Galactic Empire Wars: Rebellion (The Galactic Empire Wars Book 3) Read Free

victories and glory. There
are members of the council that are weak and will resist the new order; they
will need to be replaced. The ranks of the Zaltule will furnish new and
stronger leadership for the council.”
    -
    Six hours
later, the Kleese warfleet entered Fold Space and left the small indiscreet star
system far behind. From the second planet of the system, the Beltians had
watched the entire battle on their primitive space sensors. They cringed in
disbelief as the Strell warships were blasted into oblivion and wondered if the
Strell would still come for the agricultural products the planet furnished. If
not, then would the strange black disk ships, which had destroyed the Strell
fleet, return instead? The Beltians had always believed the Strell were the
supreme power in the galaxy, now that belief had been blown away. For the
immediate future, they would look to the skies in fear; fear that the black
disk ships would return and take the place of the Strell in making demands of
the Beltians.
    -
    In the Great
Hall of the Council of Overlords, a special meeting was being held by the
twenty members of the Kleese council. Xatul, the Supreme Overlord, gazed with
disdain at the worried members standing at the massive stone table. Word had
just been received of the Zaltule’s successful defeat of the main Strell battle
fleet, which meant the Strell Empire was now a part of the Kleese domain.
Already, several hundred thousand Zaltule warriors were on their way to the
home worlds of the Strell. The Strell Queens would be fitted with metallic
obedience collars to ensure there would be no future rebellion to Kleese rule.
    “No conscripts
are being sent to the Strell Empire?” Keluth asked in a voice showing great
concern. “I’m not comfortable with the Zaltule having complete control in this
matter.”
    “Nor am I,”
added Overlord Hymtal. “The Zaltule are assuming too much authority in our
Empire and using far more resources than necessary. Already, control of many valuable
star systems have been taken from the council. The Zaltule are using these
systems to rebuild their war machine.”
    “The use of conscripts
has been a cheap and efficient method for us to expand the Empire for
generations,” stated Raluth as he addressed the council. “The Zaltule go through
resources as if they are water. Many of the planets we control are being
strained to supply the war materials the Zaltule are demanding. It's been
necessary to send large numbers of conscripts as well as Kleese to keep these
worlds in line. We must restrain the
Zaltule before the Council of Overlords finds itself in a weakened position due
to a lessening of power. The more power the Zaltule seize, the more Kleese look
to them for guidance. Very soon, the Zaltule will be the ultimate power and
authority in our Empire unless we do something.”
    Xatul remained
silent. Hammock was on his way back with his warfleet and Xatul was nearly
certain the Zaltule leader would demand a greater representation on the
council. Most likely, the Zaltule leader would want several of his people to
take over key positions. He wondered cynically just how many of the other
Overlords realized that.
    Bixutl stood
next to the large stone table gazing at the other council members. For untold
eons, the Council of Overlords had represented the most powerful Kleese in the
Empire. Advancement on the council was done through open challenges, and if the
council agreed the challenge was legitimate, then a battle to the death was
arranged. If the challenger won, they would take over the council position of
the slain Overlord. It ensured the council was controlled by only the most
powerful and ruthless of the Kleese.
     There was
little doubt in Bixutl’s mind that if any of the Zaltule wanted a position upon
the Council of Overlords there would be nothing they could do to prevent it. In
recent weeks, with the war with the Strell coming to an end, Bixutl had taken
precautions to ensure the