Empire: Book 2, The Chronicles of the Invaders (The Chronicles of the Invaders Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the only way for humans to use pulse weapons was to adjust them manually or rely on a neural “net” worn as part of a helmet. Even then, reaction times were slower, and a blow to the helmet could result in the net malfunctioning, leaving a trooper holdinga useless weapon. In addition, pulse rifles occasionally failed to identify the DNA of their human users, rendering them unusable. In the event of such a failure, a message would appear on the weapon’s digital display: URD, for “User Recognition Denial,” or, as the Brigades renamed it, “U R Dead.”
    Where possible, therefore, humans preferred conventional weaponry. Thus it was that Paul checked the depleted uranium loads in his Illyri Military-issue SR automatic rifle: three hundred rounds to a load, and he carried five loads as standard, enough to start a small war. His webbing belt also contained five grenades—three incendiary, two gas—a seven-inch knife with a serrated edge, and a Colt pistol.
    The Colt was technically illegal, but many of the humans complemented their Illyri-issue weaponry with some lethal additions from Earth: pistols, handguns, even sawed-off shotguns. Machetes, and the odd sword or ax, were also not uncommon. Officially, the Illyri frowned on such Earth armaments because, unlike pulse rifles or other Illyri arms, they could be used on the Illyri themselves. Gradually, though, the Illyri came to realize that any risk of rebellion was relatively low. Those who had, in the early years, turned against their Illyri officers had been hunted down within days, and footage of their unhappy deaths—tossed from airlocks and freezing in the blackness, or wasting away of radiation poisoning in a Punishment Battalion mine—was shown to new recruits, just to remind them of the consequences of rebellion. So Earth weapons incapable of automatic fire—shotguns, semiautomatic pistols—were reluctantly permitted. Their familiarity was found to make the troopers more effective fighters, and psychological tests had revealed that humans with Earth weapons as backup were more willing to enter dangerous combat situations than those without.
    The shuttle touched down. Peris was the first to his feet.
    “Gentlemen, you’re up.”
    He nodded to De Souza, who took over. De Souza was Brazilian, and one of the smallest men in the troop, but he radiated a confidence and authority that inspired respect.
    “Sergeant Kerr, Thula, you have point. Cutler, Olver, you have therear. The rest of you in the middle. Baudin and Rizzo, you stay with the ship. Any questions?”
    “No, sir!” shouted their voices in unison. Cutler was the only exception.
    “Hey, Lieutenant, do Baudin and Rizzo get to stay here because they’re chicks?”
    Baudin, a muscular French girl who carried a crossbow as her additional weapon, gave Cutler the finger. Rizzo, a tiny dark Italian, flicked her right hand, and a throwing star headed straight for Cutler’s groin. It buried itself in Cutler’s helmet, which, fortunately for him, he happened to be holding on his lap. Cutler lifted the helmet and stared at the little silver weapon.
    “Not fair,” he said. “Like, that could really have caused me some damage.”
    “Cut it out, all of you,” said De Souza. “Let’s try to pretend we’re professionals.”
    He pointed at Baudin and Rizzo.
    “You know what to do: we come running, and you start shooting.”
    The two young women nodded. They were the best shots in the unit. If something went wrong at the platform, De Souza wanted them providing covering fire. At least he could be certain that Baudin and Rizzo would hit whatever was chasing them. Cutler couldn’t hit a barn door if it was lying on top of him.
    “Steady,” said De Souza.
    A red light flashed. The shuttle doors began to open.
    “Go!” said De Souza. “Go, go, go!”

CHAPTER 5
    S yl’s enforced stay with the Nairene Sisterhood was conducted entirely in the Twelfth Realm of the Marque, which was one of the more recent