The Master of Muscigny (The First Admiral Series Book 5) by William J. Benning Read Free Book Online Page A

parsecs away from Earth. This could not be another Bardomil Lissian weapon, Lokkrien mused.
    But, the Lissian connection was compelling in Lokkrien’s mind. And, the Bardomil had been remarkably quiet since the Ganthoran Empire had been annexed into the Universal Alliance. Too quiet perhaps, Lokkrien postulated.
    Both the Bardomil Empire and the Universal Alliance now eyed each other warily along a massive de-militarized zone. In a deal brokered after the collapse of the Ganthoran Empire, diplomats from both sides had carved up the systems bordering the two massive power blocs and had created the buffer zone that each side now watched closely. However, there seemed to be no reason for any Bardomil aggression at this time. There were no political or territorial disputes, no active crises and no areas of contention that would drive even the near-insane Bardomil Empress Lullina to risk a military showdown.
    The Alliance was busily trying to integrate the huge Ganthoran Empire into the fledgling democratic structures that were still forming to govern the fastest expanding political and military entity in the universe. The last Bardomil attack on the Alliance had been a costly defeat for the Empress Lullina. And, Lokkrien was not sure if the Bardomil were militarily strong enough to have another crack at the Alliance just yet.
    The final showdown with the Bardomil Empire was inevitable in the mind of Marrhus Lokkrien. But, given the weakened state of his former masters, Lokkrien considered that creating a weapon capable of eliminating the First Admiral would be the next logical step for the Bardomil to take. It was the strategic and tactical genius of the young red-haired human that still forged the path for the Alliance’s expansion. Somehow, the young human had a grasp of universe-wide strategy that astonished the older and more experienced commanders in the Alliance. Removing Billy Caudwell would seriously, if not terminally, weaken the Alliance.
    “Sir,” the Weapons and Tactical Officer, the WATO, broke into Lokkrien’s contemplation, “you have to take command of the Fleet, sir.”
    “What!?” the still angry Lokkrien snapped at the Thexxian WATO. “Comms can you raise the flagship?” he turned to the Communications banks.
    “Sir,” the WATO persisted, “the First Admiral is gone; you must take command.”
    “No, sir,” a Communications Officer replied nervously.
    “Can anyone do anything around here!?”
    “Sir!” the WATO finally bellowed. “Will you listen to me for one second, SIR!!?”
    “What is it?”
    “Sir, the First Admiral is gone, you must take command of the Alliance Fleet, sir.”
    “No! First Admiral Caudwell is not dead!”
    “He doesn’t need to be dead, sir. He is out of communication in a phenomenon we don’t understand...”
    “I will not declare Billy Caudwell dead until you put his lifeless corpse down here in front of me on this table!” Lokkrien jabbed his finger at the top of the War Table. “Has anyone sent a probe into that thing?”
    “Probe launched, sir.”
    “Sir,” the WATO persisted, “there is no one in command, no one to make decisions or issue orders.”
    “Yes there is, we are going to get the First Admiral out from whatever that is! Is that clear WATO!?”
    “Crystal, sir! But until we do, someone has to take command!”
    “What’s happening with that probe!?”
    “Probe was crushed in the gravity, sir.”
    “AARGH!!” Lokkrien bellowed, turning away from the WATO and slamming his fists down on the top of the War Table.
    “What are your orders, sir?” the WATO demanded.
    For a moment, Lokkrien drew a heavy breath and started to think.
    “Very simple. They must have gone somewhere. We search for them! We find them! We get them back!”
    If we’re not already too late, Lokkrien considered.

Chapter 6
     
    Planet Geminus - The City of Jerusalem
     
    Less than twenty minutes after leaving the downed Aquarius, two stealthed Personnel Carriers sailed