The Augustine Agenda

By William Lavell

Honorable Mention (Science Fiction) at the 2011 New England Book Festival
Honorable mention (Wild Card)at the 2011 London Book Festival.

“The next best thing to winning is giving the other guy such a bloody nose, he wonders if beating you was worth it.”

When the Earth became overcrowded, the Company terra-formed the planets and the moons of the Three Systems into fifty Earths for humanity to call home. The worlds all prospered, and life was good. Until the Company decided that they had the right to tell humanity how to live on those new worlds as well.
Jace Ryan is a resistance leader on the planet Augustine. But the resistance’s time has run out. Company Troopers storm their camp, and Ryan is captured, while the rest of his people are killed. He loses his home, his friends, and worst of all, his sister Jade.
Aarla, the CEO of the Company, offers him a spot in her organization. When he refuses her, she sentences him to a penal colony. On the prison ship he meets three other prisoners: a mercenary, a pilot, and a telepath. Together, they learn that they’ve all lost something at the hands of the Company. Together, they decide that they've lost enough.
When Aarla and Fleet Commander Straker arrange for the prison ship to crash land on Beauregard, they think that they’ve rid themselves of Ryan. They think that the war is over.
Little do they know that for Ryan, the war is just beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Lavell
• Release date: Oct 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449927745

William Lavell

William Lavell was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. By "day", he works as a supervisor at a transportation company that he's been with for the last 20 years. He's been writing for just as long. He finally saw his first novel, The Augustine Agenda, published in 2010. It has received Honorable Mentions at the 2011 New England Book Festival and the 2012 London Book Festival. He has since followed it up with Escape From Argus, which was published in 2011. His latest novel, The Treos Dilemma, was published in February of 2012. He's currently hard at work on a fourth untitled book in the series, which he hopes to finish by the end of this year. He currently lives in Central New Jersey with his wife, Michele.

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The Augustine Agenda

by William L. Lavell

© 2009 by William L. Lavell

SMASHWORDS EDITION

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying – without written consent of the author.

ISBN – 1-4499-2774-2

Printed in the United States of America.

First printing January 2010

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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 return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedicated to my mom Diana, who encouraged me to start writing this, and to my wife Michele, who kept encouraging me to finish it.

PROLOGUE

The bridge of the Company heavy cruiser Monarch was abuzz with activity. Crewmen rushed in all directions as they did their assigned duties. On the main viewer ships passed into and out of view as they came and went, and mechanics in spacesuits could be seen making repairs on other ships in the space dock.

In the center of all the activity, Commander Vonn Straker sat in his command chair and took it all in. He stared at the charts of the Ulos system on a smaller monitor and took notice of all the current fleet movements. He listened in as his communications officers spoke to different departments on the ship and company commanders in the field. He focused on anything and everything he could to distract his mind and alleviate his boredom.

Monarch had been in deep orbit of the planet Olympia for the better part of a week so that they could refuel, make small repairs, and take on supplies after their patrol of the system the week before. The work was moving along at a quick pace, and Straker was expecting it to be finished by the end of the day. He was glad for that, because even though he knew how necessary they were, he hated making supply runs. He would much rather be where the action was than filing reports and signing off on supply requisitions. In his mind, he was a warrior. He hated being relegated to clerical duties.

He was in the middle of daydreaming about getting into a firefight with a resistance ship when a young, square-jawed lieutenant approached him and saluted.

Sir, I have a field report for you from the front on Arion.

Straker had leaned forward in his chair when he noticed the lieutenant. At the mention of Arion, he leaned back in the chair and gave a deep sigh. Oh, dear Gods. What’s the latest from the ongoing bloodbath?

Captain Ramsay reports that the Arions are continuing to employ guerilla warfare. He has taken heavy losses this week, but he says that his new weapons have arrived, along with about three thousand men. His total is now nearly twelve thousand. He requests permission to make another big push at the enemy.

Straker shook his head. Another big push at the enemy, he says. We attack them, they kill half our forces. We retreat and send reinforcements, and then we start all over again. What else is there?

Major Greene on Andoh reports he is tracking several rebel groups into the mountains. They’re using their usual strategy.

Of course. Straker rolled his eyes. They’re master tacticians, those Andohans. ‘We’re up here, so you don’t see us.’ How many men does Greene have?

The lieutenant glanced down and checked his report. About ten thousand, Sir.

That should be more than enough. Tell him to let the Andohans climb. When they get to the top, have him send his troops up after them in troop carriers. Attack them after they’ve worn themselves out.

Very good, sir. He tapped the screen on his tablet computer and another item appeared. There is also a report from Captain Collinglsey on Carthal. He says he is still unable to locate several of the resistance cells, but he plans to arrest some smugglers who’ve been supplying them. He thinks he may be able to convince one of them to tell him where the cells are.

That’s assuming the smugglers even know where the cells are, said Straker. It may not pan out for him, but as plans go, that isn’t bad. Is there anything else?

The lieutenant nodded. Yes Sir. Our field commander on Augustine reports that their prisoner has revealed the location of the resistance camp in the woods outside of Adelade. They have also learned how to penetrate the camp’s defenses.

Straker leaned forward again. Augustine is Major Rill’s command. We’ve been trying to find that camp for about two years now, but they keep moving around on us. How many men does he have down there?

According to his report, he has roughly eight thousand men, Sir.

Straker looked thoughtful. We’ve got four planets where our forces are in position to attack. It could work if we strike on all four planets at once. If the resistance is organized at all, there will be no way for them to defend and re-supply on four fronts at once. We could take all four planets at the same time.

It would send a loud and clear message to the resistance on other planets, the lieutenant replied.

Yes it would, Straker said. He thought for another moment, and then he nodded. Inform the commanders that their strikes are approved. Tell them that they are all to attack tomorrow morning at first light.

At once, Commander. The lieutenant saluted again, spun on his heel, and was off to send the messages.

Straker leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile and spoke to no one in particular. Those fools won’t even know what hit them.

CHAPTER ONE

Augustine

It was the start of a brand new day.

An hour earlier, the day seemed to be off to a good start. An hour earlier, the day had been full of promise. An hour earlier the weather looked fair, and all was quiet. An hour earlier it looked like the Augustine Resistance would go one more day without being found by the Company men.

But all the promise and all the quiet were gone in an instant. They were replaced with the percussion of gunshots all around. In an instant, Company men were attacking from all sides like a swarm of locusts.

An hour earlier, Jace Ryan had been standing in the camp’s guard tower watching the sun rise with his sister Jade. The next thing he knew, he was running. Not for his own life, but for hers.

Jade had been standing in the watch tower at the front gate of the camp. Since she was a young, able-bodied woman, she insisted on taking a turn at watch. She had no qualms about taking the pre-dawn shift because she enjoyed watching the sun rise. She and her brother had watched the sunrise every day with their mother when she was still alive. Now that she had passed on, the siblings carried on the tradition. Sometimes when they saw the first light of the day, it felt like she was still there watching with them.

Jade watched as the sun filtered through the trees and the mountains in the distance and painted the clear sky with varying shades of yellow and blue. She felt an arm slip around her shoulders and she began to react. Before she could react, her brother was kissing her on the top of her head. She wasn’t sure how he did it, but her brother was the only person who could get this close without her sensing him. Reluctantly, she relaxed her shoulders.

If you don’t quit sneaking up on me like that, I’m going to catch you while you’re sleeping and tie a bell around your neck.

He chuckled. "And good morning to you." He looked down at her in time to catch her wiping tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

His teasing grin turned into a sad one. There are lots of ghosts in those woods, he said, gesturing towards the trees. You’re thinking about Mom and Dad again, aren’t you?

She nodded, and then leaned into him.

I miss them too, he said. They'd be proud of you, you know.

Jade shrugged and sighed heavily. "I know they’d be proud of you. Adam and Linnea started up this group, but you keep us together. You’re always taking care of us. Mom wanted me to be a doctor. A real doctor."

He turned her around and held her far enough away that he could look into her eyes. All Mom wanted was for you to be the best at whatever you do.

I trained as a chemist, she replied. I use my knowledge to make explosives.

Besides, he added. "You are a real doctor. You may not have finished all of your training, but you know enough about medicine to patch us up when we’re hurt, and you’ve never lost a patient yet. Suddenly, the grin was back on his face. Although I do have to admit, nobody makes things explode like you do. And I’m not just saying that because you’re my sister."

Jade chuckled as she spun away from him and waved off his comments. Thank you, she said with a wry grin. "I think. But you're my big brother. You’re supposed to be supportive and nurturing and such."

And you’re my little sister, her brother replied. You’re supposed to be all rebellious and obnoxious. What happened? As she opened her mouth to answer, a mischievous grin spread across his lips. Oh, wait…

Jade’s eyes widened, and she answered his teasing with a soft punch to the shoulder. She let out a giggle, and before long her brother found himself laughing with her.

So what’s your plan? she asked dryly. Or were you going to stay here and pick on me all day?

I thought I’d take a trip to Beauregard today to see Karr, he replied. He should have some more weapons ready for us. Want to join me?

Jade frowned and shook her head. If you were going anywhere else I’d be right there with you. But Tavion Karr is one of the creepiest guys I’ve ever met. Somehow he manages to get even creepier when there are women around. Thanks, but no thanks. Doesn’t your girlfriend want to go with you?

Ryan chuckled. Magenta’s not exactly my girlfriend.

Right, Jade said impatiently. I know. It’s complicated.

Her brother opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.

I’ve seen the way you look at her when she’s not looking. And I’ve seen the way she looks at you when you’re not looking. Neither of you knows it yet, but she’s your girlfriend. She looked thoughtful for a moment. On second thought, I wouldn’t let Karr anywhere near her if I was you.

His response was cut off by the sound of his name being called from the ground below.

We’re up in the tower, he called back.

They both turned towards the ladder in time to see one of the men struggling to climb up under the weight of his tactical vest. After he got to the top, he ran a hand through his sandy brown hair as he fought to get his breath back.

I’m glad I found you Captain, he said between breaths.

Ryan winced. He was a leader of this group, but he hated being called ‘Captain.’ The group had three leaders, but he was the only one that anybody ever called that. Adam and Linnea had a say in the more military aspects of the group, of course. But for the most part, they left the decisions on such matters to him. They organized the work details that were vital to keeping the camp, but they were farmers, not fighters. The camp’s militia always went to Ryan when it was something serious. Or bad. And I’m glad you called me that, he said dryly. What’s going on?

The patrol didn’t check in last night, Sir. We sent a party out to find ‘em this mornin’. They found Innis and Delvin shot dead about two or three miles out, but there was no sign o’ the others.

Didn’t Magenta go out on that patrol? Jade asked.

Ryan nodded slowly but gave no other reply.

Yes she did, Miss, replied the runner. No one found any sign of her. She and the others must have been taken prisoner. I’m sorry, Sir.

Reyal was in that group, too, Ryan said, trying not to think about Magenta. We put Magenta on his details just to keep an eye on him. If Reyal got captured, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave us up.

And Magenta? asked Jade. Do you think she’s all right?

He was slow to answer, and when he did Jade thought she heard a small catch in his voice. She wouldn’t have given them anything they could use. If they caught her, she’s probably… He couldn’t bring himself to say it. The idea that anything could have happened to Magenta tore at his heart, but he forced himself to stop thinking about her. If he was going to get the rest of them out of this, he couldn’t dwell on it. The troopers would be coming for them soon. It was time to go.

His voice was barely louder than a whisper when he spoke again. Have you told Adam and Linnea yet?

No sir, the runner replied.

Wait. What about the dampening field? He silently cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner. Has anybody checked on the generators this morning?

The runner shook his head. That was the other thing, sir. I checked all four of them a little while ago, sir. They were working last night, but now they’re gone.

Ryan‘s dark eyes narrowed. What do you mean gone?

They were staked into the ground at the four corners of the fence last night, the runner replied. Checked ‘em myself. This mornin’ I go to check ‘em again, and they’re gone.

We’re going to go find Adam and Linnea, Ryan said. You man the tower. Without the dampening field they’ll be able to see us and you can bet they’ll be coming in hard. The minute you see them, you let us know.

Right, sir.

Ryan’s feet barely touched the ladder as he ran down. Jade brought up the rear. By the time she reached the bottom rung of the ladder, he was already gone. She had to run hard, but after about thirty yards, she caught up to him. Some of the others began to stir. It was time for the morning details to begin their assignments. The perimeter patrols were organizing. A small group was going to the storehouse for food and some wood to build a fire. Ryan stopped them.

There’s no time for that, he told them. The dampening field is down...

His