We're one week away from release! Earth II's Governor Stacy is welcomed by the Galactic Council's leader, Kalquor's Imperial Clan (who might not enjoy their empress' attempt at a joke)...and maybe not so welcomed by her lieutenant governor:
Stacy flushed as her entrance to the reception was greeted by a crash of applause. Those aliens who didn’t possess hands to clap made their acclamations in other ways. Everyone was on their feet or hovering in the air to welcome Earth’s new leader.
When the hubbub died down, she accepted the speaker box Kuran handed to her. “Thank you so much, but the accolades rightly belong to you. If not for the Galactic Council of Planets and its membership, there wouldn’t be an Earth for me to preside over. I’m especially grateful to the huge contributions of the Kalquorian Empire, the planets Joshada and Plasius, and the Alneusian Confederation.”
After a few additional remarks about how she hoped her people’s new beginning pointed to success in the Galactic Council community, she wrapped up. Stacy wasn’t big on speeches, preferring action to words. The reception was soon in full swing, and representatives of the many worlds converged upon her.
“Congratulations again on a well-deserved election, Dramok Mereta,” Stacy said when the secretary-general of the Galactic Council greeted her. “I understand you’re the first Kalquorian to lead the Galactic Council in four hundred years.”
“Thank you, Governor.” The gentle face framed by graying hair was serene. “The honor is in being chosen to serve the council’s members. I hope I am up to the task.”
From anyone else, his statement would have resounded in false modesty. However, Mereta was the real deal. He’d been a priest of Kalquor’s Temple of Life, then founder of his own sect of the ancient philosophy. He’d brought his serene clarity to the empire’s Royal Council, then to the Galactic Council. Though he had millions of devotees, he wasn’t known to impose his spiritual beliefs. Indeed, he never spoke of them unless he was asked.
The first time she’d met him as secretary-general-elect, when her name had been put forth as a potential interim governor for Earth, Stacy had been ready to fend off the foolishness of a zealot. After all, she’d grown up under the governance of the original Earth’s Holy Leader. Browning Copeland had been a man who spoke of God’s love but forced the majority of Earthers to live in a cultish hell. Stacy was leery of those who fashioned themselves as arbiters of any holy path.
At their initial meeting and the subsequent half dozen that followed, Mereta hadn’t mentioned salvation or sin. He’d kept their conversations to what Stacy brought to the table when it came to the success of restarting Earther civilization, her objectives for her people’s new home planet, and the obstacles she saw ahead. He listened more than he spoke, and his inquiries were never judgmental. Though she knew the barest details of Mereta’s faith, she found herself understanding why he was a sought-for leader. His nomination to the secretary-general post had met little resistance from the member planets.
“I believe we’ve put Earth’s future in capable hands,” he said now, his smile warm.
“Thank you. Like you, I’ll do all I can to serve my people and give us a good start.”
“I have no doubt of it. If you ever require aid, you have only to ask the Galactic Council.”
“Thank you, Secretary-General.”
He bowed and made room for the next well-wishers. As the emperors and empress of Kalquor bowed, Stacy returned the greeting.
“I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am to see this day arrive. Only the landing of the first colonists will supersede such a momentous occasion,” Dramok Emperor Clajak told her. His steel-colored hair, a mutation of the usual black most Kalquorians possessed, framed a handsome face.
“I bet I’m more excited.” Empress Jessica, an elfin woman whose short stature belied her fiery temper, grinned at Stacy. “Our new home world has exceeded expectations, in my opinion.”
“Mine as well,” Stacy agreed. “Run by a different government, I hope our success will be far greater.”
Jessica crossed her fingers. “Don’t plant any bombs under the cities, okay?”
Clajak and the other two emperors, Egilka and Bevau, reacted in shock. “Are you making light of that horror?” Imdiko Egilka muttered in an undertone.
“The truth is the truth,” Stacy interjected with smooth diplomacy. “Our leaders were insane to have rigged the cities to blow up should a hostile entity breach Earth’s atmosphere. They knew they were dooming the entire planet and the majority of its people when they did so.”
“But to joke about it?” The lean-featured emperor blinked at the two women.
“If you don’t laugh, you might scream,” Jessica explained. “Seeing a new Earth and a fresh start for humans brings me delight beyond measure, but…”
“But it reminds us of what we lost as well,” Stacy finished for her. “It’s dark humor masking a message, Emperor Egilka. It’s right to remind the head of a planet of our past mistakes and what led to them.”
“I suppose,” he said after a moment’s pause. “The Galactic Council wouldn’t have chosen you if there were a possibility of you making those sorts of decisions, though.”
Nobek Emperor Bevau, too handsome to be believed in Stacy’s opinion, smirked and asked in a low voice, “I’m not so sure about their choice of a lieutenant governor.”
Again, Stacy drew on diplomacy because she happened to agree. Kalquor had gone to great lengths to assist Earth’s existence, but once they and the Galactic Council agreed all criteria had been met by Earth’s appointed leaders, they’d have no role in its governance. “All viewpoints should be considered and debated, no matter how distasteful various factions might find others. Fortunately, the traditionalists who lean toward absolutism are in the minority. While Mr. Bryant supports certain values, he isn’t among the extreme element.”
Her assessment was true, but he was already proving to be a thorn in Stacy’s side. He’d questioned nearly every proposal she’d advanced, whether it was her own or on behalf of those members of the legislature she agreed with.
She glanced toward her fellow Earther, who’d finally put in an appearance and was speaking to the representatives from Joshada. Bryant was slightly shorter than average but in good shape, his light brown hair just beginning to gray. He was attractive, particularly when he smiled. Behind closed doors, his tongue could turn sharp in rebuttal, but in public, his charm won a multitude of supporters.
Jessica’s gaze followed Stacy’s. “He held offices on Old Earth. He strikes me as an Earthtique in his views.”
Earthtique was a combination of Earth and antique. It had become the common slang for those who preferred the lives they’d lived on the original Earth, where the state religion had often brutally ruled its people. Under the Holy Leader’s regime, women had possessed few rights, gays and lesbians had been hunted and killed, and non-English-speaking minorities often kept in poverty.
Men like Bryant, who’d been born to the right circumstances, had enjoyed many advantages on Old Earth. He’d made little secret he believed he should have been appointed the governor of Earth II, and being second to Stacy Nichols was a situation he found oppressive.
Stacy allowed herself the slightest of smirks. “Answering to me and a legislature only fifteen percent white and male will be an excellent education for him. With his gift as a public speaker, I can’t think of a better messenger to those who have yet to advance their thinking.”
The Imperial Clan grinned at her. Jessica and Clajak laughed out loud.
“You are the right woman for the job,” Egilka chuckled.
“I’m glad you think so. On that note, do you know when exactly the Galactic Council will hand off full control to my administration? I should have asked the secretary-general, but in the excitement, I forgot.” She looked around for Mereta, but didn’t see him. “Mr. Bryant has been most eager for us to seize the reins. As am I,” she amended, because the agreements between the Earther factions and those eager to see them living as an independent society had been met. She was impatient for her people to chart their own course into the future.
“I believe Secretary-General Mereta said all that was left was the signing of the declaration by the Galactic Council. The formal announcement should happen before the week is out,” Clajak said.
“Ready or not, you’re in charge.” Jessica grinned. “Should I offer my sympathy as well as congratulations?”
“A bottle of leshella would accomplish both,” Stacy teased.
Jessica laughed. “You already know what’s required. You’re ready, Madam Governor.”
The Imperial Clan moved on, and Stacy spent the next hour greeting the rest of the dignitaries and well-wishers. At her first opportunity, she checked in with Kuran.
“Anything interesting happen while I was making friends and charming my enemies?” she whispered, glancing at the many species of nearly two hundred worlds milling the room, enjoying the tables laden with food and drink.
“Other than Bryant making no attempt to say hello or acknowledge your existence?” Kuran’s squint was fiercer than usual as he eyed the lieutenant governor, who was chatting up the Adraf and Alneusian ambassadors.
“Play nice, Kuran. Don’t give him any grief. That’s my job.”
“I’m head of on-planet security. Since you’re Earth’s leader, you’re my main concern. I’m allowed to give everyone hell when it comes to you.”
Her heart fluttered at the hint of attraction she hoped he felt for her. Since she wanted to keep him around to discover if there was anything behind it, she cautioned, “Be as nice as he allows you to be, okay? There are already members of his contingent who want to jettison Kalquorian support sooner rather than later. As the most visible example of such support, I need you to tread lightly.”
“This won’t turn into early Haven Colony all over again, will it?” To his credit, Kuran eased off the squint threatening to become a scowl.
“No, because Kalquorians can’t live on Earth, at least under the current laws.” Not even as spouses or immigrants. Visas of no more than a year were available to alien species who wished to work as the new planet got up and running. Even those humans who weren’t Earthtiques were eager to have a home to call theirs and theirs alone. They’d been forced to live on Earth’s old, overpopulated colonies or on the charity of the Galactic Council and its member planets for ten years.
Kalquor was the dominant participant of the alien civilizations providing support to Earth II as its displaced civilization learned to stand on its own. Kuran and his clan were among thousands living on the massive orbiting space station, a deployment that could last several years depending on how quickly Earthers progressed. Current projections claimed it would be twenty-five years before Earth was completely self-sufficient.
Stacy didn’t tell Kuran she and the legislature had set the aggressive goal of ten years. Earthtiques were clamoring for five.
“Lacking a bunch of Kalquorians underfoot, there’ll be much less hostility than what Haven suffered in its first years,” she told him. “Since we won’t have to run our decisions by a Kalquorian governor, there’ll be fewer opportunities for resentment to build.”
“I guess so.” He drew a deep breath, his gaze still on Bryant. His distraction suited Stacy fine. It allowed her to take a long, slow look at him without being obvious.
Kuran was a delicious eyeful, and she didn’t feel a minute’s guilt for ogling him.
* * * *
A new planet. A new enemy. Is the end coming for the Kalquorian Empire?
In the aftermath of the Kalquorian civil war and the defeat of the Bi’is invasion fleet, the empire has enjoyed peace. A new Earth has been born. A Kalquorian leads the Galactic Council of Planets. An era of harmony seems assured.
However, new dangers arrive on the horizon. Governor Stacy Nichols finds herself at odds with powerful opponents who want Earth II to return to the old ways that led to the demise of their original planet. They’ll do anything to stop her, especially when they discover her newfound romance with Clan Rihep of Kalquor.
After five years and a terrifying encounter with an unknown entity, Clan Piras is finally leaving their spy duties in Bi’is space. Now they must face enemies closer to home: the families of those they sacrificed while on a secret mission during the Kalquorian civil war.
A new threat to the
existence of Kalquor and the entire Galactic Council of Planets arrives in the
midst of these challenges, a dark menace unlike anything faced before. One
young, inexperienced spyship ensign is all that stands between the galaxy and
utter destruction. Can he warn the empire in time…or is it already too late?
Dark Empire 1: Shadows Approach releases in one week! Pre-order now at Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, and print.
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