Terra Dawning (18 page)

"Well, we don't necessarily want to force our rule on anyone else, I mean how many humans are there spread out all over the galaxy? What would happen if all of them suddenly returned here? It would be a disaster if we didn't have the structure to support them. For the time being, we have thought to simply offer citizenship to the people. That way, they can accept or not, as they would," Ben replied. "But no final decision has been reached on that as yet."

"If we prove treason on the part of Duke Tammerain, there is a better than average chance you will end up with the entire duchy under your banner. In effect, you would become the next Duke of Cassius. Which means you would immediately become responsible for over four hundred billion beings, of which only ten billion or so are human.

"However, if you insist on becoming a separate nation-state; only claiming this world and what members of the human race as wish to join you, you will still end up with the ten billion humans from the duchy as well as another seven or eight billion spread across the rest of the Lizard duchies. Humans remaining in the Empire proper number under a billion, but I think most of them would accept Earth as a home world, but decline surrendering their current citizenship," Jance explained. "You should probably start planning for that."

"Holy shit! We had no idea there were so many of us out there! We thought the numbers would be far lower!" Ben replied.

"Of course, we can't prove it, but for a few years now, many of the Lizard Dukes have been... increasing their human populations. We've heard rumors of forced breeding camps and have uncovered and disbanded one cloning laboratory. Remember, the Lizards think we're tasty as hell. But, since we're alone here, can I give you something to think about Ben?" Jance asked.

"Sure, I'll take any suggestions you would care to offer at this point," Ben replied.

"Okay, by and large, our people support the Empire in general and the Emperor specifically. Compared to the rest of the Empire, we breed like rabbits. Very soon, you are going to have a truly huge population, and you are going to be stuck between two warring nations. Perhaps you should consider building a fleet of warships. At the least, you would be able to defend your world; but at the same time, you could be a great asset to the Empire. It would mean joining in a war not of your own making or choosing, but in the end, you would have truly made this place the home of the human race," Jance said. "Just so you know, I did not mention this as a Ranger, or as a servant of the Empire. I am merely giving you information as I see it, from one citizen to another."

Ben was a little shocked and couldn't keep that shock from registering on his face. "I thank you for that. I will have to inform the rest of the Council as soon as I can. Our current plans are going to be woefully inadequate. Wait, like you, none of the other humans in the galaxy can actually breathe the atmosphere here, so for the time being at least, they simply can't come here or they might die." He shook his head. "Yeah, we are going to have to revise everything."

"I am sorry for the shock of that knowledge, but I felt you might want to know the situation before it became an issue," Jance replied. "There is one other thing, although I am hesitant to speak of it; you're augmentation process. By law, the Empire cannot prohibit you from pursuing this field of knowledge as you have proven that it predates their own knowledge. However, you can use it as a bargaining tool with them. If you decide to join the fight on the side of the Empire, you have the means and the knowledge to field a very impressive military. However, you lack the resources to actually build such. I cannot speak on the details, but one of the things most feared by a good portion of the lizards are augmented humans. However, if the Emperor knows beyond doubt that such a thing has no reason to be feared by the true Empire, he would help you in building your military. It might be a covert assistance, but that might be something you should take into account during your deliberations."

"Commander, you have already helped us very much, I just wish I could keep you! You know more about what we need to do than anyone I've spoken to so far," Ben replied.

"I am but a servant of my Lord Emperor's Will, it is my honor and duty to be of assistance in this manner," she replied formally, but was grinning. "Can I have another of those cheeseburgers? That was delicious!"

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R
anger Outpost 050 Headquarters

Commissioner Holdst's Office

Cygnus Minor Ranger Base

Hyclarion, Sirius System

Hyclarion Imperial Consortium

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"R
anger Hojoh, do you honestly expect me to believe this report? Where is your Commander, really?" Commissioner Holdst asked.

"With respect, Commissioner, she told me that you wouldn’t believe a word of it. However, she also told me to tell you that as hard as it is to believe, she is deadly serious. She ordered me to make sure I convinced you of this," Hojoh replied. He had heard Jance's report and he had a hard time believing it himself, except for that destroyer that was trying to kill them. "I would have a hard time with it myself, Commissioner, except for the fact that there was a destroyer in orbit of that world that was trying to kill us."

"Relax Hojoh, I believe you. Jance is a lot of things, but prone to exaggeration is not one of them. If she says there is a reason to be more vigilant, then there is." The large male leaned back on his seat in thought. Then opened a channel to his aide.

"Jontas, order the Ranger Scout Humorin into the Vega nebula tell them to try to stay cloaked as well as they can, but be aware that there might be hostile ships hiding in there. With the exception of Scout Galias and Patrol Junio, ready them to go to the Planet Terral III in full stealth mode. Heavy combat load. Ready my cruiser as well."

"At once Commissioner, what orders for the ships remaining here?" the aide asked.

"Routine duties, I also want a full fleet status before we depart. Including the home fleet," the Commissioner replied.

"Commissioner, the home fleet is the only one in this sector, the rest of the fleets have been dispatched around the Empire on various tasks," the aide reported. "We received a dispatch about that last month."

"They have not yet returned?" he asked. "How many of those 'tasks' are to lizard space?"

"One moment, Commissioner." The aide replied.

Hojoh had never seen this anxious look on his superior's face before. "Sir, are you well?"

"No, Hojoh. I'm beginning to have a very bad feeling about this," the Commissioner replied.

The aide replied. "Sir, it looks like there are a lot of them, I would say that the majority of the Imperial Fleets are in lizard space, but they are pretty spread out so the list of assignments is still compiling."

"Abort, I have the answer I needed. Connect me with First Admiral Yolinar - eyes only, astral priority!" the Commissioner replied. He looked up at Hojoh, "Ranger Hojoh, return to your ship and replenish your supplies. Recruit a couple of cadets, but make certain you have a full combat load aboard. You will be going back to Terral III with us."

Hojoh saluted and quickly left the room to follow his orders.

"Sir, I have the First Admiral for you," the aide replied.

"Very good, put him through please." Before he finished speaking the image of the First Admiral took form on his viewer.

"Commissioner, the use of Astral is for wartime only, you know this, yes?" the Admiral asked casually.

"I do, Sir. I have strong reason to believe the life of the Emperor; no, the whole Empire, is at stake. Do you remember that human we promoted to Commander last year?" Holdst replied.

"Yes, a very devoted and level headed young woman, she is a credit to her race," the Admiral replied.

"I sent her to Terral III to investigate the intentional destruction of an ohto processing plant. I just received a report from her that I am forwarding to you now. She believes she has stumbled upon a plan by the lizards to finish the war. I agree with her," Holdst replied.

From the reaction the First Admiral had, Holdst suddenly realized he might not be alone in his belief. "Understood, give me a moment to get to where I can read this. What more have you discovered?"

"I've sent a stealthed patrol ship to the Vega Nebula. If this is real, that is the only place he could hide the ships he would need. With our fleets out on their current missions, it would be very easy for the lizards to destroy them as spread out as they are. They are also too far away to return here if they were needed. I intend to take the remainder of my units, less two units needed to maintain the post, to this planet to determine the threat of ground attack. Commander Jance Halst's evidence so far is very compelling and demands further investigation."

The Admiral nodded. "We recently received a report from one of our people that the lizards had been building warships on the far side of their territory. We did not get a location, but one of the things the fleets were supposed to do was to investigate this report. They have so far been prevented from doing so by minor 'emergencies' and false alarms. We have another report that Cassius has several assault carriers hidden in the Terral system. Many more than he would need to completely sterilize that world. Since we have no resources available, I was going to ask if you had a unit in that area that could look into this." The Admiral was quiet a moment while he reviewed the brief report.

When he finished, he nodded. "So, Terral III is the Human home world after all. You can only trust a lizard to lie to you. If he attacks now, we are finished. I held the home fleet here, but his majesty insisted we send the rest out in order to prove we were dedicated to the peace. I'll issue emergency recall orders immediately, but we need to get the Emperor away from here. Holdst, I am about to declare war on the lizards again. Keep in touch with me so I can try to stop it if this proves false."

"I understand, Sir, I hope it does prove false, but something is telling me it isn't," Holdst said.

"I share your concern as well as your hope. Be safe Commissioner and return as soon as you are able," the Admiral replied.

Ranger Commissioner Holdst nodded to his older brother in farewell and as the comm channel closed, he got up from his desk and headed for the armory.

B
en Winston (1965 - ?) was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota on the family dairy farm. Upon reaching adulthood, he joined the United States Army as a communications technician. Before getting out of the military, he decided to go to school for computer electronics.

Shortly after getting out of the military, and after getting a new job with an over-seas company, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. A month after beginning the new job, he was laid off due to budget over-runs on the project he was hired for. Upon returning to the United States, he had difficulty maintaining employment because of the chronic illness.

He began writing as a form of stress release, from being home bound and not being able to work, and found he liked writing erotica. Ben wrote a trilogy called the Talosian Chronicles (Currently in rewrite to remove the graphic sex and finalized his vision of the story). The first book, Star Dancer, won awards and was nominated for many others by the online communities where it was posted.

Ben Winston returned to school for literature, after completion, he began writing professionally. Being an avid fan of science fiction he focused on this genre. He was, and still is, influenced and inspired by Gene Roddenberry, Anne McCaffery, David Weber, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury. Some of his favorite movies and TV shows are; Battlestar Galactica (both versions), Andromeda, Star Trek, Firefly, Star Wars, and many of the B-rated movies that were actually box-office bombs.

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Ben Winston

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by Ben Winston

Pollux Paradox

Tides of Mars

Tides of Mars (Omnibus)

Ascension

Conflict

Talosian Chronicles

Olympus

Star Dancer

Talosian Alliance

*Neptune’s Massif (Dec 2015, on presale now!)

*Raptor Squadron (First Quarter of 2016)

Novellas

Abraxis Complex

Origin of Prometheus

Sword of Damocles

Abraxis Code

Book of the Guardian

Home – Part One

Pest Control – Part Two

The Last Mission – Part Three

Resolution – Part Four

Bedouin’s Travels

Twilight Earth

A Long, Dark Night

*Terra Dawning (Pre-Sale now Dec 2015)

*New Day (First Quarter of 2016)

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Temple of S.A.R.A.H.

Prototype – Episode I

Subroutines – Episode II

Base Functions – Episode III

Hard Wired – Episode IV

Debug Mode – Episode V

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by Michael McClain

Chronicles of Atlantis Series

Chronicles of Atlantis (Omnibus)

Atlantis Rising – Book I