It’s been a bit of a challenge with the family in Europe (our two youngest son’s graduated high school, so this is their present before they start their college work in a couple of months.) They are learning how to cope with moving around foreign cities, I’m learning how much Coke RULES in Europe.
I’m in Coke Nirvana.
In the midst of this, I’m writing Forever Defend, we put out this book (of course!) and PT Hylton’s Storm Raiders book and I think we have Justin Sloan’s Reclaiming Honor at the editor right now, as well.
Like the amazing Double D’s (Diane and Dorene), there are a huge number of people behind the scenes that help make all of this happen. Including the JIT team (see them up at the beginning of this book) and artists, editors, operations, audio talent, advertising support and frankly…
You.
The success of our work is supported by your reading (both purchased, and Kindle Unlimited) and by your reviews, mentioning these books to friends who like this style of writing, when you comment on ads, and your support every which way you give it to us (social / emails etc.) help us keep pushing forward.
Because of our readers, we have been blessed with the opportunity to create a whole universe in less than two years (November 2017 will make two years). Right now, we have about 40+ published books, and will have probably 60+ by fall / winter. Your support of the Kurtherian Gambit has been the envy (in some areas) of many others. Such that the idea to create Universes like this is now becoming a hot topic in Indie Publishing.
On the Audio front, LMPBN Publishing has about nineteen books complete and on Audible (five by other authors not in TKG). The latest Bethany Anne book (Kneel or Die) should be released by QC any day now and of course, we are pushing ahead!
We have over 5,000 fans on the Facebook page (which is amazing to me) and we are working to see if we can figure out a way to publish the books in other languages.
Summer is a bitch. Not from the heat standpoint (although that, too) but because it messes up the family dynamics of what we are all doing, the work output slows and things we were all working to complete, often are put on hold.
So, please know that we are working on stuff, but a few things are getting pushed back until school is in session, and our focus isn’t so scattered.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, as lives are changed because fans have been able to make a difference in so many author’s lives.
Also, to Amazon. While I can’t promise to be ‘always Amazon.’ I have to give them a HUGE shout-out because without KDP, there would be no Kurtherian Universe like we have today.
So, to them and to you I say thank you.
Michael Anderle
TIMELINE
World’s Worst Day Ever (WWDE)
WWDE + 20 years – Terry Henry Walton Returns to humanity
Nomad Found
Nomad Redeemed
Nomad Unleashed
WWDE + 23 years – Terry & Char get married in New Boulder
Nomad Supreme
WWDE + 24 years – The move to North Chicago is complete, Kaeden & Kimber join Terry & Char’s family
Nomad’s Fury
WWDE + 25 years – Cordelia is born
Nomad’s Justice
WWDE + 50 years – Terry Henry is taken prisoner
Nomad Avenged
WWDE +50 years – Nomad Mortis
WWDE + 82 years – Nomad’s Force
WWDE + 150 years – Nomad’s Galaxy
PROLOGUE
San Francisco
“He got away, Akio-sama,” Terry told the device in his hand as he scowled at it.
“Just this time, Terry-san, but the signals are gone. The coordination with the other Forsaken is gone. No more wild goose chases, as you say. Today was a huge victory, Terry-san. I think we shall not hear from the Forsaken known as Mister Smith for a long time to come,” Akio replied.
Terry looked at the sky as his people gathered around the pod. There would have to be multiple trips to San Francisco by both air and land as they moved the Mini Cooper into place on the wharf as a secondary power supply. Shonna and Timmons wanted to recover most of the electronics, some of which were Kurtherian technology. They refused to leave it behind.
“Put a platoon here to secure the area and move equipment to the surface, a squad to escort the Mini Cooper, and two squads back to San Francisco. Lieutenant, the duty is yours.”
Boris saluted and Terry returned it with a smile.
“I just remembered,” Char said as she took Terry’s hand, and they walked away from the lieutenant. “I left my wine on the beach.”
Terry smiled and brushed her hair with a hand. “I know where we can get more.”
WWDE + 52 Years
Japan
It was the first time that Terry and Char had been to Akio’s compound, but it was a special occasion.
Three people went into the pods and three special people emerged. Kim and Kae took to their enhancements like fish to water. Ramses fought it, and that added months to the process. But they were all in it together, and Kim, Kae, and Cory insisted on being there when he emerged from the medical pod.
Theirs were the first faces he saw when he came out. He smiled weakly and asked for pot roast with potatoes.
His first day enhanced and he was going to be disappointed.
CHAPTER ONE
Japan
Kimber and Kaeden made short work of the obstacle course set up outside the command center. Akio hadn’t allowed them to be idle during their recovery and acclimation time. He made them rebuild the course, tripling the height and length of the obstacles. Ramses was still re-learning how to walk before trying to run.
Akio refused to let anyone sit out, so Cory had trained every day, just like Kim and Kae. Her nanocytes were not fully up to the challenge like those of her siblings, but she was able to perform far better than even the most capable pure human.
They saw the pod descending at the same time.
Kim, Kae, and Cory’s initial concern that it was an attack evaporated once they saw Akio strolling to the landing area to meet it. The three ran after him, acting very much like children as each pulled the others back so they could be first as they expected to see their parents.
When the ramp descended, they put on their emotionless faces to stand in a line as if they had been there all along. Akio looked at them for a few moments, while they tried not to smirk.
Inside the pod, Terry and Char carried their grandchildren, two-year-old William and the five-year-old Mary Ellen.
Auburn spotted his wife and ran. They’d been apart for more than a year, as had Kaeden and Marcie. She bolted from the pod as if racing Auburn. Terry and Char waited for Felicity to find her way into the sunshine, joining her outside as the children reconnected. Cory and Akio approached, bowing together.
Then Cory rushed forward to wrap an arm around each of her parents, giving nose kisses to her niece and nephew.
“Akio-sama,” Terry started, unable to bow because of Cory and the toddler in his arms. “I want to thank you in person for taking such good care of my family.”
“It is what I would do for anyone, Terry-san, although I am especially pleased with the results. Kaeden is eight inches taller and Kimber is six. It took them some time to get used to their new bodies,” Akio replied, feeling guilty over the amount of time the process had taken, no matter how many times Terry told him that it was okay.
A normal conversion with a fully functioning pod doc would usually take days, but Akio’s system wasn’t running optimally and the changes in the people were extreme. With both of those factors, days became months.
Ramses finally joined the group. He walked stiffly, stopping and stretching often during the short trip. He’d only been out of the pod two weeks, and his new muscles needed more time stretching and flexing.
Cory put William down, who immediately ran to his father. To the children, their father had always been tall, so they didn’t see the difference. M
arcie used to look Kae in the eye, now she had to tip her head backward.
Kae grinned ear to ear, then picked his wife up and swung her around in a circle, which knocked both the kids down. They started to cry, but their parents were quick to the rescue.
Akio motioned for the group to make their way to the house, where he would welcome them in a more traditional Japanese manner. Terry let the others continue toward a waiting Yuko. Terry watched the happy reunion. They’d been apart for far too long, but they’d make up that time and then some
When the others had gone, Terry faced Akio, both men wearing serious expressions. “He was right there, Akio-sama. We saw Mister Smith, but couldn’t get close enough to do anything about it. Have you heard or seen anything since?”
“Nothing, Terry-san. He has disappeared, and we’ve seen and heard nothing. You have won the battle,” Akio assured the colonel.
“But we haven’t won the war. I think we have a long ways to go. I’d like to spread the FDG around the globe, put them in strategic well-populated locations to keep an eye on things. Watch for people who go missing. Watch for the influence of the Forsaken. They just can’t help themselves when they’re around humans. They want to take over, build their legions of minions. I need your help in transporting our people around. Is there any way we can add a couple pods to our stable?” Terry asked, bowing humbly as he made his request.
“I think spreading your people out is a good idea that will have its challenges,” Akio replied knowingly. “I have to keep the pods here, but they can deploy anywhere at a moment’s notice. They can get to your people very quickly, Terry-san.”
“I know, Akio-sama. I had to ask. The challenges are many. By spreading out, we lose our cohesion, our level of training, and we minimize our footprint. One squad is not as impressive as the whole company. We also lose our central logistics and may have to cross-pollinate should any of the units engage in combat. It’ll be tough, but with the communication devices that you’ve so graciously given us and three pods at our disposal, I think we can manage it.”
Terry watched the group take off their shoes and boots and disappear into the house.
“We best not hold up the celebration for too long, Akio-sama,” Terry suggested.
“I think you give us too much credit, Terry-san,” Akio replied with a rare smile.
San Francisco
It had taken a week for Akio to declare Ramses fit to travel. After that, they loaded everyone into the pod and headed home, stopping in San Francisco on the way.
“Boris. Are you ever going back to North Chicago?” Terry asked as they enthusiastically shook hands.
“I’m thinking no, Colonel. It really is hard to beat this place, and there are ten times the number of people from which to find new recruits. That’s looking good, too,” the lieutenant replied, turning to look at his adopted city.
Terry followed his gaze. It was hard to believe how much the city was thriving. A container ship was negotiating the bay outside the wharf. A tug was waiting for it to get closer.
“I could run a new platoon through training every month, if we want. Is there anything in the training schedule we can cut back?” Boris asked.
Terry pursed his lips and looked at the blue sky. “I don’t want to short-change training. Two months is an absolute minimum, followed by continuous on-the-job training for the next six months. If we hurry them through, then we water down our capabilities. They need both types of training to get the most out of their new profession.”
TH needed the numbers for his deployment plan, but he refused to sacrifice quality to get them. “Keep the standards up, Lieutenant, and if you have to, run bigger recruit training classes until we can run multiple sessions simultaneously.”
“That’s what I’m worried about, Colonel. Our people with combat experience are limited, especially as we rotate the platoons in and out. I’m losing a lot of continuity. We need a permanent garrison, like you mentioned last year,” Boris said pointedly.
“I know, but I saw too much partying and not enough FDGing,” Terry replied, looking around to make sure no one was within earshot. “I’ll tell you that it pissed me off. People need to be ready to take on the Forsaken and their minions, whether that happens next week or five years from now. We can’t ever drop our guard, or people will die!”
“I understand completely, but it’s hard to make the others understand,” Boris said softly.
Terry put a fatherly hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder. “It’s your job to make them understand,” Terry added. “What do you say we let the newest tactical team members run your people through their paces, and then we’ll leave it to you to find the warriors to establish a permanent garrison? We’ll stay here for a couple days. Decide by then and we’ll take the rest back to North Chicago with us.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Boris replied, hurrying away to find his two platoon sergeants and rally the troops.
It took longer than Terry wanted. Kim, Kae, Marcie, and Ramses had joined him as he waited, impatiently tapping his foot.
When the three platoons finally formed, two from the garrison and the one recruit platoon, Terry was fit to be tied. He demanded the utmost of military discipline. He’d strived for standards that rivaled the Marine Corps in which he was raised.
“Settle down, please,” Char whispered in his ear. He tried not to smile. “You’re vibrating in place.”
He stopped tapping his foot and turned to look into his wife’s beautiful, purple eyes. Without looking away, he said, “Kim, Kae, Ramses, and Marcie. Why don’t you guys show them some stuff you learned from Akio, as well as tell a story or two about combat? Take care of it, please,” Terry ordered.
“That’s more like it. Don’t want my big husky colonel to wear a sourpuss,” Char purred.
“Moi? A sourpuss? Never, woman,” Terry said.
She cocked one eyebrow. “You are the king of the sourpusses,” she retorted softly, smiling at him.
“And you are as beautiful as the day we first met,” he told her as the newly enhanced warriors brought the platoons into a huddle.
“Of course I am,” Char answered, taking Terry’s hand. “Where do you want to watch them from?”
Terry surveyed the area. They were near the wharf in a large cleared area. The Force had been billeted close to the wharf because the warriors also worked on the docks.
Terry had initially reasoned that if there was a fight, the transshipment area would be the most vital. The farms and food sources were scattered mostly to the south and southeast, but spread out sufficiently to not have a single vulnerability. There were multiple roads into the city that the Force regularly patrolled.
“I guess I don’t have anything to worry about,” Terry conceded after reviewing the tactical situation. “This is a big city.”
“Let’s find someplace to sit, so we can lean back and watch the show,” Char suggested.
Terry had to relearn every single day about letting go. Once he spread the FDG across the world, he’d have to pick the right people to be in charge and trust that they’d been trained properly. It was never easy for him, because he couldn’t let go of the guilt when things went south and his people died.
Char left him to his thoughts as she watched the four take charge of the platoons and treat them to a display of physical prowess without overdoing it. They showed the more than one hundred warriors techniques in how to scale a wall, demonstrating repeatedly before taking volunteers. Then they showed them how to jump from a second story window without getting hurt.
They’d learned a technique called the spider hang, where they hung from the window using one hand and one foot. They landed upright and easily walked away. They made all the warriors and recruits alike try it. After the second time, the warriors gave themselves a round of applause.
“They do like to celebrate,” Terry said.
“That’s a good thing, TH. For too long, we had no time as we rushed from one crisis to the other. We need to en
courage everyone to celebrate success. It’s time, TH, for these people to go beyond survival and start living.” Char wasn’t talking about the people from San Francisco. She was talking about her family, her pack, and those closest to them.
Cory and Felicity approached from the direction of the Market District. Their hands were filled with packages. Mary Ellen carried her own bags while William stumbled along next to his Aunt Cory, hanging onto her pants leg with his tiny hand.
“I don’t think I missed that,” Terry said.
“I did. They went shopping without me, those bitches!” Char cried.
“That’s our daughter you’re talking about, and the mayor of North Chicago!” Terry exclaimed.
“It doesn’t change the fact that they went without me.” Char jumped up and walked briskly to them. Terry had seen that walk too many times to count. He always watched, being an ass-man, but at the end of it, someone usually got their cage rattled.
William ran to his grandmother. She caught him and picked him up without breaking stride. Terry struggled to hear the conversation, but when Cory presented a package to Charumati, all was forgiven.
Char put William down, and he started to fuss. She held a slinky black dress in front of her for Terry to see.
“Holy crap!” he blurted before wondering why anyone would stock such a thing.
Char was right. Life was hard enough without missing the chance to enjoy those things worth living for.
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