by M. D. Cooper
STRIKE VECTOR
PERILOUS ALLIANCE – BOOK 2
CHRIS J. PIKE
M. D. COOPER
SPECIAL THANKS
Just in Time (JIT) & Beta Reads
Scott Reid
Lisa L. Richman
Kristina Able
David Wilson
Copyright © 2017 Chris J. Pike & M. D. Cooper
Aeon 14 is Copyright © 2017 M. D. Cooper
All rights reserved.
Cover Art by Laércio Messias
Editing by Tee Ayer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
THE CONTACT
ORDERS
COMPLICATIONS
INTO THE FIRE
FATHER FIGURE
A DISCONCERTING CHAT
A NEW MISSION
CONFRONTATION
WINTERTIME
MUTINY REVISITED
THE BOSS
HUBEI’S DECISION
ALONE
HIDEY HOLE
FINDING FEN
AWAKE
REGROUP
NADINE
REUNION
ESCAPADES
FREEMONT
DEBARKATION
THE NEST
TESTIMONY
BROTHER MINE
WELCOME TO THE CREW
REGROUP REDUX
TAKING CARE OF MATTERS
LIES
FRUITION
THE MEET
SUBTERFUGE
DECLARATION
ASSAULT ON FREEMONT
LIBERATION
STRIKE
EXODUS
LEAVING LANA
FINAL RUN
SINKING SHIP
SEPARATION
BOOST OUT
EPILOGUE: CONSEQUENCES
THE BOOKS OF AEON 14
APPENDICES
TERMS & TECHNOLOGY
GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
PLACES
PEOPLE
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
FOREWORD
When last we left Kylie and the crew of the Dauntless, they were in dire straits. They were hiding in the dark layer, and Nadine (to the best of their knowledge) was still being held by the mercenary, Jason.
Even worse, the Silstrand Space Force, Harken, The Black Crow, and who knows what other factions were gunning for them.
It is into this morass that we find ourselves thrown at the outset of Strike Vector, a story which dives much deeper into the motivations of Maverick, the GFF, and even the Scipio Empire.
Chris and I sincerely hope that you enjoy Strike Vector and will begin to see how it ties into the broader scope of the Orion War. It is a tale rife with political intrigue, betrayal, and just enough mayhem.
So strap in and hit those burners. It’s time to see what’s in store next…
M. D. Cooper
THE WORLD OF AEON 14
For the seasoned science fiction reader, there will be little here which they have not seen in another story be it space elevators, nano technology, AI, or mind-to-mind communication.
However, for those who may not know what a HUD is, understand the properties of deuterium, or be able to name the stars within the Sirius system, I encourage you to visit www.aeon14.com to read the primer, glossary, and timelines.
To get the latest news and access to free novellas and short stories, sign up on the Aeon 14 mailing list:
www.aeon14.com/signup.
THE CONTACT
STELLAR DATE: 08.02.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Del Ray Coffee Shoppe
REGION: Silstrand
A month and a half before Lana’s rescue.
He was late.
Lana tapped her fingers on the wooden tabletop and checked the time over the Link for the second time in ten seconds, then double-checked the time they’d planned to meet.
Yup, still late. She hated being stood up.
With a sigh, Lana looked around at the other patrons; indulging in a little people watching to fill the time. The trendy coffee shop just outside the university campus was filled with typically trendy students chattering at the java bar, the mopey ones at the tables in the back, and the desperate ones sitting alone, trying not to look like they’d love some company.
With a self-deprecating smile, Lana realized that she must look like that too.
Her mind wandered as she looked at the walls covered in holoposters pitching the latest campus concerts and fundraisers. She twisted in her seat—roughly placed in the center of the room not far from the bar—checking to see if he had entered from the back.
“Here you are, miss.”
Lana nearly jumped and gave a nervous gasp as she turned back to see the waitress slide an iced coffee topped with nitro-chilled whipped cream in front of her. The delectable beverage called to her and Lana took a dainty sip even before the waitress left the table.
Lana’s bracelet clacked against the tall glass as her hand trembled nervously. Extra caffeine probably wasn’t what she needed.
“Thanks, it’s good.”
The waitress smiled her thanks and walked away. Lana craned her head around, watching her return to the bar, making sure the waitress really was a waitress and not some spy planted there by her father, General Samuel.
Human wait staff, it was what made the Del Ray Coffee Shoppe a favorite amongst the student population. Some of the students had never been served by a human before coming to university. Lana, however, was well accustomed to it.
Growing up in the General’s household, she expected it.
It did surprise her how busy the coffee shop was. Most of these students didn’t have the money for such luxuries. Lana suspected that by the end of term most of them would be getting their caffeine fix at the university’s cafeterias.
A man at the bar barked a loud laugh and Lana jumped, nearly dropping her coffee. She set it back down on the table and wiped her hand off while checking her outfit for any stains.
Was that really an honest question?
Lana reread the private message again, the text scrolling down her HUD, overlaid on her view of the coffee shop. The message had arrived early in the morning, surprising her when it came to her private, non-school address.
Subject: Hey, Verge
I’ve been keeping an eye on you in the Virt-Go. You have some nice moves and if you’re lucky, I may have a sweet deal for you if you want to show your dad who’s really boss.
Fra-X
Verge was her nickname in Virt-Go, the most popular full-sensory immersion game that had swept through the colleges and universities on Silstrand. Lana had skipped class more than a few times to hang out in the virtual worlds of the game.
She recalled seeing the tag Fra-X on another sim’r before, but had never gotten close to him. Well, not too close. She had seen enough of him to remember thinking that his avatar was cute and had a fine ass.
She had sent a message back, and agreed to meet him the next morning. He had picked the place, and well, here she was. Alone.
Lana’s stomach continued to sink. “I shouldn’t have come,” she said aloud with a sigh. She picked up her purse and swung her bare legs off to the side of her chair, smoothing her skirt as she stood.
Coming had been a big mistake. The only thing that hadn’t been, was her iced coffee—that was delicious. Lana stopped and picked it up to take a final sip, rel
ishing the cooling sensation that ran down her tongue. As she did, a blond guy with sharply angled sunglasses walked down her row, eying her up.
Abby said.
Lana wasn’t one to walk away from an opportunity, but a feeling in the pit of her stomach told her that something about this wasn’t right. She turned to walk around the other side of the table, her long blonde hair whipping around her shoulders as she made for the door, trying not to run.
She walked past him, a row of tables between them and he turned his head to stare at her. Lana was about to place her hand on the door when he called out to her.
“Virge?” he asked and she paused, her hand extended.
Keep going. Keep going.
Instead, she turned around and forced a flirtatious smile. “Fra-X? You’re even better-looking in person. I was starting to think you’d stood me up.”
“And pass on meeting a girl like you? No chance. Sorry I’m late, I got held up by another commitment.” Fra-X lifted his sunglasses to give her another once-over and his dark eyes seemed to see right through her. “You’re perfect.”
Lana laughed and her chest rose as she took a deep breath. “You’re not so bad yourself.” She could smell his cologne even when they weren’t standing that close—the guy could really layer it on.
“You are a charmer, Verge. Sit?” He smiled and gestured at her table. “Maybe I can order you another one of this place’s great coffees.”
“I can’t say no to a man that loves iced coffee,” Lana said as she returned to her table, feeling far more reluctant than she let on. But what could she do? Now that he was here, just running out seemed rude. Instead, she’s listen to what he had to say and then politely decline whatever offer he made.
Fra-X pulled her chair out so she could sit down before he sat across from her—a strange gesture that she didn’t know how to interpret. Was it polite where he came from? Did he think she couldn’t manage a chair?
“So,” he leaned on his elbows closing the distance between them. “What’s a girl like you doing on a boring planet like Silstrand? Nothing ever happens here.” As he spoke, Fra-X called the waitress over with a snap of his fingers.
Lana swished her straw side to side in her coffee. “Same as you. Going to college, taking some classes. My dad sent me here because he went to the SAU. Now I’m going, too.” She tried not to roll her eyes at how dorky it all sounded. “I’m a military brat. He’s in the space force.”
Fra-x smiled devilishly. “Big and important too. Or so I hear.”
She should’ve suspected as much. “So, you know who I am, huh? I suspected as much from your message.”
Fra-x nodded. “Not like it’s hard to look that sort of thing up.” His lips twisted into a sly smirk.
Lana had met his type before and didn’t think she’d like where this was going to go.
“You have connections and you like to use them. I like a girl who goes after what she wants,” Fra-x said.
Lana rolled her eyes, his little games starting to bore her. “We could sit here and play twenty questions all day. Why don’t you tell me what it is you want?” Lana asked.
“I’m friends with this group, well placed. They’re looking for help from a girl. They…well, let’s just say they need help transporting something that’s about to fall in their lap. I’m looking for someone to help.”
Lana snorted and leaned back in her chair. “I’m not a courier, or a taxi. If you’re not offering something that sounds like a party or hot sims, afraid I can’t help you. Not really looking for work.” Satisfied, Lana leaned back on her chair and scissored her shapely legs. Her skirt was short enough that had the table not been between them, he would have gotten a good look.
Fra-X removed his sunglasses and his baby-blue eyes locked on her. Lana couldn’t help but wonder why men like him always seemed to have blue eyes. So predictably engineered.
“The job pays. It pays more money than your father earns in five years and it’d be yours.”
“No strings attached?” Lana ran her tongue over her teeth and grimaced. “Where are you getting that money? Do you think I’m stupid?”
“If you were I wouldn’t be here. Look,” Fra-X said as he put his sunglasses back on and rose from the table. “I like you, Lana. I’d love to get to know you more intimately if you’d help us out. You do this deal, a simple courier job outside of the Silstrand Alliance, and all that money can be yours.”
“Outside the SA?” Lana asked, her interest piqued. “Where?”
“Can’t tell you that, yet,” Fra-X replied. “Let’s just say it’s a core-ward neighbor that has interests in Silstrand. You know how to reach me. You have ‘til tomorrow night. Trust me, it’ll make all your dreams come true. You’ll be partying in the Imperial palace before you know it.”
He displayed a sum over the Link as he left, and Lana’s jaw dropped. It was more money than she could hope to earn in twenty years.
She stared after him as he pushed the door open. He glanced back for a second and gave her a crisp nod, and then he was gone.
ORDERS
STELLAR DATE: 09.16.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Salvage ship Dauntless, dark layer, near Einendart
REGION: Gedri System, Silstrand Alliance
Grayson walked into the Dauntless’s engine room and pulled the ship’s power schematics up on his HUD. The shield’s graviton emitters were reporting power fluctuations, which was keeping them from activating. The fusion generator operated within normal parameters, which meant the problem was somewhere in power transmission.
As he reviewed the information, a stray thought of Winter and his betrayal came to mind. Knowing Winter was still on board after what he had tried to pull was eating at Grayson, lingering in the back of his mind like a festering boil.
Not my concern, right now, he thought. If he let himself perseverate on the albino for too long, Grayson knew he’d probably walk back to the airlock and cycle the exterior door open.
He pulled his mind back to task at hand. Grayson had done more than one tour where he’d been responsible for a ship’s burners and power plants. It had been years, and he was rusty, but it wasn’t as if the Dauntless was a terribly advanced, or complex, ship.
Provided they had the tools and parts, fixing whatever was wrong should be a snap.
Grayson said.
as he keyed in a command for the SC Batt on the line to disconnect its feed before he physically decoupled it.
It never rains, Grayson thought privately.
Grayson wondered for how long. Rogers had managed to stop the ship’s motion relative to the gas giant planet, Einendart, but that didn’t mean the dark matter in the DL wasn’t moving. It was just a matter of time before they were obliterated if they remained transitioned.
Rogers chuckled.
The pilot disconnected, and Grayson heard Jerrod give his approximation of a frustrated sigh.
Grayson had a bad feeling, the type that sent a shiver up his spine.
Grayson sighed. There was no winning the argument if they went down that road. The what-ifs surrounding who would have won, the SAS Hanover, or the Black Crow’s Barbaric Queen were unknowable. And it didn’t change their current situation.