Star Force: Zealot (SF87) (Star Force Origin Series) Read Online Free Page A

least.
    Keep them away from me unless you want them broken.
    Paul smiled. Are you talking about them or their toys?
    Both.
     
    4 weeks later…
     
    Riley stood onboard his command ship with another holographic conference summoned that included all nine representatives and Nefron, with Paul watching but not within view of the others.
    “Preliminary examination of the Uriti here is complete. What we have learned suggests that we will still be able to stand down the rogue Uriti regardless of what damage it has incurred from its sedated period. We will temporarily leave you in custody of this world and take our fleet to the rogue’s location with as many ships as you deem necessary for escort and to order your fleets to make way for us at the destination. Once we are there, we need you to trust us.”
    “What do you intend to do?” the Chamra asked.
    “Take possession of it,” Riley said, hitting the nail on the head rather than beating around the bush.
    “Unacceptable,” the Sety replied. “This must be a joint venture, and the control mechanism must be shared.”
    “Only Nefron can use it,” Riley replied firmly. “And we’re not in the habit of sharing our technological secrets with those standing in wait to stab us in the back. We’ll collaborate with you when necessary, but we will not share control of the Uriti. You’ve been desperate to find a way to stop the rampage ever since the Li’vorkrachnika released it. Don’t be ungrateful now that we have brought you that option.”
    “Well spoken,” the Yisv agreed.
    “Unacceptable,” the Trinx echoed the Sety. “We are the guardians. We must remain the guardians. Star Force is unproven and cannot be fully trusted.”
    “You have no choice,” Riley said sharply, trying to provoke a confrontation here and now if there was going to be one.
    “There is always a choice.”
    “If you wish to fight us, we will be happy to oblige,” Nefron said icily, beating Riley to it, and the Chixzon was easily more intimidating than the Human, despite their power levels being to the contrary. “There are trillions of individuals to avenge for the losses inflicted upon them by the enemy you upgraded to subsidize your ineptitude.”
    The Trinx stared laser bolts back at Nefron and half the other members of The Nine gave him contentious looks, but several of them were staring at the Trinx instead with displeased gestures that both Nefron and Riley had begun to pick up on after numerous times dealing with these races in recent weeks.
    “Star Force is only still alive because of what we did,” the Trinx replied. “It is you who are ungrateful.”
    “Enough!” the tiny Dati said, though his hologram stood as big as the others. “We have no choice but to pursue this. Can any of you claim otherwise?”
    “How we proceed is what is in question,” the Sety answered.
    “Do you suggest we take this transmitter from them?” the little triped challenged. “That we capture this one and force him to do our bidding?”
    “That will not happen,” Nefron said menacingly.
    “They might not be entirely truthful about the technology,” the Bpret said evenly. “We might be able to use it, but I do not advocate waging a war to obtain it when Star Force is willing to voluntarily stop the Hamoriti. If they fail to do so or have an ulterior agenda we can consider other options. For now we must utilize their offered assistance.”
    “And give them control of the power powerful weapon ever created?” the Trinx all but yelled. “Are you all fools?”
    “Nefron,” Riley said almost casually. “If they won’t listen to reason, explain it to them in a way they will understand.”
    “Gladly,” the Chixzon said from a different compartment onboard Riley’s ship.
    “Meaning what?” the Sety demanded, but neither the Human nor the Chixzon said anything. They returned blank stares at The Nine even as others asked questions. It took several minutes before the Yisv felt the change