Drysine Legacy (The Spiral Wars Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wasn’t some strategic idiot, he must have known the Worlders had something up their sleeve.”
    “Yeah,” Erik muttered. “But what?”
    “Guess he didn’t get around to telling us that before he died.”
    Also scattered through the markets were random tavalai, with their broad shoulders and protruding, flat heads and wide-set eyes, and the occasional kaal, like thick walls of grey muscle lumbering through the crowd. All were merchants or other harmless types, and made a clear space for the armed and armoured humans. Tuki had not demanded that Phoenix crew disarm when on dock. Barabo military vessels did not stray far from their core systems, and were reluctant to enforce their rule over places like Vieno for fear that someone would take that as provocation.
    Barabo were five thousand years in space — new by Spiral standards, and had escaped the AI scourge during the Machine Age. Tavalai had discovered them instead, and given them a helping hand into space. Grateful to be found by tavalai and not sard, whose territory also adjoined, barabo had taken to space with curiosity but no particular drive or ambition. Barabo were lively, chaotic and almost entirely self-interested. Humans found it hard to understand, because barabo were smart, and made good tech when they chose. But they simply found themselves more interesting than the rest of the galaxy, and looking around, Erik thought he could possibly see why.
    When the Triumvirate War had begun, human space had been a long way from barabo space. When humans had begun drawing near, some of the more determined barabo had demanded that their tavalai friends and mentors deserved barabo assistance in the war. Ships had been built, and a small fleet sent to help — all largely destroyed in several disastrous actions against the hardened and brutally efficient human forces. Barabo had quickly decided to leave the fighting to the tavalai, in the hope that when humans eventually won, as had probably seemed inevitable, they’d not be too hostile. Tavalai had been the true guarantors of security in this neutral space, but the tavalai conditions of surrender had left them with barely enough ships to maintain security in their own remaining space. Outer Neutral Space was now largely unsecured, and a big, wandering warship like Phoenix found no one telling her she couldn’t do exactly what she pleased. So far, at least.
    “LC, this is Phoenix,” came Lieutenant Lassa’s voice in Erik’s ear. “PH-4 is on her way up, Lieutenant Jalawi says they have cargo holds full of seafood. Should make a pleasant change for a few days at least. ETA ninety-four minutes.”
    “Thank you Phoenix , the LC copies.” Actually Phoenix ’s chefs were out securing other sources of fresh food as well, but it was thoughtful of Charlie Platoon to help them out on their brief R&R visit to Vieno’s surface. Thoughtful, and self-interested.
    “You know,” said Lieutenant Crozier, “I think we have a selfless duty to inspect those kebabs.”
    “Amen,” said Private Rai nearby. The kebab stall they passed had a small queue, with spiced meat roasting on open flame — unheard of on a human station. The air pollution alone would have had someone booked… but it smelled delicious.
    “Sure,” said Erik, smiling. “On your own time.” They deserved some nice things, after all they’d been through the past weeks. All the marines carried rifles at casual, muzzles at the deck. Polite but alert was the drill. Anyone who tried to push between them to get through was blocked and coolly instructed to go around, so as not to violate the secure perimeter around the LC.
    “So did you check out those volunteer kids?” Erik asked the Lieutenant.
    Crozier smirked. “Yeah. They’re off a freelance freighter, done some martial arts and weapons training. Doesn’t make you a marine, unfortunately.” She peered at a cage containing a prowling, cat-like animal that snarled at passers-by.
    “Theoretically,”