Free Slaves of Hyperion (Star Crusades Uprising, Book 6) by Michael G. Thomas

was shocked, both at the idea the Biomechs might now be able to reproduce but also that Anderson had gone along with such a plan. It wasn’t that he disagreed, but he knew the Alliance and the Senate would probably have him court-martialled for what he had done. He looked at Osk and then to Khan.
    “How many females do you have now? Can they reproduce?”
    Khan grinned once more.
    “Two ships, each with more than a thousand Biomechs. Almost half are expecting offspring already. First new Jötnar is due in a few months. We have a lot of females now, and they are taking their time choosing mates.”
    “They?”
    “Well, there are lots of Jötnar and not many females to go around.”
    He looked around to Osk.
    “They can be very...picky!”
    Spartan stepped up to the female and looked at her. She looked very similar in build to Khan, and the only indications of her change of sex being a slightly larger chest and less harsh facial expression. He extended his arm in a sign of friendship. She sidestepped and pulled on his arm, instantly catapulting Spartan forward and to the ground. He landed hard but kept moving. He jumped up and kicked her in the back of the knee before she could turn. It was hard enough for her to lose balance but not enough to cause major damage. As she staggered, Spartan jumped up and forced his arm around her neck. The two crashed to the ground to the laughter of Khan. Two of the Terra Nova Guards jumped in to break it up, but Khan stepped in their path.
    “No, leave them!” he roared.
    Osk lay on her front with Spartan on top and doing his best to pin the much stronger Jötnar down. Apart from her name, he could see very little difference between the two of them. He pushed down harder and felt her twist. In seconds, he rolled off her to find the Jötnar pinning him to the floor. Her fist came hurtling to his face, and only months of experience of combat gave him the reflexes and muscle memory to avoid the strike. He used all the strength in his upper body and neck to head butt her in the mouth before she rolled off. Spartan lifted himself up and shook off the dust. Osk did the same and faced him with two trickles of blood running down her face.
    “You want some more?” said Spartan as he spat a mouthful of blood to the floor.
    She stopped and turned to Khan.
    “Gun was right. He is good,” she said with satisfaction before marching up to Spartan and swinging her arm much like Khan had done at first. Spartan twisted his left forearm to block it and stopped it just short of his chest. It was a strike although it was a mark of friendship. He looked at her bloodied face and friendly, if somewhat contorted smile. He knew the humour of the Jötnar and brought his right hand over to grasp hers.
    “Osk, nice to meet you,” he said as pleasantly as he could.
    She nodded to him and stepped back to the side of Khan.
    Spartan rubbed his face with the back of his hand and noted the blood, more annoying as the blood and dirt was on his dress uniform.
    There is a reason I usually stay with my fatigues!
    Khan called over to him and the soldiers.
    “You, and your friends. You have time for drink?”
    Spartan turned to the soldiers who looked confused.
    “Well?” he asked.
    “A drink with you and your Jötnar friends? Hell yes!” laughed the Corporal.
    Spartan nodded, pleased that at least he could spend some time with soldiers and fighters rather than the myriad of politicians and businessmen that seemed to be lurking throughout the building.
    “What about the rest of you?” he asked the other soldiers.
    A chorus of acknowledgements confirmed that the small band of soldiers would head to the nearest bar. Spartan gave Khan a friendly punch, and the group moved off down the main hallway, to the astonishment of the assembled patrons.

CHAPTER FOUR
     

    Following the Union defeat at Terra Nova the 1st Jötnar Battalion transferred to the fire world of Prometheus. As their birthplace, it was also the only