Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood Read online

  Admiral’s Fury

  Part One, Purple Blood

  Book Two of the Carinae Sector series

  by David Buck, 2013

  Revised 18th March 2013

  The author assumes copyright and all rights relating to this publication. All characters depicted are fictional and the story line is a work of fiction.

  The novel is written in Commonwealth English.

  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 purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This novel is dedicated to my father Robert Buck.

  Cover design by Luke Harris from Chameleon Print Design.

  ‘Be humble, for you are made of Earth.

  Be noble, for you are made of stars.’

  Serbian proverb

  Previous publications in the Carinae sector series

  Book one; Trader’s Scourge is available in three parts:

  Traders’ Scourge – part one – Alien Flight

  Trader’s Scourge – part two – Maveen Offer

  Trader’s Scourge – part three – New Shores

  The races of the Carinae sector

  Altoran

  Barus, junior vassal race of academics and merchants

  Cephrit, (the un-named) senior vassal race of warriors and administrators

  Deltas Vass, senior vassal race, administrators and keepers of religious order

  Fenshilla, independent race often at war and distrusted by other races

  Human, junior haven status race

  Huopheen

  Jerecab, a junior vassal race that is divided into two factions

  Kariqua, ‘ancients’ a silicon based species hidden in Earth’s oceans

  Leuros

  Maveen, an independent mechanical race once vassals of the ancients

  Parak'flor

  Quixxe, former vassal race now used as slaves and live stock

  Scourge, or Voorde – non-sapient killers and rumoured bio weapon

  Sspol, hydrogen based life form with a hidden colony Neptune

  Trader, independent race of merchants and explorers

  Tilmud, junior vassal race of warriors and mercenaries

  Vorinne, the most senior vassal race

  Zronte, overlords of Carinae sector

  The races of the Crux sector

  Dradfer, A senior vassal race of researchers and administrators

  Denvian, a junior vassal race

  Narra, overlords of the Crux sector

  The races of the Cygnus sector

  Brammon, revered overlords of the Cygnus sector

  Other vassal races and independent races

  The races of the Omicron sector

  Kulvar, or ‘slavers’, overlords of the Omicron sector

  Other vassal races and slave races

  The human characters

  Admiral Mary Neilson, Earth destroyer fleet

  Admiral Thomas Stanford, Earth destroyer fleet

  Admiral John Beresford, Earth destroyer fleet

  Captain Grant Stoneham, Barede captain of the Emerald Sky

  Gayle Anders, Emerald Sky engineer and Grant’s fiancée

  Olav Hendrickson, Emerald Sky research officer

  Commander Joel Everson, captain of the destroyer Auckland

  Commander Freya Paulson, captain of the destroyer Buenos Aires

  Professor (reserve captain) Robert Seville, ASRI Fremantle, Australia

  Captain Emma Stone, corvette captain and friend of Robert Seville

  Captain Mark Hammond, reserve captain of auxiliary cruiser Long Reach

  Commander Paul Burgess, Barede Special Expedition Force

  Lieutenant Rick Greene, Barede Special Expedition Force and pilot

  Lieutenant Rebecca Dalton, Barede Special Expedition Force and medic

  Engineer Phil Peters, destroyer Buenos Aires

  Tom Paulson, Vesta miner and husband of Freya

  Dave Edmonds, Ceres miner, administrator and amateur scientist

  Paul Taylor, Robert Seville’s assistant professor

  Chancellor Mark Reynolds, member of ruling council and Mary’s husband

  The alien characters

  Captain Gindane, Barus research captain and professor of alien studies

  Captain Omerio, Barus fleet captain and friend of Gindane

  Captain Narindestat, Trader captain of the Resuria

  Lieutenant Garendestat, Narindestat’s son and Trader lieutenant

  Emeria, Trader Medic and wife of Garendestat

  Maveen Earth probe, leader of previous Maveen mission to Earth

  Maveen Dradfer probe, formerly trapped on Earth with the ancients

  Probe Three, the Maveen in service to Queen Angwene

  Maveen sector delegate, senior Maveen probe in the Carinae sector

  Queen Angwene, ancient queen hiding on Earth with her six daughters

  Princess Seliandre, ancient princess hiding with her mother

  Altarebe, an ancient male hiding in deep space with his father

  Cephrit fleet master, senior fleet officer, Cephrit star base 31

  Cephrit assault leader, highly decorated mate of the fleet master

  Cephrit station master, commander of Cephrit star base 31

  Admiral Baredio, Barus Fleet Admiral and Omerio’s uncle

  Fleet Captain Stiderio, Barus senior Fleet Captain

  Commander Tamerio, Barus ninth cruiser squadron

  Her Grace Thatak’siema, Vorinne second envoy

  Lord (of Systems) Malang’troh, Vorinne governor and fleet admiral

  Lieutenant Dreshe’ahal, former military attaché to Lord Temeroth

  Lady Lahalm’siema, Vorinne administrator and cousin of Thatak’siema

  Admiral Baunrus, Red Jerecab fleet admiral commanding ‘the armada’

  Commander Neanres, Red Jerecab commander

  President Gaimros, president of the pacifist Blue Jerecab

  Battle Lord Temeroth, young Zronte overlord

  Ambassador Dumeroth, Zronte overlord and Temeroth’s father

  Battle Lord Guneroth, Zronte overlord and Temeroth’s older brother

  Admiral Biruldesec, Tilmud High Admiral of the fleet

  Squadron Commander Tanuldesec, Tilmud, Biruldesec’s brother

  Lieutenant Giruldesec, Tilmud, a son of Admiral Biruldesec

  Apinal, Quixxe mother and former engineer

  Deshinal, Quixxe daughter of Apinal and fugitive

  Shafinal, Quixxe daughter of Apinal and pilot

  Eliarhee, Dradfer senior researcher

  Timeline of human history

  2021. Accident at the aging space station claims nine lives.

  2022. Joint commercial base built on the moon.

  2033. Abortive space mission to Mars.

  2036. Volcanic eruptions in Chile kill millions of people.

  2038. Commercial moon base struggling to remain operational.

  2040. Asian flu pandemic kills billions.

  2050. Traders and Maveen land on Earth (Traders’ Scourge)

  2070. Asian flu second pandemic kills millions.

  2072. The moon is permanently settled.

  2082. Meteor impact kills thousands in South Africa.

  2095. First limited space flights using Trader technology.

  2114. First human interstellar flights
.

  2150. First long range interstellar exploration missions.

  2172. Mary Neilson graduates from the Armstrong military academy.

  2191. Neilson defence paper on forward space defences.

  2192. Sanctuary colony at Tau Ceti founded.

  ***

  In towards the centre of the galaxy in a clearing on a lush and verdant planet, the matriarch quietly considers her plans further. The Deltas Vass female trills for an attendant male to bring her a drink as she further studies the new reports, both clandestine and legal, about the strange new planet called Earth.

  ***

  At a Cephrit star-base, the Fleet master views the endless reports on the war with little interest. The Cephrit ponders the universe as he considers the fate of the Traders in general, and specifically what happened to Narindestat his Trader protégé.

  ***

  In the depths of an Earth ocean the eternally patient Maveen probe three silently continues to patrol around massive dormant shapes.

  ***

  Elsewhere in the solar system, an atmospheric probe races high into the upper atmosphere of Neptune. The automated probe sends a short tight beam burst of data back down to a colony platform suspended under massive airbags, before it returns to the planet’s lower atmosphere and is recovered by a waiting airship the size of an aircraft carrier.

  ***

  Part 1 Purple Blood

  Prologue

  2100 AD Remote depths of the Southern Ocean, Earth

  After verifying they were both cloaked, Maveen probe three cautiously led Seliandre forward towards the buried human undersea cable he had earlier scanned for possible threats. The probe paused and then moved slowly forward, and Seliandre came alongside, and they both stopped again several metres from the buried cable.

  Seliandre carefully placed the jury-rigged container down on the sediment and backed away, as probe three then directed pulses of water to uncover the cable. The ancient commented unnecessarily to probe three via a low powered acoustic signal, as she kept well clear of the clouds of sediment.

  ‘Careful now probe three, we cannot risk either damage to the cable or any interest from the humans.’

  After ten minutes, the side of the large cable slowly came into view and Seliandre moved forward to lower the container with her manipulators. The spy box was now positioned alongside the fibre cable running off into the depths. The ancient watched with quiet approval as probe three then reached over and connected a cluster of smart sensors from the spy box to a thickened part of the undersea cable. In moments, the hair thin sensors had burrowed into the cable and established a sealed physical connection with the join inside the cable.

  Seliandre plugged herself into a local port on the spy box, and settled on the sediment nearby to both run a series of tests and see if she could understand the information she now looking through. The Maveen probe edged around to the fibre cable sitting on the sediment and slowly began burying the cable as it moved back into the depths.

  After two hours the probe three returned from burying the cable and reported to Seliandre.

  ‘Your sisters have verified the cable is functional, and as per your requests they are only monitoring the connection. Queen Angwene asks that you return to the safety of the suppression field at the earliest opportunity.’

  Seliandre unplugged herself from the spy box and slowly backed away from the undersea cable. As she assisted the Maveen probe in burying the spy box and the cable in carefully jetted water blasts, she reported on what she had already discovered.

  ‘The circuit information was easy and the spy box passively broke the human base protocols and encryption in five minutes. The language information of the Traders and Barus is entirely accurate and I can already understand the news broadcasts in several languages.’

  Probe three turned his patrol boat sized hull towards the depths, and now listened patiently as the larger ancient continued to report as she followed him back to the depths.

  ‘The humans still use the internet to email and talk to one another. Their major research organisations and universities have their own locations and some operate as consortiums across the internet. Their conservation efforts after fifty years show real promise and I have already located maps of the ocean conservation zones.’

  The Maveen probe gave a cautious reply as he evaluated the ancient’s report.

  ‘So if we can later indirectly influence the ocean conservation zones then we can increase our chances of remaining undetected in these oceans.’

  By unspoken agreement, both of them remained silent during the long return journey to their hidden underwater facility. They were both well aware of the risks associated with being discovered by the humans, for they knew that either the Vorinne or the Zronte themselves would quickly intervene once they discovered the presence of the ancients in Earth’s oceans. The irony of the situation was not lost on the Maveen probe, for the haven status of Earth had protected the queen and her daughters for thousands of years.

  ***

  2100 AD A secluded star system 100 light years from Earth

  Altarebe looked across at his father Delprebe patiently as the older academic awoke and came online. The two ancient males had been escorted from their old refuge by their massive new ally many years previously, and Altarebe had later carefully helped his father down onto a new and remote ice asteroid to continue his repairs. The Sspol cruiser had vanished after a short period, but it returned periodically and patrolled the new star system just to let the two ancients know it was still around.

  Altarebe still waited as his father ran through his diagnostics before he then spoke.

  ‘Son, I still have serious problems and will be here for many years yet. After further detailed thought on what you told me, we have to relay the Sspol initiative to the Maveen and it is a long journey.’

  Altarebe suppressed a sense of frustration in further delays as he knew he would be the one to relay the peace initiative, though he did voice a partial objection to his father’s statement.

  ‘I am concerned about any delays in reaching Earth, and at this stage we have no idea on how to land undetected on the world.’

  His ever-patient father gently admonished Altarebe in his reply.

  ‘Now Altarebe, we need to think laterally about this problem and if the queen is there she will not be leaving soon. I really think the Maveen could help you with the technology you need to land on the human world. I do hope the queen has at least one daughter otherwise our efforts would be in vain.’

  Altarebe continued to talk at length with his father before he went to sleep again, as he wanted to speak with the Sspol ship before he left. Patiently he kept watch during the long months and created more fuel for his father as he awaited the return of the Sspol cruiser.

  ***

  2100AD Barede Colony

  James Mudbury, still spry at seventy-two, carefully shaped the transom brace for the wooden hull he was helping his students to build. Around him, several young students watched as the brace was shaved down to the pencil mark James had made earlier. James handed the brace to a grateful student and reminded him again, of what he was seeking as he held up his fingers for emphasis.

  ‘Slow and careful, you are not in a race and the spoke shave has a keen edge. See I still have all my fingers. After you learn with the traditional tools we will progress to the various laser knives.’

  The student thanked him and then climbed the several metres back into the large hull. James let him go, as he was not interested in climbing into the hull again at his age. The student team leader now raised her arm, James walked over to inspect the bulkhead template the student had quickly built, this time using modern tools, and he was generous in his praise.

  ‘Good work Sarah as the template includes the recesses for the deck beams and the stringers. Go ahead and cut your layers but mind your access when later fitting the bulkhead.’

  Afterwards James took a late afternoon walk towards the near
by marina from his boat yard. The aboriginal elder crossed the marina car park, and quietly noted that several of the newest models of the colonies’ electric cars were present as he walked out onto the largest jetty. He could see several large sail and solar powered ketches going past in both directions, either with cargo or with fish from down river, or fresh produce from upriver. He also watched as swans and pelicans paraded along the edge of the river, and a kookaburra called from a tree high over the riverbank.

  James knew several of the boats well as he had built many of them by hand, even as he helped Rachael raise their five children many years ago now. Rachael was away for the week visiting their latest great grand child, as the Barede colonists had not wasted time in increasing their numbers. James continued to watch the river and quietly think, he watched as every half hour or so a plane would take off from across the river from the New Perth airport bound for one of the other colony cities. He then watched as the rising crescent of Arana, the innermost of the two moons, rose from the East to join the moon Alkina already overhead.

  Towards the north east horizon, James could see three contrails from the spaceport at Greene’s Crossing, and as he had done for many years, he marveled and gave thanks for his full life on this new world.

  ***

  Simon van Essen considered the formwork for the new section of roadway with tired satisfaction. He was nearing fifty-five and though the humans had the help of a Maveen gate ship, the new road was tiring work in a long day. A fair amount of work was still involved, even if Simon’s team only had to survey and clear the road path, before laying a thick ungraded layer of ground basalt.