Read Terra Dawning for Free Online Page A

with the Emperor; which we could use when we voice our claim to this planet.
    “If we do nothing and the Duke is successful, every human in the galaxy will become a food source for the lizards. I'm pretty sure that would be high on the list of really bad things. As for what we can do; well, let’s just say that for the last few years of the Fall, it wasn't the Sal'andori we were fighting.”
    “Really? Who was it?” Deirdre asked, surprised.
    “T'was the Lizards, my Deirdre,” Carlyle said. “And we were winning.”
    “So if we were winning, why did we abandon the surface?” Deirdre asked.
    “The war with the Sal'andori had damaged the planet too much to sustain life. The continued war with the Lizards didn't help either. Besides, we had already begun the exodus. Only by then we knew that the Lizards were intercepting the transports, so we changed the trajectory and started providing escorts for the transports.” Ben sighed. “However, that was ten thousand years ago. I'm sure Lizard technology has made a few improvements since then, while ours hasn't.”
    “I'm pretty sure we could help with that, provided you have the means to fabricate the parts of the weapons systems and shield generators,” Elrond said.
    “Why would ya be offering tah help us? What's your angle here?” Carlyle asked.
    Elrond gave her a sad half-smile. “We've been trying to find a way to get out from under the Duke's claw from the beginning. If this is truly our home planet, then that would be a cause I know my people would want to be a part of.” He sighed. ““As it is now, we're dead. Because there is no way we would attack a Ranger team.”
    Addson snorted. “But you'd destroy a fully populated Aerie?”
    Elrond finally turned on her, he had tears in his eyes. “That gods-be-damned Aerie was supposed to be evacuated!” he yelled.
    Fighting to get his voice under control again, he proceeded. “We knew the manager would ignore the warning message and make a report. We set a small charge at the base of the main shaft to shake the Aerie enough to scare them into evacuating; that's all! Once everyone was gone, we'd return and place the demo charges and destroy it. But something happened! The fucking main reactor detonated when it should have scrammed! If it helps, we lost the entire demolition team as well!”
    He looked Addson right in the eyes. “As for what we did to you. We had to make the attempt. However, we retarded the warheads, and restricted the missiles to optical only seek mode. Yes, the missile impact would have wrecked your skipper, but you should have survived it! I know you didn't know it was a sham, but if you weren't such a good fucking pilot, the rescue folks out of Argassi would have flown out and picked you up.
    “Yes, the Duke would have been furious, but at least we wouldn't have killed you. I know you won't believe me but you will simply never know how happy I am to see that you're still alive!”
    Ben nodded to himself. “I think I should address the council and fill them in on these new developments. As for what to do next; I think I might have a couple thoughts on that as well!”

Chapter Three
    ––––––––
    “Looks like dog shit.”
    “Smell.”
    “What?”
    “SMELL!”
    “Smells like dog shit.”
    “Taste.”
    “What??”
    “TASTE!!”
    Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong from ‘Cheborneck’ comedy skit.
    A rgassi Aerie
    Anti-Piracy Command, Regional Headquarters
    Terral III, Duchy of Cassius (Earth)
    Hyclarion Imperial Consortium
    ––––––––
    “T ask Commander Warmake, are these the scans of the inland sea I asked for?” Commander Jance asked.
    He peeked over her shoulder, and looked at the time/date stamp on the bottom of the page. “I believe so, Commander. Is that not the time and date you asked for?”
    Jance nodded. “It is,” she said and picked up another file. “But please look at these. Do you notice anything peculiar about them?””
    Warmake took the