Destiny Rising - A Hard Military Space Opera Epic: The Intrepid Saga - Books 1 & 2 Read online

  DESTINY RISING

  THE INTREPID SAGA – BOOKS 1 & 2

  OUTSYSTEM &

  A PATH IN THE DARKNESS

  EXTENDED OMNIBUS EDITION

  M. D. COOPER

  Copyright © 2017 M. D. Cooper

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Art by Adam Burn

  Editing by Amy DuBoff

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to my children, born and unborn, who will inhabit the future far longer than I. May your future never be utopian, but always struggling toward perfection. May it never be idealistic, but always founded on ideals.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  There is only one acknowledgement that matters, and that is to my wife, Jill. Without her this world would remain only imagined and never written.

  But once her inspiration spurred me on, it took a host of people to help get Outsystem to where you see it today. Most notably: Greta van der Rol for being the first person not related to me who thought my writing was a good read; MV Merchant for reading everything and providing excellent feedback; and Erin Marion for being a tireless editor and giving way more attention to minute detail than I even knew was possible.

  If you have read any amount of science fiction, you will see certain authors’ influence in this book. Foremost are: Larry Niven whose Ringworld series changed the way I thought about science fiction; Tanya Huff for writing one of the best damn female military characters in any book anywhere; Elizabeth Moon for showing that a book taking place almost entirely on one ship can be awesome; and Anne McCaffery for writing Dragon Quest and opening the world of science fiction and fantasy to me.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE BUTCHER OF TORO

  CHURN AND BURN

  A LIGHT IN THE DARK

  THE BLACK

  ENGAGEMENT

  JERHATTAN

  CALAMITY

  A NEW BEGINNING

  BREAKING TIES

  SOMETHING MORE

  ACCEPTANCE

  WELCOME TO MARS

  THE NEW BOSS

  THE PARTY

  ASSESSMENT

  TAKE THE DEAL

  INTERLUDE

  THE 242

  HISTORY

  AN UNEXPECTED INTERVIEW

  SETTING THE MEET

  INTERLUDE

  CRUITHNE

  DRAW THE NET

  ALTERED REALITY

  RELATIONSHIPS

  TARGET

  REFINEMENT

  INTERLUDE

  LAKE CABIN

  AMBUSH

  REPROACH

  ALTERED AGENT

  COUGAR

  CRUITHNE REDUX

  THE CHO

  ILLUSION

  INTERLUDE

  MARS

  HITCHHIKER

  MACHINATIONS

  A TEMPTING OFFER

  CHASING MYRRDAN

  BAIT

  FINAL STAND

  REGRET

  RESULTS

  CERES

  INTEL

  ASSASSIN

  CAPTURE

  A FATEFUL ENCOUNTER

  REPRIEVE

  CELEBRATION

  LAST DITCH

  RECOVERY

  CALAMITY

  ALONE IN THE DARK

  ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE

  THE LONG SHOT

  THE LONG DARK

  EXCELSIOR

  CRACKING A FEW EGGS

  CHURN AND BURN

  SUBTERFUGE

  FISHING FOR ROCKS

  NODE 11

  INCONSISTENCIES

  SUBVERSION

  INTERLUDE

  NEW ORDER

  BECOMING > HUMAN

  STARING INTO THE BLACK

  ANNIHILATOR

  KAPTEYN’S STAR

  MYRRDAN

  RUDE AWAKENING

  APPENDICES

  TERMS & TECHNOLOGY

  PLACES

  PEOPLE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  THE WORLD OF AEON 14

  For the seasoned science fiction reader, there will be little here which they have not seen in another story be it planetary rings, nano technology, AI, or mind-to-mind communication.

  However, for those who may not know what a HUD is, understand the properties of deuterium, or be able to name the stars within the Sirius system, I encourage you to reference the appendices at the rear of the book as you read.

  You may also visit www.aeon14.com to read the primer, glossary, and timelines.

  To get the latest news and access to free novellas and short stories, sign up on the Aeon 14 mailing list: www.aeon14.com/signup.

  THE BUTCHER OF TORO

  STELLAR DATE: 3223427 / 05.05.4113 (Adjusted Gregorian)

  LOCATION: TSS Arcturus, stealth approach to asteroid 1685 Toro

  REGION: InnerSol Stellar Space, Sol Space Federation

  Lieutenant Colonel Tanis Richards reviewed the intel and the plan. She really didn’t need to; both were hers, but this mission felt like one that needed another review—like something was going to go off the rails.

  She said as much to Angela, her internal AI.

  Angela replied in her mind.

 

 

  Tanis bent over the holodisplay again, spreading out the data on the mission and the asteroid that was their target. She wanted to be sure no detail escaped her.

  Terran Space Force surveillance drones had completed several passes near Toro, passively pulling readings that gave clues as to what was going on inside the asteroid.

  Toro was one of several bodies in the inner Sol System that orbited Sol in resonance with both Earth and Venus. To a viewer on the surface of either of those worlds, it would appear as though Toro orbited around the planet like a moon.

  Asteroids with resonant orbits were very useful—at certain times cargo could be dropped from stations near either of those worlds and Toro would appear to accelerate to pick it up. At other times, Toro could drop cargo and it would fall into the outer Sol System with an added boost.

  Toro also possessed a well-placed elliptical orbit. Perihelion brought it almost to Venus, and at aphelion it drifted beyond the orbit of Mars.

  Over the years, Toro had extensive docking and cargo transfer systems built around its three kilometer length, but those facilities told just a part of the asteroid’s history.

  High concentrations of Olivine crystal had drawn prospectors to the asteroid in the twenty-third century, and its interior was riddled with mines and processing facilities. At one point, when both the mine’s production and cargo transfers were at their peak, Toro had maintained a population of over a hundred thousand.

  Eventually, the valuable minerals were exhausted, and with Ceres’s massive ring supporting most traffic between the inner and outer Sol system, Toro’s usefulness diminished.

  Centuries later, only a few caretakers and robotic cargo handlers were left, which was when John Cardid came into the picture. Thirty years ago, he rented space on the asteroid for an undisclosed purpose. The Terran Bureau of Investigations suspected that he was involved in illegal human trafficking in addition to paramilitary activity. Over the years, he had built up his presence and followers—Tanis’s investigations suggested that over ten-thousand people now lived on Toro.

  Then, five years ago, Ca
rdid bought the entire asteroid and halted its remaining cargo-handling operations.

  The asteroid’s passage near so many InnerSol worlds was far more concerning than the loss of its meager cargo transfer facilities. The TBI stepped up its intelligence-gathering in concert with the space force’s counterinsurgency division.

  It was slow work because John Cardid was secretive and Toro was difficult to scan due to high concentrations of ferric crystals and iron oxide. This only served to increase suspicion.

  Tanis had been involved with the investigation into Toro for several years. In her capacity as a TSF counterinsurgency officer, she had uncovered proof that several shipments of military weapons had found their way to the asteroid, which was reason enough for her to go in, but until the recent escalations, the TBI had maintained jurisdiction.

  That had changed four months ago, when a group of prominent public figures had—apparently of their own will—taken a transport to Toro for a visit. They never returned, and only a few transmissions indicating that they intended to stay had been sent out.

  Amongst those now considered to be abducted were several actors, a dozen sports professionals, and three senators.

  It was the textbook recipe for a first-class disaster.

  Even after months of work, the TSF still didn’t have enough intel to make a clean, surgical strike, but the public and political pressure had forced the brass to make a move.

  The TBI had ceded jurisdiction and Tanis, as the lead investigator on the TSF side, had been sent in.

  This was not new territory; she had done her share of tours and often took an active role in the field operations that resulted from her investigations. Given more time and intel, she would have been more than happy to run the mission, but this rush-job was going to be trouble.

  She reviewed the packet containing the orders for the TSF Arcturus. It granted her broad discretionary powers and, in matters regarding the mission, Captain Arsenal was under her command.

  She prayed she wouldn’t need to issue those types of orders.

  Closing the packet, she flipped the holo display over the table to show the entry points the Marines would take, as well as the sectors each platoon would clear. Just then the TBI agent assigned as liaison on the operation entered the briefing room.

  “Going over this shit show one last time?” Bremen asked.

  Tanis nodded. “Looking for whatever it is that I missed; we just don’t know enough about what we’re getting into. There has to be some clue that can help.”

  “We just have to clear a few dozen square kilometers of station with one battalion of Marines, kill the bad guys, save the good guys, and pray no one gets hurt who isn’t supposed to,” Bremen grimaced. “What could go wrong?”

  Angela’s tone was droll.

  “I’d prefer more than just a battalion,” Tanis said without looking up from her holo projections.

  “I hear you. Three hundred and eighty Marines is nothing to sneeze at, but for all we know we’re up against ten thousand humans and who knows how many bots? I wouldn’t mind a different assignment right about now.”

  His statement caused Tanis to glance up and cast a harsh look at the TBI agent. That wasn’t the sort of attitude that got the job done. She was happy he’d be staying back on the Arcturus. She turned back to her notes, preparing for her upcoming briefing.

  Several minutes before the meeting was to begin, the battalion commanders had all arrived and were talking quietly amongst themselves. She was pleased, their punctuality showed respect.

  Angela commented.

 

  The battalion’s XO, Major Ender, was sitting in the front and gave her a crisp nod. Tanis had talked with him a few times to get a feel for the battalion and how they would react to a new temporary commander. Her placement with the battalion was as good as she could hope for; the 242nd Marines had a stellar record, and their former commander, a Colonel Chen, had recently been promoted to general.

  Their new CO had not been assigned, but since the TSF had unified all branches, it was possible for her, a lieutenant colonel in the intelligence branch, to be put in direct command of a Marine battalion.

  The rest of the room was filled with the company and platoon commanders as well as platoon sergeants. Tanis looked them over slowly. They were all veterans of at least one significant engagement, all had seen the dark underside of humanity.

  If Tanis’s intel was right, they’d see that underbelly’s underbelly today.

  “Thank you for all reading the pre-briefing docs. This meeting is really just a formality. You’ve seen the vids and know that something is rotten on Toro. We’re going in to clean it up.

  “Try not to kill the good guys, cover your sectors, and keep your eyes out for Cardid. Use non-lethal force if possible, as much as possible.”

  Tanis stood, arms akimbo. “Questions?”

  A platoon sergeant named Williams raised a hand. “What’s not in the packet? It’s light on what is likely going on in there, and I bet you have a hunch.”

  Angela said privately to Tanis.

  “I don’t have solid intel, but I think they’re doing illegal genetic hybridization research.”

  “That warrants a visit from Force Recon Marines?” Williams asked.

  “That’s not the whole of it…. I think something darker is going on, but all I have are crazy whispers about it being ‘true evil’.”

  “They’re in for it, then,” a Lieutenant named Anderson said, “because we all know that Williams is God’s own right hand.”

  The comment raised some chuckles, but Williams didn’t look pleased.

  Tanis nodded to Major Ender who proceeded to run over each company and platoon’s assignments. When it was done, the group broke up to brief their men.

  Tanis took the ship’s dorsal maglev to the bridge. The Arcturus was one of the TSF’s newer destroyers, measuring just over three hundred meters long and seventy wide. What it lacked in size it made up for with speed and stealth. The ship’s antimatter engines could boost it to over a quarter the speed of light and the output from the engines could be narrowly focused, making the ship difficult to detect.

  Toro was speeding through space at this phase of its orbit and the Arcturus was running a 1.3g burn to catch up, the thrust caused the train to operate more like a lift on its trip to the bridge.

  When Tanis stepped onto the command deck, she noted the navigation holo, which confirmed that the Arcturus was only two hours from reaching the asteroid. Toro was near perihelion, approaching Sol, and the ship was in the asteroid’s shadow, its narrow engine wash undetectable.

  If all went as planned, the Arcturus would not be visible until it was right on their doorstep.

  The holo showed Toro spinning on its long axis, with several docking stations and cargo facilities forming a ring around its center. When humans first settled on Toro, it spun at a sedate speed of roughly eight centimeters per second. To provide more significant gravity, close to 0.5g, it had been accelerated to fifty meters per second.

  The final burns needed to match the station’s spin would give away the Arcturus and ruin the element of surprise. Tanis and Captain Arsenal had agreed to a plan where the TSF cruiser would move to a position ten thousand kilometers behind Toro, and Marine assault transports would close the final gap.

  “Ready for action?” asked the captain.

  “Everything is in order,” Tanis replied. “I don’t know about ready. This will be some messy work, are you prepared to provide supporting fire?”

  “The composition of the asteroid may cause a few issues with targeted laser strikes, but we think we have the solutions to work around those.”

  Tanis nodded. “Let’s hope you don’t need to test those solutions, there’s still enough cryst
al in there that refractions could be dangerous.”

  “Finer beams and higher power should do the trick—we’ll melt anything we come in contact with rather than letting the light bleed out. The Arcturus has enough reserve power to turn Toro into Swiss cheese if needs be.”

  “Well, if everything is good on your end, I’m going to head down to the hangars and gear up.”

  “Godspeed,” the captain replied in parting.

  Tanis took a short series of corridors and ladders down to the hangar level where the Marines were suiting up in their powered armor. She approached the 4th Platoon of Bravo Company. The lieutenant, a slender man—odd for an orbital drop Marine—named Tippin, rose from inspecting his weapon and saluted her.

  “Glad to have you in the ‘toon, Colonel Richards.”

  Tanis returned the salute. “I hear you’re the best in the outfit.”

  “Damn straight we are, if you don’t mind my saying it. The boys and girls of the 4th Bravo have seen more action than the—” Tippin said before stopping himself, uncertain of how casual he could be with a CO who was an MICI and not a Marine.

  “I believe the current joke involves the president’s mother?” Tanis asked.

  Tippin coughed. “Yeah, I think it does.”

  Tanis chuckled. “Why don’t you show me to my armor?”

  “Williams, hook Colonel Richards up with her gear,” Tippin called out to the sergeant who had asked several questions during the briefing.

  Sergeant Williams trotted up and looked Tanis over. “I warrant I’ve got some that will fit you without too much adjustment. Do you have any load-out or weapons prefs?” he asked.

  “I prefer to make tactical shots, what do you have for rifles?”

  “The 242 issues M948 concussive pulse rifles for station combat, but those aren’t terribly accurate. A lot of the boys and girls use MIV particle rifles so long as the proton beam cartridges stay behind for on-station missions,” Williams said, raising his voice and casting a hard glare at a Marine who was checking his gear.