Dark Empire: Secret War - Chapter One, Scene Three

 

Admiral Tranis and Rear Admiral Hobato are far from being on the same page.

* * * *

Kalquor

“But sir—” Tranisbegan a protest.

Rear Admiral Hobatoheld his hand up for silence. “I know how it appeared, but there have been noreports of trouble from our station orbiting Earth. No sign these Darks arrivedthere on Captain Kila’s vessel. I see no cause for alarm.”

He didn’t botherlooking at Tranis as he spoke. The younger officer fought off a wave of angerto be summarily dismissed. It wasn’t as if Hobato spoke condescendingly. Hesimply wasn’t taking the situation seriously.

“I showed the samesigns of those who’d been overcome by the Darks. The low blood sugar, absenceof memory for a certain amount of time. Identical symptoms.”

“They are alsosymptoms of inadequate rest and eating.” Hobato finally gazed at him, hispurple, slit-pupiled eyes meeting Tranis’. It was a friendly look, perhaps evenpaternal, but there was a flatness behind it, devoid of warmth. Tranis hadwitnessed too much of the emptiness there as of late.

Hobato’s lack ofreal concern when it came to the Darks baffled Tranis. Bi’is had been wipedout. Tranis had little sympathy for a race determined to destroy the KalquorianEmpire in its not-so-distant past, but it was still a horrifying final chapter.Bi’isils had been technologically advanced, a culture existing for nearly amillion years. That they’d been eradicated so suddenly was terrifying.

 “We have to know for sure,” he insistedthrough gritted teeth.

“How do you proposeto do so? You’ve been subjected to every test the fleet can think of. YourMatara, a biogeneticist, acknowledged as among the best by her peers, has alsorun tests. Did she find anything amiss?”

“No, but it doesn’tmean—”

“We can’t cause apanic in the empire over a possibility for which we have no evidence, AdmiralTranis. If we do, we’ll be inundated by those promoting conspiracy and invasiontheories. We’ll be accused of promoting them ourselves. The fleet needs to presenthard facts rather than theories. Right now, theories are all we have.”

“The exterminationof the entire Bi’isil population isn’t a theory, sir.”

“What proof do wehave these ‘Darks’ did it? We only have the brief appearance of an unknownspecies and a traumatized ensign’s confused account of alien takeovers.” Hobatoshook his head. “Bi’is was cut off from the rest of the Galactic Council ofPlanets after their attempt to destroy the Kalquorian Empire. They sufferedhorribly for their crime, deservedly so, but given how rigid and ritualistictheir society was, would it be out of the question they’d decide toself-destruct?”

“Every last one ofthem? It’s impossible.” Tranis couldn’t believe he’d suggest it.

“It’s what we haveproof of, however. Mass destruction, wholesale murder, then suicide by theperpetrators. How different is it from the course the original Earth’s leaderstook?”

Tranis couldn’t finda clear argument for him, despite the two worlds Kalquor had warred against onseparate occasions having taken different courses to annihilation.

“We have to be sure.A Galactic Council inspection team was on Bi’is just prior to its peopledying.”

“I spoke toSecretary-General Mereta this morning. I’ve known him for decades, and he wasthe same as ever. If he’d noticed anything off, he would have told me.” Hobatocontinued to give Tranis his kind but blank regard. “We’ll continue to monitorthe situation. If something comes up warranting real concern, we’ll act atonce. For now, it’s all we can do. Dismissed, Admiral.”

“Sir—”

“Dismissed.”

* * * *

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Timeis running out to halt the Darks’ march to the Kalquorian Empire’sannihilation.

Finallyhome on Kalquor, Dramok Ilid is haunted by his encounter with the Darks, whichhe barely survived. His struggle far from over, Ilid’s sanity and the empire’sexistence hang on a quickly unraveling thread. When he learns the Darks havearrived on Kalquor, even his family’s love may not be able to keep him from anunthinkable end.

OnEarth II, head of planetary security Nobek Kuran’s hands are full: meeting hispotential in-laws, training his replacement, and keeping tabs on a roguelieutenant governor with a secret agenda. His troubles are only beginning whena deadly attack on those he loves drives him to the brink of murder. Meanwhile,spy Nobek Selt finds himself growing far too close to his subject, reporterBlythe Nelson. Does his clan dare to romance a woman devoted to uncovering thetruth, including their secret activities on her world?

Havingwiped out the entire Bi’is civilization, the Darks have seized control of theGalactic Council of Planets and attempt to bring the Kalquorian Empire to itsknees. Clans Tranis and Piras are desperate to stop the enemy from destroyingKalquor and its allies. Can Hope Nath and Chief Engineer Lokmi capture a lethalenemy capable of passing through all known barriers?

Releasing January 26

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