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

any. Let's face it, I'd rather have him working with us that against us.”
    “Like they say, 'War makes for strange bedfellows’ ”
    “Let's not even go there. That image makes me want to puke.”
    ********
    The two large ships joined together with a rigid umbilical and soon the team was transferring all their gear to McCarthy's ship. With the exception of Trimen, the Formilians had no experience with McCarthy. Trimen was aware that it had been McCarthy who orchestrated the kidnapping of their supreme religious figure, Arieel Bol, the event that led to Adam’s involvement with the Formilians and their artificial telepathy device. However, the handsome alien chose to suppress his emotions for the duration of the mission, and to fall in line behind the Humans for any revenge which might be coming McCarthy’s way at its conclusion.
    The three other Humans—Tobias, Rutledge and Tindal—were another story. If looks could kill, Nigel McCarthy would have suffered the most agonizingly painful and creative death possible at the hands of the three SEAL's. As it was, the ex-British SAS Major was quick to recognize the looks and did his best to ease the growing tension.
    “I know I've done some shitty things in the past, mates, but that's all over now. The galaxy has changed and there's not a lot of room for people like me out here anymore. When I got back to my base, my traitorous scientists had destroyed my entire operation and killed off almost my entire crew. What was left wasn't worth salvaging. So you see, I have nothing; it's now time to return home and face the music.”
    “So what did happen to the rest of your crew, McCarthy?” Admiral Tobias asked, not even close to being convinced that Nigel was sincere. “Did you have them for dinner?”
    McCarthy cringed some knowing how close to the truth that statement was—if not for him, then the survivors of his pitiful crew. “I set them free. Some got medical attention, others were given passage on one of my other ships to the planet of their choice,” he lied. “I'm not sure any have returned to Earth, at least not yet.”
    “If it's known that they were part of your army of terrorists and murderers, I doubt if their homecoming would be that welcome.”
    “That’s what I hope to remedy with this mission, Admiral.”
    John Tindal stepped up to the six-foot-four-inch tall Brit, his own large stature equaling that of McCarthy's. “You know you're in the lion's den here, mate , and that if it wasn't for Riyad you'd be a frozen-solid lump of floating debris outside the ship right about now. Just do your fucking job ... and then we'll decide how to treat you after that.”
    “That's fair, Petty Officer Tindal," Nigel said, looking more penitent than any of them had ever seen him before. “I understand that only my actions will mean anything to you and the rest of your team. But now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the bridge and start our journey to Elision." Then he paused and offered a wicked-looking grin back at Tindal. “That, my friend, will be the real lion's den .”
     

 
     

    Chapter 9

    T he space around the Kracori homeworld of Elision was cluttered with spaceships of all makes and models, including dozens of Volseen vessels. Being the closest of the Nebula worlds to Elision, the Volsee were enthusiastic supporters of the Kracori against the ravenous Human invaders. For generations the two races had interacted, but only now was the association able to be revealed. A warlike race in their own right, the Volsee idolized the much stronger and experienced Kracori, envious of their near-assumption of complete control of the Expansion only a few short years before. They also knew it had been the Humans who spoiled the Kracori prospects of ruling the galaxy. And now the Humans were coming for them. They would be ready, offering everything in their arsenal to the Kracori to help defeat the creatures from Earth.
    At the time McCarthy secured the