The Refugee (The Korvali Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

their resources were fired upon or otherwise sabotaged, ensuring the escapees did not survive the long journey to Suna.

    After finishing the appended report, Catherine considered writing her father again. Who is this guy? Some sort of mole, leaking information from Korvalis to the Alliance? If so, why do we still know so little about the Korvali? But after scrolling down more, Catherine got her answer.  
    The long report, written nearly four Earth years ago, was the word of the first Korvali citizen to escape Korvalis and survive. He delivered the report to numerous Alliance representatives; then he disappeared. Nobody knew how he escaped, where he was, or even whether he was still alive. This escapee—known only as Ashan—sparked some controversy among the Alliance delegates, who argued over the handling of any future escapees. However, years passed without another incident.  
    For Catherine, the report generated more questions than it answered. But they would have to wait. She had a report of her own to write.  

    At 1800, Commander Yamamoto, the ship’s Executive Officer, stood in the bridge ready room. He looked briefly out the large window that offered a spectacular view of the space they travelled through, as each department head took his place at the rectangular table. When Catherine Finnegan walked in, she hesitated, as if unsure where to sit among the command team. She looked to him and he motioned for her to take the unoccupied seat next to Dr. Vargas.  
    Captain Ferguson sat down at the head of the table, scanned the group to ensure everyone had arrived, and began. “As you’ve read in your reports, we now have a Korvali citizen aboard Cornelia , the only survivor of ten.” She paused and looked at them. “And he has, if you can believe it, requested asylum with us. He made it clear he doesn’t want to go to Suna, Derovia lacks the resources to protect him, and Calyyt-Calloq doesn’t allow immigration. He’s only the second to successfully escape Korvalis… you’ve all read the Ashan Report… but, unlike Ashan, he has no plans to disappear.”  
    There was silence, followed by numerous reactions of surprise. When they began asking questions all at once, Ferguson put up her hand. “One thing at a time. Commander Ov’Raa has spoken with our refugee.” She turned to Ov’Raa.  
    Ov’Raa, Chief of Administration and a highly respected interspecies relations expert from Derovia, smiled his most pleasant smile, making his large almond eyes gleam. His small frame almost engulfed by the large black chair and one thick six-digit hand gently resting on the other, he addressed the group. “Our new refugee, who declares his name to be Eshel, requests asylum with the Space Corps, under the auspices of the Orion Interplanetary Alliance. Eshel read the Ashan Report; even before reading it, he confirmed Ashan’s claims about the unrest on Korvalis.”  
    “Did Eshel know Ashan, or offer any information about Ashan’s escape or whereabouts?” Yamamoto asked.
    “No, Commander,” Ov’Raa replied, clasping his thick hands. “Eshel belonged to Korvalis’s very powerful Shereb clan and did not associate with members of the Korvali Guard. However, Commander, you will be interested to know that Eshel knew nothing of Ashan’s successful escape, and took a most eager interest in the report!”
    “How was he able to survive when the others didn’t?” Ferguson asked, aiming her question at Dr. Vargas.
    Dr. Vargas, who looked tired, cleared his throat. “When we found him, he was in some kind of stasis. His vital and metabolic functions were reduced so much that my scanner didn’t pick up his life signs at first. He was as cold as a damned iceberg. After almost two days of hydration, he came to. Dr. Finnegan, our geneticist, can explain the rest.”  
    Everyone looked at Catherine. “Eshel was able to survive weeks without food or water because he’s been genetically altered to stay alive in