Guardsmen of Tomorrow Read Free Page A

Doxies would not be in their best interests.”
    “I should think their best interests would be obvious,” Hazzard said. “The Orthodoxate is anthropocentric. Rather virulently so, in fact. The Irdikads would be reduced to slave status or worse.”
    “Obviously.” Cy-Dennever sniffed. “And obviously, too, the Doxies are on their best behavior until the Anarchate planetary defense batteries are safely in their hands.
    Remember, most Irdikad dealings have been with the Union so far. They are a simple people. To them, all humans are the same. Planetary genocide by what they consider to be an honorable and civilized species is probably utterly beyond their comprehension.”
    Hazzard held his peace at the patronizing nonsense of “a simple people.” The man acted like he was a few genes short of a full chromosome.
    If cy-Dennever represented Homo sapiens superioris , though, as his kind so often claimed, maybe he simply wasn’t done evolving yet.
    “The question of Anarchate neutrality is in the hands of the diplomats,” cy-Koenin said. “Your mission, Captain Hazzard, will be to take command of the in-system squadron, as a part of Admiral cy-Dennever’s diplomatic show of force.”
    Hazzard digested this. The in-system squadron would be the mission’s cutting edge, of course, patrolling within a few million kilometers of the Anarchate home world.
    Admiral cy-Dennever would have the heavies, the main squadron’s ship of the line out on the fringes of the Kaden system, accelerating back and forth at near-c so as to be ready for a near-immediate jump in-system at need. “Aye, sir,” he said.
    “It is vital, absolutely vital ,” cy-Dennever put in, “that you not fire on Irdikad assets.
    Enemy vessels, of course… but under no circumstances will you fire on the locals, even if you are provoked.”
    “You’re saying, my lord, that we can’t shoot even if they shoot at us first?”
    “Well done! That is precisely what I am saying. These negotiations are too delicate, and too much is at stake to risk…” He stopped and looked at cy-Koenin. “Are you certain there are no augmented frigate captains available? I can’t be expected to trust a mere biological’s reflexes or instincts in a situation this precarious! He doesn’t even have the hardwiring to handle his ship properly! His vessel very nearly fouled mine during our approach a few hours ago!”
    Cy-Koenin glanced at Hazzard, then looked hard at cy-Dennever, saying nothing outwardly. Hazzard decided the two must have shifted to a telepathic exchange, one he was not privy to. Micro-radio transceivers implanted in their skulls allowed Starlords to converse privately, in much the same way that Hazzard could open a private channel to Par-doe when they both were on-line.
    At last, cy-Dennever sighed and looked away. “Very well. But you are responsible, sir, if this goes wrong!”
    “Of course, cy-Dennever,” cy-Koenin replied.
    “What ships will I command?” Hazzard asked.
    “Besides Indeterminacy ,” cy-Koenin said, “there is Decider , a frigate of thirty-three guns, Captain-sixth Bellemew. The other vessels are smaller… Swift , twenty-seven; Fire Angel and Ferocious , both twenty-one; and Uriel , of eighteen guns. All five are already on-station or will be by the time you arrive. Four line battleships will be on blockade station out-system within two days objective. Admiral cy-Dennever’s Victor will bring that to five, under his flag. Your full operational orders will be transmitted to your ship. You are clear for departure as soon as you complete taking on necessary stores and provisions.”
    “Aye, aye, my lord.”
    “Should be an easy deployment, Greydon,” cy-Koenin added, dropping into less formal speech. “The Irdikad aren’t hostile, and they won’t pick a fight with one of our line battle squadrons!”
    “Clarification,” cy-Dennever said. “They’re not hostile yet .”
    “Mm,” cy-Koenin said. “As always, minus-tau is