Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price Read Online Free
Author: Dale Musser
about Ming and the Brotherhood?” I asked, thinking out loud.
“Maybe it’s not a Tombosemite. Perhaps it's patient who’s there to receive treatment for some health reason,” reasoned Marranalis.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I answered, as I went back to reading Wabussie’s report. “You’re right. According to the report, this individual has traveled to Tombosem for repair to his abdomen. He apparently suffered some kind of severe injury and they have to clone a complete digestive system before the surgery can proceed. In the meantime, he’s being fed intravenously. The report indicates that his injuries may have been caused by Ming in some way.”
“Why hasn’t the FSO or the FOI interrogated him?” asked Marranalis.
“It’s not clear in the report. It only mentions that the individual wishes to speak to me about current Brotherhood operations and he won’t talk to anyone else.”
“That sounds suspicious. It might be a trap to get you there and kill you.”
“If this report is accurate, it hardly sounds like he’s in any condition to kill anyone,” I replied. “Besides, the last time someone asked to speak to me it led us to Ming. Speaking of which, what happened to Asalott? Did he return to Eh-Netta to complete his vows?”
“No, sir. He’s still aboard the NEW ORLEANS , last I heard. Apparently, the Gom Pasha wants him to stick around to witness the fulfillment of the prophecies.”
“Hm... I wonder if any of them have ever considered the possibility that I’m not the one shown in the prophecy. It's probably just a coincidence. Asalott may be with us a long, long, time.”
“I don’t know, sir, but as far as this individual on Tombosem, if you are planning to see him personally, I recommend you let our troops on site assess him and the immediate area before you meet with him.”
“Alright. Make the arrangements. I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible. Have Captain Hanges set a course to Tombosem immediately.”
Captain Hanges was a Ruwallie Rasson and the first to be taken from the fighter group and put in command of a massive warship. He was one of the top strategists in the fleet and had one of the highest kill records in fighter combat of anyone in the fleet. He got along well with fellow officers and was highly respected among the crews. I think it came as a shock to many when I selected him to captain the GLOMAR ROSA instead of transferring Mareoparen from the MAXETTE . However, no one voiced any opposition to my choice. Mareoparen was a superior officer and one of the few Nibarians to have risen to the rank of captain, but he lacked the instinctive quality of split-second decision making I felt might be needed in a critical situation on a ship of the magnitude of the GLOMAR ROSA . Hanges demonstrated those qualities in every aspect of his career. He didn’t hesitate to voice his opinions, but he followed orders implicitly once they were given to him, regardless of his thoughts. He was the kind of officer I could depend on during a crisis. In many ways, he was more like Kerabac than many of his Ruwallie Rasson brothers from Goo’Waddle.
“See what additional information you can dig up about….” I hesitated as I searched the report for the name of the informant at Tombosem. “Ah, here he is… Krossden. I’m assuming this Krossden is a humanoid…?”
“I wouldn’t know, sir,” replied Marranalis. “But I’ll find out. We’ll need translator devices, if we’re going to communicate with the Tombosemites. If I recall correctly, their language consists entirely of hissing and clicking sounds.”
“Well, it won’t be the first time we’ve had to use translating devices. They were at least somewhat effective when speaking with Tot and the creatures on Irribis. I just hope that communicating with these Tombosemites is easier.”
“Kalana might be able to help you there, sir. In
“Maybe it’s not a Tombosemite. Perhaps it's patient who’s there to receive treatment for some health reason,” reasoned Marranalis.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I answered, as I went back to reading Wabussie’s report. “You’re right. According to the report, this individual has traveled to Tombosem for repair to his abdomen. He apparently suffered some kind of severe injury and they have to clone a complete digestive system before the surgery can proceed. In the meantime, he’s being fed intravenously. The report indicates that his injuries may have been caused by Ming in some way.”
“Why hasn’t the FSO or the FOI interrogated him?” asked Marranalis.
“It’s not clear in the report. It only mentions that the individual wishes to speak to me about current Brotherhood operations and he won’t talk to anyone else.”
“That sounds suspicious. It might be a trap to get you there and kill you.”
“If this report is accurate, it hardly sounds like he’s in any condition to kill anyone,” I replied. “Besides, the last time someone asked to speak to me it led us to Ming. Speaking of which, what happened to Asalott? Did he return to Eh-Netta to complete his vows?”
“No, sir. He’s still aboard the NEW ORLEANS , last I heard. Apparently, the Gom Pasha wants him to stick around to witness the fulfillment of the prophecies.”
“Hm... I wonder if any of them have ever considered the possibility that I’m not the one shown in the prophecy. It's probably just a coincidence. Asalott may be with us a long, long, time.”
“I don’t know, sir, but as far as this individual on Tombosem, if you are planning to see him personally, I recommend you let our troops on site assess him and the immediate area before you meet with him.”
“Alright. Make the arrangements. I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible. Have Captain Hanges set a course to Tombosem immediately.”
Captain Hanges was a Ruwallie Rasson and the first to be taken from the fighter group and put in command of a massive warship. He was one of the top strategists in the fleet and had one of the highest kill records in fighter combat of anyone in the fleet. He got along well with fellow officers and was highly respected among the crews. I think it came as a shock to many when I selected him to captain the GLOMAR ROSA instead of transferring Mareoparen from the MAXETTE . However, no one voiced any opposition to my choice. Mareoparen was a superior officer and one of the few Nibarians to have risen to the rank of captain, but he lacked the instinctive quality of split-second decision making I felt might be needed in a critical situation on a ship of the magnitude of the GLOMAR ROSA . Hanges demonstrated those qualities in every aspect of his career. He didn’t hesitate to voice his opinions, but he followed orders implicitly once they were given to him, regardless of his thoughts. He was the kind of officer I could depend on during a crisis. In many ways, he was more like Kerabac than many of his Ruwallie Rasson brothers from Goo’Waddle.
“See what additional information you can dig up about….” I hesitated as I searched the report for the name of the informant at Tombosem. “Ah, here he is… Krossden. I’m assuming this Krossden is a humanoid…?”
“I wouldn’t know, sir,” replied Marranalis. “But I’ll find out. We’ll need translator devices, if we’re going to communicate with the Tombosemites. If I recall correctly, their language consists entirely of hissing and clicking sounds.”
“Well, it won’t be the first time we’ve had to use translating devices. They were at least somewhat effective when speaking with Tot and the creatures on Irribis. I just hope that communicating with these Tombosemites is easier.”
“Kalana might be able to help you there, sir. In
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