Star Trek: No Surrender (Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers Book 13)

He used to be by myself within the prepared room now. “And I don’t care what mess you’ve gotten your self into. I purely wish something. ” “And what’s that? ” “Ambassador Uree, Deborah, and Benjamin lower back to me, secure and sound. ” “They’re all advantageous, David. You’ll simply need to take my notice for it. yet I can’t unlock them to you. I’m stunned you’d imagine they weren’t secure and sound, to be sincere. ” “I don’t recognize you anymore, Gus. I don’t recognize what chances are you'll do. ” “I’m sorry that your estimation of me has sunk so low. We have been acquaintances, as soon as upon a time. ” “That was once in the past, Gus. an entire life in the past. ” “Lives are brief, David. ” “That relies on the way you stay them. ” Bradford laughed, an explosive sound. “I’ll inform you, while I wore a Starfleet uniform, with my very own send, I felt like all day was once an entire life lengthy. I’ve by no means felt as loose as i've got right here on New Terra. ” “The Federation isn’t as undesirable as you're making it out to be, Gus. ” “Nor is it pretty much as good as you’d wish to imagine. you continue to put on the uniform. You’ve brainwashed your self, David. You don’t are looking to imagine that your lifestyles has been wasted in provider of the incorrect beliefs. ” Gold became clear of the viewscreen so Bradford couldn’t see him attempting to not snort. while he had regained his composure, he grew to become again. “The beliefs I serve are an identical ones you used to think in, Gus. Decency, equity, honor, accountability. You take note our arguments, Gus? You have been regularly the single protecting the Federation opposed to my demanding situations, my attacks. seems the Federation is ready to protect itself. It’s no longer the intransigent monolith i assumed it to be finally. perhaps it’s time you took one other glance. ” “No thank you, David. ” The glance on Bradford’s face, the conceited half-smile that acknowledged that the argument was once over—at least so far as he used to be concerned—was so regularly occurring to Gold that he may in addition have visible it simply the day before today. The expression wiped away the years, and Gold felt a surprising wave of sorrow, as though he have been taking a look at his outdated buddy in his Academy days, filled with satisfaction and optimism and the feel that each one the doorways within the universe have been open to him, and he had simply to settle on which one to go through first. “Come on, Gus. Be a mensch for as soon as. unlock your hostages and paintings this out the correct approach. ” Bradford’s solution was once gradual in coming, as though he needed to imagine it over, although, actually, it will possibly were foreordained. “Sorry, David,” he stated ultimately. “No hand over. ” Gold pounded a fist on his table. “Dammit, guy, they’re going to kill you! They don’t negotiate with terrorists, and they’re going to wipe out the base—including Deborah and Ben! ” “Their deaths might be on Aulyffke’s head, no longer mine. ” “What the hell distinction does it make whose head it’s on? They’ll nonetheless be dead—just simply because that they had the idiot suggestion that vacationing you used to be a good suggestion. Does Deborah need to die simply because she simply sought after you to fulfill your grandson? Does Ben should have his whole existence taken clear of him since you have to turn out some extent? ” Bradford stated not anything. simply the truth that he had controlled to close Gus up emboldened Gold.