Free Ghosts of Empire (Book 4 of The Empire of Bones Saga) by Terry Mixon

the consequences. We lost so many people, particularly the marines.”
    “I saw some of that, too. While it won’t make up for the loss, we brought as many Royal Pentagaran Marines as we could pile into the corridors. They’re on Boxer Station. We left our ships there, too. They’ll need some remedial training on your equipment and how you operate, but that should help.”
    He nodded. “It does. Not against the planet holding our people, but in case we have to do more fighting in space. We appreciate the help.”
    “We’re allies. You’ve given so much to help us. How could we not give everything we could in return? We brought the heaviest ships we had upgraded to use the space-time bridges. We also brought extra crew to transfer to your ships. That should help fill some of the remaining gaps.”
    Jared mentally translated space-time bridges to flip points. “I’m going to be in so much trouble when I get back home. Even with Kelsey making it an Imperial order to allow Pentagaran crew on our ships, the Admiralty is going to flip without a ship.”
    “Leave tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow,” she advised. “I know you have a very important meeting this morning. Before then, I’d like to do something I’ve never done before.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be? I thought we’d been pretty…thorough.”
    Elise smacked his arm and pulled him down to sit on the couch. “That, too, but not right now. We don’t have time and you are not going to meet a foreign head of state after a roll between the sheets with me. What did Kelsey tell you about what they found?”
    “They found what might have been the implant center on the station. Are you wondering what they might be like? I thought we’d discussed that to death. You need to experience them yourself is the best answer I can give.”
    She smiled oddly. “I’m ready to start.”
    He opened his mouth to say something and stopped. A quick check told him that she had implants.
    “I hadn’t heard the implantation center was operational,” he said. “I wish you’d waited. We don’t know this equipment as well as I’d like.”
    “Kelsey seemed satisfied,” Elise said. She took his hand in hers. “And if she was going to allow Talbot to do it, how could I miss the opportunity?”
    Jared frowned. “Wait. How many people are we talking about?”
    Elise gave him a lopsided smile. “She’s already shepherded a few dozen people through the process. Some of my people, her guards, Talbot, Doctor Stone, and some scientists. The second round consisted of mostly my people. She didn’t want to get too far ahead of your approval in getting your crew done.”
    He sighed. “Too late.”
    “She said you’d say that and begs your forgiveness.”
    “I should never have told her it was easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. I’ve created a monster. If she’d asked, I would’ve said yes, but I certainly wouldn’t have put you in the first group.”
    “Then it’s a good thing I didn’t wait. You need people to have implants, you know. The Rebel Fleet officers are implanted. If yours aren’t, that’ll set off alarm bells when your visitors arrive.”
    “You’re right. Still, I don’t have enough time to get people to the station, see them through the implant procedure, and then get them back before the negotiating party arrives. Why didn’t she wake me?”
    “It was late and she knew what you’d say. She invited certain crew members to come visit Boxer Station. If you approve, they have time for the procedure and the trip here. That’s one of the reasons I dropped in so early.”
    Jared needed to have a long talk with Kelsey. It could wait until this situation was resolved, though.
    He opened a channel to his sister through Invincible ’s communications system. It would take minutes for her to respond, so he decided to make this brief.
    Kelsey, you’ve officially gotten even. Go ahead with the people you sent for. And, in the