Star Force: Zealot (SF87) (Star Force Origin Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

beyond that,” the Jonstar said sadly. “They once had honor, but this is…something else entirely.”
    “Not to mention a waste of ships,” Riley added as another of their vessels exploded in a bluish plume that shredded more drones along with it. Meanwhile a handful of Trinx ships shot out of the drones and into sight, running as hard as they could and curving around to head to the stellar jump point.
    “They are fleeing,” the Bpret noted.
    “No,” the Chamra said, seeing the tactical data through mind’s eye and everything happening within that mess of ships. “They are sending couriers back to report what has happened here. The rest are fighting to the death.”
    “Offer them a surrender,” the Dati implored. “Do not destroy them all. You are no longer in jeopardy.”
    “I never was,” Riley said, opening up a comm signal to the Trinx and letting the others listen in. “This is Archon Riley, onboard the ship you are futilely trying to destroy. Stand down and surrender before all of your ships are destroyed.”
    They all waited, but there was no reply. Just a continuation of the slugging match that the Trinx were losing badly.
    “Perhaps if you stopped firing first,” the Dati suggested.
    Riley firmly shook his head. “No. They started this, they can decide to stop anytime they want. I’m not going to lose extra ships hoping that they’re suddenly going to wise up.”
    “But if they are irrational, then you must be the sane one!”
    “If they are irrational, then they cannot be negotiated with. They must be stopped via force.”
    “They have a much larger fleet not far from here. They will return with more.”
    “And we will be here to oppose them,” the Chamra said firmly.
    “You see to break our allegiance?” the Sety asked.
    The cyborg pointed to the holographic display of the ongoing battle. “They are trying to destroy the key to stopping the Hamoriti, the very thing this alliance was formed on the hope of one day discovering. Tell me, who has broken that allegiance?”
    “They have not fired on us,” the Dati pointed out.
    “No, they only seek to destroy that which will protect us if and when the Hamoriti arrives in one of our systems. The Trinx will doom us all if they succeed. And why? Because they will not share power.”
    “Neither will Star Force,” the Sety pointed out.
    “Thus far they have not misused it. The Hamoriti is returning to slumber and they are safeguarding the key, with a promise to subdue the rogue Hamoriti. They are the allies we have long sought, and I do not care who holds the leash to the Hamoriti so long as someone does. It must be contained and the Trinx are trying to prevent that. They have betrayed us.”
    “I am forced to agree,” the Yisv said, returning to holographic view after following events via delay as they raced across the system towards the star, only now having returned to realtime comm range since the Hamoriti’s aura had diminished. “If Star Force proves untrustworthy then we must oppose them, but they have given us nothing but what we’ve all long hoped for. The Trinx have descended into madness regardless of Star Force’s true intentions, for they have done nothing to warrant this attack.”
    “It is only right that we share control,” the Sety said stubbornly.
    “Stopping the Hamoriti is what matters,” the Yisv said simply. “Other concerns are immaterial so long as that is accomplished.”
    “You put your faith in strangers.”
    “They are not strangers to you. You have had dealings with them before. Has something occurred that you have not told us?”
    The Sety was hesitant to answer, but was saved as the Chamra spoke in his stead. “He is concerned about Star Force having too much leverage and is making the same mistake as the Trinx. Whatever problems may or may not arise afterward, they will be far less dire than a Hamoriti running loose.”
    “Not if they send it against our own systems!” the Sety