The Human Chronicles Saga : Boxset #2 (The Human Chronicles Saga Boxsets)

by T. R. Harris

  Adam addressed both Convor and Arieel with his next statement. “I know the tremendous sacrifice the two of you are making just so we can attempt a rescue of our friend. And once our mission is complete, I assure you we will only use the ATD’s – the Gifts – you give us for good. You have mentioned that your society is changing, and the Formilians will be taking a more active role in the galaxy. Personally, I welcome this. There’s a darkness coming, and we will need the light provided by the Formilian’s to help us through.”

  Adam felt Sherri nudge him; he glanced at her and saw the quizzical frown on her face. He knew her well enough to know what she was thinking: What the hell is all this Lord of the Rings-type bullshit?

  He shrugged, knowing that as soon as his team got him in private the hazing would be classic.

  Arieel stood and stepped down from the Throne platform to stand before Adam and his group. Adam now smiled, not so much at Arieel, but at the uncomfortable shuffling he could hear coming from the three men behind him. This was the first time any of them had seen Arieel and he knew exactly what they were going through. From that day on, they would never be able to get the image of Arieel Bol out of their minds – or their fantasies.

  Arieel’s expression suddenly turned very serious. “My friend Adam Cain, and all his brave companions, I too welcome you. As I have promised, all the arrangements have been made for your procedures, although I do not envy the mission you have set for yourselves. The Kracori homeworld will not welcome your actions, and I fear for your success.”

  “Speaker Bol,” Adam said, smiling. “We are a specialized unit skilled at just this type of operation.”

  Arieel did not return his smile. “I realize that, Adam; you saved my life using such a skill-set. But this is different. Now you will be going against an entire planet and the odds will be greatly against your success.”

  Adam could sense there was something she was holding back. His suspicion was verified when she turned to Convor – her father – and nodded.

  “Mr. Cain,” Convor began. “The situation has changed recently. The deadline for the rescue of your friend has been shortened. But I will have another explain.”

  A side door to the Temple opened and the huge, yet agile, figure of Kroekus entered the room. The huge Silean was the Administrator of the Expansion, headquartered on Juir, and was literally the Supreme Being in the galaxy. Adam was surprised to see him here on Formil. Yet it was the other pair of beings who entered behind him that really shocked Adam.

  It was Kaylor and Jym.

  Sherri yelled and ran to the two of them, with Adam only a step behind. They embraced the tall Belsonian and the squat bear-like Fulquin. It had been years since the Humans had last seen their old alien companions and the feeling of joy was universal, even for the skittish Jym.

  Adam turned to embrace Kroekus as well. “What the hell?” he asked. “What’s the purpose of the reunion; I didn’t expect to see any of you here.”

  “Once I informed ambassadors Kaylor and Jym that their friend Riyad Tarazi was in trouble, they both insisted on coming along.”

  Adam frowned and then looked down at Jym. “Even you? I thought Riyad terrified you?”

  “I’ve grown past that, Adam,” Jym said. “I understand more of Human nature now, so I do not fear Riyad – or the rest of you – as I did before.”

  Sherri hugged the tiny bear. “Good,” she said. “We’re not as frightening as some of us want you to believe.” She looked at Adam as she completed her statement.

  Adam looked at the two aliens and shook his head. “I appreciate the support you two, and you Kroekus, but we have this covered. This mission will be beyond dangerous. If you want to provide support here on Formil that would be great. Other than that—”

  “We’ve been fitted with the Formilian Gifts as well, Adam.” Kaylor said interrupting. “And we’re going with you on the mission.”

  Adam’s jaw dropped and he looked at Kroekus. “Not me!” the huge Silean corrected. “I am here for other purposes.”

  Sherri came to stand next to Adam and they both stared at Kroekus but said nothing. They were too much in shock. Kroekus began speaking. “I have come into possession of some very disturbing news which has altered the landscape of the Expansion. It seems as though the Juireans have also acquired the location of Elision and are at this time planning a strike against the planet.”

  “But we’re….” Adam let his sentence fade off.

  “It appears as though your people will not get the chance to avenge the recent attack on Earth,” Kroekus continued. “The Juireans will beat you to Elision.”

  “Good, then we won’t have to attack,” Sherri said. “That will save a lot of lives.” And then she tensed. “When … when will the Juireans be there?”

  “Three months at the most,” Kroekus answered. “But that’s not the worst of it. Our source also believes the Juireans plan on retaking the Expansion.”

  Adam’s mind was racing, with two levels of concern.

  The first was that Riyad now had to be rescued before the Juirean attack, which would require his plan to be accelerated by at least thirty days. With the implantations and training required, it wouldn’t be enough time. The training would have to be cut back, which could prove not only dangerous for the mission but also for his team. And now Kaylor and Jym say they’re going as well. ATD’s or not, they were not adequately trained for such a mission.

  His second concern was for the Expansion. Even with it failing, he wondered what it would be like to have the Juireans back in charge of the Expansion? They might be able to save it from a complete breakdown … but then what of the Earth? The Juireans had never allowed other powerful forces to co-exist with them in the galaxy, so this may just be a precursor to an eventual conflict between the Humans and Juireans – again.

  Mentally, Adam shrugged off the fog of thoughts clouding the current situation. At the moment he was on Formil to prepare for the rescue of Riyad Tarazi. After that was achieved, then he would worry about all the other crap going on in the galaxy.

  “Kroekus, this is all disturbing news, but right now I have to figure out how I – we – are going to save Riyad before the Juireans get to Elision. My timetable has been completely screwed up.”

  Convor stepped up to the group. “I may help with that. The implant procedures are rather simple and all the preparations for that part of your mission have been made. It’s the training that is at issue. Therefore, I would like to introduce you to another old friend.”

  Adam turned as Trimen O’lac approached from behind, leading a phalanx of seven other Formilian males, all bronze, muscular and with determined looks on their faces. Adam greeted the Second Celebrant and his former ATD trainer as warmly as he had the others.

  “Trimen and the others are to accompany you as well, Adam Cain,” said Convor. “But more than that … go ahead Trimen.”

  “My friend Adam Cain,” Trimen began. “Since your implantation, many things have changed here on Formil. We now know – as you pointed out – that we are in possession of a very powerful device, as well as a weapon. And with the forces that appear to be aligning against us, the Formilian people need a defense force equal to the task.” He paused and smiled. “Adam, I have acquired the Gift!”

  “No shit!”

  Trimen was very familiar with Human-speak, so he didn’t miss a beat. “No shit! After the experience with your implant, it was studied and found that Formilian males are very compatible with the Gift, and even though the knowledge and the practice is still a very closely guarded secret, we have begun to equip others with the Gift. These others behind me are some of the first.”

  “I’m in shock, Trimen,” Adam said truthfully. He looked over at Arieel. “Is this why you insisted I begin the mission here?”

  “Yes, Adam,” she said. “Trimen and his team will be going with you. They will train your Humans during the transit and will assist themselves in any way they can. Even though I feel somewhat dimi
nished by all that had occurred on my homeworld over the past few months, I do see the necessity if my people are to survive. But for now, the team will consist of the five Humans, your friends Kaylor and Jym, plus Trimen and his Formilians. As you arrive to rescue Riyad Tarazi, you will have a force of fifteen specially-enhanced individuals to carry out the mission.”

  She smiled so warmly that it actually took Adam’s breath away. “The chance of your safe return is now greatly increased – as is the prospect of Riyad’s rescue being a success.”

  Adam didn’t know what to say. He spent a moment surveying the crowd within the Temple chambers while preparing a response which all were expecting.

  He was thrilled to see his old alien friends Kaylor and Jym, and the prospect of working with them again – in whatever capacity – was heartwarming. And with the addition of Trimen and his Formilians, who would know how to manipulate their ATD’s better than any of the Humans, the chances of Riyad and the rest of them getting out alive had suddenly increased exponentially. Confidence soared within him.

  “I started this mission as a personal task I felt compelled to undertake,” he began, now looking at Sherri and the rest of his Human companions. “I never expected such support, from either my own kind or others who do not belong to the Human race … or who have never met Riyad Tarazi personally. Your help is welcome and appreciated.”

  And then Adam Cain smiled – a wicked, sinister smile – before saying, “The Kracori have no idea what’s coming their way!”

  The End of…

  The Apex Predator

  A Galaxy to Conquer

  Next up…

  A Galaxy to Conquer

  The Human Chronicles Saga

  Book #8

  Adam Cain is an Alien with an Attitude.

  His adventures continue…

  80

  An entire race of beings was about to exterminated.

  For the past ten thousand years, the natives of the planet Aslon had been witness to one of the most awesome spectacles in the universe: a white dwarf star being devoured by a voracious black hole.

  Even though the image was faint in the bright afternoon sky, at night the glory and savage power of the celestial event became more evident, as the brilliance of the massive accretion disk outshined even that of the planet's solitary moon. For the entire time the O'mly race had been evolved enough to notice, the fiery display of yellow and green gasses had cast a soft glow over the seasonal veil of night, bathing the ocean world in an iridescent light and creating an almost hypnotic dance of colorful sparkles upon the surface of the gentle waves.

  It was estimated that this spectacular event would last another five thousand years before the gasses enveloping the solid diamond core of the white dwarf would be depleted. And then the singularity would disappear, not from existence, but from view. Now locked in an eternal dance with what would become a black dwarf star, the singularity would forever pose a hazard to interstellar traffic within the space surrounding the homeworld of the O’mly race.

  Five thousand years is a long time in the lifespan of a civilization, if not that of a species. However, if Captain David Robe, UESF, had his way the O’mly race would be extinct long before then. Actually, by his estimation, he was placing their lifespan at not more than three weeks remaining.

  The white dwarf/singularity grudge-match was located only a quarter-light-year from the Aslon star of Illin, and the twenty-five ships making up the Human invasion force under Captain Robe’s command had to pass through the rapidly decaying star system to reach the planet. Dave had very little experience with the wonders of deep space, so for him—as well as the bulk of his crew—this sight was a first. He stood before the wide viewport of his flagship—the ESV San Diego—mesmerized by the awesome sight before his eyes.

  At the center of the swirling accretion disk of yellow and green gas—being drawn from the dying star across a million miles of space—he could clearly see the eerie, pitch-black point signifying the event horizon of the singularity. He stood in absolute awe of the fact that this was a visualization of the process that powered all the mighty starships streaking across the galaxy, his own included. For it was within the logic-defying realm of the event horizon where the magic took place; where time stood still and the laws of nature could be circumvented, allowing Human and alien alike to travel the impossibly far distances of the galaxy.

  Captain Robe’s ship was powered by a miniature version of the same inconceivable power that was eating the white dwarf, even though his singularity existed in only microscopic dimensions. However, even on such a small scale, it was still powerful enough to create the conditions necessary for his craft to cheat Relativity.

  Traditionally, deep-space vessels such as the San Diego would be required to travel along designated space lanes far away from conflicting gravity sources such as planets, moons and asteroids. For these larger vessels, the strength of their gravity-wells was enough to disrupt the orbits of these bodies and was capable of destroying entire stellar systems in the aftermath. However, the Earth Space Vessel San Diego—named in honor of one of the great cities of America destroyed by the Juireans nearly twenty years earlier—was a special breed of gravity-drive ship. She employed a concentrated-array of eight focusing rings, allowing the singularity to be created only a few hundred yards from the generators. Using Newton's Laws—which still applied in most cases—the gravity source was created so close to the ship that its influence was great on the San Diego, while having a negligible effect on surrounding bodies within a stellar system located at a much farther distance.

  It was this unique ability of the concentrated-array drive that allowed Captain Robe's fleet of ships to move through star systems at speeds greater than any other ships in the galaxy. And even as he gazed out at the embodiment of a gravity-well space drive played out on a stellar scale, Dave felt honored and privileged to be in command of the first contingent of Human starships to be converted to the new drive.

  The technology for the con-ray drive was new, introduced to the Earth by Captain Adam Cain, USN-RET, when he arrived just ahead of the Kracori fleet six months earlier. And even though he didn’t invent the drive, he was still given credit for what was now known as the Cain Gravity Drive.

  Dave Robe had no problem ascribing even more accolades to the already-Legendary Navy SEAL. Dave had been the senior officer-in-charge of the tech crew Cain had hastily put together to help repel the Kracori nuclear attack on the planet. It was during that action that Robe had witnessed first-hand Cain’s unexplainable feat of the mind that helped destroy the bulk of the alien attack fleet when it looked as if all was lost. Even though some of the alien nuclear bombs did make it to the surface, it was Dave’s opinion—as well as many others—that Cain's efforts that day had saved the Human race from total annihilation.

  How Adam Cain did what he did had never been fully explained, and now Dave was sworn to secrecy as to the events of that day. Yet as a reward for this own efforts in stopping the Kracori attack, he had been given command of the first taskforce of Cain Gravity Drive conversions under the auspices of the new United Earth Space Force (UESF) and given his current orders. Dave’s small fleet of twenty-five Klin Fleet Vessels, C-Classification (KFV-C’s), would spill the first alien blood in what would become a galaxy-wide campaign of revenge and vengeance. And Dave’s actions would be just the beginning. With the speed advantage of the new starships, Humanity was out to conquer the entire galaxy and exact revenge on the enemies of Mankind once and for all.

  Commander Hub Kittle was the first on the bridge to break his gaze from the spectacle outside the ship and return to his duties. At their present speed, they were just now entering the Aslon star system, and on the screen before him he could clearly see the defensive line that had formed. “Looks like they're expecting us,” he said to his captain.

  The comment had its desired effect, as Dave Robe broke away from the viewport and joined Kittle at his station. “You would think they could�
��ve mustered a larger force against us. I only count about three hundred ships.”

  “When faced with the extinction of their race, I would agree, sir. I'm launching drones now.”

  Within minutes, the tiny, unarmed flitter-craft were sweeping along the line of spaceships tasked with repelling the Human invaders, their cameras sending back an almost sad series of images. Many of the ships sent out to engage the most-advanced warcraft of all time were nothing more than merchantmen with makeshift flash weapons bolted to their hulls. In fact, the two officers didn't see a single vessel that would be classified as a man-of-war along the entire line.

  “Cain said the O'mly didn't have a war fleet; I didn't believe him, but there's no arguing with this,” Captain Robe said.

  “Maybe they're saving their main force for closer in.”

  “That's possible,” Dave said, “but first things first. Start your maneuvers, Commander; the show's all yours.”

  Commander Kittle sat up a little straighter in his chair and smiled. “Aye aye, sir.”

  Captain Robe took his command chair, located at the port side of the bridge, and buckled in. He unbuttoned the high collar of his charcoal gray uniform and worked the kinks out of his neck. He hated the new uniforms; they were uncomfortable and looked like something out of a Star Wars movie. He preferred his khakis, yet they had been retired almost four years earlier, as the military command of Earth had been integrated into one single entity.

  Robe shook his head thinking about how the simple question of uniforms for the unified Human military had turned out to be one of the single biggest issues faced at the time. All the militaries of the world wanted their input and representation; it was utter chaos for several months. Finally it was decided that an entirely new uniform would to be created. That turned out to be this sterile, seemly modernistic-looking clusterfuck that looked like it belonged in a version of Orwell's 1984 rather than on the bridge of a starship.