Annihilation: The Power of a Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

last battle. Terl shook his head, “They do build a beautiful ship, these Humans. What is your plan?”
     
    Dorg stared at his display and said, “I’m not going to attack them; I’m going to make them come to me.”
     
    “Then what are you going to do, Admiral?”
     
    Dorg looked up from his display with a look of determination on his face, “I’ll try to kill as many of their ships as I can. When it’s hopeless I’ll order the survivors to jump to the colonies. I am not running this time and leave our people undefended, Clan leader.”
     
    Terl looked at him and said, “I never thought you would. We’ll face them together.”
     
    The Human fleet continued to move forward until it loomed larger and larger still. Then the fleet reached five segs in front of their positions slowed and then stopped. “What are they doing, Admiral?” Terl asked.
     
    “I don’t know. Would you like to ask them, Clan Leader?”
     
    Suddenly they heard a human voice over a standard Alliance Frequency speaking in standard Alliance. “Well, what do we do now?”
     
    Dorg and Terl looked at each other then hurriedly Terl hit a button on his chair and said, “Would you consider possibly talking about what happens next?”
     
    Danielle and Tag looked at each other and Kosiev couldn’t believe his ears. Tag pressed his com button again, “We will talk with the person that has the authority to speak for your entire race. I would also request whoever is leader of your armed services also be present. We will move one of our ships between our lines with a blue and green strobe, and we will meet you there in fifteen dregs.” Tag cut the channel.
     
    Terl and Dorg looked at each other again and Dorg said, “Do you trust them? They could kill us both and our fleet would have no leadership.”
     
    Terl raised his shoulders to show his irony, “Admiral, do you think you or I being here or not will make any difference in the outcome if they attack?” Dorg shrugged and shook his head. “Ready a shuttle just big enough for the two of us: I want to go on board one of those remarkable ships and see what it looks like inside.”
     
    “Here they come,” Lt. Kelly announced. “They’re in a small shuttle.”
     
    “Mikado, have the landing port opened and bring them aboard,” Tag ordered.
     
    “Is that a good idea?” Kosiev asked, “what if their ship is wired to explode?”
     
    Tag closed his eyes and did not feel his senses giving any alarm. He looked at Kosiev and said, “Then their race dies today and I think they realize that. It won’t be wired. However issue orders to begin the attack if anything happens.” He looked at Danielle and she nodded.
     
    Dorg and Terl docked their shuttle in the landing bay of the Washington and were amazed at how much room there was. The landing area was larger than a dreadnaught’s and had more empty space. The Bay pressurized and Terl and Dorg exited their shuttle to find two naval marines in full battle armor waiting for them. One marine said in standard Alliance, “Follow me, please.” Dorg noticed that the human’s armor was bright and that the marines were moving smoothly as if they had on nothing but normal clothes. That armor had to weigh more than half a nect.
     
    The marines led them to a lift that took them up five levels then they walked a hundred yards thru wide and roomy corridors until they reached a door that opened to reveal a large conference table where two men in military uniform and a young human male and female dressed in civilian clothes were sitting.
     
    The young man stood up and said in standard Alliance, “Welcome aboard the Directorate Ship Washington. My name is Thomas Gardner and this is my wife, Danielle. This is Admiral Kosiev who commands our military and Captain Lin Mikado who is the Captain of this ship.”
     
    Both of the Cainth bowed slightly, then Terl said, “I am Head Clansman Terl elected leader of the Clans Assembly and this is Admiral