by A. K. DuBoff
This is the end of Taran Empire Saga Book 1
THE STORY CONTINUES IN EMPIRE UPRISING…
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CONTINUE THE SAGA…
Buy Book 2: smarturl.it/taranempire2
Empire Uprising (Taran Empire Saga Book 2)
Ancient secrets may be the way forward…
Tarans have reached a tentative peace with the Erebus. While politicians on Tararia address the political ramifications of the new alliance, Jason and the rest of the TSS refocus their efforts on defense.
The Erebus are after something. It’s unclear what, but Jason is convinced they can’t be trusted. The Aesir’s data archive may hold the key to an effective defense, except keeping anything from the Erebus and their seemingly omnipotent abilities will put the fragile Taran Empire in even greater danger.
Fearing for the Empire’s security, the TSS implements a covert plan to upgrade the fortifications across the Taran worlds using ancient technology that has long been buried. Only, those secrets were locked away for a reason, and reopening the archives will initiate a conflict no one is prepared to fight.
Continue the story!
Buy Book 2: smarturl.it/taranempire2
ALSO BY A.K. DUBOFF…
The Taran Empire Saga is part of the broader Cadicle Universe, which includes epic space opera tales spread across thousands of years of history and lore.
Learn more about the Cadicle Universe:
www.cadicle.com
The Original Cadicle Series
Read the series the launched the universe! The seven-volume original series tells the story of the Bakzen War and fall of the Priesthood.
"Exciting space adventure" - Publisher's Weekly
A secret war. An empire in crisis. One final hope for victory.
Wil Sietinen is torn between two worlds. As a High Dynasty heir and the Tararian Selective Service’s most promising telekinetic Agent trainee, Wil is expected to be nothing short of exceptional in every way—even though the weight of responsibility is slowly crushing him.
When Wil finds himself face-to-face with the Bakzen, a mysterious race skilled in advanced telekinesis, he’s forced to confront his destiny. His unique gifts can help end a secret war waging within a hidden dimensional rift, and time is running out.
However, as the dire nature of the war and the truth about his own abilities begins to unfold, Wil realizes that he and his family are at the center of a generations-old galactic conspiracy. Enemies are not as they seem, and the future of the entire Taran Empire hangs in the balance.
Wil holds the key to victory, but saving his people may come at the ultimate price.
Get Book 1: Rumors of War (Cadicle Vols. 1-3) - Buy it now: smarturl.it/cadicle123
Mindspace: A Cadicle Space Opera
The Mindspace series tells Kira’s story about how she came to be the unique officer she is today.
Captain Kira Elsar, a telepath in the Tararian Guard, goes undercover to gather information about illegal nanotech research. Hints point to a brewing stellar civil war, but she needs to gather proof. Except, the mysterious forces behind the conflict already have their own plans for Kira that will change her life forever.
Book 1: Infiltration - smarturl.it/mindspace1
Verity Chronicles: A Cadicle Universe Space Opera
The Verity Chronicles series tells the story of the events surrounding contact with the Gatekeepers.
TSS Agent Joe Anderson's undercover assignment in the outer colonies seems tedious until he makes his way onto a newly leased cargo ship with a young captain. Captain Iza Sundari comes from nothing, but she’s fought to carve out a life of relative freedom for herself with her eclectic crew. But, when she finds herself backed into a corner, Iza will have to cross a line she swore she never would to protect her ship and her friends.
Book 1: Exile - smarturl.it/veritybook1
More Books and Stories
For a complete list of Amy’s writing:
www.amyduboff.com/books
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you for reading Empire Reborn! Wow, it’s great to be back with these characters in the Cadicle Universe. Though this may be your introduction to this story world, it’s been a part of my life for more than two decades.
I began building out this universe as a kid—around the time I was ten or eleven years old. The original series was all about Wil’s story as the titled ‘Cadicle’ figure, but I always intended for this universe to be much bigger than that. Every tale in the Cadicle Universe has interpersonal relationships at its core, so characters grow and change and start families of their own. It’s only natural that the story now continue with the next generation taking the lead and coming into their own.
In the event you have not read anything else in the Cadicle Universe, you may be wondering about how this book connects to others. So, in short:
To read about the Bakzen War and fall of the Priesthood, check out the original Cadicle series.
To read about the Gatekeepers incident, read the Verity Chronicles co-authored with T.S. Valmond.
To find out how Kira got her special nanotech, read the Mindspace series.
To learn about what happened to the Andvari from their point of view, read In Darkness Dwells co-authored with James Fox (coming in Q2 2021).
To learn about what else the Coalition is up to behind the scenes, read the Shadowed Space series with Lucinda Pebre (this book will connect more with later volumes in the Taran Empire Saga).
Needless to say, Empire Reborn had a lot of work to do as a single book—pulling together so many side storylines while (hopefully) also being readable as a universe entry point and as a sequel series. No matter what you have read or haven’t in the broader universe, I hope you enjoyed this novel!
One of the things I have enjoyed most about the universe is how it’s continued to evolve and expand as new authors come on board and readers get more involved. The story is far from over, and I look forward to continuing the journey with you!
Like many people, my 2020 was filled with lots of disruption. I would have had this book to you a year sooner if things had gone differently, but I ultimately landed where I feel I’m meant to be at this point in my life. I owe all of that to James Fox and his family for taking me and my husband in when we were stranded across an ocean from our home after the borders closed for the lockdowns. They gave us refuge, but we ended up calling their family ranch our new home. We’d never met in person before, and I’m still floored by their generosity. The sense of community on the ranch has been so inspiring, and this book wouldn’t be the same without that experience. James is an incredible writer, and I’m proud to call him a colleague and a close friend.
Just as well, none of my books would be what they are without my amazing support team behind the scenes. I am once again indebted to my amazing beta readers for their honest feedback and patience as I pester them with questions. Sincere thanks to John Ashmore, Doug Burnham, Kaj Fleischmann, Charles Obert, SJ Schauer, Steve DeBacker, Troy Mullens, Gil Forbes, Jim Dean, Jeanette Bedard, Louise Bishop, Liz Singleton, David Frydrych, Heather Lewis, Leo Roars, Andrea Fornero, Kurt Schulenburg, Eric Haneberg, Kevin McLaughlin, Lisa Richman, and Brian Busby.
A huge thank-you to my incredible proofreaders, Diane L. Smith, Angel LaVey, and others, who always manage to see things everyone else has missed. Thank you for once again lending me your eagle eyes to help add the final polish!
I’d also like to acknowledge my family for their ongoing support. My parents, Randy and Deborah, for helping me become the person I am today; they have been so supportive of me over the years, and I don’t think I would have ever become a writer without their encouragement. Likewise, my husband, Nick, is my biggest cheerleader, and he always makes me feel loved and supported even when I’m doubting myself. I am so fo
rtunate to have a family who always has my back!
Thank you again for reading this first novel in the Taran Empire Saga, and I hope you explore the rest of the Cadicle Universe while you wait for Book 2. Until next time, happy reading!
GLOSSARY
Timeline of Key Events
All dates are adjusted for the standard Earth calendar
~98,000 BC - Ancient war and signing of the peace treaty between Tarans, the Gatekeepers, and the transdimensional aliens
AD ~50 - Priesthood’s rise to power as a governing entity on Tararia
AD ~1000 - Taran Revolution period, following the split of the Priesthood when the Aesir left Tararia
AD 1587 - First skirmishes of the Bakzen War
AD 2016 - Invention of the Independent Jump Drive
AD 2025 - Official end of the Bakzen War; destruction of the Bakzen homeworld
AD 2050 - Fall of the Priesthood; transition of Dynasty corporations into public entities
AD 2054 - Reactivation of Gatekeeper tech
AD 2055 - Reopening of the rift/tear and reappearance of the transdimensional aliens
Key Terms
Aesir (Ay-seer) - A group of Tarans who broke away from the Empire around 1000 AD (Earth years) to engage in metaphysical pursuits, such as reading cosmic energy patterns. The founders of the Aesir were all former members of the Priesthood and possess strong telepathic and telekinetic abilities. The Aesir are isolationist and long-lived, possessing advanced technology lost to the rest of the Empire during the Priesthood’s corrupt reign.
Agent - A class of officer within the TSS reserved for those with telekinetic and telepathic gifts. There are three levels of Agent based on level of ability: Primus, Sacon and Trion.
Ateron (at-er-on) - An element that oscillates between normal space and subspace, facilitating high levels of telekinetic energy transfer.
Baellas (bAy-las) - A corporation run by the Baellas Dynasty, producing housewares, clothing, furniture, and other textiles for use across the Taran civilization. Additional specialty lines managed by other smaller corporations are licensed to Baellas for distribution.
Bakzen (Bak-zen) - A militaristic race that lived beyond the Outer Colonies. All Bakzen were clones and possesses varying levels of telekinetic capabilities.
Bakzen War - A centuries-long conflict waged primarily in a secret spatial rift, with the TSS fighting on behalf of the Taran civilization.
Cadicle (Kad-i-kl) - The definition of individual perfection in the Priesthood’s founding ideology, with the emergence of the Cadicle heralding the start to the next stage of evolution for the Taran race.
Course Rank (CR) - The official measurement of an Agent’s ability level, taken at the end of their training immediately before graduation from Junior Agent to Agent. The Course Rank Test is a multi-phase examination, including direct focusing of telekinetic energy into a testing sphere. The magnitude of energy focused during the exercise is the primary factor dictating the Agent’s CR.
Dainetris Dynasty (Dayn-ee-tris) – One of the seven High Dynasties, the Dainetris Dynasty was considered lost for nearly two hundred years. After members of the family spoke out against the Priesthood’s corruption, the Priesthood destroyed the family and buried the city that served as their seat of power. The Dynasty’s status was restored in 2050, and a new seat of power was established on the Priesthood’s former administrative island, renamed Morningstar Isle after the flower in the Dainetris crest.
Earth - A planet occupied by humans, a divergent race of Tarans. Considered a “lost colony,” Earth is not recognized as part of the Taran government.
Generation Cycle - Also known as the Twelve Generation Cycle. A genetic mutation in Tarans where seven generations will express no telepathic or telekinetic abilities, followed by five with those Gifts—the strongest expression being 10th Generation. It is believed that the genetic line descending from the Cadicle may hold the key to developing a genetic patch to fix the mutation. The Aesir left the Empire before the dissemination of the gene therapy that resulted in the Generation Cycle, so they do not suffer from the mutation; they do not intermingle with other Tarans for this reason.
Gifts – The colloquial term used to describe a variety of telepathic and telekinetic abilities, ranging from simple mind-reading, to object levitation, to manipulating energy fields on small or large scales. These Gifts typically emerge between the age of sixteen to eighteen. Before the Priesthood’s fall, all but telepathy were illegal; since then, telekinesis has been legalized for non-violent applications. The TSS remains the foremost training institution for those with abilities.
High Commander - The officer responsible for the administration of the TSS. Always an Agent from the Primus class.
High Dynasties - Seven families on Tararia that control the corporations critical to the functioning of Taran society. Each have a designated Region on Tararia, which is the seat of their power. The Dynasties in aggregate form A High Council oligarchical government for the Taran Empire.
Independent Jump Drive - A jump drive that does not rely on the SiNavTech beacon network for navigation, instead using a mathematical formula to calculate jump positions through normal space and the Rift.
Initiate - The second stage of the TSS training program for Agents. A trainee will typically remain at the Initiate stage for two or three years.
Jump Drive - The engine system for travel through subspace. Conventional jump drives require an interface with the SiNavTech navigation system and subspace navigation beacons.
Junior Agent - The third stage of the TSS training program for Agents. A trainee will typically remain at the Junior Agent stage for three to five years.
Lead Agent - The highest-ranking Agent and second-in-command to the High Commander. The Lead Agent is responsible for overseeing the Agent training program and frequently serves as a liaison for TSS business with Taran colonies.
Lower Dynasties - There are 247 recognized Lower Dynasties in Taran society. Many of these families have a presence on Tararia, but some are residents of the other inner colonies.
Makaris Corp (Mak-ayr-is) - A corporation run by the Makaris High Dynasty responsible for the distribution of food, water filters, and other necessary supplies to Taran colonies without diverse natural resources.
Monsari Power Solutions (MPS) (Mon-sayr-ee) - A corporation run by the Monsari Dynasty, responsible for power generation systems for the Taran worlds, including geothermal generators, portable generators, and reactors to power spacecraft. Their foremost product are the Perpetual Energy Modules (PEMs) that function in the most critical systems.
Rift - A habitable pocket between normal space and subspace. The largest rift—specifically known as the Rift—is located at the site of the former Bakzen homeworld, a wound left by the destruction of the planet at the end of the Bakzen War. It is thought to be a place where the veil between dimensions is thinner.
Sacon (Sak-on) - The middle tier of TSS Agents. Typically, Sacon Agents will score a CR between 6 and 7.9.
Sietinen Dynasty (sIgh-tin-en) - High Dynasty overseeing the Third Region of Tararia, responsible for the SiNavTech navigation network. Considered the most influential of the Taran dynasties due to the family’s ties to the TSS and responsibility for the Empire’s transportation infrastructure.
SiNavTech - A corporation run by the Sietinen High Dynasty, which controls and maintains the subspace navigation network used by Taran civilians and the TSS.
Spatial Dislocation - The act of physically transitioning from normal space to the brink of subspace, either by means of a jump drive or telekinetic abilities.
TalEx - A corporation run by the Talsari Dynasty, managing mining operations and ore processing across Taran territories.
Tarans (tayr-ans) - The general term for all individuals with genetic relation to Tararian ancestry. Several divergent races are recognized by their planet or system. Humans are of Taran descent.
Tararia (Tayr-ayr-ee-a) - The home planet for th
e Taran race and seat of the central government.
Tararian (Tayr-ayr-ee-an) - Someone from or residing on the planet Tararia.
Tararian Selective Service (TSS) - A quasi-military organization with two divisions: (1) Agent Class, and (2) Militia Class. Agents possess telekinetic and telepathic abilities; the TSS is the only place where individuals with such gifts can gain official training. The Militia class offers a formal training program for those without telekinetic abilities, providing tactical and administrative support to Agents. TSS Headquarters is located inside the moon of the planet Earth. Additional Militia training facilities are located throughout the Taran worlds and there are numerous TSS bases throughout the Empire. Since the end of the Bakzen War, the TSS has also engaged in more academic pursuits so many Agents can pursue careers related to the sciences rather than being ‘soldiers’.
Trainee - The generic term for a student of the TSS, and also the term for first-year Agent students (when capitalized Trainee). Students are not fully “initiated” into the TSS until their second year.
Trion (Try-on) - The lowest tier of TSS Agents. Typically, Trion Agents will score a CR below 5.9.
