Dark Earth

By Steven Lake

Transported to another dimension, Pendleton and his crew are thrown headlong into a battle with an alternate Earth; one who is dark, evil, and thirsty for conquest. Faced with enemies all around and no way home, Pendleton must use his wits and cunning to undo the evil of the Sol Empire and restore this alien galaxy to peace once again. But with limited resources, few allies, and far from home, can he and his tiny fleet make a difference, or will they simply be brushed aside by the fires of war?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Lake
• Release date: Dec 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301422661

Steven Lake

Steven Lake is a prolific author of many, many books, stories, articles, and other literature spanning a period of over twenty years. He began his long writing career in 1992 while serving in the US Army and has worked continuously to improve his craft to the great art it is today.

Book preview

Dark Earth

By Steven Lake

Copyright 2012 Smashwords Edition

Prologue

An older man in a Sol Empire fleet uniform walked up to the Lord Minister of the Fleet and bowed slightly. He then held out a small data tablet to the minister.

My lord, the latest reports from the front lines, he said.

The minister took the tablet, read its contents, and then frowned heavily.

How could they let this happen!? he growled.

The older man furrowed his brow.

Allow what to happen, my lord?

The Yandians have fled the galaxy, and taken their Master Database with them! Without it, we will not have the knowledge we need to conquer this galaxy, and claim it for the Sol Empire!

Do we know where they went? asked the man.

The minister threw the data tablet across the room as he screamed in anger. The older man pursed his lips slightly.

I see.

The minister got up, stormed over to a nearby window, and then huffed bitterly before turning back towards the older man. He then glared angrily at the older man, but said nothing. The older man merely narrowed his eyes.

I'm sure the admirals did all they could to ensure its capture, my lord, he said.

Well, it wasn't enough! Rally the fleet! If we can't take this galaxy through subterfuge, then we will take it by force! Either Sol will rule this entire galaxy, or we will die trying!

The older man cocked his head slightly.

What of the Emperor? What are his wishes in this matter?

His fist is solid, and his sword sharp. He will slay whomever stands in his way.

I am not referring to our fleet, my lord, but rather his tactics. I believe he prefers to take the more...shall we say, subtle approach?

The minister snorted.

Subtlety is for the weak. What is required is force! For, without it, power and control cannot be established!

The older man cocked an eyebrow slightly.

One should not speak so lightly of their lord, especially when he is able to take one such as yourself, and make him suffer with pain immeasurable.

The minister grunted.

I do not dishonor my lord, nor question his tactics. However, this is a time for decisiveness! To simply stand by, and permit this affront to our empire to go without answer, will signal to our enemies that we have grown weak. No, we will fight, and we will conquer, until every star in this pathetic universe belongs to our lord, one way or another.

Chapter 1

Pendleton looked up from his desk as Dutch stepped in the door waving a data pad.

I've got the latest on the Pront situation, but you probably don't wanna hear it, said Dutch.

Pendleton rubbed his eyes.

Honestly, I'd love to see someone make the whole lousy group of them just go away. They've been nothing but a thorn in my side since I got this job, he groaned.

Mike laughed.

Sounds like what the Crassians did to me during my time in office, he said.

Pendleton looked over at Mike as he sat in a large, plush chair in front of his desk; the same desk that Mike had once sat in.

Sometimes, I almost think I'd kill to have your problems, he muttered.

Mike shrugged.

Every Grand Admiral has had their own unique issues, in one form or another, during their tenure in office. I had them, Alfred had them, and even Thomas had them, and his tenure was probably the quietest of any Grand Admiral in the history of the fleet.

Pendleton's eyes narrowed.

Quietest? He had the Marargon invasion to deal with. How was that considered quiet?

Well, true. But I was thinking politically, not militarily. Politics is way more of a pain to deal with than war will ever be.

Pendleton snorted.

It's all the same to me.

Mike laughed.

Well, regardless of which it was, the Marargon almost succeeded. If it weren't for the fact that we caught a lucky break with our isolinear torpedoes, they would've mopped the floor with everyone in the galaxy, including us, continued Pendleton.

And let's not forget about Mike's protomatter torpedoes. Those did some pretty good floor mopping of their own, said Dutch.

Pendleton rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but they ended up causing our allies to leave Mount Rushmore sized turds on their command decks. I don't think Chancellor Smith ever heard the end of that one. Especially given how keen the Alliance was in reminding us about that...repeatedly."

Maybe so, but they should be okay with things the way they are now as we don't have anymore left. There were only eight ever produced, and those were all used up during the war, said Mike.

Why only eight? asked Dutch.

After seeing what the first prototype did to the Cassius star system, I figured that eight would be way more than we'd ever need.

Dutch grunted in curiosity.

Huh, Cassius? I wondered what happened out there.

Well, I still wish I had some lying around, said Pendleton.

I don't. It was bad enough we had the eight. I can't imagine what things would be like if we'd had more. We'd probably bring down the wrath of the entire galaxy on us in much the same way the Crassians wanted to do.

Pendleton snorted.

That's doubtful, as it'd be more likely to keep them in check than drive them to exterminate us. Either way, the day we used them, it won us instant respect across the galaxy.

Mike laughed.

Yes it did. I think Phyland had fun with that one for quite a while afterwards. I mean, diplomats all over the galaxy went from hating, or sometimes simply tolerating us, to literally kissing our feet. Not that we wanted them to. But, still, it was a nice change from the normal.

Pendleton frowned, but didn't say anything. After a bit he looked briefly at a data pad in his hand, and then placed it with the others collecting on his desk. Afterwards he turned his attention back to Mike and studied him intently.

So, what's on your agenda for the next couple weeks? he asked.

Mike shrugged.

I was planning on taking the Sergenious out for a spin around the galaxy for a few months. Eric just finished a complete overhaul of her, and wants to take her on an extended shakedown. So I figured that'd give me an excuse to take a tour through the neutral zone, and possibly the galactic core, and see what's out there.

Pendleton cocked an eyebrow.

You do realize that entering the galactic core is forbidden for a reason, right?

Oh, absolutely! And that's exactly why I want to explore it! said Mike happily.

Dutch laughed.

Yep, that's our great and illustrious Mr. Clayton for ya. Always up for an adventure.

Mike chuckled.

Hey, at my age, you've gotta do something to keep yourself entertained.

Pendleton smirked.

You should try taking up shuffleboard. It's a lot safer, he quipped.

Everyone laughed. Just then Sarah shimmered into view, and quickly realized that Mike wasn't alone as she'd expected.

Oh, I'm sorry. Am I disturbing something? she asked sheepishly.

Dutch waved dismissively.

"Nah, you're fine. We're just shooting the bull. So, what'd you come here for?" he said.

Sarah looked at Mike, and said, Eric wanted me to inform you that the ship is ready to fly. So we're free to leave at any time.

Why didn't he just com me? asked Mike.

However, Sarah said nothing. Pendleton laughed and shook his head.

You know, Rasmussen is gonna ring his neck if he ever finds out that Eric installed his latest toys on a nearly century old starship, and a civilian one at that, he said.

Sarah looked at him in surprise.

How'd you know that!? she asked.

Pendleton grinned.

"One word. Lars. Best intelligence director ever."

Mike laughed.

He was a top notch spy way back when I was Grand Admiral. And, even decades later, he doesn't fail to impress. But why'd he tell you about the upgrades?

Pendleton shrugged.

"I think he was trying to protect you by letting me know about them before anyone else got wind of it, in case that blew up in your face."

Or he could've just been trying to protect Eric. They're both good friends, and he knows that the Sergenious is his little baby, said Dutch.

Mike rolled his eyes.

Baby is an understatement. Eric's like a helicopter parent when it comes to that ship.

Just then two of Pendleton's aides walked in the door with armfuls of data pads.

More paperwork for you, sir, said one of them.

Pendleton groaned as the two men piled them onto the desk. The stacks they created soon collapsed to the floor with a clatter. The two quickly gathered them up, but had little luck keeping them from falling down again. Pendleton grunted and rubbed his eyes.

Just leave them, he moaned.

The two aides saluted sheepishly.

Sorry, Grand Admiral, sir, they both said in unison.

Pendleton motioned for them to leave, and the two men immediately obeyed and hurried away. Pendleton then rested his head on his hands and stared at the growing pile of work on his desk.

Ya know, I've been at this job nearly six months, and I don't think I've been out of this office even once in all that time, he groaned.

He then looked at Mike, then Sarah, then Dutch. The four all appeared to come to the same conclusion simultaneously.

Shall I prepare your flagship, sir? asked Dutch.

Pendleton glanced at Mike thoughtfully.

I've been looking for an excuse to take the Prometheus out for a spin, and your idea sounds like the best one I've heard so far, he said.

Your flagship is one of those new Mythos class battleships, isn't it? asked Mike.

Pendleton smiled and nodded.

Yeah, it's the fastest, most powerful ship in the entire galaxy. Where your shipkillers were designed to go toe to toe with a battlecruiser and win, the Mythos are designed to take on entire fleets. I think they said something in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty ships or so at a time. Even if it's only twenty, she's still quite a bruiser, he said proudly.

He then paused briefly to think.

However, I haven't had a chance to fly the Sergenious since you retired either. Now that's something else I'd like to do, if possible.

So why not do both? asked Dutch.

What do you mean? asked Pendleton curiously.

Fly out in the Sergenious, spend a few weeks with Mike, and then come home on the Prometheus. And I can watch over the Prometheus for you while you're out there until you're ready to come back home. Or, at least take over her conn again.

Pendleton looked at him curiously.

You'd be going with us too?

Dutch shrugged.

Sure, why not? I mean, both of us need to get away from Sol for a while anyways, and I have a few errands to do around the galaxy. So I don't see where it'd hurt anything if both of us went.

Wouldn't that be unnecessarily risky having two of our highest ranking flag officers out of Sol space for a few weeks? asked Mike.

Dutch shrugged again.

"It'd be no different than what you and Chancellor Nordham did going to Sebius. And besides, we've got plenty of fully capable, full bird admirals waiting in the wings to take over our jobs if something happens to us. Not that I expect that to happen. Plus, a trip to the core really wouldn't be all that different than some of the other excursions outside of Sol that we've taken before. I mean, if you really think about it, our trips out to the ASW homeworld of Biar were way more risky than what we'd be doing in the core."

But would the Chancellor allow it? He still remembers what happened with Mike and Nordham on Sebius, said Sarah.

Dutch laughed.

I think he's a bit too busy with the Pront situation right now to worry about us, he replied.

So, do you both still wanna head out to the galactic core? asked Mike.

Pendleton thought about this briefly, and then nodded.

Yeah, let's do it. I think it'd make for a nice adventure, and a good change of pace for all of us. Especially me.

Eric looked up as Sarah appeared on the bridge. A moment later Mike stepped in from the back, and was followed by Pendleton, who paused in the doorway and blinked in surprise.

Good gawds, man, what'd you do to my ship!? he said in amazement.

Eric chuckled.

You like it? he said.

What happened to half the stations!?

Well, since we're a civilian starship now, despite still being fully combat rigged, I redesigned the ship to operate with only a four man crew, instead of the nine it once required. It makes things a lot easier on me, and allows the ship to run more efficiently as well. This way I don't have to hire extra people to staff the ship anymore, or to fill in the empty stations whenever we choose to venture outside of Sol space.

Pendleton cocked an eyebrow slightly, and then noticed Petrov sitting at the helm.

So what's he doing in my seat? he asked.

Petrov furrowed his brow.

"I beg your pardon, sir, but this is my seat now," he said flatly.

Pendleton grunted.

You're a service droid, not a stick jockey.

"I once was, but I'm not anymore. I was released from duty nearly a decade ago, and have been subsequently retrained as the chief pilot of the civilian starship Sergenious. Since this is no longer a commissioned military vessel, nor am I in military service, I am not under your jurisdiction. Thus, I do not have to answer to you in any way. So, whether it pleases you or not, I will retain my seat," said Petrov flatly.

Pendleton opened his mouth to say something, and then paused, chuckling lightly as he shook his head in disbelief.

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear he was a spitting image of my younger self, he said.

Eric laughed.

And the older one as well, he quipped.

Oh, har, har, old man, retorted Pendleton.

Eric laughed again.

So what brings you aboard our fine ship today, Grand Admiral? he asked.

He's coming with us on a brief tour of the galaxy as our pilot, for old times sake, said Mike.

Eric studied Mike briefly, and then glanced at Petrov who rolled his eyes and grunted. Petrov then moved to the tactical station and sat down.

I pray that his tenure is brief, he said with a hint of displeasure.

Pendleton snorted.

You're welcome.

He then stepped over and sat down at the helm station. While it was considerably different than it had been during his time as her chief pilot, it still felt old and familiar to him. He quietly caressed the stick with his right hand, and then felt his left hand, and both feet, instinctively fall into their places without so much as a thought. You could certainly take the pilot out of the ship, but you couldn't take the ship, nor the love of flying, out of Pendleton. He soon turned around and looked at Mike.

So, what're your orders, sir? he asked, acting as though he'd gone back in time to the days when he was Mike's chief pilot.

Mike turned to Sarah, who immediately knew what he was thinking.

The Prometheus is still in dock, and will not be ready to depart for another half hour at the very earliest, she said.

Knowing Spire, he'll probably take at least two just to be sure that ship is completely ready. He tends to be a bit obsessive in that respect. It's one of the reasons I chose him as the commander of my flagship. His attention to detail is exquisite, said Pendleton.

Even though he's a droid, like myself? said Petrov flatly.

Pendleton's eyes narrowed.

At least he was built for military service right from the beginning, unlike you, he said pertly.

And how does that mean anything? asked Petrov with a hint of indignity.

Alright kids, that's enough. This is supposed to be a vacation, not a boxing match, said Mike.

Eric laughed.

Just like old days, eh?

Mike chuckled.

Probably more so in some ways.

Well, if we're gonna be stuck here for another two hours, I guess we'd better get Mr. Pendleton up to speed on the controls, said Eric.

If it's all the same, sir, I'll handle that. I don't want the Admiral scratching my ship, said Petrov pertly.

Pendleton snorted.

You're not the only one who doesn't want that happening.

Petrov furrowed his brow.

Then I suggest you listen well, because it'll be your butt if you scuff my hull.

Pendleton grinned.

Give me your best shot, chips.

Dutch stepped onto the bridge of the Prometheus and quietly studied the bustle of activity that was unfolding all around him. While he was intrigued at the selection of crew members stationed there, what interested him the most was Spire, the ship's captain, who was a military android. He was a leftover from a time when the fleet was suffering from extreme personnel shortages due to the devastating battle of the Oort Perimeter. He'd originally served as the chief engineer aboard the Appalachia under Commander Tobias, and later as the captain of the España, which served with distinction during the Marargon war. When she was eventually retired, he went on to command numerous other ships, including the Britannia, Essex, Crazy Horse and Colorado. Eventually he was chosen as the commander of the Prometheus the day Pendleton became Grand Admiral of the fleet, and it was a roll he enjoyed immeasurably. Even though he was a machine, he treated his crew well, and empathized with their human frailties, despite having little understanding of them beyond what information he'd been given on his manufacturing date, or that he'd learned through personal observation over the years. As he stood in front of his command seat, his extremely sensitive ears heard the rear door swish open, and someone enter. Without turning his head, or looking to see who it was, he immediately knew who had entered the bridge simply by the sound their footsteps made.

Admiral on the bridge! he shouted.

Everyone immediately snapped to attention.

As you were, replied Dutch.

Everyone soon went back to what they were doing. Spire, however, continued to quietly study the main display as he listened to Dutch approach from his left.

To what do I owe the honor of your visit, sir? he asked.

We're just taking the ship out for a spin, said Dutch.

Spire turned his head slightly and cocked an eyebrow as he studied his superior.

I take it the Grand Admiral will be joining us later? he asked.

Yeah, but not until the galactic core.

Spire's other eyebrow went up.

"The Grand Admiral is aware that the galactic core is off limits to all ships, regardless of the reason. Am I correct?" asked Spire.

Yeah, he knows that. But he's going anyways.

This caught the ears of a Yandian scientist standing at a terminal nearby. They twitched pertly as the hair all across his body stood on end. He soon turned and looked at Dutch.

"Sir, I don't mean to sound out of line, but Alliance law stipulates that no ship, save for those specifically permitted by the defense council, in writing I might add, may enter the galactic core for any reason, whatsoever, as the captain has already stated," he said.

I'm well aware of that, Basil, replied Dutch.

The Yandian's ears laid back on his head as his eyes narrowed.

As your diplomatic liaison officer, I must warn you that such rash actions do nothing to help your standing within the Alliance. It's already under great distress, as it is, due to your past actions, as well as some of your more recent ones. Thus, it would be ill advisable to proceed on this path.

Dutch smiled as he studied the Yandian. Basil, a name given to him by Pendleton, was a very brilliant and astute Yandian scientist and scholar, who had been gifted to Sol by the Yandian high council, to help Earthfleet, and the Society, as they began their next stage of emergence, and integration, into galactic society. His presence was also meant to help calm the fears of the other races after the terrifying events of the Marargon invasion, and the revelation of the incredible destructive firepower that the Society, and Earthfleet, possessed. This was one of the reasons that both Chancellor Thomson, and then Grand Admiral Bellows, had agreed to take him in as their technical and political advisor to help ensure that Sol maintained peaceful relations with all of her galactic neighbors. So far he'd proven a welcome addition to the Society, and especially to Pendleton's staff. He'd even, although unofficially, taken up the job of chief science officer, as well as technical advisor for the Prometheus, using his incredible wealth of knowledge to aid Pendleton and Spire in areas they were unfamiliar with, or were in need of advice.

I appreciate your concern, Basil, but we're not doing anything out of the ordinary on this trip. Ships from the Nine, and many other races, go in and out of the core all the time. It's quite a common event these days, despite the restriction.

Basil's ears flattened.

And how do you know that's true? he asked.

Dutch grinned.

We don't have the best intelligence director in the galaxy for nothing. He'd likely rival your own people's ability at gathering information.

Basil twitched his ears and whiskers in interest.

Hmm, fascinating. If that is correct, and all of the other races are indeed violating the neutral zone, in spite of Alliance law, it would prove to be the scandal of the century.

If I were you, my dear friend, I would keep this to yourself, for now. There's no point causing a stir, unless doing so would benefit us. At this time it, unfortunately, it will not. Thus, we should keep this under warps until such a time as it does, said Spire.

Basil twitched his ears and whiskers in approval.

Agreed, he replied, and soon returned to his station.

Spire then continued to study him for a few brief moments, before eventually turning his attention back to Dutch.

How soon does the Grand Admiral wish for us to leave? he asked.

Whenever you're ready. The Sergenious is all set to go, and is just waiting on us, said Dutch.

Understood, sir, said Spire with a nod. He then looked to his right, and said, Helm, take us out, please. Our course and speed will be at the discretion of the Sergenious.

Aye, sir.

Pendleton studied the flight controls with interest.

Despite all the improvements, there's still a lot of skill required here, isn't there? he said.

One of the advantages of the Sergenious class, especially after the Gen2 refit, was its greatly simplified flight controls, which allowed the pilot a much greater degree of flexibility in his piloting choices. You proved the benefit of that decision time and again during your tenure behind her controls. So I made sure that our Gen3 refit would give the pilot just as much freedom to do whatever they needed, just like before. The only advantage now is that you have much more information at your fingertips than at any time in the past. Plus, there's a few extra toys included, said Eric.

Pendleton smiled.

Yeah, I like this. It'll be just like old times, but with a new spin. He then looked at Mike, and asked, So, what's your orders, sir?

Mike turned to Sarah, and asked, Is the Prometheus ready to go?

Sarah