Goodbye to Kalquor, hello to the unknown
* * * *
Kalquor
“I’m sure you’re looking forward to reaching Alpha Station,” Admiral Tranis told his Earth II-assigned counterpart as the men’s clans began their goodbyes in Clan Tranis’ greeting room.
“Eventually,” Admiral Piras chuckled. “Since we’re taking the scenic route, home is still a distant dream.”
“It’ll give Lokmi and me a chance to investigate the Darks’ space more thoroughly than if we were to go straight to our duty station.” Hope Nath’s dark upturned eyes sparkled in anticipation. Piras’ Matara was a brilliant engineer, as was his Imdiko, Lokmi.
“You’re continuing to work on extending the nanobots’ range? How is the assignment coming?” Tranis asked.
“Not bad. The trick is improving their energy efficiency rather than increasing solar generation.”
“Bigger solar collectors mean the nanos aren’t so micro,” Tranis guessed.
“Less is more,” handsome Lokmi sighed.
“See? I told you size matters.” Tranis’ irreverent Imdiko Degorsk smirked at their Nobek, the stoic Lidon. “Of course, this is the only occasion smaller is better, so—”
“How much longer do you wish to live?” Lidon asked mildly.
Even Piras, no fan of Degorsk’s jokes, quirked the slightest hint of a smile. Tranis suspected his former rival and present ally had loosened up since his ‘Terror of the Fleet’ days.
“At any rate,” their Matara, Dr. Cassidy Hamilton, interjected, “I’ll continue to test the Darks we captured in hopes of finding a way to destroy them before they finish the galaxy.”
Perhaps Hope noted the tense set of the platinum blond woman’s shoulders. “It’s hard to concentrate on this mission and ignore the calls to help where the pandemic is concerned, isn’t it?”
“It’s spreading like wildfire on the other continent. The first cases are showing up on ours. A quarter of a million hospitalizations and counting.” Cassidy rubbed her gently rounded stomach. Protectively, Tranis thought. In some cases, the virus dubbed RCN-16 was also affecting hybrid children of Kalquorians and humans. Fortunately, those cases tended to be mild, thanks to Earther genetics. The virus had no effect on Earthers.
It was having a huge impact on Kalquorians, however. Tens of thousands had died from its ravages before containment protocols had slowed its spread. It was unclear what factors had mutated a rather common flu-like virus to the deadly version.
“On that note, we’ll say goodbye for now.” Piras already looked tired, his combination of a strong jaw and otherwise delicate features drawn.
“Be careful,” Tranis said, echoing his formal bow.
Cassidy and Hope had become fast friends in the weeks they’d worked together to find a way to stop an enemy unseen by most and impervious to standard weaponry. They hugged and shed a few tears. The men exchanged more bows.
“I wish you the chance to fight and win against our enemies,” Lidon told Piras’ Nobek Kila.
The bearded spyship captain, who had the most terrifying grin Tranis had ever seen, flashed his trademark leer at his counterpart. Though there’d been a sense of challenge between the pair throughout Kila’s stay, he said, “I wholeheartedly wish the same to you. Glory, honor, and empire…and as much blood as you can shed.”
Tranis exchanged a glance with Piras, who shook his head and
rolled his eyes. No doubt he’d been as concerned as Tranis the two warriors who
barely tolerated each other would find a reason to come to blows…and Nobeks
rarely needed an actual excuse to fight.
* * * *
All-out war has begun, with innocents caught in the
crossfire.
Former nun Cheryl Taupin and her husband Nobek Besral, in charge of the remaining orphans of Earth’s Armageddon, watch the terrible events unfolding in the Dark-overrun Galactic Council of Planets. Kalquorians in Galactic Council space are being rounded up to suffer an unknown fate and martial law is declared on many of the system’s worlds. A desperate plea to the Kalquorian Empire sends Admiral Piras and Captain Kila to the orphanage…but how can a lone spyship protect hundreds of children against the full might of the Galactic Council’s warships bent on destruction?
Charity Nath has been brought to Alpha Space Station to hide from those determined to exact vengeance against her father. Young and irrepressible, she’s determined to claim a measure of freedom from stifling restrictions placed on her. When her identity and location are revealed, her Kalquorian protectors must thwart those who’d harm her while contending with her stubborn refusal to be kept in check.
Imdiko Betra has done his best to put the past behind him. He knows letting go of the only woman he could ever love was the best course of action. But when he encounters Shalia Monroe again, his heart speaks louder than his conscience. Will unquenchable desire destroy the life she’s built, or will Betra’s clanmates Oses and Resan stop him from doing the unthinkable?
Against the backdrop of pandemic and plague, Kalquor and Earth II fight for their very survival against an enemy they’re only beginning to learn the strength of. As the All tightens its fearsome grip on the galaxy, humans and Kalquorians alike tremble on the verge of annihilation.
Releasing Friday, July 26
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