Scions of Humanity - A Metaphysical Space Opera Adventure (Aeon 14 Read online

  SCIONS OF HUMANITY

  THE ASCENSION WAR - BOOK 1

  BY M. D. COOPER

  Thanks to our

  Just in Time (JIT) & Beta Readers

  Timothy van Oosterwyk Bruyn

  Gareth Banks

  Manie Kilian

  Scott Reid

  Copyright © 2020 M. D. Cooper

  Aeon 14 is Copyright © 2020 M. D. Cooper

  Version 1.0.0

  Cover Art by Andrew Dobell

  Editing by Jen McDonnell, Bird’s Eye Books

  Aeon 14 & M. D. Cooper are registered trademarks of Malorie Cooper

  All rights reserved

  www.aeon14.com

  Join the Aeon 14 Community

  facebook.com/groups/aeon14fans

  discord.gg/vUJzEjA

  Keep up to date on releases, news, and sales with

  the Aeon 14 Newsletter.

  www.aeon14.com/signup

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  FOREWORD

  WELCOME TO AEON 14

  KEY CHARACTERS

  PROLOGUE

  A VIEW TO FORGET

  PART ONE

  CHAPTER 1 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 2 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 3 - TANIS

  CHAPTER 4 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 5 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 6 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 7 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 8 - TANIS

  CHAPTER 9 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 10 - SERA

  PART TWO

  CHAPTER 11 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 12 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 13 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 14 - SERA

  CHAPTER 15 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 16 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 17 - SERA

  CHAPTER 18 - TANIS

  CHAPTER 19 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 20 - TANIS

  CHAPTER 21 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 22 - GRAYSON

  CHAPTER 23 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 24 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 25 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 26 - KRAI

  PART THREE

  CHAPTER 27 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 28 - KYLIE

  CHAPTER 29 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 30 - KRAI

  CHAPTER 31 - MIRA

  CHAPTER 32 - GRAYSON

  CHAPTER 33 - CHEEKY

  CHAPTER 34 - SAANVI

  CHAPTER 35 - CHEEKY

  CHAPTER 36 - SABS

  CHAPTER 37 - RIKA

  CHAPTER 38 - CHEEKY

  CHAPTER 39 - RIKA

  CHAPTER 40 - CARY

  CHAPTER 41 - RIKA

  CHAPTER 42 - CARY

  PART FOUR

  CHAPTER 43 - ESTEE

  CHAPTER 44 - TANIS

  CHAPTER 45 - CARY

  CHAPTER 46 - PEREZ

  CHAPTER 47 - SERA

  CHAPTER 48 - TANGEL

  THANK YOU FOR READING

  Join the Aeon 14 Community

  THE BOOKS OF AEON 14

  OTHER BOOKS BY M. D. COOPER

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FOREWORD

  I don’t think it’s possible to talk about this book without discussing the trepidation I felt both preparing to write it and actually starting on the journey of putting this story to the page.

  It’s rather silly, right? You’d think that after publishing over one hundred books, I wouldn’t feel this way—and I often don’t—but this book is special.

  Everything that happened in the Orion War series, as well as all the books taking place during the Age of the Orion War, were building toward what happens in the Ascension War. There are major expectations to live up to.

  But on top of that, I took extra care to ensure that this book is accessible to people who have not read any other Aeon 14 book. You know…a really simple undertaking.

  Oh…and I set out to make this the longest book I’ve ever written.

  However, when I sat down, and the words started to flow, I found that this book practically writes itself. Yes, it’s still tricky—I’m managing a lot of threads that have to weave together just so—but despite that, I don’t see myself having a problem getting it done on time and up to my usual high standard.

  To give you a taste of things to come, this book is over 140,000 words long (the average Orion War book being 85,000) and rings in at over 500 pages. I was planning for three books, but as I worked out the series story arcs, I realized that it will come out to be five books.

  I suppose the best way to sum it up is to say that I’m loving this story: the planning, the writing, the characters, the twists and turns, all of it—and even better, I’m certain you will too.

  I should add, however, that this book is just the first chapter in the largest story I’ve ever written, and because of that, there aren’t a lot of resolutions to the story threads that I introduce. I ask that you be patient, as this tale unfolds into a scope unlike any I’ve ever seen or imagined before.

  Finally, a special thanks to my wife, Jill (aka Chris J. Pike) for helping me write the sections of this story focusing on Kylie Rhoads and the crew of the Barbaric Queen. Aeon 14 wouldn’t exist without her.

  Malorie Cooper

  Danvers 2020

  [email protected]

  WELCOME TO AEON 14

  Whether this is your first time diving into an Aeon 14 novel, or your hundredth, welcome, and thanks for reading.

  If you’re new here, this book is a great place to start your journey. In fact, any Aeon 14 series (with the exception of the Perseus Gate books) can serve as an introduction to the ‘verse and get you acquainted with the people and the galaxy they inhabit.

  At this point, the people of the Milky Way are at the tail end of what is known as The Orion War, a two-year conflict that rapidly expanded to involve nearly all major alliances and empires, finally ending with the Hegemony and Matri∞me’s defeat at Earth.

  Now, a new era of peace is dawning, with a new organization, the Alliance of Sapiens, operating as the governing body for much of the galaxy. At the head of the AoS is Hegemon Tanis Richards, who rules from High Terra, the artificial ring constructed around Earth.

  Throughout the galaxy, her agents and operatives are working to curb the spread of dangerous technology developed during the war, as well as hunt down the remnants of certain enemy forces.

  Below are several of the major groups present in this story, though this list is far from exhaustive.

  The Alliance of Sapiens

  In the wake of the Orion War, the Scipio Alliance was reformed into a new entity that both welcomed and represented all sapient peoples in the galaxy.

  Despite the fact that humanity has not yet encountered any other sapient life in the galaxy, they have created sentient AIs, and uplifted many animals. This led to the Alliance’s desire to represent all peoples equally.

  The AoS’s capital is at High Terra, the ring wrapped around Earth, and the Alliance’s leader is Tanis Richards, the former field marshal of the Scipio Alliance. Though the AoS oversees tens of millions of systems across a twenty-thousand-light-year section of the Milky Way, it does not have its own military, relying on the vaunted ISF to police its member nations.

  The AoS also controls much of the most advanced technology in the galaxy, including the QuanComm communication network and the jump gates. Gaining access to these technologies and tools ensures that the various nations, empires, and alliances of the galaxy abide by the AoS’s strictures.

  The Intrepid Space Force (ISF)

  The official space force of the New Canaan System, the ISF, is as equally connected to the ship that bore the colonists to New Canaan as i
t is to the colony itself.

  Though much of the advanced technology that was used to win the Orion War came from the New Canaan colonists as much as their military arm, most of the galaxy uses the term ‘ISF’ to refer to both.

  While Tanis Richards is the titular head of the ISF, it is functionally commanded by Admiral Jessica Keller, and operates primarily out of Star City.

  The Matri∞me

  At the end of the Second Sentience War, many of the ascended AIs fled the Sol System. Seeking both energy and distance from humanity and their allied AIs, many of the ascended beings traveled to the galactic core, there establishing several different factions.

  One of the most powerful of these was the Matri∞me, controlled by a being known as Epsilon.

  For millennia, Epsilon was content to let humanity, and the AIs who had remained behind, fight one another and remain weak—but when the Intrepid reappeared after a jump forward in time, Epsilon had no choice but to intervene.

  His actions sparked the Orion War which culminated in the defeat of Matri∞me forces at Earth. After that battle, Epsilon and the Matri∞me disappeared, and no one has since seen any trace of them.

  Members of the Matri∞me are often referred to as ‘Core AIs’, though not all AIs who once resided at the galactic core were members of that faction.

  The Outer Alliance

  Toward the end of the Third Solar War, many people—both humans and AIs—began to flee the Sol System. Many traveled to nearby colonies, while others continued past settled space, seeking distance from other people.

  The X’Liy

  A cephalopod-like species that lives in liquid methane, the X’Liy have a unique way of thinking and looking at the world. While their language is translated for humans, the text represents as many of the subtle differences as possible without reducing legibility.

  Firstly, the X’Liy do not have multiple sexes. As such, they do not use any differentiated pronouns. The rough analog is ‘je’ for he/she/they, and ‘kes’ for him/her/them.

  The species’ concept of self is different than ours. They are far less social than humans, but do operate in groups for various purposes. When refering to an individual, they often use the phrase ‘a one’ rather than ‘I’ or a singular pronoun.

  The following are other phrases and terms used, along with their analogs.

  Cycle: An X’Liy year. Nearly four hundred standard days.

  Dead Orbs: Terrestrial planets and moons.

  Deep Black: The dark layer.

  Draught of Life: The liquid methane X’Liy live in.

  Fluid Orbs: Gas planets.

  Food Grotto: The ship’s galley.

  Home-span: Close to an Astronomical Unit in distance.

  Mass Conformity: A star system.

  Mass Lance: A missile.

  Minor Cycle: An X’Liy day. Equivalent to 25 standard hours.

  Minor Light Span: A light minute.

  Light Orbs: Stars.

  Light Span: A light year.

  Light Spears: Starship energy weapons (lasers, electron beams, proton beams, etc…).

  Span-measure: Roughly analogous to a meter.

  Tenth Cycle: Roughly two hours.

  Travelshell: Any vessel that travels through space.

  Void: Space.

  KEY CHARACTERS

  In the Outer Alliance

  Mira: Commander in the OASF (Outer Alliance Space Force) and captain of the Inquiry.

  Janice: Lieutenant in the OASF and XO of the Inquiry.

  Brock: Ensign in the OSAF and the Inquiry’s scan, comm, and shields officer. Twin brother of Emma.

  Emma: Ensign in the OASF and pilot of the Inquiry. Twin sister of Brock.

  Aqua: Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-5) and head engineer aboard the Inquiry.

  Greg: Warrant Officer (WO-2) and security and quartermaster aboard the Inquiry.

  Lorra: Warrant Officer (WO-2) and second engineer aboard the Inquiry.

  Perez: Colonel in the OASF stationed on Ouranos Orbital; Mira’s commanding officer.

  In the X’Liy Far Patrol

  Krai: Far Patrol travelshell operator on three-hundred-cycle mission through the spinward mass conformities.

  Phrysi: Krai’s travelshell and home.

  At Finaeus’s Secret Facility

  Tangel: The merge of Tanis and Angela, Tangel died, but was saved after Finaeus and Earnest went back in time to provide her with a CriEn that enabled her to weather the destruction of New Earth’s moon.

  Finaeus: A truly ancient man, Finaeus was part of the engineering team that built High Terra and conceived of the FGT. He left the Sol System in the mid third millennia, eventually helping to found the Transcend. He is responsible for building some of the most impressive structures in the galaxy.

  Aboard the I2 In the Sol System

  Tanis: The first governor of the New Canaan colony, Tanis went on to become the Scipio Alliance’s field marshal during the Orion War. At the end of the war, she was also named Hegemon of the Alliance of Sapiens.

  Angela: Once an AI aequitor in the Sol System, Angela paired with Tanis during her time in the Terran Space Force. Angela and Tanis’s minds have grown so intertwined that they can no longer be separated.

  Joe: General Joseph Evans is the highest-ranking officer in the Intrepid Space Force. He is also married to Tanis, Angela, and Tangel.

  Bob: The I2’s multinodal AI, Bob is an extradimensional being rivaling the most powerful of the Matri∞me AIs

  Rachel: Both admiral of the ISF’s First Fleet and captain of the I2, Rachel has served alongside Tanis and Angela for nearly a century.

  Aboard the Cora’s Triumph

  Cary: Daughter of Tanis and Joe, Cary is an ascended being who still uses her organic body. She is currently aiding in the Starshift Initiative that is correcting the altered courses of stars that the Matri∞me have set on collision courses.

  Earnest: An engineer from Sol’s golden age, Earnest is the mind behind much of the ISF’s most advanced technology, and has devised his own methods for moving stars in addition to what the Matri∞me uses.

  Beatrice: Captain of the Cora’s Triumph and sometimes paramour of Terrance Enfield.

  Aboard Sabrina in the Indis System (Illium)

  Sabrina: The infiltration team’s starship, currently bearing the ident: ‘Matron Tulip’.

  Sabrina: Sabrina is the AI embedded within Sabrina. Though she and her ship have passed through several owners, Sabrina is now free and owns both herself and Sabrina.

  Cheeky: Captain and pilot, Cheeky has served on Sabrina for nearly forty years in one capacity or another, and now leads their missions for the AoS.

  Sabs: When a mission required an additional AI, Sabrina sharded herself to create a clone able to leave the ship and break network connectivity. After a successful operation, Sabs decided not to re-merge with Sabrina, and has remained a distinct person.

  Nance: Nance has also served aboard Sabrina for nearly forty years in her capacity as the ship’s engineer and bio.

  Misha: Officially, Misha is the ship’s cook, though he often goes on missions and is just as handy with a firearm as the others.

  Fina: A clone of Sera (a former captain of Sabrina), Fina now serves as a member of the crew. Her training as a Hand agent makes her an especially skilled operative.

  Aboard the Barbaric Queen in the Lupus Cloud

  Kylie: Captain of the Barbaric Queen who served under the Transcend during the Orion War and now works for the Alliance of Sapiens under Director Seraphina. Married to Grayson.

  Grayson: Former colonel in the Silstrand Alliance who later served in the ISF until he became a special envoy for the Transcend, serving aboard the Barbaric Queen. Married to Kylie.

  Marie: Kylie and Grayson’s precocious six-year-old daughter.

  Mr. Fizzle Pop: Uplifted cat who is obsessed with pizza, naps, and helping out on missions—but only when he feels like it.

  Rogers: Pilot of the Barbaric Queen who might be totally
obsessed with bacon. Married to Ricket.

  Winter: The team’s muscle and weapons specialist. Lana’s boyfriend…sorta.

  Jenny: Winter’s long-lost sister. Winter sought her out after the Orion War, bringing her to the Barbaric Queen, where she now serves as the ship’s chef.

  Ricket: A former operative in the Transcend’s Hand agency, she now works for the Alliance. Her current assignment has taken her away from the ship and crew. Married to Rogers.

  Burton: Rogers and Ricket’s twelve-year-old son.

  Lana: A covert operative with special training and resources, currently assisting Ricket on a mission. Winter’s girlfriend (most of the time).

  Aboard the Grace O’Malley in Sigma 1199

  Sera Tomlinson: Former captain of Sabrina, former director of the Hand, and former president of the Transcend, Sera’s past is long and complex. She now captains the Grace O’Malley, working for the Alliance on a mission to hunt down any trace of the Matri∞me. Married to Jason Andrews.

  Jen: ISF AI first paired with Sera when she was president, Jen has stayed on with her close friend, aiding in the mission to hunt down core AIs.

  Jason Andrews: An ancient spacer, born in the thirty-first century, Jason has lived through much of humanity’s history and finally left Sol as the captain of the Intrepid, a sublight, interstellar colony ship. He was later the governor of the Victoria and New Canaan colonies, ultimately ‘retiring’ to join Sera in her work. Husband of Sera.

  Cargo: In the days when Sera was a pirate and smuggler, Cargo joined her crew aboard Sabrina. Later, he became captain of the ship before handing it off to Jessica when he retired. After just a few years dirtside, he rejoined Sera aboard the Grace O’Malley.