Free Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 3: A Galaxy to Conquer by T. R. Harris Page A

could be more dangerous. Most Outer ships would be heading away from the Nebula, not further into it. And the Volsee ship, being as large as it is, could be a much sought after addition to the Nebula’s growing fleet. This was going to get dicey.
    A few minutes later, Adam reopened the link to the Pegasus . “Kaylor, it’s Adam. Come in.”
    “Here, Adam. We are clear, and when we launched it started a surge of other launches as well. It seems no one wants to stay on the planet and become part of the defense force.”
    “I’m meeting up with the other ship near the small Tel’oran moon. I need you to keep your distance. I will set up a separate and continuous link to you once I get aboard the other ship on a frequency only we will know. This will be our private way of communicating.”
    “Understood,” Kaylor said. “So what of the informant’s credentials? Will he be able to help rescue Riyad?”
    Adam hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he should let the Belsonian know that the informant was none other than Nigel McCarthy. After a moment he decided to let him in on the secret.
    “McCarthy! I thought he was dead.”
    “We all did. But now he has a ship and access codes to get us to the surface of Elision. He spent seven years there, so he’s the best source we have. I need to use him, while also keeping a close eye on him.”
    “I assume a close eye means to watch him carefully for any treachery. Knowing McCarthy’s past, that would be very prudent.”
    “This also means you will probably become a vital part of this mission at some point, my friend. I can’t believe that everything will go smoothly from here on out. The mission has gotten off to a rocky start already.”
    “Jym and I are ready and willing to assist. Not so much is the pilot Ruszel Crin. He keeps saying that you will all die during the transit to the Shield, and not from the warring spaceships but from the Nebula itself. He says it is a dangerous passage and novices will not make it through the maze.”
    “But he’s still not willing to help us?”
    “That is correct. He appears to be enjoying the circumstances, at least for now. Yet as I pilot the Pegasus further into the Nebula with him aboard, he may choose to assist me out of a need for self-preservation. Is McCarthy familiar with the landscape of the Nebula?”
    “He says he is, and yet he only escaped from Elision once, and that was three years ago. I’m sure his knowledge is not nearly as in-depth as Ruszel’s. I will keep you informed of our progress as often as I can without letting McCarthy know you’re out there.”
    “Acknowledged, Adam. We will stay back and await your link.”
    “Good luck, Kaylor.”

 
     

    Chapter 8

    “I sure hope you know what you're doing,” Sherri said as she watched the large Volseen ship grow larger in the forward viewport.
    “So do I.” The two Humans were standing on the bridge, just behind the Formilian pilots as the rendezvous was taking place. “McCarthy is the only one who's actually been on Elision. He's studied the planet and the Kracori. If he behaves himself, this could actually be a bonus.”
    Sherri looked at Adam with a scowl. “That's like saying Hitler spoke German so let's use the Austrian as our guide to Auschwitz.”
    It was Adam's turn to scowl. “That's an obscure reference if ever I heard one.”
    “History minor, Mr. Cain. And history is why I'm having a hard time believing that you didn't just up and kill him the moment you saw him. The guy's a lying, backstabbing, rat-bastard of the first-degree.”
    Adam managed a feeble smile. “Yeah, but right now he's a lying, backstabbing, rat-bastard with a ship that can get us to Elision. We owe it to Riyad to at least use all the tools at our disposal.”
    “Are you forgetting that his men killed Lee and tried to do the same to the rest of us?”
    “Of course not, and when we have Riyad back safe and sound, then we'll see how much of our forgiveness McCarthy's earned, if