Sword of Axia (The Arcadian Jihad) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Blas?”
    “How you took this ship. You couldn’t just steal an Axian light cruiser, even a battered old tub like this one. We all know that their security systems are too tight. You had help, you had to have been handed it on a plate. Who on Axis Nova helped you?”
    Tell’s calm expression didn’t change.
    “I told you, Captain, we infiltrated the crew.”
    “Guide Tell, there are too many biometric and psychostatic checks to prevent anyone from stealing a military vessel. Someone on Axis Nova had to help you, at the very least the security scanners on the planet had to be tampered with and the spaceport logs would need to be altered. Crew records, flight logs, the systems are all interlinked. Who was it, it had to be somebody at the very highest level?”
    For a few moments Tell didn’t reply, he just stared at the screens. Then he nodded at Blas.
    “You’re very perceptive, Captain. We did have help, yes, but I can’t tell you who it is just yet. Perhaps later I will let you in on our secrets, but we’re not even clear of Axis Nova yet. For the time being be content that we are not alone in our struggle, there are people in the Axian movement who are unhappy with the way things are.”
    “One minute, Captain.”
    “Very well. Are the fusion drive accelerators online and ready to spool up?”
    “At your order, Sir. Thirty seconds to target.”
    They watched the dots grow nearer as the planet beneath receded further away, becoming a small round shape at the bottom of the screen. Gehlen watched the Captain. Blas nodded.
    “Fire main batteries.”
    The lights on the bridge seemed to dim as the white particle beams streaked out towards the oncoming ships. They flew through space, nearer, the onrushing ships started to veer away from the salvo that threatened to destroy them. It was no use, the gun batteries were programmed to account for every human and computer-assisted evasion tactic. As soon as the enemy ships started to maneuver more salvos flicked out, a storm of heavy beams that enmeshed the six ships in a web of destruction, they scattered in different directions but the programmed burst had cast a perfect net. One by one the particle beams impacted on the ships and blasted them to destruction. Guide Tell closed his eyes and breathed a quiet litany as the last interceptor disappeared from their scanners. Blas was already giving further orders.
    “Keep the fission thrusters at maximum. We need to clear this part of space fast, they’ll launch pursuit squadrons to hunt down the men who destroyed their ships. Keep maximum thrust for another twenty seconds, Commander, you can engage the fusion drive accelerators as soon as we have an interstellar destination.”
    The screens were clear as they hurtled out towards the edge of the Vega System, theoretically they were travelling too fast and were too far out to track, but theory was not always to be trusted. Only after they’d gone into hyperspace and travelled out of the system could they be certain that they were clear of any pursuit. For the time being all they could do was wait. He turned to Tell.
    “Sir, I’m about to spool up the fusion drive accelerators, the navigating officer needs an interstellar course to key in, where are we headed?”
    The door to the bridge hissed open and a woman walked through. She was wearing a simple robe, the dress of the Orphexians, inhabitants of the planet of Orphex credited with possessing powers of mind control, much more powerful than simple telepathy. Like most of their women, she was very striking despite being less than five feet tall. She had an elfin face with magnetic, dark green eyes that shone with warmth and intelligence, a wide mouth and long, dark hair that fell in glossy, glistening curls. When she spoke, her voice was both gentle and commanding. “I can answer that.”
    Guide Tell looked at Blas. “May I introduce Sister Serena of Orphex?”
    Blas was surprised. “What is an Orphexian doing on this