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

the other marines, and each nodded they were
ready.
    “Do it!” she snapped.
    The first marine
placed an electronic device over the control unit for the door. It
flashed once, and the door hissed open to reveal a small foyer area
leading to three rooms and what looked like an eating area.
Directly in front of them stood just one man, a three meter tall
Jötnar, with thick, muscular arms and a scarred upper body. His
head and neck were almost double the size of a normal man, yet
obviously still just a man. He was stripped to the waist and
evidently not expecting to see the marines. As the five entered the
APS Corporation space, he turned and glared at them.
    “What?”
    “ Under Title 72 of
the Centauri Alliance Constitution, passed through the Alliance
Senate seven hours ago, all Private Security contracts, operations,
and establishments aboard Alliance military installations are
revoked. You will hand over all PMC personnel and equipment to our
authority for repatriation back to your civilian headquarters. The
Jötnar took in a long, deep breath and then moved a step closer to
the marines.
    “ Stand
down , civilian. I am authorized
to...”
    He swung his right
arm, knocking the carbine from the first marine’s hand, and then
delivered a heavy punch with his oversized paw of a hand. The man
was unconscious before he hit the ground, much to the shock of the
others. He took advantage of their confusion and grabbed the next
nearest marine, lifting him up by his neck. The other two marines
jumped forward to help their comrade and to take up his weight to
prevent him from being hanged.
    “Do you know who I am?” growled the Jötnar.
    Sergeant Maria Belgard shook her head and
simultaneously drew her sidearm from her waist. She lifted the
pistol and pointed it directly at his forehead.
    “ I don’t care if
you’re the P resident of the Centauri
Alliance. I have the authority to arrest any unauthorized civilian
on board this station. Now, drop the private and put your hands
behind your head, or I’ll shoot you where you stand.
    The side door opened
and in walked a middle-aged Hispanic woman. She was short, lightly built, and wearing cargo pants
and a white t-shirt. Her face was red from exertion, and both of
her hands covered in cloth wraps for sparring. She looked at the
scene and then directly to the Jötnar.
    “Commander Gun, drop the marine.”
    Without even a
glimmer of hesitation, the massive Jötnar dropped the marine. He
hit the ground gasping for breath, and the two marines that had
been trying to help their comrade bent down to help him to his
feet.
    “ I’m Teresa Morato,
and this is Commander Gun. If you lay a finger on him, you can
expect two things to happen. One, you’ll be dead within the minute.
Two, every single Jötnar from Prometheus to Hyperion will turn on
the Alliance like the Biomechs did back in the Uprising. We’ve only
just got back from an operation, and I have zero tolerance from
assholes with ego issues. Are you that stupid,
Sergeant?”
    The female marine
looked at Teresa carefully. She was aware the senior executive had
been a marine in the past. In fact, the exploits of Spartan and
Teresa Morato in the Uprising and the years afterwards had become
infamous. Though neither had achieved a major rank in the military,
they had both been instrumental in ending the War. She had no idea,
however, that the woman would be present. The Sergeant replaced her
pistol in her holster and indicated for the four marines to leave
the room.
    “ I apologize, Mrs.
Morato. I have to...”
    “ No,” replied Teresa
in an irritated tone. “My name is Ms. Morato, and you will take me
to see Admiral Anderson immediately. I’m sure you are aware that to
carry out orders such as these requires the full authority of the
senior officer on this station.”
    She paused and
watched the S ergeant, looking carefully
at her body and face for signs of the strength of her position. The
Sergeant said nothing.
    “Well,