Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Set Three: Books 15-21, Never Submit, Never Surrender, Forever Defend, Might Makes Right, Ahead Full, Capture Death, Life Goes On (Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Sets Book 3)

by Michael Anderle

  Today, I recorded the audio author notes for Release The Dogs of War, Book 10 in The Kurtherian Gambit series and I learned an important lesson.

  I should be careful what I type in these author notes, for one day I will have to record them. Should I happen to put in really large multisyllabic words, I will have to pronounce them.

  And there lies the sucky part. At least, it did today when my tongue tripped over speaking some of the words I typed nine months ago.

  Perhaps I should gather a program that highlights any words with more than three syllables.

  Oh well, I’m too lazy to deal with that, I’ll just have to work on my reading abilities.

  A huge “THANK YOU” to the Double-D’s (Diane and Doreen - you might remember them from TS Paul’s series The Etheric Academy) who helped me eons ago. Well, I suppose it was about five or six weeks ago, to express how to shape the emotion behind the Guardian Marines and their sacrifice. I hope I took the essence of our conversation, ladies, and did you proud with Brooklyn, Addison, Caden, Carter, and Chris.

  Writing Might Makes Right

  This book was both difficult, and enjoyable to write. The book was difficult to write because I had to start dealing with time lapses.

  Easy because once I figured out Baba Yaga, it helped me nail down what was going to go on with Bethany Anne.

  The challenge, like so many authors before me have encountered, is when your main character gets too high in rank, how do you allow them to go on these missions that could get them killed, when they SHOULD be working out how to be King, or Queen, Empress, General or Emperor?

  It’s hard.

  However, I knew that I needed to explain how Bethany Anne, who was an unruly Empress in the last book, would come up with another way to get out and get to be herself, while still pretending she was being a good Empress, and staying back in the Meredith Reynolds.

  Thus, we get her alter-ego, the Baba Yaga.

  Now, the real Baba Yaga character is a bit enigmatic. She can be benevolent, evil or ambiguous. Rarely is she ever young or attractive. Pretty much the opposite of Bethany Anne.

  I like the opportunity to keep her vague, in the shadows and out of the video if possible. Perhaps out of focus video like our versions of UFO video capture where (and why the hell is this always true?) the videos are out of focus, and always shaking.

  I’m going to explore more of Baba Yaga, and I want to continue the line of questioning I asked back in book 01:

  My thought behind Bethany Anne’s character was ‘what happens when you provide a person overly sensitive to injustice and give her the ability to kick ass and ignore the names? I’m sure she could effect change, but it doesn’t automatically follow that it will be good change. The fight she has might not be with a ‘boss’ at the end of each book, but rather with herself. Will she become that which she loathes? Will she be able to recognize humanity in enemies or will she become desensitized like Michael? How will her friends react if that occurs?

  I think Bethany Anne is in a good place with her closest friends. However, the alien friends and enemies are starting to make up their own stories about the Etheric Empire. We start to understand where some of the other Species, and specifically those that wield their own power, are starting to band together against the two powers that are burning up space with their battles.

  And their bloody peace agreements.

  For those wondering, we have foretold how this ends, we are just playing it out.

  For those pestering…ooops, sorry…. Asking politely WHERE IS MICHAEL’S NEXT BOOK? It is the next story I need to write: Darkest Before the Dawn - The Second Dark Ages Book 03 (Michael’s next book). I will be working on that with collaborator Ell Leigh Clarke.

  For those curious about the Kindles for the Military program – look in your email inbox for an update (for those on the email list.) The short message is I haven’t stopped trying, but getting them over to the sandbox has been challenging. Right now, we have a fan who has contacts (I almost want to put air quotes around that, it sounds so cool) that might be able to move Kindles to a Red Cross location in Spain, and from there to locations that need it. I am still sending (as needed) Kindles to the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Tx.

  I have a Bethany Anne letter to write later for the next Ascension Myth book (Ell Leigh Clarke #6) which is due out Monday.

  Further, on the family side, Joey Anderle (son and author himself) is safely setup at the University of Texas at Arlington and our last son at home, Jacob Anderle, will be heading to Texas A&M at Texarkana on Thursday.

  Then, the mysterious beyond is waiting for me.

  It has been almost twenty-five years since I didn’t have one of the children at home and frankly…

  I have no idea what is on the other side of that existence, anymore. But I’m about to find out!

  Ad Aeternitatem,

  Michael

  Ahead Full

  The Kurtherian Gambit Book 19

  1

  The QBS Princess Alexandria, In Transit

  Franath D’Tzaa, a D’tereth vid-reporter, touched the recording symbol after reviewing her notes.

  “Hello, my name is Franath D’Tzaa. I’m aboard the QBS Princess Alexandria, a Nacht Fleet battleship and presently the flagship of Empress Bethany Anne, who is returning with her team from Nodrizen’s World.

  “What follows is a continuation of the interview we aired yesterday. In this section I ask the Empress about the Leath and how that relationship has worked for the Etheric Empire over the last few decades. And here she is…”

  “Empress, the Etheric Empire has been involved in different arguments—some would say battles or wars—with the Leath for many decades now. Would you tell us why, in your opinion, these two powerful spacefaring races do not get along?”

  The Empress leaned back in her chair, her initial smile fading. “Certainly. It has everything to do with the Kurtherians, who claim to be their gods.” She looked at the reporter. “You have seen our videos, correct?”

  “Who hasn’t?” Franath replied. “Every few years there has been a battle on some world or another between the Empire and the Leath. Afterwards they spin their story, and your people provide video proof that they’re wrong. Unless someone was present for the altercation, it would be impossible to tell what is truth.”

  “I believe quite a few of your audience know the history of the Kurtherians,” Bethany Anne replied. “There were twelve tribes, or clans, who believed they were ready to Ascend. They also believed they should help other alien species Ascend. Unfortunately, seven of the twelve went down a darker road, and their efforts to assist other races has somehow become twisted. Each of the seven clans support their races differently. Some, like the late Yollin king, used his advanced abilities to drive the native Yollins from power. From what we understand, the Kurtherians from the Phraim-‘Eh clan who rule Leath are working to move them up the Ascension path.”

  Bethany Anne stopped a moment, pursing her lips in thought. “Well, their version of the Ascension path, anyway. There are many thoughts on that,” she clarified. “However, supposition is that for the Leath to gain the next level in their enlightenment, they must defeat the Etheric Empire.”

  Franath looked down at her notes, then back up at the Empress, who was waiting patiently for her. The reporter finally spoke. “I’m sorry, but I can’t find where this has been mentioned before.”

  “I understand,” Bethany Anne nodded. “This is supposition by a Kurtherian consultant…”

  “‘Consultant?’” Franath jumped on Bethany Anne’s statement. “I’ve never heard that term.”

  “And I’m not going to explain it to you,” Bethany Anne countered, “so don’t even ask.”

  Franath bit her tongue. If she screwed up this interview, she would never get another chance with the enigmatic leader of the Etheric Empire, and probably wouldn’t leave with her interview material intact either. She was completely aware of others who had left with v
ideo the Etheric Empire didn’t wish to air, only to find the video damaged by the time the person was in a position to attempt to make a copy.

  “Is this a business?” Franath finally asked, trying to find a way to score the contact. “Do they have additional resources I can verify?”

  Bethany Anne sent to TOM, Do you have additional resources?

  I don’t know how to answer your question, Bethany Anne. Are you suggesting I out myself?

  Sure, TOM. It’s as easy as saying ‘TOM, come out of the closet’…or in this case, ‘Come out of the human, TOM.’ ‘TOM, come out of the human!’

  Ha…ha. Believe it or not, being inside you hasn’t always been bitches and dreams.

  What the hell, TOM? Bitches and dreams?

  There was a momentary pause before TOM answered, Peaches and cream?

  Ha! Bethany Anne barked a laugh in their mental discussion. That is the funniest shit you have said all week.

  Ba-dum crash! I’ll be here all week. And next week and the month following and probably the next decade until we can go looking for a mysterious race of creatures who can pull me out of you.

  Don’t worry, my friend. Bethany Anne turned her attention back to the reporter. I haven’t forgotten that.

  Bethany Anne spoke to Franath. “I imagine this consultant could answer questions. However, he is, as you might imagine, not fond of having others know much about him or his location.” Bethany Anne crossed her legs, then leaned forward in her chair and winked at Franath. “I’ll give you a contact routing through the galactic mail.”

  Franath wondered what was wrong with the Empress’ eye.

  Bethany Anne leaned back in her chair. “To return to the topic at hand, we have based our strategy on what the Kurtherian ‘gods’ behind the Leath are doing. This is why we have played a longer game.”

  “It has been,” Franath agreed, “some time since your last altercation. However, at this point both sides are again enhancing their militaries. In fact,” Franath glanced down at some notes, “this has caused fourteen different spacefaring races to embark upon their own military buildup.” Franath looked Bethany Anne in the eyes. “Do you have any thoughts about this?”

  “About which part?” Bethany Anne asked, a glimmer of humor in her eyes. “That we haven’t fought in a while, that others are willing to support their own ability not to be pushed around, or something completely different?”

  Franath considered her options, then asked. “The fact that other groups are building up their militaries.”

  “I think it is a good thing.”

  Franath waited a moment before realizing Bethany Anne wasn’t going to add to her comment. “Why?”

  “As I mentioned, if you can put up a good defense then other races pause before trying to take you over.”

  Franath continued, “Are there any negatives to other races doing this?”

  “Of course,” Bethany Anne responded. “Those with large militaries start looking either inside or outside to see what they can do with that military. A despotic regime could take power and use the military to subjugate their own people, or a particularly aggressive group could come to power and decide to push their luck by attacking others.”

  “Is this the reason the Etheric Empire keeps fighting the Leath? Or, at least, this is what you are proposing is the reason?”

  “Yes.” Bethany Anne kept her answer short, waiting for the likely follow-up.

  “And why is that?” Franath continued.

  Bingo, Bethany Anne thought. I love to answer this.

  Bethany Anne looked into the camera, allowing the barest bit of red to infuse her eyes. “Because I really, really hate bullies.”

  The video clip ended and the reporter finished her piece with, “This is Franath D’Tzaa signing off. I will provide another clip tomorrow from my interview with one of the most intriguing beings of our galaxy."

  Planet Leath

  Hours later, the Leath Prime One Intelligence officer watched the interview in the comfort of his own living space. He had paid personally for the intelligence so it didn’t go through the Leath infrastructure, and at the moment he wasn’t sure if he had just damned himself or possibly liberated his people.

  He re-watched the video one last time, trying to commit the information to memory. Then he shook his head. Getting up from his seat, he made his way to an old desk on the lowest level in his home. He opened a drawer and extracted an old tablet he had used in his youth before he could afford better tools.

  He turned the unit on, surprised to see that it had been charged recently enough to still have power. He would have thought it had lost its charge over the many years since he had last powered it up.

  He plugged in the password and was surprised to see a note appear.

  “Hello, Jerrleck. This is you, from earlier in your life. If I am correct, you have had your memories modified by the Seven.”

  Jerrleck stopped, realizing immediately that if he continued, whatever he learned could possibly be accessed by the Seven. He wasn’t sure how deeply they read minds, but he was positive they scanned his topmost thoughts.

  He dared to read another line.

  “If you read any farther, realize what I say below may possibly be discovered by the Seven.” Jerrleck smiled. At least the younger him and present him were both intelligent Leath.

  “If you are still reading,” the note continued, “I have had plenty of time to realize what must have happened to our people, to me and consequently to you. Think about just how many Leath have been killed in our war against the Etheric Federation, and how many more will die if we continue this attempt to Ascend our people under the direction of the Seven.”

  Jerrleck considered the truth of this statement. Only a few years ago he’d helped one of his best friends mourn their only daughter.

  All because the Leath had been told to take over a world the Leath had no business or interest in ruling. He had done the numbers…

  Jerrleck’s eyes opened and other information started pouring into his mind. He stood up and walked to the opposite wall in the windowless room. Feeling down a line, he found a small indentation and pushed it.

  The wall opened.

  Jerrleck stopped a moment, knowing this was his point of no return. He wasn’t sure just how long ago he had been mind-wiped, but it was apparent that he had. He put the tablet down and walked back up the steps to the main level. It took him only a short amount of time to secure his residence against intrusion and return to the bottom level.

  Now it was time to see what his younger self had been into, and what he could do with it now that he was older and hopefully wiser.

  An hour later he was in a state of shock. His mind was confused, but in his heart the path was clear.

  He needed to revive a rebellion that had been put on hold until he became aware of it. The last leader had been taken away in the middle of the night.

  He should know—he had pulled her from her bed and taken her to the Seven himself.

  He looked at the monitor in this hidden room and ran a finger across the image on the screen. “Dur’loch, my love,” he whispered. “This will be for you.”

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds

  The children huddled together—human, Yollin, Torcellen. Their frightened eyes darted around the massive space. The bump, ba-bump, ba-bump of their hearts seemed loud in their ears.

  Their friends and the other young ones around them could definitely hear how scared they were, right?

  Red lights illuminated the giant cave. In this area the asteroid’s rock walls hadn’t been smoothed. They were still rough.

  Just as they had been when the ship was created so many decades before.

  They had come in here, laughing together after their last fright, becoming closer as they weathered the challenges of this night.

  However, this was the final room, and SHE was here.

  The kids could feel it, and the fear was starting to get to them. Many grabbed the hands or appe
ndages of the kid next to them. Those who had weathered the experience so far and kept up a strong front in the other rooms couldn’t keep the fear from their eyes now.

  “My name,” the darkness hissed, its voice guttural, like stones rubbing against each other.

  “Is Baba…Yaga…”

  The lights were extinguished and the children screamed.

  Seconds later—a time which seemed like an eternity—the massive lights came back on, the cave blazing white as the kids looked around, trying to find the lady with the voice.

  “There she is!” a young male Yollin yelled, his mandibles open as he pointed toward the ceiling high above them.

  And there she was indeed.

  Her red eyes flashed at them, and her white hair hung loose over her shoulders as her black skin gleamed in the light. Every child there saw how long her claws were.

  “Happy Hallloooweeeeennnn!” She grinned, and they could see that her teeth had all been sharpened to points.

  “AHHH!” Many girls (and more than a few guys) yelled when she disappeared from the walkway above.

  The kids were glancing around, worrying she was coming down, when the exit doors opened. They recognized Empress’ Bitches John and Scott. “Don’t run!” John commanded, and the kids stopped.

  “You know the drill!” Scott called. “You are all in the Etheric Academy. You will be orderly as you leave the Empress’ Haunted House!”

  How did I do? Bethany Anne’s voice echoed in both her friends’ heads.

  I’d say a few will probably need a change of underwear, Scott sent back.

  Some are wondering if that was really you or just a good hologram. John added as he listened to the kids’ conversations. Their voices were excited as they chatted while waiting to exit the final room in the Haunted House.

  No crying, though, Scott added. I think maybe ten is the minimum age of those we should allow to come into this room of the Haunted House.