Starstorm (Starstorm Saga) Read Online Free Page A

the bridge crew operating the controls of the mighty warship. The view screen was huge. At fifteen feet by thirty feet, it took up the whole back wall of the bridge. On the view screen was a map of Earth's solar system. Akdon studied it carefully.
    Another Zidian climbed up to the platform and stood next to Akdon. It was Sub Commander Kaydan, Akdon's second in command. He was ruthlessly efficient and highly intelligent. Unlike most Zidians, he was a scientist as well as a warrior. Akdon always valued his insight. 
    “So this is our target,” said Akdon. 
    “Yes sir, a few planets orbiting a single star. Only their home world is inhabitable,” replied Kaydan. 
    “What's it worth?” asked Akdon.
    “Once we strip mine it of its natural resources it should yield quite a profit in minerals, oxygen, slave labor, and most especially water.”
    “And what of the inhabitants?”
    “They are mentally and physically inferior to us. Intelligence reports that they haven’t even reached space yet.” 
    “Good.” Pushing a button on his control panel, Akdon changed the image of the view screen from a map of Earth’s star system to an image of the Earth itself. “It is a lush world,” said Akdon. It will make a fine addition to our empire.” He turned back to Kaydan. “What kind of resistance can we expect?” Kaydan inserted an information chip into the main console. The image on the screen changed.
    “According to our intelligence reports, these images represent the most advanced weapons possessed by the Human inhabitants.” The first image to appear on the screen was of a Bi-Wing fighter plane. “This primitive, prop driven, fixed wing air craft is capable only of low level atmospheric flight. It is slow and poorly maneuverable by our standards. It is armed only with rapid fire-fire arms. It has no sophisticated tracking or detection technology. Our fighters will sweep them from the sky.” Akdon stared at the image of the aircraft with disdain.
    “If that is the best this planet has to offer I’m going to find this quite a boring expedition.”
    Kaydan brought another image up on the screen.
    “This tracked armored fighting vehicle is powered by a primitive internal combustion engine. It utilizes liquefied fossil remains as fuel—most inefficient. It fires a large caliber projectile as its primary weapon. A single blast from a beam cannon would be sufficient to melt through its armor.”
    Staring at the human tank on the view screen Akdon said, “These primitives might just as well be using toys to fight us.”
    “An apt description Commander,” said Kaydan.
    Akdon eyed the screen with a menacing look.
    “Let me see the enemy in person.” Kaydan quickly replaced the image of the human tank with that of a Human foot soldier.
    “As you can see commander, we are physically as well as mentally superior to the Humans. We are taller, stronger and have greater physical endurance—no doubt do to our homeworld’s greater gravity.”
    “No doubt we also possess a superior courage and strength of will as is true when the Zidian race is compared with any other species.”
    “Doubtless Commander,” said Kaydan, who reflected silently that his commanding officer’s unquestioning belief in Zidian superiority might one day prove to be a weakness. While confident of his own race’s strengths and manifest destiny to rule the galaxy, Kaydan knew that it would be unwise to underestimate a foe, no matter how primitive or weak they seemed.
    Several different forms of human soldiers flashed across the screen. “As you can see Commander, Human warriors are dressed in various colors of clothing made to resemble different types of foliage and terrain found on their planet. Of course this will be completely useless to them when set against our infrared and other sensors. Their weapons consist mostly of primitive automatic firearms whose projectiles will have no chance of penetrating the armor of our soldiers.” Kaydan