Renegade Union: An Intergalactic Space Opera Adventure (Renegade Star Book 9)

by J. N. Chaney

  She threw her small arms around my neck. Abigail joined us then, and Lex hugged her too.

  “Hitchens,” I said, motioning to the doctor. “Let me know the second you make it down there.”

  “Of course, Captain,” he said. “You can count on us. Isn’t that right, Lex?”

  “Definitely,” she said.

  I watched them load into the shuttle and wait for the hatch to close. As soon as the ship departed, a voice came over my comm.

  “Sir,” said Sigmond.

  There was an uneasy tone to his voice, and I knew exactly what he was going to say. The anticipation had been building up over the last few hours and it came to a head at Sigmond’s hail.

  Abigail felt me stiffen next to her, and she laid a hand on my forearm.

  “Go ahead, Siggy,” I said, locking eyes with her.

  “A tear has begun to open, sir. I believe the time has come.”

  “Get everyone on this channel, Siggy,” I ordered as Abigail and I rode inside a strike ship.

  “Done, sir,” he said a few seconds later. “Speak when ready.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Octavia.

  “Whatever you’re doing, we’re out of time,” I said as our vessel lifted off the ground. “The Union is coming out of slipspace as we speak. I need everyone in a ship, ready to fight.”

  “All pilots are at their stations,” informed Alphonse. “We’ll begin deployment operations now.”

  “Good. Siggy, are the drones ready?” I asked.

  “The defense network is operational and on standby, sir. Shall I have them surround the slip tunnel?” asked Sigmond.

  “Not yet. Position them around Earth and any other strategic points in the system, but don’t engage.”

  “Sounds like you have a plan,” said Bolin.

  “It’s not much of one,” I said as our ship entered the stratosphere. “But I’d rather take a chance if we can prevent another war.”

  “We trust you, Captain,” said Freddie.

  “Gods know I don’t understand why, but I guess I’ll take it,” I said, glancing at Abigail. “Did you pack everything?”

  “You know I did,” she said.

  “Good,” I said, turning my eyes to the stars as the blue sky transitioned into night. “Let’s see how far Vick is willing to take this.”

  21

  An image of the dead Celestial covered the screen. “It’s for Vice Admiral Vick,” I explained to everyone present on the bridge of The Galactic Dawn.

  “Didn’t we already try that?” asked Freddie. “Vick wasn’t very impressed last time.”

  “No, he wasn’t,” I agreed. “That’s why I asked the doc here to put this together.”

  “This is much more detailed than the last batch of images,” noted Abigail, studying the data. “There are at least fifty images of the Celestial’s ship, too.”

  “We’ve also included a recording of the attack on one of the birthing domes,” confirmed Dressler, nodding at Abigail in approval.

  “Why didn’t we show them this before?” asked Freddie.

  “Giving the enemy a firsthand look into your operations felt like the wrong move at the time,” I said. “Alphonse and I agreed that showing them as little as possible would be the better approach, but given our situation I decided to go the full kilo.”

  “Does Sigmond’s footage actually show the Celestial?” asked Freddie.

  “Indeed, Mr. Tabernacle,” said Sigmond, his voice sounding from all around us. At that moment, the recording played on the holo, showing the invisible Celestial leaping through the field and leaving marks in the ground. Behind it, the decimated dome remained. This was the same recording we’d used to track it, not long ago.

  Dressler swiped her hand, changing the screen to a detailed report from the autopsy, complete with notes and theories. “I’ve included some of my research, but not everything. What they’ll see will be enough to cause alarm.”

  “So, are we giving them all of that now?” asked Petra.

  “Not all. I removed any data that I thought could be used against us,” explained the doctor.

  Octavia crossed her arms. “I agree that this is substantially more than we showed them before, but it’s still nothing more than pictures and reports.”

  “This isn’t everything,” I replied, shifting my gaze back to Dressler. “For the rest, I’ll be delivering it myself.”

  “In person?” asked Freddie.

  I nodded. “If he doesn’t try to kill us before I get the chance.”

  “Sir, please pardon the interruption,” announced Sigmond. “The Union ships will be arriving shortly.”

  A cluster of dots appeared on a map of the system, finally arriving out of the tunnel. They began moving toward our location near Earth’s orbit. “Titan is at the ready, Captain, should you require it,” said Athena, her face popping up in the corner of the map.

  “Looks like we’re out of time, folks,” I said, looking at everyone. “Get to your ships and be ready to fight. Target the lead ship with every available gun we have. That goes for both The Galactic Dawn and Titan, too. If I can’t stop Vick, we’ll have ourselves a war, and I don’t intend to lose it.”

  “All available drones are deployed and ready, sir,” declared Sigmond.

  Petra, Freddie, and Bolin left the bridge to board their individual strike ships while Abigail remained behind. She would helm The Galactic Dawn throughout the encounter, since I would be busy elsewhere. Our people had scattered, each to their own task, and each knowing the full weight of what we had to accomplish here. If I couldn’t convince Vick to join us, then we’d have to go to war over the future of Earth—perhaps even the galaxy itself.

  Abigail and I watched as the Union armada arrived, pouring out of the black emptiness of space in a swarm. Their numbers were easily three times that of Brigham’s fleet, nearly matching our own. If a fight broke out, it would decimate both sides. Of this, I had no doubt.

  I didn’t care to admit that the sight was sobering. Seven cruisers and countless support ships had been brought together to make an extraordinary display of force.

  As the fleet approached, smaller ships flowed out of the cruisers, taking up rank in columns, forming a barrier between us and them.

  It was clear that even with the combined power of Titan, the defense network, and The Galactic Dawn, we wouldn’t have an easy time of it should the fight escalate.

  “Gods,” whispered Abby.

  “You can say that again,” I agreed.

  “That must be every available warship in the Union,” she said.

  “By my records, that is inaccurate,” informed Sigmond. “While this is a sizable force, it is but two fleets. One belonging to Vice Admiral Vick, the other to Admiral Shaw.”

  “Shaw is here?” I asked, confused since he was supposedly forced out by his leadership.

  “It is more likely that Vice Admiral Vick has taken control of Admiral Shaw’s fleet,” said Sigmond.

  I thought about Shaw and how my attempt at a truce had lost him his entire career. He’d taken a gamble that we were telling the truth about the Celestial . . . and gods only knew what would become of him now.

  I swallowed hard. There was no time to think about that. My only concern right now was the fight in front of me and, with any luck, stopping that fight before it got going.

  As the ships drew closer, their speed slowed, and they came to a final halt several thousand kilometers from the Dawn. We were now within firing range of one another, and the tension in the room was palpable.

  The bridge fell into rigid silence, everyone waiting for something to happen.

  “Incoming transmission,” announced Sigmond. “Vice Admiral Vick wishes to speak with you.”

  I took a long and deep breath, looking once to Abigail. She returned it but said nothing. The next few hours would determine the fate of the galaxy at large, and it all came down to the man at the head of that armada. “Alright then,” I said, turning
my eyes forward. “Let’s hear what he has to say.”

  Epilogue

  I entered through the airlock and stepped onto the UFS Valiant Horizon. Twelve Union marines waited to greet me, their weapons already raised. Each of them wore a set of armor, indicating special forces.

  “What’s in the bag?” one of them asked.

  “Like I told your boss, I’ve brought something to show him,” I said.

  “We’ll have to see it. Open the sack and—”

  I peeled back the bag and shoved it toward him, letting him have a look inside.

  The man leaned forward while eleven rifles remained pointed on me at all times. The soldier in charge narrowed his eyes, contorting his face to show mild disgust, and then pulled away. “What is that?” he muttered, not bothering to look at me.

  “An act of good faith,” I said.

  The soldiers escorted me to the meeting room, then filed in and surrounded the table, their weapons trained. Vick was already there, and he gestured to the seat opposite him.

  I strolled into the room, ignoring them completely. I was wearing a fully powered shield, but I wasn’t sure how many shots it could take, especially at such close range. If this didn’t work, I’d find myself in quite the bind.

  I moved the table and took a seat, the bag sitting beside me. “Glad you agreed to see me, Vick,” I said.

  “You mentioned you wanted to discuss terms,” he said, never one for small talk. “I expect your full surrender within the hour. If this occurs, I will pardon the refugees from our mining colony and offer citizenship to all those who have fled the Deadlands. However, you and your immediate command will be subject to scrutiny under the law.”

  “What? Am I not enough for you, Vick?” I asked, cocking a brow. “You gotta go after the whole lot?”

  “You’ve harbored murderers and traitors, including the Constable defector and the assassin responsible for the death of a Union senator. These crimes cannot be forgiven, nor can—”

  I raised my hand. “I get it. You hate everyone.”

  “My feelings have nothing to do with the law,” he snapped.

  “Maybe,” I said, tilting my head as I stared at him. “But you’ve thrown away a potential partnership against a growing threat in favor of a war. You’ve ignored the evidence, even gone against your buddy Shaw.”

  “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Admiral Shaw failed to see your motives. His personal history with Alphonse Malloy blinded him to the truth.”

  “Personal history?” I repeated, tapping my chin. “That’s funny, coming from you.”

  He clenched his jaw, straightening in his chair. “Is this why you’ve come here? To insult me?” he snapped. “Do you accept my terms or not?”

  I heard a few of the soldiers behind me move, shifting their weight.

  “I didn’t come here to surrender,” I said.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “I’m here because I need you to see the cost of your vendetta,” I told him, slowly standing. As I did, every weapon in the room raised simultaneously to match me.

  I lifted the bag, turning it upside down and letting the contents spill out onto the table. The head of the dead Celestial weighed a good bit and landed with a hard thump before rolling toward Vick, stopping with its lifeless eyes staring at him.

  He shoved his chair back, stepping away from the severed head and raising his arms over his mouth. “The smell! What in the gods’ names have you brought?”

  “Proof,” I said, leaning forward on the table, letting my knuckles crack as they pressed into the wood. “The face of the only enemy that matters.”

  Several of the guards leaned closer to see the head despite themselves.

  “This was just one from an entire race. A whole species. How many of your soldiers would it take to bring this thing down? How many personnel are in the entire Union military? Millions more are coming, and their only goal is the extermination of the entire human race, down to every last man, woman, and child,” I said, staring at him without allowing myself to blink. “And they will not stop at Earth’s doorstep. They won’t care about borders or loyalties. All of us will fall, one at a time, until they are all that’s left. A galaxy of them.”

  Vick’s eyes lingered on the Celestial, his mouth open and his feet unsteady.

  “Ask yourself, Vice Admiral,” I said, calling him to lock eyes with me. “Are you willing to sacrifice your species to kill me?” I paused, glancing down at the Celestial between us. “Or should we sit and have ourselves a talk?”

  Jace, Abigail, and Lex will return in Renegade Empire, coming in March 2019.

  Read on for a special note from the author.

  Author Notes

  Hey there! I hope you’re enjoying The Renegade Star series so far. It’s a completely different kind of story than what I’m used to writing, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I grew up watching a lot of space westerns as a kid (Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, etc.), so I’ve always had a deep love for that kind of story.

  The great thing about scifi is that you can explore new ideas and unique settings, while still having characters that feel relatable. I’ll be doing plenty of that in this series, as our heroes traverse the unknown regions of the galaxy in search of Earth and all its many secrets. Of course, we’ll also learn about Lex and her mysterious origins, but hey, all in good time.

  With my last series, The Variant Saga, it took me several months to write each entry (the second book took nearly 10 months!). That was a bit too slow for my tastes, so this time I’ll be aiming for a book every 4-6 weeks. It’s going to be a personal challenge for me, but with your help, I’m sure I can do it. I’m having such a blast with this story and I plan to keep it that way.

  If you want to know when I’m releasing the next book, please sign up for updates by going here. I’ll give you a free book as a bonus and I’ll only send you emails when I release a new book.

  Until next time, keep sailing, Renegades,

  J.N. Chaney

  PS. Amazon won’t tell you when the next Renegade book will come out, but there are several ways you can stay informed.

  1) Fly on over to the Facebook group, JN Chaney’s Renegade Readers, and say hello. It’s a great place to hang with other sarcastic sci-fi readers who don’t mind a good laugh.

  2) Follow me directly on Amazon. To do this, head to the store page for this book (or my Amazon author profile) and click the Follow button beneath my picture. That will prompt Amazon to notify you when I release a new book. You’ll just need to check your emails.

  3) You can join my mailing list by clicking here. This will allow me to stay in touch with you directly, and you’ll also receive a free copy of The Amber Project.

  Doing one of these or all three (for best results) will ensure you know every time a new entry in The Renegade Star series is published. Please take a moment to do one of these so you’ll be able to join Jace, Abigail, and Lex on their next galaxy-spanning adventure.

  Preview: The Amber Project

  Documents of Historical, Scientific, and Cultural Significance

  Play Audio Transmission File 021

  Recorded April 19, 2157

  CARTWRIGHT: This is Lieutenant Colonel Felix Cartwright. It’s been a week since my last transmission and two months since the day we found the city…the day the world fell apart. If anyone can hear this, please respond.

  If you’re out there, no doubt you know about the gas. You might think you’re all that’s left. But if you’re receiving this, let me assure you, you are not alone. There are people here. Hundreds, in fact, and for now, we’re safe. If you can make it here, you will be, too.

  The city’s a few miles underground, not far from El Rico Air Force Base. That’s where my people came from. As always, the coordinates are attached. If anyone gets this, please respond. Let us know you’re there…that you’re still alive.

  End Audio File

  April 14, 2339

  Mater
nity District

  MILES BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, deep within the walls of the last human city, a little boy named Terry played quietly with his sister in a small two-bedroom apartment.

  Today was his very first birthday. He was turning seven.

  “What’s a birthday?” his sister Janice asked, tugging at his shirt. She was only four years old and had recently taken to following her big brother everywhere he went. “What does it mean?”

  Terry smiled, eager to explain. “Mom says when you turn seven, you get a birthday. It means you grow up and get to start school. It’s a pretty big deal.”

  “When will I get a birthday?”

  “You’re only four, so you have to wait.”

  “I wish I was seven,” she said softly, her thin black hair hanging over her eyes. “I want to go with you.”

  He got to his feet and began putting the toy blocks away. They had built a castle together on the floor, but Mother would yell if they left a mess. “I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. I promise, okay?”

  “Okay!” she said cheerily and proceeded to help.

  Right at that moment, the speaker next to the door let out a soft chime, followed by their mother’s voice. “Downstairs, children,” she said. “Hurry up now.”

  Terry took his sister’s hand. “Come on, Jan,” he said.

  She frowned, squeezing his fingers. “Okay.”

  They arrived downstairs, their mother nowhere to be found.

  “She’s in the kitchen,” Janice said, pointing at the farthest wall. “See the light-box?”

  Terry looked at the locator board, although his sister’s name for it worked just as well. It was a map of the entire apartment, with small lights going on and off in different colors, depending on which person was in which room. There’s us, he thought, green for me and blue for Janice, and there’s Mother in red. Terry never understood why they needed something like that because of how small the apartment was, but every family got one, or so Mother had said.