by Chris Hechtl
"Let's certainly hope so."
-~~~///^\~~~-
Ivan Drakov had been monitoring the news of the attack. He'd pulled his feelers in during the initial cyber-attack, but now that the first round was over, his people were putting out their feelers once more.
The attacks had come at just the right time; they were covering for him and his people. Everyone was looking up or at their computers and not paying the slightest attention to what he was doing.
"It just gets better and better," he murmured, turning to see a group of people being taken to the labs. If they were terrified now, they'd be even more so when they found what awaited them in the labs below he knew.
The future might be darker than some expected. Not him. He'd become a Necron because of that vision. It wasn't quite time to act on that vision, but soon.
Authors Afterword
Yes! I started blocking this out a while back, but it didn't come together until last year, ironically before I wrote Liberty or Death. That was when many of the scenes of the climax came into being, including the events in Chapter 58. Some I'd had in mind for years though.
I had actually planned to write this first this year (2019) but certain people “collectively encouraged” me to write Shiver Me Timbers first. (Yes, Wayne, I'm pointing a finger straight at you. lol)
This has been a fun write, mainly because it came together mostly smoothly. I say mostly because I did trip myself up with the Marine deployments. Hopefully, I got them sorted out. Hopefully.
Also, thanks to Poon and the other Betas for their contributions. Poon was the one who's last minute feedback had me add the bit about the Japanese. We'll see how that plays out in the next book. :)
So, what's next? Well, this year we've got another Founding of the Federation book warming up in the bullpen, We the People. After that possibly Sparks, the first of the Ragnarok series, then Princess Rescue Inc 2, and then to close out the year one other book, most likely another short story anthology book.
If I can squeeze another book in, I'll try. We'll see what the year brings.
As usual you can see more of my musings, snippets, pics, and other things on my blog.
Cast
Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons: President of the Federation.
Captain SG Sprite: Adjuncant of Admiral Irons.
Proteus: Hive minded nanite A.I. within Admiral Irons.
Lieutenant Protector: Admiral Irons flag lieutenant, chief of staff, and defensive A.I.
Commoodore Clint Bronson, Neochimp male. Lemnos sleeper survivor. Former commandant of Pyrax academy and later crusher.
Phyllis Diller of Knox news -Covered Port a Prince in Pyrax.
Lieutenant Commander Hakeem Moreset: Neomutt male from Seti Alpha 4. SEAL senior officer on Agnosta
Captain SG Jake 'Studly' Dudly (aka doodily and do little): Marine Recon senior officer on Agnosta -Human chimera male from Agnosta. Raider, and Force Recon qualified.
Captain SG Nick Alexander: Army Delta from Gaston. Newest to rank.
Antigua:
Colonel Joshua Lyon: former sleeper and Marine Recon. Cadre commander and current head of SFC.
Rear Admiral Walter Draven: SEAL male chimera from Bek. Started as a Marine. Transferred to Navy when he mustanged to officer. Went through ONI training. Small group receive SEAL designation. Rose through the ranks. He has a lot of awards. Transferred to Antigua.
Vice Admiral Odette Champion: Bekian in command of Home Fleet.
Captain JG Swish clack -T'clock female from Bek on board.
Lieutenant Commander Barrack Coklin -neochimp engineer from Bek on board.
Lieutenant Commander Siobhan Blackyip -Neodog from Bek on board.
Lieutenant Commander Elvis Yaeger -former flag lieutenant to Sienkov -Neochimp female. From Bek.
Commander Berkowitz: Male engineer in charge of the hyperplatform investigation.
Senator Opie Merkoski
Miss Cheyenne Mayfair (Pyrax) -nemesis of Irons on Destiny
Senator Alicia Potts: Human female senator from Richalu
Russell -New Texas (Heavyset, drawl, hat)
Avery Falconi -grand nephew of Gotham mob boss Falconi in ET. ET senator.
Chuck Grassley: Neochimp from Seti Alpha 4.
Asif Beral: Human male, Syntia's World.
Bernie Reindolf: chimera male, Senka -bald bullet head. Looks a little like a gorilla. Has a male intern named Luca.
V's'k'll: Veraxin senator from Halced 6
Rear Admiral Walter Draven: SEAL human from Bek. Male. Former Marine turned SpecOps. Trying to avoid full implants and A.I.
Captain Senior Grade Xiaoling Zheng: Male chimera. In charge of the Gate project.
Lieutenant Genghis: Gate station A.I.
Bek:
Rear Admiral (ret) Shiro Ishi: Asian ONI.
Rear Admiral Richard Maok: Head of design review board. Obstructionalist. He has basic ID implants. Causes trouble for Horatio.
Captain JG Doight: Female elf with lingering prejudices against AI. Record cleared and recently promoted. -forced out.
Contenders for the Vice Presidency
Governor Jeff Randall. Wife Sandra -Antigua
Governor Saladin -Pyrax
Governor Parvati Das Seti Alpha 4
Pyrax
Vice Admiral Phil Subert: AI - Transferred to Antigua
Vice Admiral Coral Summer High elf female Bekian replacement.
Commander Kamia: A.I. of San Diego
Commander Clink: A.I. of POW habitat. Smart A.I.
Commodore Farook San Pao: Commandant of the academy.
Chief Liam Valdez Kincaid
Liam Valdez O'reilly
Captain SG Irene Teague
Smithy: Anvil A.I.
Enrique: Governor of Anvil station
New Horizon:
Captain Jed Misipeka: Neoorangutan captain of Winterspell
Captain SG Firefly: A.I. captain of HC Firefly
XO: Commander Dressa. Female
Commander Wasabi Tashiro TACO -Male human
LCMDR Fogerty: ATO Female
Voyager 74656 - Captain: Lieutenant Commander Jane Hathaway
Shredder - Commander Lessa Galvin
Dunatis -Captain: Lieutenant Commander Kenji Wong
Sword Breaker - Captain: Lieutenant Commander Chester Rohas
Rear Admiral Red Stripe: T'clock male firecracker/hard charger. Takes over TF2.4 and wants to get into the war. Resents being held back. He has red digital stripes on his carpence chitin.
Prowler UFN-040P: Poltergeist class
Captain: LCMDR Gino Hough -Male Neocat Jaugarundi
Horathians:
Emperor: (formerly Supreme secretary) Pyotr (Peter) Ramichov 'Peter the Great'
Royal family:
Empress: Irazabeth (red queen) Jabberwocky Ramichov
Dowager Empress: Jezebel Pardoll Ramichov (reference biblical name) -mother of Pyotr.
Note: Pyotr is only surviving child due to court intrigue
Fiona- First wife of Pyotr. Mother of the twins. Assassinated by Jezebel.
Meredith - former consort of Pyotr. Died in a suspicious air car accident.
Crown Prince: Adam-twin to eldest princess (predate by 5 min) Naval officer home fleet Command -First Battlecruiser squadron -Commander Arkangel. KIA
Crown princess consort: Marina (white queen) Stuart -youthful, pale, white hair, black nails and lips. Graceful, soft spoken, seemingly sweet but actually very sadistic under the surface. Highly motivated to become empress.
-younger sister Vashti Stuart
Princess: Catherine Ramichov -Naval officer (Commodore) Home fleet staff operational officer to Admiral De Gaulte -on Executioner
Prince consort: None currently
Prince: Mason Ramichov -Marine officer lieutenant. Transferred to Star Mauler -Mother died prior to marriage. Captured by the Federation.
Princess consort: Dominitia Knowles.
Prince: -Marine Joseph Ramichov -blood br
other to Mason. Mother died prior to marriage.
Princess consort: Annia Wong
Prince: -teenager in academy Kevin Ramichov -son of Irazebeth
Princess consort to be: Agnes Rico
Princess: Khali youngest child by second marriage (10) -Khali Judith Ramichov -daughter of Irazebeth
Contessa: Emperor's hand. (one of many) Speaks for him.
Minister of War: -Theodore Cruise Rico Duke of Hinata
Joint Chief of Staff:
Praetor of the Navy: -Malwin Cartwright Admiral and Baron male -Dead drop
-vice admiral Lewis Post: Ops officer
-Vice Admiral Rupert Bradley Ships -male
-Vice Admiral Latisha Nuert BuPers -female
Praetor of the Army: -Robert Levot General of the armies Baron of TFP -1 eye.
Consul of the Marquis: -Vice Admiral Ahab Grant Marquis
Minister of Intelligence: -Vice Admiral, countess, female Sabina Newberry, countess of Garth
Commodore Elvira Varbossa: Raven haired engineering genius. Lover to Catherine.
Armando Diaz: Resolution class HC -KIA all hands
Captain Vanessa Stuart
XO Male
TACO male
Navigator: Ned
Raymond: Sensor tech
6 Water Dwellers on board: -Tony
Status: selected to make a series of jumps into Fed space to sow the plagues behind enemy lines.
Rear Admiral Kuresh Quartermain
Chief of staff:
Staff TACO: Commander Raj Jaffa male
Staff Navigator: Lieutenant Abdul Tagger male
Captain Nedila flag captain -female
Hatak: division mate of flagship.
H001:
Captain Trentin: picket commander before Rear Admiral Zheng arrival.
Captain Bradley
Captain Sito : Courier captain
Rear Admiral Shino Zhen -new picket commander.
Vice Admiral thomas Knowles: Unimaginative bluff leader of Vengeance Fleet.
Rear Admiral Iruke Knowles: Commander of the Finagle picket
Commander Stuart: Male chief of staff
Male TACO
Captain Jasmine Fontain: flag captain and lover of the admiral.
XO-male
Pirate lords:
Count Gordon: SNHH governor. Horathian.
Ivan Drakov -mummy Ivan the terrible Necromonger and 1 of the leaders of the Necrons. Former famous pirate. Missing right arm and both legs below the knee. Has prosthetics. cybernetic right eye. Heavy scarring on his right side. Old, bald.
House of Lords
Sydney: Viscount of Telemark Junior lord. Fat.
Count Jason McAllen: Head of the Naval Affairs Committee
Bree Stuart
Theodore Varbossa
Evin Frost
Eden Paterson
Sayed Pardoll
Appendix
My Blog:
http://cyberforge3d.blogspot.com/
The Facebook Fan group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/582559128466667/
The Wiki:
http://federation-datanet.wikia.com/wiki/Federation_AI_Historical_Datanet_Wiki
Recommended Reading Order
Time line of the Engineer Universe:
Chronological reading order
Founding Series:
*First Steps
Stepping Stones Founding Stories 1
To Touch the Stars
The Island of Moreau -Short Story Multiverse 2
Bumper and Boomer -Short Story Multiverse 2
The First AI War
Cornerstone: Tales of the Founding of the Federation 2
The First Terran Interstellar War 1 Desperate Defense
The First Terran Interstellar War 2 Waking the Sleeping Giant
Universal Translator Multiverse 4
The Good Ship UFSP Lollipop-Short Story Multiverse 2
Higher for Higher -Short Story Multiverse 1
Siren Call -Short Story Multiverse 1
The Stargate Program Multiverse 4
Ragnarok series: Forthcoming
Kai's Story
Wandering Engineer:
*New Dawn
Fools Gold
Jethro Goes to War
Destiny's Choice
Ghost Station
Jethro First to Fight
Plague Planet
13 Degrees of Separation
Pirates Bane
Lewis and Clarke -Short Story Multiverse 2
Jethro No Place like Home
Ghosts From the Past
---Federation Reborn----
Bringer of Fire and Light -Short Story Multiverse 1
Battle Lines
Jethro Recruiting Drive
Pirate Rage
Tales of the Federation Reborn 1
Retribution
Horatio Logan Chronicles: 1 Enemy of my Enemy
Jethro 5 Ares God of War
Shelby Logan Chronicles: 1 Convoy
Horatio Logan Chronicles 2 Court-Martial
The Gathering Storm
Multiverse 3 short stories
Semper Fidelis short stories
A Piece of the Pi short stories
In Search of Pi
The Turning Tide
Pi Fight
Liberty or Death
Full Circle
Shiver Me Timbers (in parallel to other works)
Folklore
Wolfpack Multiverse 4
Will of Fire Multiverse 4
Christmas Multiverse 4
Blockade (in parallel to other works)
Sneak Peek
The following is a raw excerpt from We the People, the next book in the Founding of the Federation Series.
Alpha-G7-449351 star system
Captain Ivan 'the Terrible' Drakov watched his bridge crew as they slowly crossed the star system. His ship the Rosebud was a privateer, a converted freighter turned into a pirate ship with the addition of some off the shelf military hardware as well as some cobbled together weapons, shields, and other equipment.
He longed for the days when he'd had a proper warship under his boots. He'd been drummed out of the navy and was still bitter over being court-martialed and brigged. It had been stupid but he'd learned his lesson and had schemed to reach the point he was at now. And, because he'd had military grade implants and geriatric stabilization treatments, he was assured of living a long life.
To fulfill his plan he used judicious use of the stasis pods on his ship. He had calculated that if he used them properly he could stretch out his life span almost indefinitely. Sleeping in stasis beat the boredom of being on the ship during long stretches between ports.
Each successful strike added to his growing bank account and to his adopted clan. Eventually they'd be able to get to the point where he'd have his dream of having a proper warship again.
And then, oh, and then, he thought with a vicious grin. "Watch out galaxy," he murmured as his ship set her sights on his latest prize to be.
(^)#(^)
Although the terraforming station had the bulk of their satellites pointed to the ground and their work, that didn't mean they didn't have a series of satellites in geosynchronous orbit to relay communications, as well as satellites inward toward the sun to monitor it for activity. Mapping the solar cycle was a part of their package that took years of data.
Mapping the skies to make sure there were no inconvenient rocks that would hit and destroy all of their hard work was another part of the package. And one satellite, Echo-44 found something. Its computers analyzed the images and then sent it to the station for further processing.
It didn't take long for the station A.I. to note the anomaly was a starship. He dutifully logged the information and brought it to the station command team when they gathered for their daily meeting.
Aeyrn was at first interested in the contact but stiffened when she noted there was no ID. Nor had anyone announced the arrival.
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"That's funny," Monique stated.
"What is?" Sho asked, sounding bored.
"The ship coming in. She's not giving off an IFF."
"What ship? Someone want to run that one past me again a little slower?" Sho demanded. He'd been focused on his implants as usual and hadn't been paying attention to the briefing. That was an ongoing problem with him, he was there physically but mentally he was checked out. He'd then complain that he hadn't been clued in to changes or no one had reminded him.