by Isaac Hooke
“So what can I do for you?” Rade asked. “Or did you come here merely to comment on the fascinating nature of new life.”
Surus smiled at the barb. “I wanted to thank you for agreeing to continue helping me, despite everything that has happened. The betrayal of my kind is a terrible blow.”
“Believe me,” Rade told her. “I’ve almost given up on you many times, now. Honestly, I’m not really sure why I haven’t dropped you off at the nearest station and said my farewells. I guess it’s because we’ve fought together for so long. Since the First Alien War, when we shared a mech. Battling side by side. That’s the only true way to gauge a man’s word, and his worth. Or an alien’s, in this case. I still don’t completely trust you, and I’m not sure I ever will. But our goals align, for the moment. We need to eliminate the Phant threat in this space, regardless of what our High Councils and governments tell us.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Surus said, sounding cautious. “You should know, the High Council has repeatedly ordered me to cease my hunting activities in this space.”
“But you’re going to continue...” Shaw said.
“As I told Rade when we were trapped underneath the lava planet, I have worked with humans too long to abandon you now,” Surus replied. “In fact, I consider myself more human than Phant at this point.”
Shaw gave Rade a worried glance. Like him, he knew she didn’t entirely trust Surus, and she likely didn’t know what to make of Surus’ latest revelation. Neither did Rade, for that matter. Would Surus truly betray her race for humanity in this regard? Thus far, he had seen no indication that she would go back on her word, but still the doubts lingered.
“By the way,” Surus continued. “I’ve lost contact with all Greens in human space. Or rather, they’ve severed all contact with me. I had hoped there would be others of my kind still sympathetic to your cause in this part of the galaxy, but it appears that is not the case. They are too fearful of repercussions from the High Council.”
“Have you heard from Noctua yet?” Rade asked.
“No,” Surus said. “And that is disturbing. She should have reported back by now. I can only hope she changed the linkage codes of the Acceptor to prevent any Greens from arriving from my homeworld. And that she moved the base before the other Greens here could attack.”
“I’m guessing you want us to set a course for the existing base when this is done?” Rade said.
“I do,” Surus said. “But we must be careful, for the Greens will no doubt expect my arrival, and will attempt to lay a trap. When they learn I have hurled a fellow Green into a star, there will be no going back. Even though she violated the High Council’s edict by directly aiding a Purple.”
Shaw nodded slowly. “So much for our much vaunted friendship.”
“Yes,” Surus said. “I hope the both of you are ready for what’s coming.”
Rade frowned. “And what exactly is coming?”
Surus smiled sadly. “We hunt the Greens now, too.”
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postscript
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about the author
USA Today bestselling author Isaac Hooke holds a degree in engineering physics, though his more unusual inventions remain fictive at this time. He is an avid hiker, cyclist, and photographer who sometimes resides in Edmonton, Alberta.
acknowledgments
THANK YOU to my knowledgeable beta readers and advanced reviewers who helped smooth out the rough edges of the prerelease manuscript: Nicole P., Sandy G., Amy B., Lance W., Myles C., Lisa A. G., Gregg C., Jeff K., Mark C., Jeremy G., Doug B., Jenny O., Bryan O., Lezza M., Gene A., Larry J., Allen M., Gary F., Norman H., Eric, Robine, Noel, Anton, Spencer, Trudi, Corey, Erol, David, Charles, Walter, Lisa, Ramon, Chris, Scott, Michael, Chris, Bob, Jim, Maureen, Zane, Chuck, Shayne, Anna, Dave, Roger, Nick, Gerry, Charles, Annie, Patrick, Mike, Jeff, Lisa, Jason, Bryant, Janna, Tom, Jerry, Chris, Jim, Brandon, Kathy, Norm, Jonathan, Derek, Shawn, Judi, Eric, Rick, Bryan, Barry, Sherman, Jim, Bob, Ralph, Darren, Michael, Chris, Michael, Julie, Glenn, Rickie, Rhonda, Neil, Claude, Ski, Joe, Paul, Larry, John, Norma, Jeff, David, Brennan, Phyllis, Robert, Darren, Daniel, Montzalee, Robert, Dave, Diane, Peter, Skip, Louise, Dave, Brent, Erin, Paul, Jeremy, Dan, Garland, Sharon, Dave, Pat, Nathan, Max, Martin, Greg, David, Nancy, Ed, David, Karen, Becky, Jacob, Ben, Don, Carl, Gene, Bob, Luke, Teri, Gerald, Lee, Rich, Ken, Daniel, Chris, Al, Andy, Tim, Robert, Fred, David, Mitch, Don, Tony, Dian, Tony, John, James, David, Pat, Jean, Bryan, William, Roy, Dave, Vincent, Tim, Richard, Kevin, George, Andrew, John, Richard, Robin, Sue, Mark, Jerry, Rodger, Rob, Byron, Ty, Mike, Gerry, Steve, Benjamin, Anna, Keith, Jeff, Josh, Herb, Bev, Simon, John, David, Greg, Larry, Timothy, Tony, Ian, Niraj, Maureen, Jim, Len, Bryan, Todd, Maria, Angela, Gerhard, Renee, Pete, Hemantkumar, Tim, Joseph, Will, David, Suzanne, Steve, Derek, Valerie, Laurence, James, Andy, Mark, Tarzy, Christina, Rick, Mike, Paula, Tim, Jim, Gal, Anthony, Ron, Dietrich, Mindy, Ben, Steve, Paddy & Penny, Troy, Marti, Herb, Jim, David, Alan, Leslie, Chuck, Dan, Perry, Chris, Rich, Rod, Trevor, Rick, Michael, Tim, Mark, Alex, John, William, Doug, Tony, David, Sam, Derek, John, Jay, Tom, Bryant, Larry, Anjanette, Gary, Travis, Jennifer, Henry, Drew, Michelle, Bob, Gregg, Billy, Jack, Sandra, Libby, Jonathan, Karl, Bruce, Clay, Gary, Sarge, Andrew, Deborah, Steve, and Curtis.
Without you all, this novel would have typos, continuity errors, and excessive lapses in realism. Thank you for helping me make this the best military science fiction novel it could possibly be, and thank you for leaving the early reviews that help new readers find my books.
And of course I’d be remiss if I didn't thank my mother, father, and brothers, whose untiring wisdom and thought-provoking insights have always guided me through the untamed warrens of life.
— Isaac Hooke
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