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

Billings. While the screen flickered, he turned his attention to the woman and shrugged, inviting her to speak before prompting.
                  “Okay, what’s on your mind?”
                  “I assume you’re contacting high command to inform them of what we’re about to do.”
                  Gray nodded. “And?”
                  “They can be…conservative with the use of this vessel,” Clea replied. “Remember when they denied your request to intervene with the pirates hitting the mining operations out near Neptune?”
                  “Yes, but that was different,” Gray said, “and I agreed with them. The pirates returned to their little base off the coast of Africa and conventional forces apprehended them. Whatever’s out there, that’s our job. They’re going to let us deal with it.”
                  “Providing we’re the ones to deal with it.” Clea gestured to the terminal. “I have no complaints.”
                  Gray started to reply but paused as the call connected. “Meet me on the bridge. We’ll talk more soon.”
                  Gray got used to her silver eyes years before but occasionally, she could stare at him with such an odd expression, it reminded him of her origin. As human as she behaved, as much as they wore off on her, she still came from a very different place and when she felt a conversation had not ended, she made it clear with her unique scowl.
                  She spun on her heel and left without another word. He figured they’d definitely pick that conversation up later.
                  Commodore Billings appeared on the screen, sitting at his posh desk in the Miami headquarters. Palm trees swayed out the window behind him and beyond those, the white caps covered the sea. Clea’s opinion of high command came from their surroundings. Their tropical paradise location made it hard to take their opinion too seriously. After all, how much could they really know about hot situations?
                  “What can I do for you, Gray?”
                  “Thanks for taking the call, Sam,” Gray sat down. “I’m sending you a report we picked up on long range scanners. You can read it if you want but we don’t have a lot of time. A large object, possibly a ship, has entered our solar system. It’s on a direct course for Earth. It’ll be here in less than ten hours.”
                  Sam’s expression turned grave. “I see what you’re talking about. Does your team have any idea what it is?”
                  Gray shook his head. “Not yet, but we intend to find out. We’re prepping to intercept.”
                  Billings narrowed his eyes. “Do you believe this might be another attack?”
                  “I don’t want to speculate. Could be anything but one thing I do know is it’s bigger than us and just as fast. Clea didn’t recognize the design and we have no matches on any database.”
                  “Understood.” Billings sighed. “Listen, Gray. I can’t authorize you to take the Behemoth that far away from Earth. Not when this could be…well, it could be anything. A ruse for another attack for example. You’re the only thing keeping this place safe.”
                  “Sam, it’s coming here. Would you rather me let it get to our backyard?”
                  “If you’re five hours away from here with only an untested hyperjump as your method of return, what good are you going to be doing us? No. You need to stay close.’
                  Gray sighed, looking away. “We’re at least going to break orbit and meet it in open space, far enough away from inhabited areas to avoid any damage.”
                  “That I can authorize. Just remember, you’re our shield, Gray. Not an