Star Brigade: Resurgent (Star Brigade Book 1) Read Free Page B

tighter and the older Korvenite did the same.
    BADDAMM! The walls around them ripped away like paper, exposing the Korvenites to open space. At first, most of the Korvenites erupted in terrified, muted screams. Vantor never flinched. The young Korvenite could still breathe as expected, could feel himself rise from what was left of his cell. Maelstrom, in his vast power, had placed them in a telekinetic bubble to protect them as they were extracted from the ship. In short order, the other Korvenites quieted down, realizing there was fresh nitrogen to breathe and that they were surrounded by a most miraculous sight.
    Across the unending blackness around them, an ocean of twinkling stars spread as far as their eyes could see. The sight astonished Vantor, who had never seen outer space before. Below the Korvenites were the remains of their former prisoner transport. Jagged pieces of the Fennimore floated away slowly from the main wreckage, but the wonders of the cosmos quickly drew their attention from the charred and ugly debris. And then they saw him.
    The Korvenite legend floated closer, and Vantor thought he was daydreaming. Maelstrom now joined his telekinetic bubble with the one he’d fashioned for them. He was taller than expected, the long hair and flowing cloak made him appear so…godly. Every Korvenite just stared at him.
    Maelstrom smiled. [You are slaves no more. As Korvan’s emissary, I have seen to that.] There was weeping, cries of joy and laughter as every Korvenite swarmed around the llyriac to touch him. Of course, the void of space muted the rejoicing, but their expressions and gestures spoke volumes.
    Maelstrom looked upon them all, eliciting a joyous look from each of the former slaves. When he beheld Vantor, the young Korvenite heard only a few words. [Thank you for giving them hope,] the llyriac smiled broadly. Vantor swore that he was dreaming. Maelstrom turned to Khasos and his expression hardened. Vantor’s joy overruled the oddness in that exchange.
    [Your new home, the Libremancer.] Maelstrom pointed beyond them into space. At first, Vantor didn’t understand, until the black space behind Maelstrom rippled. A Monarch -Class Command Cruiser wavered into view from behind a sensory shroud. Resembling a massive sapphire fang, the Command Cruiser was several times bigger than the Fennimore , studded with lights and weaponry. Every Korvenite in Maelstrom’s telekinetic bubble were visibly exclaiming loudly, though the void muted any sound. Now Vantor understood how the llyriac got so far out into deep space.
    [This is the start of our journey with Korvan. To rid our homeworld of the human maggots that have imprisoned us, took our homeworld, stripped you of the gifts Korvan blessed upon his chosen race.]
    Maelstrom spread out his hands disarmingly. [No more. The humans and their sycophants, who will all be expunged from our world. And we’ll walk on the unsoiled hills of Sollus. This I promise you.]
    And Vantor began sobbing. Never had he been so proud to be a Korvenite. The twinkling of space began to fade in a shimmery sparkle before his eyes. Maelstrom’s presence soothed any fears he or his fellow former prisoners had, as they all transmatted onto the massive Command Cruiser.
    [So this is what freedom feels like?] Vantor thought as space completely disappeared in front of him.
    [Freedom will be when we’re on Sollus, young one,] Maelstrom replied. [Always remember that.] Having picked up its quarry, the Libremancer made an abrupt turn to starboard, moved away from Union Space and into the black. The massive sapphire vessel rippled again and faded from view; its sensory shroud obscured it once more. Strewn in its wake was the rubble once known as the Fennimore . The burnt and twisted debris floated away into empty space, another victim of the Korvenite Independence Front.

1.
    The first day of summer, Terra Sollus’ hot season during the mid-year, was typically the last day of cool weather this