Behemoth: Rise Of Mankind Book 1 Read Online Free Page A

sentence.
                  The thought brought some unrest to the room but Gray lifted a hand. “Let’s not jump to conclusions about light speed super missiles. Marshall, what if we have to board the thing? How long would it take to clear?”
                  “Without knowing their defensive capabilities,” Marshall said, “and going on sheer size alone, it could take a while. Days without good intel, maybe more. It’s the size of a small city when it comes to the decks and all the crannies we’d have to search and that’s assuming our opponents would fight directly. We might be stuck in a guerrilla battle on someone else’s home turf.”
                  “Understood.” Gray nodded. “Are your men prepared for such a…well, nightmare?”
                  “As much as they can be,” Marshall replied. “I’d insist on gathering more intelligence. Anything would help and nothing…well, if we come away with a total unknown, then we’re risking a lot of lives.”
                  “Got it.” Gray turned to Clea. “What do you think? You’ve been pretty quiet over there.”
                  “The enemy has yet to send a ship like this against any Alliance planet that I’m aware of.” Clea tilted her head, studying the signature. “Unfortunately, without more data everything we come up with will be conjecture.”
                  “Do you think it’s one of your people?” Adam asked. “An Alliance ship of some kind?”
                  “It’s possible,” Clea nodded. “They may have built something like it since I’ve been here. News does travel rather slowly but I somehow doubt it. This may well be something completely new. But again, without being there, I’m just guessing.”
                  “Alright,” Gray said, standing up. “Let’s get out there and investigate. Adam, order the alert thirty. Redding, have navigation plot an intercept course just ahead of our guest and engage full speed. Everyone else, prepare your departments for a fight. If they’re peaceful, it won’t be a hardship to shut down the gun batteries but if not…well, I won’t get caught with my pants down.”
                  “Quite the vulgar term, Captain,” Clea said.
                  Gray grinned. “Not as bad as it could be. You have your orders everyone. Send your ready reports to the bridge. I want everyone on operational standby in less than thirty minutes. Dismissed.”
                  That’s why Adam liked Gray and why he accepted the post on the Behemoth. The man knew how to be prepared. He erred on the side of caution and gave history the value it deserved. When some unidentified ship came crashing into their solar system before, they weren’t ready. In some ways, they still weren’t. Many systems had yet to be fully tested and the crew itself never fought with the tools at their disposal.
                  But Gray would ensure they had every advantage available. The Behemoth may not be a seasoned veteran of many battles since its Christening but she sure came a long way since surviving the attack. Everyone on board knew the stakes of another fight with the enemy and all of them were as well trained as any soldier hoped to be.
                  Their maiden operation may well be against some unknown threat but that just gave the mission a higher value. No one learned from the easy stuff. Mankind needed challenges to grow. Adam wondered just how great an opportunity this thing presented. He looked forward to seeing his people in action either way.
                  The time for idleness was over.
                  Thank God.
     

Chapter 3
     
                  Gray and Clea stayed behind as the others left to prepare. She stood nearby, hands behind her back as she watched him request a connection to Commodore