Free The Search for Gram by Chris Kennedy Page B

like 15 or 16. Most of them reach at least 15 feet and weigh well over a ton.”
    The Jotunn’s scan stopped upon catching sight of Captain Nightsong, and it laughed a long, deep belly laugh which was echoed by several of the other giants who could be seen at stations behind him. “This is the best you could do, Aesir?” it asked. “You come into our territory with this toy ship and these puny creatures to aid you? We had expected more…even from you.”
    Captain Nightsong’s eyes narrowed, and a small growl escaped his lips. “This is not your system,” he replied. “By treaty, this is our system, and we are here to find several of our ships that have gone missing.”
    “You banished us to Jotunheimr,” said the Jotunn, “but we stay there no more. We have ventured forth to reclaim the worlds which once were ours. No longer will we do as you say. We have new friends who will restore us to Asgard. As to your ships, we have your Blue Forest , or what is left of it. You are welcome to come and get what few survivors remain.”
    “You destroyed our ship?” asked Captain Nightsong. “There will be war!”
    The Jotunn laughed again. “Destroyed it? No, we did not. Nor will we destroy your puny ship, or seek to harm you in any way if you want to come and get your people.”
    “I am Captain Sheppard of the Terran ship Vella Gulf ,” said the commanding officer. “May I ask who it is I am addressing?”
    The Jotunn turned and glared at him. “I am Fenrir, son of Loki, and captain of the Jotunn ship Soaring Eagle ,” the giant replied. “I am also the military commander of this system. Who or what is a Terran, and why have you come?”
    “We are from Terra, a planet many light years from here. The Aesir asked us to help them find out what happened to their missing ships.”
    “Ho, ho, ho,” the Jotunn laughed, “since you have come so far, I will make it easy for you and simply tell you what happened. The elves came into our systems and were destroyed. Now that you know, you may carry this word back to their leaders. You may also take them a warning. Tell them we are coming for them.” He smiled and then added, “Ragnarok has begun.” The screen went blank as the transmission ended.
    “Huh,” said Captain Sheppard, turning to face Captain Nightsong, “that was kind of abrupt. What do you make of it?”
    “Like I said,” the Aesir replied, “there will be war. I don’t know how they destroyed our ships, but now that we know it was the Jotunn, they won’t be able to fool us again.”
    “How do you know it was the Jotunn who destroyed your ships?” asked Steropes.
    “Because Fenrir said they did,” replied Nightsong. “His own admission damns him! We will muster our fleet and come back here to teach them the consequences of their actions!”
    “Steropes is right,” said Calvin. “How do you know it was the Jotunn? Fenrir didn’t say the Jotunn destroyed your ships; he just said they were destroyed. Isn’t that right, Solomon?”
    “That is correct,” replied the ship’s artificial intelligence. The front view screen lit up with a replay of the conversation. The image of the Jotunn leader filled the screen and said, “Destroyed it? No, we did not.” The tape jumped forward a little, and he added, “They came into our systems and were destroyed.”
    “You said before that the Jotunn periodically attack you, correct?” asked Calvin.
    “Yes,” agreed Nightsong. “They were actually overdue to attack, based on historical patterns. It has to be them.”
    “Wouldn’t your ships’ commanding officers also have been aware of this, especially after the first ship or two went missing?” asked Calvin. “Wouldn’t they know to be on the lookout for a Jotunn attack? How could something so big have snuck up on one of your ships?”
    “I do not know how it is possible,” admitted Nightsong. “They have never been able to surprise us in the past. They must have developed some new