a plan. He and Sandra Guilles will be leaving on one
of the captured vessels. Also, they had the foresight to have the
conversation, with Colonel Kax, broadcast – live – to every view-screen on both
captured vessels. The Company K soldiers, the Verm POW’s, and the small
contingent of extrucians aboard the 2 captured vessels, all hear - and understand
- the Colonel’s orders.
    Captain Nemo calls both warships to Battle Stations alert level, and puts
the young Artificial Intelligence clones in charge of maneuvering, weapons, and
defensive systems.
    Now, the Battalion 308 troop transport ship is facing an overwhelming
enemy. That doesn’t deter Colonel Kax. “That is it, Nemo! You
are under arrest for treason. Power those vessels down – RIGHT NOW!”
    “No Colonel,” Captain Nemo replies. “You power down your
weapons. If you fire at these vessels, you and your ship will be targeted
by automatic weapons systems. An attack from these weapons systems will
probably destroy your vessel and its contents.”
    “I intend to leave this system with Lt. Guilles, aboard one of these
ships. The other ship will be left for the extrucians.”
    There is a chorus of comm units attempting to contact Captain Nemo.
He connects to the one from Lt. Guilles: “Cade! There are a lot of
people who want to go