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

ship, do we have an alliance with them now?”
    The women of Orphex were a mysterious guild who had a tradition of avoiding politics. They were reputed to spend their time in the search for scientific and philosophical truths. And further developing their mental powers. Little was known about them and as a result they were feared by many people for their uncanny mental prowess.
    “She is my new Deputy, Captain Blas. Sister Serena is a full voting member of Res Publica, the controlling council. She was recently appointed Vice-President of the Rescom Federation.” He looked at Serena. “Please explain to Captain Blas where we are going.”
    Blas’s mind reeled with the implications of an Orphexian in such a position of power, but she ignored his stunned expression and continued.
    “We are heading for the Planet Isolde, the...”
    “The naval shipyards?” he interrupted. “That’s crazy, it's one of the most heavily defended planets in the Systems.”
    “The Planet Isolde,” she continued, “where we will make a completely normal landing as a scheduled flight, it’s already taken care of.”
    “But how...”
    She smiled. “In the same way that we took over this ship, we have many friends in many places.”
    He felt himself becoming irritated that she kept answering him before he’d finished the question. Then he understood what she was doing, what the Orphexians were doing. He glared at the tiny but elegant woman who stood before him.
    “You’re using your powers of mind control to infiltrate and take over parts of the Axis organization. You’re using it to read my mind now.”
    “Our planetary charter forbids us from using mental powers for any kind of political gain, but desperate times do call for desperate solutions. When the future of the human race is at stake, we cannot stand idly by. You know the rule of our order, ‘Born to Serve’,” she smiled sweetly. “But as for your questions, you are very obvious, Captain Blas, I’m afraid I tend to formulate an answer without hearing you out. It is no trick of the mind, believe me. But it is not polite, I’m sorry.”
    He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. For now. He was intensely suspicious of an Orphexian in such a powerful position, although he had to admit that without them he would almost certainly be heading for Nabucco I and a hell of a long prison sentence. A long sentence choking out the last years of his life in that toxic hell. Over the years there had been frequent rumors of Orphexian plots to take power in the known universe, so far none had proved to be true. But it would be little use if the Axians were toppled only to be replaced with another, more formidable set of rulers. In the meantime, there were more important matters to attend to, like conning the ship. His gaze swept the instrument screens, taking in the alert postures of the crew, they seemed to know their business. They were ready. He took a deep breath.
    “Very well, Planet Isolde it is. Mr. Gehlen, bring the fusion drive accelerators online and set course for Isolde, do you have an estimate of the journey time?”
    His first officer checked his screens. “Captain, ETA is three point six four hours at current speed.”
    He thanked Gehlen. He watched the crew as they busied themselves preparing the ship for hyperspatial travel. The whine of the fusion drive accelerators screamed loud throughout the ship, the lighting dimmed and the gravity compensator slowed, giving them all the feeling of increased weightlessness. Vast amounts of power were diverted into the fusion engines, preparing the vessel for travel at faster than light speed. Finally, there was a slight kick as they jumped, the screens went blank as they began to recalibrate for a new solar system and then the lighting and gravity compensator began to return to normal. Guide Tell was talking quietly with Sister Serena. Blas joined them.
    “Perhaps one of you would tell me what you’re planning when we