Wrath of Axia (The Arcadian Jihad) by Eric Schneider Read Free Book Online Page A

food vendors. The food was good, too. He asked the seller where they had all gone, as well as the tasty food they sold.
    “It was the Security Bureau. They said local people should be working in the plantations, not wasting their time selling food on the streets to tourists. They rounded up most of the sellers and sent them to work harvesting burlash.”
    “Why did they leave you alone?”
    He smiled a tired, weary smile. “I’m almost ninety years of age, too old to work on a plantation. They left me alone so they could argue that food vendors were still allowed to operate in the city. In return, I have to buy all of my foodstuffs from the Burlash Corporation of Hesperia.”
    “Pieter Bose?”
    “Yes, it’s a subsidiary of the Bose Corporation. They only have one product to sell, burlash.”
    They ate as much of the unappetizing food as they could before they arrived at Max Biermann’s house. He smiled when he saw the packaging.
    “So you tried eating that muck?”
    “For the first and last time,” Blas grimaced. “Have you heard from Admiral Rusal?”
    Max looked worried. “Not yet, has anything happened?”
    Blas recounted his conversation with Rusal. “He expects to be arrested soon. He also said you’d know what to do.”
    Max nodded. “It’s going to be difficult. The Security Bureau watches everything, so we need to be very careful not to arouse their suspicions. In the meantime, I’ve got someone you need to listen to. He has a very interesting tale to tell, he’s due here shortly. He was a prisoner on the plantations but he escaped.”
    Blas and Evelyn looked at each other. The same question crossed their minds. Was it possible?

    System Standard 2734.1629 Tulum City, Planet Hesperia
    Admiral Quentin Rusal came to attention in front of his superior officer, Grand Admiral Rad Bose, Commander in Chief of Tricon military. After the Axian conquest, Bose had been close to the leader, President Merca Gluck. Gluck made him Commander in Chief of the Axian forces. After their defeat and during the formation of the new Republic, Bartok unexpectedly announced his reinstatement as Grand Admiral. It was an inexplicable decision, in view of Bose’s reputation as a brutal and cruel despot, a leader who drove his men on with harsh punishments. He glowered at Rusal.
    “I’ve heard rumors that I don’t like, Admiral. Protests, and even sabotage caused by these Hesperian natives. There’s even a suggestion that they’re talking of calling a general strike. That would be disastrous for our agricultural output, you must see that?”
    “I’m sure your brother’s plantations will be unaffected by a strike. They all use slave labor, Sir.”
    “Prison labor, Rusal, as you well know, not slave labor. It’s a form of rehabilitation. I suggest you be more careful in your choice of words, Admiral.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    “I’ve decided to make an example of some of these people to show the others that they can’t do as they please. We rule this planet, not some ignorant natives who think they know better than their masters. Come with me, you’re in time to witness the executions.”
    “You’re not serious? You can’t execute these people! That would be illegal.”
    Bose fixed him with a hard and bitter look. “Two things, Rusal. First, I’m your superior officer, and as far as you’re concerned I’ll do as I damn well please. Your job is to carry out my orders. Second, President Bartok has repealed the old law, so execution is now a legal punishment throughout the Systems. Come with me.”
    Rusal followed him out to the parade ground. To his horror, a long, multiple gallows had been erected in the center. Five men were being led out, their arms and legs shackled so that they could only stumble forward. Pieter Bose stood next to the gallows, shouting orders.
    “Bring them here, quickly, men. Don’t let the prisoners dawdle. We haven’t got all day.”
    They bullied the terrified men forward to the gallows,