Free Star Alliance by Ken Lozito Page A

but we can use the time to prepare.”
    Gaarokk frowned. “How long have you been planning this?”
    “When we last went aboard your ship,” Kaylan said, “Ma’jasalax warned us that Kladomaor would try to force us to leave with them to keep all of us safe. I know he’s doing what he thinks is right, and so am I.”
    “What’s done is done. I’ll see what I can do to help prepare against quarantine,” Gaarokk said.
    Kaylan felt the tension drain away from her shoulders.  
    Hicks came to her side. “How do you feel?”
    “Like we’re finally doing something constructive,” Kaylan said. Katie nodded as she came over to them.
    “And if what you intend with the Mardoxian chamber doesn’t work?” Hicks asked.
    Kaylan shared a glance with Katie and swallowed hard. “Then we’ll need to accept that Zack is gone.”

    *****

    Kladomaor growled. “Stop the jump clock and figure out what happened. How were they able to break free from the tether?” he said, and turned toward Ma’jasalax.
    “It’s time to see if you can live up to the legend,” Ma’jasalax said.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kladomaor asked.
    “You said you couldn’t face the Xiiginn warships and protect the Humans. Well, now they’ve gone on their way to Nerva,” Ma’jasalax said.
    “Not for long,” Kladomaor said. “Execute an intercept course with the Athena.”
    “Don’t do that,” Ma’jasalax warned.
    “You’re just buying them time to get away,” Kladomaor said.
    “Perhaps, or you’re too stubborn to admit you’ve been outmaneuvered,” Ma’jasalax said.
    “With your help,” Kladomaor said.
    “I may have pointed them in the right direction, but they were already withdrawing from us before this. You should have realized that when Kaylan had all the Humans report back to their ship. Now, instead of racing off after them, let’s try helping them,” Ma’jasalax said.
    Kladomaor glared at the main holoscreen that showed the Athena moving away from them.
    “Let them go,” Ma’jasalax urged. “Give them the time they need to try and find their missing crew member.”
    “What would you have me do?” Kladomaor said.
    Ma’jasalax’s gaze swept past all the Boxans on the bridge. “Remind the Xiiginns that they are not unopposed. This is a stealth ship. Make the Xiiginns fear the shadows. Make their strength their weakness.”
    Kladomaor felt a burning in his chest and an eagerness to enact retribution against those who had made their race suffer—made him suffer. As Kladomaor glanced at his fellow Boxan soldiers, he could see the same yearning reflected in each of their eyes. One by one the Boxans on the bridge rose to their feet, grasping their elbows with each of their hands, and bowed their heads.
    “Battle Commander,” the Boxans murmured.
    Kladomaor looked back at Ma’jasalax, who also brought her arms up and clasped her elbows, bowing her head. It was an ancient form of salute that the Boxans reserved for their most revered leaders.
    “Return to your stations,” Kladomaor said. “We have Xiiginns to hunt.”

C HAPTER T EN

    Z ACK AND E TANU left the safe confines of the cave. Zack had slept for hours and had awakened bruised and stiff. He didn’t feel like moving all that much, but Etanu said they couldn’t stay in the cave, so Zack grudgingly got up and tried to work out some of the stiffness that had set in from sleeping all night in a damp cave.  
    Etanu told him that it would be dawn soon, and Zack wondered how the Nershal could tell the time. He was hungry and couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. Etanu had no food, and they’d only been able to find small amounts of water. The forest around them was deserted.
    “Are you sure there isn’t anything dangerous around?” Zack asked and glanced around.
    The darkness of the night sky was fading to a pale gray with hints of red.
    The Nershal glanced back at him. His fierce orange eyes under his furrowed brow clearly conveyed his