Battle of the Ring Read Online Free Page B

Assuming they survive, they are likely to run crying for Velmeran to slay
this dragon for them. And Velmeran is the one unpredictable element. If he shows
up, then I want to be there.”
    “Well, that is just the problem,” Lake said, leaning back
heavily in his chair. “The Fortress is a strong defensive weapon. Put one
of these in a system and you are drawing an imaginary line that you dare any
Starwolf to cross. I do not like having to use our only Fortress as a combat
lesson. But we need that ship at Tryalna if we are going to retake and hold
that system. The Starwolves know what the revolt and secession of a major
system will mean for the Union, and they are going to fight to keep it free.
    “We have to do something about the Starwolves if we are going to be
respected. They have been having their way with us ever since they broke into
Vannkarn. And you can bet that Tryalna would not have been so quick to revolt
if they had not been certain that the Starwolves would protect them.”
    Richart Lake sat back for a moment, deep in thought. Trace knew that he was
being lectured one last time before being sent off to complete his assigned
task, but he accepted it in good grace. The unfortunate reality was that if he
wanted the High Council to give him more of these very expensive ships, then he
had to listen attentively to a certain amount of advice and words of wisdom.
    “Do you believe that you can defeat a Starwolf carrier with this
machine?” Lake asked after a moment.
    “Yes, I know I can,” Trace replied quickly and certainly.
    “Just stay away from Velmeran, if you can. He has a bag of tricks for
every situation. His is a problem that we must work around, for now.”
    Trace looked up at him. “Quite to the contrary, I should think.
Velmeran is a problem that we cannot ignore; if we can eliminate him, the rest
will be comparatively easy. This is my best chance to defeat him, before the
Starwolves can develop any strategy against this new weapon.”
    The Councilor considered that. “You might well be right. But you must
also take whoever comes your way. I’m glad that you were able to get
Maeken Kea to captain your ship, especially since the Krand sector helped us
put up so much of the cost.”
    “She is the best that I could find. True military geniuses are few and
far between these days.”
    “Geniuses of any type are few and far between anymore. That is why the
situation is becoming so critical. We have to save ourselves while we are still
smart enough to be able to do it. You will be on your way, then?”
    “We have to get to Tryalna in time to do some good.”
    “Then I must allow you to be about your business,” Lake said,
and leaned over the desk to shake his hand. “Good luck, Don. I cannot tell
you how important this is. But if you lose this ship because of your personal
grudge against Velmeran, I’ll hang you out to dry when you get
back.”
    “Don’t worry about that. Besides, if I don’t win, there
probably will be nothing left of me to send back.”
     
    Maeken Kea was not at all sure she liked this. She had arrived on a military
courier late the previous night, shown to a room – a suite – that
was opulent beyond even her rank and reputation, and then pushed on board a
small passenger shuttle the next morning to find herself in the company of no
less than Sector Commander Donalt Trace. Now they were on their way back into
space with an air of calm stealthiness that left her very uneasy.
    Maeken was smart enough to figure a few things out for herself, since the
Sector Commander sported a self-satisfied wait-and-see attitude toward this
affair. She had been relieved of her command while she had still been trying to
get her battleship into dock, informed that she was now attached to Union High
Command. Her orders vaguely mentioned a new command. Well, she had heard a
rumor that Donalt Trace was off his deathbed and running trials on a new ship
that was supposed to be a match for a