Abysm Read Free Page B

her left demanded her attention. Richard went up to Alex and embraced her in an enthusiastic bear hug. A delightful jealousy flared in Miriam’s chest. She wanted to do that—and she would, very soon. She breathed in.
    “But the better instincts of us as humans tell us to react to fear with courage, openness and a willingness to learn and adapt. The history of human progress is one of growth, of discovery and advancement and of never standing idle. This is merely the latest chapter. So I ask you to listen to your better instincts and reject fear in favor of tolerance.”
    She steeled herself. What she’d conveyed thus far was all very nice—and true—but now came the real purpose of the speech. Now words must transform into deeds.
    “Now I speak directly to the military personnel under my command, to every Earth Alliance officer and enlisted across the galaxy. Our counterinsurgency is a legal one, and it is also a moral one. We are defending our Constitution and our citizens. We will be an aegis shielding those who now find themselves under siege from their own government.
    “Prime Minister Winslow’s attempts to order you to enforce BANIA are illegal. You are not required to obey illegal orders—you know this—whether they come from a prime minister, an admiral or your squadron commander. Instead, I will give you orders you can obey with pride and a clear conscience:
    “Protect the people. Protect those who are innocent of actual wrongdoing. Refuse to assist in the enforcement of BANIA, but do it in a peaceful, non-violent manner. Simply stand your ground. No one, not a solitary soul, needs to die in this dispute, but if arms are taken up against you, defend yourself and the civilians in your care as you must.
    “I do not want to fire a single shot at my fellow servicemen. But I will not allow the Earth Alliance military to fall to illegitimate, unlawful forces, and per our Constitutional duty, the Earth Alliance military will not allow the government to fall to those same forces.
    “Godspeed to you all.”
    She ended the broadcast without fanfare, not betraying in her expression or her bearing any of the residual anxiety which still churned her stomach, and immediately turned to Admiral Rychen.
    “Winslow won’t hesitate to act. Watch the local traffic closely—Admiral Fullerton is in her pocket and will likely try to wrest authority over Northeast Command from you amid the confusion. I’ll leave it to you to make certain he doesn’t succeed. Richard has an eye on the rest of the network. We ought to learn who among the other admirals and generals are siding with us soon enough.”
    She didn’t wait for a response before pivoting to where Alex now lounged against the wall beside the wide viewport, arms and ankles crossed like she was attending the most casual of gatherings.
    Miriam strode toward her, but stopped a meter away and adopted a scowl. “You’re alive, I see.”
    Alex shrugged. “Kind of self-evident, yep.”
    “You should have told me what you were planning to do before you left.”
    “You would’ve tried to talk me out of it.”
    “Yet I doubt I would’ve succeeded. Since you’re here now, you’ve been back on this side of the portal for at least a day. Why didn’t you message me? It’s been four months.”
    “Heard you were busy. Didn’t want to interrupt.”
    “Yes, well….” Miriam pursed her lips, and Alex’s began curling up in response. With a sigh she reached out and drew her daughter into her arms, grateful beyond words to feel the gesture returned in full. Heart beating, skin warm, ten fingers and all the necessary limbs intact. All was well in the world.
    Except it really wasn’t.
    She backed up to regard Alex, keeping her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “You shouldn’t be here.”
    Alex flinched and pulled away. “Why not?”
    It probably had been the wrong thing to say, or said in the wrong manner. Miriam worked to soften her tone—to lessen her