A Greater Interest: Samair in Argos: Book 4 Read Online Free Page B

well.  Once we collect the pods and secure the shuttle, we’ll be moving to assist Skale with emergency repairs.”
                  “Should we blow the mining platform?”
                  Skygexx considered this.  “No.  If we just blow it up then the locals will lose some of those workers, maybe all of them.  The ones we can’t pick up.  But I don’t want to make things too easy.  If the mining station is still up and running full blast, then once we leave, they’ll be rebuilt in a matter of weeks.  Six months from now, their construction yard will be pumping out warships.  It will make coming back here that much harder the next time.”  He gave a slight buzz of resignation.  “But if we force them to have to fix the station, they won’t have the capability of making those warships.  They’ll be too busy with this.”  His antennae bobbed.  “Break the molecular furnaces, the processors, the computers.  But do not blow the reactors or the life support systems.  I want those workers to have a place to come back to.”
                  The man sneered.  “You care so much about those poor, beleaguered workers?”
                  Skygaxx hissed.  “Do not insult me, Captain.  We’re hauling aboard a number of them to bring back for Lord Verrikoth’s workforce.  I’m not keeping them alive because I’m some sort of... humanitarian.  Lord Verrikoth wants to come back to this system for another raid and he’ll want to fill his ships with more swag.  He’ll need those workers to process the minerals for him.”
    “I like the way you think, Captain,” Aldys replied, pointing at the zheen through the vid pickup.  “Out.”
                  “Three hundred staff,” Skygexx muttered.  “Seems about right for a station of that size.  Shouldn’t take them too long to get back to the station once we’re gone.”  He twitched his antennae as he saw the looks he was getting from the other bridge crew.  “Well, we don’t want to be doing the mining, we want them to.  And with the number of their personnel that are rocketing away in their escape pods, they should be able to get that station back up and running in a few months.”
                  Kufazik nodded.  “Makes sense.  I know I don’t want to be out there cracking rocks.”
                  “Lord Verrikoth should be well pleased with the swag we’re coming back with,” Hekai put in.  “And you, sir, managed to preserve all of the ships he sent out to carry out his orders.  Not losing any ships, gaining one of their cargo shuttles, all these new workers and the stockpile of metal?  He should be quite happy with that.”
                  “Yes, Hekai, I believe you’re right.”  Skygexx chittered a bit, straightening in his command seat.  “Continue with the recovery operation and make sure our guests are secured.  Once we have them on board, we’ll link up with the cargo ship and transfer them over with the others.  Then I want to get back to Skale and be sure they can get their systems back online.  From there, we’ll regroup and see if Lord Verrikoth wants our assistance with the attack on the gas mine and their defenses.”
                  The others went about their business, and Skygexx stared at his display, watching the various ship icons moving around.  Yes, this had been an amazing day so far.

Book 1 – The Outer System Battlespace
    Chapter 1
     
                  Lord Verrikoth sat in his command seat aboard his flagship, the, heavy cruiser Nemesis , watching as his ships drew closer to the gas giant.  The local cargo ships, shuttles, and tugs were accelerating all out, heading deeper in system, as far from the battle space as possible.  He watched them go, his antennae flicking in amusement.  The mauve-carapaced insectoid rubbed a blunt-fingered hand along one wrist, feeling the