Syn-En: Plague World: The Founders War Begins Read Online Free

filled her. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    She pressed her lips to his jaw before straightening. They were in this together. “So what’s the plan?”
    Captain Pennig straightened in his chair. “I have the Amarook shielding standing by. If they find our cargo, we can enable it.”
    The tactical Syn-En zoomed in on the enemy dreadnaught. “Six missiles should punch through the hard points, then we can torpedo their fusion engines.” He pointed first to the cargo holds in the center of the fuselage then the glowing round balls of the reactors. “No witnesses, no cause for war.”
    Nell stiffened. “Blowing up somebody’s ship is an act of war.” Geez, hadn’t they watched any of the Star Trek episodes she’d recommended? “If the Scraptors find our cargo, why don’t we just bash them over the head, cloak our ship with the Amarook shield, and split.”
    Every Syn-En on the bridge stiffened.
    She even felt the snap, crackle, and pop worm through her brain box.
    Emotion smoothed from Bei’s wide cheekbones. “You want us to run from a fight?”
    “No, I want you to advance in the opposite direction.”
    “Retreat.” Pennig spat.
    The Syn-Ens at the hubs glared at her.
    “When you say it like that, it sounds bad.” Setting back, she clasped Bei’s hand in hers. The silver flowed from her skin to his, binding them in gossamer threads. “But it isn’t. Not really.”
    Bei’s eyes narrowed. “We are Syn-En. We fight. We make a stand. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.”
    If he said it was in their programming, she’d slap him silly.
    His lips parted in shock.
    Dammit. She’d forgotten he could read her thoughts in the WA. Too bad he couldn’t make sense of the jumble inside her skull. Then he’d understand. She had to make him understand. Unfortunately, logic had never been her strong suit. She inhaled a calming breath. “Destroying the Founders’ battleship would cause a war.”
    The tactical ensign rolled his eyes. “Not if they never found the wreckage.”
    Nell ignored him. “Groat is the Founders head Bug-ugly. If they didn’t send him here on an unrelated mission, then he’s bound to have reported in that his scans turned up something suspicious. The Founders will know where he is and with whom.”
    “How will running away help?” Bei smoothed her cheek.
    She leaned into his touch for a minute. This is why she married him. He was always willing to listen. “We tell them our bubble drive malfunctioned, cargo came loose and smacked ‘em upside the head. While they’re out, we transfer our guests to another vessel. They can’t convict us without evidence.”
    Captain Pennig swiveled in his chair. He rubbed his age spotted chin. “We can come up with something that would provide their scans with false readings.”
    “Groat would be discredited. Again.” Bei’s lips pulled away from his teeth.
    Nell shivered. Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother probably saw something similar before she died. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer Bug-ugly.”
    Her husband’s death grimace softened into a smile. A real one. Even his eyes twinkled. “We can spin it as an act of aggression on the Founders part. Might even convince some of the undecided sentients to join the Neo-Sentient Alliance.”
    “More allies would be helpful.” Captain Pennig grinned. “Tell me, Nell Stafford. Did you just share a movie line with us or is some of our Syn-En cunning rubbing off on you?”
    She tossed back her shoulders. “I do have original thoughts, you know.”
    And she wasn’t exactly keen on thinking like a Syn-En. She’d much rather look at someone and take their measure than think of a hundred ways to kill them.
    Bei leaned forward. “A hundred and sixty-seven, now.”
    She smacked his shoulder. “That’s not funny.”
    “No. It isn’t.” He set her hand on his arm. “Let’s greet our guests.”
    She wiggled her silver fingers. “Maybe I should bow out of this one.”
    “Absolutely