Free The Shattered Empire (The Shadow Space Chronicles Book 2) by Kal Spriggs Page B

is actually an appointee, she works with your brother in organizing our military policy and recruiting allies.  The Restorationist Party took over and it was their efforts over the past few years that allowed us to save up enough to hire the War Dogs.”
    “And what about Admiral Mannetti?  Why is she involved?” Garret asked, with narrow eyes.  While he had his own suspicions over the accuracy of Daniel's information, that was more due to how byzantine his father's planning process could be, rather than any distrust of the man.
    Daniel looked away, “Are you asking as a mercenary... or as a citizen of Halcyon?”
    Garret sighed, “Right now, a little bit of both.”  He met the older man's eyes, “You, at least, have to see that she's not exactly good ally material.”
    “She isn't,” Daniel said.  “But the word is that we've got something that she wants... something she can't take, not without our help.”
    “What could be that valuable?”  Garret demanded.  “The only thing here that valuable was the alien stuff Nova Corp was investigating... and they only ever found the one damaged facility.”  He shook his head, “And, I'm sorry, but some archaic tech that might be repaired isn't enough for her.”  He looked between Abigail and Daniel for clues.  Daniel remained stony faced, but Abigail chewed on her lip and looked like she wanted to talk.  “... unless someone found something else.”
    “I don't know,” Daniel said, finally, “we've only heard rumors.  But Brokenjaw Mountain's been shut down for the past two years.  People were very quiet about it, especially while Nova Corp was around.  Then, as soon as your folks cleared them out of the sky, there's been a lot of traffic up that way.  A brand new road.  Construction and excavation equipment.  Admiral Mannetti's brought in people, engineers, scientists... they go down that road and none of them come back out.”
    Garret shook his head, “This is dangerous.”  He thought about the situation for a moment.  The old dig site was only thirty miles away from Brokenjaw Mountain, but had been badly damaged by some kind of impact.  Brokenjaw Mountain was named for it's distinctive caldera.  The massive volcanic plateau around it was a wildlife preserve and refuge and was some of the most rugged terrain on the planet.
    Daniel snorted, “Being under that nut job back on Santa Cruz is dangerous.  Being subject to Nova Corp and their goons is dangerous.  Having a fighting chance?  That's just risky.”
    “You don't understand,” Garret said sharply.  “Admiral Mannetti is easily as calculating and nasty as either of them... and she exists outside the law.  She's a pirate, one of the worst, from what I've heard.  She's going to try to take whatever it is you people have here and then she's going to loot this place to the ground and maybe just sell the survivors into slavery rather than nuking the place from orbit.”  He tried to put every ounce of his sincerity into his voice, yet as he stared at the old man, Garret saw iron resolve on his face.
    “We'll deal with her, then, like we've dealt with Amalgamated Worlds, Presidente Salazar, and Nova Corp, ” Daniel said.  “But we will have our freedom... or die trying.”
    ***

Chapter II
     
     
    Anvil System
    Colonial Republic
    July 25, 2403
     
    Lauren Kelly followed Mason through the crowded streets.  She wondered, absently, if they were still wanted from their last visit here or if that had blown over.  Granted, she would bet that Admiral Collae had probably pulled some strings to clear things up.
    They were in Port Jita, now, anyway.  If she remembered right, each of the towns on Anvil were independent, one reason the planet had such a pirate presence.  Four different colonies had been founded here and the three that remained retained rivalry over the system.
    Mason stopped outside a large, grim-looking concrete structure.  The humidity of Anvil had left stains down the