Scorched Earth: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #16) Read Free Page A

dead.”
    Adam felt his knees go weak. He fought for the words. “Reported? How reliable?”
    “It came from Paulson. He has a short-range comm unit with him. His message was picked up by a passing vessel friendly to our side and relayed back to the Union.”
    “When…how?”
    “We just got the news two days ago. The Juireans found the group hiding out in the mountains and killed Andy, along with three of this men.”
    “And you didn’t tell me! What about the others?”
    “Only two of Andy’s team survived, Paulson and Sergeant Morgan.”
    “You know what I mean, sir. What about Sherri and Arieel?”
    The Admiral hesitated, which only made Adam’s heart race faster and his breath come shorter.
    “They’re alive,” the Admiral said, raising his hand. “Paulson tracked them back to Panur’s palace under heavy Juirean guard.”
    “And this was two days ago? Are they still there?”
    “Unknown. We haven’t had any contact with Commander Paulson since then.”
     “We have to do something—”
    “Like what, Captain? You heard the briefing. The Frontier is being locked down tighter than a drum, and the mane-heads are deploying passive detection buoys so they can track every ship that moves. And even if that wasn’t the case, it wouldn’t be you leading the rescue attempt.”
     “And why the hell not…sir?”
    “Calm down, Adam. You know why. You’re a symbol for the Human race, as well as the Union. How would it look if you went out and got yourself killed, just when we need our heroes alive and well?”
    “I can take care of myself.”
     “Maybe, maybe not. Your last little adventure didn’t end so well. It took a major effort to get you back from the Klin, and that was before the Juireans deployed thousands of additional ships to the region. Any rescue attempt now would be iffy at best.”
    “What about using the Mark VII?”
    Hollingsworth furrowed his brow and pursed his lips. “I’m not going to ask where you heard about that; I don’t want to know.”
    “It’s based on Panur’s trans-dimensional drive,” Adam continued. “With it I’ll be able to pop in and out before the Juireans can do a damn thing to stop me.”
    “That ship is experimental, and based more on the original modifications Panur made to the Pegasus than the TD ship. Besides that, it doesn’t work, not reliably. We’ve only been able to make three light-year jumps, and then with an hour recharge between hops. That’s makes it only slighter faster than a K-Drive in a full gravity-well.”
    “But it’s stealth.”
    “For three light-years. Then you’re sitting there for an hour with your ass hanging out, only able to maneuver on chem drive. It’s a power source problem. So far we haven’t been able to figure out Panur’s energy equations.”
    “I could take the ship above the plane and then drop into a less-guarded area of the Frontier. Even if the Juireans do detect the ship, I’ll be gone long before they can get to me.”
    “Admit it, after a few jumps they’ll know exactly where you’re headed.” Hollingsworth shook his head again, this time more emphatically. “Sorry, Captain, but it’s too risky. And what if the ship falls into Juirean hands? It’s a miracle we’ve been able to keep it a secret this long.” Hollingsworth snorted. “That’s probably because the damn thing doesn’t work! No…a rescue attempt with the Mark VII is off the table. Maybe another team with another ship.”
    “But Admiral—”
    “If you want me to make it official, Captain, you got it: Permission denied! Is that clear enough for you?”
    “I could go to—”
    “To whom? The President? Good luck with that. Now that he has you back from the Sol-Kor universe, he’s nervous as a cat every time you even get behind the wheel of a car. He needs your fame, Adam. He needs you out there as a symbol of Human ability and determination. Like it or not, you’re the personification of Superman to most of the galaxy. It