A Secret Quest, Page 8

  There were several tense moments where Hastings sat and stared at the monitor beside him. On it, the thirteen raider ships were prominently displayed. They would arrive in only a couple more minutes. Dash's actions would amount to nothing if he didn't accomplish his task before the raiders appeared.

  “Alright! Do it now!” Dash cried out over the comm.

  Without hesitation, the colonel tapped the holo-monitor and brought up the star-drive controls. He gave a quick tap of his finger and brought the FTL systems online. “Star-drive powered up.” he said.

  “Good, now engage it when I say 'go'.”

  “Understood.”

  “Go!”

  Hastings pressed the button to engage as fast as he could move his finger through the air. There was a bright flash of light from outside the forward windows, then the surrounding stars shifted color to a deep purple before vanishing altogether. The universe, itself, began to glow with a soft blue light the seemed to emanate from everywhere all at once. The light was eventually squeezed off into a sharp cone originating from directly ahead of the vehicle. They had jumped to warp speed, and in so doing, their escape was complete. Dash had just given his life to save them all.

  The ship wasn't very fast, but it didn't have to be to outrun the raider skirmishers, which only had a basic star-drive that couldn't be engaged for long periods before needing to power down for a time. According to the readouts, everything was nominal with the ships systems. They really were finally in the clear. It had only cost the lives of thirty seven people to achieve.

  But at least they would be back behind the safety of the Empire's borders within several hours. After that, there was no telling. Hastings was aware of the seriousness of the threat the Ikaranites posed. He knew they weren't finished yet. But the ship they now possessed wasn't going to get them all the way back to Alpheena. Acquiring another vessel, however, that would be an adventure unto itself.

  The End.

  Other Titles Available By

  J.A. Brimingham -

  Dylan's Prize (Harbinger Book I)

  Young Dylan Largent finds himself at a crossroads in his life when forces outside his control turn his world upside down. Trapped in a place he doesn't want to be, fate intervenes on his behalf and provides a way for him to return home. But nothing is what it seems to be at first glance. His new ship, The Chimera, is sleek, elegant, and luxurious. But the large vessel is much more than he can handle alone. Dylan must find a way to operate his new prize as well as learn to lead his new crew of misfits. There's Murc, the large older man with an odd cloud of bad luck that seems to follow him wherever he goes, Beetle, the moody medical drone with a peculiar sense of humor, Sandra, the motherly ship's computer who is unlike anything Dylan had ever encountered before, Nessa, the blonde vixen with a cunning as sharp as any blade, and Vic, the grizzled veteran with a wry wisdom. Then there's Alahnni, the young slave girl whom Dylan finds a strong attraction for almost immediately. He wants to save her from the wretched life she was forced into. However, as with all things aboard the Chimera, there's much more to her than meets the eye. But attacking pirates, scheming politicians, and the dreaded Ikaranites threaten to destroy the new life Dylan is fighting for.

  Find it for $4.99 or less at Amazon.com and other online retailers!

  A Brief History of the Empire

  Compiled By

  Thomas the Forgetful

  Overview: Contained within these documents rests the historical actions and ramifications of our forbears. Everything from the first ground-breaking settlements overseen by the visionary genius of David Arlington, to more recent events such as the scandalous dealings of the Great Council on Purduay, is covered in these pages. This compendium seeks to categorize and illustrate the Durantalian Empire's history for the first 568 years of its existence. These records will serve to educate and enlighten anyone who chooses to glean this vital knowledge from its pages.

  Before the Beginning: In the year -52 of the Imperial Calendar, a young man by the name of David Arlington began his life's work in the city of Andak, which was on the Old Planet. He was barely twenty three at the time; and as such, he was full of ideas and youthful vigor. While his superiors tasked him with mostly mundane chores of unoriginal scientific causes, Arlington secretly worked at something far greater. He was on a mission.

  As the years steadily rolled by, he was able to rise through the ranks of his peers. And in so doing, new trust and responsibilities were placed squarely on his shoulders. Arlington was given access to all sorts of wonderful equipment and research. Gradually, he was able to expand on his own private experiments and improve them one hundred fold.

  For more than a half century, Arlington toiled, always careful to be invisible to the watchful gaze of his superiors. He knew that should he ever be discovered, he would be labeled as a traitor and a thief. Judgment on him would be as swift as it was absolute. But he was very careful and succeeded in keeping his work hidden from prying eyes. Finally, on the eve of his 74th birthday, David Arlington and a large group of some carefully chosen souls climbed aboard his creation and blasted to the heavens, never to set foot on the Old Planet ever again.

  Arlington's secret project, the first faster than light (FTL) warp drive engine, would propel him to a new home among the stars. It took more than a full major cycle for he and his people to reach their destination: A blue orb among the stars called Durantalis II.

  The Beginning – The first settlement ( 0 i.c. - 5 i.c.): Not long after Arlington arrived on Durantalis II, he set about dismembering his prize creation. Not many people would so willingly destroy something that took nearly an entire lifetime to create, but it was all part of Arlington's grand vision. The ship that transported some three thousand people to the distant stars was also meant to serve as the foundations of a settlement. It was the easiest and most convenient way of transporting all the necessary materials, he reasoned.

  It took almost another major cycle for the disassembling of the craft and rearranging of it into the structures that would provide shelter and services. But when they were finished, an actual settlement was made. But it was more than that. Much more. It was the first town built to be the permanent home for human beings on another planetary body outside the Old System. The town needed a name, so Arlington christened it “Pelorus” to serve as a new beginning for the human race.

  - A new government is formed ( 5 i.c. - 13 i.c. ): Arlington thought others might share his views and desire a new home among the stars. To that end he left all his research behind in order for others to discover and expand upon, which they did. But he didn't leave it out in plain sight. In order to obtain all the information, one needed to be dedicated and secret. There was a code to crack and ciphers to unravel. Arlington wanted to ensure that only the most dedicated and honest scientists were granted access to his trove of information. He trembled at the thought of the Andak Regents acquiring his work and using it for more devious purposes. But for those that were able to access it, a lifetime of research was at their disposal. It would take very little time to replicate Arlington's plans, given the right tools and know-how.

  Not long after the completion of Pelorus, new ships from the Old Planet began to arrive; ferrying people to the new settlement in droves. Arlington was nearly eighty years of age by this time and saw his health rapidly begin to deteriorate. He was aware that he would have to pass the mantle of leadership to his protégé, Angus McMillan.

  McMillan was a stern man in his forties when Arlington tasked him with organizing the chaos of the growing populace. One of the traits about McMillan that Arlington respected most was that fact that McMillan was never one for rash and hasty actions. He preferred to deliberate on serious matters and would often seek the council of others he respected. However, if an immediate decision was to be made, McMillan was also quite capable of that was well. He was a natural leader who was respected and trusted by those around him.

  With the passing of Arlington in 11 i.c., the people of P
elorus mourned the loss of their beloved leader and the man who had sent mankind on its new course. But with a population of more than fifty thousand people, Pelorus needed a stable government for its residents. More refugees from the Old Planet were arriving at a constant pace and before long, the loose framework of cooperation among settlers was bound to collapse.

  McMillan ordered the formation of an organized government. Each district of the settlement was to appoint one person as a representative on the drafting committee. There were ten representatives in all. For months they spent their days locked behind metal doors as they argued and debated the course this new government should take. In the end, it was decided that parts of proceeding systems would be used for something entirely new. A king would be named as the central figure of the government, while an elected council would advise on the intricate matters of state. A judicial system would serve to interpret the law and mete out justice. The king and his government would be bound by the Tenets of Liberty, which were specific rules the king must abide by. As of this writing, these tenets are:

  1.) There shall be no laws or edicts to inhibit by the government the gathering or assembly of people for a peaceful purpose.

  2.) There shall be no laws or edicts to inhibit by the government the freedom of the communication of ideas and opinions by the people.

  3.) The government, its associates and representatives, are forbidden from intrusive surveillance of any private civilians and citizens without just cause and prior approval from the judiciary. The property of private citizens and civilians shall not be seized nor searched without sufficient provocation and judicial approval.

  4.) There shall be no laws or edicts to inhibit by the government the rights and freedoms of the press to report and document proceedings and events. Never shall the government, its associates and representatives, attempt to dictate the course or actions of the press or any private journalistic entity.

  5.) The government, its associates and representatives, shall honor the rights of the people to evoke spiritualism however they deem to do so, as long as no harm or distress is brought upon people or animals. Never shall the government represent, advocate, or be affiliated with religious organizations of any sort.

  6.) The government, its associates and representatives, shall recognize all peoples equally, regardless of race, gender, orientation, genetics, or spirituality. Never shall the government be considered more important than the people it serves.

  7.) Never shall the government represent, advocate, or be affiliated with any business or corporate entity.

  8.) There shall be no laws or edicts to inhibit by the government, prevent, or diminish in any way a private citizen's right to vote in any governmental election.

  9.) There shall be no laws or edicts to revoke or in any way alter private citizens' and civilians' rights to receive proper and prudent due process under the law and justice system. Unless acting in service to king and country during times of war or other public dangers, no private civilian or citizen shall be imprisoned, exiled, be deprived of property, or put to death except by the lawful judgment of a jury. Never shall a private civilian or citizen be made to answer for the same offense more than once.

  10.) The king shall be a servant of the people. He will uphold the law.

  It was also agreed upon by the committee that McMillan should be appointed the first king of Pelorus, becoming who we now know as Angus I. It was a position he would hold for the remainder of his life, which was some thirty Cycles. During the reign if Angus I, Pelorus would thrive and expand. Its population would reach over one hundred thousand souls; with new, smaller towns and villages springing up just outside the borders of the city. David Arlington's dream of a new civilization based on liberty, equality, and freedom was, at last, a reality.

  -The next frontier ( 40 i.c. - 125 i.c. ): The reign of Angus I was succeeded in 40 i.c. by his eldest son, Stephen, who came to be known as Stephen the Wise. It was during his reign that the small colony of Pelorus spread its borders at a vast and unprecedented scale. The entire planet of Durantalis II would come under the jurisdiction of the king and his council by order of the Declaration of Sovereignty in 66 i.c. The lone natural satellite, Urebus, was colonized for the first time in 69 i.c.

  In 78 i.c., it was determined that a distant planet was also suitable for colonization. The planet was known as Farlocke, in honor of its discoverer, Jason Farlocke, and was 37 light years from Durantalis II. With advancements made over Arlington's original designs, a new colony ship was built and sent to the far away world.

  The invention of the quantum communications system, or quan-comm as it is still known by today, allowed the settlement on Farlocke direct communication with Durantalis II. This proved to be great asset and allowed Farlocke to thrive, much as Pelorus had done nearly a century before.

  After the success of Farlocke colony, it was decided to send another such ship to the relatively close planet of Heslin in 90 i.c. Soon, both worlds began to thrive and trade networks developed between Durantalis II and her two daughter worlds. With advancements in stardrive technology, the vast distances between the planets could be traversed in mere weeks instead of the long months it took before. This, combined with the quan-comm, allowed those on Durantalis to monitor and oversee the activities of the other worlds on a more detailed level.

  In what was one of the most significant events in human history, on the fourteenth day of Orbay in 94 i.c., mankind made direct first contact with beings known as the Gleem. It was the first intelligent race encountered by man, but certainly not the last. Humans were only the second race that the Gleem had met in their travels across the stars and both species were of comparable technological levels. Through the Gleem, humans were introduced to the Attillics of the Altaive Confederacy and after a time of trepidation and reluctance, a trade partnership developed between the three races.

  The Early Empire – The start ( 125 i.c. - 200 i.c.): On the sixth day of Arcturus in 125 i.c., the Durantalian Empire was born when members of the Planetary Council voted to ratify the Imperial Doctrine, which outlined how the government would work for the empire and all provincial bodies. Angus II of Durantalis assumed the role of Emperor, and in so doing, gained the title, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Angus II. The Planetary Council that advised him was re-titled to the more-familiar Grand Imperial Council that we know of today. The planet Durantalis II was itself renamed to Durantalis Prime.

  Each planet would have a ruling royal family that was first appointed by Angus II and who could only be removed through a rigorous and delicate method known as the No Confidence Clause. Each king or queen was subject to the same Tenets of Liberty that had originally bound the first kings of Durantalis II. Order replaced chaos among the many colonies, outposts, and imperial territories. The Empire entered into what we now call the Silver Age.

  - Alpheena enters the Empire ( 201 i.c. - 230 i.c.): in 179 i.c., the colony on Alpheena was founded by Rudolph Earnst and Gabrielle Tunos. Unlike the first colonies, Alpheena's unusual magnetic field made things more difficult. It created havoc with a wide array of the devices and technology that the residents depended on. The problems were eventually solved, but only after nearly a decade of effort and vast amounts resources invested in the matter. In 207 i.c. Alpheena was officially recognized as a provincial planet. Tunos and her family line were chosen to lead and represent Alpheena, as she became Queen Gabrielle I. As of this writing, the Tunos family is the oldest continuous ruling family in the Empire.

  In time, Alpheena would become one of the wealthiest and most powerful of the provincial planets. Its distance from Durantalis Prime was key in securing trade with species outside the Empire. However, it wasn't long before powers outside of the Empire were made aware of Alpheena's lucrative position and desired the planet for their own.

  The Kiletican War ( 230 i.c. - 237 i.c.): For over two centuries mankind had not raised arms against his fellow man. While disagreements were commonplace and even expected, war was as f
oreign to the people of the Empire as living on the Old Planet was. Only rarely did situations devolve into outright protest by sections of the populace, and those only turned violent on a handful of occasions.

  But in 230 i.c., a race known as the Kilet invaded imperial space. It was the first time such actions had ever taken place. At first, bands of Kiletican raiders would disrupt the many trade routes near Alpheena in order to slowly erode the planet's control over the area. But over time, the attacks grew more intense. The Kiletican forces rightly reasoned that Alpheena's distance from the heart of the Empire, as well as the relative weakness of imperial forces, would make the planet vulnerable to attack and subsequent acquisition by the Kileticans.