Defying The Alliance: ERUPTION (Novokin Alliance Invasion 3) Read Online Free Page B

Ex-protectorate Captains and first officers, joined civilian captains and even some actual pirates that had found the penalties for breaking Protectorate law was much more conducive to continued breathing than life under the Novokin Alliance rule.
    Jaxx stood in front of the Razor's crew, addressing them and all the crews in attendance. He stood tall and proud, at least as much as his two full term bellies allowed him to. It was easy to see how the green Floturan had earned Caspia's respect and friendship. His voice imposing and at the same time commanding when he spoke. "We're now 46 ships strong, and that includes five Protectorate warbirds. Three of which we've liberated from Novokin shipyards."
    They hung on Caspia's first officer's every word as he discussed tactics that Trex had witnessed the Novokins resort to time and time again. Jaxx never missed a beat. He was every bit the captain she had intended him to be. The large golden warrior nodded to himself imperceptibly, believing Caspia would be proud.
    "...And finally, we will break the fleet up into light and heavy attack squadrons, with a warbird at the center of each contingent," Jaxx concluded to a deafening silence.
    One of the little heads on the screen decided to speak up. "Where is Captain Caspia?" Both Jaxx and Trex had expected the dreaded question. 
    His green friend held his chin high up in the air when he answered, "Caspia's been captured."
    The captains went wild. Soon the screen was a cacophony of useless opinions, a swirl of little angry heads and confused comments. The incessant buzzing grated on his nerves and Trex began to fear he would need to step in when Jaxx dropped his head to his chest.
    "Enough." Jaxx's tone was low and completely ignored in favor of the chaos on the viewer.
    The green man pulled his shoulders back, standing to his full height, refusing to hide his situation from any of the captains in Caspia's fleet. He slammed an angry fist down on the stratagem console next to where he stood.
    "I said enough!" His voice made deeper by the impending pregnancy, his words boomed like thunder, reverberating through every ship.
    His voice may have stunned them, but it was his keen green glare that kept their continued attention. "We've been planning for this opportunity since day one. We built our strategy, and now thanks to Caspia’s sacrifice we have our target. Nothing’s changed, and before anyone gets any big ideas, suggesting that our mission may now be compromised, you better remember that my Captain did not yield once to the Alliance since the invasion three years ago. When most of the Protectorate laid their arms down and surrendered to the enemy force, cowering like Mynsic dogs, Captain Caspia Jones refused. Not once did she capitulate to the purple sheeteks. She fought tooth and vine to keep us safe with all her might. I vow to you today as every member of her crew would that Caspia Jones would die before she handed over a single one of you or the fleet's plans to the Novokins." His glare dripped with challenge.
    "We don't have the resources or the time to mount a rescue operation." A small blue captain from one of the freighters nervously tapped his fingers together.
    Jaxx approached the view screen in what Trex sure recognized as an effort to seem more intimidating. His waddle may have nullified the effect a little. The Commander’s green eyes narrowed to daggers when he spoke. "You don't think I know this? You don't think Captain Jones knew it too when she made her decision? This was never a rescue operation. This is an assault on the murderer of the people of the Kalemta mining colony, on the sheetek who murdered our families on the steps of the once proud Protectorate Senate building. We do this in defiance of those who have invaded our galaxy, destroyed our homes and everything we’d built! Today we fight against the monsters who actively seek to enslave our collective peoples!"
    Jaxx was seething, and Trex did not believe