The Machine Awakes by Adam Christopher Read Free Book Online

Always.
    â€œFive thousand, three hundred and twenty,” said Sebela. Avalon glanced at him. He was looking toward the Fleet Memorial as well.
    â€œAh … yes, sir,” said Avalon. Then she frowned. “Five thousand, three hundred and twenty what?”
    Sebela unfolded his arms. “Personnel killed in action in the last cycle. Tomorrow is Fleet Day. I haven’t even written my speech yet.”
    He turned to the Bureau Chief, a sad smile playing on his lips. “Somehow I’m not really in the mood.” He chuckled and walked toward his desk, an antique made of real wood.
    Avalon watched him, wondering what he found so funny. He was under house arrest, and what Zworykin had planned for the former commander-in-chief didn’t bear thinking about.
    â€œI imagine he’ll be true to his word and keep you around in his new regime,” said Sebela. He seated himself behind the desk and waved at the lamp to his left, which faded up, spilling a cone of warm yellow light over his workspace. Then sat back and ran his fingers along the edge of the desk, apparently studying the magnificent grain of the ancient wood. “You are as young as you are na ï ve, Commander Avalon. But Zworykin is arrogant. If he is to finalize his transition to power, he will need the Bureau on his side, and he thinks he can bend you to his will.”
    Avalon folded her arms. “I’m not such a pushover, sir. ”
    â€œHa!” said the Admiral. He tapped an index finger on the edge of the desk. “There is the famous fire your grandmother had. You are young but stubborn. I think Zworykin has a battle coming. To him the Bureau is a distraction—he has always thought so. He thinks as little of it as he does of you. In a way, that is a good position to be in. He doesn’t see you or your department as a threat. Remember that, Commander. That may be a truth that is useful to you if you are to survive what is coming. Perhaps here is a chance to live up to your name at last.”
    Avalon sighed. Here we go, she thought. “I’m sorry I can’t live up to her legacy, sir, ” she said, her eyes shooting daggers at Sebela. Zworykin didn’t have a monopoly on arrogance at Fleet Command, that was for sure. But Sebela seemed to be on her side, at least, even if he was now showing it in his typically infuriating way. He was also right. In a way, she actually shared the view of the others on the Command Council that the Bureau wasn’t really part of the Fleet, at least not its military command structure. The whole point of the Bureau was that it was an independent branch, tasked with policing the internal affairs of the Fleet and, where such tasks overlapped, handling local law enforcement. Sebela—and now Zworykin—were in total control of the Fleet, and therefore of the Bureau, but the Bureau was allowed to run autonomously under the chief’s control.
    Until today, anyway, thought Avalon.
    Avalon changed the subject. “You seem remarkably calm about this, if you don’t mind me saying.”
    Sebela smiled again, but this time the expression was sad. “Anything for a quiet life,” he said. “And Fleet Day is an important occasion. I am duty-bound to honor those who serve the Fleet. Even Zworykin can’t take that from me.”
    Avalon sat in one of the huge armchairs on the other side of the Admiral’s desk. They were real leather, and the seat creaked pleasantly beneath her as she crossed her legs.
    Sebela met her eye. “So, are you going to ask me about the Shadow Protocol or not?”
    Avalon frowned.
    The Admiral laughed. “Oh, Commander, I am a psi-marine. I can sense the question dancing at the front of your mind.”
    â€œWell,” she said, “I apparently don’t have the required clearance to know about it. But I do want to know what is going on. How could a single mission fail badly enough for Zworykin to gain