No Way to Start a War (TCOTU, Book 2) (This Corner of the Universe) (27 page)

Holding
his hand up, Heskan began to speak to bring the meeting back to order but
Vitale continued speaking over him.  “History is replete with ‘Vic propaganda
efforts to legitimize your atrocities.  What excuse was used to devastate Salus?”

Heskan
knocked loudly on his table, wanting to re-establish control.  “I think—”

Christova
interrupted as he glared at Kwan.  “How loudly did you applaud as you
extinguished millions of innocent Hollarans?  Hollarans who were actually some
of the biggest proponents for ending this war?  Did you know that, ‘Vic?  Do
you even care that you annihilated one of the loudest voices for peace in the
Commonwealth?”

It
was clear the Hollaran officers did not care what Heskan wanted.  He looked at
Lombardi with a helpless expression.

“
Silenzio!
”
Lombardi roared as she pounded her table.  Heskan saw her officers flinch.  Her
face flushed red and her eyes were wide with rage.  “Enough!  You may not like
them,” she shouted, gesturing toward Heskan’s panel.  “They may not like you. 
But we are all on the wrong side of space.  Stephan, you saw Kapitan Rokos
being covered by those things as he begged us to destroy Bahamut.  Is that what
you want for your crew?”

The
question hung in the air but she did not wait for an answer.  “Commander
Heskan, in this circumstance, our votes are the only ones that matter.  I vote
to run from the tunnel point once we dive into Perdita.  What say you?”

The
question knocked Heskan from the shock of witnessing Lombardi’s eruption.  “I
agree.”  He could not help but notice Arnold and Kwan stiffen in their seats as
he spoke.

“Is
settled then,” Lombardi said with a triumphant nod.  “Commander, we have less
than five minutes before our dive.  I will contact you when we reach Perdita. 
Buona
fortuna
.”  She spoke briefly in her native tongue and her officers signed
off quickly from the virtual meeting.  At last, she looked at Heskan and offered
what might have been a smirk before her panel closed.

“Prepare
to dive in sequence.  Dismissed,” Heskan said and Arnold and Kwan disconnected
from the meeting.

“Interesting
leadership style,” Vernay commented from across the briefing table.  “How long
can she keep her grip on her captains?”

Heskan
looked at the ship’s chronometer in the meeting room. 
Four minutes until
our dive
.  “I don’t know, Stacy.  Even if we can trust her, how does that
help us if her captains rebel?”

Vernay
tilted her head and cautioned, “I hope you noticed Arnold and Kwan, Captain. 
They weren’t exactly thrilled when you agreed with Lombardi.”

“Take
your station, Stacy, and dive the ship.  I’ll be up soon.”

When
Heskan was alone, he gazed at the chronometer, watching the seconds tick down
to
Kite’s
dive.  The countdown became ominous, like an inevitable march toward
Kite’s
oblivion.  Heskan bit his lip as he tried to push away the dark omens
he felt. 
Don’t think like that, Garrett.  Nothing has been written in stone
and we’re still a half-step ahead of them.  As long as we stand together, we
have a chance of coming out of this alive
.

Lieutenant
Vernay’s voice came over the 1-MC.  “All hands, prepare for dive.” 
Kite’s
two-toned dive alarm sounded briefly before she dove away from her hunters and
into tunnel space.

Watch for

The Wrong Side
of Space

Coming
Summer 2014

For
updates on future books, visit http://www.thiscorneroftheuniverse.com.  If you
liked
No Way to Start a War
, consider leaving a review where you bought
the book. 

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