Dark Empire Book Five: Desperate Measures - Chapter One, Scene Four

 

Former nun Cheryl Taupin and her husband Nobek Besral have to evacuate the orphans of Armageddon from the Galactic Council before the Darks discover them.

* * * *

Mymah, moon in Galactic Council Space

Former nun Cheryl Taupin began the meeting she’d called.“The orphanage continues to be beneath the notice of the Galactic Council,thank God. Unfortunately, we can’t continue to count on it.”

Her husband Nobek Besral glanced around the conference tableat the four others who’d joined them: two human women and two fellow Nobeks. Heconcentrated on Ocri and Norev, next in line in the security hierarchy of thesmall defense force employed by Open Arms Orphanage. “No doubt the GC wouldleave this moon alone if it weren’t for our presence. But we’re needed heremore than ever, especially now when it seems the ruling council has lost itscollective senses.”

“They said they’d arrest any Kalquorians unaffiliated withthe council who remain in GC space,” Cheryl needlessly reminded them.

“I don’t plan to budge unless the children leave too,” Ocrisnarled. “They’ve been my responsibility for ten years. I’ve watched thousandsgrow and embark on successful lives thanks to our care. I refuse to walk away.”

“As do we all.” Besral offered a grim smile.

The Kalquorian men were impressive muscled beasts despitetheir heads full of gray hair and advanced years. Discounting Besral, none ofthe dozen remaining to guard the orphanage was a day under the age of onehundred ninety. Besral was one hundred sixty himself. He wasn’t old, but he waswell into middle age for a Kalquorian.

Their official function was to guard the orphans ofArmageddon, as the parentless children who’d survived in the wake of theEarth-Kalquorian War were often referred to. The Nobeks would have long retiredif they’d remained in the empire’s fleet or ground troops.

They typically had little to do as far as actuallyprotecting the mere five hundred children left from the original thousandswho’d sought refuge after losing their families and world. The space belongingto the Galactic Council of Planets had historically been as safe a haven ascould be found in the galaxy. Besral’s men were more apt to teach math,science, meditation, or physical exercise classes than challenge unknown craftsveering too close to the moon facility.

Still, their mandate was to keep the children safe above allelse. They’d become de facto father figures for those who hadn’t been adoptedor attained adulthood yet. When the Galactic Council had ordered allKalquorians out of its space subsequent to dubious revelations of wrongdoing,those who’d made the orphanage their lives had been besieged by demands fromtheir charges to stay. When days, then weeks slipped by and no one enforced theeviction, the atmosphere of grief and fear had lessened.

The orphanage’s first headmistress had tearfully left whenher clan had been assigned elsewhere by their military supervisors. Cheryl hadsuccessfully headed the orphanage for the past three years. When troubleerupted between the Galactic Council and the Kalquorian Empire but no onedemanded the Kalquorians at Open Arms leave, she’d agreed with Besral theirbeing overlooked would be brief. Sooner or later, the GC would remember itssmall orphanage colony and those who staffed it.

“There are reports some planets, stations, and moons in theGC’s system have come under martial law following protests against recentrulings,” she told the two young women on her staff.

“I heard there’ve been riots.” Marci Soames, the younger ofthe pair, held Cheryl’s gaze. She exuded a forthright directness, challengingher supervisor to not sugarcoat the situation. Bold and mature beyond hertwenty years, she could be trusted to speak her mind.

Her sister Darci looked like her twin rather than an eldersibling. Only two years separated the Soames. Neither wore makeup, nor did theyneed it. Theirs were lovely, proud features, left bare thanks to their blackcurls cut close to their heads “Homes are being searched on Shiwin and Taheg,according to a couple of news reports on the secret channels,” she added.“Neither were known to have Kalquorian residents, so no one is sure what thereason is.”

“No one’s suggesting the secretary-general be booted, andhe’s Kalquorian.”

“He’s been seen less and less in these past weeks,” Besralmused. “It makes me wonder.”

“He probably knows you guys might show up to kick his butt.Didn’t he ask for leniency toward the Tragooms a few weeks ago?” Marci’s tonewas sharp. Most sentients were no fans of the aggressive race from Trag. She inparticular loathed them utterly after they’d attacked their old orphanage onEuropa when she was ten.

Cheryl often mourned the Soames sisters had elected toremain at the orphanage rather than pursue the successful careers she knewthey’d have elsewhere. Dedicated to their fellow refugees, they’d vowed toremain until the last orphan of Armageddon left. The youngest of the residentswere ten, having been infants when the original Earth had been renderedunlivable. Darci would be thirty and still part of the orphanage if thosedidn’t find homes prior to reaching legal adulthood.

However, the sense of an emergency descending upon them madeCheryl grateful to have her most dedicated assistants at her side. Sheappreciated them almost as much as she did Besral.

“Neither Secretary-General Dramok Mereta nor the Tragoomsare the issue where we’re concerned,” she said to re-direct the discussion towhere it needed to be. “I believe we’re in imminent danger, and we shouldevacuate before the GC remembers our tiny population here.”

The rest murmured their agreement with her assessment.Having established they were likeminded on the issue, Besral spoke up in hisgruff voice. “I can send a message through secret channels to Kalquor’s FleetCommand. They may not be able to send help, but perhaps our allies can do so.”

“Why not alert Earth? They’re most likely to have a placefor us to set up a new facility,” Darci said.

“Except for a few thousand independent operators, Earth hasno military ships. They haven’t yet established the infrastructure to support afleet. Kalquor is in charge of keeping your new home planet safe.”

“Funny to call it a home planet when I’ve never been there.You’re right; we need the empire to figure this out,” Marci said. She grinnedat Besral in obvious appreciation. “As they’ve done for us time and timeagain.”

“We’ll continue to shore up defenses ourselves,” Besrel toldOcri and Norev. “I have some ideas on how we might conceal our presence here incase the GC decides to remember we exist.”

“Let’s get to work.” Norev grinned, as if they planned a funouting rather than courting death.

* * **

All-out war has begun, with innocents caught in thecrossfire.

Former nun Cheryl Taupin and her husband Nobek Besral,in charge of the remaining orphans of Earth’s Armageddon, watch the terribleevents unfolding in the Dark-overrun Galactic Council of Planets. Kalquoriansin Galactic Council space are being rounded up to suffer an unknown fate andmartial law is declared on many of the system’s worlds. A desperate plea to theKalquorian Empire sends Admiral Piras and Captain Kila to the orphanage…but howcan a lone spyship protect hundreds of children against the full might of theGalactic Council’s warships bent on destruction?

Charity Nath has been brought to Alpha Space Stationto hide from those determined to exact vengeance against her father. Young andirrepressible, she’s determined to claim a measure of freedom from stiflingrestrictions placed on her. When her identity and location are revealed, herKalquorian protectors must thwart those who’d harm her while contending withher stubborn refusal to be kept in check.

Imdiko Betra has done his best to put the past behindhim. He knows letting go of the only woman he could ever love was the bestcourse of action. But when he encounters Shalia Monroe again, his heart speakslouder than his conscience. Will unquenchable desire destroy the life she’sbuilt, or will Betra’s clanmates Oses and Resan stop him from doing theunthinkable?

Against the backdrop of pandemic and plague, Kalquorand Earth II fight for their very survival against an enemy they’re onlybeginning to learn the strength of. As the All tightens its fearsome grip onthe galaxy, humans and Kalquorians alike tremble on the verge of annihilation.

Releasing July 26

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