Raven's Peace Read online

  He ran out of words, standing there, staring at fourteen politicians and hoping that enough of them understood. That enough of them could hear the truth.

  “Breathe, Colonel Wong,” Kariuki told him, the big man’s voice very soft. He glanced around at his compatriots. “If you and the Ambassador could give us a few minutes?” he asked. “I believe we should discuss this in private.”

  The disadvantage of having a computer network embedded in your body was a perfect sense of time. It was seventeen minutes and forty-two seconds from the moment the door closed to the moment it opened again.

  “Come in, Colonel, Ambassador,” Saren told them, the Admiral holding the door with her own hands. She led them back to the table at the front and stood next to them.

  “We have discussed your proposal and your…assessment of its necessity,” Councilor Tzu told him. The androgynous Chinese councilor looked at him gently. “Some of us pretend to have hearts of iron, Colonel, but we are all human. Most of us have, in fact, been soldiers.

  “Your points ring true, but I must remind you that it is not the Security Council’s task to authorize new funding agreements. It is, in truth, our task to say no to the UPA’s leadership when we believe that the nations we represent have no chance of saying yes.”

  “We are not saying no this time,” Kariuki said loudly and clearly, as if shutting down any last scraps of argument. “I will take your proposal—and, I think, a recording of your presentation—to Keid. I believe I can convince the Grand Council to authorize a funding agreement to keep your peacekeepers in operation.”

  “We will all take your proposal home,” Kennedy confirmed. “And we will do all we can. For now, though, to begin this operation calls for the UPA to take on the risk that our governments will not choose to fund it.”

  “Then we will take that risk,” Saren said flatly. “Too many of my officers came back from Golden Lancelot looking for an answer. They don’t know the question yet, and therapy helps them put it aside, but they are still looking for an answer. I do believe that Colonel Wong has finally helped me understand the question:

  “We have committed a great evil. However necessary, the destruction of a species can be described no other way. How, then, do we make up for that? How do we balance our accounts with God?

  “To be peacekeepers is only a beginning, but the need is there, and we have the strength to act. While you convince your governments that the funding will be required, I and the rest of UPSF command will go over Colonel Wong’s proposals in detail.

  “By the time your ship is ready to return to action, Captain Wong, we will have a peacekeeping fleet to send you to.”

  Henry bowed his head in relief. He’d done it. Somehow, he’d done it.

  He knew the task he’d set before himself and his comrades wasn’t an easy one. It was, in many ways, an impossible one. They couldn’t save everyone.

  But to balance their accounts, they would save everyone they could.

  Join the Mailing List

  Love Glynn Stewart’s books? Join the mailing list at https://www.glynnstewart.com/mailing-list/ to know as soon as new books are released, special announcements, and a chance to win free paperbacks.

  About the Author

  Glynn Stewart is the author of Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible–but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Duchy of Terra, Castle Federation and Vigilante, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood.

  Writing managed to liberate Glynn from a bleak future as an accountant. With his personality and hope for a high-tech future intact, he lives in Kitchener, Ontario with his wife, their cats, and an unstoppable writing habit.

  VISIT GLYNNSTEWART.COM FOR NEW RELEASE UPDATES.

  Other books by Glynn Stewart

  For release announcements join the mailing list by visiting GlynnStewart.com

  Peacekeepers of Sol

  Raven’s Peace

  Raven’s Oath (upcoming)

  Exile

  Ashen Stars

  Exile

  Refuge

  Crusade (upcoming)

  Castle Federation

  Space Carrier Avalon

  Stellar Fox

  Battle Group Avalon

  Q-Ship Chameleon

  Rimward Stars

  Operation Medusa

  Starship’s Mage

  Starship’s Mage

  Hand of Mars

  Voice of Mars

  Alien Arcana

  Judgment of Mars

  UnArcana Stars

  Sword of Mars

  Mountain of Mars (upcoming)

  Starship’s Mage: Red Falcon

  Interstellar Mage

  Mage-Provocateur

  Agents of Mars

  Duchy of Terra

  The Terran Privateer

  Duchess of Terra

  Terra and Imperium

  Light of Terra: A Duchy of Terra series

  Darkness Beyond

  Shield of Terra

  Imperium Defiant

  Shadow of Terra: A Duchy of Terra series

  Relics of Eternity (upcoming)

  Vigilante (With Terry Mixon)

  Heart of Vengeance

  Oath of Vengeance

  Bound By Stars: A Vigilante Series (With Terry Mixon)

  Bound By Law

  Bound by Honor

  Bound by Blood

  Scattered Stars: Conviction

  Conviction (upcoming)

  Changeling Blood

  Changeling’s Fealty

  Hunter’s Oath

  Noble’s Honor

  Fae, Flames & Fedoras: A Changeling Blood Universe Novella

  ONSET

  ONSET: To Serve and Protect

  ONSET: My Enemy’s Enemy

  ONSET: Blood of the Innocent

  ONSET: Stay of Execution

  Fantasy Stand Alone Novels

  Children of Prophecy

  City in the Sky