The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) by Kal Spriggs Read Free Book Online

Letter of Marque would allow her to act as a privateer or agent for the United Colonies.  For that matter, from what her old boss, Alicia Nix, had told her, it authorized her to recruit and deputize others, basically up to and including a fleet.  Of course, she thought, if I really get out of hand they could always revoke it...
    Mason met her eyes with his own.  “The way I see it, Admiral Collae wants Tommy King.  Not just for his skills, but for his contacts and for his ships.”
    “Do you have those?” Lauren asked.  From the little he'd said, it sounded as if he'd turned his back on all that.  She would imagine that kind of behavior might burn bridges.  She didn't think the types of people he had associated with would be the forgiving types.
    “Those and more,” Mason said, his eyes suddenly distant.  “And that's part of what I'm afraid of,” Mason said.  “Tommy King was bad enough, I hate to think of what a man like Collae would do with the resources I can access.”
    “Please,” Lauren said, her voice dry.  “Remember, I found you stranded on Anvil, your ship impounded and with barely enough cash to pay your bar tab.”
    Mason smirked a bit, “You did, indeed.  And for that matter, I can't say I didn't need your help...”  His smile died and something very dangerous suddenly looked out of his eyes.  “But you were helping Mason McGann, not Tommy King.”  His voice took on a deeper lilt, almost a nasal twang, “And Tommy King is a different fellow altogether.”
    He stood, “We go this route and it's a dangerous road.”  His voice was level, but she saw some uncertainty in his eyes.  He's afraid, she realized with shock, afraid of what I'll see in him.   The thought was absurd to her.  She'd seen and done terrible things of her own.  For that matter, she felt like she had far less compunction than he did, especially when killing the Chxor or their human sympathizers were concerned.
    “Join forces with the infamous pirate Tommy King, travel the galaxy, meet new and interesting people... kill them,” Lauren smiled, “Where do I sign up?”
    ***

Chapter I
     
    Faraday System
    United Colonies
    July 12, 2403
     
    Baron Lucius Giovanni, Leader of the United Colonies – such as it was – and Commander of it’s Military Forces wondered whether the Giovanni stubbornness came of  hereditary origins or if it might just be contagious.  “Reese, I heard you the first time.”
    “Then order her not to do it, dammit!” Lucius’s brother-in-law snapped.
    “You know as well as I do how that would turn out,” Lucius said, his voice dry.  “And to a point, her arguments are valid.”
    His tall, blonde brother in law turned a deeper shade of red and he snapped, “ Valid?” Lucius winced at the shout.  Reese leaned over Lucius's desk, “She wants to join the Fleet.  I nearly lost her once, I refuse–”
    “In case you hadn’t noticed,” Lucius said sharply, “Our battles haven’t been exactly gentle on civilians.”  Reese opened his mouth for another argument.  “She also has a point in that she feels the same way about both of us.  The Nova Roma Imperial Fleet denied her the opportunity to serve with us, not without waivers that she couldn’t get after my father’s actions.  She’s tired of seeing us both go off to battle and not being able to help.”
    Reese looked away, but the set of his jaw showed he still disagreed.
    “Finally, I’ve made her agree to join the new Academy here on Faraday, rather than enlisting as she intended to do at first,” Lucius grimaced, “I’m certain you understand what a disaster that could be.”  Despite himself, Reese snorted at the thought of his wife following orders as an enlisted rating aboard ship.
    “Furthermore, it will take two years for the first class of officers to graduate.  Both you and I know how grossly the war with the Chxor can change in that time.”  Lucius shrugged, “With most of our current simulations