Humanity’s strength came from adaptability, but its basis was finite biology. When a man knew he would one day die, he would fight for a legacy out of fear of potential oblivion. That fear could drive the man to wonderous heights, and when that bravery was channeled into the right cause, the fear made the man a better weapon than any AI, experimental or otherwise. There only needed to be one immortal in the galaxy, served by loyal mortal creatures. A perfect peace would come, enforced by Elites, ruled by Julia.
She dismissed the holograms and marched toward her window to watch the flowing flitter traffic under the violet sky of her new temporary home and headquarters. The planet and city wouldn’t suit her when she ascended to her true status, but no planet would. She would have to make do until something grand and perfect—a space palace, perhaps—could be constructed, hidden far from those who might seek to do her harm.
The jump drive would grant her that. It would eventually be hers, but her enemies’ presence on New Samarkand proved its range was more formidable than she’d anticipated. She now doubted she would be free of Erik Blackwell or Jia Lin anywhere in the UTC. Accepting a problem was the first step to getting past it.
Their presence also explained why her final plan had failed and been turned against her. She replayed a news report she’d watched earlier.
“The Army is neither confirming nor denying at this time that a Special Operations team raided a mercenary camp and seized three nuclear weapons,” explained a visibly shaking reporter. “Mysterious footage going around the local net appears to show Army exoskeletons attacking a mercenary camp and capturing the weapons at great personal risk. That is not unexpected given the current insurrection, but in a shocking twist, the Army exoskeletons appeared to be aided by a rebel soldier, identified through facial recognition as one Damir Sokov, and two unknown exoskeletons, also believed to be rebels. In the footage, this unusual alliance delivered a skillful and deadly attack on mercenary forces, including a number of the controversial full-conversion Elites, and Sokov risked his life to stop the movement of what appear to be three nuclear bombs before sacrificing it to disable a mercenary hovertank.”
“When questioned about the video, an Army spokesman said, ‘We are currently investigating the incident, and we can assure everyone on New Samarkand that they are at no risk of dome failure or the explosion of any weapon of mass destruction. The UTC’s Army forces are here to secure the safety and protection of New Samarkand’s citizens and will accept aid from any person dedicated to that cause.’
“A recent uptick in the surrender of Free Samarkand Army troops is attributed to the circulation of these videos, and the Army has not denied a massive decrease in offensive rebel activity in the preceding two days. Local government officials are already discussing possible amnesty as a way to encourage the—"
Julia stopped the recording. With the Last Soldier and the Warrior Princess so mobile, any hint of a plan, no matter where it was, might lead to their arrival and disruption. Her next moves would have to be firm and simultaneous and make maximum use of her advantages while minimizing those of her enemies.
Caution was no longer a luxury she could afford. It was time for the boldest gamble yet. The first step would be to isolate the annoying pair.
Julia brought up another file, her eyes flicking back and forth as she read. She might have lost her spies inside the Intelligence Directorate, but their previous efforts continued to pay dividends.
“Just you wait.” Julia smiled. “You two should have accepted my agent’s offer when you had the chance.”
The Story Continues with Deception of Age
Pre-order Desperate Measure for Delivery on December 25, 2020
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
November 6, 2020
Thank you so much for not only reading this latest book in the OPUS X story but to these Author Notes in the back, as well.
“Be good to each other, because sometimes that is all we can afford to provide, and frankly, it is the most precious gift you might purchase.” – MA if not one else has already said it ;-)
I’m presently working on these Author Notes at a small café near my home, with the news showing that Nevada (where I live) is updating their vote counts and how the state voted.
In other news, we have had weather in the 70s to 80s here in the Las Vegas area, and a winter storm is coming in this weekend.
I’m not even sure what a winter storm looks like here in the desert. I’m kind of excited, to be honest. I grew up in the Houston, TX area of the country, and a storm might happen every month or two. Well, a storm we recognized as something more than light rainfall. So, to see actual rain dropping shows how much I miss seeing the rain.
And how old I have gotten that I’m excited about the weather. I’m getting way old.
Supposedly there will be 3-6” of snow on the mountain tops around the valley (which I LOVE to view) and possibly rain inside the valley (I hope I’m not out when that happens) sometime Saturday night / Sunday.
Plus, the random thirty-mile-an-hour wind bursts today (Friday). I expect to be out when that happens, and I’m not looking forward to it. My big concern is the effect of sand on the paint on the car, and finally the run from the car to whatever building I am going into. For me, this will be a doctor’s office visit.
Oh, fun!
Huh, the weather lady on the tv in the café just said our area hit two hundred days without measurable rainfall at the airport here in Las Vegas. The old record was a hundred and fifty days. I suppose ‘1’ good thing with the whole Covid situation would be this area did not need nearly as much water for the last eight months.
I apologize. This hasn’t been a normal set of Author Notes, it’s mostly been about what is happening right now in my life.
In the bigger picture, we have two more stories in the Opus X storyline, then we wrap up the awesome conclusion to Jia and Erik with those who have helped them and those who have been against them.
Not everyone lives, but that is war.
Now, we move forward and not only work on the power at the top but all of the disease inside of the towers of power that needs to be cut out.
We happen to have two individuals willing to take it to the top.
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Ad Aeternitatem,
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Michael Anderle
Books By Michael Anderle
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Unfaithful Covenant Page 39
