Machine Gods (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 2) Read Online Free

please look on his face. At the same
time , the T’Kari civilians started to
emerge from the safety of their homes and businesses. They all wore
the traditional protective suits that looked like lightweight
armor, but only a few wore helmets or head protection.
    Two of the Jötnar
dragged one of the surviving Raiders over to Teresa. His clothing
was more ornate than the others, and embellished with details on
the shoulders and chest. Teresa noticed the shape of Echidna, the
great, coiled beast, on his right breast. He snarled at her and
shouted. She raised an eyebrow at the noise before his translators
unit kicked in.
    “ The T’Kari are not
your friends. They hide Helios from you ,
and you will suffer for it!”
    Teresa looked to Gun
and exchanged a bemused look before turning her attention back to
the Raider. She was surprised that the T’Kari turncoat was able to
communicate so easily with her. It had taken the T’Kari much
longer. It was as though he’d already had significant exposure to
her people already.
    “You tell me then.”
    The
R aider lifted the side of his mouth up
with a cruel smile.
    “ The devourer of
worlds is coming. It will start with Helios. The T’Kari will be
next, then you!”
    He started to laugh, a high-pitched laugh that did
nothing to engender sympathy from Teresa. Gun seemed even less
impressed and stepped closer still before tapping him on the
shoulder.
    “ Raider,”
h e said calmly.
    His fist followed
and struck firmly into the Raider’s open visor. It struck his nose
with a sickening crunch. He pulled back his hand to reveal gushing
blood and a bitter-looking Raider.
    “ Take him!” Teresa ordered a newly arrived team of APS
operatives.
    “ The rest reform
your teams. W e have a compound to clear
out, and according to my scans, there are a few of them left
waiting for us.”
    Gun laughed as APS
operatives flooded the place, checked the wounded or secured the
prisoners.
    “Pah! Cowering in fear more like!”
    Teresa looked back
at him and realized for the first time in what seemed like decades,
how much Gun enjoyed this kind of violence. It instantly brought
back thoughts of Spartan. She shook her head at the
idea.
    Those two are much too alike!

     

CHAPTER TWO

    The world of Private Military Contractors was shaken
apart by the Terra Nova incident of 358CC. A PMC team from Alpha
Company assaulted an Alliance Special Operations Group in the
middle of a major operation. The blue-on-blue incident resulted in
thirteen military deaths and the crash of a civilian aircraft, with
the loss over more than two hundred citizens. Cuts in military
spending, and reliance upon faceless security companies, started a
purge of unprecedented proportions. This took place just a year
after organizations, including Alpha Company and APS Corp, took
over low intensity security operations throughout the Alliance. The
incident brought about a public outcry that saw dozens of contracts
torn up and the stocks in these companies plummet. The gold rush
years were gone and of the thirty-two security companies, just
seven remained a year later, each fighting for the meager work that
remained.
    Private Security Directory
     
     
    The Alliance Marine
Corps squad of four moved slowly through the main access
c orridor. Leading them was gruff-looking
Sergeant Maria Belgard, who moved with speed and aggression in her
step. The other four marines carried their L52 Mark II carbines
across their bodies as they marched down the left-hand side of the
Prometheus Seven Space Station. Navy crew stepped aside to let the
security team pass by. From the way they moved, it was clear this
was no simple security detail. They were going somewhere in
particular, and the fact that they had their weapons at the ready
indicated they expected potential trouble. They reached the end of
the corridor and split to cover both sides of the thick glass
doorway. To the side was a metal plaque that read simply APS Corp.
The Sergeant looked to