Star Crusades Nexus: Book 09 - The Black Rift by Michael G. Thomas

mix as well as those looking to make a quick buck. The risk to security with these people was much greater than normal, especially when a number of their commanders had been brought on board for clearance.
    This is much worse.
    The idea of marines defending tunnels and passageways was worrying enough. But this idea of sending out engineers, scientists, and technicians with light weapons could result in only one thing, mass casualties for both sides.
    I’ve got to defuse this thing. I’ve got to.
    “What about the transport? Are they still on board?”
    Lieutenant Young smiled.
    “I sent the order for them to stay until we knew what was happening. They are waiting to hear if we need help. The main landing bay is secured, and they are not far from us.”
    That was the first bit of good news he’d heard all day. He looked to the mainscreen where the live stream from the enemy command ship continued to run. He’d seen the same model of ship many times. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that this particular vessel had been one of those waiting to be scrapped. There were a number of high-orbit decommissioning sites around Terra Nova where old ships went to die. Even this far into the future, and with so many planets, it was more cost effective to strip down old ships than to harvest new materials. Scores of ships from the Uprising a generation ago had been sent there as they were replaced with newer classes of ship.
    Surely not? Is this where Harrison has been building up his base of support, with the old shipyards and scrappers?
    The entire industry of scrappage had been a massive issue of the last five years, primarily due to involvement by gangs and criminals. The materials and equipment used on military ships, even the old models, were worth considerable amounts of money. He rubbed at his jaw and made a mental note to look into this further. Then he spotted movement near the shuttles.
    The idiots! Are they trying to start a war?
    “Captain. Do not make the mistake of trying to board this station. I am authorized to use lethal force against any intruder.”
    The man chuckled on the other side via the live videostream that was being sent out unencoded and on more than thirty different bands.
    “There are no intruders here. These are Alliance Navy vessels, and I am sending teams over to assist in your security operations. I expect nothing less than professional courtesy and all the help you can offer me.”
    The Colonel was on the brink of resignation when he noticed the groan from two female officers. He looked to them and watched as one dropped to her knees and vomited uncontrollably.
    “What’s going on?”
    More of the officers began talking, but he could see the communications officer waving at him furiously. As soon as they made eye contact, the man beckoned for him to come to his screen. Colonel Pierce walked the short distance, along with a handful of other officers.
    “What is it?”
    There was no need to answer, though. It was a live videostream by the Alliance News Network, the official voice of the government. It showed the Grand Palace on Terra Nova. Lines of civilians and soldiers filled the space while a speech continued. In the center was a beautiful sculpture of men fighting creatures and on the floor a number of still forms. It was the scrolling ticker that stunned every one of them. It simply read that a full-scale coup was underway by the forces of General Rivers and separatists amongst the Biomechs.
    “Is it true?” asked a junior science officer.
    Colonel Pierce brought his fist down onto the console.
    “How can you even ask this? General Rivers is assisting with combat operations in the Helios System.”
    He looked at the image and then pointed at three points on the screen.
    “Magnify those.”
    It took seconds for each of the segments of video to be enlarged and enhanced on the bank of screens. Each showed the scene from a different vantage point. The first was