Battle Earth X Read Online Free Page B

himself.
    "So where the hell is this place?" he spat.
    "With the correct maps, I should be able to show you, but it is not where we are that need concern you, but what the place is."
    "And what is that?"
    "In truth, I do not know."
    "You what?"
    "You’d better start talking some sense," added Taylor, "as this is starting to sound like crazy talk."
    "Yes, it is, and always was," Jafar replied.
    Taylor strode across the room and leaned in close to whisper to Jafar.
    "Look at these people. They are ready to give up. You need to give them something. Make them know we are safe."
    "But I do not know that we are."
    "I don't give a shit. You brought us here, and you must have had some pretty good reasons for doing so. Make them understand, and better still, help me understand."
    He looked into Jafar’s eyes as the alien thought it over and finally nodded once in agreement. Taylor took a few paces back and let him continue.
    "This place is feared by all of my race. Rumours and myths surround it. I do not know how many if any are true. All I know is that no Krys has ever gone there in my lifetime and returned."
    "And why would that be?" Huber asked, "Don't you think whatever makes it so dangerous to your people might be equally so for us?"
    "Maybe, but it cannot be worse than the alternative. There is no other place I know where Erdogan would not find us and bring an end to us all."
    Huber shook his head. "I'm hearing a whole lot about what you don't know about this place, what do you know?"
    "Nothing that is fact."
    Taylor could see there was something Jafar was wary of telling them, almost fearful. He wanted to press him on it but knew it was neither the time nor the place.
    "Is that all you have for us?" asked the Admiral, "So let me get this straight. You have taken us to a ghost system, which could well contain dangers that could bring about our end, and you cannot tell us anymore?"
    "Yes."
    "Well, that's just great. We trusted you. We entrusted the human race to you, and you have failed us."
    "And what else would you have had him do?" Taylor interrupted, "He is not a miracle worker. If you could have picked a location, where would you have gone?"
    "Anywhere that I knew wasn't enemy controlled, or somewhere called the... Death Space or whatever it is."
    "Erdogan's influence stretches across vast swathes of the galaxy as you or I know it. Anywhere you would have chosen would only likely have contained Krys forces or long distance scanners and drones that would have had the same effect," added Jafar.
    Huber turned to the alien and opened his mouth to speak but stopped, realising Jafar may have made the best of a list of bad options.
    "We're here now," Taylor said firmly, "and most significantly, we are alive. Let's not forget how valuable that is and keep going forward."
    The XO stepped back aboard, and Huber took it as an opportunity to speak.
    "Where are we up to?" asked Huber, "I want an update on all systems."
    Vega rushed to his console. He clearly already had an overview because he began talking before he reached it.
    "Power has returned to most systems. Engines and weapon systems are active. Life support is holding, but we still have fires on two levels, and several sectors have had to be isolated due to hull breaches. We have crews working as fast as they can, but it's taking time while the marines ensure they can work in safety. Sweeps of the ship are ongoing."
    "All right, good work. I want a full report of casualties across the fleet.”
    Huber turned towards Taylor but stopped, looked back to Vega, and hesitated before asking. “And a full headcount of the fleet. Let’s see how many remain of the human race.”
    It was a gruelling thought and a tough question to ask, but they needed to know.
    “Sir, I’m getting readings of something…”
    They all turned to the comms officer carefully studying a display before him.
    “What the hell is it?” Vega asked.
    “A manmade, or… something not naturally made structure,