Free Ep.#4 - "Freedom's Dawn" (The Frontiers Saga) by Ryk Brown Page B

I have no intentions of poisoning you,” he explained between mouthfuls. “On the contrary, you are my only way home.”
    “I hope you’re not offended,” Enrique apologized as he took his first bite.
    “Of course not. In fact, I’m relieved that those who are to be our allies are not fools who would act without forethought.”
    “Hey, this isn’t too bad,” Enrique said with surprise as he chewed his first bite of the unusual meat.
    “Anything is better than molo,” Marcus insisted as he sat down to eat. “Here,” he said as he dropped a basket of rolls on the table, “I got us some rolls as well.”
    “You’re right,” Sergeant Weatherly commented, “this is pretty good.”
    “Believe me,” Ensign Willard insisted, “the stuff the command staff eats is much better than this.”
    “How do you know?” Enrique asked. His training in special ops included interrogation, and the act of sharing a meal was an excellent way to get someone to open up to you without their even realizing they were doing so.
    “Every junior officer is invited to dine with the captain at least once,” he explained as he continued to eat. “Some people think he does this to make you see how the upper classes live… as an incentive. But most of us know better.”
    “Know better about what?”
    “Let me put it this way. In the four years that I have served, I have never seen an officer of command rank that was not Takaran born.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Them Takarans think their shit don’t stink,” Marcus exclaimed. “Especially them ‘well-to-do’ bastards.”
    “Your friend is correct,” Ensign Willard told him.
    “But aren’t you an officer?”
    “Technically, yes. But I’m what they refer to as a ’ common’ officer. My rank is only to allow me access to the areas of the ship that are required to do my job. And even then only because I have unique skills that are of value to them. I am not allowed to roam the upper decks unless I am invited, or unless it is in the performance of my duties.”
    “The upper decks?” Enrique asked.
    “The ship is basically divided into four decks. The top two decks are officers’ decks, which basically means nobles only. They don’t allow non-Takaran born personnel on those decks.” Ensign Willard looked at them quizzically. “Haven’t you been to the bridge yet?”
    “I haven’t,” Enrique admitted. He looked at Sergeant Weatherly. “Have you?”
    “Yes sir. I was on the original boarding team. Been on board ever since.”
    “Did you notice the two sets of stairs split by a center walkway?” Ensign Willard asked. “That walkway connects the bridge to the decks where the nobles live and work. The rest of us ‘commoners’ take the stairs down to the lower decks. Most of the crew never even go up those stairs—just a few of us common officers, and the service staff that takes care of the nobles.”
    Sergeant Weatherly let out a muffled grunt. “That explains why that part of the ship was so much nicer.”
    Enrique looked at the sergeant.
    “Big, wide hallways, luxury suites, recreation center… it was like a cruise ship up there. At first, we thought we had walked onto another ship or something.”
    Enrique looked back at Ensign Willard. There was something that was bothering him, something that didn’t add up. “If there is that much separation of the classes, then how did you get a weapon on the bridge?”
    “Who says I had a weapon?” the ensign said, the slightest hint of pride forming on his otherwise somber face.
    “You took out a bridge full of nobles without a weapon?” Enrique wasn’t buying it.
    “There are weapons of use other than knives and guns.” The ensign smiled and leaned back in his chair, his meal now finished. “I was a Corinairan long before I was a Takaran communications officer. I will remain a Corinairan long after my tour of duty is over, as will my Corinairan brethren on this ship… one of which worked in environmental