Intergalactic Union Read online

  Intergalactic Union

  Technomancer: Book Five

  Author: D. L. Harrison

  Copyright 2020. This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven – Interlude

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven – Interlude

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen - Interlude

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Afterword:

  About the Author

  Other books by D. L. Harrison:

  Book Description

  Chapter One

  The station hung like a silvery pearl behind the moon. The god juice, otherwise known as coffee, steamed as I slowly took a sip. There were a lot of new messages when I first woke up and I frowned as I went through them. It was the morning after the disastrous battle, if destroying twelve million of forty-two million ships could be considered disastrous.

  Of course, I did believe that. The twelve million ships destroyed weren’t a true threat, it was the thirty million that had more advanced shields, weapons, and acceleration that was the true threat. Those ships were now in hiding, and there was no finding them. Not until they wanted to be found, and at that point it’d be too late if our coming upgrades weren’t ready to match them.

  Which would be in four to five days according to my wife.

  “The U.S. released a travel advisory against coming to the station, and China outright banned travel to the station for their people.”

  It wasn’t a good thing, but I wasn’t sure what else I could’ve done after they’d all played me and left me out of most of the plan. The only explanation for that would be if they feared I’d balk on the whole plan altogether, unilaterally act despite a majority vote. I’m not positive, but I really don’t think I’d have done that, but the point was moot. They’d used me out of fear, and I was done coordinating with them on military matters.

  I may not be a whiz at warfare, but I still had the biggest hammer, and I could figure out my own way from now on. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s stooge or be manipulated like that again.

  Ironically perhaps, when I checked the logs, the fifty Chinese ships in orbit of ten of the Vrok worlds were being completely ignored. So far, the planets hadn’t answered their hails at all, much less started a discussion about surrender.

  Cassie replied, “I saw that. The U.S. is citing your treatment of Kevin Kearns as the reason, and state that you run an oppressive regime. China hasn’t given a reason.”

  Cassie ran most of the government for me, though I feared that may change soon if the vampire council on Earth got their way. She was simply stunning, forever eighteen, with shimmering light brown hair and warm hazel eyes set in an angelically beautiful face. She was petitely curvaceous at five foot one, a perfect hourglass in proportion to her petite body. She was also probably my best friend, only second to my wife.

  Her statement tickled me, because of course it’d been her decision to throw the jackass off the station.

  I snorted, “Mine?”

  Cassie giggled, “Of course, I just work here.”

  I sighed, “Not much we can do about that.”

  I’d sent the whole thing to all the world leaders on Earth, but I hadn’t shared anything with the press. Not out of pride, or not wanting to look foolish, but the battle was classified, and I didn’t want to cause a panic on the surface. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out we were screwed if the enemy figured out how to suppress the jump drive which was our only current tactical advantage.

  Jessica said, “The other six haven’t done anything that way, guilt?”

  Jessica was my head of security on the station, though given Astraeus was a country her real title was Secretary of Defense. She was a shifter though that didn’t come up much, outside of our visits to our island in the Caribbean. She was athletically built at five foot eight, with long red hair and brown eyes.

  The other six of course were the other countries on the committee that had misled me, at least they weren’t bringing their civilians into our governmental disagreement. Russia, Australia, England, France, Japan, and Israel. I hoped that didn’t change, because I didn’t want to completely cut ties with the countries. I just wouldn’t coordinate my military with them anymore. I also wouldn’t be selling them anymore ships. Not forever, but I wasn’t sure what it would take for them to regain trust.

  Maybe the next election cycle, when those responsible for it were replaced. I’d also have a much more jaundiced eye toward cooperation, and I wouldn’t play the fool again. The whole fool me once, shame on them, fool me twice shame on me thing.

  Honestly, I was really furious with all of them, they’d ruined a good thing we had going. Instead of trusting me, they’d manipulated me out of fear of a stronger enemy. I wasn’t sure if it could ever be the same again. Not that I wouldn’t defend Earth or her colonies if it came up. I just wasn’t going to do it by anyone else’s plan.

  I shrugged, “No idea. I hope things don’t spiral further, or Jayna might kill me.”

  Cassie snickered.

  Jessica asked, “Do you have a plan if they figure it out first and attack in the next few days?”

  I frowned, “Not really, not a successful one anyway, any ideas?”

  If I was forced to, and we couldn’t stop them, I could always quantum jump the station and at least save my two million people. But watching the Earth burn was unthinkable.

  Jessica said, “Anti-matter missile blitz. You’d have to sacrifice and rebuild all the platforms, but that might work.”

  “It might, their shields are stronger against anti-matter, but the missile configuration does have a lot more of it than the beams do. The problem is their point defense, they’ll take out a ton of them with all thousand turrets taking out three per second. It’d take almost five minutes to cross that much space.”

  Jessica sighed, “Right, I was thinking they’d jump, but of course if the Vrok attack they’ll have figured out how to suppress that.”

  We all exchanged a glance, and we knew what we’d have to do, but none of us were willing to say it out loud.

  Jessica looked down at the table, “Tam’Diaz is calling.”

  I nodded. I’d been half expecting that. We’d taken over the border watch on two of their borders, which meant we had eight million ships right next to their territory on two different borders. I imagine that may make them a bit nervous.

  “Open the frequency.”

  She did that.

  “Tam, this is Scott. How are you doing?”

  Tam said, “Well, Scott. Herd Mistress Janleah is slightly concerned however, on your intentions.”

  I smirked but held back the chuckle that arrived on the tip of my tongue, herd mistress, that never got old.

  “Understandable. The Vrok started an invasion of our territory recently, and we replaced all their outer fleets on their seven other borders including your own, though the
fighting has not yet been decided either way. I can assure you it’s a temporary measure. Once peace is reestablished, I plan to reduce the fleets on both your borders by three quarters. I have no intention of harm toward our new friends, plus you still have all those planets to finish for us. I’m transmitting data, now. Both to clarify and back my word.”

  Tam’Diaz was silent for a moment, as she digested all the logs. Of course, I kept the stealth technology references out of what I sent to them, but I saw no reason or purpose in hiding anything else.

  She replied, “I understand. Not really, but predator species are quite insane.”

  I laughed, “No argument there.”

  She said, “We wish you luck. The Vrok are even more aggressive than most.”

  “Thank you. I’ll notify you when it is settled, and we can lessen the fleet strength on your borders.”

  She replied, “Understood, good day, Scott.”

  I blew out a breath, as the communication channel closed. A.I.s freaked me out, and that thought made me wonder what the hell Darrell was up to out there, somewhere, with one of my ships doing god knows what.

  A.I. things, hopefully not something to destroy human life. Sure, I knew that was probably just paranoid thinking, but intelligent and independent machines freaked me out. Perversely perhaps, I liked Tam’Diaz, and thought they’d be a reliable trading partner who’d never attack us unless we attacked first.

  More reliable apparently, than my human allies. Humans were also one of the most noble species in space, which was another alarming truth. Who’d have thought? Point being, that made the universe a hell of a dangerous place.

  Cassie said, “You handled that well.”

  “I was ready for it. I knew from their point of view it would appear we’d invaded the Vrok and doubled our ships on their border. They’re rather wary of our kind, and we’re stronger than they are.”

  Jessica said, “The Jarnis ship inbound is requesting a meeting with you.”

  I nodded. I’d noted their arrival six hours ago in the log, just after midnight Astraeus time.

  “Did they say why?”

  Jessica shook her head, “Not specifically, but they did say a Vax, Vonerith and Kateran would be with them.”

  I frowned. The Vax were one of our strongest trading partners, and they looked like bigfoot and a koala had created a love child. The Arnis were much like we were in proportion, just about two feet shorter. They also had gray skin and usually brown eyes, but hazel and golden were possible as well.

  I had to look up the database for the Vonerith and Kateran. The Earth had done a lot of trading with them, but I’d never met them personally. It’d been our merchants going to them for the most part and none had visited the station before.

  The Katerans from Katera, were a matriarchal society. They were humanoid and averaged about five feet, extremely slim and powerful, reminiscent of felines with large eyeteeth, retractable claws, and fur on most of their bodies.

  The Vonerith were male dominated and looked like a bull got busy with an ape. They were seven feet tall on average and highly muscled.

  “Set it up, I’m curious what they want, and all four of them together. Not like we’re busy or anything.”

  Jessica snorted, then did just that.

  “They’re scheduled to dock on station just after lunch.”

  “Thanks.”

  There didn’t seem to be anything else, so I dove into the job to distract myself. I was worried about Earth and our relations spiraling even further. I was more than concerned with the Vrok threat and their seven and a half well-hidden fleets, and I was curious about our visitors coming but couldn’t imagine it was a good thing that brought them all together. Then there was the A.I. my amazing daughter let loose on an unsuspecting universe.

  Yeah, no stress at all. Just another day at the office.

  I brought up the design for the luxury cruiser, and I finished that up that morning. Life went on after all, even during multiple crises, and I had a ship selling business and a country to see to.

  Chapter Two

  It was somewhat of a surprise when I arrived at the conference room after lunch, to find Rena and Threx waiting for me, with a Vonerith and Kateran. I hadn’t seen Rena since that first time, almost thirteen years ago. She was very high up in their government, and she’d been chosen to come and check out the new humans with Gray technology. The look I exchanged with Threx told me he was a little uncomfortable with why he was here. I’d grown to know him and his people well enough to judge their body language.

  The Kateran female sat stiffly, and she did look something similar to a feline, with multicolored fur everywhere but on her face. Her ears were higher on her head than a human’s as well. There was no tail or anything though, and I couldn’t discern anything about the rest of her under the space suit, except she didn’t have the curves of a human female.

  The Vonerith male looked very relaxed.

  I sat down with Cassie at the head of the table.

  “Welcome to Astraeus. For those that haven’t met me, I’m President Scott Akin, and this is Cassiopeia Reed. You’re welcome to the refreshments on the table.”

  Rena smiled, “Thank you for your welcome. You know Threx of course, but he isn’t here in a merchant capacity today. He was chosen to represent his government on this matter, since you two are well acquainted. Cirlok of Vonerith, and Uvi of Katera enjoy similar high status on their worlds. We are here on a diplomatic mission.”

  I nodded slowly, “What can I do for you?”

  Rena looked nervous for a moment, then said, “The current state of things is unacceptable. Specifically, your protection of the fifty galaxies and therefore the protection of thousands of FTL races out in space. This creates a debt between us that sits uneasily, not only by those sitting at this table representing their worlds, but others as well.”

  Well, crap. As if I didn’t have enough headaches?

  “I’m assuming you don’t want us to claim all the space we protect and form an empire, which is the source of this imbalance?”

  Rena shook her head, “We believe you were wise not to. None of our races including mine could be trusted not to abuse so much power and authority over time. Yet, this imbalance must be addressed. It was a slight nagging to our pride and self-worth, when there was no danger. You just had ships on the borders, and you were unchallenged. But now, with the Vrok’s intentions and attempt to invade which you repelled last week, that made it a more immediate problem. We can’t accept this protection from being treated like food by an empire that would confine us to our worlds, without cost. Though you are correct, we have no wish to be annexed into a human empire.”

  Cassie patted my leg under the table, and when I turned my head, I noticed her trying to suppress a smirk. Some help she was. Apparently, she was just along to laugh at me.

  My mind scrambled for a reply of some kind, and I finally just regurgitated what we’d already covered.

  I nodded, “Do you have any suggestions to placate this debt you feel toward us? I agree that accepting our help for free would be… damaging to your societies. Yet, short of an empire or some kind of payment I don’t see a way around it.”

  She asked, “Payment?” like a drowning man in the ocean reaching for a life preserver. They really didn’t have a clue or an idea to solve their problem. Apparently, they’d come here to throw it at my feet and hope the humans didn’t change their minds about replacing the Grays’ empire with their own.

  Our own.

  “In our history, there have been… merchant warriors. We call them mercenaries. They were private companies of soldiers, for hire. A business, that were independent of any government authority. Governments or even individuals could hire them for protection or to fulfill missions.”

  Uvi said, “Truly? Your governments allowed these private soldiers to exist?”

  I nodded, “Yes, though their rules of engagement varied greatly between countries, based on what was allowed
for civilians. Point being, such an approach would allow your worlds to pay a value price for the protection we’re already providing to restore the pride and honor we’ve unintentionally harmed. All without needing to bend your heads or your knees to another race’s government.”

  Threx said, “I believe that’s something my government could get behind, trade is in our blood. I just never imagined we could trade for military protection out in space.”

  Uvi said, “The price would be ongoing however, which would present a significant burden on our worlds and societies. The fleets you have holding back empires from annexing us to rule, destroy, or exploit as a resource is a priceless service.”

  My mind turned that over for a bit, until an obvious plan occurred to me, then I said, “A world is priceless as well. The protection only extends against the empires as well, unless we have a treaty with your world for more.”

  Cirlok spoke for the first time, his voice was incredibly soft and gentle given his fierce appearance.

  “World? What is your meaning?”

  I said, “The Vrok have twenty-six galaxies. There are three million helpless pre-FTL worlds. My people have decided once we vanquish the Vrok we’ll be holding their borders as well, so those worlds don’t give over on one master just to meet another.

  “Of course, for the same reason you’re here, that selfless gifts aren’t trusted or wanted, was also discussed. There is also an element of healthy selfishness involved, there should be something in it for us. One of the discussed possibilities is for us to claim a small territory in each galaxy we’re protecting, for future expansion and planets.

  “That solves multiple problems for us. One, it would be a less than selfless reason to keep other empires out of the whole galaxy, just to protect our interests. Two, it would give us around two hundred thousand worlds to expand to over the coming Millennia, without trying to expand our space in this galaxy far enough to do that. If we tried to do that, we’d surely bump up against other expanding domains. It also spreads humanity far and wide, which is an instinct I’m sure we all share at the table.”