AMP Siege Read Online Free Page B

the Colossuns. At the time, I was merely an observer. I found it fascinating to watch as the Colossuns worked their diplomatic magic. The Serians were totally unprepared for warfare of the mind like the Colossuns played."
    I spoke. "So, the Colossuns overran the Verna from the inside? We've had to deal with that ourselves."
    The Duke continued. "The Colossuns took several years to set up their strategy. All the while they were becoming fast friends with the Serians. They traded technologies; they opened colonies on the Verna and allowed Serian settlers on their planets. Once the two species were completely intertwined, the Colossuns unloaded with a violent Serian purge."
    I spoke. "So, the Colossuns gained the Verna through genocide. With nine ships like the Grid, I would guess it was quite easy for them to dominate this sector of the galaxy arm."
    The Duke replied, "Ah, but the Serians were not as trusting as the Colossuns thought. The nine Verna were destroyed by detonation of their hydrogen stores. I will admit to deceiving you with pictures of complete Verna. They only exist as relic shells of debris that circle around the star system in which they were last active."
    I pulled a chair up next to the Duke. "Was there any record of how the Serians had come to be in the Verna? Was any of their history captured before the attempted takeover?"
    The Duke frowned. "I am afraid not, Mr. Grange. I will say that it was a disappointment to me that the Colossuns extinguished every Serian without giving a thought to learning about their history. History is our biggest teacher, Mr. Grange. If you should burn your hand, you remember next time to make every effort to not burn your hand in the same manner. That is knowledge that may be useful if retained. If you study the history of others, you will gain knowledge that would otherwise be learned only through experience. If you want to shape the future, Mr. Grange, it is best to first study the past."
    I stood and began to pace the room. "So, you are telling us that you are some type of traveling historian? Somehow, Duke, I don't think you are giving us the whole picture. Have you come across any other Grids or Verna in your travels? You must have some knowledge of their origin."
    The Duke pursed his lips. "I am so sorry, Mr. Grange, but you are asking questions that I cannot answer."
    I replied, "Cannot or will not?"
    The Duke spoke. "That is for you to discover, Mr. Grange. I am a wealth of knowledge, having lived for many, many of your years. That knowledge, however, must be worked for; it does require a price. As I learn more about Humans, I will happily answer some of the questions that you may have. Everything has a price, Mr. Grange. If you and your people are willing to pay that price, I will help where I can to assist you in your quest to discover Man's origins."
    I signaled for Jon Touchstone to follow me into another room. When the door was closed, I sat on a desk and faced him.
    I spoke. "Well, Doc, have you made any progress interfacing with his memory circuits?"
    Touchstone replied, "We are only at the early stages of understanding that machine out there, Mr. Grange. The outer layers are impressively simplistic in their application, which has allowed us to make it as far as we have. But, as we probe deeper, we are encountering designs that we don't yet understand. I would say that it will take much longer than you would like to unlock the Duke's secrets, years perhaps, if we are able to do it at all."
    I nodded my head. "What have you found out about the Colossun androids as compared to the Duke? Are they of the same make?"
    Touchstone replied, "There are many similarities, Mr. Grange. The external physical circuits are nearly identical. I would venture to say that whoever created the Duke was responsible for creating the Colossun androids. They did not come from the Grell."
    I stood and spoke. "But the Duke sent a shipload of those androids along with the Grell and then