Free The Szuiltan Alliance (The Szuiltan Trilogy) by Neil Davies Page B

speak to you. Make sure you show full respect. You may be a criminal but you are still an Earthman and still an officer in the Terramarine Corp. Behave like one."
    Loadra span on his heel and marched out of the door without looking back. It would never occur to the priest that the prisoner would not do as commanded.
    After a moment's hesitation, Martin followed, two Military Police officers falling into step behind him as he entered the corridor.
    They marched through the ship in silence, only the gentle humming of the engines and support systems that formed a constant and, after a while, unnoticeable background breaking the strangely disconcerting quiet. They passed few people, but those they did stole quick and frightened glances first at Loadra and then at Martin. Rumours would by now have spread throughout the ship’s crew. Few would be unaware of Martin or his crime.
    As they neared the Controller's offices their progress was watched by a succession of grim men and women ranged along the walls. They did not wear uniform, but all carried heavy calibre weapons in their arms. The Controller's personal bodyguards, highly trained soldiers handpicked by the Controller himself for duty in this most prestigious and elite section of the military.
    Loadra stopped and turned as they reached the door at the end of the corridor.
    "You will wait here. Do not move until you are summoned."
    He disappeared through the door in a swirl of robes leaving Martin standing to attention, flanked by the two Military Policemen.
    Martin had to concentrate to stay upright and still, his legs wanting to buckle, his head to drop, his skin crawling with nervous itching. No man could face death completely unaffected, and he had no doubt that this audience with the Controller was little more than a delay on his path to execution.
    For now, he could do nothing but wait.
     
     

 
    Chapter 15
     
    The Aksian fleet moved slowly through space. Speed was not essential. Caution was. This was neutral space and until the treaty was signed no one trusted their Earth adversaries not to launch one final attack, an attack directly on the top official of Aks.
    Great battle cruisers, bristling with weapons and sensors, ploughed their heavy way through the stars to the front and rear. Carrier ships kept to the flanks, their fast agile fighter craft circling in a constant rotation of scouting missions, darting out to the very limits of communications with the fleet. In the centre of the fleet lay the Leader's cruiser, dwarfed by the giants around it, but made prominent by its gleaming silver hull in stark contrast with the gunmetal grey of the rest of the fleet. Inlaid in bright blue on the nose of the ship was the speared circle of Aks.
    Leader Carlton paced the floor of his private cabin. He had taken the call from the Earth Controller just minutes earlier, realising that a direct communication indicated a seriousness that it would have been foolish to ignore.
    He spoke to the empty room, his voice detected and transmitted by the communicator inlaid in the desk to one side of him.
    "This raid was in direct violation of our agreement." His voice held no anger, just deep sadness. So many complications. Why couldn't everything run smoothly for once?
    "It was done without my authorisation." The Controller's voice emanated from speakers set into the walls of the cabin. "My High Priest allowed his religious fervour, rather than his common sense, dictate his actions."
    "All priests are dangerous in this. I don't have a religious advisor. Perhaps you should consider your own need for one?"
    "My Government and my Administration are no concern of yours Leader. I did not ask to speak to you so you could lecture me on the difference in our ways."
    The soft crackling of static filled the room as the Leader paused, wiping a hand over his tired face.
    "Aksians have died needlessly." It was an accusation, not a simple statement, and was recognised as such by the Controller.
    "Most