"Can't say. We'll have to keep a close eye on her though. If she finds out the emperor is still scratching his head over her disappearance, she might try to use that to get back in."
"She's not going back with them. They're allied with the Denzee, and their plans are to dominate Domicile and the free worlds. Not something she has ever been in favor of."
"Let's weigh her options," Tawn said. "She can stay as a captive of the DDI… or she can run major portions of the empire while living a life of relative luxury."
Harris shook his head. "She wasn't in luxury. She was a workaholic."
"She was doing what she wanted and ordering people around. That's a luxury most people don't have. All I'm saying is if we get her out here she has incentive to switch sides again. We'll have to make sure she doesn't have a good opportunity to do that."
After a meal, Trish, Gandy, and Sharvie moved about doing the daily tasks they had committed to. Harris pulled Idiot from the bot assembly line and walked out to the open air of Midelon.
Idiot asked. "What do you have for me to do, sir?"
"Just a simple run. My best time is fifteen forty-eight. I want you to run alongside and push me today."
"Wouldn't that be cheating?"
Harris chuckled. "Not literally push me, you... idiot. Mentally push me. Give me encouragement. Call me a wuss. Whatever works to mentally motivate me to beat my prior time."
"I see. And is that not just another form of cheating? If you were out here running by yourself, you wouldn't have that mental push to help you."
Harris stared. "Would you rather be back in there on the bot line?"
"Rather? I have no preference for either task, sir."
Harris chuckled. "OK, look, just run alongside and do as I asked. Since the only competition here is with myself, I'll happily waive any consideration of cheating. Will you follow my orders or what?"
"Run, sir. Run like the wind. Run like you've never run before. Run as if there is a hot plate of bogler ribs sitting at the finish line for your enjoyment."
Harris nodded. "Now we're talking. Let's go."
A new personal best for the Midelon track was set. A five kilometer run of fifteen minutes eight seconds saw Harris Gruberg lying on the grass, attempting to catch his breath.
Tawn stood over him. "We have trouble. The Earthers and the Denzee just surrounded the colony on Clark. They're demanding immediate surrender. Two Domicile cruisers were caught napping and never fired a shot before being destroyed. I just talked to the colonel. He talked to his contact. Our government is in a panic over how to respond."
Harris sat up. "That all happened in the last fifteen minutes?"
"Yep. The colonel said his contact is going to try to pull Bax out of there personally. He says the DDI and the DDF are in chaos. Over the past year, all the lead positions in both have been stuffed with political appointees. They're begging the old-timers for suggestions on how to handle this."
Harris followed Tawn into the supply hut. "I almost broke fifteen today."
Tawn scowled. "You seriously want to talk running right now?" As she turned away, a smirk covered her face.
Harris held up his hands. "OK, Miss Tyrant, what would you like us to focus on?"
"How about this war we're involved in?"
Trish, Gandy, and Sharvie came into the room.
Gandy asked, "What's happened?"
Tawn said, "The Earthers and the Denzee just took Clark."
"Clark? As in our Clark?"
"The one and only. If our government doesn't come to life here real quick, the emperor is gonna get his way and own us all."
"All but us," said Trish.
Tawn said, "We may have to consider shutting the boson field down as a last resort."
"If we decide to do that, just promise me you'll let Sharvie, Gandy, and myself decide if we want to go home to Domicile first."
"Not an unreasonable request."
Harris held up a hand. "We're a long way from shutting down wormhole travel. What we need is to focus our efforts on figuring out how we slow them down. Domicile needs time to fire up its war machine. Which means we might have to strike up another deal with our government to produce Banshees."
Trish said, "This is insane. They would only break that deal again if they thought it was convenient to do so."
"We have to look at all the options we have available to us. Sometimes that means going against everything your brain is screaming at you to do."
Tawn sighed. "He's right. Alex, open a comm to Domicile. See if you can patch us through to the president, or at least one of his aides."
"One moment."
"Put on your best game face, Harris. We have to convince that moron to start that production up. It may be the only way we can stop them."
The president's image filled the display. "Moron? You people really know how to make use of your diplomatic skills."
Harris said, "Mr. President, we make no bones about how we feel about some of your policies. And we won't apologize for that. The Earthers and Denzee are coming. Unless you want to be a subject of Mervin the Conqueror, you might want to get a solid defense put in place.
"At the moment, your ships are slow, their armor is weak, and their weapons would be lucky to put someone’s eye out if used in a fistfight. We come to you this morning with another offer like we had before. You build those hulls, we'll put them into service and protect our worlds.
Tawn said, "Sad thing is, had you allowed us to build those ships before, we could have prevented the loss of Clark, and any more colonies that you will most assuredly lose between now and when we can put a stop to this. Help us help you, that's all we're asking."
"I've called a meeting of my advisory council to discuss what actions we will take. They should all be arriving this afternoon."
Tawn said, "By this afternoon you may lose another colony. I'd just pull them all in on a comm and get it over with."
The president stared into the camera. "I'm the duly elected official here, Miss Freely. Please don't tell me how to do my job."
"Someone needs to."
Harris held up a hand. "OK, fighting each other doesn't accomplish anything. Mr. President, our offer stands, but if you want our advice, it would be to act on it now. It will take weeks to bring that production up to what we need, and during that time you could lose half, if not all, of your colonies. Including Domicile."
Your suggestions will be taken under advisement, Mr. Gruberg. Now, I must go prepare for the day."
Harris said, "Wait. Can I ask one favor of you?"
"Make it fast."
"We could use access to Domicile's market for raw materials. You can grant us that right here and now. Maybe we can slow the Earther and Denzee progress while decisions are being made. We currently have an urgent need for dysprosium. We know there are supplies there. Can we be allowed access to them?"
"I will take that up at the meeting this afternoon. Good day, Mr. Gruberg."
The comm closed.
Tawn said, "Nice attempt there at the end."
"I thought it was worth a shot. Doubt he will come through for us today."
"That's because he's a moron. Every day he delays is probably another colony lost."
"Not only that, I feel bad for the regulars who will have to fight with the lame machinery and weapons they have. They'll get slaughtered, and all because of his stupidity."
Tawn raised an eyebrow. "It just occurred to me. What if he calls the Biomarines back into service?"
"They're safe at the Retreat, at least for a while."
"They're also patriots who will answer the call to duty if it's issued. All the defenses and preparations at the Retreat won't help them if they aren't there to use it."
A comm was opened to the Retreat. "Colonel, we have some concerns."
"First I have news. My contact was able to extract Miss Rumford. She's on a ship heading out this way. I'm sending you coordinates for a pick-up."
"That was
fast," said Tawn.
Harris cut in: "Colonel, it just occurred to us the president could call you all back into service at any time. All our efforts at the Retreat would be wasted."
"We're aware of that possibility and have taken a few precautions. Our cannons have been automated to refuse landing to any ships that don't have our transponder codes. Those of the Bangor and Hailstorm have been added to our list. Even if we leave, the place should remain defended."
"If called back, will you answer, given the circumstances?"
"We will. It's our duty."
Harris sighed. "We thought as much. Know that we'll do everything in our power to protect the lot of you."
"As I hope you will do for every Domicile citizen."
Harris half frowned. "We will, Colonel. We hold those same oaths we took as sacred. It's part of who we are. If called, we'll be there. Somewhat on our own terms though."
The coordinates I sent you, they'll be expecting a pick-up in about fifteen minutes."
"Thanks, Colonel. We'll be there."
The Bangor zipped up through the sky and out into the blackness of space. A short ride saw a wormhole opened to the coordinates given by the colonel's contact. The Bangor pulled alongside a rented shuttle and the docking collar was extended.
The airlock door opened with a puff.
Harris said, "Hello, Red."
Baxter Rumford stepped through. "Hello, morons."
~~~~~
Once again, this Human is asking for your help! If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review on the site where it was purchased. And by all means, please tell your friends! Any help with spreading the word is highly appreciated! I have a free science fiction eBook short story, titled "THE SQUAD", waiting for anyone who joins my email list. Also, find out when the next exciting release is available by joining the email list at [email protected]. Visit the author's website at www.arsenex.com for the rest of the series and other works!
Thank you for reading my work! I hope you have a great day!
Stephen
Books by Stephen Arseneault
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SODIUM-AMP-OMEGA Trilogy Series
SODIUM:
Butchered, abandoned.
Dissected like lab rats.
Alien machines are stalking Humans.
Man is suddenly no longer alone in the universe. Advanced enemies plague our very existence. We have to muster all our strength, determination, and courage if we are to survive. And if those can be managed, there is a galaxy to be conquered.
This six-book saga takes Man from his first encounter with aliens back in 1957, all the way to a fight for our all-out survival in the future. If you love tales written in the style of the science fiction masters, prepare yourself for full immersion in this fantastic adventure! Get it here!
AMP:
In a distant galaxy, Humans are on the run.
An insane species follows.
They will not stop... ever.
Trapped on an immense station with limited resources, our only option has been to flee. Years of peace are over. War is again coming to the Grid.
This time however, it's time to stand and fight.
This exciting eight-book series chronicles the struggles of Don Grange, a simple package deliveryman, who is thrust into an unimaginable role in the fight against our enemies. Can we win peace and freedom after a thousand years of war?
Continuing as a legacy of the SODIUM series, the story picks up a thousand years into the future. Don't just sit at home scratching your head about what to do because you are bored, go on a mental rampage, travel the stars, take a risk and dive head-first into this non-stop-action saga! Get it here!
OMEGA:
The Alliance is crumbling.
There are rumors of war in Andromeda.
Whole colonies are being conscripted to fight.
When corruption and politics threaten to throw the allied galaxies into chaos, Inspection Detective Knog Beutcher gets caught in the middle. Espionage, intrigue, political assassinations, rebellions and full-on revolutions, they are all coming to Knog Beutcher's world.
Told from the unique perspective of an alien, this thrilling eight book series is cast a thousand years into the future beyond the exciting AMP series. Prepare to be reading until the wee hours! Get it here!
* * *
HADRON:
Billions die.
Life on Earth is shaken to its core.
We can be our own worst enemy.
After scientists using the Large Hadron Collider discover dark matter, the world is plunged into chaos.
Massive waves of electromagnetic interference take out all grid power and forms of communication the world over. Cities go dark, food and clean-water supplies are quickly used up. Marauders rule the highways. One group of citizens takes a stand. Can they make a difference?
A benevolent species will arrive in their spaceships to rescue the Human race from themselves. Only, are they really so benevolent? Our little corner of the Milky Way may be a very hostile place.
This eight book adventure begins as a modern day, Human survival story and then morphs into an all out fight for rule of our section of the Milky Way. If you love reading apocalypse-turned-science-fiction, and reading with your mouth agape, this saga was made for you! Get it here!
* * *
ARMS:
Selling arms to the outer colonies.
A sweet deal.
Unless you're being used to threaten the peace.
Genetically engineered and trained for war, Harris Gruberg and Tawnish Freely, former Biomarines with the Domicile Defense Force, have been out of work since the centuries-old war with New Earth came to an end two years prior. They lack the knowledge and experience needed to live among a civilian population.
Getting involved in the illegal arms trade offers the promise of working with something they know-- weapons. When the profits from their efforts run wild, they soon find out acquiring wealth so easily comes at a high cost. Will their mistakes bring a return of the Great War? Or is what's coming far worse?
If you enjoy fighting the good fight, protecting the people and what you love, the ARMS saga will keep you ripping through pages until your fingers bleed! Get it here!
* * *
FREEDOM:
Addicted.
Enslaved to the Empire for 500 generations.
We are bought, sold, traded, and hunted for sport, our value only measured in credits.
But a mysterious virus is sweeping through our populations, giving immunity to the addiction and making us aware of our condition. We feel the call of freedom. Our masters feel different.
If you love being dependent, confined, trapped in a great story, this unique six book saga will become an addiction of your own! Get it here!
* * *
QUANTUM:
A lifetime lived in under a minute...
Impossible, everyone thought.
Until now.
An Opamari scientist has found a way. By cloning a subject and sending the clone back in time, the subject can live the clone's entire life in less than a minute of sleep.
But all actions have consequences. Playing with the past can be disastrous for the present.
When a ruthless tycoon steals the technology, the future of the galaxy is at risk. Will humans, after being slaughtered by the Opamari more than 50,000 years before, be resurrected by the tycoon's actions?
If you love time travel and historical fiction, the Quantum saga will keep you burning through the pages late into the night! Get it here!
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ARMS Beckland's Fall: (Book 5) Page 26
