OMEGA Allegiance (25 page)

Harden Salton stepped in behind her. "And just what is it that you think is going on out there?"

Joni jumped up, moving around the couch to greet her uncle. Her hug was not returned.

Harden Salton looked at me. "You. I thank you for the return of my niece, but you have been stirring up malcontent and that is going to stop. Your exile is revoked, however, your debt to the New Alliance remains to be fulfilled."

The four personal guards that had accompanied us drew their blaster pistols. "You, come with us!"

Joni protested. "Wait! You haven't heard what it is we have to say! That portal is not taking the conscripts to fight in the Andromeda galaxy. They are jumping to some other galaxy outside of the Alliance! And the Grotus and the Grumar are just using you to do their bidding! We are sending our citizens to fight their wars!"

Harden Salton gave an evil grin. "The Grotus are merely managing our war for us, my dear. The Moddle are standing in the way of our opening a hundred new colonies out there. That entire galaxy is full of small, backwards empires, just waiting to be absorbed. With the Grotus running our campaigns, we have the military experience and equipment that we lack here. It would have taken us thirty years to crush the Moddle. With the Grotus running things, we can accomplish that feat in three."

Harden Salton looked at me and continued, "Oh, and your little empire out in Omega. That will be dismantled in the coming weeks. Governor Marcos kept things peaceful there, I was sad to hear of his demise. No matter, I will have a new Governor in place shortly. And thank you for organizing the mines for us, those resources were sorely needed."

I spoke as the guards took hold of my arms. "You are playing into their hands, Mr. Salton. The Grotus are aggressive and will not be managed by any other species. They will win your wars, and then turn and crush you as well."

Harden replied, "The Greens, as you call them, I've been told they look a lot like Gruntas, only they are warriors and not farmers."

I shook my head. "They are a sister species. There are only a few minor genetic differences between us. One of those differences is their aggressive behavior. As I said, they will not be ruled or commanded by others. They are dominators and not allies. Mark my words, when you least expect it, they will turn on you."

Harden Salton waved his hand with chagrin. "We have the Grotus under control. One thing that puzzles me though, you Grunta were one of the species in the War of Wars, soundly defeated by us Humans, but a warrior species, and yet you choose to be farmers. Why is that?"

I replied, "Unlike the Grotus, we prefer to build and create rather than destroy. With the Grotus, the only thing you will build is your own defeat. I have warned you."

Harden Salton scowled. "You had best worry about your own demise. Your new debt to the empire, for all of the trouble you have caused, will be one of conscription. You will be sent through that portal where you will soon join your brethren in battle."

I replied, "I will not fight alongside the Grotus. They wouldn't allow me to live. They have been our hated enemy since before the AMP. I will be dead the moment I am seen."

Harden Salton laughed. "Oh, I don't think you have to worry about the Grotus killing you. You and the other Gruntas will be too busy fighting the Moddle!"

I turned quickly to face my new nemesis.

Harden Salton smiled. "Yes, those transports you passed were carrying Gruntas! Your entire planet... men, women, children... even the elderly insisted on all going together. The handful of Gruntas that lived off-world voluntarily returned for it as well. It seems that there were all sorts of secretive meetings and goings on by your people that we never knew about. It is still unclear, but it almost seemed as though they were preparing for war, which is fortuitous for both of us I suppose.

My eyes burned with hatred over what I had just been told. "I will return here one day. And on that day I will avenge the death of every Grunta that was made to pass through that portal!"

Harden Salton again waved his hand. "Take him away. I'm tiring of his presence."

~~~~~

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