“Expansion, as in conquering other federacy races?” Alex asked, seeking clarification. “Most definitely,” Sargut replied, “but they might choose to pass the federacy’s bounds. Artifice will have informed them of you, where you originated. Human worlds could be their targets.” Alex and Julien shared a glance, but barks from the Dischnya caught their attention. A small bot, traveling at speed on two wheels, raced down the pathway. It slipped past the Dischnya vanguard before the warriors could take aim, and it headed straight for the small group sitting on the mound. The bot’s forearms, ending in scissor-like appendages, stretched forward in anticipation of skewering a biological. Alex stood to take the attack. When the bot was only meters from him, an avatar momentarily blotted Talus’ starlight. Z had landed with both feet on the bot, which was now no more than crushed metal, ceramic, and circuitry. “That’s our cue. We’re leaving,” Alex announced loudly and sent simultaneously. As they made for the travelers, he kept Renée beside him. The SADEs and the Dischnya provided rear support. Alex sent. Julien asked. Alex replied. — Alex and company will return in Sojourn. — Glossary Chistorlans Gramab doma Farla-Hesta – Female monarch Herrick – AI champion, prepared to contest Artifice Lipsit doma Draga – Female astronomy scientist Miftra ona Grata – Male observatory head Tittra ona Hagra – Male AI development head Dischnya Dassata – Peacemaker, Alex’s Dischnya name Dischnya – Intelligent species in Omnian system Hessan – Squad leader under Homsaff’s command Homsaff – Queen of Mawas Soma nest, commander of Dischnya forces Pussiro – Wasat commander Simlan – Squad leader under Homsaff’s command Tawas Soma – Pussiro’s nest Wasat – Warrior commander Federacy Artifice – Digital entity Faustus – Digital entity, adjunct of Artifice, originally identified as AR-13145 Nua’ll – Collective occupying the comm spheres and the great spheres Harakens Jupiter – SADE directing the observatory platform Mutter – SADE who has collected classical Earth music Méridiens Chandra Khatri – Cargo shuttle pilot Descartes – SADE, Trident senior captain Tindleson – Méridien freighter captain New Terrans Alphons Jagielski – Trident commodore Jessup Thornton – Trident captain Omnian Sisterhood Miriamal – Aboard Freedom Miriamelle – Aboard the Dark Whispers, Sargut’s battleship Miriamette – Aboard Franz Cohen’s traveler Miriamtess – Aboard Chandra Khatri’s cargo shuttle Omnians Alain de Long – Twin and crèche-mate to Étienne, Trident captain, partner of Tatia Tachenko Alex Racine – Partner of Renée de Guirnon, Dassata Allora – SADE absorbed by Miranda Beryl – Lead SADE of scout ship Bethley – Scout ship SADE, teamed with Killian Cedric – Z’s New Terran avatar Claude Dupuis – Engineering tech, program manager for SADE avatars Cordelia – SADE, partner of Julien, admiral, captains the Freedom Darius Gaumata – Trident admiral Deirdre Canaan – Trident admiral Ellie Thompson – Trident admiral Emile Billings – Biochemist Étienne de Long – Twin and crèche-mate to Alain, Trident captain, partner of Ellie Thompson Franz Cohen – Fighter command rear admiral, partner of Reiko Shimada Frederica – Miranda’s New Terran avatar Genoa – Lead SADE of scout ship Julien – SADE, partner of Cordelia Killian – Plaid-skinned SADE, friend of Vivian, lead of scout ship Vivian’s Mirror Linn – Lead SADE of scout ship Luther – Comms SADE Mickey Brandon – Engineer, partner of Pia Sabine Miranda Leyton – SADE, partner of Z Miriam – Engineering SADE Myron McTavish – Commandant of the Dischnya military academy Pia Sabine – Head of medical suite aboard the Freedom, partner of Mickey Brandon Reiko Shimada – Admiral of the Tridents, partner of Franz Cohen Renée de Guirnon – Partner of Alex Racine Svetlana Valenko – Trident admiral Tatia Tachenko – Fleet admiral, former Terran Security Forces major, partner of Alain de Long Trium – Scout ship SADE, teamed with Killian Vivian – Teenager, dance partner with Killian Z – SADE, partner of Miranda Toralians Sargut – Male battleship commander, then senior commander, then grand commander Sugatar – Male battleship junior commander Suntred – Female fleet liaison Taralum – Female battleship senior commander Tormheth – Male subcommander Tranimus – Male fleet grand commander Places, Things, Friends, and Enemies Banisher – Mickey’s small vessel for destroying probes Ollassa – a sentient alien lifeform resembling a symbiotic collection of plant parts Omnia Ships – Business owned by Alex Racine and others SADE – Self-aware digital entity, artificial intelligence being Shadows – Spider-like constructs create by Z Swei Swee – Sentient alien lifeform inhabiting the oceans on several worlds United Earth – Previous government body ruling Sol Planets, Colonies, Moons, and Stars Confederation – Collection of Méridien worlds Haraken – Home world of the Harakens Méridien – Home world of the Confederation New Terra – Home world of the New Terrans Ollassa – Home world of the Ollassa/Vinians Omnia – World settled by the Dischnya, Swei Swee, SADEs, and humans Sawa Messa – Second world of the Dischnya, now called Omnia Sol – Star of the Earthers Talus – Toralian star Toral – Toralian home world Ships and Stations Dark Whispers – Sargut’s battleship Freedom – Alex’s primary city-ship Idona Station – Sol station at the crossroads to the far belt and inner worlds New Terra – Derelict Earth colony ship Our People – Second city-ship Scout ships – Small vessels crewed by SADEs Travelers – Shuttles and fighters Trident – Omnian tri-hulled, beam-armed warship Vivian’s Mirror – Killian’s scout ship My Books Artifice, the twelfth novel in the Silver Ships series, is available in e-book, softcover, and audiobook versions. Please visit my website, http://scottjucha.com, for publication dates and locations. You may register at my website to receive e-mail updates on the progress of my upcoming novels. Pyreans Series Empaths Messinants Jatouche Veklocks (forthcoming) The Silver Ships Series The Silver Ships Libre Méridien Haraken Sol Espero Allora Celus-5 Omni a Vinium Nua’ll Artifice Sojourn (forthcoming) The Author From my early years to the present, books have been a refuge. They’ve fueled my imagination. I’ve traveled to faraway places and met aliens with Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Herbert, and Le Guin. I’ve explored historical events with Michener and Clavell, and I played spy with Ludlum and Fleming. There’s no doubt that the early sci-fi masters influenced the writing of my first two series, The Silver Ships and Pyreans. I crafted my stories to give readers intimate views of my characters, who wrestle with the challenges of living in space and inhabiting alien worlds. Life is rarely easy for these characters, who encounter aliens and calamities, but they persist and flourish. I revel in examining humankind’s will to survive. Not everyone plays fair or exhibits concern for other beings, but that’s another aspect of humans and aliens that I investigate. My stories offer hope for humans today about what they might accomplish tomorrow far from our home world. Throughout my books, humans exhibit a will to persevere, without detriment to the vast majority of others. Readers have been generous with their comments, which they’ve left on Amazon and Goodreads for others to review. I truly enjoy what I do, and I’m pleased to read how my stories have positively affected many readers’ lives. If you’ve read my books, please consider posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads for every book, even a short one. Reviews attract other readers and are a great help to indie authors, such as me. The Silver Ships novels have reached Amazon’s coveted #1 and #2 Best-Selling Sci-Fi book, multiple times, in the science fiction categories of first contact, space opera, and alien invasion.
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