On Sale Now - Dark Empire: Infiltration - Chapter Seven Scene Two

 

Here's your final look at this extended sneak peek of Infiltration! Keep an eye out for news on the next book in the Dark Empire series, Secret War.

For now, Clan Nako deals with postponed and immediate gratification.

* * * *

“Postponed for how long? And why?” Ulof stared at his clan leader.

Nako glanced at Terig, who lurked behind Ulof in the main room of their quarters. No doubt Terig was ready to take him down if he gave in to his quick temper. They’d shooed Piper back so she stood behind Nako.

As if he’d hurt her. Ulof had punched Nako in the past. He respected and cared for his Dramok, but sometimes Nako had it coming. Terig too. All three, half or full Nobeks, could be absolute bastards to each other when the notion took them.

Never to Piper. Ulof wouldn’t touch his Matara, even if she came at him holding a knife and a blaster.

She knew. It was in the glare she leveled at Nako for being overly protective. Her belief in him made Ulof feel a little better.

“I wish I could tell you the reason for the delay, my Imdiko. The truth is, I barely know the mission the spy division of the fleet has forced on me. They’re pretty much in the dark on what’s going on themselves.” Nako’s own temper hovered, leaving him glowering.

“Spies.” It explained a lot, including his Dramok’s obvious frustration. “Does this detour have something to do with the deep-fried shuttle you picked up?”

“It has everything to do with it.” There was a hint of relaxation from Nako at Ulof’s reasonable tone. “We picked up a survivor. He started babbling weird shit, then Captain Kila sent me a report detailing even weirder shit…fuck, I can’t tell you since you aren’t a member of this crew any longer.”

“You wouldn’t be able to if I were. I was just a cook when I was part of the fleet, not command staff,” Ulof pointed out. “I’d be in the dark no matter what.”

“True.” Guilt filled Nako’s expression. Ulof realized it wasn’t merely the mysterious situation upsetting his clanmate. He hated keeping Ulof from his hard-won dream of terraforming work. “I swear, the instant they cut us loose, I’ll get you to your assignment. That’s a promise.”

“Don’t worry about it. This isn’t your fault.” Ulof refused to tell them his disappointment was tempered by a wash of relief. He’d begun losing sleep due to fears he wouldn’t be able to do well at the moon.

He was full of ideas when it came to bringing a dead rock of a planet or moon to life. Good ideas, if he were to believe his supervisor’s praise. It was in their execution Ulof fell short, due to a significant learning disability. He’d managed to contribute to the birth of Earth II, but his role had been extremely limited. If his clanmates hadn’t been acknowledged heroes, he’d probably have never gotten a toe in the terraforming team. He damned sure wouldn’t have been invited to work the next assignment.

“Thanks for being patient. I…I appreciate your understanding.” Nako did his best to cover his surprise, no doubt to keep from insulting him.

Ulof smiled wryly. His short fuse was legendary. It had put him in prison at one point. Frustration at always coming up short and assholes who teased him for his difficulties had led to a lot of trouble throughout his life.

Then Nako and Terig had come along. They’d seen beneath his infuriating limitations and accepted him for who he was. Piper had gone beyond acceptance; she’d encouraged him to reach past where he’d believed his weaknesses were.

He’d managed some success, he admitted. Given another five lifetimes or so, he might make it as a terraformer.

He’d been given something more precious than the ambition to work in his dream field in recent weeks, however. A hope that had committed him to reining in his urges to break objects or punch his male clanmates, more than anyone or any fantasy had.

The new beautiful desire brought him to his greatest concern. “Is it dangerous? Will it endanger Piper? Will we have to put off having a baby?”

They glanced at their golden-haired Matara. Five years after clanning her, she’d made the decision she was ready to become the mother to their children. The nature of Ulof’s work and the safe environment it offered had sealed the deal. Nako and Terig were members of the fleet, which wasn’t always conducive to maintaining a clan in the same place. They’d set aside perilous assignments to allow Ulof to chase his goals, which in turn allowed them to remain together and offer a stable household for a family.

Piper blushed under their regard. Nako slipped his arm around her, and she molded to his side.

The Dramok pressed a kiss to her forehead and smiled at Ulof. “I think we can continue to try for our child. We’re only in this because we found the missing spyship’s shuttle and recovered its crewman. No other spyships are in the vicinity, but the fleet will be sending one or two soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re on our way again in less than two weeks. Three at the most.”

Ulof liked the sound of that. In three weeks, the initial phases of the terraforming, the tasks of which he was worse than useless at performing, would be well under way. He’d have little pressure except to attend meetings where he’d keep his mouth shut. Afterward would come designing the moon’s new landscape, the part he enjoyed the most and was actually good at.

He’d have three weeks with no other demand than making a baby. He looked over Piper’s slight but deliciously curved figure. “I suppose Nako and Terig have work to do, thanks to this whole spy nonsense. Meanwhile, I’m ready to do my duty where my Matara’s concerned.” He gestured to the large lounger, which dominated the sitting room’s space. “Shall I report for the task here or in the sleeping room? Your choice, my love.”

“Hey, barring an emergency, we’re off duty for a few hours. Don’t think you’re getting her to yourself tonight.” Nako pulled Piper out of Ulof’s easy reach. “No wonder you’re agreeable to delay our arrival at your post. You’re hoping to keep her in bed the whole damned time.”

“As if you’d do any different in my place.” Ulof made a grab for their giggling Matara.

Nako retreated, taking Piper along and grabbing her breast with a proprietary air. “I wouldn’t.” Grinning, he nuzzled her ear. “What do you think about being kept in bed day and night, fucked for hours on end?”

“Exactly my plan.” Ulof gave chase, and Nako picked up the laughing Piper and tried to head for their sleeping room.

“Um, there’s another man who needs his share of sweetness.” Terig pursued the rest.

* * * *

The alien force dubbed the Darks has grabbed control of key positions on Kalquor and the Galactic Council of Planets. Other leaders are still unaware of the threat among them. The galaxy is wide open for destruction by an unfathomable enemy.

Former emperor Nobek Yuder has suspicions, but due to restrictions placed on him after his prison sentence, he can only stand by and watch helplessly. A renegade Royal Councilman has designs to bring him back to the political arena, but doing so could destabilize the Kalquorian Empire, leaving it vulnerable to invasion.

Meanwhile, one man on the brink of death, the only man who can detect the nearly invisible Darks, is pulled from a lifeless shuttle by Captains Kila and Nako. His incredible story tells them they’re in a race against time to save not only the empire but the whole galaxy…but are they already too late?

On Earth II, Governor Stacy Nichol’s relationship with Clan Rihep continues to grow. So does the danger, as opponents make deadly moves against her and the orbiting Kalquorian station where the clan lives. Nobek Kuran is determined to keep his clanmates and would-be lifemate safe, but how can he stop a faceless enemy?

Relationships, old and new, are strained to the breaking point at a time when Earthers and Kalquorians need each other more than ever. The Darks are closing in, and no one is ready to oppose them.

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On Sale Now - Dark Empire: Infiltration - Chapter Seven Scene One

 

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An unforeseen and unwanted assignment.

* * * *

“I understand your concerns, Captain Nako. I’ve just received a report from Captain Kila on the matter, and I’ve issued clearance for you and your command staff to be informed of what’s going on.”

It demanded every ounce of Nako’s self-control to keep from telling Admiral Tranis what he could do with his clearance. Terig had been forced to physically restrain Zo when Kila’s medical staff had arrived to take Ilid to the spyship. Nako hadn’t been able to do anything to stop it because they’d had an executive order countersigned by the bearded admiral who appeared to be sitting on the other side of Nako’s desk. Kila hadn’t left anything to chance in his bid to grab the senseless ensign from Zo’s protective custody.

Powerless on his own ship. Nako thought back to the days when he’d gone rogue on his old raider, free of the fleet and its fucking chain of command. He’d been pardoned and decorated as a reward for his part in ending Kalquor’s civil war and saving the empire from certain doom from Bi’is. Commanding a marauder had been the icing on the cake.

It wasn’t feeling much like a reward at the moment.

He unclenched his teeth. “I look forward to hearing the full story, sir.”

“I’m sure you do. Kila should be sending you the file on the dark ship his vessel encountered at Bi’is and what followed. He may wait until after he consults his command staff on Ensign Ilid’s account of what happened to his ship.”

Suspicion reared its head, and Nako inwardly cursed himself for not seeing what was happening. Admiral Tranis wouldn’t be sharing spy information unless…

“You’re redirecting my ship to join Captain Kila’s.”

“Affirmative. He’s in charge of the mission. It’ll delay your assignment to safeguard the moon your Imdiko was tasked to assist terraforming.”

Fuck. Ulof would lose his shit to hear his joining the team would be postponed. It would be a blow after Nako’s and Terig’s insistence his career would take center stage after years of him sitting in the wings.

“Admiral—”

“You’re the only vessel in the vicinity available to help Kila in this matter. You’ll be going to the site of the spyship’s destruction, then on to Bi’is to investigate. If it’s true the ensign’s superiors were controlled by an unknown and hostile species, if those entities have taken control of Bi’is, if they’ve managed to reach the Galactic Council…”

The Galactic Council? Tranis’ horror transmitted to Nako. “Mother of All.”

* * * *

The alien force dubbed the Darks has grabbed control of key positions on Kalquor and the Galactic Council of Planets. Other leaders are still unaware of the threat among them. The galaxy is wide open for destruction by an unfathomable enemy.

Former emperor Nobek Yuder has suspicions, but due to restrictions placed on him after his prison sentence, he can only stand by and watch helplessly. A renegade Royal Councilman has designs to bring him back to the political arena, but doing so could destabilize the Kalquorian Empire, leaving it vulnerable to invasion.

Meanwhile, one man on the brink of death, the only man who can detect the nearly invisible Darks, is pulled from a lifeless shuttle by Captains Kila and Nako. His incredible story tells them they’re in a race against time to save not only the empire but the whole galaxy…but are they already too late?

On Earth II, Governor Stacy Nichol’s relationship with Clan Rihep continues to grow. So does the danger, as opponents make deadly moves against her and the orbiting Kalquorian station where the clan lives. Nobek Kuran is determined to keep his clanmates and would-be lifemate safe, but how can he stop a faceless enemy?

Relationships, old and new, are strained to the breaking point at a time when Earthers and Kalquorians need each other more than ever. The Darks are closing in, and no one is ready to oppose them.

Now on sale!Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, and print.

 

On Sale Now - Dark Empire: Infiltration - Chapter Six Scene Five

 

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A tug of war ensues between Kila, Nako, and an irate Dr. Zo for Ilid.

* * * *

“I thought Imdiko Ulof cooked better than this.”

Nako grimaced as Kila’s chief engineer and clanmate Lokmi stared at the shuttle. “Ulof no longer works in the kitchen. He’s a terraformer now. It’s burnt to a crisp, isn’t it?”

“The scorch marks have scorch marks.” Lokmi rubbed his jaw. “The aft section is the worst. It’s a definite sign it was fleeing at the moment of explosion. Did your forensics guys confirm plasma burns?”

“We did.” One of Terig’s team stepped forward.

“Consult them and go over their findings, Chief. Captain, I want to see this survivor of yours, Nako.” Kila’s trademark sneer was in place, but it had a sickened quality. Maybe he imagined his own ship disintegrating with his clan on board.

“Ensign Ilid has been placed in a medical coma,” Nako said. “I may have to torture my head medic to convince him to wake the boy. He’s in bad shape.”

“Ilid? Dramok Ilid?” Kila’s interest sharpened.

“You know him?”

“I know of him. Has he spoken of what happened to him?”

“Nothing that makes any sense. Something about being afraid of the dark and the command staff becoming shadows. It was a lot of disconnected jabbering from a man on the brink of death.”

“Maybe.” Kila’s expression closed off. “Let’s go to Medical, and I’ll tell you what I can on the way.”

Kila filled Nako and Terig in on the spyship orbiting Bi’is going silent. “I was on my way to check on it when Admiral Tranis contacted me and diverted me to your position. When Captain Abgi failed to report on schedule, we feared there was a problem.” There was no hint of his usual smile, worried or otherwise. “I served under Abgi early in my fleet career. He was a dedicated officer, committed to his crew. He refused promotion to admiral five times. If he died, the fleet has suffered a major loss.”

“We’re tracing the shuttle’s flight path to discover where it left its ship. It seems it must have drifted following the damage it took, so it’s taking us some time. All indications show it came from Bi’is’ general direction.” Nako preceded the group into Medical. “Dr. Zo!”

The physician came from behind a partition separating the main admittance area from prolonged care. His guarded expression was no doubt brought on by Nako’s don’t-fuck-with-me tone.

Nako respected Zo. He thought maybe the sentiment was returned. The jury was still out, even after decades of serving together, on whether they liked each other.

“It’s too dangerous to wake him, Captain. The slow bleed from his internal injuries damned near killed him, and he’s too weak for more than one surgery every few days to repair the damage and stop the bleeding.”

“Yes, I gave blood and ordered everyone in the crew compatible to do so as well to keep him from dropping dead, if you’ll remember.” Nako felt terrible to risk the young Dramok’s life when he’d barely survived long enough to be rescued. It made his temper flare, and he fought to not snarl at Zo. “This is Captain Kila, from the spyship fleet.”

“Doctor.” Kila nodded to him. “I appreciate your wishing to maintain Ensign Ilid on the road to recovery—”

“I’m trying to keep him alive, Captain. The stasis coma is my one sure way of doing so.” Zo’s growing anger was evident in his tone.

Kila’s brutal smile was nowhere in evidence. The man was capable of perfect diplomacy when it was called for. “I want nothing more than to let you do so. However, the situation is far beyond the suspicion of a ship’s mere destruction. The ship Ilid came from was orbiting Bi’is, making sure our old friends weren’t constructing weapons to use against the empire. Weapons we think they were developing, thanks to evidence my own crew uncovered.”

“My patient—”

“Is potentially the sole survivor of a phased spyship the Bi’isils supposedly had no idea was orbiting their planet. If they somehow discovered its presence, it puts the whole spy program in danger. If they turned a weapon on it capable of destroying it despite its being phased, it puts the Kalquorian Empire in danger.”

Nako sighed. “One man versus the empire’s welfare, Doctor. We have no choice but to allow Captain Kila to interview Ensign Ilid.”

Zo reddened. He could be as volatile as Nako’s clanmate Ulof when it came to his patients. Nako could sense him searching for a valid argument, but the doctor knew when he was beaten. He settled for, “Under protest.”

“Noted.”

“If his vital signs dip to a dangerous level, I’m putting him back under.”

“If Captain Kila is satisfied.” Nako said it apologetically.

“If his vitals drop. You’re welcome to court-martial me if you don’t like it.”

Zo swiveled on his heel. He stalked to the prolonged care ward, muttering under his breath. No doubt he was calling the two captains every name in the book, but Nako didn’t reprimand him for it.

“Dedicated doctors are a blessing and a curse to fighting ships,” Kila murmured to Nako as they followed Zo to a small room.

“I agree. The blessing part has kept this particular doctor alive longer than expected.”

Kila chuffed laughter. The humor died as he got his first look at Ilid.

The young man had been cleaned up, which should have helped his appearance. To Nako, he looked more wan and depleted than when they’d pulled him out of his charred shuttle. More a vulnerable boy. He lay still beneath the medi-bed’s computer arms, which shielded much of his naked body from view. They fed him medicines and nutrients while tracking his vitals. A containment stasis field shimmered around him.

“I found evidence he was operated on recently.” Zo bared fangs for an instant. “Operated on and left scarred. He’d been healed just enough to maintain a reasonable level of health.”

“What sort of surgery?” Kila’s steps were slow as he approached Ilid’s bedside, as if he could hardly stand to come close.

“As far as my equipment could tell, it looked exploratory, as if he were a lab animal someone was studying. Samples were taken, including from the brain.” Zo brushed Ilid’s hair from his forehead to show the livid scar close to his scalp. “Nothing extreme enough to leave him lobotomized, thank the ancestors. I’d say they were after cell samples. There’s no other reason to go to such extremes, thanks to our scanning equipment.”

Nako swallowed a rush of nausea. Thinking of what Kila had said about the Bi’isils, he asked, “Is this typical of the testing of previous Kalquorian subjects captured by Bi’is?”

“No.” Zo’s stare skewered Kila. “This is nothing like what they did to the prisoners they experimented on.”

“If it wasn’t Bi’isils, then what the fuck was happening on this kid’s ship?”

Kila didn’t answer. Instead, he flashed his dangerous grin, which warned he might resort to violence soon. “Wake him up, Doctor.”

Zo scowled and glanced at Nako. When his captain nodded, Zo forcefully punched buttons on the bed’s computer arms.

The shimmer of the field vanished. “Give him two minutes for the stasis’ effects to wear off,” Zo snarled. He hovered over the controls, ready to replace the field at a second’s notice.

“Doctor, if you insist on remaining, I’ll allow it for this crewman’s sake. However, this is fleet spy business. You are therefore ordered to not speak of anything you hear during this interview. If you or Captain Nako discuss it with anyone, including each other, you’re subject to a court martial and twenty years imprisonment in a military workcamp. Do you understand?”

Seething, Zo showed no sign he was intimidated despite the clear danger emanating from Kila. He’d been around Nako’s tempestuous clan too long to be easily impressed by anyone, even someone as threatening as the bearded spy. Nonetheless, he snapped a nod. “Yes, Captain.”

“Do you acknowledge my warning as well, Captain Nako?” Kila’s intent regard turned to him.

“I do.”

“Good. How much longer until I can talk to him?”

Zo glared at the readings. “Another minute.”

They waited in silence until the head medic’s nod. Kila’s vicious leer disappeared. He stepped forward and gripped Ilid’s shoulder. His voice shockingly gentle, he called, “Ensign Ilid. Dramok, wake up.”

Ilid’s eyes moved beneath their lids. He gasped, and they flew open. He blinked at Kila, then his gaze moved to Zo and Nako. Nako noted how the youth’s focus remained on his face for only a second before shifting to a point over his shoulder. The tension that had appeared the instant he’d woken eased.

“Where am I?” His voice was barely a breath.

“On board a fleet marauder. I’m Captain Kila, assigned to the spy division. My ship had the Bi’is detail before yours.”

Ilid looked at Kila again, then over his shoulder, as he had with Nako. “Did you see them? Did you see the Darks?”

“Is that what you were trying to tell your father?”

“He got it. He got my message.” Ilid managed a smile. A tear leaked from one eye.

“Yes, and he passed it on to the fleet. Tell me of these Darks. Were they blobs? Did they have tentacle-like limbs?”

More tears. “Was your ship taken over by them?”

“No. I had command the whole time. Was your ship seized by these dark entities?”

“The crew. All but a few of us grunts. Captain, can I go home now? Can I see my parents?”

Nako didn’t remember crying once in his life, but the damned kid was putting a lump in his throat. Ilid’s plaintive request tore at him, threatening his hardass reputation and delaying reaction to the strange tale.

“Soon, Ensign. What did the Darks plan to do on board your ship?”

“I don’t know, sir. Imdiko Darir said we’d left orbit…can I talk? I was on a spyship. I can’t give away secrets.”

“You’re fine. I’m aware of where your ship was, because I’m part of the spy fleet. As for Captain Nako and Dr. Zo, they’re sworn to secrecy.”

“Okay.” Ilid’s eyelids drooped.

Zo warned, “He needs to go under again. Wrap this up.”

“Ilid, what happened next? After you left orbit?”

 “Darir helped me escape Medical, where they were keeping me in stasis. They operated…wanted to learn why I could see them when most couldn’t. They…we…”

He was fading. Kila prodded. “Ensign? What happened after your ship left orbit?”

Ilid twitched. His gaze wavered from side to side, as if he searched for something. It ended on Kila. “We went to Engineering so I could disable the phase and plasma generator. So the ship wouldn’t go where they might spread to others. The Darks attacked Darir. His blaster went off and hit the conduit. I ran…couldn’t help him…took a shuttle…”

His eyes were rolling, and the medi-bed’s alerts began to sound. Zo’s fingers flew over the controls. Kila was repelled as the stasis field reappeared and Ilid lapsed into its medically induced coma.

The doctor shot Kila a challenging glare. “You wouldn’t get another word out of him anyway. He’s in no shape for an interrogation.”

No doubt Kila knew as Nako did that shooting Ilid up with stimulants would have warded off unconsciousness for as long as needed…or until the poor kid died.

Kila didn’t tell Zo to do so, but his next order fell like a hammer. “Prep him for transfer to my ship, Doctor. My medical staff will arrive shortly to take custody of Ensign Ilid.”

Horrified fury filled Zo’s face as Kila swiveled and marched to the door. His gaze jerked to Nako. “Captain, he can’t—”

“Later, Zo.” Nako raced after Kila, who’d already disappeared into the corridor.

He chased him down in Medical’s admittance area. “Captain! What’s going on? What are these ‘Darks’ Ensign Ilid was going on about?”

Kila’s vicious grin returned in full force. He looked ready to tear into someone’s throat. He muttered, seemingly to himself and not Nako. “The fucking space squid’s entities got to them. There was a Galactic Council inspection team on the planet days later. If the things attached to them and made it to Jedver, who knows…” He grabbed his com off his belt. “Chief, we’re returning to the ship now. As in, two seconds ago. Get your ass to the shuttle.” Not waiting for a reply, he clicked the com for another frequency. “Com Lieutenant, alert command staff to meet me in the ready room the moment I’m on board. Tell Dr. Hadlez to bring his scans on the away teams we sent to Bi’is. Kila out.”

“Captain Kila!” Nako snarled to be ignored.

“Not now, Nako. I’ll get back to you later.”

Kila suddenly took off, blurring into a dark smear as he ran at top speed toward the shuttle bay. Nako gaped for an instant, then rushed to catch him.

It was to no avail. Kila’s shuttle was flying from the bay as Nako arrived.

* * * *

The alien force dubbed the Darks has grabbed control of key positions on Kalquor and the Galactic Council of Planets. Other leaders are still unaware of the threat among them. The galaxy is wide open for destruction by an unfathomable enemy.

Former emperor Nobek Yuder has suspicions, but due to restrictions placed on him after his prison sentence, he can only stand by and watch helplessly. A renegade Royal Councilman has designs to bring him back to the political arena, but doing so could destabilize the Kalquorian Empire, leaving it vulnerable to invasion.

Meanwhile, one man on the brink of death, the only man who can detect the nearly invisible Darks, is pulled from a lifeless shuttle by Captains Kila and Nako. His incredible story tells them they’re in a race against time to save not only the empire but the whole galaxy…but are they already too late?

On Earth II, Governor Stacy Nichol’s relationship with Clan Rihep continues to grow. So does the danger, as opponents make deadly moves against her and the orbiting Kalquorian station where the clan lives. Nobek Kuran is determined to keep his clanmates and would-be lifemate safe, but how can he stop a faceless enemy?

Relationships, old and new, are strained to the breaking point at a time when Earthers and Kalquorians need each other more than ever. The Darks are closing in, and no one is ready to oppose them.

Now on sale!Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, and print.