Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 3: A Galaxy to Conquer Read Online Free PDF Page A

the lights when the boys are done playing war. It’s about all I’m good for around here.”
    Andy Tobias leaned over closer to Sherri. “You do know this is probably a suicide mission? I’d rather not go if I had a choice.”
    “It’s cool, Andy,” Sherri said. “It’s just big brother being overly protective. Is that also why you sent Kaylor and Jym ahead to Tel’or ... to get them out of the way?”
    “I sent them to track down this Ruszel character. Up until a few minutes ago, I had no idea how we were going to get in close to Elision. The Tel’oran has been there before, and he also helped Riyad. He was our only real lead until Kroekus’s informant showed up.”
    “So are you going to call them back and take them to the surface with you?”
    Sherri picked up on Adam’s hesitation before answering and sent him a nastier-than-normal glare. “I’ll let them find Ruszel, as a backup,” Adam said. “And no, I’m not taking them to the surface, and for the same reason I’m not taking you or Trimen and his team.”
    Sherri was about to respond until Chief Rutledge suddenly jumped to his feet. “Will the two of you shut your traps? The Captain’s right. The SEAL’s go in, and we go in alone. All you back on the ship will play a vital role in the mission, so stop your bitching. This will be a team effort, so start acting like part of the team!”
    Sherri clamped her mouth shut and clenched her teeth. When she spoke again, she was looking only at Rutledge. “You’re right, Chief. Sorry. It’s just that I want to pull my weight around here. Riyad’s my friend, too.”
    “Understood, ma’am, but we each have our designated roles to play, and yours is to run the show from orbit. You will be our eyes and ears.”
    “And what do you call our role in the upcoming adventure, Mr. Rutledge?” Trimen asked, concerned that he and his Formilians were being ignored in the current conversation.
    Rutledge grinned, while being careful not to expose his teeth to the aliens. “If the plan unfolds as Mr. Cain has detailed, then you will be the ants at the picnic ... and just the cover we need to get Mr. Tarazi home safe and sound.”
    Adam shook his head as he watched the expressions on the faces of the aliens. Somehow he didn’t think the Chief’s comment helped to clarify things very much.

 

    Chapter 4

    F inding a single Tel’oran out of several billion was a daunting task, so much so that Kaylor had pleaded with Adam to let someone else do the job. Yet in the end, the Human had been persuasive, reminding him that a Belsonian and a Fulquin would not draw as much attention as either Humans or Formilians would parading around the planet Tel’or. But what really sold him on the assignment was the opportunity to pilot the Pegasus to the planet.
    Kaylor and Jym had never been aboard a concentrated-array spacecraft before, let alone been at the controls. And even though Adam regretted not being able to take the ship to the Juddle Nebula himself, he knew she would be in good hands with Kaylor at the helm.
    Both the Pegasus and the Formilian starship 99012 had departed Formil at the same time—like most other alien species, Formilians did not name their ships. Yet with the added speed of the Pegasus , Kaylor and Jym arrived at Tel’or a full eight days sooner, and that was without even opening the ship up to her full potential.
    As Adam had explained, it was imperative that the Tel’oran pilot Ruszel Crin be located prior to the team’s arrival at the Nebula. Ruszel was the only reliable source for locating Elision through the treacherous and tumultuous environment of the Nebula, and they didn’t have time to waste seeking him out after reaching Tel’or, knowing of the impending arrival of the Juirean fleet in the region.
    It was also Kaylor and Jym’s job to convince the Tel’oran pilot to help. Short of that, Adam had authorized them to use whatever means necessary to secure said pilot for the trip through