Exiles
Richard Alonzo
EXILES
Ark Worlds Volume 2
By Richard Alonzo
Copyright © 2014 Richard Alonzo
All Rights Reserved
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organisations, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Cover Design: https://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/Fantasyart
“When people are getting rained on hard you have a duty to get a little wet protecting them.”
This quote is inspired by El Salvadoran Journalist Oscar Martinez Author of ’The Beast’
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1 Incursion
Chapter 2 Exchange of Contracts
Chapter 3 Exit Strategy
Chapter 4 Escape
Chapter 5 Secrets
Chapter 6 Themis
Chapter 7 Settlement
Chapter 8 The Priestess and the Prophet
Chapter 9 Salvation
Chapter 10 Lost in Space
Chapter 11 The Meat Run
Chapter 12 Good Hunting
Chapter 13 Exiles
Chapter 14 Convergence
Chapter 15 Garbage Disposal
Chapter 16 Binaries
Chapter 17 Unity of Purpose
Chapter 18 The Scorpion Nebula
Chapter 19 The Scorpions Lair
Chapter 20 Fury
Chapter 21 A New Beginning
Chapter 22 Transit
Chapter 23 The Swarm
Chapter 24 Consequences
Chapter 25 Facing the Press
Chapter 26 Collateral Damage
Chapter 27 A Pressing Engagement
Chapter 28 Resurrection
Chapter 29 Unresolved Questions
Chapter 30 Returned
Chapter 31 Pieces in Play
Epilogue
REUNIONS Ark Worlds Volume 3 A Preview
Prologue
Chapter 1 Rescued
About the Author
Other books by this author
Connect with Richard Alonzo
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my family for their support while writing this novel. My wife Julie, my daughters Toni, Mari, Emma and son Michael for their patience and understanding and many, many cups of coffee. Several cafetieres were harmed in the writing of this novel. I would also like to thank Fantasyart for yet another outstanding cover design. Finally a special thank you goes to everyone who downloaded by debut novel Rebels without your support this book would not exist. I hope you enjoy it, this one's for you.
Prologue
He sighed heavily as a picture of himself from his former life filled the vidscreen, built into the polished wooden desk inlaid with dark red leather. His short cropped hair noticeably less grey than it was now. His deep blue eyes framed by the same silver rimmed antique spectacles he always wore, although they were tinted now. The starkest difference between now and then was that his former self sported a clean shaven squared jaw look, as opposed to the goatee he preferred today. The clipped disembodied voice of the female reporter from the Galaxic News agency, speaking over his image, filled in the missing details.
“Welcome to this extraordinary session of the recently formed, and some would say fragile, Assembly of the Federation of Free Planets. Called to hear the demands for the extradition of this man, to some a hero and freedom fighter, to others a grave robber and war criminal.”
The view cut from his picture to the dark skinned reporter standing outside the Assembly of Free Planets. The flags of the assembled free colonies fluttering defiantly in the breeze behind her. Her brown shoulder length hair tumbled down onto the collar of the plain light blue jacket she wore over a simple white blouse. Her ID badge glinting in the late afternoon sun as, microphone in hand, she stared intently into the camera with her hazel eyes.
She continued. “A combined delegation from the Talmari, Hyneari and Onggar home worlds spent yesterday morning petitioning the assembly. They are calling for them to hand over the man known on Anobar as Guardian Ford, one of the founders of the Federation, to stand trial for crimes against their peoples. The assembly remains locked in a closed session, that has sat throughout the night and into a second day, to consider the dossier of evidence. That under various guises this man, operated as a rogue relic hunter, desecrated sacred sites and stole holy alien artefacts. Now back to John in the studio for an update on developments elsewhere in the Galaxy.”
The feed cut to the studio. A middle-aged balding anchorman, a grey moustache crawling across his upper lip like an anaemic slug, sat behind the news desk in the regulation blue and white of Galaxic News. The screen behind him filled with the logos of some of the most notorious corporations in human controlled space.
“Thank you Sarah. Earlier this afternoon the Vesperon, Haldyne and Zodan Corporations, issued an unprecedented joint communiqué. Demanding that the Federation uphold intergalactic law and maintain a stable business environment. Calling on them to hand over the criminal known as Ford to the independent tribunal convened by the Talmari and their allies. So that he can be held accountable for crimes against their peoples. These corporations have themselves been locked in a bitter, and often bloody, take-over battle to gain control of Malstrom assets and restore order. Since the man proclaiming himself Guardian Ford led the Anobar rebellion, triggering the collapse of Malstrom's stock and the current wave of take-over's.”
He paused as someone off screen passed him a piece of paper. “Breaking news just in Sarah. Malstrom and the new religious sect sweeping the galaxy, the Brethren, have also just issued a joint statement, on the man they call the butcher of the battle of the three fleets. Apparently they have called on the assembly to be guided by the prophets. Citing the Brethrens belief that all must be called to judgement for their actions and that those who are deemed worthy will be protected and provided for.”
The camera flashed back to Sarah outside the assembly, microphone in right-hand, left forefinger pressed against her ear-piece, as she cocked her head to one side. “Sensational news John. I’m hearing the assembly has reached a decision. It’s a split vote, but the majority have voted to support the call for extradition, with the proviso that the tribunal is held on a neutral planet. We’ll be right back after this commercial break.”
Sarah faded out to be replaced by an advert for the channels lurid weekly shockumentary show, Hidden Terrors of the Galaxy. “Don’t miss tonight’s show, twenty hundred hours galactic standard time.” boomed an eerie voice, over grainy images of a black shadow lurking somewhere in hyperspace. “Tonight we investigate the Black Angel of Death. The mysterious ship that prowls hyperspace waiting to strike the unwary. Urban myth, pirate raider, or the fabled lost ship of the Malstrom battle fleet, Fury?”
The broadcast was brought to an abrupt end, by an incoming call on a secure channel, as a haggard and unshaven Chancellor Ocoto appear on screen. “I take it you’ve seen the news?” his brown eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, dark lines etched under them. His short black hair ruffled and unkempt. Shirt and jacket badly creased.
Ford nodded. “Typical, takes us over three years to put the Federation together and less than s
ix months for them to betray us.”
“Don’t be too hard on them. We can barley hold our own as it is. We’ve only got this far because Vesperon, Haldyne, and Zodan, are too busy fighting each other, over Malstrom’s key assets, to bother us. The general view of the assembly is that we can’t risk doing anything that would unite our enemies against us. That includes inviting a second front, by giving the Talmari and their allies an excuse to combine their forces and attack. Even if that means sacrificing you.”
Ford sighed. “We both knew this day was coming. So how long have I got?”
“Twenty-four hours. I‘ve been instructed to place you under immediate house arrest, pending transfer.”
“Well I guess we both know what we have to do next then.” said Ford, as he pushed his chair back and stood up.
Ocoto nodded. “May the solar winds bring you good fortune my friend.” there was a brief paused and then he added before terminating the transmission. “And don’t forget the package I gave you before I left for the assembly.”
