by John Walker
Alliance
Legacy War
Book 3
John Walker
Copyright © 2018 John Walker
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
DISCLAIMER
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This story contains explicit language and violence.
Blurb
A Chance for Peace
The crew of the Gnosis is set to make history again, this time for diplomacy. A message from the Pahxin has arrived, inviting humanity to a neutral space station where they might negotiate a treaty for cooperation and peace. It seems like a perfect opportunity to gain an ally against the malevolent Tol’An and the insidious Kalrawv Group.
But a dark force musters against them, one bent on disrupting this moment of peace with chaos. The joint forces of two worlds must come together to save not only themselves but also the delicate chance for lasting peace and cooperation. As the conflict intensifies, the crew of the Gnosis is confronted with a very real possibility of defeat.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Prologue
Ezria Tolva carried the Word. It had been passed on to him from the founder of the Tol’An, Calatha Dervia, a devout Pahxin who understood that the universe could not be allowed to operate without guidance. Their own government lost sight of this fact, allowing the population to live in relative freedom.
The Tol’An rose to ensure the survival of the galaxy through enforcement but they required resources, people and the technology to hold others in check. Such a calling had struck many of their people but not all understood the divine directive. None had the vision to see how uncertain the future remained in the hands of those who allowed free will to reign.
Opposition remained strong. The Tol’An found themselves pushing against many obstacles, some of which seemed to have no plans to bend. Ezria took their resistance as a challenge, an opportunity to prove the righteousness of their cause. Nothing worth having came easy and he believed it wholeheartedly.
“Your Holiness.” One of his people broke his reverie and he opened his eyes. He sat in his meditation chamber. Smooth metal walls were unadorned and there were no distractions other than the altar erected in the center of the room. A simple red cloth sat folded upon the surface but it represented the only color.
Ezria himself wore simple white robes. He kept his head shaved and his lean body fit. His was as perfect a Pahxin specimen as there could be and he worked hard to maintain himself. Pure food, no toxins and discipline kept him in peak condition. None of his subordinates would ever believe themselves to be better than their master.
He peered at the soldier through startling blue eyes, taking him in as if he were little more than a hallucination. The man shifted uncomfortably in his black uniform, his holsters emptied by the guards at the door. No one was allowed to carry weapons into the meditation chamber and he had been searched before being allowed to enter.
“Speak.” Ezria spoke above a whisper but the room seemed to amplify the softness of his voice.
“I come with news of our venture on Delinare. We brought back three artifacts but the one we were sent for did not seem to be present.” He shifted from foot to foot, his face contorted in anxiety. “Our scientist stated that it may have been destroyed in a landslide some time ago. We spent two days scanning for it to no avail.”
“I see.” Ezria sighed before approaching the man. “And you are certain you have done everything in your power to find the device? You have left no stone unturned?”
“Yes, your holiness. I am confident.”
“Very well.” Ezria lifted the cloth from the altar and pressed his face against it. When he pulled it away, the soldier remained before him. “Is there something else?”
“Yes, your holiness … I’m afraid … Well …”
“I do not have time for stammering.”
“Forgive me.” The man found some courage and spoke firmly. “We lost one of our starships. It was destroyed while trying to take off. Six men died aboard. We recovered two of the artifacts they were carrying but one was completely obliterated.”
“So we not only failed to procure the one item I sent you for,” Ezria began, “but you also lost one of the three which was meant to placate me. Along with equipment and resources. Do you have any other part of the failure you would like to impart? Or has this poor adventure been fully described?”
“That is all, your holiness.”
“Gizan,” Ezria called. “Enter.”
The soldier gasped, his eyes widening as a black cloaked figure entered the room. His long strides carried him to the center and he took a knee, bowing his head before Ezria. “Yes, Master?”
“Stand.” Ezria gestured to the soldier. “This man has failed in his duties. Will you please assist him in understanding the error of his ways?”
“Your holiness!” The soldier stepped forward. “Please! I can make amends. Allow me another chance, to bring another crew to the planet. We will finish the scans—”
Ezria held up his hand and the man stopped speaking. “Finish? You made it clear you had done everything in your power to find the item before you left. Now you use the word finish. So you compound your incompetence with lying, is that it? Do I seem so naïve … so foolish that you can come to me with falsehood?”
“A slip of the tongue, your holiness …” The soldier seemed to be losing his conviction. Gizan turned his hooded head to Ezria who nodded once. A hiss of a blade leaving a leather scabbard echoed in the room and before the soldier could even stiffen, a red line appeared across his throat.
Blood spilled from the wound and the man clawed at it as he choked out the last few moments of his life. Collapsing to the ground, Ezria stepped back to avoid the pool of gore forming around the head. Executing one of their own did not please him but he could not allow his subordinates to lie without consequences.
“Thank you, Gizan. Make arrangements to get rid of … that.” Ezria refused to look at the body. “Return when you have finished.”
Gizan complied without a word, dragging the soldier out by one of his feet. Two men entered and mopped up the blood, cleaning the floor with a disinfectant before retreating. When the assassin returned, he stood quietly, waiting to be addressed. The man proved loyal without question, never giving Ezria any doubt as to his integrity.
Rumor suggested Gizan worked for Calatha when they first founded the Tol’An. Some suggested they were lovers but Ezria doubted it. When Calatha passed away, he turned over the mantel through a hand written will and it did not contain any words about the assassin other than to say he should be treated with the utmost respect.
“I have received word from our spies in the Pahxin government.” Ezria always spoke directly with Gizan. They exchanged no pleasantries when starting a conversation, preferring to get straight to the point. “It appears the filthy Earthlings have
communicated with them. Doctor Thayne Rindala helped them.”
“The traitor,” Gizan said. It didn’t matter to the assassin that the Tol’An had kidnapped Thayne, only that he did not perform the duties prescribed to him by Ezria. “He escaped when we attempted to take the Trindisha … If I’d been there, I would’ve silenced his tongue before he could reveal any more to those wretches.”
“Undoubtedly,” Ezria replied, “however, we have to contend with the consequences of his involvement with the Earthlings. Our people have invited them to the Golanthit Station for a parlay. It seems likely they will accept this and attempt to form a partnership with one another. I want you to take our forces and … interrupt this gathering.”
“Am I to kill them all then?” Gizan asked. There was no hint of concern over such an order. Merely a desire for information. If Ezria had asked the man to go to their home world and murder the Grand Councilor, he would have attempted it and possibly succeeded.
“No, I’m afraid we need to do something more dangerous. I want you to bring the dignitaries to me. They will make excellent examples when we do execute them but prior to their ends, I believe we can extract information.” Ezria smiled. “They should be more than open to speak when we put the questions to them in a direct manner.”
Gizan bowed his head. “As you say.”
“Select your men carefully, Gizan … Do not fail me.” Ezria threw the last bit in every time, though the man had always been able to deliver. They’d made it something of a game.
“I will not.” Gizan pressed his left fist against his chest. “Do you require anything else, master?”
“No, be quick about your preparations and let me know before you depart. I believe you will want to be in the area before they arrive and know you will face their military. Do not hold back on those fiends. Destroy whatever ships you must and kill anyone in your way. There should be no mercy for those who would deny our dominion.”
“Your will be done.” Gizan spun on his heel and departed, leaving Ezria to consider the upcoming mission in private. With his best assassin on the job, there was no doubt he would have the ambassadors in his grasp. What he would do with them needed some planning. Simply killing them might not get his point across but starting a war between two cultures …
The Pahxin would annihilate those filthy rats. I still cannot believe they have two of the Trindishas. I would rather my own people reclaim them than to allow primitives access to such power. Before this month is done, I intend to see their world burn and their people suffer. Then we can return to attaining dominion over the galaxy … so we might save it from the threat.
Chapter 1
Captain Desmond Bradford yawned, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. The clock beside his head buzzed moments before, letting him know they would be emerging from hyperspace in ninety minutes. This gave him plenty of time to get cleaned up, grab a meal and head to the bridge before they arrived home.
Reports on his computer kept him company through his normal routine though they weren’t exciting. Systems showed green with minor issues here and there throughout the ship. Medical stated they had released all injured personnel back to their quarters. The biggest problem came from their damaged fighters, which required dry dock to complete repairs.
Agent Cassie Alexander provided him with an update on the research they were performing on the data they discovered during their last mission. She and the two Pahxin doctors had categorized it and it was organized in an easy to digest manner for their peers back on Earth.
When they arrived, they’d be able to dive in and extract even more than the crew had during the short time they had had to study it.
Desmond wondered about the agent and worried about whether she was taking care of herself or not. Every time they went into hyperspace, she seemed to work through the trip and when they arrived, she was bright eyed and ready to go on the bridge or in the tech labs, depending on what they required.
Frankly, the woman seemed to be full of boundless energy. Still, it had benefited the ship greatly and he wasn’t going to complain. She even went on the away mission to the space station and received positive feedback from the marines who went with her. I guess the woman knows what she’s doing.
As captain of the vessel, he needed to worry about everyone on board though. If anyone pushed themselves too far, they might not be at their best when the chips were down. He decided to have a talk with her when they returned and ensure she was taking proper reset times at the very least.
The two doctors, on the other hand, he was confused by. Desmond didn’t know what those men required to keep going. Food, sleep, all the human necessities may have been very different, despite the physiological similarities between them. Reports suggested they retired to their rooms once in a while but like Cassie, they seemed tireless in their pursuit of knowledge.
“Captain,” Commander Vincent Bowman’s voice crackled on the speaker. “We’ll be emerging from hyperspace inside of thirty minutes.”
“Thank you,” Desmond replied. “I’ll be right up.”
He grabbed his tablet and left his quarters, heading for the elevator. People hurried through the hallways, passing him by with quick nods. Everyone wanted to get to their post before they had to emerge because it might be bumpy. Strapping in was advised if possible and, as if on queue, Lieutenant Salina Gold made the announcement.
“All hands, we will be emerging in thirty minutes. Please secure all cargo and belongings and report your department’s status. Thank you.”
Desmond disembarked the elevator onto the bridge and joined Vincent. “Anything to report?”
“No, sir,” Vincent replied. “We’re looking good all around. I checked the coordinates with Zach and we should be roughly three hours out from home when we arrive. Not too bad.”
“Good. I’m eager to give them the data and see what they have to say. Gil and Thayne seem pretty convinced their government will be keen to talk when they see what we’ve learned. Allies will be nice. We’ve been in short supply of good will since we left home.”
“I’m not sure what kind of welcome we thought we were going to get when they introduced themselves guns first,” Vincent said. “Then again, how many times did humanity treat each other with similar disregard? Our history is full of times we were jerks. All the reparations in the world can’t fix some of the stupid we got up to.”
“Good point.” Desmond turned to Salina. “Did you ever have a chance to look over the stuff we found?”
Salina nodded. “It was fascinating. They were such an advanced culture but whatever happened to them started with their star. I found some scientific reports suggesting they were attacked. Whatever went after them wanted to cause havoc with them then altered their distress signal to hurt their allies as well.”
“But they didn’t have any idea why?” Desmond frowned. “Seems … strange.”
“I’m speculating,” Salina said, “but there’s a chance they encountered a race of beings who simply did not want them there. Not to be too morbid, but they might’ve considered them an infestation and tried to exterminate them. As advanced as they were, they could travel to nearby solar systems. That might’ve represented a threat to whoever attacked them.”
“Everything we gathered looked pretty peaceful to me,” Desmond replied. “Though to be fair, I haven’t read it all … nor would a culture necessarily talk about being warlike I guess. Though I’m probably stretching all things considered. Anyway, if your theory is right, then I wonder why they didn’t come to Earth afterward and trash us.”
Vincent jumped in, “Maybe they only worried about cultures with technology capable of disturbing them. They hit the core world then allowed the signal to branch out to other places that might be a problem. I’m guessing some of the worlds that died from their attack weren’t even close to ready so they acted preemptively in those cases.”
Desmond nodded. “If they didn’t attack them, I’m guessing the other planets w
ould’ve risen up and tried to take them on. That’s exactly what they seemed to be trying to avoid.” He hummed. “It’s a travesty that they thought the only way to contend with their perceived problem was the obliteration of so many lives.”
Salina cleared her throat.
“What is it?” Desmond asked.
“Just that when the intelligence of a species dramatically overshadows that of another, they tend to lose sight of the value of their lives. Take pests, for instance. We don’t hesitate to call someone out to exterminate thousands of them. Even the ones which aren’t necessarily harmful, like ants. An entire colony of them can be wiped out over inconvenience.”
Vincent rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, Salina. You definitely have perspective.”
“It’s what you need to consider when we’re talking about this sort of thing.” Salina shrugged. “Consider this. If we are dealing with something with such a magnitude of difference from us, then we need to be incredibly cautious in how we go about addressing them. If we encounter them at all, they may not be prone to talk.”
“No one else has been,” Zach muttered.
“I think we’ll be ready,” Desmond said. “We have plenty of warning, lots of information and the resources of a planet working on it. Couple that with some potential allies and we’ve got a good shot at handling whatever comes our way. However, we have two immediate threats to worry about. The Kalrawv Group and the Tol’An.”
“The former bothers me.” Vincent scowled as he spoke. “The believers make sense but guys out for money at all costs? Even their lives? What the heck?”
“Oh, I spoke to Thayne more about them,” Salina said. “Apparently, when people join their organization, they’re all in. They commit their families and fortunes to the idea that they are going to make a lot of money. So when they go on a mission, they pretty much put everything into it. Losing costs them a great deal.”
