AGU SCI 1: The Star Brotherhood Read online

  The Star Brotherhood

  AGU:TM SCI series - Book 1

  Copyright ©2013 by Thomas J. DePrima

  14.a.10

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. The scanning, uploading, downloading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal, and punishable by law.

  No part of this novel may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

  ASIN: B00HSERYT6

  ISBN: 978-1-61931-020-9

  ISBN-10: 1619310201

  Cover by:Martin Cannon

  This version of the printed novel has been formatted for presentation on Amazon Kindle devices and various other electronic media. The requirement that the text flow freely to accommodate different mediums may at times result in unusual display arrangements. Every effort has been made to ensure that the document is free of spelling and grammatical errors. If you find an error, please report it on the author's website so that a correction, if appropriate, can be performed immediately. Thank you.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It 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 person with whom you share it. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to the owner and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  An appendix containing technical data pertinent to this series is included at the back of this book.

  To contact the author, or see additional information about this and his other novels, visit:

  http://www.deprima.com

  * * *

  Acknowledgement

  Kudos to Martin Cannon for the great shootout cover that shows Trader Vyx and an Uthlaran enforcer.

  * * *

  AGU:TM SCI…

  The Star Brotherhood

  A Galaxy UnknownTM …

  A Galaxy UnknownTM

  Valor at Vauzlee

  The Clones of Mawcett

  Trader Vyx

  Milor!

  Castle Vroman

  Against All Odds

  Return to Dakistee

  Retreat And Adapt

  AGU:TM Border Patrol…

  Citizen X

  Clidepp Requital

  When The Spirit…

  When The Spirit Moves You

  When The Spirit Calls

  A World Without Secrets

  * * *

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Appendix

  Product Description

  * * *

  Chapter One

  ~ June 27th, 2288 ~

  "I'm going to kill Nuccol," Yussosi hissed as he stared intently at the frothy glass of ale on the scarred wooden table in front of him. The words, uttered from between clenched teeth in not much more than a whisper, perfectly conveyed the seething fury the speaker was experiencing. "I'm not going to take his crap another day. Just because he's shift supervisor doesn't mean he can push me around constantly and that I'll just take it." Wearing the same grey coveralls seen on most workers on this part of Ogsnara, there was little to distinguish Yussosi from the other Uthlaran workers drowning their sorrows in the ale and strong spirits served up by filthy, run-down taverns in the warehouse district.

  "Relax," his Uthlaran companion said calmly after a surreptitious glance around the dimly-lit room that always stunk of stale ale and greasy fried food. "You're not going to kill anybody. That's the ale talking. And as shift supervisor, he has every right to ride us. Not only that, it's his job."

  "He doesn't ride you. "

  "He's afraid of me."

  "Well— I'm going to make him afraid of me too. I swear he'll regret the way he's treated me. When I was recruited by the Brotherhood, I knew I wasn't being hired because I had a great mind, but nobody told me I'd have to work for a jerk like Nuccol. He's always on my back. He never lets up. No matter what I do, it's not good enough. And if that wasn't bad enough, the stuff we're doing violates Galactic Alliance law. I keep expecting Space Command to drop on us and throw me into some dark cell on a prison colony just before they toss away the key— that is, if they don't just come here and wipe us out from space. I've heard how precise their weapons are from someone who was on Milor when the Spaccs bombed them back to the stone age. The media was constantly reporting hits on hospitals and schools around the planet, but the only things that really got hit were military targets like weapons depots or important government targets such as power-generating stations."

  "First, Space Command would never destroy this city from space. They don't do things like that simply because someone breaks one of their sacred laws. Carver didn't even destroy Uthlarigasset after the political leadership ordered an invasion of GA space. Besides, no Space Command ship is within two thousand light-years of this planet. Region Two problems have kept them so busy they haven't even given a thought to Region Three yet. We probably have years before they get around to us. So take it easy on the ale, okay? That's your fifth mug since we got here."

  "Take it easy? Take it easy? How can I take it easy? I can't hardly sleep at night, and my stomach is so upset all the time that I can't keep my food down. The only thing I can do well is drink. But that's no way to live. I can't go on like this. If I'd wanted constant stress I would have joined the military. I just want to live a nice, peaceful life and live to a ripe old age. I guess I need to quit the Brotherhood and do some respectable work— like making book."

  "You don't quit the Star Brotherhood, chum. You knew that when you joined. And if you let slip one word of what you just said to me, one of the senior brothers will make sure you don't live long enough to wonder if you made a mistake by opening your mouth."

  "Makkod, when I joined the Brotherhood I had a nice, quiet life taking bets on sporting events. The recruiter told me I'd continue doing that, but as part of the Brotherhood, I'd make a lot more money for my efforts. Then they moved me here and stuck me under Nuccol."

  "Keep your voice down. Space Command may not be around here, but that doesn't mean some local gang wouldn't love to move in on our operation. We have it soft, and I don't want to blow it."

  "You think this is soft? At the end of every shift my back aches so much I need to pop a handful of Kuloos or I'd never get to sleep at all."

  "It sure beats laying a thousand kilometers of track through a Crenery bog."

  "You did that?"

  "Yep. For three years, until I killed my foreman and they fired me for it."

  "They only fired you for killing your foreman?"

  "Well, I made it look like an accident. His head accidently got caught in the gears of the track alignment crane. Since it didn't appear intentional, they recorded it as an industrial accident and fired me for carelessness in leaving the gear cover off after I completed the daily lubrication maintenance."

  "Smart."

  "Nah, it was damn stupid. I really needed that job, just like you need this one. My temper got the better of me, and I lost control for a few seconds. But I couldn't stand that SOB a minute longer. He was lucky I didn't do it years earlier. I understand what you're going through, but try to stay calm and forget Nuccol after you leave work. Say, do you know who that Terran is over against the wall?"

  Yussosi looked up and scanned the room until he spotted the person Makkod was referring to. The Terran was sitting in the most remote part of the tavern and was barely visible among the darkest of the room's shadows. "Nope. Doesn't look familiar. Looks mean though."

  "I'm the meanest SOB in this part of town. Maybe I should explain it to him so he knows it also."

  "Why do you always have to pick fights when you drink?"

  "It's what I do. It keeps the locals in line. Listen," Makkod said as he stood up, "I've got to get some sleep. That last shift wiped me out. Ready to go?"

  "No, you go ahead. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway."

  Makkod grabbed his outerwear from the wooden chair on his right. After donning his head covering, he wrapped the heavy cloak around his shoulders. The weather had turned cold a few weeks earlier as winter began on this part of the planet. Now that the sun was down, the wind would be biting cold.

  Makkod looked down at his friend once more before turning away. His duty was clear. He had to inform the Brotherhood that Yussosi was falling apart. On his way home he would stop at the section headquarters and inform the duty person. Enforcers would probably be waiting for Yussosi when he arrived home. He would be drunk and easy to dispose of. It was too bad. Makkod had always enjoyed having a few drinks with his friend after work. "Okay," Makkod said, "but don't talk to anyone if you value your life. If the person
you talk to doesn't kill you, the Brotherhood will. They have spies everywhere."

  "Yeah, I'll keep quiet— until I'm smashing Nuccol's head in. Then I'll roar."

  Makkod turned towards the door, then paused, turned again, and walked to the Terran's table. Stopping in front of it, he waited for his presence to be acknowledged. Terrans weren't especially numerous in Ogsnara, but neither were they uncommon.

  After ten seconds of waiting, Makkod, angry over being ignored, said in a loud voice, "What are you doing here, Terran? This tavern is restricted to Uthlarans only." The remark was untrue, but Makkod wanted a reason to pick a fight.

  The stranger, until now staring into a three-quarters-filled mug of ale, looked up slowly, but not far enough for Makkod to see much of his face. The wide brim of his hat, coupled with Makkod's angle of view from a standing position, hid all but his chin.

  For his part, the stranger was only able to see Makkod's body from his neck to where his lower torso disappeared below the table's edge. But it was enough to see the lattice pistol Makkod wore in a holster strapped to his side. Few workers in the city carried such weapons. There were tons of knives or tools that could be used for stabbing among the rough and tough city dwellers, and even objects that could be used as blunt-force weapons, but there were few expensive weapons that fired projectiles or energy beams. This Uthlaran either had a job where he provided significant security, or he wanted people to know he wasn't someone they should challenge if they valued their life. Perhaps it was both.

  Trader Vyx was also someone not to be challenged by people who valued their life. If Makkod continued his belligerence, he would soon receive a painful lesson about picking fights with strangers. Vyx watched him carefully, and when Makkod placed his hand on the grip of the pistol, Vyx kicked the heavy wooden chair opposite him into Makkod with all the considerable power in his right leg.

  The Uthlaran was caught completely by surprise and fell backward to the floor with a grunt. As he landed, Makkod tried to pull his lattice weapon from its holster.

  Vyx never hesitated once battle was joined, and his glass of ale went flying as he flipped the heavy table onto the prostrate Uthlaran. Once unencumbered by the presence of a table blocking his movement, Vyx stood up and waited to see what Makkod would do, while using his peripheral vision to watch for any signs that other bar patrons intended to rush to the Uthlaran's defense. No one did, not even the friend with whom Makkod had been sitting. Perhaps they felt that Makkod needed no help against the smaller Terran, or perhaps they just didn't like him enough to risk their skin.

  The Uthlaran's weapon was lying on the floor half a meter from its owner as Vyx straightened up. Only the head of the Uthlaran was visible from beneath the table until Makkod pushed it off and twisted to locate his lattice pistol.

  Vyx pulled back the right side of his heavy cloak and flipped it over his shoulder so it wouldn't interfere with drawing his own, now exposed, pistol from its holster. "Try it and you lose a hand— or worse," Vyx said in a menacing voice as the Uthlaran reached for his pistol.

  Makkod froze, only then realizing that Vyx was armed as well and appeared to be someone who would know how to use it. He looked again at his pistol while weighing the fact that Vyx's laser pistol was still holstered. The tavern patrons watched the tense situation in frightened silence. Then, in the blink of an eye, Makkod made his move.

  Vyx had already concluded that the Uthlaran on the floor would never capitulate and so fully anticipated the movement when it came. He had already decided on a course of action. He knew his laser could slice through soft tissue in an instant, but bone was a different matter. It could take several seconds to fully cut through an Uthlaran's arm, so as he pulled his pistol, he didn't even try to sever the arm reaching for the gun. Instead he simply swept the narrow beam through the upper chest area where the Uthlaran's heart was located. It was possible to simply incapacitate the Uthlaran if he moved the laser quickly enough, but Vyx couldn't be sure the cut would be deep enough for that. He needed to prevent the Uthlaran from shooting him with the lattice pistol. He went for the kill.

  Makkod couldn't believe the Terran had beaten him as the laser beam punctured his chest and destroyed his heart. His pistol had already been out on the floor. All he had to do was pick it up and fire, but he was dead before he managed to wrap his hand around the grip, and he never even touched the trigger. As his strength ebbed and everything grew black around him, he cursed his folly for bracing a stranger.

  Vyx didn't holster his pistol immediately, fearing that someone might now try to avenge Makkod's death, so he stood there watching the tavern patrons as they avoided eye contact and resumed their peaceful drinking. When no one made a move to retaliate for Makkod's death— not even the Uthlaran that Makkod had been sitting with— Vyx relaxed his arm and replaced the pistol in the holster. He waited another thirty seconds before pulling the table upright and righting the chair. To punctuate the finality of the situation, he gestured to the bartender that he'd need another ale to replace the one that had been spilled when he'd knocked the table over. He picked up Makkod's lattice pistol and placed it on the table near his chair.

  The bartender gave Vyx a wary look as he brought a fresh mug of ale and set it on the table in front of him. With the cook assisting, the bartender then carried Makkod's body outside and unceremoniously dropped it into the gutter just beyond the curb. Never one to pass up the opportunity to collect for services rendered, the bartender went through his pockets, taking anything of interest or value, before returning inside and calling the disposal truck. He looked at the lattice pistol on the table twice, but didn't have the nerve to ask Vyx for it. The cook got to keep Makkod's boots, belt, and cloak. If the body disposal truck didn't arrive quickly, all they'd find when they did arrive would be a naked corpse. As on the Gollasko Colony in Region One, on Scruscotto, and on many other planets, there was no real law. There was a central government, and they even issued currency, but both the government and the currency were a joke. And even if there had been law enforcement, a dozen witnesses had seen Makkod taunt a stranger who was minding his own business and trying to peacefully enjoy an ale as far away from everyone in the tavern as possible. Makkod simply provoked the wrong stranger and paid the supreme price often associated with supreme stupidity.

  * * *

  It was nearing dinnertime when Vyx returned to the spaceport where the Scorpion occupied one of the larger pads. If the cargo ship had been any bigger, the team would have had to leave the ship in orbit and take a shuttle down, but it's ability to land on a planet had been one of the main selling points when Vyx acquired it at Stewart Space Command Base from then Commanding Officer Captain Jenetta Carver. And it was there, just before the team was assigned to work in Region Three, that the FTL drive was upgraded to the same model used on Space Command's Scout-Destroyers. It was a shame they couldn't sheath the craft in Dakinium— not that Space Command would have allowed it— but it would be wonderful if they could attain Light-9790 instead of just Light-487.

  The other members of his team weren't in the Scorpion when he entered, so he cleaned up, then began to work with the day's recorded information.

  Removing enough clothing to bare his upper torso, Vyx delicately removed the tiny recording wafer from a subcutaneous pouch in his chest located over the ribs beneath his left arm.

  A chip attached to the optic nerve of his left eye allowed him to record everything he observed, and chips embedded in the audio canals of his ears added stereo audio tracks. As the information was picked up, it traveled through his lymphatic system to be delivered to a tiny wireless recording device. Limiting the transmission to biological functions meant that no transmission signal could ever be picked up by detection scanners. The device itself contained almost no metal, so it was never sensed by weapons or electronics scanners.